I bought this Jerry Bates Bear here on RCG a few months ago and am finally going to get started on it with an electric conversion. It has a Zenoah G-62 in it and since I don't do combustion engines, I found a 50cc Rotomax for it. The original Jerry Bates specs on it called for a ST3250 to a G45 and I guess whoever built it as a clipped wing Reno racer with a G62 wanted to be sure it would haul the mail. I've seen the engine running and it's amazing the amount of vibration the plane takes with one of these engines. I think an electric motor is going to be a lot smoother on this 20+ year old airframe.

It looks like it's pretty well built and in good shape with not a whole lot of air time. I'm sure it's likely a handful since it probably flies really fast and lands that way too, especially with no flaps. I fly off of a 450' paved runway with grass ends that I know I'm going to be using on my landings.

I'm a warbird fanatic and have always liked the Grumman planes. This Rare Bear Reno racer isn't exactly a warbird, but it's still a formidable bit of aircraft. I had the luck to actually meet one of the team members for the Rare Bear during my last trip to the Perry swap meet. I saw a Thunder Tiger Rare Bear in its original box under one of the tables and asked if it was for sale. Turns out it was bought earlier by a gentleman who said his name was on the airframe. He told me about his long association with the Rare Bear and some of the experiences he had with Lyle Shelton, the planes original owner. I was pretty well blown away with some of his stories and talking to him was about the highlight of the Perry show for me. I only got that his first name was "Ray", I'm sure the photo I took of him could help to find out more about him. He definitely got me inspired to get this Bearcat back flying again.

I've been wanting to get a jet for years now but didn't want to go with one of those rtf foam planes that most folks start with.

I had read a lot about my options and found out the F-16 was a good first jet for a lot of folks back in the day. So when I found this one at the Perry swap meet last week I couldn't pass it up. I bought it as a bare airframe, and I'm starting the search for an edf motor/fan. I'm not sure if I want to go with an original "byrofan" setup or go with some carbon fiber setup from this century.

It's been worked on and appears to have been reinforced with cloth and has servos mounted in the wing. It also has a flying stab configuration, and a fixed rudder. It's been sitting on the intake and fins for a while now and has a few cracks that are mostly minor.

It seems I never get a plane fully finished and detailed until after I've flown it for a while, so I'm not going to worry about its appearance for now. I'm really looking forward to getting it flying and experiencing the hoopla that is associated with jets...

I picked up this plane last summer along with a few others from a fellow rcg'er down in S. Florida.

He was flying it with an Evolution 20cc engine and had flown it regularly. It appears it had never suffered a major incident and there were just a few small patches on the covering. It hadn't been cleaned in while.

I only fly electric and after giving it a good degreasing, I installed an eflite Power 110 w/ a Castle 120 esc. The cowl was already cut open on the bottom so I used that as my battery access and opened up the bottom of the firewall. I slid one battery into the fuselage, and placed the other battery on the firewall behind the motor mount. I'm using two 4s 5000 in series for 8s, and an 18 x 10 prop. I can fly for 8-10 minutes and still have about 40% battery left. I'm still needing a prop hub to make it more complete, I should also find a good wood prop too...

It is really smooth to fly and lands very easily. I'm a bit nose heavy and could use a lighter set of lipos, planning on trying it with two 3700's I have.

I have several flights on it so far, and am looking forward to when another club member can bring out his GP Super Stearman and we can do some formation flying....Continue Reading

I got this Spitfire here on RCGroups a few months back, pretty much set up and about ready to fly. I got (what I thought) was a good deal for the plane with all electronics included, motor, esc, and servos.

The down side was it had been sent by a guy who has no business shipping planes. It arrived in two separate boxes, which was fine except the first box with the fuselage had the tail wrapped with about 10 yards of bubble wrap and STICKING OUT OF THE BOX! How it survived USPS is a mystery, but unfortunately they made up for it when the wing was sent a few weeks later. Again, the guy defied usps and sent the wing in a box that actually caused the wing to break. The guy would have done better if he had just wrapped the wing with all the bubble wrap he used for the tail and put a shipping label on it...

I wound up doing enough repair on the wing to get it back together to fly, though it really needs to be recovered . The previous owner also cut a battery hatch in the fuselage, and while I appreciate the intent, it appears it was his first attempt doing a battery hatch. Ah well, good thing I'm all about function over form, so I'll settle with getting it in the air for now, and work on the cosmetics later.

I used Eflite electric retracts and Robart struts which is a huge improvement over the stock mechanical set up. This plane came out over a decade ago and like all the H9 60 warbirds from that time, the gear is rather flimsy and not suited for hard landings. I...Continue Reading

I finally managed to get my CMP Hellcat in the air today after having it for almost three years It was given to me as a "buy one get one" deal when I bought a Bearcat from a friend of mine. He wasn't too enthused with it, and I like warbirds, especially when they're free.

I wasn't too rushed to get it in the air as what I'd read about the plane said it was on the low end of the ARF scale when it came out years ago. It was an inexpensive plane and I've seen worse, but it does have a following with quite a few people who have done some decent mods to it to make it better. One of the videos I saw made by a CMP owner referred to this process as "polishing a turd", and it's with that mindset that I wanted to put it together and fly it first before I worked on its appearance.

I recently acquired a pair of Century Jet retracts that went in smoothly, and used a Turnigy 5065-380 motor with a Castle Creations Talon 90 esc. on a 6s 5000 lipo with a 17 x 8 prop. I have standard servos almost all the way around, I still need to put one in for the flaps. I like having flaps when possible...

I taxied it around a bit, made sure everything was holding together, and then after the third run up, went for it. I managed to take off smoothly but it was pulling hard to the right and I had way too much elevator throw, and was porpoising pretty badly.. I did several clicks on the aileron to straighten it out, and once I got the gear up, It seemed to settle in a bit....Continue Reading

I know you think I'm likely talking about the Top Flite P-47 Eileen. but this is an older H9 P-47 painted and detailed as the Eileen scheme. I picked this up last month from a fellow rcg'er in South Florida along with a nice GP Stearman.

They both had gas engines which were replaced with electric set-ups. The P-47 has an Axi 4130/20 with a Castle 90a esc on a 6s 5000 lipo. I was able to cut a hatch and make a tray that allows the lipo to go all the way forward up to the firewall and just balances the plane. The prop is a 17x8 and I'm ordering a prop nut for it this evening, to replace the one which was on the OS .91 and doesn't fit my Axi...

This was the fourth time flying it and it feels much more easier than the previous few flights. It didn't need much initial trim and seems to handle very well so far, just like people have said about this plane. Landings are easy and the gear has been solid far.

I'm usually the last person to fly the field in the evening, so I got the chance to do some photos out on the runway. I've been wanting this plane for a good while and am glad to have it. Thanks Rob, I promise I'll get the Stearman together soon...

I've been flying the camera on different planes now, and finally put it out on the wing of the Aquila. The launch was pretty exciting with the weighted wing and I about auguered it in, but my (near) lightning quick reflexes saved it.

Anyhow, here's a cheesy sunset photo from the Aquila...

(I really could use a better canopy.)

I finally finished piecing the Aquila together and managed to get it flying today. There was no wind and the plane was so smooth and easy to trim it was pretty astounding. It launched easily at less than half throttle and climbed smoothly for about 10-15 seconds of power and then just floated...

This was the first time I've flown anything this big and was quickly impressed at how much better a larger plane flies. The landings were pretty easy even without the spoilers (working on that) and I was able to fly it low and slow and not stall once...

I'll try and get the onboard camera on it the next few flights and will be looking forward to getting that video on here...

Sooo, I've been away from flying for about two years now and just returned to this hobby/pastime/obsession a few weeks ago.

When I'm away from flying for awhile I'll usually get the sim out for some practice before I head out with a plane. Unfortunately, I lost it when my last computer crashed, so I had no choice but to just go for it and fly. I charged a battery, took the eflite Ascent down to the field and flew up a few hundred feet a few times, floated around a while and made several decent landings without any problems...

The weather has been pretty good and I've been out flying almost every day I can. I managed to get the Extra 260 out two days ago and was able to handle it just fine. It'll be nerve-wracking each time I take another plane out for it's turn, but I'm looking forward to those adrenaline rushes.

This New Year is looking like it's going to be a good one as I've been lucky to find a fuselage (or two) for the Aquila I'm going to resurrect, and have already bought a few other planes and some more gear. I thought I'd honestly make an effort this time around to try and finish every plane project I start and not pile on more new projects, but already that resolution doesn't look like it's going to happen...

Meantime, I'm looking forward to posting photos here of the work I have to do, and hopefully some videos now that I'm flying again.

Guess I could get started by getting this Super V project out of the kitchen and back into the shop...

Have a Happy New Year

I started flying again after a two year break and wanted to post this (hopeful) Aquila restoration. My youngest brother built this back in the 70's and it was acquired by my middle brother after remaining untouched for over thirty years.

He sacrificed the fuselage when he made a mold from it but the wings and tail were left untouched. He did recover the wings and I have since managed to get my hands on two fuselages, one wood and a duralene fuse that both need work. The wood fuse is pretty much a beater, but made for a good e/p conversion and the plastic fuse will be kept intact as a soarer.

I cut the nose off the wood fuse and hollowed out a space to fit an eflite Power 10 and still had wood for a motor mount. I used a 35 ESC and a small 3s 1300mah lipo that fits well and can be moved around for balancing. I only expect a few climbs on it before I have to change batteries, but I want to try and keep things light..

WWI planes...

I'd love to have any of these models again with a 60" wingspan...

A lot of fun with some ultimate classics. I only wish I could have had the Sopwith, though the SE5A definitely made up for it.

Obtained from a fellow Veterans Park flier.

My Aussie buddy John let me have this after he had three unsuccessful flights on it. I watched him each time he flew it and he'd struggle for about twenty seconds and then crash land it as best he could. (I filmed it, I should post it here) Turns out he didn't have enough weight up front and it was extremely tail heavy.

Luckily it survived and he was through with it, so he just gave me the airframe and wished me luck. I was fortunate to just have to replace only the motor/cowling piece and repair a landing strut.

A beautiful and slow classic flyer. Really enjoyed this one...

(Update 1/1/2015, two of them are for sale NIB here on RCG... I'd get one again but I've got another classic bipe already on the way, though I know it's not going to look as good as this Stearman)

Another of the planes that have recently passed through my hands...

The EFlite Pitts by Quiqui Somenzini.

I loved flying this plane because of how solid it is. You are definitely flying a classic aerobatic/stunt plane and you feel everything you throw at it.

I bought it on RCG years ago from a Northerner and have just passed it on to another Southerner. I'd have probably kept the plane if I had that spinner...

I added the wing wires and rebuilt the landing gear mount at least twice. The weight makes it hard to float this plane in when landing, a bit of airspeed helps...

Awesome plane with a 4s...

The Fokker and the SE5A have been sold and I'll list the Electrifly Yak 54 and the WorldModels Voodoo Mustang next. I'm going to offer a few Texans and the Spitfire again...

A few photos of the planes I'll be posting for sale...


(Update 12/30/14, I decided to keep flying and only wound up selling the Fokker)

I'm going to get busy and start posting some of the plane pictures again for nostalgia's sake...

I'm getting ready to move and I'll be selling off the rest of my smaller planes. I'll miss the bigger birds and will soon be missing most of my smaller ones.

It's been fun having twenty plus planes to fly but the time has come to pick out a handful or so...

I'll post the keepers and will post some of the others that I've sold. (For nostalgia's sake)

I've had this plane flying for about a week now and have flown it about a dozen or so times. It seems like every time I fly it I have something happen with this plane that gives me that "pucker" factor. Today was no different...

Decided to amp the power up with two 3S 2250 connected together on a 45ESC and the Power 25 motor. My first 45 seconds of flight was uneventful until I heard a loud screech and then realized I had no throttle. I had already come around for my approach leg and decided to land. Tried to set the gear, no gear, sooo, belly landed in a nice grassy area without any damage.

I walked out to it and checked it over and everything was fine with it. Retracts worked, all the servos worked and the throttle was fine... Decided to go for a second flight...

Take off was just as fast as the first time, nice and smooth, and then I heard the same loud screech again and 100' off the deck I once again had no throttle. In a split second I decided against circling back around for another approach and instead dove for airspeed and managed to deadstick another landing without the gear down...

I thought I was damn lucky to have saved the plane twice, and as I was walking out to it I noticed smoke coming from the plane and realized it was starting to get thicker and darker and that it was coming from the battery compartment. I immediately hit my fastest stride and raced about a hundred yards and was able to get to the plane and rip the lipos out and extinguish the...Continue Reading

I'm reconstructing a Corsair that sustained damage when it fell from its ceiling mount onto a concrete floor. (previous owner, not me) Not too much damage compared to some of the "crashed" planes I've had...

Photo of the latest planes in my fleet...

I crashed my P-47 on its second flight. I stalled after too slow of a roll about 40' off the deck. It nosed in after a quick spiral and everything forward of the battery hatch was destroyed.

I managed to reassemble and fly it within a few days after that...

I damn sure love Gorilla Glue, even though it makes quite a mess...