VSC 2K3 - Elegance in Balsa

Here are a few airplanes that I rather arbitrarily lumped onto this page because the design or portions of it struck me as elegant.

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The Barnstormer?

I'm thinking this is a Guillows Barnstormer, but am not certain. In any event, the shot catches it at a good angle. Nice little taper to the wings is easier on the eyes than a constant chord wing and the fuselage looks nice, as well.

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The Pegasus

I know nothing about the design, but the vertical fin and rudder is the crowning touch. The choice of color and simple paint trim accent just makes this whole ship exude class.

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The Southwick Lark

I love the Skylark, but the best version I had ever seen was on the label of the Sterling kit. Till I came to VSC. And started seeing the big SMC versions. Then I saw Phil Grandersons Lark and now this one. I love the eliptical wing. I've got three of the SMC Skylark kits but only one Lark kit with the full eliptical wing. I'd love to build it but don't dare consider it until I feel I can do the design justice.

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The Caprice

That wide spread gear and laid back cockpit give the slightest impression of a 30's racer. I thought at a glance this was a Cavalier, but the wing says otherwise.

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The Dragon

Never mind the Baja California lettering. The tail surfaces of this trim ship seemed elegant to me. Just right, nicely proportioned and shaped.

It's funny how some airplanes 'look right' and most don't quite. I can get used to how, say, a Cessna 172 looks, but it never does anything for me in terms of everything seeming just right on the airplane. Some airplanes just have a certain set of line that seems perfect for the job.

So who can tell the forum who designed these ships and who built the examples at VSC XV?

And what are your favorite elegant airframes?

Cy

I'm having a senior moment (not unlike my forgotten inverted flight in OTS) on the name of the builder of the Barnstormer. What I do recall is that it is the second one he has built and it has removable wings. Also (if the same as the first) as both stock Barnstormer panels and a second set utilizing airfoils and areas of the Doctor.

The Pegasus is Roy DeCamera's "Pilot's Choice" (concours) award winner. It was merely "perfect" in any way you want to define the word. Flawless in execution and elegant in form you couldn't ask for anything prettier.

The Lark is another of Bill Byle's beautiful renditions of Ed Southwick's magnificent designs. It is important to mention that Bill also flew one of Ed's own airplanes on a "Final Flight" memorial at noon on Sunday. A moving tribute to a great friend. Before the flight every pilot on the field took a few seconds to hold the handle and, if he chose, express his remembrances or feelings about Ed and his constant companion, Helen.

Afraid I can't help on the builder/flyer of the Dragon.

Oops. The Caprice is Bubba Hunt's classic entry.

The models are beauties. My favorite Classics are Tucker, Lark/T-Bird II, and Bob Palmer's Hurricane. I would love to see somebody build a Mackey Lark like the prototype...open cockpit. I always wondered what the colors were.

Wondering who built what made me hope that there might be a way to search the AMA website to match the number on the wing with the builder...anybody know if it's possible? And why not?!

As NW Skyraider's Sec./Tres., it is a PITB that during renewal time, many folks don't send their AMA number, so I gotta email, call or dig it out of archives if possible. It would be swell if I could do a search on AMA's website (or PAMPA's) and get the answer. Yeah, it's Charter time, and I've got some guys and no number for them. Steve

>Wondering who built what made me hope that there might be a
>way to search the AMA website to match the number on the
>wing with the builder...anybody know if it's possible? And
>why not?!
>
> Steve,
I do not believe it will work that way.
AMA site requires you to enter AMA number and name to verify membership. It doesnot give a name if only the number is entered.
Just checked it again this am.
Would be a nice feature, if they could implement it.
CLiner

>The models are beauties. My favorite Classics are Tucker,
>Lark/T-Bird II, and Bob Palmer's Hurricane. I would love to
>see somebody build a Mackey Lark like the prototype...open
>cockpit. I always wondered what the colors were.

Bob Hunt campaigned the Charles Mackey Lark at several VSC's beginning in 96. Like all of Mackey's airplanes, it flew very well. (Bob has a way to make airplanes fly well anyway, but the Lark certainly is not hurting for performance.) RSM (Eric Rule) makes a nice kit of the Lark. The photograph on the kit is of Bob's model.

>Oops. The Caprice is Bubba Hunt's classic entry.

Yes, you can tell by the trim, with the two diagonal strips...

Teddy, That's "Bobby Joe" Hunt to you.

LAST EDITED ON Mar-27-03 AT 02:39 AM (CDT)
 
>I'm having a senior moment (not unlike my forgotten inverted
>flight in OTS) on the name of the builder of the
>Barnstormer. What I do recall is that it is the second one
>he has built and it has removable wings. Also (if the same
>as the first) as both stock Barnstormer panels and a second
>set utilizing airfoils and areas of the Doctor.
>
>The Pegasus is Roy DeCamera's "Pilot's Choice" (concours)
>award winner. It was merely "perfect" in any way you want
>to define the word. Flawless in execution and elegant in
>form you couldn't ask for anything prettier.

The Barnstormer was built by Bick Brannen from Massachusetts. As Ted said, this is a take-apart airplane as was the Barnstormer he has had at previous VSC's. His airplanes all look very neat and are very light. His craftsmanship and innovations in his airplanes have not received the attention they deserve.

The Pegasus was designed by Bob Howard who won Senior Stunt with it at the 70 Nats. As has been mentioned elsewhere in this forum, this was published in Flying Models, Nov 69.

I'm quite certain that the Barnstormer is Bick's first. He flew it in OTS I believe. The other one has flaps and an open cockpit. They are both take apart (and fit into a large shoebox!) and REALLY exude craftsmanship. All the wing ribs are very thin Bass wood! I wish the covering was clear. The take apart mechanisms are all handcrafted and works of art themselves. The plane pictured apparantly has been wrecked HARD at least once and STILL is way finer than any model I've ever built. They are also Ultracote covered, though it's very hard to tell from any distance, extremely well done.

Furthermore, he's one of the nicest guys on the planet. I only know all of this because he sent me the plane pictured so I could study the take apart stuff, sight unseen, not knowing me from Adam. If anyone wants details, I drew them on onionskin over the original plans, and took loads of pictures. I also have a CD and Video tape showing more details courtesy Walt Umland of Built-it-right models, with whom Bick also shared the plane.

>I'm quite certain that the Barnstormer is Bick's first. He
>flew it in OTS I believe. The other one has flaps and an
>open cockpit. They are both take apart (and fit into a
>large shoebox!) and REALLY exude craftsmanship.

>If anyone wants details, I drew them
>on onionskin over the original plans, and took loads of
>pictures. I also have a CD and Video tape showing more
>details courtesy Walt Umland of Built-it-right models, with
>whom Bick also shared the plane.
>
>Tools

Tools,

Bick told me this was a different airplane from the one he had brought to previous VSC's. He also said the internal construction for the detachable wings was somewhat different than his previous airplane.

I would be interested in seeing anything available on his construction methods and techniques. In fact, I would think an article in one of the magazines or Stunt News would be very well received.

Hey Keith,

If you can write, I'll send you the details! I nearly failed english...

>The Pegasus was designed by Bob Howard who won Senior Stunt
>with it at the 70 Nats.

That must be our Bob Howard. The wing, flaps, and stab/elevator look very Geiske Nobler'ish.

Yes- it's your same Bob Howard.

As far as I know that Dragon in the picture belongs to Jim Dammerrell (sp?) I do not know if he was there flying it or what not but I think that is the one he won OTS with at the NATS.

Called Bob Hunt to congratulate him on his 2nd place finish with a brand new airplane and he said he just LOVES that plane. He went on and on about it.

I do not know if you will see this or not Mr. Fancher but congratulations go out to you as well as I know you had a brand new airplane also.

Hey for that matter congrats to everyone I hear the flying was good and competitive!