Harold Ruark

THE SPORTSMAN could easily be a scale model of a beautiful high-wing airplane of the '30s, with their unforgettable lines, or it could be one of the equally beautiful homebuilts of today. Actually, it is neither. The Sportsman was designed to look like a full-size airplane, with enough wing and tail to make it a pleasant flying machine. I have been a modeler for over 40 years, and as you can see, my age is controlling my style of thinking. This airplane is the result of two previous models, is flown with trike gear, and began with a .30 engine. The .30 engine just wasn't enough. The Sportsman is powered with an OS .40 and man, what a difference! Plenty of power for take-off, with no worries about snap rolls. A good 35 would be okay, but I consider the 40 to be just right.