Ki-84
Bob Vandenberg (Olympia, Washington; email: rsvande_61@msn.com) built his cardboard Ki-84 Hayate as an RC version. The model is based on the Control Line model designed by Chuck Felton that was published in Model Aviation September 2010.
Bob added two-piece functioning flaps linked with a thin wire. A battery hatch was created in the top forward fuselage. The model weighs approximately 8 pounds. The motor is from Value Hobby and is comparable to an E-flite Power 60. Two three-cell 2,200 mAh batteries in series power the Ki-84.
Bob wrote that the model was a challenge to build, but a fun project that was well worth the effort.
Telemonster
Mike Jenkins (Covington, Georgia; email: lownslow1@yahoo.com) shares this 12-foot Telemaster Kit from Hobby Lobby from the late 1990s. It has been in Mike’s family for roughly 14 years.
After spending its entire life on wheels, Mike decided to put floats on the “Telemonster” and take it to the Joe Nall in 2013. The floats are fiberglassed foam from Seaplane Supply and several friends collaborated on the construction and installation. Power comes from a Zenoah GT-80 twin and guidance is a JR radio.
“It’s really fun to fly and is perfectly at home on the water,” wrote Mike.
Ted Smith Aerostar
Stan Burak (St. Louis; email: slburak@charter.net) built this Ted Smith Aerostar.
This 1/4-scale model has a 110-inch wingspan and weight of 37.5 pounds. It is powered by DLE-35RA engines and uses Robart retracts. A JR radio controls JR and Hitec servos. The Robart nose gear fork didn’t work, so Stan machined an aluminum plate fork.
The Aerostar is balsa and light plywood constructed with spruce spars at 35% and 55% as in the full-scale aircraft. Molds were made for the windshield, gear doors, baggage door, tail cone, nose cone, and cowl.
Top Flite P-47
Scott Van Valkenburg (Lexington, South Carolina; email: svanvalkenburg@windstream.net) shared this customized Top Flite P-47 Thunderbolt flying at the Congaree Flyers field in Gaston, South Carolina.
The 63-inch ARF is equipped with an O.S. FS-120 Surpass III swinging a 15 x 8 APC propeller. The radio is a Futaba FASST system with standard servos. Its custom exhaust pipe gives it a great warbird sound. Panel lines and weathering were added with an airbrush and other techniques including using small pieces of shiny flight metal in order to simulate hastily repaired combat damage.
Scott wrote:
“This is currently the finest bird in my nest. The model flies so well that I do not hesitate to put it right down on the deck for a fast strafing run. It is always a crowd pleaser and attracts plenty of attention at fly-ins.”
Fugitive Jr.
Jim Brittian (Indianola, Iowa; email: sbrittian@mchsi.com) scratch-built this model from his own design. The original version of the Fugitive was a .60-size model designed in 1974 and featured in RCM magazine in March 1976.
The Fugitive Jr. is a .45-size model Jim designed in 1977, but didn’t build until 2013. Like the original Fugitive, the fuselage is built using 1/32 plywood wrapped over a jig. Jim wrote that this method provides a strong and lightweight fuselage.
50% Ford
Jim Curry (Scottdale, Pennsylvania) scratch-built this Ford from enlarged RCM plans.
The 1/2-scale model is powered by a 52cc HobbyKing gas engine. The Ford spans 11.5 feet and weighs 39 pounds.
Jim, a member of the Laurel Highlands Model Airplane Club, reported that his 50% Ford is a nice, slow and steady flier.
Bippi
Dave Slagle (Naples, Maine; email: dsinme@roadrunner.com) built this full-wing Bippi.
The Bippi has an 80-inch wingspan (the clipped wing is 74 inches) with an all-up weight of 18 pounds. The covering is Solartex and power is supplied by a 3-ci engine.
Dave wrote:
“Flies like a trainer but is quite aerobatic. Bippi came from my daughter when she was too young to pronounce biplane.”
Legrand-Simon LS.60
CW “Bill” Benno (Minot, North Dakota; email: abbenno@min.midco.net) scratch-built the LS.60.
This Legrand-Simon model is powered by a Magnum XL FS52AR and a Spektrum radio provides guidance.
Bill wrote:
“It’s one of those planes so ugly that it’s cute! The full-size LS.60 was a postwar effort to help kick-start light aviation in 1960 France. It failed to excite the interest of flying clubs, so only one was ever built.
“With slated wings, large flaps, and a large elevator, it is a real hoot to fly.”