Thistle: Want to try a sport Electric FF? Thistle fill the bill!
This small Electric airplane provides a chance to sample a new and different aspect of modeling. For years, all models were rubber and gliders; then came gas engines, U-Control, and radio control. Now it's expensive radios, $80 front ends for rubber models, $600 fiberglass-and-foam gliders, and $6,000 unlimited racers. Forget progress-here's $20 worth of fun!
RC Thistle
EACH CATEGORY OF FLYING models has advocates for making models that are as small as possible-maybe it's because modeling is a miniaturization of full-scale aviation. Radio control can definitely be included; several Indoor models have flown successfully with very light radio equipment. After many years, tiny commercially available radio equipment has been developed. The original (free flight) Thistle was published in the February 1995 Model Aviation; the article gives the particulars of constructing an all-balsa light aircraft. Small aircraft are often constructed with light tissue covering, but by using light balsa Thistle has a better chance of surviving entanglements with bushes and other hazards. Also, because the motor is mounted up high and in a pusher configuration, it is protected-even in a serious collision. Most mishaps can be readily repaired with a little cyanoacrylate (CyA) glue.
