Watcha Bildin?

I've been watching lots of heady political posts lately... One of the complaints at our club lately has been that our meetings are consumed with politics and less with airplanes.

So this post is called "Watcha Bildin?"

Watcha bildin?

Al

I'm bildin a Topflite Flight Streak for nostalgia combat with a LS tuned Fox 36.

Also planning to build 2 (yes...2) Jim Hunt designed Fleet Biplanes, one scale with throttle, one OTS.

This is the first model I have built in many years. It will have a 35 year old Fox 35 that has been test run and seems to still work. In the past I have built about 5 or 6 profiles this size. I never got past the stage of put them together and fly em. None of the planes had flaps, I know zero about setting the plane up right. I would like this one to be a better job than I have done in the past. If anyone has any specific tips about this plane I would be happy to hear them. Covering, line length, balance, ... ect?

A modified Magician. It's my personal 3rd generation - actually it's the 4th, if you consider the 3rd never saw completion. I scrapped it late in construction due to structural deficiencies.

Herman - KF5R

Pathfinder II that is ever so slowly creeping toward completion and a modified Mackey Profile (19 size OTS) though the MP is heavily altered as a test bed for a new Lincoln Log style jig, and too many train projects to keep up with....

Great topic. My workshop is full of restoration projects (C/L, R/C and F/F), all original models from the 50's or 60's. For C/L, I just finished a DeBolt Sportwing with it's original '51 Torp .19. Near completion is an original Super Clown with a new-unused late 50's McCoy .29. Also near completion is an original Enterprise Baby Zenith with a new-unused OK Cub. Next on my to-do list are a very early Ringmaster that needs little restoration and an early Veco Brave. The Ringmaster came to me with an Ohlson .29, and it has to be the lightest Ringmaster I've ever come across. The real fun for me on these projects is restoring all the bits and pieces as well as the model, so that the complete project is all original.

For new-build projects I have a Cobra about half done and a Brodak Smoothie. I am building the Brodak kit partly out of curiosity about all the talk I've heard about kit quality lately. I have to admit that I have found problems with conflict between the directions and actual parts in the kit, but so far nothing major.

From what I've heard about Currell over the years, I will bet he sets the record for number of ongoing projects. I can't wait to read what he posts.

Just getting back in to c/l myself. Started as a way to spend more time with my kids. Of course as I got into 1/2a's for the kids, I had to build something for myself!

I drew up and scratch built a ship about the size of an Oriental. Having trouble getting the motor (Fox .35) to run right now so it's not airborne yet. It turned out to be very portly but it was good fun to draw and build and I plan to refine it and build mark II this winter. I learned a ton from this experience.

Right now I'm finishing up a Stuntin' Ringmaster Jnr for my son (AP Hornet .09) and I convinced a buddy of mine that this would be a great hobby that he and his son could enjoy. We're (I'm supervising engineer) building a Flite Streak Jnr and a Sig Akromaster - both OS LA .15 powered. Hope to get this done before the snow flies!

Chris Drew

Just about finished with a Fancy Pants that I'll put a Fox 35 in (nostalgia), a Flying Clown with an OS LA .10, and a Deweybird built as a new racing category that Randy Bush has been pushing here in the East Bay - Norvel 0.061, reinforced wings, tail, and motormount, and 35 foot lines.

First of all a bigger work bench ;) Once that gets built a profile Pathfinder gets started. After that there is a Primary Force in the works. Then probably Majician #3. And on the way back burner is a Japan kited PV2-7 that needs restoration.
Hey H Green, what mods you dooin to your Majician, Lets swap notes?
Once those get done it should be spring again

LAST EDITED ON Aug-01-02 AT 05:52 PM (CDT)

My next project will be a Ringmaster I bought at MAL hobby shop, in business since 1948 ,located in Irving, TX. I purchased the model from shop owner, 92 year old Ed Seay Sr. Mr. Seay puts out his own line of rubber powered, free flight, and control line models. One I am interested in, and plan to build is the one he calls the P. T. Trainer. It has what I guess is about a 36 --- 40 in. solid balsa wing that is mounted on a bass wood fuselage, with rubber bands. It has a plywood vert. fin and uses a .19 --- .35 engine. While I dont't personally need such a trainer for myself, I have several grandchildren and friends who would like to try c/l flying, and will be a good stepup from 1/2A. Honestly, it is just a really neat neat airplane, that i just want for myself.

Bildin? Bildin? Is no bildin - is only flyin! Flyin is what. Is flyin time. Soon bildin time...

I'm building an orig. top flite flite streak w/fox35 I just overhauled.My 1st kit since '68.Also have an RSM P-40 w/ a DS 40 waiting after I finish the streak.

I'm building a Randy Smith Vector - the old 630 sq. inch model, not the new Brodak kit.

Will motor it up with an ST46 or DS50, and maybe an LA46 with or without a pipe.

If you ask me whattami bildin', hope ya got a lotta free time to listen... \/

I'm hopin one of those bipes are for me /\

I do promise I'll make a trainer and learn more aerobatics. It's just hard to get in personal practice time with all the trainees we have. I am vicariosly flying through them.

I'm currently building a Pathfinder MK2 from the Brodak kit. I decided to build this one to see what all the problems are withthe kit. Iwish I could say there were none, but, in all honesty, there are a few that I would consider minor, since I tend to scratchbuild anyway, though others may find them more serious. I posted elsewhere on this board in a reply to the levelling bar thread what the ones I have found so far, and solutions to them. I've since found a few more minor things that I'll add to the list on the other thread.

I stopped work on the semi-scale Tony Gordan and I have been working on, but will get back to it later in the real building season. After I finish the Brodak Legacy kit I bought. I lately use an engine mounting system similar to Larry Cunninghams that allows easy engine swaps, but the initial power will be a Stalker .61RE I've been meaning to find a home for for several years.

Not bildt'en nuttin new!!! Busy repairing a WHOLE barrel full of busted Skyray 35s that the yourg kids I am working with broke trying to "improve" their pattern.
Bigiron (Buying my Tite-Bond by the gallon)

I just finished a flying wing of my own design called the Darter. It is a 70% Agile Arrow (a 40-size airplane) built as a profile for flying in Advanced and P-40 contests. It has a Cox MKI Special 15 and has metal mounts so I can swap engines if I wish. The Jr Flite Streak is retired from active competition and will fly demos, etc. in the future. Actually what I need is flying time. I have several airplanes sitting around which are not quite right yet, and need attention. Not sure what I will build next.

I'm on my third plane this year. One of the I built for a Friend, a P-40 RSM kit st-46 power.
The new one is my own scrach built PIPED 25 Profile. as we speak DOPE FUMES fill the APT. Got the TV on TOON, and eating gummy worms. The engine is OS-25 FP so I hope to make it work...I will.

scott(Bugs Bunny is on got to go) Riese

More like repairing. I am building an Oriental (Brodak kit) and an Ambroid Ares. This was a partial kit and I have added to it. The 59 Ares I scratch built is in primer, waiting for the humidity to drop below 95%. As to repairs, I am fixing the rudder on a Super Chipmunk (why do i always run out of fuel inverted at a five foot altitude??), and my other modified Super Chipmunk is getting an engine swap. Those older Fox .40 stunts from the 70's take forever to break in and flying them will not do it. They get too lean near the end of the run and stop. I am using SIG fuel, 10%, 25% oil with 4 oz Bakers AA added to the gallon jug. I just aquired an Enterprise "Slick Trick", a Goldberg double Voodoo and a Sterling "Curtiss P-40 Tiger Shark". The P40 has a 27 1/2" wing span. Kit S-7. I may not build these kits. I have started a Flite Streak, but it is on hold. The other 12 kits will just have to wait their turn. Darn.

Have one of Windy's/Elliot Scotts Tsunami 40's on the go. ( Actually since last Oct. ). Just finished spraying some candy trim colors this evening. She'll be powered with a Stalker 46RE. The motor sure looks sweet sitting in the ship.

Hoping it trims out and flies like the Evolution that I finished earlier this spring. The Evolution turned out being a jewel.

Has been great flying weather up here until lately. The Evolution has been following me in my truck everyday when I'm on the road and after work generally I get in 4 or 6 flights.

Take care.

Ken Clapson

Ditto,
I'm building a scratch Flight Streak (first one!) and having hours of fun with the L/E and T/E sheeting (what *is* the trick with this? I've always used formed balsa before so this is making my head hurt!) I really like how light the wing is with this method though.
I have a Leo 28 stunt destined for it, but hopefully I'll try a Fox 35 on it too.

At the moment I have 2 decent planes. The Akromaster is awaiting new leadouts though, but a while back I finished repairing/upgrading my "back to C/L" homebrew plane (the first one ever to manage a loop). I've got the PAW15 on song, thanks Jim T for your recent diesel instructions. I just got the best run ever with no over-compression! The Green machine is flying really well amazingly enough, so I'm not rushing the FS at the mo.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-02-02 AT 04:21 AM (CDT)

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-02-02 AT 04:28 AM (CDT)

LAST EDITED ON Aug-02-02 AT 04:27 AM (CDT)

Bildin a RSM Pinto. Close to being ready to paint. Mongoose Fox racer that if I hinge will be ready to paint. Veco Redskin vintage B team racer (Duplicating an original modified one from the 50s-60s). Close to being ready for paint. Crescendo, Aussie vintage B team racer. Kiting it and working out the engine arrangement.
In the plans. Laser cut Berkeley Quest Vintage B team racer. Need to copy to Cad. "A" Electric speed plane. Need to buy engine, batts, and make fuselage mold. Laser cut BV 141 scale plane, 1/2a and/or .40 size. Researching materials to be used and info. New 1/2a proto speed plane to fit G&Z .049. An obscure Ign old time stunt if I can find a cheap used runner ign engine. Galaxie Aussie V-B-TR.

[photo not recovered: 3d4a4e164842455e.jpg]

Redskin

If I could get out of the 'repairing mode' maybe I could get something built. Finished up my sons new kit bashed Akromaster,
just in time to get started on fixing his Jr Flite Streak.
Then I have started to repair/restore my 20+ year old FliteStreak after splitting the fuse last fall. In the meantime, helping my son to build his own 1/2A kit. A few weeks ago
my 20+ year old Ringmaster got pranged, so that will be next for overhaul.
I've got a Midwest P-51 being built for over 2 years now!
Limited building time and crashing planes just aren't condusive to getting anything new built.
If I ever get these things finished and clear off the work bench I'd like to try scratch building the 'Privateer' stunt ship, in the latest edition of Flying Models. Sharp airplane and not too tough to build by the looks of it.

Great topic! I'm building a modified Banshee. I dug up some of the past posts on mods and to add to that list I'm "Al Rabe'izing'" the fuselage with upright engine, (I usually fly by myself with a launching studge and the upright engine makes things easier...), a "Rabe Rudder", and carbon fiber reinforcement.

I might also add that in some other past post someone said "...what ever happened to building as per the plans?" I don't think I've built one "exactly per the plans" since my first or second project! That's one of the reasons for DIY kit/plans building: you can mod it to suit yourself for whatever reasons (and learn something along the way).

Just finished a scratchbuilt Gieseke Nobler last week, have not even test flown it yet. I just started on another Dixon Time machine 40. After the Time Machine I may take a break and build a model rocket or something, then start on a Brodak Mauler.

I'm finishing a Combat Streak, using formed aluminum RC-type landing gear, and very light, David Brown wheels. Johnson S, and a Sig jet canopy.

Trying to get the Hollow Log Scientifics done and tested for the Musciano Meet.

Want to finish and Upright Engine T-Bird that originally had a Fox .59! Heavy, without the motor. I'm putting an OS FP .40 in it.

When I finish painting an ST .60 cowled, upright engine stunter, I'll try to get a pic posted here. It's in the Classic mode.

>Great >From what I've heard about Currell
>over the years, I will
>bet he sets the record
>for number of ongoing projects.
>I can't wait to read
>what he posts.
>
>Bill Groman

OK: I already posted once, Bill, but I'll keep going. I don't know why I am even fooling with airplanes, because I'm trying to bet Medevac Stryker drawings out at work (use in Iraq?), and I'm as dead as a Mighty GHQ engine if I don't do it. But, anyway, and repeating my other earlier post here...

1. Combat Streak
2. T-Bird
3. Scientifics
4. Finish Midwest ME-109
5. Get'40s style full fuse Scientific Kingpin (Hollow Log fuse, buit up wing) mounted with Fox .19
6. Patch up a swap Ares.
7. Build a No-Blur (Profile foamie with exposed controls)
8. Build a Smousen
9. Paint my own design upright engine .60 stunter, the Upright Citizen, and it won't have a picture of Jimmy Stewart on the wing.
10. Restore a trashed (but light!) Flyin Fool. It is in many pieces.
11. Finish a Japanese kit Skylark .15.
12. Finish a Gotcha.
13. Patch up all the nose cracks on a Top Flight steamed fuse Hurricane, which I trimmed to look like the (silver) prototype.
14. Get 4 Noblers that are sitting around either painted, engined, or whatever.

15. Ten other things that are down the list, or that my mind can't conjure up right now.

16. Before I go to the Golden Oval In The Sky (where the Foxes are all One Flippers, and the Breezes always 5 mph, and coming out of the sun, dammit), I have to build one plane with a Rabe Rudder.

I think I flew something like 35 different types of planes last year. Yes, a lack of focus. But, can anyone top this (or, would anyone even care to?

I commend you!

Bill: How heavy the Ring., ready to go with no fuel?

Just finished a Brodak Lagg 3 for the warbird collection. It's heavy(48oz) due to poor finishing choices, flies heavy, but is pretty and different.

I am currently building a number of scratch built, slightly modified, Flite Streaks for resale and several different versions of 75 mph combat craft for experimentation. Next bigger airplane will be a scratch built Magician profile-am looking for a .60 sized project for next season, it may be another Legacy from kit or ???. Also want to do a T-bird II for an LA 46, scratch or semi scratch with foam wing. I also have an Olympic kit gathering dust that may get built someday if I can figure out how to use a prop larger than 10" on it or maybe spring for a 3 blade 10 inch.

Steve F- You may have noticed that the Mauler kit or plans do not include any spats or gear door covers unlike every other warbird. I put some on mine to give it a Bearcat look which improved the looks 100% IMO.

Currell is right- more projects=more fun.

A new Giles with a bigger wing and less weight. I'm shooting for 800 squares and 42 ounces.

Several combat ships to replace the trash from the NATS

Researching a way to put a multi layer finish over foam without going to lots of balsa sheeting.

Building several test beds for faster/cheaper/lighter combat planes

A couple RC combats

An RC Gotcha Streak for sport flying

A Fokker Eindecker(kit)

An electric glider

Fix my old Aeromaster Too bipe.

Plus run a couple or three contests.

What am I building this Summer? What else? another 100 Ukeys or so. Having a good time, but sometimes I feel s if I'm being held captive in an insane asylum dedicated to old control liners!
Also managing to work on three new Ukey prototypes and a possible new plane designed in the Southwest. Life is soooo Good!

LAST EDITED ON Aug-02-02 AT 11:33 AM (CDT)

Hmm... Well, I'm just trying to finish a Bill Simons' Shoestring. It's in the couple of coats of clear awaiting silkspan stage. But it sorta got put on hold until I get my shop back in shape. I just got a new tabletop precision mill with about a billion attachments and am in to process of learning to use that. Look out, I see a new Saito venturi on the horizon. I'm also finishing some benches that I started last winter including a sanding table and a tool center (If you don't get ShopNotes magazine, you should...In the words of Jerry Pournelle - recommended). I'm also framing up a storage closet so I can get the christmas decorations out of my workbench.

Next up will be a redesign of my own design "the Heretic". I've been flying the old one with a 4 Stroke and have really liked it. Now, if I can just get "Tango Red" to fly decently, I'll be fat and happy.

Randy (definately not that Randy)

Hey Al. Well I am working on and finally taking my time on my extremly modified Avanti. Still powering with the DS 61 RE and another fuse is for the Satio 56. This is a built up wing done the lost foam method and she is really coming out light. Oh yea very ridgid. For all that know me, you know that I have to be different and this bird is, very different. I dont see me having her finished and trimmed for the Atlanta contest but hopefully will be flown in competition at the next Charolette contest in October. Good luck on your building buddy and everyone else. BAD ANDY

Now that the NATS are over I can get back to building a heavily modified Bear. I actually started this about the first of the year, but set it aside to build the Ultra Hobby Impact prototype (6 weeks start to finish), and get some handle time on it for the NATS.

The Bear has many changes which were discussed with Bob G. before embarking on the project. The ribs have been 'fattened' up 3/32" and are 1/4" shorter, the wing span is up to 62+" and wing area is about 720 sq in with full span flaps. The fuse is slightly wider to accept a Saito 72 and longer, the elevators have counterbalances like full size aerobatic planes, and perhaps the biggest change of all: retracts. So far, so good.

Next I will be building the Ultra Hobby prototype for our upcoming Gieseke Nobler kit, which will be classic legal.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-02-02 AT 02:51 PM (CDT)

Just finishing a "Jerseyan" as a prelude to publication by John D'Ottavio and myself.. Great and famous Classic.

Also have a new "Top Hat" about 85% done.

Most of my time though is in forming "Blue Sky Models". Just finishing the Cad Drawings and will start building the prototype laser cut kit for the "J.D.Falcon", by John D'Ottavio. This was one of the winningest Classic planes in the northeast. The version we are kitting is developed from John's actual templates and is very different from the M.A.N 4/61 version which was not even close to the actual airplane! The kit will be as close to the '61 version as possible. John will also be building one in the traditional "Aero Gloss Orange"! (This was a very red/orange) My Falcon will be powered by the new RO-Jett .40. plan is to have the kit available in September 2002.

After that we will kit the "Silencer" for .60 size engines.. and more to come.. Will also build wings or anything else someone wants.
You can sontact me at 972-734-3495 or [email protected]

Well, I have a new Chevelle on the board with a lost foam Werwage Thunderbolt wing, a slightly larger stab & elevators and the same looks as before. Using Tom Morris horns & hardware. PA 61 on the pipe. Plan to have it ready for 2003 since 2002 has been a wash for me.

I didn't weigh it....just had the 'calibrated arm' impression when I picked it up after I unpacked it. As an experienced free flight builder, and builder/owner of many Sterling and PDQ models from the late 50's and 60's, it is fairly easy for me to say this is the lightest one so far. In fact, I first assumed it was an early 50's scratchbuild until I peeled some of the covering and saw the part numbers printed on the ribs. Considering it's obviously original O&R .29, this is likely a very early kit. I love this old stuff like you do, so you can imagine how fun it is to find a complete Ringmaster circa 1950. Wheels, tank, engine, it's all there just as it was when it last flew....so long ago.

If all goes well I'll be shooting paint on the eternal, infernal Magnum sometime in the next couple of weeks. That's been a long time coming. Then I have a Humbug IV started which I hope to finish by the end of the year. After that I have a partially built Cardinal I inherited (literally). I'm not quite sure how the BOM will apply to that one.

Best, Hoovie

I'm actually approaching a model building mode again. I have a profile Cardinal kit which I bought mainly to evaluate in comparison to my kit version Mo'Best. I'll build it, mostly stock, with a few profile fixes I prefer.

And I have a couple of the newest Mo'Best Version VI fuselages underway, so I'll build up Cheech and Chong to validate my kit drawings and design. I'll probably only finish out one of them initially. I'm still working the deal on the kit Mo'Best, which should be laser cut. As soon as it is firm, I'll announce who and how.

I'm also experimenting with some molded fiberglass parts, including Mo'Best wheel pants with strut and wing tips. We'll see how those work out as well.

And hanging on the wall is Special Effects, my piped Aero .51 powered full fuselage ship. It has been there almost 3 years, I am ashamed to admit. I have to repair a crack on an outboard wing rib, strip off all the tape, paint on the finish trim, clear it, and take care of a few details, and viola! I'll finally finish this ship. There are big hopes for it, but we'll see.

I'm currently recovering from an amputation of my right big toe about 3 weeks ago (don't get diabetes, fellas..), but I'm assured I'll be walking normally in another 3 weeks and should be able to fly a model airplane again.

One other thing I'll mention. Our club, the Mesilla Valley Model Airplane Club of Las Cruces, New Mexico, will be having its 2002 Bill Melton Memorial CL Contest on the weekend of October 12-13. I'll be CDin this contest again, as I have for the last few years. So there is plenty of work there to support that.

After returning to the sport of modeling and flying since 1977; I rebuilt the Twister that crashed from an outside loop motor failure. That phoenix is now three inches longer with half ribs and grooves beautifully with a K&B 35 model 75 (rat race motor???).

Have almost finished another Twister, two inches longer, half ribs with everything adjustable and a new L&J Fox 35 bench run only. It is a two part fuselage that breaks apart behind the flaps to fit into my Lancair 360 for travel. It is assembled and sports base paint white and clear, no numbers or trim yet but I am anxious to fly it and prepare for a contest next weekend. Looks like the finish will have to wait. It weighs 35 oz complete. What a difference it makes when you substitute lighter wood for components and do not take all the wood given you in the kits. Who knows, if it is a great flyer the finish may never be completed. If all goes well this weekend on flight testing I may travel to Witchita, KS for a contest.

The Oriental is on the board now and the wing is half completed. Again, It will be a take-apart ship to fit into the flying machine and be ready for next season.

Bob Smiley
A Lancair 360 builder/pilot trying to be a modeler

I'm building a "Skylark". One of Ed Southwicks designs, plans by Bill Byles uses a .46 for power. After that, Randy Smiths "Vector 40" a really nice looking airplane. I ordered a Aero Tiger .36 for power. If I'm still alive (smiles) I'd like to build a "Strega", I think it's a beautifull airplane. I don't enter competitions, I just like stunt airplanes, they're my kind of Art if you know what I mean.

Building? Not a stinkin thing! I just moved, and it's driving me nuts!

I still have to finish putting my shop back together, and then I plan on building a memorial Patternmaster, based on a wing left me by a dear departed friend, gee I miss Bill. Then a pair of Brodak Legacy's. One from the Kit, and an extra from scratch. The plan is one for practice/contests, and one backup ship for "whoops!" Engines of choice for all 3 ships: Good ol' ST60, but I've been known to change my mind... Those Saito .56's sure get a lot of good press these days...but I already own the ST's!

At the rate I'm moving, those ought to keep me busy through 2004!

"will start building the prototype laser cut kit for the "J.D.Falcon", by John D'Ottavio. This was one of the winningest Classic planes in the northeast. The version we are kitting is developed from John's actual templates and is very different from the M.A.N 4/61 version which was not even close to the actual airplane! The kit will be
as close to the '61 version as possible.
Tom Niebuhr"

Tom, can you enlighten us on how or why the published version of this design became so different from the designer's model? I've heard similar comments about other designs. I can see a kit manufacturer taking design liberties to make more efficient(read profitable) use of balsa but I don't understand why a magazine would do such a thing unless the designer deliberatly was protecting his own little "secrets" by submitting different material for publication.

By the way, I always thought the JDF was one of the nicest looking classic designs of all time. Good luck with your new kits.

Two Saito 72 stunters based on this year's Shear Panic (UHP Impact) and Doug Moon's Big Bear. The fuse is all draw up in CAD and all of the templates ready to go the laser. The tail feathers and flaps are basically a Ultra Hobby Products Impact. The wing will be foam.

I will build two exactly the same. They will be called Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde.

I am also trying to get a Primary Force kit from Mikey Pratt for P-40.

Steve,

Send me or post your email address and I'll fill you in on my idea of a Magician. I just made and assembled all the parts for two complete "kits". I'll send you a couple of pictures. Maybe next time I'm home, I'll be able to get a wing on the jig.

Herman - [email protected]

Finishing my own design twin with retracts. Around 750 sq in, with two old style Magnum 28 pros and looks to come in around
66 oz - about 6 oz better than I was shooting for.
After that, I'll start on the last Cobra 9 for a OPS 40 AAC
that I've had for a few years.