Focal Point
Interested in sharing your handiwork? Visit www.ModelAviation.com for submission guidelines.
E-flite EC-1500
Ian Scott (Duluth, Georgia; email: idseng@bellsouth.net) submitted a photo of his E-flite EC-1500 cargo airplane with a new paint scheme. “After having the original EC-1500, I had to get the new, upgraded version,” he wrote.
Ian researched a number of similar aircraft and came across the British Antarctic Survey livery. The graphics are from Callie Graphics, and his good friend, Lee Fields, took the mid-flight photo. He stated that it “flies so sweet, with no bad habits. I’m looking forward to many more flights and dropping intrepid explorers out of the cargo door.”
SkyVolt
Bob Davis (Tangerine, Florida; email: rdavis@cfl.rr.com) had a Today’s Hobby SkyVolt kit designed by Bob Kopksi in his stash for many years. “I remember Bob in the late 1970s as one of the electric flight pioneers at our club in Hatfield, Pennsylvania,” Bob wrote. “I was a diehard nitro engine flier and looked at electrics with much disdain, but I got the kit anyway. I didn’t build it until this year.”
The SkyVolt was built using all of the original wood that came in the kit. Covered with UltraCote Lite in the color scheme on the box lid, it is powered with a Cobra C2217/12 motor and 2,200 mAh LiPo battery (“A far cry from the NiCd battery pack and brushed motor called for in the plans”), and it’s controlled with a Cobra C33A ESC. Bob uses four channels of a Futaba T12K radio and servos.
The 50-inch wingspan, 395-sq. in. airplane weighs 2.75 pounds with a semisymmetrical airfoil. Bob stated that it flies super at 1/3 throttle.
Cavalier
Don Barrett (Camarillo, California; email: dbarrett@engineer.com) built his classic-era, 35-size Control Line (CL) Cavalier from AMA plans number 50118. Designed by John Simpson in 1962, the model plans were published with two wing designs, a D-tube and an I-beam. “Before I knew better, I used the I-beam plans thinking it was the ‘in’ thing back in the days of Bill Werwage and the Ares,” Don noted. “Still, the I-beam construction method is an elegant way to build a model and I have come to prefer it!” According to Don, after subsequent correspondence with John, the model was built almost exclusively with the D-tube wing; the I-beam version was the first he had heard of!
Don adapted the Cavalier to electric power. MonoKote covering was used throughout instead of traditional silk and dope. He stated that it flies great on 60-foot lines with a Cobra 2820/840 motor and a 10.5 x 8 propeller with 2,700 mAh 4S batteries.
Don returned to CL recently after exclusively flying RC for many years. “It has definitely been an interesting journey going from those long-ago efforts to flying the AMA pattern now,” he wrote. “Living in Southern California, we get to fly most of the year, so the model gets a lot of use.”
Bob Dively Pitts S-2
Rick Marble (Hartford, Iowa; email: marbfam1@gmail.com) built this Bob Dively 1/3-scale Pitts S-2 that is covered in iron-on cloth and painted with Rust-Oleum in a color scheme found online of an Australian aircraft.
The wingspan is 81 inches, and the overall length is 76 inches. It is powered by a Zenoah G-62 engine and utilizes a B&B Specialties smoke system. The wooden airframe framed up much like the full-scale Pitts. The cockpit and front area are sheeted with aluminum; Rick stated that everything used was from the kit except for replacement wheel pants from Fiberglass Specialties.
“It was a fun winter build,” he stated. “The model flies quite well and has a great air presence.” Photo credit goes to Larry Zimmer, a fellow club member.
Blue Pants III
Blue Pants III is Keith H. Marks’ (Hummelstown, Pennsylvania; email: keith_marks@hotmail.com) third rendition of Belgian Henri Stouffs’ CL Stunt model winner from the 1954 World Championships. Powered by a diesel ED 2.46cc Racer, the original plans were published in Aeromodeller in January 1955 and are still available. “The thick wing airfoil, together with the 1-inch shorter outboard wing panel, were considered breakthrough state-of-the-art innovations in stunt airplane design at the time,” Keith wrote.
He continued, “Blue Pants remains a favorite in Old-Time Stunt Pattern events, is easy to build, and a pleasure to fly, especially in the round maneuvers. Obviously, it is not designed for present-day F2C Precision Aerobatics competition.
“As a boy 68 years ago, I acquired my ED 2.46cc Racer diesel engine that remains easy to start, runs beautifully, and continues to provide me with fond memories and pleasurable nostalgia of a bygone era.”
ARGO
Dave Horvath (Temple City, California; email: davehorvath@usa.net) sent in a photo of his new, scratch-built Aerobatic design, ARGO. “Marta, my wife, is now competing with this model in the Classic Pattern Advanced class,” he wrote.
The 58-inch wingspan model is powered by a Hacker A40-10L 14-pole outrunner motor and nano-tech 5S 4,000 mAh 35~70C LiPo battery, and it’s controlled by a JETI Advance 70-amp ESC. It is covered with UltraCote.
OSMW Minuette
Ken Lawrence’s (El Cajon, California; email: mkaway@cox.net) newest creation is an Old School Model Woks (OSMW) Minuette with a few modifications.
Ken changed the main landing gear to a “bedstead” style and added a bicycle-type tail wheel to more closely resemble the Blériot that first flew across the English Channel. He also altered the wing-rigging posts. Powered by the OSMW-suggested Cobra motor with an Innov8tive Designs 45-amp Rebel ESC on a 4S 3,600 mAh battery, the propeller is a XoAR 12 x 6 World War I scimitar. The radio gear is a Tactic transmitter and receiver running Hitec HS-82MG servos.
The maiden flight took place early in October 2023 and, according to Ken, it flew beautifully!
Sig Four Star 40
Tyler Miller’s (Anson, Texas; email: rocketboyz32@gmail.com) Sig Four Star 40 kit was kit-bashed into a mix of the Super Sportster/Four Star.
Modifications include a clipped wing, leading edge wing sheeting, round wingtips, a dual aileron servo setup, a round tail, a sheeted turtledeck, a removable balsa cowling, and many other details. It’s powered by a Saito 56 four-stroke engine, controlled by high-voltage mini servos, and guided by a FrSky radio setup. The airplane is covered in Value Hobby Neucover. It comes in at a lightweight 4-3/4 pounds.
Tyler noted that the airframe feels light while maintaining good control and flies inverted just like an airplane with a fully symmetrical wing. A blip of elevator to keep it level is all that’s needed.
