Focal Point
Republic Seabee
Mike Spring (email: springer900@gmail.com) scratch-built this Republic Seabee from dollar store foam.
The Seabee spans 35 inches and weighs 10.6 ounces without the battery. Power is provided by a 1,700 Kv 24-gram Blue Wonder motor with a cut-down 7 x 6 propeller flying on 850 mAh 2S LiPo batteries.
“She is a great pond flyer, gets up on step quickly, and lifts off at half throttle. I posted a build log on RCGroups at www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1625525,” wrote Mike.
2EZ
Jerry Hatfield (email: jshat@onlyinternet.net) and his son, Jim, designed and built this model from a crashed Long-EZ.
The fuselage has a new nose and an added engine. The outside of the fuselage to the outside of the tailbooms is built from scratch. The outer wing panels are recycled from the Long-EZ.
Two Saito FA-56 four-stroke engines power Jerry’s model. Jim test-flew the 2EZ and discovered that the model flew great.
Skooter 45
Jordon Peace (email: jordonpeace84@yahoo.com) scratch-built this Skooter 45 from a Flite Line kit.
The model has a foam-core wing like the original Skooter design. It spans 54 inches and is powered by a 10cc Evolution engine. The all-up weight is 5.8 pounds with two battery ignitions and five servos. A Spektrum radio provides guidance.
Jordon covered the Skooter 45 in flat black MonoKote trimmed with fluorescent pink UltraCote and silver Black Barron Film.
P-51 Mustang
Glenn Baker (email: geebee7676@aaahawk.com) submitted this on behalf of his friend, Barry. Barry wrote: “My 86-inch Aeroworks Mustang has me flying very confidently and gracefully. It has no bad tendencies in the air or on the ground. It tracks perfectly and lands like an aerobatic plane.
“This plane sports all of the RC Universe modifications available. It runs a DLE 55, Hitec servos, and Fromeco batteries, regulators, and switches. When I fly this airplane, I can almost put myself in the cockpit and feel connected to the plane. It is a pure joy to fly.
“My flying buddies have helped me all the way through the building and teething process that a warbird usually has. The Greater Southwest Aeromodelers of Fort Worth, Texas, is where this puppy lives and flies to stalk the skies for the enemy.”
Vans RV-4
Scott Burgess (email: scottastronut@aol.com) built this Vans Aircraft RV-4 from a Great Planes kit. This particular model is patterned (with permission) after the RV-4 flown by professional aerobatics pilot Justyn Gorman of the United Kingdom.
This model has a 55-inch wingspan and is powered by an O.S. .55AX engine with a Slimline Pitts-style muffler. Control comes from a Spektrum DX7s, a Spektrum seven-channel receiver, and Spektrum DS821 servos. The RV-4 has functional flaps, allowing the model to duplicate the short-field capabilities of the full-scale aircraft. The model has a wide flight envelope and is able to fly sport aerobatics like the full-scale aircraft.
Tom Henk’s Model
David Henk (email: dhenk@aol.com) shares this original design created by his uncle, Tom Henk.
Tom built his model eight years ago and it features a hand-turned aluminum cowl and welded aluminum N-struts and landing gear. The model flies with an O.S. .40 two-stroke engine and JR X631 radio. The wingspan is 52 inches with a flying weight of 6 to 7 pounds.
“The plane is an excellent flier and fully aerobatic. It is flown at the Jersey Coast Radio Control Club’s flying field where he [Tom] is a life member,” wrote David.
Antic Bipe
John Workman (email: jwwii78@yahoo.com) built and modified this 1970s-era kit by Lou Proctor.
“Those who remember the original 1960s monoplane version (and this follow-on biplane) know that they are the definition of ‘slow flyers’ for that era,” wrote John.
With a 65-inch wingspan, this model was modified to use electric power and four separate aileron servos, but kept the pull-pull linkages for the elevators and rudder. The model is covered in linen-colored Solartex with stained plywood and painted open structures. All flying wires are structural in nature. The model sports a well-known pilot and navigator, Snoopy and Woodstock.
Goldberg Skylark
Mike McCall (email: michael_mccall@bellsouth.net) built this Goldberg Skylark from a set of plans downloaded from Hip Pocket Aeronautics.
Changes made to the original plans include a solid wing mount instead of rubber bands, larger ailerons, rudder and elevator, and an electric motor replaced the glow engine. Mike made the canopy from a two-liter green plastic bottle that was heat shrunk over a wooden plug.
