Focal Point
Valkyrie
This is Karl Tolley's (9270 Hanover Crossing #E, Mechanicsville, VA 23116) own-design Valkyrie, from a 10-year-old drawing.
"As a pilot I don't care for the visibility-blocking propensity of canards," wrote Karl. "The problem is to develop a design that works similar to canards, but with greater visibility for the pilot. The key is the forward fuselage."
Karl recently got back into Radio Control (RC) flying, and he hopes to eventually develop this model into a full-scale two-seat "blended wing/body aircraft."
The Valkyrie spans 71 inches, is 66 inches from nose to spinner, and weighs nine pounds. It has a Futaba radio, and the engine is an LA .46 for initial testing. Construction is conventional balsa-and-plywood, covered in Econocoat™. Decals were custom-made by Fastsigns®.
"The RC version is big, beautiful, radical, exotic, and a real eye-catcher—just like its namesake," wrote Karl.
Bee and Lysander
In the foreground is Leif Ancker's (Box 201, Lincoln NM 88338) much-modified Big Lazy Bee with extended wing, O.S. .40 FS for power, and an Ace single-stick four-channel radio. It has approximately 30 flights on it.
In the back is what Leif calls a "Cartoon Scale" Lysander with the big Bee aileron wing, Saito 50, and the same radio. It has similar moments to that of the Bee, except for a seven-inch stretch of the fuselage.
"The later flew beautifully (twice), until the elevator stopped responding (NTSB [National Transportation Safety Board] claims pilot error)," wrote Leif. "The impact protruded the engine through the 1/4-inch plywood firewall."
Leif claims that Cartoon Scale is "a great deal of fun." His next model will be a P-26 with the Bee aileron wing.
Nakajima Ki-84
Larry Graham's (12203 White Oak Dr., Crown Point IN 46307) 1/5-scale Nakajima Ki-84 "Frank" is from Aerotech Models, Inc.
It's all-composite, with an 88-inch wingspan, Brison 4.2 engine, sequencing landing gear and gear doors, multiposition flaps, and is "nasty and aggressive-looking!" according to Larry.
Graphics are by Die Hard Graphics, radio is a Futaba PCM, and it has a JR gyro on the rudder.
"There are two kinds of airplanes: fighters and targets," wrote Larry. "This definitely is not a target."
Staudacher GS-300
Don Corbett (30 Shephard Ave., Oneonta NY 13820) bought his Staudacher from Pennsylvania's giantscalepeeps.com. It's an ARC (Almost Ready to Cover), and required little assembly.
The model is 30% scale, and is done in the Lap Map colors flown by full-scale pilot Mike Goulian. Don's Staudacher has a 90-inch wingspan, the length is 78 inches, and power is a Zenoah G-62.
Don covered the airplane in MonoKote®, and he obtained the graphics from Doug Logan, who also kits this model.
"I hope it flies as good as it looks," wrote Don.
A Contender
Bob Vojslacek's (6490 E. Inlow Springs Rd., Muncie IN 47302) Contender is a Top Flite® 30th anniversary kit.
The model is covered with MonoKote®, and has a Kraft Gold Spectrum radio.
Bob is retired, and he has been building and flying model airplanes for more than 50 years.
"I built and flew the original Contender in 1969, with the same Meteor .60 engine as is used in this model," wrote Bob. "This one builds lighter and flies better than the original."
Snowbirds
This is Wesley R. Davis' (8639 E. 24th Cir., Tucson AZ 85710) version of the Canadian Snowbirds Demonstration Squadron. Wesley drew the plans from a Tutor LT114 1/2-scale plastic model. This was his first experience making a mold and fiberglass fuselages, his first experience making sheeted-foam wings, and his first experience vacuum-molding canopies.
The model spans 114 inches, is 108 inches long, and weighs 25 pounds.
"Where is the landing gear?" wrote Wes.
He claims he might make the first flight when he can make a level flight.
"Wacky WACO"
Bill Hebestreit (Box 3891, Wofford Heights CA 93285) acquired a "Wacky WACO" profile kit, but to him it seemed like sacrilege to do this to a classic airplane!
He laid out a top view, and developed fuselage formers with the help of a computer. He also "morphed" in an old Top Flite® P-51 canopy to finish the model.
The WACO has an O.S. 91 four-stroke engine and a Futaba radio for control. It's finished with UltraCote® and paint.
"Fully aerobatic, but with nice slow landings," wrote Bill.
Duster
Harold Madison (1346 Brainerd Ave., Duluth MN 55811) built this model from the Bill Winter/John Hunton design featured in the March 1999 Model Aviation.
The model was constructed from the AMA plans, using all hand-drawn and -cut parts from the instructions in the article and the prints from AMA.
The Duster is covered with MonoKote®, equipped with an Airtronics six-channel radio and five standard servos, and powered by an O.S. .46LA engine.
"It took me about six months to complete the model," wrote Harold. "It was my first try at nonkit construction, and it went quite well."
A Giant Fantasy
S.E. "Ben" Owen (2084 S. Point Comfort Rd., Oshkosh WI 54902) built his Giant Fantasy from a kit by Major RC of Lake Havasu AZ.
"The kit plans and instruction booklet were excellent," wrote Ben. "As good as I've seen in years of model-building."
The model is powered by a Fox twin engine, and is assisted by a McDaniel glow-plug driver for idle power and starting. Ben has a Futaba 8UAPS (PCM) radio, operating on the Ham frequencies.
Kachina Doll
This Sig Kadet LT-40 is from the second kit that Fred Wettengel (1609 Glenbrook Terr., Oklahoma City OK 73116) has built, and he named it "Kachina Doll."
Fred just got into modeling, and he's 64 years old. "I'm having a blast fulfilling a lifelong dream to fly [Radio Control]," he wrote.
Fred modified his Kadet by bolting the wing, using aluminum gear, and rounding the feathers to conform to the wings.
The model is covered with MonoKote®, powered by a Saito 56 four-stroke engine, and it "flies like an LT-40 should," according to Fred. He is using JR equipment with an XP8103 transmitter.
Fred is a member of the TORKS and Baxter clubs in Oklahoma.
RV-4
Dave Kephart (840 N.E. Purcell Blvd., Bend OR 97701) sent a photo of his RV-4, from a Byron Originals kit, shown next to the full-scale version.
Dave painted the full-scale aircraft, so the owner talked him into building a model of it.
The model has a Saito 300 twin engine with onboard glow power and flaps. According to Dave, it flies great.
"It's done well in two Scale Masters qualifiers, and should do better next year," he wrote.
de Havilland Beaver
Bob van't Riet (2751 Rodman Dr., Los Osos CA 93402) built this 1/4-scale de Havilland Beaver from an Ikon N'Wst kit. Modifications include a new Ikon N'Wst fiberglass cowl.
The 17-pound balsa model has an O.S. FS-120 Surpass III pumped four-stroke engine, a 96-inch wingspan, and a wing loading of 37 oz./sq. ft. The radio and eight servos are JR. Covering is nitrate dope and Polyspan tissue, finished with Stits Poly-Tone paint.
The Knights of the Air pilot is the 1/4-scale civilian version, chemically shrunk to 1/4 scale. Simulated cargo was scratch-built from "bits and pieces" in Bob's shop and "finds" from the local sewing supply store. Kent Nogry made the model's first flight in Paso Robles CA in 1999. Bob reports that the engine ran beautifully, and has plenty of power for the Beaver.
"Rising Force"
Daniel Ashkar (6160 E. Quincy Ave., Cherry Hills Village CO 80111) completed this 29% Aeroworks Edge 540 to satisfy his passion for Freestyle Aerobatics, and he plans to fly it in International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) contests.
"I have been flying Radio Control for 12 years, and I am addicted to aerobatics," wrote Daniel.
He chose the Edge 540 because of its good slow-speed characteristics, aerobatic potential, and very high power-to-weight ratio, which is important in Colorado!
The 15-pound model spans 85 inches and has an Airtronics Stylus PCM radio with five coreless and one standard servo. A Brison 3.2 engine spins a 22 x 8 Zinger propeller, and covering is MonoKote® and MonoKote paint. It has a CH electronic ignition and a Tru-Turn spinner.
1999 Project
Gary Sandsted (3127 Brentwood Blvd., Grand Island NE 68801) built this Great Planes .60-size Extra 300S last year.
It has an O.S. .91 four-stroke engine, weighs 8½ pounds, and was finished in MonoKote®. It has six servos, a 1,200 mAh battery, a 12-ounce tank, and a Master Aircrew 14 x 6 propeller.
The Hangar 9 pilot has headphones made from resistors glued to heat-shrink-tubing-covered wire. Gary molded balsa landing-gear fairings.
This model's construction notes are interesting. Gary built his Extra with an Internet friend, Ivo Almul (Harrison NY), who had the same airplane/engine combination.
"We began the project at the same time, and compared construction notes along the way via E-mail," wrote Gary.
According to Gary, the Extra is a smooth, high-performance model.
Seversky P-35
Ed Pease Jr. (30138 Corte Cantera, Temecula CA 92670) wrote that Clark Gable "flew" this model in Test Pilot—the late-1930s movie with Spencer Tracy and Myrna Loy.
In reality, Jacqueline Cochran raced the P-35 in the 1938 Bendix Trophy Race, and won at 249 mph—fast in those days!
The model was plan-built from an old rubber-powered blow-up to a 62-inch wingspan. It's powered by an O.S. .65, and covered with MonoKote®.
The model had a "squirrely" beginning, but improved after the proper weight and balance was established. "Now it exhibits a very realistic flyby at 2/3 throttle," wrote Ed.
"My IMAC Airplane!"
This is Gene Porembka's (Box 364, Pine Forge PA 19548) 33% Godfrey Lazer 200. He wrote that it's one of 33 that Ray Kline has built.
The model has a Zenoah G-62 engine, Bennett smoke system, Futaba 8UAP radio, eight 9202 servos, a Mejzlik 22 x 10 propeller, and a four-inch Tru-Turn spinner. Covering is MonoKote® and graphics are by Futzne Design.
"I plan on flying IMAC [International Miniature Aerobatic Club] with this model," wrote Gene. "It flies like it's on rails!"
The Enforcer
Richard Banner (212 Durrell Rd., Winter Haven FL 33884) received an Almost Ready-to-Fly (ARF) trainer for Christmas in 1998. His son Eric and Todd put it together in a day (they were already involved with Radio Control airplanes), then trained him with it.
Richard got the "bug" to build an airplane the following July, and he spotted Balsa USA's Enforcer.
"Though Eric and Todd advised me to start with a simpler airplane, I tore into the project," wrote Richard. "We started flying it in November 1999."
Richard reports that the Enforcer flies beautifully slow and very fast with its SuperTiger .75 engine and a 12 x 6 pusher propeller. They replaced the stock muffler with a stack-type Pitt muffler, and Todd covered the model with MonoKote®.
Howard Pete
This is Ray Allison's (117 Gaston Dr., Travelers Rest SC 29690) scratch-built model of the Howard Pete, built from Frank Beatty plans and the October 1999 Model Aviation article.
"Plans were for a Control Line Scale model, and this model is modified for Radio Control," wrote Ray.
Goldberg Ultimate
This is David Johnson's (34900 Lyn Ave., Hemet CA 92545) wife and his Goldberg Ultimate.
Power is a YS 120NC, covering is MonoKote®, and the radio is Futaba.
David's wife asked him if modelers always trim their airplanes with stripes.
"So seeing her name is Dot, I did in dots," wrote David.
The model's bottom is all white.
David and his wife are 80 years old, and they are still going. He flies various models almost every day, and he belongs to the Hemet Model Masters club.
Cessna Skymaster
Stefano Salani (15612 S.W. 54 Terr., Miami FL 33185) has liked the configuration of the Cessna 336/337 Skymaster since he was a teenager, when he saw it take off and land from an airport close to his home.
Stefano was bitten by the "twin-engine bug" three years ago, and he wanted some more Radio Control twin-engine experience. The Skymaster came to mind.
He designed this 11-pound model from a 1/2-scale plastic kit, then drew plans to 1/6 scale and scratch-built the model on them. It took him two years.
The Skymaster was built using conventional balsa-and-plywood techniques. It has a 73-inch wingspan, is powered by two SuperTiger GS-40s, radio is an Airtronics Radiant with six servos, and covering is MonoKote®.
"This Skymaster flies on the wing, although regular flight characteristics are scalelike," wrote Stefano.
Focal Point
First Four-Stroke Model
Garfield R. Morgan (42 Bassett St., Lynn MA 01902) sent this photo of his new airplane. He built it from his own design, and he claims that in some respects—notably the stabilizer—it owes a debt to the old Taurus.
"This is my first airplane with a four-stroke engine," wrote Garfield. The model has an O.S. Surpass .91, wingspan is 72 inches, area is 776 sq. in., overall length is 66 inches, weight is eight pounds, and wing loading is 23.75 oz./sq. ft.
The radio is a Futaba six-channel, retracts are from Robart, and covering is MonoKote®.
Her First Model
R. Turchick (2 Marlyn Dr., Apt. 2, Latham NY 12110) sent this photo of Krista Van Patten and her first airplane—a Sig LT-40.
The model has an O.S. .46FX engine and uses a JR 652 radio. Covering is MonoKote® with custom Penguin graphics.
Krista has already picked out her second and third models—a 1/4-scale Spacewalker and a Giant Scale P-51B.
Krista is the newest member of the Flying Deuces of Carlisle NY. The club members pride themselves on being year-round fliers—even in upstate New York!
CL in Northern CA
Larry Fernandez (534 Elvis Dr., San Jose CA) and Jim Tichy (3364 Linda Mesa Way, Napa CA) fly Control Line (CL) Precision Aerobatics.
Larry is shown here with his Vic Macaluso-designed Tomcat, powered by a Jett .50, and Jim holds his Ted Fancher-designed Trivial Pursuit, powered by a PA .60.
Pitts Biplane
Dick Gustafson (1336 Cedar St., Santa Monica CA 90405) sent this photo of Don Larson (Palmdale CA) kneeling by a 1/3-scale Pitts biplane he constructed from a D/K Aircraft kit.
The wingspan is 70 inches, and weight is 24 pounds. The Pitts is powered by a 4.2 cubic-inch 3W-70 twin engine. Don uses a Futaba PCM six-channel radio.
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Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
