Focal Point
Pair of Dazzlers
Marius Morariu (15027 Prospect, Dearborn, MI 48126; E-mail: mario@advdata.net) built two Great Planes Dazzlers that span 48 inches and weigh 4-1/2 pounds each.
The white model is powered by an O.S. .46 FX, and the black model is powered by a Rossi .45; both turn 11 x 7 propellers. A Futaba 8UAFS radio controls both models.
Marius used MonoKote for covering. The bottom side of each model is yellow, with the exception of the ailerons and elevator, which are black. The yellow/black combination works best for visibility during "wild aerobatics."
"Each cockpit is occupied by a little plastic cow to complement the model's exterior looks," wrote Marius.
Band Project
Dana Lord (12 Kennedy Dr., Colchester, CT 06415) sent in a model his son Kyle built: a space shuttle Columbia from plans, completed in three weeks for a high-school band project. The band was performing music about space, and the director asked each musician for a display project.
The model is powered by a Royal .45 engine in pusher configuration and is guided by an Airtronics Radiant computer radio.
"Kyle is 14 years old and has been building and flying RC models for about three years," wrote Dana.
Nexus 30
McKinley Gomillion (132-21 160th St., Jamaica, NY 11434; E-mail: mckinley139@cs.com) modified his Kyosho helicopter with a custom handmade fiberglass rear body and 60-size landing gear.
The Nexus is powered by an O.S. .32 SX-H engine.
"It flies very realistically and gets a lot of attention wherever I fly," wrote McKinley.
Millennium Aeromaster
Brian Swarts (111 North Deer Run Dr., New London, PA 19360) built a Super Aeromaster from a Great Planes kit.
Powered by an O.S. 90 four-stroke, the model has remote fuel and glow connections and a modified tail-wheel assembly. Covering is 21st Century Fabric, and TopFlite LustreKote paint was used on the cowl and wheel pants. The radio is a Futaba FM.
Brian built the model to commemorate the United States in the millennium.
Solo Star
Paul D. Sahovey (Box 363, Salem, NH 03079) built a Hangar 9 Solo Star trainer equipped with Great Planes 40 sport floats.
The model is powered by an O.S. .46 FX engine, spans 62 inches, has 720 square inches of wing area, and weighs 6–6¼ pounds without pontoons.
P-51
Jim Macenko (3780 Sunburst Rdg., Cincinnati, OH 45248; E-mail: jrmacenko@aol.com) built a Balsa USA P-51 Mustang powered by a Webra 120 engine.
The model is covered with MonoKote. It has a working four-blade propeller provided by Phil’s Hobbies of Cincinnati, and the spinner was fabricated by Dave Brown Products.
Senior Project
Ron Melick (417 Berkshire Rd., Mechanicsburg, PA 17055) sent a photo of his 16-year-old grandson Josh Melick and the Goldberg Tiger II Josh built for his mandatory senior project at Mechanicsburg High School.
Josh used MonoKote in his school colors, an O.S. Max .46 LA engine, and an Airtronics radio system. He flew the initial flight. The "02" on the wing is his graduation year.
First Try
This Sig Four-Star 40 was Micah Stark’s (7745 W. 19th #49, Lubbock, TX 79407) first try at building a kit.
It is covered with MonoKote, and Micah added special graphics for an extra touch. The model is powered by an O.S. .40 LA engine and flown with a Futaba SkySport radio.
Jack from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas is the pilot.
Share Your Model
Proud of your latest building or flying effort? Share it with Model Aviation's readers! Send a glossy color print (no digital photos under 300 dpi or photocopies, please) with an 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.
Phantom
Raymond E. Davis (3 Green Harbor Rd., East Falmouth, MA 02536; E-mail: redavis@usgs.gov) modified his Great Planes F-4 to be more scale-like in looks and flight by designing a new wing 11 inches shorter with washout and running the engine exhaust system internally.
The F-4 weighs 10½ pounds and is covered with fiberglass with PPG 2021 clear over JHH lacquer colors. It has a Futaba radio, Robart air retracts, Tetra wheels, a YS 60 rear-exhaust engine, and a Bolly 11 x 11 three-blade propeller.
"It more closely simulates flying my AMT turbine-powered models now," wrote Raymond. "Almost as fun, and certainly less stress to fly as a weekender!"
Wild Wiz 40
John Allocca (8713 Windy Cir., Boca Raton, FL 33437) built a delta-wing model distributed by Haslam Hobbies.
It is powered by an O.S. .40 LA engine with a 9 x 6 propeller, a Futaba 148 throttle servo, and three Tower Hobbies TS-67 standard dual-ball-bearing servos on the aileron, elevator, and rudder. It is covered with MonoKote.
John put helicopter ball links on all the control surfaces for slop-free performance. He also made a 1/8-inch plywood removable top hatch so he could access the fuel tank and receiver from the top or bottom.
With a radar gun, the model was clocked at speeds exceeding 126 mph.
Jeff’s Toy
Jeff Pogar (24 Myrtle Ln., East Patchogue, NY 11772) calls his Model Tech Dragon Lady "Jeff’s Toy" — his "throw-around airplane."
The model spans 66 inches and is equipped with a SuperTigre S-90 engine, a Slimline muffler with smoke, a TME smoke pump, and is guided by a Futaba 8UAPS computer radio with one S148 and four S902 servos. It uses two battery packs: one for the smoke system and one for the radio.
Covering is Sapphire Blue and white MonoKote.
Starlight
"Since we don't see many control-line airplanes in 'Focal Point' I'd like to show a particularly unique stunt airplane," wrote Bob Zambelli (285 Parkview Dr., Souderton, PA 18964).
Charles Mackey designed the Starlight in the mid-1960s. Bob's model spans 55 inches, weighs just more than 35 ounces, and is powered by a stock 1955 Fox .35 engine. The cockpit is fully detailed, and the finish is silkspan with Randolph dope.
150% Champ
Since the 1950s Bob Lyons (114 Robinall Dr., Easley, SC 29642; E-mail: agotigers@juno.com) has had three DMECO Champs (two single-channel and one three-channel) designed by Hal deBolt. Bob enjoyed them so much that he decided to scale one up half again as large as the original, as a four-channel.
Bob's model spans 81 inches and weighs 13 pounds. It originally flew great with an Enya 60 engine; later Bob installed a Como .90.
Kaos 60
Robert Weideman (8803 W. Port Au Prince, Peoria, AZ 85381; E-mail: rweideman@juno.com) built a Kaos 60 from a Tower Hobbies kit.
It is covered with MonoKote, powered by a SuperTigre 75 engine, and controlled by a Futaba radio on channel 13, which is Robert's "lucky number." According to him, he has never had to share the pin.
This photo was taken the day before the model's test flight.
Strikemaster
Mark S. Hann (1100 Ranchwood Dr., Shorewood, IL 60431; E-mail: kungfuji@aol.com) built a Strikemaster from plans. It is an old Midwest kit that is no longer made.
Covering is gray over white MonoKote; power is provided by an old SuperTigre .46, and wing construction is foam. The model spans 55 inches and has 570 square inches of wing area.
"This is an awesome flier," wrote Mark. "Good sport flier and slows for landing like a trainer. Want to have a lot of fun? Put a .60 in it."
Spitfire 40
Tracy A. Smiley (29192 Double Tree Dr., Salisbury, MD 21801; E-mail: PALYDINI1@aol.com) built a Great Planes Spitfire 40 from a kit.
It is powered by an O.S. .46 FX engine with an APC 11 x 6 propeller and is controlled by a Futaba 6YG six-channel FM radio. It has Great Planes 40 mechanical retracts.
The Spitfire is covered with Flat Tan and Flat Dove Gray MonoKote. The camouflage paint is Olive Drab LustreKote.
"I have always been fascinated by WW II fighters and it was fun to actually build a scale warbird," wrote Tracy.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
