I have a co-worker who is not a RC aviator but, whose late father was. My friend told me of an "RC plane" discovered in the garage after many years of storage. Not wanting to see this reminder of his father thrown away, he asked me if I wanted it. I agreed.

I received the plane, today.

It seems to be a Carl Goldberg Eagle I... flown, crashed and repaired and seemingly, crashed again... and awaiting repairs since.

I think I can repair it... electrifiy it... and have it fly again. If it flies as well as Goldberg Eagles are supposed to fly, I'll offer it back to my friend with some training.

I've become enamored of this light transport and intend to begin a long-term project to create a sport-scale model of the aircraft.



From Wikipedia
Only 18 were built.

I found a partial plan for a 37-inch CL, twin .049 powered model on Outerzone HERE



The Outerzone-provided plan shows a fully-sheeted balsa structure that probably needs the twin .049 engines.

I'm thinking a lighter, stiff-winged model with ailerons and perhaps, flaps, given the glider-inspired, high aspect ratio wing.

I'm going to be letting the idea roll around in my head as to the size I want to build, and whether foam, balsa or some composite of the two would be best.

My preliminary thinking imagines an electric-powered model in the 48- to 50-inch size range with removable wings for transport.

I will probably hand draw my own plans.

.. then life and children crowded upon me.

Now, with children and career winding down, I might have to try again; in spite of my new love for RC.

Starting over is fun!

Living in an apartment, and subject to the need to move, occasionally, I started building boxes to protect my scratchbuild models.

I disassembled (unfolded) the box for my PZ Champ and made a worksheet to help me build a box for any internal dimension.

I cut out the pieces, position them, tape them on one side with packing tape (like flying surfaces), glue the two major sections together, fold the box, and tape the outside "hinges".

A nearby retail outlet for beds and mattresses kindly donated a King-size bed box to the cause and, after two builds, I can say it works pretty well.

In the Worksheet, major panels are labeled with a Letter and the flaps on the sides of the panel is indicated with an accent (A "prime") etc.

Each "lettered" section represents a major assembly that can easily be cut from a single piece, and scored for easy folding.

I finished up the repairs on the Skua and took her out. It was cold, windy and beautiful.

Blackburn Skua from Earl Stahl plans - 3rd Flight (3 min 35 sec)

VX-57 "Terrell’s Dragoons" 1/17/2013

Active

1. T-28 “Lil-28” (UM, ParkZone)
2. T-28 “Big-28” (PF, PZ)
3. BuzzBomb 100 (UM, Stevens Aero)
4. Carbon Cub (UM, EFlite)
5. Champ “FrankenChamp” (UM, HZ)
6. MiG-15 (UM, EF)
7. Slowly “VinFizz” (PF, Scratch)
8. Cartoon C-119 (PF, Scratch)
9. Polaris.Mk.2 (PF, Scratch)
10. Blade mCX2 (Heli, EF)
11. Blade 120SR (Heli, EF)
12. Night Vapor (UM, PZ)
13. Nieuport 17 (UM, Flyzone)
14. Mosquito Mk 4 (UM, PZ)
15. Rufe (PF, Bash of GWS Zero)

InWork

1. Blackburn Skua (PF, Scratch RC Bash of Earl Stahl's FF in April 1942 MAN FF)

Plans and/or Kits “on deck”

1. Mini A-1 Skyraider (PF, FMS)
2. BAE Hawk (PF, Skyangel)
3. 1928 Pietenpol Air Camper (UM, SA)

Plans and/or Kits in Storage (“The Stash”)

1. 1918 Hergt Monoplane (UM, SA)
2. Andy's Avro Vulcan (PF, Scratch.)
3. Big P40 (RC, Black Horse.)
4. Fly Baby Bipe (UM, SA)
5. FredE (UM, SA)
6. FredE1.5x (PF, SA)
7. GyroChamp (UM, HZ bash twin-rotor autogyro)
8. LNB-4 (UM, SA)
9. P-40 Warhawk (PF, GWS)
10. Pinkus (PF, Scratch)
11. Spirit (3D Profile, TechOne Hobby)
12. Wot Next (PF, Scratch)

Kits Collection

1. 29’er (FF, Sig)
2. Aeronca K (FF, Comet)
3. Curtis Robin (FF, Comet)
4. Dayton-Wright Racer (FF, Jetco)
5. Ercoupe (FF, Comet)
6. P-38 (FF, Comet)
7. Piper Cub (FF, Comet)
8. SPAD (FF, Comet)
9. Sparky (FF, Comet)
10. Taylor Cub (FF, Comet)
11. Taylorcraft (FF, Comet)

Retired

1. Champ “Greenie” (UM, HobbyZone, Damaged)
2. Polaris.Mk.1 (PF, Scratch, Destroyed)

Pretty normal flight... except for the near face-shot.

Flight of a RC UMX MiG-15 (4 min 53 sec)

I repaired the Rufe.
I added a 3mm carbon tube tube sub-spar.
She's flightworthy again....Continue Reading

She can be repaired... I will extend the spar out to the tip floats. It should reduce the possibility of any repeat performance.

And I need to remember that she's not an Ultra Micro... so, keep the speed up!

RC Nakajima Rufe (0 min 0 sec)

Heavy sigh...

First flight...

Blackburn Skua from Earl Stahl plans (0 min 0 sec)

Second flight...

Blackburn Skua from Earl Stahl plans (second flight) (1 min 8 sec)

...Continue Reading

The build thread is HERE.

She's all ready and the weatherman is holding out the promise of a sunny, calm tomorrow.

My son and I went to see "The Hobbit" at the IMAX theater at Udvar-Hazy a bit early. Here are some photos from the walk about....Continue Reading