Focal Point - 2001/04
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie, IN 47302
Laser 200
This is Kip Rohde’s (1030 Northshore Dr., Pewaukee, WI 53072) 33% Laser 200. It’s 1/3 scale.
The model is powered by a Quadra 100, has nine servos, and weighs 26 pounds. It’s covered with MonoKote®, and the cowl is painted with LustreKote™.
The Laser is equipped with a Bennett smoke system and Snoopy parachute.
"It flies incredibly!" wrote Kip.
Kip is a member of MARKS Club of Milwaukee, WI.
A Rare Model?
"Models of the Bell P-39 Airacobra—or even photos of them—seem to be a rarity," wrote Donald E. Love (1570 Paseo Grande Apt. 2041, Bullhead City, AZ 86442).
He built his nine-pound Airacobra from a Top Flite® kit. It has an O.S. .60 FP for power, a Futaba SkySport 4 radio, MonoKote® covering, and stock fixed gear.
Donald had some help from fellow club members; Jim Brown did the tan covering on the fuselage and Barry Hollor painted the canopy.
Donald noted that the P-39 flew well on its first test flight, and displayed no obvious bad habits.
Has to be Yellow?
Edward L. Martin (18 Rebel Dr., Asheville, NC 28805) built this Piper J-3 Cub from a Sig craftsman kit in the 1980s, and it "still flies as good as it looks," he wrote.
The plans were drawn by Mike Stott and Mike Gretz. The scale of the model is two inches = one inch. It’s accurate in each detail, down to the propeller.
The O.S. Max .35 provides realistic flight performance for the 72-inch-wingspan airplane.
"I strongly disagree with Carman Spadafora Sr. [in June 2000 'Focal Point']; Cubs must be yellow," wrote Edward. "If it’s not yellow, it’s not a Cub."
New Ruler at Dawn
Glenn Elliott (12434 Huntingwick, Houston, TX 77024; E-mail: whadaurmeddleme@webtv.net) sent this photo of his New Ruler.
Sonny Somante built the airplane from a photo in a magazine—with no plans.
The model has a 94-inch wingspan, an O.S. .48 four-stroke engine, and a Futaba radio. It features functioning wire struts, custom wire gear, and a steerable tail wheel.
Sonny and Glenn fly at Scobee Field in Houston, TX, "where there is an active group of 'Old-Timers' who meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays," wrote Glenn.
Gee Bee Profile
This is the second Great Planes Gee Bee Profile Robert Haveners (559 Chestnut St., Lynnfield MA 01940) has built. He won the first Gee Bee in a raffle for a $5 ticket, and it taught him about aerobatics and slow flight.
He did this one in the "other" Gee Bee color scheme with UltraCote®, and "overpowered it with a sweet-running Enya 50CX." It's a remarkably fast, slow, stable, and aerobatic platform, according to Robert!
"To maximize flying success, I put myself in the cockpit," he wrote. "A simple trick for anyone with a digital camera and a profile airplane."
Kawasaki Ki-61-I Hein
Jim Rowe (8207 W. Broadway, Forest Lake MN 55025; E-mail: Bro1945@usfamily.net) built his Ki-61 from Modeler Plans #203, drawn by Jack Albrecht.
The model has a 68-inch wingspan, weighs 6.4 pounds, has an O.S. .61 SF engine, and a Futaba six-channel FM radio. Jim's Hein was modified to scale from a plastic Hasegawa Ki-61-I 1/48-scale model of the Japanese Army 244th Fighter Group.
"Parts were transferred from the plans via seamstress transfer paper directly to wood," wrote Jim. According to him, the method works great, it saves time, and is accurate!
The vinyl graphics were scanned from plastic model decals—"another easy method for scalers," wrote Jim.
Super Skybolt
This is the last phase in the evolution of Rich Cope's (570 S. Guenther Ave., New Braunfels TX 78130) Great Planes Super Skybolt. Powered by a YS 1.20 engine and controlled by a Futaba four-channel FM radio since June 1994, flying weight is 10½ pounds and wing loading is 26 ounces/square foot.
The white original was covered with Coverite™ 21st Century® Fabric with aluminum and metallic red paint. The maiden voyage was June 6, 1994.
In May 1997, "after a post-tumbling maneuver flameout at roughly 75 feet altitude at the downwind end of the field, the model suffered minor damage during landing in a plowed field," wrote Rich.
After sitting for 2½ years, he repaired the model and covered it in a MonoKote™ Metallic Plum, Metallic Red, Metallic Gold, Chrome, and Metallic Teal color scheme, with LustreKote™ paint. The model is shown in February 2000.
"This well-traveled Skybolt is really super!" wrote Rich.
Jack Stafford Ercoupe
"I'm a modeler, not a photographer, so these pictures didn't really show all of the rivets on this Jack Stafford Ercoupe," wrote Barney J. McIlvain (4014 Buckeye Creek Rd., Kingwood TX 77339).
The model has an O.S. .40 SF engine, aftermarket fiberglass cowl, Robart forked nose gear, carbon-fiber spar, BB servos, and a Bisson muffler.
"It flies like a Cadillac," wrote Barney. According to him, the model is way too fast, but it flies very smoothly and wags its tail only in gusty conditions.
Grumman Skyrocket—Second Version
Bill Van Pelt took this photo of Larry Cressman's (28 Cottrell Rd., Matawan NJ 07747) Grumman Skyrocket coming in for a landing.
The model was scratch-built from Bob Banka's Aircraft Documentation. It has a Ryobi 31cc engine, an 88-inch wingspan, and weighs 26 pounds.
Duster
Thomas W. Haake (174 Holly Hill Rd., Richboro PA 18954) sent this photo of a Duster, taken at the Delaware Valley RC Club field.
The airplane was featured as a construction article in the March 1999 Model Aviation, and is plan 871.
Bill Pompilli (Warminster PA) built the model, and he is proud of it. The Duster has more than 50 flights on it, and it reads 89 decibels using AMA noise-testing procedures.
Engine is an O.S. .46 FX, radio control is by Futaba, and the model is covered with MonoKote®.
Richthofen's Revenge
This is James Fuller's (1902 A St. SE #B212, Auburn WA 98002) Hog Bipe, complete with Williams Bros. wheels and six scale guns.
The airplane was powered by an ASP .61 at the time this photo was taken; the engine has since been replaced with an O.S. .91 four-stroke. The model is covered with True Red MonoKote®.
James is a member of the Marymoor RC club in Redmond, Washington.
Giles 202
Thomas Martin's (2424 198th Pl. SE, Bothell WA 98012; E-mail: Thom966@aol.com) red, white, and blue streak is the Lanier kit of the 17.5% Giles 202.
The model is powered by an O.S. .46 FX engine. Covering is MonoKote® and paint is matching LustreKote®. The pilot's nickname is "Tork Roll," and he was handpainted by Thomas's wife Deanna.
Pietenpol
Richard Mooers (901 Queen Annes Ct., Hagerstown MD 21740) scratch-built his 64-inch-wingspan model.
The Pietenpol has a Futaba radio and was powered by an O.S. .25 engine; it wasn't enough power, but it did fly the model reasonably well.
"I enjoy your magazine; it's the best," wrote Richard.
The Laker
Bill Cooper's (1402 Chase Ave., Creighton NE 68729; E-mail: billc@bloomnet.com) model was built from a Balsa USA kit.
It's powered by a Thunder Tiger Pro 46, has a Futaba radio, weighs 6½ pounds, is 59 inches in length, and has a 70-inch wingspan and 813 square inches of wing area.
Bill's wife Jennifer helped him cover the model with MonoKote®, and it has custom vinyl graphics (including the flying fish on the "tail wing") by BodyWorks autobody in Creighton, NE.
"This model has not been flown yet, because I don't have enough guts," wrote Bill. "I just started into the hobby one year ago. My family/friends call me 'chicken'; I call it 'smart.'"
Bill is a member of the Norfalcons in Norfolk, Nebraska.
Ultra Sport 60
This is Ellsworth F. Crowell Jr.'s (424 Oxford Way, Belmont CA 94002) Ultra Sport 60.
It's covered with UltraCote®, powered by an O.S. .60 two-stroke engine, and guided around the sky by a Futaba Super 7 radio. The model features Spring Air retracts, a Mac pipe, and PowerMaster fuel to keep it all flying.
It flies great, according to Ellsworth.
Proud of your latest building/flying effort?
Share it with MA's readers! Send us a glossy color print (no digital photos under 300 dpi or photocopies, please), with appropriate description (no handwritten submissions, please), and we'll run the best submissions as space permits.
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.
Because of this section's popularity, it may be several months before your model is featured.
Ford Flivver
Harry Botkowsky's (2770 W. 5th St., Apt. 19E, Brooklyn NY 11224) scratch-built Ford Flivver is shown here in the framed-up stage.
The model has an 82-3/8-inch wingspan, an 18-inch wing chord, and 1,400 square inches of wing area. It has a Ryobi 31cc (a converted weed-whacker engine).
Plans are from RCP Aeroplans.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
