Here's some pictures of my latest "Covid19 Build". It's a plans built, 1930, 1/4 Great Lakes Trainer 2T-1A
I really enjoyed this build. It was fun to detail. 80" span @21 1/2 lbs. Should putt around like a dream trainer.
Powered by a Sachs 2.4 gasoline engine on electronic ignition with a Sullivan smoke system built into the muffler.
Covered in original, uncolored, Super Coverite, stitched, rib taped, sealed with 2 coats of Minwax Polycrylic polyurethane,
then 2 coats of primer (with a sanding of a Scotchbrite pad between each coat) then finished it off with 2 coats of Rust-Oleum
Gloss Protective enamel. I made my own graphics on my wife's Cricut vinyl cutter. That's fun! Topped it off with a couple
off Bazzboe's (here on RCG) very cool 1/4 scale pilots at the "controls". Maiden coming soon!...Continue Reading

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

Here's a copy of our clubs next exciting event. If you are nearby, don't miss it, or better yet......participate!
We are not only having just a Swap Meet, but also are holding a in house Auction during the event! At 10AM we will be auctioning off the estate of one of our clubs long time members. Great airplanes, kits, engines, tools, etc. At 11AM will be our Consignment Auction. Bring in any unwanted hobby item that you don't want & don't want to go to the usual trouble to sell. We do it for you for a 10% fee that goes toward our club. See flyer for details, or contact me:

Steve Schooler 714-614-2890 stevster1953@yahoo.com

Well..... here's something I don't build anymore.......a little bitty .20 size plane. I started a winter build program for our club (The Rogue Valley Flyers) and called it April Build Off 2020. Man, trying to get people to build anymore is such a struggle. It still amazes me how flyers forgot that this use to be the only way to bring a airplane to the field. I get the ARF thing and realize the hobby would basically be dead if it wasn't for them, but I'm doing my best to get these guys that "thing". The feeling you get when you maiden your plane that YOU BUILT! I've been doing this a long time, and I get that "thing" every time I do it. Hopefully the few that I suckered into doing this will experience it too!
Anyway. I chose a Pilot Quick Built Series 20L kit. Not because I'm in love with this airplane, it's just that I wanted to pick something that finally wasn't scale, and could be completed in a timely fashion. It was my first low wing airplane around 1979, so there is that, too! Well......I finished it 5 1/2 months early as I wanted to set a example and give the guys a incentive to get going. I'll report back to you on that one, to see if that idea worked!
It came out pretty decent. I actually had to relearn to do Monokote as everything I seem to build anymore is fabric covered. I deviated from a plain canopy, to a semi cockpit with pilot & details as I just love scale and had to add a little zip! It's powered by a OS 25FSR (Original had a 28)...Continue Reading

I just recently purchased a Balsa USA Der Jager biplane off of Craigslist. I don't usually buy built airplanes because of my love of building myself, but at $300.00, a great build, a plane I always really liked, with a OS Max 300 twin in it.......I had to buy it! It had been sitting in this guy's garage for around 10 years and who knows how long before that (some guy gave it to him before that). I really just bought this for the engine, but the build was so good on it, it needed to hit the skies again! I removed over 2 pounds of baggage: 2 sub C 5 cell receiver packs, 2 separate switches, 1 sub C 4 cell glow driver pack....all 3 @ 2 lbs, some lead wrapped around the motor mount @ 6 ozs. & the 2 Dubro 5" air tires @1 lb! Between the new modern batteries & tires, I put back only 15 ozs. of weight. A savings of around 2 1/2 lbs! Total airframe ready to fly weighs in at only 23 lbs.

Just maidened it this week and what a great flyer. after a slight CG adjustment it flies on rails! That OS 300 twin really halls the mail & the sound is unbeatable in the air & on the ground. No ring ding, weedwacker flying by, sound for me. It's worth every penny I spend on glow fuel for the experience, and wiping it off after each flight........really isn't that hard! Oh yeah..........the nitro smell....................

I just ran across this picture going through my Mom's stuff. I guess I was destined to be a model airplane guy as a child. Looks to be around 1964 which would make me around 12. I believe that's a Carl Goldberg Lil' Satan I'm puttin' together! Dope at the ready on my desk. I can smell it now!

Here's my "just finished" 1/4 scale, Stits Skybaby Biplane

26" Wing span!!! 1/4 scale? Yes. (original full size was 7' 2") Built from a Mansell Models short kit. It was designed for electric (which is much more practical) but me being a "gas only" guy, it is powered by a massive, OS Max .32 two stroke!

The weight limit on the plans was 44 oz, and mine weighs in at 56 oz (with no fuel)! so it isn't looking too good for a flyer, but I didn't really build it to fly anyway, as I covered it in fabric (like the full size) and with all of the painting and such.......it's a little "Porky Pig"

Thanks to Callie Graphics for the artwork. They helped finish it off! It looks great hanging in my garage!...Continue Reading

Just finished my 1/4 scale, 1933 Pietenpol Aircamper. It started as a vintage, House of Balsa "in the bones" project that I got from my good friend Billy. I saw a lot of potential in it, so I decided to take on the challenge of finishing it. I covered it in Ceconite, pinked & stitched it all (with Poly Brush), and filled the weave with water based Polyurethane. I then finished it all off with Rustoleum rattle cans. I've got a OS Max .91 four stroke hiding under that balsa 4 banger! The air for cooling flows through the "fake" oil cooler mounted on the front of the "engine" & out through the empty rear of it. Here's some pics:

In case you were wondering where I came up with those cool little "spark plugs"...........there just wood dowels, turned down on my lathe, painted white, striped, laying a brush down against the white while turning in my lathe, all in with a drilled out lock nut, finished off with a miniature brass stud & nut. Pretty convincing, huh? Building the "woody" 4 banger was actually more fun than the plane!...Continue Reading

I've always been a car lover, and have had many pass through my hands. I've also restored a few for other people. Here's a few.........

I've always been a car lover, and have had many pass through my hands. I've also restored a few for other people. Here's a few............Continue Reading

I've always been a car lover, and have had many pass through my hands. I've also restored a few for other people. Here's a few............Continue Reading

Planes from the...Continue Reading

Photo's from my second hobby shop, One Stop Hobbies & Raceway, Los Alamitos, California 1986-1991 R.I.P. but had alot of fun at the time