Focal Point - 2003/02 | Model Aviation Library

Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/02
Page Numbers: 10,11,12,13

Focal Point - 2003/02

Builder: Robert J. Gillespie (737 Campus Dr., Twin Falls, ID 83301)
Kit: G&P Sales
Power: Pair of MECOA .28 ball-bearing engines
Radio/Servos: Futaba 8UHF radio using six servos
Construction: Fiberglass fuselage; wings and tail feathers are foam core covered with 3/32-inch sheet balsa
Covering/Finish: Clear MonoKote; lightly sanded, primed, and painted with TopFlite spray paint
Features: Retractable wingtip floats that retract out to the wingtips (as on full-scale aircraft)
Dimensions/Weight: 56-inch wingspan with wingtip floats extended; just under 8 pounds

Builder: Irle White (473 Thomas Dr., Libby, MT 59923; E-mail: iwhite@libby.org)
Background: Resumed modeling three years ago after roughly a 60-year hiatus; scratch-built four radio-control models
Models and Power:
Culver Dart — O.S. .40
Beechcraft Staggerwing (biplane) — ASP .35
Duster (William Winter design, Model Aviation, March 1999) — O.S. .46
Playboy (redesigned for electric but built with glow) — Cox .061
Radio: All models use Futaba equipment

Builder: Art DeSmet (9020 Baldwin Rd., Monroe, MI 48162)
Model: Sig Somethin’ Extra
Power: Saito 56 engine with 12 x 6 propeller
Radio: Futaba 6XA
Covering/Finish: MonoKote
Scheme/Details: Color scheme is a blend of a modified Gee Bee and Art’s design; Williams Bros. pilot with hat made from a ping-pong ball and denim from old Levi’s
Quote: “I can tell this airplane is going to be a real blast!”

Builder: Frank DiGiacomo (420 Groveland Tr., Michiana Shores, IN 46360; E-mail: fdigiacomo@howmet.com)
Plan/Design: Fun Scale design by James Gilgenbach; Model Aviation plans no. 500
Covering/Finish: Sig Koverall and Sig dope
Markings: Insignia of Jasta 11 (the Red Baron’s squadron)
Power: O.S. 90 four-stroke engine
Dimensions: 84-inch wingspan
Notes: Frank added a pound of lead in the nose to balance the model

Builder: Dave Hamblin (4567 Eldywood Ln., Batavia, OH 45103-1103; E-mail: dhamblin@earthlink.net)
Model: Great Planes 60-size Extra 300S finished in Patty Wagstaff’s 1999 color scheme (see www.aerobaticsource.com)
Covering/Finish: 21st Century Fabric in white; TopFlite LustreKote paint
Decals/Figures: Die-Hard Graphics decals; custom figure by Virtual Reality Pilots in cockpit
Power/Radio: Saito 120 four-stroke; JR 8103 radio
Quote: “Both have been proven in some of my other airplanes.”

Builder: Paul Rushing (2320 22nd Ave., San Francisco, CA 94116)
Model: Windfreak sailplane (from Radio Control Modeler plans no. 743)
Control: Rudder and elevator
Dimensions: 99-inch wingspan
Photo Note: Paul is shown at an excellent slope-soaring site with the Pacific Ocean in the background

Builder: John G. Giles (3240 N.W. 14th, Oklahoma City, OK 73107; E-mail: jggiles@home.com)
Notes: Fifth twin and second Grumman Skyrocket John has built
Design/Setup: Fixed, overbuilt gear for grass-field operations
Power: Two Saito 56 engines with 12 x 6 APC propellers (each)
Performance: Saitos produce 10+ pounds of thrust; model can be lively
Weight: 9 pounds

Builder: Steve Rowe (Box 150, Letts, IA 52754; E-mail: srowe@iowatelecom.net)
Model: Sig Four-Star 60
Power: YS 91 AC engine
Dimensions/Weight: 76-inch wingspan; 9 pounds
Equipment/Features:
28-ounce fuel tank mounted at the center of gravity
Flaps (45 degrees stops floating and causes a nice sink for excellent landings)
14-ounce smoke tank
Sheeted turtledeck
Reshaped tail surfaces and shaped wingtips
Handling Note: With aft CG and 35 degrees of control surfaces it can do flat spins (use reduced control surface throws for normal flight)

Builder: Milt Woodham (3091 Avondale Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80917; E-mail: mwoodham@aol.com)
Purpose: Built to teach his 8-year-old grandson, Jacob Sharpton, to fly
Model: Sig Seniorita
Power: McCoy .32 engine
Radio: Airtronics RD6000
Photo Note: Pikes Peak is in the background

Builder: Gene Coleman (3400 S. Ironwood Dr. #252, Apache Junction, AZ 85220)
Model: Great Planes 60-size Extra 300S
Power: O.S. .91 FX engine
Covering/Finish: MonoKote; graphics by Signs Now of Mesa, AZ
Hardware: Cowl and wheel pants by Stan’s Fiber Tech
Radio/Servos: Futaba 8UA radio with S9202 servos
Handling: Very stable flier; can be set up on high rates for unlimited maneuverability

Builder: Brian Koester (5713 W. 79th St., Los Angeles, CA 90045; E-mail: Koester@mediaone.net)
Kits: AMD slope-sailplane kits (amd.org.hk), manufactured in Hong Kong
Construction: Fiberglass fuselages, sheeted foam wings, solid-balsa tail feathers
Su-35:
Weight: 48 ounces
Finish: Painted with Benjamin Moore exterior latex applied with an airbrush
Pilot: 1/4-scale G.I. Joe action figure
Airfoil: MH-22
F-14 Tomcat:
Weight: 33 ounces
Finish: Fuselage painted with LustreKote; wings and tail covered with MonoKote
Details: Tail emblems hand-cut from vinyl

Builder: Richard Tacklind (1326 Laurel St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060)
Model: Late-1930s Comet sailplane built from a John Pond "rib kit"
Covering/Finish: UltraCote and Perfect Paint
Power/Electrics: Geared Astro Cobalt 25 motor with 16 cells, MEC speed controller, Airtronics radio
Servos: Microservos located in the tail with no external linkage
Note: Richard’s father built one in 1940 (free flight); this one updated for electric power

Sender: George Coroneos (2934 Griffenview Dr. Lot 113, Lady Lake, FL 32159; E-mail: gcoroneos@aol.com)
Story: Club members unknowingly built the same model — Balsa USA Fokker E.III Eindeckers
Wayne Ingalls:
Finish: Gray TopFlite LustreKote
Power: Magnum .90 four-stroke
Weight: Roughly 10½ pounds
Larry Rutan:
Finish: 21st Century Fabric; nose and cowl painted bright red
Power: Maloney 125 engine
Note: Both met at the field the same day, compared notes, and flew their airplanes to the delight of the club

Builder: Warren Vanderwell (1147 Kinney N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49544; E-mail: McWarren@aol.com)
Model: TopFlite Cessna 182
Power: O.S. FS-91 Surpass engine
Features:
Working flaps
Landing lights activated when flaps are placed at 30%
Full detailed cockpit kit with interior colors matched to the exterior scheme
Scheme: Designed after a Cessna Skyhawk

Builder: Jim Kitchen (1377 Geneva Ave., Yuba City, CA 95991; E-mail: jkitchen@syix.com)
Background: First SureFlite Cub built in 1976; second kit purchased that year and built 25 years later
Specs: 48-inch span; 350 square inches of area; three channels
Power: O.S. .15 FP engine
Covering/Finish: Cub Yellow Solartex
Graphics: Lightning bolts are vinyl graphics scaled from original Cub drawings
Quote: “I renewed my love affair with Cubs by building this kit.”

Builder: Jerry Heuertz (5331 W. Saint Paul Ave., Lincoln, NE 68524; E-mail: jheuertz1@msn.com)
Model: 1/3-scale Sig Spacewalker
Dimensions/Weight: 104-inch span; 20 pounds
Power: Zenoah G-38 engine with an 18 x 10 APC propeller
Radio/Safety: Futaba six-channel computer radio with two heavy-duty JR switches and two batteries for extra safety
Systems: TME smoke system
Covering/Finish: Sig Koverall; Sig dope mixed and airbrushed for a perfect scale match, followed by an automotive clearcoat; 1/16-inch pinstripe for scale appearance
Quote: “It is a very good airplane to build and fly for your first Giant Scale project. By the way, this was my first Giant airplane and I couldn't have picked a better one.”

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.