Focal Point
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie, IN 47302
Rare Boulton Paul
Don McGillivray (13371 Sylvan Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33919; E-mail: djmscotch@aol.com) scratch-built this rarely modeled early-1930s British bomber—the Overstrand.
It mounts two 480 geared electric motors, and nine cells of 1700 mAh capacity provide the power. The model has a wingspan of 60 inches and weighs 68 ounces.
"The 101st Squadron Historical Society of the English Royal Air Force supplied the three-views and historical data with pictures by Internet," wrote Don.
Good Golly, Miss Molly!
Roy Prichard (3324 Scarlet Dr., Maryville, TN 37804) wrote that his P-38–inspired Good Golly Miss Molly design "… is a joy to fly and watch."
It features a semi-profile, built-up balsa booms, and a center pod using plywood where required for strength. It has a wingspan of 48 inches and a flying weight of 50 ounces.
This model is powered by two Graupner Speed 400 motors with 2.3:1 gear drives and two 8 x 4.5 Graupner cam propellers. An eight-cell 1700 mAh battery is used for motor power.
Stout/Ford
Gary Hodson (512 Lake of the Forest, Bonner Springs, KS 66012) sent this photo of his 1926 Stout/Ford 2-AT rubber-powered free-flight Peanut Scale model.
It spans 13 inches and weighs 4.45 grams—not including the rubber motor. Gary built the model from a three-view drawing and covered it with preshrunk gampi tissue. He printed the surface detail on the tissue using an ink-jet printer before covering.
"The longest flight so far is 1 minute, 51 seconds," wrote Gary.
Supermarine Spitfire
Fred C. Williams (2011 Brighton Bay Tr., Jacksonville, FL 32246; E-mail: pacerfcw@bellsouth.net) spent several years building and finishing this Yellow Aircraft Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV.
The model has a wingspan of 88 inches and weighs 19 pounds. A Zenoah G-38 turning an 18 x 8 Dynathrust propeller at 7,900 rpm powers it.
"The test flight was exciting, but after auto trim was used on the ACE Micropro 8000 single-stick transmitter, a pretty slow roll and a wheel landing were accomplished," wrote Fred.
Big Bronco
Harold Mahoney (2211 Robinhood Rd., Albany, GA 31707) built this OV-10 Bronco from Rich Uravitch plans.
The model has a wingspan of 81 inches and is powered by two MDS .68 engines. It uses 12 servos and has Spring Air retracts. Rich supplied the wingtips, cowls, canopy, nose, and rear fuselage fairing.
"It took about three months to build," wrote Harold. "This is an easy model to build and fly."
California Cutie P-38
Charlie Kellogg (998 Liberty Ln., Warrington, PA 18976; E-mail: Firebar@aol.com) built this P-38 from Ziroli plans and powered it with two Brison 3.2 engines.
The model features Fowler flaps, Robart retracts, drop tanks, and air-operated gear doors. Charlie uses a JR PCM 10X radio and two flight packs. The model has 12 servos.
"Graphics are from 'California Cutie,' which was operated by the fighter collection in Duxford, England, until it was lost in 1996," he wrote.
Colorful Peashooter
Jack Goodrich (5500 Gatewood, Suite 108, Sterling Heights, MI 48310) believes that the Boeing Peashooter is the most colorful airplane the U.S. Army Air Corps ever ordered.
His model has a 71-inch wingspan, is powered by an MDS .68 two-stroke engine, and features a dual-bomb-drop mechanism.
"I belong to a large club in Detroit and receive many magazines, but I have never seen another built-up Peashooter," wrote Jack. "What a pretty airplane!"
Carden CAP
Randy Martin (5831 Tammy Ln., Manvel, TX 77578) sent this photo of himself with his 40% CAP 232.
It has a wingspan of 116 inches and uses a 16-horsepower Desert Aircraft DA-150 engine swinging a Menz 32 x 10 propeller. It is controlled by an Airtronics Stylus radio with twin receivers and nine Airtronics servos.
The CAP weighs 37.99 pounds and is covered with MonoKote. The graphics are from Kirby's Kustom Vinyl Graphics.
"The airplane flies great and 3-D performance is better than expected," wrote Randy.
Flying Partner's Fleet
Jerry Dotson (59 Daniel Johnson Rd., Baker, FL 32570) had his flying partner Wesley Ard take this photo and submit it to "Focal Point."
Jerry built the Concept Models 2¼-scale Fleet biplane and powered it with a 31cc Honda GX-series four-stroke engine. The airplane has a wingspan of 84 inches and weighs 20 pounds. It is covered with Super Coverite and Rust-Oleum paint.
"The airplane flies scalelike, with an unbelievably scale sound," wrote Wesley.
Eastern Aircraft Avenger
Ralph Dutweiler (1229 E. Silverthorn Loop, Hernando, FL 34442) built this Heritage R/C version of the Grumman-designed TBM-3 Avenger that Eastern Aircraft license-built during World War II.
Ralph wanted a realistic model, so he added operating flaps, retracts, a tailhook, a pitot tube, a pilot, and a gunner. A Magnum 91 XL four-stroke engine supplies power.
"Now I'm only waiting for a manufacturer to market a kit of a Grumman F3F-3 or something similar," wrote Ralph.
First Covering Job
Christopher Robinson (20267 Seidner Ave., Escalon, CA 95320; E-mail: aviator217@yahoo.com) sent this photo of himself with his Global Easy Answer sailplane.
"It was built by Ward Hendricks, who flew it for several years before giving it to me," wrote Christopher.
He refurbished the Easy Answer by stripping off the covering, fixing many small cracks, and then re-covering it with MonoKote. He hand-cut the flames. This was Christopher's first attempt at covering a model.
Family Affair
Vincent Cahill III (433 Paul Revere Loop, North Fort Myers, FL 33917; E-mail: cahill_vince@yahoo.com) built this Consolidated B-24J in the color-and-markings of the "Blonde Bombshell"—the airplane his father Vincent Jr. flew during World War II as a member of the 491st Bomb Group. That group operated out of North Pickenham, England.
"This was my first attempt with a big airplane," wrote Vincent. "It took a few years to build, and I had the help of my son, Vincent IV."
Mountain Contender
Rod LeMense (Box 6916, Ketchum, ID 83340; E-mail: LeMenseR@aol.com) built this Top Flite Contender 60 and installed a Saito Golden Knight 65 four-stroke engine for power. He covered the airplane with Insignia Blue and Cub Yellow MonoKote.
Rod modified the lower balsa cowl to allow airflow past the carburetor by hollowing out a tunnel from the front of the lower cowl to the exit point at the aft of the cowl, where the engine-oil drain also exits.
"The performance is great in our mountains at 6,000 feet altitude," wrote Rod.
Desperado
Stan Orlowski (484 Central St., Saugus, MA 01906) latest project is this Bill Evans–designed Desperado flying wing.
It has a 60-inch wingspan, weighs 7½ pounds, and is powered by a Webra Speed 61 engine. To add some color to the model, Stan used a number of decals that he had been saving.
"It is stable in the air and it lands like a trainer," he wrote.
Nice Flight Shot!
Greg Minden (4540 Vincente Ln., Las Vegas, NV 89130) submitted this in-flight shot of his World Models Miss America II Mustang.
It has a wingspan of 80 inches and is powered by a Moki 1.80 engine turning an 18 x 10 Master Airscrew Classic propeller. Greg replaced the stock retracts with a set of Spring Air units.
"The airplane is smooth and fast and has a good sound with the J-Tec muffler," he wrote.
Share Your Latest Building/Flying Effort
Proud of your latest building or flying effort? Share it with MA's readers and/or visitors to AMA's website (www.modelaircraft.org)!
Send a glossy color print or a digital photo on CD-ROM (minimum 300 ppi) with an appropriate description of the model, and we will publish or post the best submissions.
- No e-mailed photos, laser copies, ink-jet copies, or photocopies will be accepted.
- Restrict content to the model with or without the owner/builder. Inappropriate photos will not be published.
- Supply your full address (and e-mail address if available) so that interested parties may contact you directly.
Send all submissions to: Bob Hunt, Box 68, Stockton, PA 18083, ATTN: Focal Point.
Because of this section's popularity, it may be several months before your model is featured.
Scaled-Down Cardinal
Gerry Ruschke (1731 Wright Dr., Sandwich, IL 60548) built this 1/2A model from scaled-down Windy Urtnowski plans for the 60-size Cardinal.
Gerry's model features a built-up fuselage and is powered by a Norvel .049 engine. The wings are covered with transparent MonoKote, and the fuselage is painted with Brodak dope.
He is shown standing in his G&D Hobbies shop in Sandwich. His friend Mitchell Heller took the photo.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
