Finished up two Lockheed aircraft.

The vintage Kyosho T-33 EDF was something I picked up many years ago at an estate sale. Repaired the poor mods made by the previous owner and repainted it. Flew it a few days ago and was happy with the results. Need to research a minor motor glitch and add a few more decals then she'll be done.

The Phase3 P-38 Lightning is also a vintage kit back from 2007. I had one in 2008 but lost it in a lipo fire (story can be found here in RCG). Acquired this NIB kit at an event two years ago and started working on it a few weeks ago. Nearly completed - needs electronics finalized, CG, and maiden. The photo shows the stock prop adapters, props, and spinners. I'll be swapping those out with the same parts I used on my original Phase3 P38 when they arrive. The stock setup is prone to vibration - hard to balance everything. Going with Hyperion prop adapters & spinners with APC 8x8E props.

-Lee

2nd version completed & flown. Just needs a few more touches and tweaks and she'll be set. Always wanted a 337 flying model.

New 3D Printed R/C Cessna 337 Skymaster (1 min 32 sec)

Another GREAT flight of the 337...right up until the end.

3D Printed Cessna 337 SkyMaster / 3rd flight & crash (4 min 36 sec)

3D Printed R/C Cessna SkyMaster 337 / Maiden (2 min 34 sec)

Who says model aviation isn't exciting?!?!

My close call this weekend. Phew! Missed it by "that" much.

Messerschmitt Me 262 / Close call on take-off (0 min 37 sec)

Some photos taken during the Warbird event at JSC this year. Enjoy....Continue Reading

Sharing a few pics from Bomber Field USA's 30th anniversary of the B-17 & Big Bird Gathering 2018. Enjoy....Continue Reading

Video and Pics from the "Warbirds Over JSC" event in Clear Lake, Texas. Super fun, great pilots, awesome weather, and WARBIRDS!!

Warbirds over JSC (Johnson Space Center) - April 2018 (15 min 34 sec)

Facebook Pages: "Lee Ray Photography" & "RAYviation...Continue Reading

Took some video of a little gathering of warbirds and other planes over at Scobee Field last week. Breaking in my new Sony 4K camera.

"Gathering of Fury" - Scobee Field - Katy, TX (25 min 1 sec)

RC Guys Cessna 150 Aerobat / US Air Force T-51A RC Flight Team (2 min 15 sec)

...Continue Reading

I decided to take on the task to create a series of videos on my Funder & Lightning design. It has taken a lot of time, added a great deal of stress, and made me wonder what they hell I was thinking. But, I finally finished the last video today and I feel relieved & satisfied to have completed everything I set out to do.

RCG Funder & Lighting thread: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...nder-Lightning

Here they are. I hope they were worth the effort. Comments welcome.

Part 1 / History:

Welcome to the Funder & Lightning / Part 1 - History (4 min 1 sec)

Part 2 / Parts:

Parts for the Funder & Lightning / Part 2 (7 min 56 sec)

...Continue Reading

Here's a little video I made from the event. I also have lots of photos on my Facebook page.

>> Click for Bomber Field / B-17 & Big Bird Fly-In Photos <<

Bomber Field USA - B-17 & Big Bird Fly-In 2016 (4 min 19 sec)

Enjoy!

Hey RCG buddies,

My RC Roundtable Podcast partners have collected some RC crash videos that we put together for your entertainment. Looks we have enough for 2-3 more videos too! If you enjoyed it, please subscribe to our YouTube channel as we'll be posting more of the crash videos and other RC related videos soon.

Enjoy!

Crashy Smashy - A Collection of RC Mayhem / Vol. 1 (3 min 56 sec)

A few pics from the event. To view all the pics, visit my photography Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/leerayphoto...05982856209792...Continue Reading

When my new garage workshop was completed back in 2013, I wanted to reduce the amount of dust produced by my sanding & cutting tools. I could have purchased an expensive JET air filtration unit ($300+) or gone super cheap with a box fan and air filter. However, I saw a few homemade boxes built by carpenters that caught my eye so I decided to build my own using items I had around the house.

My unit is built around a 20x14" air filter. It's not a popular size but it fits in my workshop nicely and is sized properly for the 465CFM fan I purchased.

Here are the two main items for this build:

Active Air 465CFM Blower (discontinued - but good for reference info)
60-minute A/C Spring Loaded Wall Timer (a MUST)

The box is built out of plywood and MDF. The inner-lining is a material called HOMASOTE. It's used here as noise reduction material. However, it is also a great material to put on top of your workbench. It is flat and holds pins very well.

The best tip was that 60-minute timer. The MAIN reason to have it is so you can turn the fan on when you leave the room. It'll process the air in the room for an hour and then automatically shut off. The SECOND reason it helps is that it tells me how long I've been in the workshop! Sometimes I get so wrapped up in things I let time fly. I turn on the fan when I walk in and take a break when it goes off. Very user friendly device.

My workshop is MUCH cleaner now that I have this unit. I hope you...Continue Reading

RC Roundtable has posted a poll on the topic of VELCRO.

Question: Do you attach LOOP or HOOK to your lipo battery?

Please join in the poll by going to the thread here:

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=2667695

Hey fellow RC Group members:

“RC Roundtable is LIVE!”

Come check out our inaugural episode at RCROUNDTABLE.COM. It is a fun-filled conversation between three good friends who share the same passion for this radio control hobby. Listen in as they discuss RC news & events, swap funny stories, and ask the question: “What’s on your workbench?”

We will release a new episode every two weeks. Follows us on our website, Facebook, and Twitter to stay up-to-date.

One of my favorite pics from my collection taken at the JSC Warbird event down at NASA Clear Lake. Good times!

Finally got the maiden flight in on my new (old stock) Hobby King PBY Catalina. This was the KIT version so I had to install all the electronics.

Maiden went well but the video camera wasn't set properly so here is the 2nd flight.

Hobby King PBY Catalina - 2nd flight (2 min 5 sec)

Lee

These were taken 3 years ago but I always smile when I come across them. This is my youngest son Ryan holding my father's vintage Goldberg Skylane kit. It has been in the family for over 45 years!

Black and white image is my father with the Skylane in all its glory.

I hope my kids (& hopefully grandchildren) will cherish the planes I've built and fly today.

Lee

I designed my Funder & Lightning nearly 10 years ago. Amazing how time has gone by. She's such an easy build and great flyer. I think I have 7 kits still in my garage, along with the prototype that still flies (but better motor)!

It's neat to see how many pilots have built one and even cooler to see an RC Club in Canada show off their "F&L Dog Fight Squadron"!!

Stop by and visit the thread. I have my registered domain pointing straight to it.

http://funderandlightning.com

-Lee / YarSmythe