Pending Projects and Kit Listing

There is no possible way I will live long enough to build every model that is on my list.  I am sure that I am not alone with this problem, but I will build all I can until my time is up.

Most of the Radio Control models I want to build are design ideas floating around in my head so obviously I can not list them here.  There is a small number of commercial kits on the list.

• Wood Kits and Plans
• Plastic Kits

Kits I want

• 1/4 scale or larger BD 5 (original prop version, not the BD 5J jet version)
• 1/4 scale or larger Bücker Jungmeister
• 1/4 scale F4U Corsair
• 1/4 scale Waco YMF
• 1/3 scale Pitts S1
• 1/3 scale Sopwith Camel
• 65" PT-17
• Pica Duelist 2/40 (Designed by Dave Platt)
• Proctor Nieuport 28
• Turbine F-15
• Turbine F-4
• VK Sopwith Camel
• A large motor glider - at least 3 meters.  I've looked at various European kits and a couple interest me.

Plans I want

Sizes are approximate if listed

• 65" Boeing P-26 Peashooter exact scale
• 84" to 96" PBY Catalina (actually I probably want one bigger - 130" or so)
• Dehavilland Beaver  (Thanks to Jim Peeples for sending me a set!)
• 1/4 scale Sopwith Camel
• 1/4 scale SE5A

Wood Kits and Plans

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Corsair 1/2A (Sterling)

  This has been on my list for a very long time.  My sincere thanks to Art Alifano for helping me obtain a complete kit in excellent condition.  I plan to use the original parts as patterns to cut a new kit from the best wood I've got — mostly contest balsa.  I'm not sure how I'll power it.  My OS .15 CV-A would be excellent but will also make the plane very nose-heavy.  I have an HB .12 that is very old and worn, but would be more appropriate power and weight.  I'm going to put it on my test stand and see how it's doing.  I may go E-power with this one.

• Douglass O-38 Observation (Cleveland Master Kit)

This is a vintage kit by Cleveland that a customer purchased at the Toledo show and then sent to me as a gift.  Thank you Lou!  I really appreciate it!

I've looked through the kit and the model is very nicely done and not shabby even by today's standards.  The parts are printed but unlike some print-wood kits I purchased when contemporary, the lines on the wood in the Cleveland kit are fairly sharp giving a clean indication of what the part should look at.  A couple kits I purchased in the 1980's had print-wood parts and the lines were so thick and fuzzy that two identical parts could be almost 1/16" over/under the matching part and still be cut on the "line".

I actually intend to build this kit one day as I don't put a lot of value in collectibles and don't see them as sacred objects that must be kept in mint condition in a climate controlled room 1,000 feet underground.  That said, I have a bazillion kits I "intend" to build that I may never get around to.

• Duelist Mark III 1/2 (BMJR)

  Originally designed by Dave Platt, the Duelist is at the top of my list of best looking model aircraft.  While this particular version wasn't designed by Dave, it was scaled from his design so essentially he did design it and someone else adapted it.  I plan to build it pretty much per the plans using e-power.  I'm considering adding retracts because there is no way this model will ever look right flying around with the wheels down.  Something else I will consider when I get serious about making decisions will be no landing gear and belly landings.  The main problem with that is electric motors can stop anywhere.  Glow motors can be set up so that the props are horizontal when the engine isn't running by bolting on the prop in that position with the engine just coming up to compression.  Air flow will force the prop to turn level.  We'll see.

• Fairchild PT-19 (Aviation Concepts)

I don't know why I love the PT-19 so much but I think it has a lot to do with my first ever glow-powered model was a Cox PT-19 Flight Trainer.  The aircraft itself is very simple, has nice lines and of course the color scheme.  I purchased the complete package deal.  I have a DLE 35 RE to power it and some of the flight pack, but still need a few servos, the landing gear struts (Robart RoboStruts) and eventually primer and paint.

• Focke Wulf 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.

• 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.

• King Kobra (Sig Manufacturing)

A long, long time ago I built a Sig Kougar (my third R/C after a Carl Goldberg Falcon 56 followed by a Sig Kommander).  I don't remember what happened to the plane other than it crashed a lot due to constant radio problems.  So I never really had a Sig Kougar I guess.  At least I never had one that I could fly.

The Kobra is essentially a scaled up version of it.  I don't normally do .60 size planes so this will be a little different for me.  This will be my sporty, fly-around-fast-but-not-too-fast plane.

• King of the Mississippi (1/80 scale Artesania Latina)

  This is a neat little river boat model that will make a nice display piece.

• 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.

• 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.

• Mile Magester (BMJR)

  I just think this is a really nice looking plane.  This is another designed by my all time RC airplane hero - Dave Platt.

  This model is also available with floats.

• 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.

• 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.

• Pitts Special (Herr)  X 2

I love this model.  I built one when I was stationed in Germany after not having built any RC planes for a very long time.  Unfortunately, choices I made as well as a problem or two with the kit itself meant that mine turned out to be more trouble than it was worth so I retired it while it was still in one piece.  Since then I've always wanted a do-over and now I have two do-overs.  The last time I priced the kit it was over $100 and I didn't want it that badly at the time.  The price has dropped substantially so I purchased two from Sig.

• Pteranodon (Plan by Steven Winkworth)

A customer asked me for a quote to build this model.  He declined but told me to keep the plan.  Looks interesting and it's definitely off-beat.  I hope I really do get around to building this one.

Link to purchase plan if you're interested.

• Senior Telemaster (Hobby Express)

  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?

• Sopwith Camel (1/8 scale Cleveland plan)

  Another plan from Cleveland that I have not looked over closely.

• 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.

• Splash-E (BMJR)

  I really liked this model when I was commissioned to build one for another pilot.  I wanted one of my own and now I have it.

• 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.

• 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.

Plastic Kits

Academy 1/35 M1A1 Abrams

Academy 1/35 M997 Field Litter Ambulance

Academy 1/35 M998 HMMWV - (7)

Academy 1/35 Tiger I Early

Academy/MRC 1/35 UH-60L

Accurate Miniatures 1/48 Gulf Hawk II

Accurate Miniatures 1/48 Ilyushin IL-2 Stormovik (skis)

Accurate Miniatures 1/48 North American B-25B Mitchell

Accurate Miniatures 1/48 SBD-5 Dauntless

Accurate Miniatures 1/48 TBF-1C Avenger Truk Lagoon

Airfix 1/48 F4U-1A Corsair

Airfix 1/48 Focke Wulf FW 190A-8

Airfix 1/48 North American P-51D Mustang

AMT 1/48 Curtiss P-40K Warhawk - (2)

AMT Man In Space Rocket Collection

Dragon 1/35 PzKpfw III Ausf J Control tank

Dragon 1/35 Sd.Kfz 250/8 Stummel

Dragon 1/35 StuG III Ausf F

Dragon 1/35 US Army Airborne Normandy 1944

Dragon 1/35 US Tank Crew Modern

Dragon 1/48 Ho 229A-1

Hasegawa 1/48 A-7D Corsair II

Hasegawa 1/48 Junkers Ju87G-2 Stuka

Heller 1/48 Mirage III C/B

Italeri 1/35 Leopard 2

Italeri 1/35 M925 5-Ton Truck

Italeri 1/35 M109 Paladin

Monogram 1/144 Apollo Saturn V Rocket

Monogram 1/48 B-17F Flying Fortress

Monogram 1/48 B-17G Flying Fortress

Monogram 1/48 PBY-5 Catalina

Monogram Pro Modeler 1/48 Focke Wulf FW 190G-2/G-3

Monogram Pro Modeler 1/48 SB2C Helldiver

MRC Star Wars Cutaway Millennium Falcon

NASA/McDonnell Gemini Capsule

Pocher 1/8 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabrio Special 1937

Revell 1/144 Discovery Space Shuttle w/Boosters

Revell 1/24 Gemini Space Capsule

Revell 1/35 M1038 HMMWV - (2)

Revell 1/35 M998 HMMWV - (2)

Revell 1/35 Willy's Jeep

Revell 1/48 B-1B Bomber

Revell 1/48 F-15E Strike Eagle

Revell 1/48 ME 262 Nightfighter

Revell 1/48 SR-71 Blackbird

Revell 1/48  F-14A Tomcat - (2)

Revell-Monogram 1/48 First Lunar Landing

Seaworthy Small Ships Scorpion Runabout

Shanghai Dragon 1/35 US Light Infantry - (2)

Tamiya 1/16 German Luftwaffe Pilot

Tamiya 1/24 Porsche 911 GT1 Full-View

Tamiya 1/32 F-15E Strike Eagle

Tamiya 1/32 F4-J McDonnell-Douglas Phantom II

Tamiya 1/35 20 mm Flakvierling 38

Tamiya 1/35 88 mm Flak 36/37

Tamiya 1/35 BMW R75

Tamiya 1/35 Dragon Wagon

Tamiya 1/35 FAMO 18 Ton Halftrack

Tamiya 1/35 German Front Line Infantrymen

Tamiya 1/35 German Steyr Type 1500A

Tamiya 1/35 Panzer III Ausf E

Tamiya 1/48 Fairey Swordfish Mk I

Tamiya 1/48 JASDF F-15J Eagle

Tamiya 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4/7

Tamiya 1/48 Mitsubishi A6M5c Zero

Tamiya 1/48 North American P-51D Mustang

Tamiya 1/48 Republic F-84G Thunderjet

Testor's 1/48 F8F-2 Bearcat

Trumpeter 1/32 A-10 Warthog

Williams Brothers 1/8 Pratt & Whitney engine

Williams Brothers 1/8 Wright Engine

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