Summertime and new kits
Paul Bradley
Where does the time go? We are more than halfway through the year. I hope you have been enjoying some great small-field flying so far this season.
For some of us who live in hotter climates, this season can also be a building period if you have access to a nice, air-conditioned workshop. If that is your good fortune, I have some new kits that may be worth considering.
First is a nice Kawasaki Ki-61 Tony from Paul Kohlmann. Paul has developed several Scale models that are perfect for the small-field flier. They are built-up balsa structures reminiscent of classic FF stick-and-tissue models.
Paul's Tony has a wingspan of 32 inches. With a two-cell, 1,000 mAh LiPo pack and a Hobby King Hextornik 24-gram 1,700 Kv motor up front (see the "Sources" listing), the Tony has a flying weight of slightly more than 9 ounces. It's a perfect setup for enjoying some nice, scale model flying in your small-field venue. Paul's Ki-61 is offered as a kit by Manzano Laser Works.
Paul Bradley's Turnaround 325
If you are looking for a model with more aerobatic performance, I can suggest one that I have enjoyed for several months. It is my own design and will be offered as a kit from BMJR Models. It is called the Turnaround 325 and has a 43.5-inch wingspan with a flying weight of 27 ounces.
The Turnaround 325 uses a motor, such as the E-flite Park 450, turning a 10 x 7 electric propeller. A three-cell LiPo battery pack in the 2,200 mAh-size range is used to power the motor. The model can perform any non-3-D maneuver within the confines of our small fields. Check the BMJR website for kit availability.
John Kunte's Nice Spitfire
John Kunte, from Rome, Pennsylvania, sent me some photos of his nicely built Spitfire. The model was crafted from Mark Rittinger plans published in Model Airplane News. John's Spitfire has a 43-inch wingspan and a flying weight of 29 ounces. It is powered by a Suppo 2212/10 motor from RC Hot Deals. Great work, John.
Ron Sims' Obscure Model Aircraft
Something you don't commonly see at your local field—but dedicated aviation enthusiasts may be aware of—is the British Miles M.22. I had not heard of this rare concept aircraft until I received a note from my friend, Ron Sims.
Small-Field Flying
Paul Bradley
Ron saw the aircraft in the November 2009 issue of Scale Aviation Modeller International. Its lines made him think of others, such as the de Havilland Mosquito. The model of the M.22 he built is foam and balsa but, not surprisingly, some ParkZone Mosquito parts found their way into the project.
The M.22 has a 19-inch wingspan. The finished weight is roughly 15 grams more than a stock ParkZone Mosquito because it requires plenty of nose weight to get the correct balance.
The model is finished as a high-altitude, photo reconnaissance airplane. Krylon Short Cuts spray paint was used for the base color.
It's another nice model, Ron.
Electric Power Without a Battery
I have the perfect solution for those warm summer evenings when the wind has died off and you would like to fly something quiet at or near your home.
TailorToys is offering a package for adding power to a paper airplane. It's called PowerUp and is a small, electric motor that gets its energy from a low-voltage, high-capacity capacitor. The capacitor is charged with a three-cell pack of AA batteries, which drives the motor with a nice power burst that decays as the capacitor discharges.
You can quickly recharge it as many times as you want with no degradation. The engine and capacitor are mounted on a carbon rod.
My friend, John Krouse, purchased a similar device from BP Hobbies. Instead of a paper airplane, however, he built his own airframes using 1mm Depron, tissue and balsa.
Although not RC, the 11-gram, 11-inch-span models provide plenty of FF enjoyment. The possibilities are unlimited. Thanks for the inspiration, John.
As always, please let me know what you are up to in the world of small-field flying. - Paul Bradley
SOURCES: Hobby King (800) 607-5803 www.hobbyking.com
Manzano Laser Works (505) 286-2640 www.manzanolaser.com
BMJR Models (321) 537-1159 www.bmjrmodels.com
RC Hot Deals (503) 766-4119 www.rchotdeals.com
BP Hobbies (908) 431-5603 www.bphobbies.com
TailorToys [email protected] www.poweruptoys.com
Paul Bradley 10201 Scarlet Oak Dr. Independence KY 41051 [email protected] www.parmodels.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
