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1903 Wright Flyer
(1/16 scale Cleveland plan) — I plan to build this
model for display. The size is small enough that I can put it in a
reasonably sized glass case, but large enough that I can detail it without a
magnifier attached to my head.
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Boeing P-26 Peashooter
(1/8 scale Cleveland plan)
I have not
studied these plans closely, but they look good and should build into a nice
model. The tail surfaces seem small and that concerns me.
I do not
plan to enlarge the outlines so this may end up being a display model.
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Bücker Jungmeister
(Gordon Whitehead plans)
I finally purchased these plans from RCM.
I have the issue of RCM in which the construction article was originally
printed. I did not remember the plan being as complicated as it is, but
it looks to be a fun build.
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Focke Wulfe 190
(Balsa Craft)
This model is designed for .15 combat. The kit is
router cut and looks very nice. However, it has a lot of pieces and will
be a lot of work. I certainly wouldn't want to risk its demise by flying
it in combat, but I am sure it will be a very nice looking and flying airplane
if I ever get around to building it.
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Focke Wulf
190A8 (Skyshark
R/C)
My good friend Mike showed
up at my door one day and said, "I have a box for you to look at." I
replied, 'I've seen boxes before, Mike. Here's a pile of boxes right
here!'
Mike said, "You might want to
see this box though." Then he handed it to me and said, "Have fun!"
Inside the box was a brand new Focke Wulf kit. After I recovered from
the initial shock, we opened the box and looked it over. Looks like a
very nice kit and I'm anxious to get started on it. It is high on my
priority list, but I still need retracts and an engine for it.
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King of the Mississippi (1/80 scale Artesania Latina)
This is a neat little river boat model that will make a nice display piece.
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Loop (Graupner)
I thought this might be a fun small aircraft for my O.S. .15 CV-A. It is
another kit designed for electric power and after studying the kit thoroughly,
I have decided the O.S. will rip the plane to shreds. I have not decided what I am
going to do with it yet.
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LZ-129 Hindenburg Dirigible
(Winston Classic Kits)
This kit is billed as being very authentic and judging
from the price I thought it would be. I have always wanted a large
Hindenburg model. While the overall quality is ok, the content is not
what I expected considering the price. The first thing I noticed that I
didn't like was that there are too few stringers that are "fatter" than I
would have made them.
The box includes just a
couple laser-cut sheets of formers, a bundle of half-length sticks
(full-length stringers would fit in the box). The kit also comes
with vacuum-formed nacelle halves, nose cone, tail cone and a gondola.
The cones were both damaged. Plastic sheet is provided to cut
simulated propeller disks.
There is one plan sheet
which has the instructions printed on it. Lastly, the kit comes
with tissue or light silkspan (I don't remember which).
I will probably scratch build new
engine nacelles and a gondola, but that depends on how much my heart is in the
project when I get to that point.
I purchased the kit from
Model-Expo and expressed my
feelings to them after receiving it. I wasn't asking for them to do
anything. I just felt that the ad copy should more accurately
represent the model rather than making it out to be a scale
masterpiece.
I was
surprised to receive a full
refund. Additionally, they let me keep the kit even though I offered to send it
return it. Kudos to Model-Expo for their excellent service.
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P-51 (Top Flite
control line)
I built one of these per the plan for control line when I was a kid. I
did a horrible job on it as it was well beyond my capabilities at the time.
I picked up this kit at the Vintage R/C Fly-In for a good price. It
will not be a simple kit even though my skills have improved dramatically.
This kit is also way over-designed (heavy). I plan to convert it to R/C but to
make it a good flying model I will have to replace a lot of the wood with
contest balsa and remove as much weight as possible.
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Pitts S-1 (Robbe)
(Sold)
I got this kit in
Germany in exchange for carving a fuselage plug for a
fiberglass mold for a local hobby shop owner. The kit is beautiful.
Unfortunately, I did not realize it was designed for electric power until I got
back to the States.
I am not sure what I am going to do with it at this
point. I would like to build the kit because it is so well done, but do not know if it is worth buying all the
stuff for electrics and it probably will not convert easily to glow.
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Senior Telemaster (Hobby Lobby)
I robbed a lot of sticks and
sheets from this kit when working on other models. I can easily replace
whatever is needed when the time comes, but to be honest, I have lost interest
in ever building this model.
I thought about using it for aerial photography, but
the reality is of that is how interesting is it really to film a flying field
out in the boonies and who would ever want to watch it?
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Sopwith Camel
(1/8 scale Cleveland plan)
Another plan from
Cleveland that I have not looked over closely.
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Sopwith Camel (Guillow's)
I built one of these for control-line when I was a teenager. I liked
the looks of the finished model and it wasn't difficult to build. I
purchased this one for conversion to R/C. The only thing holding me up
on this model is finding a suitable power plant.
I plan to add a lot of detailing, but I think I can
keep the weight reasonably low. The problem being that I would like a
small engine that throttles well and can swing a large propeller.
I am leaning toward a diesel, but I know nothing about them and do not want to
buy a handful engines to find the right one. Balancing this model will
be difficult because I plan to put the propeller in the scale location rather
than the ridiculous looking position shown on the plans (way in front of the
cowl).
This kit was in storage for nearly 10 years in
the same box with my wife's perfume, so the wood smells really pretty now.
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Stinson Reliant
(Sterling)
This model was damaged by termites. I have discarded
all the damaged sheet and sticks, but I have saved die-cut parts so I can cut
replacements where necessary. Not a pressing project.
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Tiger Moth
(Hacker)
This is a 23" span model designed for
rubber or CO2. I plan to convert it to R/C and have the servos and
battery for it if I use glow. If I make it electric then I will need a
lithium pack and ESC. In either case, I need a mini rx.
In addition to these kits,
I still need to draw plans for at least three of my designs and update two sets
of drawings I drafted several years ago. Hopefully I will become immortal and time will not be the
issue it seems to be.
