My Latest

[Malcolm R Foster]

My Latest, own design, 58" span, an OS 40 LA up front, flies really well.

[Tim Farrar]

Malcomb :

Very nice looking plane.

SEEYA, TIM

[mrbig]

Can you tell me a little more about your plane. I does look nice and I was wondering what you used to build it?

Brian

[Malcolm R Foster]

Hi, This is the latest in my line of own design "cheapo" planes - quickly and economically built. I use Polystyrene foam sheets from building suppliers, 20mm and 30mm thick, 8ft by 4 ft. I carve sides, top and bottom of fuselage out of this, and tail feathers, and wings. These I reinforce with (usually) one balsa spar, and a length of carbon fibre tow epoxied top and bottom of the spar.Thin ply engine mount, and a little balsa in the fuselage, around the fuel tank. Then the carved and sanded parts are covered with plain old brown paper, using slightly watered down PVA glue. Looks horrible and weak when you first do it, but when it dries, in a day or so, it is a strong, tight surface. Then I spray with two thin coats of car undercoat, sand, and finish with a couple of thin coats of whatever colour spray, and sometimes a final coat of clear gloss. This plane cost me around $30 to build,(minus engine and radio) and most of that cost was the wheels and epoxy glue. It's a great way to get new ideas into the air quickly. This one flies great, and seeing as its winter over here now, I often only get half an hour's flying after work, then it's dark at 5.30 pm. I've fitted flashing lights, and it looks cool, roaring around in the dusk. Nice talking, happy to provide more detail if you like.

Malcolm.