Spitfire
Joe Adamusko and I have shared a love of Spitfires for many years. In the spring of 1995 we committed to what was ultimately "The Spitfire Project." Little did we realize just how all-consuming the project would become, or how many people would contribute significantly to the final outcome. Bob Martens created one of the finest sets of drawings for a CL Stunter. He did most of the drawings from actual parts and templates used to construct the original two Spitfire models. Ed Gallagher was instrumental in the composite material work, expert machining of the spinner male molds and backplates by Ron Kieffer, anodizing by George Venturini; and vacuum-forming of the canopies was done by Dave Midgley. As the design was evolving, we went back and forth almost endlessly. Joe and I drew up so many plans that the postman even commented on the increase in mail that spring. Joe massaged my drawings, I made changes to his, and eventually we arrived at the design you see here. It didn't come easily, cheaply, or quickly, but the result is exactly what we had in our minds' eyes in the beginning.
Making Composite Gear Doors
Of all the parts of our models that take a beating, the landing gear doors rank right up near the top. This is especially true if you fly from grass runways or Control Line circles. I have tried many ways to make these parts more bulletproof. Making the gear doors from plywood (instead of balsa) helped. A few layers of lightweight cloth helped even more, but I still wanted a better solution to this problem. Since I fly from grass most of the time, I was constantly repairing cracks and chipped paint on these delicate parts. Once a crack developed, oil soaked in and each successive repair was more difficult. Most of my models are near-scale types, so using bare wires wasn't the solution I was looking for either.
MiG Sweeper
SEMISCALE model jet airplanes have always fascinated me. I have designed and built several, including a Blue Angels' and an F-16 Thunderbird. The MiG presented here, however, because of its theme, composition, and character, has proven itself worthy of distinction beyond my past creations. In particular, its red and white aerobatics paint scheme and its awesome dimensions make it standout vividly among other Stunt ships of conventional proportion.
