Smalle-Field Flying-2011/12

IT IS ALWAYS HARD for me to
comprehend that another year has come and
gone. Time seems to slip by quickly, and here
we are at the end of another year. For many of
us, that means the building season has arrived.
Because we are entering the building
season, I thought it would be nice to share
plans for some quick-build, foam-based,
small-field models. Thanks to the generosity
of column readers, I have three different
models and associated plans to offer as you
decide which projects will get your attention
this building season.
To begin, we have the Mini-E-Bipe from
Carl Hock. In the October 2011 column I
mentioned seeing the model at the 2011 Small
Model Airplane Lovers’ League (SMALL)
event. Carl used the plan for a 1/2A profile CL
biplane to develop a scaled-up foam-based
model for RC.
Carl’s Mini-E-Bipe has a 20-inch
wingspan and a flying weight of 6.7 ounces.
The model has a wing loading of 4.4 ounces
per square foot and is powered with a BP
Hobbies A2204-19 brushless motor driven by
a two-cell 450 mAh LiPo battery pack. The
model has great performance and is just right
for small-field venues.
If you also like to fly CL models, Carl
plans to have a CL version of the Mini-E-Bipe
available for download.
Next up is the Baby Blue X1 from Jack
Pignolo. Jack shared his Origami E2 design
and plan in the June 2010 column. Like the
Origami E2, Jack’s BB-X1 is built using fanfold
foam. It has a 30-inch wingspan and a
flying weight of 11 ounces. Power comes
from a Hobby Lobby SK 400XT brushless
motor and a three-cell 800 mAh LiPo battery
pack.
The BB-X1 uses a symmetrical airfoil
developed by folding the foam sheet around a
spar. The wing loading of 4.2 ounces per
square footmeans this is another model wellsuited
for smaller fields. Both the plans for the
BB-X1 and the Mini-E-Bipe are available for
free download from my website, which is
listed under “Sources.”
Finally, we have the Double Trouble from
Jerry Hagood. This is an updated design from
the one Jerry shared in the December 2010
column. You may recall that Jerry and his
fellow club members have fun with fullcontact
Combat. They fly smaller, lightweight
models at each other to see which will be the
last one flying. It’s not easy, but they have fun
trying.
Jerry’s models are different from Combat
models intended for streamer-cutting. Since
he and his group want to actually hit the
opponent’s model, the aircraft are designed so
the propeller and other vital components, such
as the battery pack, are protected.
The Double Trouble has a 28-inch span
and is also made from fan-fold foam. As the
name implies, this full-contact Combat model
uses two motors. The twin setup provides
more punch and corresponding excitement.
The power setup is two Feigao 1308430S
motors and two BP10 ESCs from BP Hobbies
(see “Sources”). The flying weight is 12.5
ounces. Twin two-cell 1600 mAh LiPo battery
packs supply the juice to the motors. This plan
is also on my website.
The Air Tractor 502 and Pat Tritle: Within
the world of agricultural aircraft, the name
Leland Snow is big. He designed a number of
the workhorse agriculture aircraft used today.
One of his recent designs is the Air Tractor
series produced by Air Tractor Inc. of Olney,
Texas.
The Air Tractor 502 is a popular aircraft in
the series and has been the subject of a smallfield
Scale model from Pat Tritle. Sporting a
40-inch wingspan and a flying weight of 7.3
ounces, Pat’s Air Tractor 502 model is just
right for our small-field venues. It uses allflight
controls with separate servos for each
aileron. Power is supplied by an eFlite Park
250 brushless motor driven by a two-cell 430
mAh LiPo battery pack.
Pat says the model can be flown in a scale
manner, including wingover crop-duster turns,
or it can be flown doing non-scale maneuvers
such as loops and rolls. Short kits are available
from Pat. See the “Sources” listing for Pat’s
Custom Models.
Halberstadt CL.II from Bill Bradley: Do you
get the idea that I am pushing building a model
or two this winter season? Well, you are
correct. Just in case I haven’t quite inspired
you yet, here is one more potential winter
project.
Past column contributor Bill Bradley
(no relation) has another short kit offering.
He has developed a beautiful 40-inch
model of the World War I Halberstadt
CL.II. It uses a Rimfire .10 brushless
electric motor for power. Energy is delivered
Also included in this column:
• Small-field model plans
• Pat Tritle’s 40-inch Air Tractor
• Bill Bradley’s Halberstadt
• 80-year-old John Kunte’s fleet
• Ralph Bradley’s electric/glow
Sterling Mambo
Ralph Bradley’s completed electric/glowpowered
Sterling Mambo was mentioned
in the August 2011 column.
Inspired by a 1/2A Profile CL model, Carl Hock’s
20-inch Mini-E-Bipe is perfect for small-field flying.
December 2011 87
by a three-cell 1750 mAh LiPo battery pack.
Bill is offering a short kit of the model via
Manzano Laser Works (see the “Sources”
listing). The short kit includes vacuum-formed
parts for the dummy engine and cowl. The
photo insert gives an idea of how the dummy
engine parts look on the finished model.
To generate the classic German World War
I color scheme, Bill used ink jet-printed tissue
applied over white Polyspan. I also like to use
ink jet-printed tissue on some of my smallfield
models. My approach is to use white
CoverLite under the tissue, but the result is the
same: a nicely decorated model with a durable
covering.
Turning 80 and still building and flying great
models: I don’t know about you, but if I reach
the age of 80 I hope I am still building and
flying model airplanes. Such is the case for
John Kunte of Rome, Pennsylvania.
John sent me some photos of his aircraft.
The 80-year-old has a nice range of electricpowered
models.
Included in John’s fleet are a plans-built
Pat Tritle Shoestring (Model Airplane News
plan), a 48-inch Curtis Falcon built from a
rubber FF plan that was doubled in size, and a
reduced-scale (44-inch) Pattern design called
the Peppermint Patty. A sporty racer, a gentle
biplane, and a Pattern model—quite a range
of flying qualities.
Based on the photos, it is easy to see that
John’s building skills are still sharp and his
flying abilities are also good. Thanks, John,
for sharing your models with us.
A follow-up on Ralph Bradley’s electric/glow
Sterling Mambo: In my August 2011 column,
I shared with you the vintage Sterling Mambo
being built by my brother, Ralph. He was
striving to keep the vintage look of the glowpowered
model while using a modern electric
motor for power and electronics.
I wanted to show you the finished model.
The Fox .15 in the nose is not the actual
power source for the propeller. Hidden inside
the fuselage is a PJS 800 brushless outrunner
Pat Tritle has created a 40-inch model of the
Air Tractor 502 agricultural aircraft.
Left: Advancing in years does not mean you
quit building and flying nice models, as
demonstrated by 80-year-old John Kunte’s
fleet.
Bill Bradley is offering a kit of his 40-inch
Halperstadt CL.II that includes parts for
the dummy engine.
Below: With a 30-inch span and flying
weight of 11 ounces, Jack Pignolo’s Baby
Blue X1 is made for small-field flying.
Left: Jerry Hagood, of full-contact Combat
flying fame, has created a twin-motor
version of the design he presented in the
December 2010 issue of MA.
motor that drives the propeller with an
extension shaft.
It is difficult to see in the photo, but the
rudder is also driven by a torque rod as was
done in the past. The only difference is that
the head end of the torque rod is controlled by
a servo rather than an escapement. The end
result is a nice flying model that keeps the
vintage look, but has the convenience of
modern components. A video of the aircraft
flying is online at www.youtube.com/
watch?v=HHb6Ke3iCms.
This is a wrap for now. Don’t be bashful
about sharing your latest projects. My contact
information is in the “Sources.” MA
Sources:
BP Hobbies
(908) 431-5603
www.bphobbies.com
Pat’s Custom Models
(505) 296-4511
www.patscustom-models.com
Manzano Laser Works
(505) 286-2640
www.manzanolaser.com
Paul Bradley
10201 Scarletoak Dr.
Independence, KY 41051
[email protected]
www.parmodels.com