Dream Flight Weasel:

• Removable wings.
• Bi-Di tape on the LE.
• Two coats of clear Plasti-Dip.
• Krylon on the wing, pod and belly pan.
• Nelson Lite Film on the elevons.
• HS-85mgs.
• FMA 6ch rx.
• 700 AAA mAh batt.
• Steel pushrods.

AUW - 12.6oz

My buddy Barry let me fly his Alula at Coyote Hills and I was instantly hooked. There's nothing like close-in buffonery and the Alula serves it up quite nicely.

This kit was my first experience with EPP. Like many of my projects I strayed from the instructions by adding several modifications including:

1. Carbon-reinforced pod;

2. Several coats of thinned Goop on the pod; and

3. Crystal-Clear cellophane covering on the wing.

In addition to several season's worth of slope fun I also flew my Alula in a DLG contest. It was no match for the purpose-built DLGs but it did spark my interest in DLG competition.

The inspiration for the color scheme is the Yellow-Billed Magpie which is indegenous (sp?) to parts of Northern and Central California. During certain times of the year they're very common along the road that leads to Del Valle Regional Park where I do most of my slope flying.

The NanoPlanes Nano Falcon is a hoot! Super easy build. I think I spent more time on the covering than on the acutal construction. It's a sports-car on the slope, absolutely excelling at light-lift close-in antics. Plus, it's just too cute.

WS:

AUW:

Radio:

The Bowman's Hobbies Super Scooter was my second EPP sloper. (The Alula was my first). I overbuilt the SS by adding lots of carbon fiber reinforcement that was simply not needed. Other mods are documented in this thread:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=487488

The SS was flown a few times at Del Valle Regional Park and then sold to another SF Bay Area RCer.

Somehow I wormed my way into the South Bay Soaring Society's One-Design Racer group-buy. Thanks Hutch! Color sceme was inspired by a trip to Spain. Viva Espana!

Simple balsa 'fuse and balsa over white foam wings. This is the glider I would have built next had I stuck with RC back in the 80s. Instead it took me 20+ years to build my "next" sloper.

Build Notes: Hutch provided a "short kit" that included the wing cores and laser cut 'fuse and tail parts. The builder provided the rest including triangle stock, balsa nose block, balsa 'fuse sheeting and hardware. The directions were very clear and augmented by an on-line build thread

Flight Report: The El Toro flies great. It's much faster than it's simple boxy lines suggest. Plus, it can handle the light-air conditions that are so typical at Del Valle Regional Park.

WS: 60"

AUW: Light

Radio: HS85mgs on the Ailerons; HS65mg on the Elevator. Electron 6 RX. 600mAh RX battery.

I've always loved pattern ships. Fortunately, Martin Chou designed and kitted the delightful iStar park-sized pattern ship. My first laser-cut kit. It went together and flew (still flies) beautifully.

WS:

AUW:

Power Plant: Himaxx ????, CC T-Bird 18 ESC, Thunderpower 1320 LiPos

Radio: HS55s on all control surfaces

Someone thought it would be a good idea to participate in the first JARTfest. Problem was, we didn't have JARTs! No big deal. Four months later we had THREE JARTs!

WS: 60"

AUW: Light for a JART

Radio: Futaba mg servos on the Ailerons. HS85mg on the Elevator. FMA M6 rx. 600 mAh rx battery

My first RC resurection/recycling project is the airplane I used to get back into RC. I documented the resurrection and major modifications of my old Gnome Hand Launched Glider in RC Soaring Digest. Here's some pics of the completed project. You can check out the full story begining on page 34 of the June 2006 issue of RC Soaring Digest: http://www.rcsoaringdigest.com/pdfs/...SD-2006-06.pdf

Greetings.

I'm a re-entry RCer back into the sport after a 20+ year hiatus. As a kid in the 80's I flew "slimers" (elecs were heavy and lame at that time) and sailplanes - both off the highstart and at the slope. I never had the big $$$ to invest in high-zoot planes. ARFs were also heavy and lame and I learned to build and repair - two activities that I still enjoy years later.

My wife and I have another very expensive hobby (racing motorcycles) and I have to do RC stuff on the "cheap." Therefore, I have several planes in my fleet that have either been scratchbuilt or rescued from someone else's trash can. Future posts will document how I've brought planes back from the dead and how these cast-offs can end up being contest winners.

I primarily build and fly slope-soaring sailplanes, DLGs and electric park-flyers. I'm fortunate to live right next to an elementary school playground that's just big enough for electrics and DLGs.

I enjoy kit and scratch building as much as flying and I'm actively involved in promoting various RC-related contests and events.