Focal Point
Skyfire
Hernan Paulet (222 Ranchview Dr., Vandalia OH 45377; email: [email protected]) purchased the plans for this Skyfire in November 2011.
Hernan wrote: "The 1970s design used a heavy construction technique. I altered it to save weight and simplify the control system. Originally the power plant was an Enya .45. Due to balance problems, I switched to electric power toward the end of the build. The batteries in front helped. I added a lower air scoop to provide cooling air to the speed control. The airplane flies very smooth. Characteristic to canards, the stall speed is very, very slow.
"The first flight was January 18, 2013. The airplane is dedicated to my greyhound friend, Skye."
Features on the Skyfire include a Rimfire .46 outrunner motor, five Futaba S3004 servos, a 12 x 6 pusher propeller, and a Futaba 7C radio. The model spans 58 inches and weighs 7.5 pounds.
Popsie-Toad
Gus Crosetto (12500 Palatine Ct., Potomac MD 20854; email: [email protected]) created his Popsie-Toad after his grandson, Marco, walked into the workshop and showed him a cutout of a frog, which is now the model's pilot.
Gus wrote: "I had just completed building the bones of an old Popsie from a set of plans I found on the Internet. As I was pondering a suitable color scheme, Marco pointed to the model and said, 'frog.' What a brilliant idea!
"The colors and finishes come from the frog, but Marco's contribution to the model was significant enough to earn his ownership of the model. Since he can't fly yet, I took him to the DC/RC field a few times, enough to trim the model and prove its airworthiness."
This version of the Popsie has a 40-inch wingspan and weighs approximately 24 ounces. Gus built a pair of floats so it could spin around the pool. When not in flight, Popsie-Toad hangs proudly in Marco's room.
Legacy
Terry Bolin (Neosho, Missouri) submitted a picture of one of his winter projects.
This model is an Allen Brickhaus Legacy made from balsa and plywood. It is a Brodak Manufacturing kit. A Super Tiger .51 powers the 61-ounce model.
"Great project!" wrote Terry.
One Nite 28
David Gerspacher (5164 Fischer Dr., Clarksville OH 45113; email: [email protected]) submits a picture of his son, Kyle, and his One Nite 28 P-30 model.
This was Kyle's first fully built-up stick-and-tissue model. It flies well and trimmed out easily. Kyle was 11 years old at the time of the photo and enjoys building as much as flying. He entered a contest at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana, and received first place in a P-30 event.
Focal Point
Boomerang Nano
David Weiss (9573 Fresh Crown Ct., Las Vegas NV 89148) converted his latest project to an EDF.
The Boomerang Nano's fan-and-motor combo is a Sapac America 100mm fan with a Scorpion 4035 motor and Castle Creations HV 120 ESC. David used Tam Jets brakes, wheels, and custom intake. A Spektrum DX8 controls the aircraft. Other features include twin six-cell, 5,300 mAh batteries in series, and Robart retracts and struts. After the picture was taken, David replaced the retracts with E-flite and Tam Jets trailing link struts.
"This is a great flier and the best thing is that it did not require an AMA turbine waiver. Many thanks to Tam of Tam Jets for all of his assistance on this project," wrote David.
Bumble Bee
Robert McDaniel (6561 Quiet Ct., Saint Leonard MD 20685; email: [email protected]) built this prototype Z-37 Čmelák, or Bumble Bee in English, using three-views and photographs from the Internet.
This model spans 83 inches and weighs 15 pounds dry. Its cockpit is located at the level of the wing's LE and above the nose. The unusually high landing gear ensures a safe landing on rough terrain.
The wing is a gull wing with three parts. The outer wing has 15-inch LE slats (not pictured) at the end of each tip for support. This single-seat, single-engine monoplane is mixed construction of balsa, fiberglass, and pine spars with stainless-steel rod landing gear.
"The Čmelák is an ideal aircraft even if it's not a thing of beauty. But it leaves a lasting memory to all who see it," wrote Robert.
Playboy
Michael Meskin (255 Coyote Trail, Rifle CO 81650; [email protected]) built this stick-and-film Old-Timer model from a kit by Spirit of Yesteryear.
He used an O.S. .10 electric motor with a Castle Creations Thunderbird 54-amp ESC and an 11 x 6 propeller. On its maiden flight in his back pasture, in less than one minute of power at half throttle, the Playboy was riding the thermals with resident hawks.
"The kit was mildly challenging, but a lot of fun and well worth it," wrote Michael.
Grumman Goose
John O. Suess (1217 Loblolly Ln., Conway SC 29526; email: [email protected]) built this Grumman Goose from AMA plans with his own interpretation.
The Goose is stick-built with better balsa and the stringers are spruce. The wing frame has 1/16 caps to add more strength. The body is sheeted 3/32 balsa and covered with Solartex.
John's model uses Futaba sport servos and a Futaba 2.4 GHz receiver. The motors are E-flite Power 10 brushless outrunners with 30-amp brushless speed controllers. The Grumman Goose weighs 4.5 pounds.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
