Some pics of the Cook 45 Riser by Jack Headley from June 1976 RCM from my shop two years ago. The original was a rubber power a frame from the early 1900s. She flies just fine but has zero taxiing capabilities. I switched up to electric motors from Jack's version with two .049s. Plans on Outer...Continue Reading

A 1792 Guillotine in 1/5th scale. Pretty much because

For something different I've embarked on the construction of a small size trebuchet for who knows what reason other than mere fascination . Parts are cut from common 2" x6" ripped on table saw to 1 1/2" square. Gussets are 1/4" 5 ply aircraft birch ply so they look good. The counterweight bucket and the load slide will be made from white pine and the throwing arm is already made of the same white pine. Half lap notches interlock the main parts and the gusset connect the rest.

Some photos with descriptions of assorted shenanigans airplanes and other stuff

Some photos for your entertainment . Straight forward easy ARF assembly. Build quality is good for electric but i would think a bit dodgy for engines with the vibrations.
Still waiting for backordered servos and power plant so no flight reports. 50cc Rimfire motor and CC 160 amp ESC will do the prop spinning...Continue Reading

RCM Terrier is just about done. All that is left is the glue to windscreen on. I didn't take a lot of photos as no one really gives a fast flying fart any how.
She weights in at 59 oz. power is AXI 2829/10 on a 2200 mah 3S lipo, WS is 58 in. and 550 sq. in. area. She's covered in UltraCote. Test flight or maiden will be as soon as it stops raining. She is a 1985 design by A. Clark found in Radio Control Modeler magazine, partial kit by Laser Design Services and qualifies for Vintage RC Society event being 35 years old,

I hate auto correct too

87" Fokker. Rimfire 50cc motor, 5KW, 5000 mah 6S main power with 2 2200 mah 3S batteries for radio. 27 lb AUW. Maiden this week maybe....Continue Reading

Bunch of pics of Rambler build . She's been done for a year or so and has two contest under her belt. Not putting any other description unless someone asks for info....Continue Reading

Actually got off my butt and stated cutting sticks again. Plus I had other projects on the bench that are now cleared. Just a couple pics of a new build of Gilbert Shumman's 1938 Rambler with an O&R .60 for power and she's going to fly in SAM O&R Sideport event.The engine in foreground is a mean,nasty snarling large intake/exhaust made in 1949 which was the last year of production for the sideport .60.

I had a Rambler a few years ago which I regrettably gave to someone who had a bugeyed passion for her then decided he didn't want it and sold to someone else. She was all setup with an O&R, ignition system and radio sans the RX. That will teach me I suppose....Continue Reading

Currently under construction in the works. Maxford 27% Gee Bee Model Y Senior Sportster , 97" WS,around 16 lb AUW if it goes right, Rimfire 50 CC motor, Zoar 22 x 8 prop, CC 165 amp ESC,12S 5000mah lipo,Hitec HS311 servos.

Build quality is average with the usual ARF construction. Scale fidelity is so-so especially the graphics which have been removed already. The 'pin stripe' was about 5 times too wide and should be about 1/8" . I tried the 1/8 " pinstripe but couldn't cover the zig zags in the red covering so went with 1/4'"stripe.

The registry numbers were too big, not straight and each number cocked off to multiple directions. New graphics are on order from Callie. The wing tube had to be sanded vigorously to get it to even come close to going into the fuselage tube. Supplied wheels are trash with axle bearings being off centre to each other and the tires have tons of runout.

Zero instructions were supplied but they are downloadable from Maxford. In typical Maxford fashion the build guide is vague and convoluted for lack of a better description. However she is big

She's definitely not a Henry Hafke grade model but she'll do.

Taking a break from scratch building and picked up a couple lesser seen aircraft. A Phoenix 63" wingspan WACO YMF-F5C which flies very nice powered by a Rimfire 80 and a 4200 mah 6S battery. Came out spot on the CG with no weight needed and AUW is 10.5 lbs, graphics by Callie, looks great in the air too.

Second on is a Maxford 56" Globe/TEMCO Swift. The Globe Swift was the very first low-wing, two-place, retractable-gear civil aircraft. 2200mah 3S for juice spinning a Uranus U35425 brushless motor . She's yet to fly as the weather has been absolutely ghastly here but needs graphics anyhow.

Next up is a Maxford 27% Gee Bee Model Y ARF with a 97' wing span. It will electric also. Photo of 50cc size Rimfire motor below with 22 x 6 prop

Coupon and gift certificates at tower has lead to another plane being added to the fleet. The Phoenix Piper J-3 Cub GP/EP/Gas ARF 90.5" is a stand off scale model that has few oddities as far as scale fidelity. Some profiles area a bit wonky but over all she's a nice plane. The covering is absolutely flawless , I mean zero buggaboos anywhere. The wood build part is very well done although tick heavy at 14# AUW which give a wing loading of 25 oz./sq.ft. She flys well enough however. Supplied tires were rock hard an I replaced them with inflatable DuBro Big Wheels. The landing gear is not articulated like the full size and has springs instead of bungees but with no movement it's a moot point.

The dummy engine supplied was horrible and hit the dust bin. I bought a 1/5th scale e 65 HP Continental engine kit from Top Notch Products as a replacement.
Graphics are from Callie, the stock ones were wet slides which I don't like. This brings up one oddball time that of the scale size. She's 4.75 scale which is a tick bigger than 1/5th by a 1/4 or so which makes the engine a bit small,the graphics were scaled up by Callie.

The model has flaps which were not a stock J-3 item but were on the PA-11 which was a J-3 production mod. But as always you look long enough and you'll find a prototype for anything. Control horns are different and actually pretty neat but they could have made them yellow. I went with a 1.20 glow equivalent sized AXI 5320/18 turning a 16 x 10 prop...Continue Reading

A bunch of old time photo gleaned from various sources. Click on the 'view all images at top right' to see all 40 photos....Continue Reading

Finally got around to building a second work bench for the shop. Both will get paint in spring and walls will get sheet rocked at some point. New steel shelving helped organize things a bit and gave me a place to setup my old school rack stereo system

The ol' gal was getting pretty ratty and needed to be freshened up a bit. Black cover on the entire nose was removed, oil and glop cleaned off then new covering installed. Engine well coated with thinned epoxy mix, new Dave Brown engine was mount installed, new windscreen and side windows made up and glued on along with some minor patches on the fuselage. I made up a new ignition system which I downsized as much as possible, made and installed new switch for same with servo and micro switch and topped it off with a 1S 1800 mah battery. She's a very over looked plane form SAM competition and flies great in lift. She also had a new 6 channel Hitec Optima receiver put in to keep her happy and on track.

Just some catching up on the toy supply.

New to the fleet to fill the want of a biplane even though technically she's a sesquiplane and the fact that I have never had a World War 1 aircraft. Not much to say on the build as it was pretty straight forward. Scale fidelity isn't the best but for the money she'll do. Wire braces on wings were a bit fiddly but not a big deal to assemble.

I bought the entire 'package' deal from Maxford except the prop which is an old AHM 13 x 6 wood job. I didn't use the supplied graphics instead getting a new set from Callie at Callie's Graphics. She does great work and had them already on file. Added little bits like the engine intakes and repainted the outer wing struts to a more wood colour from the supplied yellow.

Wires on landing gear are next once I sort out where to anchor them. Two 2200 mah 3S lipos get stuck in her front belly and balance was spot on off the bench. Maiden flight was done under less than ideal conditions with a bit more wind than I would have liked and she handed it like a champ. A few photos attached.

She's done. beings I am a slob there are a few little ugly bits but overall it came out well. CG is spot on at 70% of chord or 5 1/4' back from leading edge. Weight is 23.6 oz with battery putting her just under 10 oz./sq.ft. Wing tips were an absolute pain in the butt to get right and they are right. I had some control horns from sailplanes laying around and they are perfect for the job. Plus they were easy to install with a slice of a hacksaw blade for the slot and some CA. Flight test later when the wind isn't blowing at 35 knots. So until next time, save chicken fat, join the WACS, don't take any wooden nickles. Always look skyward unless you're walking down stairs. Never pee or spit into the wind Also, how can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?

Some warm weather got the shop humming again with camel hair brushes and nitrate dope. I'm sorry I went with the old time covering as it's a pain to paint and the dope stinks like the dickens. No matter how much ventilation you have indoors the dope still gets to you. However I am this far in and decided to go through with it. i hope I can steer this chicken after all this with that rudder....Continue Reading

Last build report for a while as she's ready for covering and it'll have to be nice open window weather to work with the dope.
Dilly dicking in the shop today finishing up the odd bits like fixing the cheeks on the nose, installing pushrod exits, finishing off the hatches and hatch retainer and hold downs in the interior. The nose cheeks were a poor selection of balsa and every other time I would pick up the model b the nose they would snap off. I put a space piece in between the top of the cheeks to stiffen them up and it seems to work well. I found an appropriate wheel made of wood in my junk so it got the call needing only repainting. Now to find a place to put her so she don't get broke.