Here's the latest addition to my overcrowded hangar. It's a Avions Fairy Corporation of Belgium, "Tipsy Nipper". Like most of my stuff, it's one of those "what the heck is that" kind of goofy airplanes that I'm attracted to! It started off as a very limited production, 70's Balsa USA kit, but I've made so many changes to the original design, you could just call this a "kit bash"!

I started this project a little over 16 months ago for a local club that I belong to, for a entry into their "Winter Build Contest" that was to take place in about 4 months after I started. Well, 1 month before the contest was to take place, my wife informed me (told me) that we weren't gonna even be in town when that was to take place, so that's when the wind went out of my sails for the build! A couple of months ago, I started on it again for this years contest. Hey, mine just took longer to build!

It's only a 60" wingspan, but it is a 1/4 scale plane! Some of the changes I made were: simulated ribs on the flat sheet stabilizer & elevator, along with the fin & rudder, removable canopy with metal framing, detailed cockpit, fuel cap, tail bracing, blisters on the cowl, individual aileron servo's, functioning drum brakes, fabric covering with glue dot stitches (965 of them)! & pinking tape, Saito FA-90T twin (original was VW powered), oleo front strut & scale main gear. I also beheaded one of those great Bazzboe pilots and...Continue Reading