Focal Point
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
P-51D
Jose L. Rodriguez (St. 15, P-16 Berwind Estates, Rio Piedras PR 00924) sent this photo of a model built by Gonzalo Bures.
The aircraft is kit-built, but the manufacturer of the kit is unknown since it's more than 25 years old. Gonzalo acquired the partially built model from another modeler. He had to resurface the fiberglass body and the fiberglassed foam-core wings and tail components.
The P-51 is equipped with drop tanks, flaps, and retractable gear. The power plant is a two-stroke .90 engine.
"The scaling details, such as markings and rivets, were all Gonzalo's work," wrote Jose.
"Bat Plane"
Roy Chandler (7509 Irongate Dr., Hixson TN 37343) designed and built the "Bat Plane." The model's wingspan is 49 inches, and power is provided by a SuperTigre .46.
According to Roy, flying characteristics are great, and the model is fun to fly.
His daughter Rebecca is holding the model.
CAP 232
John Braun (95 Atrium Way, Manalapan NJ 07726; E-mail: [email protected]) Hangar 9 1/4-scale CAP 232 was ordered in the all-white version, and the red-gold-and-black trim was added. The bottom of the airplane has a checkerboard trim job.
The CAP has a 73-inch wingspan and is powered by a Saito 180 four-stroke Golden Knight engine turning a 16 x 10 propeller.
There is a cockpit-mounted voltmeter to show onboard battery charge and an onboard glow starter that gives the engine a very low (1,600 rpm), reliable idle. The radio is a JR five-channel.
"The airplane has enough power to climb straight up and out of sight," wrote John.
Four-Star 60 with Floats
In September 2000, Delbert E. Belleman (540 Washington Pl., Lake Placid FL 33852-5156) modified this Sig Four-Star 60 using parts from the salvage end of his shed.
He used wingtip floats from an Ace Seamasters, and the fuselage floats are Great Planes 6.0-size floats.
The model has a K&B .65 engine and a Futaba radio. Only the kit and MonoKote covering are new.
"It's great-flying, fast becoming one of my favorite floatplanes," wrote Delbert.
"Flying Groovy"
Wayne Francke's (5001 Roberts Rd., McHenry IL 60050) model is a Tower Hobbies Uproar 40.
It is powered by a Thunder Tiger .40 engine and has a Futaba radio.
"I call this airplane 'Flying Groovy,' and that's the way it flies," wrote Wayne.
Perky Old-Time Speed
Ron Carr (418 Madrina Ct., Ballwin MO 63021) built this Megow Control Line model from the original 1946 plans. It was going to be entered in the Perky Millennium Old-Time Speed contest but was finished too late.
This 11½-ounce model is powered by a K&B .15 Torpedo Green Head engine. It has an 18-inch wingspan with suction tank, as required, and is timed for one mile, standing start.
The Perky was finished with silkspan and AeroGloss dope.
"The airplane really grooves and flies in the 60s, which is slow by today's standards," wrote Ron.
Pair of Staudachers
Chuck McCormick drew the plans for his and Jim Butler's (Box 118, Milton IL 62352) Staudachers.
The Aerobatics models span 48 inches and weigh 64 ounces apiece.
Chuck's Staudacher (left) has a balsa wing, a Hitec radio, an O.S. .40 FP for power, and is covered with MonoKote®.
Jim's model has a sheeted-foam wing, a Tower .40 engine, and Airtronics gear.
According to Jim, after dozens of flights his airplane is quite agile yet lands slow and steady.
Coronet 150
Jack Collins (43 Waffle Dr., Coldwater MI 49036) and Bud Tanner are shown at AMA Homecoming in June 2001 with Jack's Old-Timer model.
The 72-inch-span Coronet was built in 1989 from plans developed by D.B. Mathews and the accompanying article in the October 1988 Model Aviation (fan 598).
The model was constructed from balsa, plywood, and Lite Ply. It is covered with Transparent Blue and White MonoKote®.
The Coronet is powered by a 1946 Forster .29 engine with original spark ignition.
"It is the easiest-flying airplane I have had during my 35 years of RC (Radio Control) activity," wrote Jack. "Any modeler with moderate building skills could construct this fine model."
Douglas O-38B
Larry Frank's (3725 Evergreen Rd., Santa Rosa CA 95405) O-38B was modified with an O-38E deep cowl, which hides the Lazer 70 engine.
"As a teenager in the late 1930s, I used to see a pair of these O-30s flying off of a grass field at a National Guard airport in Griffith Park in Los Angeles," wrote Larry. "I thought it would be fun to have the only O-38 model flying at our field!"
Larry scratch-built his model from an 11 x 17-inch three-view drawing. He drew his plans to accommodate the Lazer 70, which he had on hand.
The O-38 spans 62 inches, has an 892-square-inch wing area, weighs 11.2 pounds (heavier than desired), and is covered with 21st Century® Fabric.
"Yes, it flies, but at this stage of my life I'm just going to hang it up and look at it!" wrote Larry.
Cardinal
Jim Morway's (1105 Marion Dr., Holly MI 48442) Brodak model is powered by a Double Star .50 engine.
Paint is Randolph Metallic Green and Brodak Clear, and the silver is .0005-inch-thick metal.
Jim's wife Kris is holding the Cardinal. She launches his Combat airplanes when he practices. "...but now if I need a launch it's usually [for] a Stunter airplane," wrote Jim.
Firecat
Joe Ortiz's (8604 N. Sayante Way, Tucson AZ 85743) wife Peggy holds his Firecat.
The model was built from a TCI Manufacturing kit. It is an Old-Time design by the Jim Walker Corporation, and it is powered by a Fox .35 stock engine.
According to Joe, the model is a great Stunt and training flier.
Double the Fun
David A. Payson (588 W. Winona Rd., Duluth MN 55803; E-mail: [email protected]) and his son Chuck are shown with their Great Planes CAP 232s.
David's model is powered with an O.S. Max .46 FX, and Chuck's CAP is powered with an O.S. Max FS-70.
"Both airplanes fly great with Airtronics radios," wrote David.
Citabria
Fred Coleman (4072 Lancewood Dr. S., Mobile AL 36609) poses with his ½-scale Midwest Citabria.
It is powered with an O.S. 91 four-stroke and has a Futaba radio. Fred has his own onboard ignition on the model, and the covering is 21st Century® Fabric. All the graphics were hand-cut from fabric.
"...it flies like a dream," wrote Fred.
Night-Flier
Carlos Grageda (1508 Portland Ave., Walla Walla WA 99362; E-mail: [email protected]) modified his Sig Kadet Senior from stock to serve as his night-flier.
He converted the model to conventional (tail-dragger) using Sig Four-Star 120 aluminum landing gear, a Klett 60-size tail-wheel assembly, and Sig wheel pants. He also enclosed and faired in the nose section with a Tru-Turn 2½-inch spinner.
The model is wired for 80 lights throughout the wing, fuselage, and tail. It also has a landing light and strobes. All lights are controlled by radio.
The Senior is covered with Transparent Orange and blue Super MonoKote® and trimmed with white Super MonoKote®.
It has an O.S. 61 FS four-stroke engine and is guided by an Airtronics Module Series radio system.
EAA Bi-Plane
Donald L. Jenkins (14113 80th Ave. N., Seminole FL 33776; E-mail: [email protected]) EAA Bi-Plane was built from a Balsa USA kit.
The model is powered by an Enya 91 four-stroke engine. Covering is 21st Century® Fabric, and the biplane incorporates a fiberglass cowling and wheel pants.
"It flies, I imagine, like the full-scale airplane does: nice, slow, and steady," wrote Donald. "Aerobatics require close attention to airspeed, but it lands very gently."
Not So Yellow
"Tired of 'yellow Cubs'?" asks Tom Brittain (1666 Mt. Olivet Ch. Rd., Lexington NC 27295; E-mail: [email protected]).
Tom had an old Carl Goldberg Models J-3 in his basement for approximately eight years. After blowing the dust off, making some minor modifications, adding four dummy cylinders, and using 21st Century® Fabric (Cream) and UltraCote® (Turquoise) for trim, the model has something that makes people ask, "What is it?"
"It's not Scale, but it sure was fun building and I'd forgotten how much fun it is to fly," wrote Tom.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
