Has anyone every electrified a Balsa USA Smoothie. If so, let me know what you used in the way of power. I have the plans and will scratch build one to keep it light. The plane has a 52 inch WS and will weight approximately 3-4 pounds.

Thanks

Don

Is this the old control line Smoothie? If it's close, I say the AXI 2820/10 a Phx 45 ESC an APCE 11X5.5 or 12X6 and Tanic 3S 3,650 would make a plane out of it.

Thanks for the recommendation. The plane I'm referring to was originally a CL model which BALSA USA made into a RC model back in the 1980. It has been discontinued for about 15 years now. I had two, one from a kit and one scratch build from plans. The flew great with a 40 FP. I'm consider building a new one (much lighter) and electrifying it. Was thinking about an AXI 2814/12 but it may not be enough motor unless I can keep the overall weight less than 4 pounds.

Don

My SA CAp40e weighs 2lb 10oz at 55" wingspan.
It has the power system recommended above.
Performance is unlimited vertical and very aerobatic.

I built a smoothie kit, control line stunt plane, when I was living, briefly, in Havana Cuba, winter of 1959. I'm wondering if this is the same plane. For a 13 year old, it was very big...52" seemed huge at the time. as i recall it had a semi-elliptical wing, very beautiful, which is why I bought it. I never flew it but it was fun to build.

if it sounds like the same plane, where could I find the plans?
thanks, good luck with your project.

>Plans< Me too
Like I need another project.

Here is a eBay link for the vintage Veco Smoothie u-control kit. There should be a few of the Balsa USA kits floating around, they are selling for around $150-$175 for the kit.

brodak.com sells rekitted versions of the original Bob Palmer control line Smoothie for $100, or ARF versions for a little more. Apparently the modern kits are much better than the original, which were great for their day (1950s)

BTW, Bob Palmer died yesterday

Forgot about Brodak. Don't tell my dad.

Here is a picture of the my first smoothie I built in 1988. It was powered by a OS 40FP 2 stroke engine. It builts heavy but was a pleasure to fly. I plan on building it "light" with build up tail feathers and 1/16" wing sheeting. Probably won't get to it this year but maybe next. WS is 53" and weight is 4-5 pounds for the glow version.

Based on what I saw at Brodak, it doesn't look much like the original.

Built a smoothie and made it electric but it’s a XL.

What 2 stroke does it fly on? and is it control line or RC?

I think people mixed up two airplanes. The Balsa USA Smoothie (which I think is back in production) is not the Veco Smoothie.

In terms of power- I don't think the Axi 2814/12 is gonna hack it. I'd be more inclined to go to something like an Axi 2820 or 2826. Even light- I think you're going to want 400-500 watts.

Sam

I just finished a BalsaUSA kit, It is electric and uses a 32 size motor with a 3000 4 cell battery with 65 amp esc. i am in the process of rebuilding a lot of the old BS USA kits that I built in the early to late 70's. There is some mods to be done internally and of course the model now sports individual servoes for each aileron. Since it has that really nice huge removable area from the canopy to the spinner it is easy to convert and have an easy access to the innards. I have built a Force one and next with a larger Phaeton bipe with gas for power. It is easy to lighten them al up