Some pics I took a few months back. That's a Midwest 27% Extra300s I built in 2002, the red plane is a Midwest SuperHots I built in 1990, the flag plane is a Great Planes Dazzler I built about 2012.

The Extra300s is getting all new electronics, batteries, and some other current technology installed. I restored the SuperHots in the fall of 2015. The Dazzler was an experiment I'd wanted to try for years that I finally got around too, and I'll call a complete success.

I had more then I thought... amazing how many pics can be taken.. as I've actually got a few hundred.....Continue Reading

random along the way pics..

Some random shots of my Butterfly... a slight chronological order.. but not exactly in building sequence... but they're there.

TopFlite Monokote, transparent red and pearl white.

I knew I wanted a trans red... I wasn't sold on the pearl wht.. its a bit more transparent then pearl... but once I see the ass'ly put together.. I think I can live with it. .

It should lend itself well to many different colors of striping... decisions decisions.. I've got ideas, but never know until its done..

These were taken after most of the structure was done....Continue Reading

Heres some more I ran across.. I forgot I took so many.. maybe the "adult beverages" had something to do with it.. haha Great way to relax though..

Pic 1.. Careful use of the supplied die-crunched dihedral guage will make easy work of getting a good joint of the inboard/outboard panels.. that and a bit of patience. The reinforcment wires were harder then anything else.. but I think I've learned something in the 28yrs since I built the last one..

Pic 2.. The "dry fit".. very satisfied at this point. Of course theres no epoxy yet.. but spending some time studying and fitting pays off...

Pic 3.. Very satisfied.. its looking familiar now.

Pic 4.. Heres the money shot... glue is on.. clamps are on.. weights are on.. yes phone books, catalogs, etc.. You know.. that hi-tech stuff that keeps the components stable and true.

In doing the leading-edge, starting with square stock, installed on ribs.. I mark the center of the finished edge.. as well as the taper. The outboard panel leading and trailing edge both have a double-taper..

The trailing edge double taper is achieved by cutting the front face(rib side) of the stock.. that will create the natural taper needed.

I like to lightly scribe the center of the finish edge... with a pencil.. that way when I'm shaping it makes a perfect target and guide.. as the edge is where I want it.. its straight and the mark is the last thing to go.. and even at that, I like to leave a "ghost line" very very faint.. you probably would'nt ever see it when done.. if you didn't know it was there.... and then I have somewhat of a guide covering... and the covering hides it perfectly.... I've done this for many years when shaping ... works really for many applications.

The leading edge was installed as full size stock as depicted.. then using the template on the plans.. and basically an eye, the finished shape is drawn on both ends of stock.. pics 1 and 2, then the center of the finished edge is marked... at this time.. draw the outboard front-edge taper.. its a guide is all.. and

A few quick pics... Started it the first weekend of January.

Using a Magnum .30 four-stroke.

Coming along nicely...

Its in the covering stage right now, with a few panels done.

More to follow.

Bought this on a road trip a few years back, finally got a bit of time to build it. I'm tellin ya, these are genious kits. They can build as clean as the builder has skills.. and the parts fit is incredible... simply a joy to work with it, and the finished plane is very attractive on the bookshelf... and I'm thinking it will be pretty fast, judging by the pull of the motor.

The motor/gearbox are stock brushed set-up, for a ParkZone Ultra-Micro P-51, the rx brick is a 3ch unit from a PZ UM Cub..

The base covering on the wing is UltraCote Park-lite. The graphics are TopFlite brand Monokote Trim-sheets, self adhesive. The scheme just was a happening that I came up with after looking at a few I liked.. nothing great, but still very pleasing and easy to do with a few drafting tools on a peice of glass.

Can't wait for the next StevensAero kit.. I know theres one in my future.. soon. I enjoyed building this plane as much or more then anything I've ever built.. the coolest part is it only took a week of evenings.. and I was going slow, trying to be precise.. it payed off I think. Check it out.

Hope to fly it in the spring... I'm very pleased with how it came out. Used genuine Monokote.. trans red, trans blue, metallic red, metallic blue, black, and white. See post below, with link, if interested in builld thread, and covering technique info.

Our StarShip.. 2002 GoldWing.. loaded...
Its like flying on land.. if there is such thing this would be it..

Here's a build thread I've been working on, off and on for a while. GreatPlanes Dazzler. Hopefully going to finish pretty soon. Just a bit of my handy work, and some things I learned from these forums.

RCGroups is sometimes like just hangin out a the field and talkng shop with the guys.. and I look forward to checkin it out every day. Be safe everyone.

My build thread: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1403724