Focal Point
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
F-15 Eagle
Mike Jordan (5695 Woodside, Vidor TX 77662) built this model from a Great Planes kit.
It spans 47 inches, weighs 6½ pounds, and is powered by an O.S. .46 FX engine. The F-15 is covered with Top Flite® MonoKote®.
Mike added a small access hatch for the steering arm to the nose gear to provide easy access for future adjustments, if needed. He installed two handmade exhaust outlets on the rear of the model; he cut the outlets from balsa blocks and painted them.
The plans include decals to be placed on the back of the model, but Mike thought the balsa parts were more authentic-looking and definitely stood out.
"I wanted to build something that was a little different than what I had been building," wrote Mike. "This was a great kit that went together well."
Smith Sport One
Scott S. Smith (302 Estrella Way, Auburndale FL 33823-2919; E-mail: [email protected]) sent this photo of the model he designed from scratch and his five-year-old daughter, Christina.
The airplane is the Smith Sport One; its nickname is the Talon. He designed it on ModelCAD, and Faran Aero in South Carolina laser-cut it.
The model has a 51-inch wingspan, is 44.2 inches long, and weighs 4.75 pounds. It has an O.S. .46 FX engine with a Simple Pitts muffler swinging a 12.25 x 3.75 APC propeller. The model is guided by a Futaba 6XAS radio with four 3003 Futaba servos.
Scott covered the model with Metallic Wine, Teal, and White MonoKote®. All graphics were made from full-size computer-drawn templates and cut from MonoKote®.
"The airplane was built in about a week full of evenings and flew perfectly," wrote Scott. "I am working on kitting this airplane for everyone to be able to enjoy it too."
Douglas Dauntless
John T. Niezelski (3590 Pine Tree Dr., St. James City FL 33956; E-mail: [email protected]) sent this photo of his Ziroli SBD-3 passing overhead.
The model has a 110-inch wingspan, weighs 42 pounds, is powered by a Zenoah Z-445 engine, and is controlled by a Futaba eight-channel PCM radio. The Dauntless is finished with fiberglass and paint.
"It was a 13-month project," wrote John.
Free Spirit
That's what Kenneth G. Morse (6594 Mission Ridge, Traverse City MI 49686-6123) calls his scratch-built, modified New Ruler, which Henry Struck designed as a Free Flight model in 1942.
Kenneth drew the plans from a small three-view he found in a magazine years ago.
According to him, the model flies beautifully with an old K&B .45 Greenhead engine, guided by an updated World Engines single-stick transmitter and servo package.
"I am a 77-year-old confirmed model airplane builder and flier since I was eight years old, and I am still addicted to the hobby," wrote Kenneth.
Bird Dog
Ken Nottestad (1708 San Simeon Way, Fenton MO 63026; E-mail: [email protected]) took 1½ years to complete his 1/6-scale Cessna L-19.
The 13-pound, 72-inch-wingspan model is fully sheeted and covered with UltraCote®, and all seams were sanded then spray-painted. After the decals were applied, the final finish was a layer of Dull Coat.
The cockpit is complete with throttles, a trim wheel, a radio, coiled map lamps, a first-aid box, a fire extinguisher, and an authentic instrument panel. A 12-inch G.I. Joe™ is strapped in place with a functioning seat belt/harness.
The L-19 is powered by an O.S. .91 FS engine.
"In contests the model has taken first place twice in Scale and a first place 'Pilots Choice,'" wrote Ken.
Britten-Norman Trislander
William Sterka (3446 Anglin Dr., Sarasota FL 34242; E-mail: [email protected]) sent this photo of one of his favorite airplanes: a largely scratch-built (it started life as a Cermark Islander twin) Trislander.
The model is powered by three O.S. .25s, and it spans 79 inches.
According to William, the model flies identical to the full-scale aircraft and the sound is "incredible."
"It has given me great pleasure to build it, fly it, and just sit and stare at it, not to mention all the attention it gets at the field," wrote William.
Bücker Bü.133 Jungmeister
Ellis Grumer (321 Aurora St., Phillipsburg NJ 08865) built this model from plans in the March 2000 Model Airplane News.
"It was scratch-built from redrawn gas model plans to accommodate electric power," wrote Ellis.
The model is powered by an Astro geared 400 motor on 21 1700 cells, with a 13 x 8 propeller.
According to Ellis, the model is a smooth, stable flier, and it performs realistic aerobatics.
Endeavour
Neil Gibbins (6128 Gideon Rd., Huntington WV 25705-2241; E-mail: [email protected]) built this Space Shuttle II from AMA plan number 368.
The model has no engine, the rudder is nonfunctional, and the JR XF622 radio is programmed for elevons. A towhook at the center of gravity has been installed in place of the release on the original plans.
An attempt was made to release the model from a tug and a Hobby Lobby glider-launch kit. However, it draws a nice crowd at the Tri-State Model Flyers club, using a hi-start launch with Joe Schweitzer as the pilot.
"It is 'touchy' at slow speed, but becomes more stable as the speed picks up," wrote Neil.
Neil gave the model its name because he witnessed a full-scale Endeavour being launched from Cape Canaveral.
Fokker Dr.1
Archie Caldwell (16407 Hound Dog Dr., Grass Valley CA 95945-8620; E-mail: [email protected]) built this 1/6-scale Fokker Dr.1 from a V.K. kit.
Covering is Sig Koverall, painted with 21st Century® spray paint. The scale engine is for display and it turns with the propeller, and the scale pilot is from Proctor Enterprises.
According to Archie, the project took almost 10 months to complete; it was built as a display model for Gordon Oehl of Highland CA.
Fireball
According to Robert E. Spooner (148 Maskel Rd., South Windsor CT 06074), John Gwodz (93 Sessions Dr., Hamden MA 01036) constructed this Fireball for sentimental reasons; it is his first engine-powered model, which he built in 1947.
The Fireball was a popular 1947 vintage A.J. Walker control-line model. John built his from Cleveland plans, and he converted it to radio control.
John added four inches to the wing length. He made the fuselage with formers and converted it with 1/16 x 3/8 planking, which brought the airplane within a reasonable wing loading.
The model is powered by an Enya 19, and the radio is a JR with microservos and a receiver. It flies very well.
Kadet Seniorita
This is Drew R. Kenyon’s (37 Hazeltine Ave., Jamestown NY 14701; E-mail: [email protected]) first airplane, which he built with help from his uncle.
He covered the Sig model with MonoKote®, and made a checkerboard pattern on the bottom of the wings. He has floats to use in place of the wheels, so he can fly on snow in the winter.
"I enjoy flying airplanes and have started to build my second airplane—a P-51 Mustang," wrote Drew.
He joined the RC Falcons club in Falconer, New York, and he learned to fly there with his uncle.
Dornier Do 15
Bruce Harlow (3462 McManamy Rd., Ellensburg WA 98926) built this 1933 W.A.I.
It has a 152-inch wingspan, weighs 44 pounds, and the wing loading is 22.5 ounces per square foot.
Power is supplied by two G-38 engines, the radio is a Futaba 9Z, and GWS servos are used. This Do 15 is capable of dropping four bombs.
The model is finished with Super Coverite and Krylon® paint. It took Bruce six months to build.
Focal Point
RC Specials
Robert A. Miller (2020 Siefkin, Wichita KS 67208) likes the 1988 version of the RC Special by the late Bill Winter and John Hunton.
Robert built the original 61-inch RC Special (in foreground) from a Davey kit in 1992. It is powered by a SuperTigre G-51, and has made more than 100 flights.
Later he built a bigger version. He scaled up the original plans by 33% and scratch-built the RC Special Enlarged with an (International Miniature Aircraft Association-legal) 81-inch wingspan. This model weighs 11 pounds and is powered by a SuperTigre 90 engine.
"Both models fly very well," wrote Robert.
Giles G-202
Christopher Mulder (1223 Bedford Falls Ct., Ballwin MO 63021; E-mail: [email protected]) built the Great Planes model, which has a 59½-inch wingspan and weighs between six and seven pounds.
The YS .91AC engine fits nicely on the large front end and provides plenty of power. The radio is a Futaba standard six-channel.
"The only modification is a larger vertical stabilizer and rudder, which has helped to keep the airplane straight when slowing down for landing," wrote Christopher. "Otherwise, the airplane is fun to fly and does awesome Torque Rolls."
Christopher’s miniature schnauzer Maxx is also in the picture.
Sukhoi Su-29
This is James Heuer’s (3623 Tarpon Dr., Lake Havasu City AZ 86406) Model Tech Sukhoi, which has a chicken as the pilot.
The airplane has a 62-inch wingspan, weighs nine pounds, is covered with MonoKote®, and has a Magnum 91 four-stroke engine. The radio is an Airtronics V-600.
According to James, the Su-29 offers great balanced aerobatics and fast, steady landings.
Proud of your latest building/flying effort? Share it with MA’s readers!
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- Send to: Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302; Attn: Focal Point.
Because of this section’s popularity, it may be several months before your model is featured.
"Korean Combatants"
Mark Schuler (4 March Ct., Columbia IL 62236-1500) scratch-built both jets from Gus Morfis’ 704 combat plans. He modified the plan to get more of a "scale look."
Both aircraft are finished with MonoKote® and vinyl graphics. Mark completed the MiG-15 (in back) last year, which was the third season for the F-86.
The MiG-15 is powered by an O.S. .32 and the F-86 has a MECOA .32.
"Both jets are very fast," wrote Mark.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
