Focal Point
F8F Bearcat
Tom Jackson (4414 Lentell Rd., Eureka, CA 95503) built his F8F from an American Eagle kit. The model spans 86 inches, weighs 33 pounds, and is powered by a Zenoah G-62 engine. It has Robart retracts, a Futaba 8UAF radio with eight servos, and the basecoat and clearcoat are PPG automotive paint.
“It is a little underpowered with the present engine–weight combination,” wrote Tom.
SkyCrawler
Russ Gritzo (77 Mesa Verde, Los Alamos, NM 87544; E-mail: gritzo@jerichodata.com) revived his modeling after a five-year hiatus and looked for a trainer project for his 10-year-old son. He built a SkyCrawler based on the May 2001 construction article and cover subject.
He stretched the wingspan to 53 inches, reduced the dihedral, and added ailerons. Power is a Speed 480 with a Master Airscrew gearbox, an eight-cell 1100 mAh battery pack, and an ElectriFly speed controller. At roughly 6,500 feet elevation the model takes off from grass with about a 10-foot ground roll. “Definitely a big change from my usual Open-class sailplanes!” he wrote.
World War II Buff
David A. Zagnoli (7876 Fairchild Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91306) built a Mitchell B-25 from a Wing Manufacturing kit. The model uses MonoKote covering, Saito 65 engines, Robart retracts, Glennis wheels and brakes, and Hitec radio and servos. The total dry weight is 17.7 pounds, and the span is 84 inches.
“My passion is anything from WWII,” wrote David. “The B-25 is the latest addition to my inventory, which currently consists of a P-51, F4U, P-47, and a T-6. All the kits are TopFlite with the exception of the bomber.”
Sopwith Pup
Tom Zalonski (168 Parsonage Hill Rd., Northford, CT 06472; E-mail: Green_two@msn.com) built a 1/4-scale Sopwith Pup from Balsa USA. He modeled it to resemble the original N6181 flown in 1917 by Flight Lieutenant Lloyd Samuel Breadner. The model is powered by a .91 four-stroke engine and uses a JR 631 radio. This was his first scale project and he is very happy with it.
Young Enthusiast
Mitchell Heller (3110 Harrison, Glenview, IL 60025) photographed 13-year-old control-line flier Nick Andren with the Tucker Special that Nick and his father Rick built. The model was built from an RMS kit, finished with 21st Century covering and paint, and is powered by an O.S. .40 engine.
Fokker D.VIII
Ted Kolesnik (1803 Paddock Ct., Grayslake, IL 60030) built his Fokker D.VIII from a Hobby Hangar balsa-and-plywood kit. The upper wing spans 51 inches and the lower wing 42 inches. It is powered by an O.S. .46 FX engine and uses a Futaba SkySport radio with four servos. Covering is 21st Century Fabric; the model has Williams Bros. 4-3/8-inch vintage wheels and decals from Sig Manufacturing.
A Classic
Michael Morse (Box 296, Garrett Park, MD 20896; E-mail: morse@his.com) built a Classic from the CheckerboardAir laser-cut kit designed by Allan Flowers. The kit was “a dream to assemble,” and Michael made no significant changes from Allan’s instructions. The engine is a Thunder Tiger .46 Pro, and the covering is Pearl Copper and Metallic Plum MonoKote. Michael planned to wait until he was a better flier, but club experts took it up and found it flew as well as it looks.
Cessna L-19
Wayne Fussell (2901 S.W. Lakemont Pl., Palm City, FL 34990; E-mail: wfussell@adelphia.net) built a 1/4-scale Cessna L-19 Bird Dog from plans supplied by Vailly Aviation. Powered by a Zenoah G-62 with working scale exhaust, the model spans 108 inches and weighs 26 pounds. Covering is orange and white MonoKote. All doors and windows function, and a Futaba radio provides the control.
“With about 50% flaps deployed, the Bird Dog lands like a trainer,” wrote Wayne. “What a joy to fly.”
Super Sportster
Hugo Quintana (201 Betz Ave., Jefferson, LA 70121; E-mail: Hquin33546@aol.com) assembled a Great Planes Super Sportster 90–120, the first kit he ever put together. He bought it on the Internet since it’s no longer distributed. The model was powered by an O.S. 120 Surpass four-stroke engine swinging an APC 14 x 10 propeller and was covered with MonoKote. Hugo used a Futaba TX6 transmitter, a Tower Hobbies receiver, and BB servos.
“My biggest lesson was to be very careful when flying inverted,” wrote Hugo. “I lost it by pulling the elevator while inverted at about 20 feet above the ground. It was a sensitive loss.”
"Made for Each Other"
Dan Szarmach (5017 Hialeah Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15239) pairs an Easy Answer glider with a PT-40 that replaces his original carrier. The PT-40 is powered by an O.S. .46 FX engine, uses an Airtronics six-channel radio, and is covered in MonoKote. The Easy Answer has a Hitec four-channel radio and MonoKote covering. Dan finished the PT-40 in the same color scheme as the Easy Answer for a cohesive presentation.
Super Decathlon 40
Matt Field (Box 201, Castlewood, VA 24224; E-mail: rc_flyboy1@yahoo.com) built a Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 as his first scale aircraft and kit project. It is covered with True Red MonoKote; the cowl is finished in matching LustreKote. The starburst trim is white MonoKote with blue striping. The model is powered by a Tower Hobbies .46 BB ABC engine and controlled by a Futaba 6AS radio. It weighs 6.5 pounds and has a 64-inch wingspan.
“I have always built ARFs because of the short time to build,” wrote Matt. “After building this kit ... I will stick to kits.”
Homer's Skybolt
Jerry Evans (6217 Brevard Cir., Magalia, CA 95954) built a Great Planes Super Skybolt with his two sons. The model weighs 8.8 pounds and is powered by an O.S. .91 FX engine with a J’Tec Pitts muffler and a Futaba T6KAS radio. They installed four working ailerons. Jerry measured and hand-cut the black-and-white checkered MonoKote design under the wings and added a nine-inch Homer — The Home Depot mascot — to the cockpit.
“What fun my boys have watching their dad and learning to fly these magnificent flying machines,” wrote Jerry.
Double Diamonds
Greg Myers (4502 Patoutville Rd., Jeanerette, LA 70544; E-mail: Gmyers@aisp.net) and fellow RC flier Phil Oubre each built a Diamond Dust. The models are nearly identical: both have Futaba gear, are covered with MonoKote, and are powered by O.S. .45 engines. According to Greg, the airplanes are “incredibly fast,” and the checkerboard patterns on the top show up very well.
“The Diamond Dust is a blast to fly,” wrote Greg. “It’s great for sharpening your RC skills!”
Duster
Jack Kibbey (3493 Wilex S.W., Wyoming, MI 49509) built a Duster from Model Aviation plans number 871. The model is covered with MonoKote, powered by an older K&B .60 engine, and has a Futaba six-channel radio. Lettering was provided by a fellow club member. With help from his flying instructor—his brother Bruce—Jack soloed in the summer and built the Duster the following year.
“I am very proud of my Duster,” wrote Jack. “It always gets full attention while just sitting in the pits or during its flights. I recommend it to anyone who has soloed and is ready to try building from plans.”
Kloud King
John J. Symborski (12114 Cliftondale Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20904) built his Kloud King from B&M plans. It spans 72 inches and is powered by a MaxCim brushless 15-13D motor geared 4:1 on 14 cells with a 15 x 10 propeller. John uses an old single-stick Ace transmitter.
“Flight is majestic,” he wrote.
Funk 85C
John Ericksen (616 Salem Heights S., Salem, OR 97302; E-mail: Ericksen@OPEN.org) built a Funk 85C from Reid’s Quality Model Products plans. The model came out so light that John added a full cabin interior weighing approximately one pound. The wing loading is still 23 ounces per square foot, and power is provided by an O.S. 70 four-stroke.
“After more than 36 years building and flying all sorts of RC models except Scale, I retired from the newspaper business and finally had time to try it,” wrote John. “This Funk 85C is the latest and I love it dearly.”
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Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
