Oh dear - confession time....
Fit of enthusiasm... started drawing up a DH71. Decided on 1:5 scale. Span 65.5".
Structure drawn up... Started looking at detail... Undercart is a bit problematic!
Thin tyres - not much 'give' in that little rubber - okay no doubt some car door seal section can be found and pressed into service, but this type calls for in-hub springing!

(pause for this bit of news to sink in!)

In the hub of a 4" dia wheel!
The springing definitely won't be rubber because at that small size nobody will fancy replacing perished rubber after a few years service. It can be done with springs of course - and I think that with a bit of assistance even my poor engineering might manage it, but is anyone else still up for it?

Has anyone else done this bit of detail at this scale? Anyone come across details?
(can I hear clucking?)

Hi All,

The voting has slowed down considerably in the last 5 days. I hope that there will be 100 votes by the end of the poll. If you would like to vote please check out the voting format in post #109. As of now there are 36 votes as follows:

Four requests - DH 71 "Tiger Moth" monoplane, DC 3

Three requests - Gloster Gladiator

Two requests - Grumman Duck and HE 51, A-1 Sky Raider, Policarpov 1-153, Song Bird, Waterman Gosling, GB R1/R2

One request each for - Keith Reider R-4, , Sorceress, Spitfire MK 1, DH 60 Moth, DH 90 Dragonfly, Fokker DVI,FW 190, GB Z, Norduyen Norseman, Rata, and Storch

If I have misunderstood, overlooked, neglected, mangled, miss typed or in some other way messed up your vote as noted in the attached PDF, just let me know and I will fix it. I have registered each vote by builder name so it is easy to check your own vote.

Best Robert

Originally Posted by eye4wings

Oh dear - confession time....
Fit of enthusiasm... started drawing up a DH71. Decided on 1:5 scale. Span 65.5".
Structure drawn up... Started looking at detail... Undercart is a bit problematic!
Thin tyres - not much 'give' in that little rubber - okay no doubt some car door seal section can be found and pressed into service, but this type calls for in-hub springing!

(pause for this bit of news to sink in!)

In the hub of a 4" dia wheel!
The springing definitely won't be rubber because at that small size nobody will fancy replacing perished rubber after a few years service. It can be done with springs of course - and I think that with a bit of assistance even my poor engineering might manage it, but is anyone else still up for it?

Has anyone else done this bit of detail at this scale? Anyone come across details?
(can I hear clucking?)

Eye4wings,

Sprung hubs, wow. Good idea. I guess the GWS skinny wheels with the S shaped spokes have sprung hubs.

There are quite a few folks who love the DH 71 so you are in good company. Best of success on your design.

Best,
Robert

By the way, if any of you who have been following this thread know an avid builder who you think should vote please direct them this way. The more people voting the more meaningful the results.

It looks to me like everyone who wanted to vote has been able to. Absent a large and unexpected outpouring of votes I consider the voting complete.

The total stands:

Four requests - DH 71 "Tiger Moth" monoplane, DC 3

Three requests - Gloster Gladiator

Two requests - Grumman Duck and HE 51, A-1 Sky Raider, Policarpov 1-153, Song Bird, Waterman Gosling, GB R1/R2

One request each for - Keith Reider R-4, , Sorceress, Spitfire MK 1, DH 60 Moth, DH 90 Dragonfly, Fokker DVI,FW 190, GB Z, Norduyen Norseman, Rata, and Storch

The PDF with every vote is attached below. The key to the wingspan and build type of each vote is as follows:
Each vote must specify three parameters

1) aircraft name
2) Wing span in one of three categories
A) 25-40 inch
B) 41-55 inch
C) 56 inch or more.
3) Build style
A) parkflyer light weight (flight optimized)
B) Medium weight (scale fidelity and scale feature optimized)
ie retracts, scale interior, 14 piece functional flaps or what ever.

To those who may visit the site in the future. The purpose of the thread is stated in post #1 and the nomination and voting method are reviewed in post # 109.

I was hoping to give one extra bit of information and encouragement to those who design and kit the aircraft we build. Thanks to them. Thanks to you all.

All the best,
Robert R

Hi Robert,

I would like to see the following planes to be kitted at a relative small a size (around 60-80 cm wingspan to max 1,2 m wingspan).

1. Grumman Duck
2. F1M1 Pete
3. Norduyen Norseman (float version)
4. Dornier Do 24
5. Kawanishi N1K1 Kyofu "Rex"

There are others on my wishlist but these are not modelled very frequently in my opinion.

Robert

For all models:

Wingspan: A
Buildstyle: A (or B)

Gosh - I never saw this thread:

+1 for Grumman Duck
Curtiss P6-E Hawk
Lockheed Electra/Hudson
Saunders Roe Kittiwake or A-19/A-29 Cloud
Aichi AB-4
Blohm & Voss BV138
Curtiss Condor -- either the military bomber or early or late civilian

Charlie,

Your absolutely correct. We are a fickle bunch. That is why I have been building a few kits and then changing them up. Scaling up or adding details etc.

Right now I love Pat's Custom Models but I want to go to a bigger model so I am doing an 80" DC-6B. I already built the 60" model but I wanted an 80 or 100" version. However, I realize that most flyers don't want to deal with an 80" or larger model.

I want to see Pat's Bobcat or Orion get released! However, if the Orion isn't 80" I know I would build the 60 and then just size it up.

It must be really difficult to decide what to introduce as a kit maker.

Dave

Originally Posted by portablevcb

Yep, we do listen. And every now and then we act on it, then all those people who wanted it disappear.

People want a P-51. We make one. Then we get, it isn't scale enough, isn't the right wingspan, isn't light enough, isn't heavy enough, doesn't have ailerons, flaps, retracts, steerable tailwheel, etc, etc. Take your pick.

Some of us compare posts in the EZone to the number of sales. Typically if 10 people say they want something, one will actually buy it.

The problem is we model builders are a fickle lot. And I count myself in that group.

So, what designers do is design what they like. If someone else buys it then fine, if not, they have a plane that they like. There are a couple of exceptions.

Peter Rake is one who will design what others like, sort of. Mainly cause he knows that the builder of the prototype needs to want the plane or it won't get finished.

Mark Rittinger will sometimes ask what people want him to design next.

Not any others that I know of.

charlie
manzano laser works

Warhead,

As I was looking at your Goose build log I saw the pilot you sculpted for Hammerd's Fokker Dr1. It is magnificent. I really admire the result.

One of the most fun parts of a build is making the pilot. Attached are my own efforts in blue foam pilot sculpting. The are not in the same league as your Dr1 pilot but it was still a big improvement over prior efforts. I think Nigel looks pretty convincing sitting in the office.

As far as this thread goes, I think it has gone about as far as it can. There is a complicated voting formula to try to get meaningful information to the designers but it was a little too complex. I hope it helped a little.

Best,
Robert

Dave,

I have also been following your DC6B build. Also, really nicely done.

Best,
Robert R

Originally Posted by Robert R

Dave,

I have also been following your DC6B build. Also, really nicely done.

Best,
Robert R

Robert,

Thanks,
I was going to bring it to the warbirds fly-in in Goldendale but they scheduled it for Memorial day weekend and I have plans already. Looks like it would be a blast.

Dave

As a little bit of update on the DH71, I finished drawing it up and gave the drawing to a friend who had expressed interest in building it, but he has developed health problems so it will be delayed in making its appearance.
66" span, structural flying wires and plug-in wings. Should come out at about 3.5 pounds AUW.

Originally Posted by Robert R

Warhead,

... Attached are my own efforts in blue foam pilot sculpting. ... I think Nigel looks pretty convincing sitting in the office.

Best,
Robert

I like your pilot, Robert. Now he just needs an extended pinky finger and a miniature cup o' tea

Originally Posted by eye4wings

As a little bit of update on the DH71, I finished drawing it up and gave the drawing to a friend who had expressed interest in building it, but he has developed health problems so it will be delayed in making its appearance.
66" span, structural flying wires and plug-in wings. Should come out at about 3.5 pounds AUW.

Eye4wings,

Please send me a PM if a DH 71 build thread starts. I will subscribe. I hope your friend is better soon.

Best, Robert

Originally Posted by warhead_71

I like your pilot, Robert. Now he just needs an extended pinky finger and a miniature cup o' tea

Warhead,

Actually there is a thermos of tea beside the tea cup. It is just on the floor where it is hard to see . It is a variant of Pat Tritle's pilots that you can't see because they are bending down to retrieve their cigars.

I started a build log thread for the Rapide build

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1650419

Best,
Robert