The desire to scratch build and fl y
something unique is alive and
well—at least among members
of the Radio Control Club of Detroit
(RCCD). ARF models provide a level
of instant gratifi cation for many of us,
but there also exists a creative side in
some of us that ARFs just don’t satisfy.
I had been looking for a way to
foster model building in our club. From
conversations with many club members,
I recognized that some want to build but
do not know how to get started.
Dave Biegas did a fantastic
job with his rst scratchbuild
project. It required
only minor trimming on its
maiden flight.
Don Veres II
powered his Stik
with three O.S.
engines: a 32 and
two 25s
Pete Mlinarcik, who
did much of the
design work, is shown
with his two creations. Encouraging
creativity, George
Dudek modeled
his Stik after a
Polish prototype
PZL P-62 fighter
RCCD members proudly hold
some of their unique creations.
also are those who can build, but need
motivation to start cutting balsa again.
Four friends scratch-built nearly
identical models together and had a
great time. After talking with one of the
four, Pete “Rattlesnake” Mlinarcik and
I brewed a plan to expand this idea for
more club participation. The aircraft
was a custom Stik design and the timing
was ideal: the beginning of the winter
building season.
Club secretary, Peter “Maverick”
Van Heusden, offered the use of his
company’s laser cutter. Twenty-four club
members committed to building the
airplanes. Skill levels ranged from those
who had just overcome the challenge
of assembling their first ARF trainer, to
veteran builders who wanted to share
their experiences, as well as try a few
new techniques.
Prop Shop, our supportive local hobby
shop, bulk-ordered the wood for us.
Rattlesnake then created cutting layout
files on his computer for the laser cutter,
and the laser cutting was done during
the holidays. The “kits” were handed out
at the first club meeting of the new year,
and construction began.
We established a dedicated area on the
club’s website for sharing information
(see “Sources”) where Rattlesnake’s
detailed build instructions are posted for
download. There is a tips page, and each
builder has a page to display pictures and
describe progress on his airplane.
Someone started using call signs and
the idea spread. Some call signs were
requested, but most were earned. Many
club members became interested in the build Web pages, but
it soon became apparent that the pages were being monitored
by more than just the participants. Some club members
received email comments and questions from the other side
of the world.
One satisfying aspect of the project was the help that
members gave each other—building together, sharing ideas
at the ground schools, or simply being at the other end of a
telephone call. Naturally, the communication also took the
form of encouragement and good-natured ribbing, such as
when Don “Hollywood” Veres II glued in a couple of wing
ribs upside down despite the word “bottom” being laseretched
on each rib. There was a suggestion to change his
“Hollywood” call sign to “Bottoms Up!”
RCCD holds a club ground school once a month. We used
the first few meetings of the year to showcase progress on our
projects, discuss challenges, solutions, intentions, and conduct
instruction sessions on aspects of building, such as covering
and equipment installation. Club members who were not
participating in the project were encouraged to attend the
ground schools to share in the information exchange as
instructors, learners, or both.
Individual aircraft progress varied as a function of
experience, time available for building, or building priorities.
Keith “Lightning” Jones lived up to his call sign. He was the
first to complete his project, in roughly
four weeks. By the mid-April club field
cleanup, more of the airplanes were nearing
completion.
Individuality in each model’s build was
encouraged, and the pictures highlight the
successes. The interpretations included
a biplane, a twin, a trimotor, influences
from various full-scale airplanes, creative
covering schemes, and glow and electric
power. A few members chose to explore
electric power for the first time, but
some found that building the airplane as
intended was all the challenge they wanted.
The following list is a sampling of the
models and the variety of interpretations:
• Rattlesnake’s biplane: After he decided to build his as a
biplane, Pete had two sets of wing ribs laser cut. He then
had to determine the amount of forward wing stagger and
wing separation. A flurry of emails and mocking up the wing
positions produced a “that-looks-about-right” setup.
The fuselage’s basic structure was inverted and turtledeck
formers were added to the top. Stringers were affixed fore and
aft of the cockpit area. He discovered what many modelers
discover with biplanes: it was becoming tail-heavy. He had to
extend the nose length.
Rattlesnake’s biplane garnered plenty of the attention at
the monthly ground schools—not only for the transformation
of an Ugly Stik to a good-looking biplane, but for the great
workmanship throughout the frame, especially in the cabaneand
interplane-strut design.
• George “Snapshot” Dudek’s PZL P-62: George modified the
build of his model to resemble the prototype Polish PZL P-62
fighter. Development of this full-scale aircraft was halted by
the outbreak of World War II.
For the model, Snapshot, like Pete, inverted the fuselage
and added planked top decking. Wing and tail feather
outlines were modified to hint at the P-62, and retracts were
integrated. A “deleted” Sukoi provided a canopy, which only
required minor trimming. The cowl is shaped balsa.
• Clint’s and Tee-Square’s Morane-Saulniers: Brothers Phil
The four friends who started it all: Dick Babisch, Pete Mlinarcik, George Dudek, and Joe Svatora.
Ground school meetings were used to
showcase progress on projects, discuss plans,
challenges, solutions, and conduct building
instruction sessions.
Pete Mlinarcik’s biplane lifts
off on a mail run. Did that
really start out as an Ugly
Stik? Brothers Phil and Jerry Laperriere present their
Morane-Saulniers at a club meeting. The pair
said they hadn’t spent this much time together
in years.
“Clint” and Jerry “Tee-Square” Laperriere chose to style their
airplanes after a World War I Morane-Saulnier, beautifully
capturing the spirit of the French monoplane. Presenting their
completed airplanes at a club meeting, they shared a poignant
observation: “We have not spent this much time together in a
long time.” The result of this brotherly cooperation is a pair of
spectacular models.
• Rookie’s Rookie: One of the highlights for me was assisting
Dave “Rookie” Biegas in getting his rst scratch-built airplane
in the air. As his call sign implies, this is Rookie’s rst year in
RC model aviation. The unmodi ed, but well-built, airplane
required minimal trimming to y well.
The reason for Dave’s big smile after the successful maiden
ight was obvious. My smile was from the satisfaction of
knowing that Rattlesnake and I had met our original objective.
We have cultivated at least one new builder.
• Iceman’s Twin: My inventory of power plants did not include
an unassigned .60-size engine. Two unused Russian-made
Norvel .40s in a drawer drove my decision to build a twin
and call it the RUStik. I also wanted the exibility to use the
airplane as a test bed for other power systems so the nacelles
and nose are removable. The airplane can be set up as a twin
or a single, or even as a trimotor! (Hollywood heard about the
idea and decided to build a trimotor from the outset).
To get the correct nacelle-to-fuselage spacing, an extra
11/2-inch rib bay was added to each wing at the root, giving
it an overall 70-inch wingspan. To compensate, the tail group
was moved rearward, without changing the fuselage sides.
The vertical n hinge line is 2 inches aft, and the horizontal
stabilizer hinge line is 1 inch rear of the design location.
Getting the Stiks together for a y-in only seemed natural—
and so did the event name—Stik Together Sticnic! This was an
excuse for club members to have fun; any airplane that could
trace its lineage to Das Ugly Stik was welcome. After all, it is
about doing something we enjoy, with those whose company
we enjoy, and sharing our achievements (and mishaps) with
them. Whether constructing from scratch or assembling an
ARF, model aviation is what draws us together.
More than 21 Stiks were own. Roughly 20 mph winds
grounded all but two aircraft, but more than 50 people
gathered for a hot dog barbecue and social event that evening.
As we approach the next building season, we want to try a
more advanced project. However, is the desire to scratch build
and y something unique still alive and well at RCCD? The
answer is clear—our participation has nearly doubled to 42
members.
I hope the success of our club project will encourage you to
share the building aspect of model aviation in your club. The
desire to scratch build may only need a little encouragement.
—Noel Hunt
[email protected]
SOURCES:
The Radio Control Club of Detroit
www.rccd.org
Prop Shop Hobbies, Inc.
(586) 757-7160
wwClub members “stik” together at the
RCCD eld. Any model that could
trace its lineage to Das Ugly Stik
was welcome.w.propshophobbies.com
Powered by two Russian-made Norvel .40s,
author Noel Hunt’s RUStik includes flaps that
also aid aileron function when the high-rate
switch is selected. The club’s next group project is the RCCD All Star 60, modeled a er
the Four Star 60
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/06
Page Numbers: 38,39,40,41
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/06
Page Numbers: 38,39,40,41
The desire to scratch build and fl y
something unique is alive and
well—at least among members
of the Radio Control Club of Detroit
(RCCD). ARF models provide a level
of instant gratifi cation for many of us,
but there also exists a creative side in
some of us that ARFs just don’t satisfy.
I had been looking for a way to
foster model building in our club. From
conversations with many club members,
I recognized that some want to build but
do not know how to get started.
Dave Biegas did a fantastic
job with his rst scratchbuild
project. It required
only minor trimming on its
maiden flight.
Don Veres II
powered his Stik
with three O.S.
engines: a 32 and
two 25s
Pete Mlinarcik, who
did much of the
design work, is shown
with his two creations. Encouraging
creativity, George
Dudek modeled
his Stik after a
Polish prototype
PZL P-62 fighter
RCCD members proudly hold
some of their unique creations.
also are those who can build, but need
motivation to start cutting balsa again.
Four friends scratch-built nearly
identical models together and had a
great time. After talking with one of the
four, Pete “Rattlesnake” Mlinarcik and
I brewed a plan to expand this idea for
more club participation. The aircraft
was a custom Stik design and the timing
was ideal: the beginning of the winter
building season.
Club secretary, Peter “Maverick”
Van Heusden, offered the use of his
company’s laser cutter. Twenty-four club
members committed to building the
airplanes. Skill levels ranged from those
who had just overcome the challenge
of assembling their first ARF trainer, to
veteran builders who wanted to share
their experiences, as well as try a few
new techniques.
Prop Shop, our supportive local hobby
shop, bulk-ordered the wood for us.
Rattlesnake then created cutting layout
files on his computer for the laser cutter,
and the laser cutting was done during
the holidays. The “kits” were handed out
at the first club meeting of the new year,
and construction began.
We established a dedicated area on the
club’s website for sharing information
(see “Sources”) where Rattlesnake’s
detailed build instructions are posted for
download. There is a tips page, and each
builder has a page to display pictures and
describe progress on his airplane.
Someone started using call signs and
the idea spread. Some call signs were
requested, but most were earned. Many
club members became interested in the build Web pages, but
it soon became apparent that the pages were being monitored
by more than just the participants. Some club members
received email comments and questions from the other side
of the world.
One satisfying aspect of the project was the help that
members gave each other—building together, sharing ideas
at the ground schools, or simply being at the other end of a
telephone call. Naturally, the communication also took the
form of encouragement and good-natured ribbing, such as
when Don “Hollywood” Veres II glued in a couple of wing
ribs upside down despite the word “bottom” being laseretched
on each rib. There was a suggestion to change his
“Hollywood” call sign to “Bottoms Up!”
RCCD holds a club ground school once a month. We used
the first few meetings of the year to showcase progress on our
projects, discuss challenges, solutions, intentions, and conduct
instruction sessions on aspects of building, such as covering
and equipment installation. Club members who were not
participating in the project were encouraged to attend the
ground schools to share in the information exchange as
instructors, learners, or both.
Individual aircraft progress varied as a function of
experience, time available for building, or building priorities.
Keith “Lightning” Jones lived up to his call sign. He was the
first to complete his project, in roughly
four weeks. By the mid-April club field
cleanup, more of the airplanes were nearing
completion.
Individuality in each model’s build was
encouraged, and the pictures highlight the
successes. The interpretations included
a biplane, a twin, a trimotor, influences
from various full-scale airplanes, creative
covering schemes, and glow and electric
power. A few members chose to explore
electric power for the first time, but
some found that building the airplane as
intended was all the challenge they wanted.
The following list is a sampling of the
models and the variety of interpretations:
• Rattlesnake’s biplane: After he decided to build his as a
biplane, Pete had two sets of wing ribs laser cut. He then
had to determine the amount of forward wing stagger and
wing separation. A flurry of emails and mocking up the wing
positions produced a “that-looks-about-right” setup.
The fuselage’s basic structure was inverted and turtledeck
formers were added to the top. Stringers were affixed fore and
aft of the cockpit area. He discovered what many modelers
discover with biplanes: it was becoming tail-heavy. He had to
extend the nose length.
Rattlesnake’s biplane garnered plenty of the attention at
the monthly ground schools—not only for the transformation
of an Ugly Stik to a good-looking biplane, but for the great
workmanship throughout the frame, especially in the cabaneand
interplane-strut design.
• George “Snapshot” Dudek’s PZL P-62: George modified the
build of his model to resemble the prototype Polish PZL P-62
fighter. Development of this full-scale aircraft was halted by
the outbreak of World War II.
For the model, Snapshot, like Pete, inverted the fuselage
and added planked top decking. Wing and tail feather
outlines were modified to hint at the P-62, and retracts were
integrated. A “deleted” Sukoi provided a canopy, which only
required minor trimming. The cowl is shaped balsa.
• Clint’s and Tee-Square’s Morane-Saulniers: Brothers Phil
The four friends who started it all: Dick Babisch, Pete Mlinarcik, George Dudek, and Joe Svatora.
Ground school meetings were used to
showcase progress on projects, discuss plans,
challenges, solutions, and conduct building
instruction sessions.
Pete Mlinarcik’s biplane lifts
off on a mail run. Did that
really start out as an Ugly
Stik? Brothers Phil and Jerry Laperriere present their
Morane-Saulniers at a club meeting. The pair
said they hadn’t spent this much time together
in years.
“Clint” and Jerry “Tee-Square” Laperriere chose to style their
airplanes after a World War I Morane-Saulnier, beautifully
capturing the spirit of the French monoplane. Presenting their
completed airplanes at a club meeting, they shared a poignant
observation: “We have not spent this much time together in a
long time.” The result of this brotherly cooperation is a pair of
spectacular models.
• Rookie’s Rookie: One of the highlights for me was assisting
Dave “Rookie” Biegas in getting his rst scratch-built airplane
in the air. As his call sign implies, this is Rookie’s rst year in
RC model aviation. The unmodi ed, but well-built, airplane
required minimal trimming to y well.
The reason for Dave’s big smile after the successful maiden
ight was obvious. My smile was from the satisfaction of
knowing that Rattlesnake and I had met our original objective.
We have cultivated at least one new builder.
• Iceman’s Twin: My inventory of power plants did not include
an unassigned .60-size engine. Two unused Russian-made
Norvel .40s in a drawer drove my decision to build a twin
and call it the RUStik. I also wanted the exibility to use the
airplane as a test bed for other power systems so the nacelles
and nose are removable. The airplane can be set up as a twin
or a single, or even as a trimotor! (Hollywood heard about the
idea and decided to build a trimotor from the outset).
To get the correct nacelle-to-fuselage spacing, an extra
11/2-inch rib bay was added to each wing at the root, giving
it an overall 70-inch wingspan. To compensate, the tail group
was moved rearward, without changing the fuselage sides.
The vertical n hinge line is 2 inches aft, and the horizontal
stabilizer hinge line is 1 inch rear of the design location.
Getting the Stiks together for a y-in only seemed natural—
and so did the event name—Stik Together Sticnic! This was an
excuse for club members to have fun; any airplane that could
trace its lineage to Das Ugly Stik was welcome. After all, it is
about doing something we enjoy, with those whose company
we enjoy, and sharing our achievements (and mishaps) with
them. Whether constructing from scratch or assembling an
ARF, model aviation is what draws us together.
More than 21 Stiks were own. Roughly 20 mph winds
grounded all but two aircraft, but more than 50 people
gathered for a hot dog barbecue and social event that evening.
As we approach the next building season, we want to try a
more advanced project. However, is the desire to scratch build
and y something unique still alive and well at RCCD? The
answer is clear—our participation has nearly doubled to 42
members.
I hope the success of our club project will encourage you to
share the building aspect of model aviation in your club. The
desire to scratch build may only need a little encouragement.
—Noel Hunt
[email protected]
SOURCES:
The Radio Control Club of Detroit
www.rccd.org
Prop Shop Hobbies, Inc.
(586) 757-7160
wwClub members “stik” together at the
RCCD eld. Any model that could
trace its lineage to Das Ugly Stik
was welcome.w.propshophobbies.com
Powered by two Russian-made Norvel .40s,
author Noel Hunt’s RUStik includes flaps that
also aid aileron function when the high-rate
switch is selected. The club’s next group project is the RCCD All Star 60, modeled a er
the Four Star 60
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/06
Page Numbers: 38,39,40,41
The desire to scratch build and fl y
something unique is alive and
well—at least among members
of the Radio Control Club of Detroit
(RCCD). ARF models provide a level
of instant gratifi cation for many of us,
but there also exists a creative side in
some of us that ARFs just don’t satisfy.
I had been looking for a way to
foster model building in our club. From
conversations with many club members,
I recognized that some want to build but
do not know how to get started.
Dave Biegas did a fantastic
job with his rst scratchbuild
project. It required
only minor trimming on its
maiden flight.
Don Veres II
powered his Stik
with three O.S.
engines: a 32 and
two 25s
Pete Mlinarcik, who
did much of the
design work, is shown
with his two creations. Encouraging
creativity, George
Dudek modeled
his Stik after a
Polish prototype
PZL P-62 fighter
RCCD members proudly hold
some of their unique creations.
also are those who can build, but need
motivation to start cutting balsa again.
Four friends scratch-built nearly
identical models together and had a
great time. After talking with one of the
four, Pete “Rattlesnake” Mlinarcik and
I brewed a plan to expand this idea for
more club participation. The aircraft
was a custom Stik design and the timing
was ideal: the beginning of the winter
building season.
Club secretary, Peter “Maverick”
Van Heusden, offered the use of his
company’s laser cutter. Twenty-four club
members committed to building the
airplanes. Skill levels ranged from those
who had just overcome the challenge
of assembling their first ARF trainer, to
veteran builders who wanted to share
their experiences, as well as try a few
new techniques.
Prop Shop, our supportive local hobby
shop, bulk-ordered the wood for us.
Rattlesnake then created cutting layout
files on his computer for the laser cutter,
and the laser cutting was done during
the holidays. The “kits” were handed out
at the first club meeting of the new year,
and construction began.
We established a dedicated area on the
club’s website for sharing information
(see “Sources”) where Rattlesnake’s
detailed build instructions are posted for
download. There is a tips page, and each
builder has a page to display pictures and
describe progress on his airplane.
Someone started using call signs and
the idea spread. Some call signs were
requested, but most were earned. Many
club members became interested in the build Web pages, but
it soon became apparent that the pages were being monitored
by more than just the participants. Some club members
received email comments and questions from the other side
of the world.
One satisfying aspect of the project was the help that
members gave each other—building together, sharing ideas
at the ground schools, or simply being at the other end of a
telephone call. Naturally, the communication also took the
form of encouragement and good-natured ribbing, such as
when Don “Hollywood” Veres II glued in a couple of wing
ribs upside down despite the word “bottom” being laseretched
on each rib. There was a suggestion to change his
“Hollywood” call sign to “Bottoms Up!”
RCCD holds a club ground school once a month. We used
the first few meetings of the year to showcase progress on our
projects, discuss challenges, solutions, intentions, and conduct
instruction sessions on aspects of building, such as covering
and equipment installation. Club members who were not
participating in the project were encouraged to attend the
ground schools to share in the information exchange as
instructors, learners, or both.
Individual aircraft progress varied as a function of
experience, time available for building, or building priorities.
Keith “Lightning” Jones lived up to his call sign. He was the
first to complete his project, in roughly
four weeks. By the mid-April club field
cleanup, more of the airplanes were nearing
completion.
Individuality in each model’s build was
encouraged, and the pictures highlight the
successes. The interpretations included
a biplane, a twin, a trimotor, influences
from various full-scale airplanes, creative
covering schemes, and glow and electric
power. A few members chose to explore
electric power for the first time, but
some found that building the airplane as
intended was all the challenge they wanted.
The following list is a sampling of the
models and the variety of interpretations:
• Rattlesnake’s biplane: After he decided to build his as a
biplane, Pete had two sets of wing ribs laser cut. He then
had to determine the amount of forward wing stagger and
wing separation. A flurry of emails and mocking up the wing
positions produced a “that-looks-about-right” setup.
The fuselage’s basic structure was inverted and turtledeck
formers were added to the top. Stringers were affixed fore and
aft of the cockpit area. He discovered what many modelers
discover with biplanes: it was becoming tail-heavy. He had to
extend the nose length.
Rattlesnake’s biplane garnered plenty of the attention at
the monthly ground schools—not only for the transformation
of an Ugly Stik to a good-looking biplane, but for the great
workmanship throughout the frame, especially in the cabaneand
interplane-strut design.
• George “Snapshot” Dudek’s PZL P-62: George modified the
build of his model to resemble the prototype Polish PZL P-62
fighter. Development of this full-scale aircraft was halted by
the outbreak of World War II.
For the model, Snapshot, like Pete, inverted the fuselage
and added planked top decking. Wing and tail feather
outlines were modified to hint at the P-62, and retracts were
integrated. A “deleted” Sukoi provided a canopy, which only
required minor trimming. The cowl is shaped balsa.
• Clint’s and Tee-Square’s Morane-Saulniers: Brothers Phil
The four friends who started it all: Dick Babisch, Pete Mlinarcik, George Dudek, and Joe Svatora.
Ground school meetings were used to
showcase progress on projects, discuss plans,
challenges, solutions, and conduct building
instruction sessions.
Pete Mlinarcik’s biplane lifts
off on a mail run. Did that
really start out as an Ugly
Stik? Brothers Phil and Jerry Laperriere present their
Morane-Saulniers at a club meeting. The pair
said they hadn’t spent this much time together
in years.
“Clint” and Jerry “Tee-Square” Laperriere chose to style their
airplanes after a World War I Morane-Saulnier, beautifully
capturing the spirit of the French monoplane. Presenting their
completed airplanes at a club meeting, they shared a poignant
observation: “We have not spent this much time together in a
long time.” The result of this brotherly cooperation is a pair of
spectacular models.
• Rookie’s Rookie: One of the highlights for me was assisting
Dave “Rookie” Biegas in getting his rst scratch-built airplane
in the air. As his call sign implies, this is Rookie’s rst year in
RC model aviation. The unmodi ed, but well-built, airplane
required minimal trimming to y well.
The reason for Dave’s big smile after the successful maiden
ight was obvious. My smile was from the satisfaction of
knowing that Rattlesnake and I had met our original objective.
We have cultivated at least one new builder.
• Iceman’s Twin: My inventory of power plants did not include
an unassigned .60-size engine. Two unused Russian-made
Norvel .40s in a drawer drove my decision to build a twin
and call it the RUStik. I also wanted the exibility to use the
airplane as a test bed for other power systems so the nacelles
and nose are removable. The airplane can be set up as a twin
or a single, or even as a trimotor! (Hollywood heard about the
idea and decided to build a trimotor from the outset).
To get the correct nacelle-to-fuselage spacing, an extra
11/2-inch rib bay was added to each wing at the root, giving
it an overall 70-inch wingspan. To compensate, the tail group
was moved rearward, without changing the fuselage sides.
The vertical n hinge line is 2 inches aft, and the horizontal
stabilizer hinge line is 1 inch rear of the design location.
Getting the Stiks together for a y-in only seemed natural—
and so did the event name—Stik Together Sticnic! This was an
excuse for club members to have fun; any airplane that could
trace its lineage to Das Ugly Stik was welcome. After all, it is
about doing something we enjoy, with those whose company
we enjoy, and sharing our achievements (and mishaps) with
them. Whether constructing from scratch or assembling an
ARF, model aviation is what draws us together.
More than 21 Stiks were own. Roughly 20 mph winds
grounded all but two aircraft, but more than 50 people
gathered for a hot dog barbecue and social event that evening.
As we approach the next building season, we want to try a
more advanced project. However, is the desire to scratch build
and y something unique still alive and well at RCCD? The
answer is clear—our participation has nearly doubled to 42
members.
I hope the success of our club project will encourage you to
share the building aspect of model aviation in your club. The
desire to scratch build may only need a little encouragement.
—Noel Hunt
[email protected]
SOURCES:
The Radio Control Club of Detroit
www.rccd.org
Prop Shop Hobbies, Inc.
(586) 757-7160
wwClub members “stik” together at the
RCCD eld. Any model that could
trace its lineage to Das Ugly Stik
was welcome.w.propshophobbies.com
Powered by two Russian-made Norvel .40s,
author Noel Hunt’s RUStik includes flaps that
also aid aileron function when the high-rate
switch is selected. The club’s next group project is the RCCD All Star 60, modeled a er
the Four Star 60
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/06
Page Numbers: 38,39,40,41
The desire to scratch build and fl y
something unique is alive and
well—at least among members
of the Radio Control Club of Detroit
(RCCD). ARF models provide a level
of instant gratifi cation for many of us,
but there also exists a creative side in
some of us that ARFs just don’t satisfy.
I had been looking for a way to
foster model building in our club. From
conversations with many club members,
I recognized that some want to build but
do not know how to get started.
Dave Biegas did a fantastic
job with his rst scratchbuild
project. It required
only minor trimming on its
maiden flight.
Don Veres II
powered his Stik
with three O.S.
engines: a 32 and
two 25s
Pete Mlinarcik, who
did much of the
design work, is shown
with his two creations. Encouraging
creativity, George
Dudek modeled
his Stik after a
Polish prototype
PZL P-62 fighter
RCCD members proudly hold
some of their unique creations.
also are those who can build, but need
motivation to start cutting balsa again.
Four friends scratch-built nearly
identical models together and had a
great time. After talking with one of the
four, Pete “Rattlesnake” Mlinarcik and
I brewed a plan to expand this idea for
more club participation. The aircraft
was a custom Stik design and the timing
was ideal: the beginning of the winter
building season.
Club secretary, Peter “Maverick”
Van Heusden, offered the use of his
company’s laser cutter. Twenty-four club
members committed to building the
airplanes. Skill levels ranged from those
who had just overcome the challenge
of assembling their first ARF trainer, to
veteran builders who wanted to share
their experiences, as well as try a few
new techniques.
Prop Shop, our supportive local hobby
shop, bulk-ordered the wood for us.
Rattlesnake then created cutting layout
files on his computer for the laser cutter,
and the laser cutting was done during
the holidays. The “kits” were handed out
at the first club meeting of the new year,
and construction began.
We established a dedicated area on the
club’s website for sharing information
(see “Sources”) where Rattlesnake’s
detailed build instructions are posted for
download. There is a tips page, and each
builder has a page to display pictures and
describe progress on his airplane.
Someone started using call signs and
the idea spread. Some call signs were
requested, but most were earned. Many
club members became interested in the build Web pages, but
it soon became apparent that the pages were being monitored
by more than just the participants. Some club members
received email comments and questions from the other side
of the world.
One satisfying aspect of the project was the help that
members gave each other—building together, sharing ideas
at the ground schools, or simply being at the other end of a
telephone call. Naturally, the communication also took the
form of encouragement and good-natured ribbing, such as
when Don “Hollywood” Veres II glued in a couple of wing
ribs upside down despite the word “bottom” being laseretched
on each rib. There was a suggestion to change his
“Hollywood” call sign to “Bottoms Up!”
RCCD holds a club ground school once a month. We used
the first few meetings of the year to showcase progress on our
projects, discuss challenges, solutions, intentions, and conduct
instruction sessions on aspects of building, such as covering
and equipment installation. Club members who were not
participating in the project were encouraged to attend the
ground schools to share in the information exchange as
instructors, learners, or both.
Individual aircraft progress varied as a function of
experience, time available for building, or building priorities.
Keith “Lightning” Jones lived up to his call sign. He was the
first to complete his project, in roughly
four weeks. By the mid-April club field
cleanup, more of the airplanes were nearing
completion.
Individuality in each model’s build was
encouraged, and the pictures highlight the
successes. The interpretations included
a biplane, a twin, a trimotor, influences
from various full-scale airplanes, creative
covering schemes, and glow and electric
power. A few members chose to explore
electric power for the first time, but
some found that building the airplane as
intended was all the challenge they wanted.
The following list is a sampling of the
models and the variety of interpretations:
• Rattlesnake’s biplane: After he decided to build his as a
biplane, Pete had two sets of wing ribs laser cut. He then
had to determine the amount of forward wing stagger and
wing separation. A flurry of emails and mocking up the wing
positions produced a “that-looks-about-right” setup.
The fuselage’s basic structure was inverted and turtledeck
formers were added to the top. Stringers were affixed fore and
aft of the cockpit area. He discovered what many modelers
discover with biplanes: it was becoming tail-heavy. He had to
extend the nose length.
Rattlesnake’s biplane garnered plenty of the attention at
the monthly ground schools—not only for the transformation
of an Ugly Stik to a good-looking biplane, but for the great
workmanship throughout the frame, especially in the cabaneand
interplane-strut design.
• George “Snapshot” Dudek’s PZL P-62: George modified the
build of his model to resemble the prototype Polish PZL P-62
fighter. Development of this full-scale aircraft was halted by
the outbreak of World War II.
For the model, Snapshot, like Pete, inverted the fuselage
and added planked top decking. Wing and tail feather
outlines were modified to hint at the P-62, and retracts were
integrated. A “deleted” Sukoi provided a canopy, which only
required minor trimming. The cowl is shaped balsa.
• Clint’s and Tee-Square’s Morane-Saulniers: Brothers Phil
The four friends who started it all: Dick Babisch, Pete Mlinarcik, George Dudek, and Joe Svatora.
Ground school meetings were used to
showcase progress on projects, discuss plans,
challenges, solutions, and conduct building
instruction sessions.
Pete Mlinarcik’s biplane lifts
off on a mail run. Did that
really start out as an Ugly
Stik? Brothers Phil and Jerry Laperriere present their
Morane-Saulniers at a club meeting. The pair
said they hadn’t spent this much time together
in years.
“Clint” and Jerry “Tee-Square” Laperriere chose to style their
airplanes after a World War I Morane-Saulnier, beautifully
capturing the spirit of the French monoplane. Presenting their
completed airplanes at a club meeting, they shared a poignant
observation: “We have not spent this much time together in a
long time.” The result of this brotherly cooperation is a pair of
spectacular models.
• Rookie’s Rookie: One of the highlights for me was assisting
Dave “Rookie” Biegas in getting his rst scratch-built airplane
in the air. As his call sign implies, this is Rookie’s rst year in
RC model aviation. The unmodi ed, but well-built, airplane
required minimal trimming to y well.
The reason for Dave’s big smile after the successful maiden
ight was obvious. My smile was from the satisfaction of
knowing that Rattlesnake and I had met our original objective.
We have cultivated at least one new builder.
• Iceman’s Twin: My inventory of power plants did not include
an unassigned .60-size engine. Two unused Russian-made
Norvel .40s in a drawer drove my decision to build a twin
and call it the RUStik. I also wanted the exibility to use the
airplane as a test bed for other power systems so the nacelles
and nose are removable. The airplane can be set up as a twin
or a single, or even as a trimotor! (Hollywood heard about the
idea and decided to build a trimotor from the outset).
To get the correct nacelle-to-fuselage spacing, an extra
11/2-inch rib bay was added to each wing at the root, giving
it an overall 70-inch wingspan. To compensate, the tail group
was moved rearward, without changing the fuselage sides.
The vertical n hinge line is 2 inches aft, and the horizontal
stabilizer hinge line is 1 inch rear of the design location.
Getting the Stiks together for a y-in only seemed natural—
and so did the event name—Stik Together Sticnic! This was an
excuse for club members to have fun; any airplane that could
trace its lineage to Das Ugly Stik was welcome. After all, it is
about doing something we enjoy, with those whose company
we enjoy, and sharing our achievements (and mishaps) with
them. Whether constructing from scratch or assembling an
ARF, model aviation is what draws us together.
More than 21 Stiks were own. Roughly 20 mph winds
grounded all but two aircraft, but more than 50 people
gathered for a hot dog barbecue and social event that evening.
As we approach the next building season, we want to try a
more advanced project. However, is the desire to scratch build
and y something unique still alive and well at RCCD? The
answer is clear—our participation has nearly doubled to 42
members.
I hope the success of our club project will encourage you to
share the building aspect of model aviation in your club. The
desire to scratch build may only need a little encouragement.
—Noel Hunt
[email protected]
SOURCES:
The Radio Control Club of Detroit
www.rccd.org
Prop Shop Hobbies, Inc.
(586) 757-7160
wwClub members “stik” together at the
RCCD eld. Any model that could
trace its lineage to Das Ugly Stik
was welcome.w.propshophobbies.com
Powered by two Russian-made Norvel .40s,
author Noel Hunt’s RUStik includes flaps that
also aid aileron function when the high-rate
switch is selected. The club’s next group project is the RCCD All Star 60, modeled a er
the Four Star 60
