Focal Point
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie, IN 47302
Stinson Reliant
Donald Kaar’s (5111 S. 99 St., Omaha, NE 68127; E-mail: dlkaar@cs.com) TopFlite® Stinson Reliant SR-9 is powered by an O.S. 300 five-cylinder radial engine.
He used Coverite™ 21st Century® fabric and paint. The cowl, wheel-pant covers, and leading edges of the wing, rudder, and elevator are trimmed with paint. Donald put the elevator servos in back to keep the halves centered better.
The SR-9 weighs 25 pounds, and a great deal of that is six pounds of engine. Donald planned to switch to a Zenoh G-38 engine after several flights, to cut weight. He flies with a Futaba Super 7 radio.
Edge 540T
Richard Breines’ (1724 Donna Rd., West Palm Beach, FL 33409; E-mail: Acrobr@aol.com) Godfrey Edge 540T is powered with an M&R 100 twin engine and guided by a Futaba 8U radio with eight 9402 servos and one 3003 servo. It weighs 24½ pounds.
This photo was taken at the inaugural Palm Beach Skyhawks IMAC (International Miniature Aerobatic Club) Season Finale, in which Richard placed first in Sportsman.
“With the Edge’s excellent flight performance and a lot of practice I was honored with a third place finish overall in the Florida State Championship (Sportsman Class),” he wrote.
For more info about the airplane and engine, go to www.bobflies.com.
Douglas Dauntless
Ralph W. Duttweiler (1229 E. Silver Thorn Loop, Hernando, FL 34442) constructed his Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bomber from a Heritage R/C kit.
At the time of this photo, it was only awaiting the installation of a radio to be ready to fly. The model was built with operating flaps and retracts, and is powered by an H&B .61.
“Features which I added were a tailhook, a dummy bomb with a trapeze release, and the rear gunner’s machine gun,” wrote Ralph.
Fieseler Storch
Andrew E. Andrews (266 Stillhouse Rd., Franklin, NC 28734) built his model from Model Aviation plans (number 136).
The aircraft is covered with Super Coverite™ and painted with dope. It is powered by a Saito 30 four-stroke engine.
“It flies very, very realistic, and takes off and lands like the real one would!” wrote Andrew.
Enjoys Building
“I have built 10 airplanes, and all but three have been kit built,” wrote Jerry Scott (3045 Fawn Ln., Jackson, MI 49201). “I enjoy building as much as I do flying.”
Jerry has two 40-size Cubs—one on wheels and the other on floats, which he has 46 flights on—but he favors this one.
The model is powered with an O.S. 70 four-stroke engine, spans 76½ inches, and weighs 7½ pounds. It has a four-channel Futaba FM radio.
“It is a real scale-looking floatplane in the air,” wrote Jerry.
SlowPoke 40
Winn Kaush’s (416 Kellogg Ave., Luling, LA 70070) SlowPoke was built from a Great Planes kit.
The radio is a Futaba, and the engine is an O.S. .46 FX. The model is covered with MonoKote®, and the covering colors and design are by Winn’s wife Marge.
1911 Avro Type D
Jay Maguire (13852 S.W. 111th Ave., Dunnellon, FL 34432; E-mail: jrmretired@earthlink.net) scratch-built his model from George Marsden plans. It took two years to complete.
The Avro spans 94 inches, is powered by a Laser 150 four-stroke engine, uses a Futaba seven-channel PCM radio, and is covered with Antique Super Coverite™ sprayed with the “old K&B clear.” The pilot and passenger are by Diane Chevalier.
The model features wing warping, homemade wire wheels (with help from the article “Wire Wheels for Antique Aeroplanes” by Alex Morton in the September 1998 Model Aviation), 120 safety-wired turnbuckles, 500 cable swages, and 200-foot rigging and control wire.
Original Design
William J. “Bill” Witte (Box 46, Bath, NH 03740) sent this photo of Jared Haehnel (White River Junction, VT) with a scratch-built trainer that Bill designed circa 1979.
The model spans 60 inches, weighs 5½ pounds, and is powered with an H&B .40 engine with an O.S. 3A carburetor. The radio is a Tower six-channel. Covering is Sig Koverall with Sig dope.
This model has many flights, and Jared soloed with it.
Big Bees
Charles J. Redifer (18655 W Bernardo Dr. Apt 214, San Diego, CA 92127; E-mail: credifer@cts.com) is holding his Big Stagger Bee, and his Big Speedy Bee is on the table.
The Stagger Bee is the third Clancy Aviation design that Charles has scratch-built from plans enlarged 150%. Andy Clancy’s Stagger Bee is a caricature of the 1930s-era Beech Staggerwing. Charles had to have this model for his first biplane.
The Stagger Bee’s top wing spans 44½ inches, the bottom wing spans 38¼ inches, the wing chord is 15 inches, the wing area is 705 square inches, the fuselage length is 45 inches, the wing loading is 18 ounces per square foot, and it weighs 90 ounces.
“I think that the larger airplanes fly better and are big enough for me to see,” wrote Charles.
Fiery Sportster
John S. Baird’s (3637 Astral Dr., Sacramento, CA 95827; E-mail: Mbaird123@yahoo.com) Super Sportster 90/120 is powered by a Saito 150 engine with a JR 8103 radio.
John is the builder/pilot, but the flame design was done by his sister-in-law Amy Nagle. The bottom side is covered nose to tail with 1/4-inch-square checkers.
According to John, it’s “loads of fun!”
Cloud Kitten
Gary Verrier (59 Claret, Irvine, CA 92614; E-mail: alb147@aol.com) scratch-built this Cloud Kitten designed by the late Fred Reese from Radio Control Modeler plan 1274.
The Cloud Kitten was designed for a .15 engine, but all Gary had was an O.S. .20 RNV. So he moved the firewall back a half inch and added extra balsa to accommodate the added horsepower. The center of gravity was good without adding lead.
“This is my first scratch-built aircraft and it was a blast to build,” wrote Gary.
RC Fleet
Bob Hylander (284 Tall Timbers Rd., Glastonbury, CT 06033; E-mail: bobbyhylander@compuserve.com) “resurrected” his fleet of Radio Control aircraft from storage after being out of the hobby since 1978.
The Midwest Sweet Stick (with an O.S. .40) was built and first flown in 1974. The Joe Bridi Kaos (with an O.S. .60) is from 1975, and the Concept Models Fleet Biplane (with an O.S. .40) was first flown in 1977.
The models have been equipped with new Hitec radio equipment. The only refurbishment necessary was to tighten the MonoKote® and Coverite™ films and replace brittle nylon control-system clevises.
“All three airplanes fly well; the slightly underpowered fleet looks very scale in flight.”
Modified Dirty Birdy
Stanton Blair's (1027 East St., Oxnard, CA 95963) model has a Dirty Birdy wing and forward fuselage, and the rest is "slightly modified."
The 7½-pound model is covered with Microlon, and the paint is Coverite™ Black Baron spray epoxy. It was originally powered by a Webra .61 Black Head, which was changed to a Fitzpatrick .61, and is controlled by a Futaba six-channel FM radio.
"It is a smooth flier and does unbelievable spins," wrote Stanton.
CAP 232
Wilson Roque (9758 S.W. 97th St., Ocala, FL 34481) sent this picture of his good friend Herb Brokof (9085 S.W. 90th St., Ocala, FL 34481).
The Hangar 9 CAP 232 Almost Ready to Fly spans 73 inches, is powered by an MDS .14R engine, has a C.B. spinner, a 16 x 8 APC propeller, a JR 8103 radio, an R-600 receiver, and Hitec servos.
"Herb is a longtime modeler, great builder, and flier, who helped many people to start on this hobby," wrote Wilson.
"Something Fishy"
Bill Bunn (1225 N.W. 21st St. Apt. 314, Stuart, FL 34994; E-mail: gbunn@prodigy.net) enclosed a photo of a scratch-built original design called "Something Fishy."
"Powered by an O.S. .60 FP engine, 'Fishy' swims on its side or inverted very well," wrote Bill.
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Please include your full address (including E-mail, if available) so that interested parties may contact you directly. Send to: Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie, IN 47302; Attn: Focal Point.
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Electric Kadet
Dawson Gillaspy (2664 Highbush Cove, Long Neck, DE 19966; E-mail: daws@lusa.com) converted his Sig Kadet LT-25 to electric power.
The 7¼-pound model has an AstroFlight 25 motor with 3.1:1 Super Box, a 14 x 10 propeller, and 12 2400 mAh batteries. The receiver is an FMA eight-channel Fortress, and the transmitter is the JR 8103.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
