Mike Leadbetter is building a Scale Flight Model Co. kit of the Comet Cessna C-34 (25 inch span).
Mike says, "After looking at the light structure and large wing, I am in the process of fitting a DT, eternal optimist that I am."
2/19/10
What's on your building board?
Mike Leadbetter is building a Scale Flight Model Co. kit of the Comet Cessna C-34 (25 inch span).
Mike says, "After looking at the light structure and large wing, I am in the process of fitting a DT, eternal optimist that I am."
2/11/10
Baby Zephyr Reproduction
Ed Solenberger is working on a project to reproduce a kit of the classic Testors Baby Zephyr with the original K&B .020 Infant Torpedo engine. Ed sold ten kits/engines last year, and he says "They flew out of here like a flock of quail!" More kits will be coming from the laser cutter soon. With over 80 on the waiting list, that's good news!
Baby Zephyr ready to be painted
Ed tells us the original Testors kit came out in about 1949 -- especially for the Infant Torpedo. The little .020 was the very first pure glow plug engine on the market. As you can see in the picture, the kit sold for 98¢. The engines were $7.95. Considering that it had precut, formed parts and a full-size plan with plenty of instructions, that was a one heck of a deal, even in those days.
Ed's reproduction kit was featured in Flying Models magazine last year. It has laser cut parts, with rolled tube fuselage. You would have to make a special mandrel to roll such a taper, as the usual suggestion of a pool cue wouldn't work. Ed can do one per day, or maybe two, as the balsa has to dry well.
This picture shows one of the restorations -- an exact sized fuel tank. Some engines are missing parts such as this.
Ed is selling the laser cut reproduction kit without engine for $39.95 plus shipping. The price for kit with engine is $96.95 plus shipping. Anyone can get a kit without engine fairly soon, but if you aren't already on the waiting list it could take awhile to get an engine. Anyone interested in these kits should email Ed.
Baby Zephyr ready to be painted
Ed tells us the original Testors kit came out in about 1949 -- especially for the Infant Torpedo. The little .020 was the very first pure glow plug engine on the market. As you can see in the picture, the kit sold for 98¢. The engines were $7.95. Considering that it had precut, formed parts and a full-size plan with plenty of instructions, that was a one heck of a deal, even in those days.
Ed's reproduction kit was featured in Flying Models magazine last year. It has laser cut parts, with rolled tube fuselage. You would have to make a special mandrel to roll such a taper, as the usual suggestion of a pool cue wouldn't work. Ed can do one per day, or maybe two, as the balsa has to dry well.
 Ed has been busy building up an inventory of vintage K&B engines. Restoring these little gems is not a problem for Ed, a talented engine builder. But if anyone has spare parts/engines of this type, Ed can probably use them. |
Ed is selling the laser cut reproduction kit without engine for $39.95 plus shipping. The price for kit with engine is $96.95 plus shipping. Anyone can get a kit without engine fairly soon, but if you aren't already on the waiting list it could take awhile to get an engine. Anyone interested in these kits should email Ed.
2/2/10
Harfang Chronicle and Mail
FAC Squadron 71 from Montreal, better known as the Escadrille Harfang, has begun publishing a newsletter called The Harfang Chronicle and Mail. The newsletter is available as a PDF via email, free to the first 25,000 subscribers.
Yes, they like to joke around. But the Harfang group is serious about modeling -- evidenced by their massive thread on the Small Flying Arts forum, YouTube videos, sponsorship of the FAC French Design Mass Launch, and willingness to fly rubber powered models in the snow.
Ronny Gosselin, editor of the Harfang newsletter, writes "We'll try to get the Chronicle out every 6 months and will attempt to always get you at least one original plan or three views every time." To subscribe, send an email to Ronny.
11/29/09
11/27/09
2009 Flying Season Closes
Marin Aero Club's final meeting of 2009 was on November 22 at St. Vincent's gym. For some reason the meeting was not very well attended, but we had fun and several newcomers dropped by to learn more about the club. We look forward to seeing you guys next year!
Our 2010 meeting schedule will be posted here as soon as we've determined the dates. In addition to scheduled meetings, we have impromptu flying sessions fairly often. Anyone who wants to fly with us should get on our email list. Send us an email here to be notified of club events.
Anyway, here are some photos from Sunday...
Brian showed us his newest model, a No-Cal MiG-3 built from Lidberg plans. Brian created the graphics himself.
MAC usually organizes one or two group building projects each year. How about a No-Cal Cookup for 2010?
FAC No-Cal Profile Scale emphasizes duration. No maximum flight time in this category. This could get interesting.
Speaking of cookups, here is my Little Richard, built in 2007 and repaired after crashing hard into the rafters two months ago. Good as new, just a little heavier.
Ed has a number of models that belonged to Earl Hoffman, our senior member who passed away early this year at age 96. This canard was not quite airworthy when Ed got it, but he restored it to good flying condition.
Ed also restored this EZ-B from Earl's collection. This model belongs to the lightest class of EZ-Bs, 0.5 grams.
Ed explained how Earl built the propeller, covering a balsa frame (outline and ribs) with very thin balsa shavings, just 0.002 inches thick, effectively using balsa in lieu of microfilm.
Dave K brought a couple of Bill Hurley's pistachio biplanes. The incomplete models were framed but not covered or assembled when Dave got them from the retired modeler a year ago. Dave finished the delicate models and is now flight trimming. At this point the planes fly erratically, but they fly.
Dave K's peanut Fokker Dr.I turns in tight circles above the hardwood floor. Curse you, Red Baron!
Our 2010 meeting schedule will be posted here as soon as we've determined the dates. In addition to scheduled meetings, we have impromptu flying sessions fairly often. Anyone who wants to fly with us should get on our email list. Send us an email here to be notified of club events.
Anyway, here are some photos from Sunday...
Brian showed us his newest model, a No-Cal MiG-3 built from Lidberg plans. Brian created the graphics himself.
MAC usually organizes one or two group building projects each year. How about a No-Cal Cookup for 2010?
FAC No-Cal Profile Scale emphasizes duration. No maximum flight time in this category. This could get interesting.
Speaking of cookups, here is my Little Richard, built in 2007 and repaired after crashing hard into the rafters two months ago. Good as new, just a little heavier.
Ed has a number of models that belonged to Earl Hoffman, our senior member who passed away early this year at age 96. This canard was not quite airworthy when Ed got it, but he restored it to good flying condition.
Ed also restored this EZ-B from Earl's collection. This model belongs to the lightest class of EZ-Bs, 0.5 grams.
Ed explained how Earl built the propeller, covering a balsa frame (outline and ribs) with very thin balsa shavings, just 0.002 inches thick, effectively using balsa in lieu of microfilm.
Dave K brought a couple of Bill Hurley's pistachio biplanes. The incomplete models were framed but not covered or assembled when Dave got them from the retired modeler a year ago. Dave finished the delicate models and is now flight trimming. At this point the planes fly erratically, but they fly.
Dave K's peanut Fokker Dr.I turns in tight circles above the hardwood floor. Curse you, Red Baron!
11/14/09
Worth more dead than alive.
I thought you'd like to see what a $160 collector's kit looks like when you've turned it into a $5 model. I got the kit recently from Brian and I won't mention the price. Brian - let's talk.
And here's one of the last photographs taken of Jerry Long's Heinkel, just before it disappeared into the blauer Himmel northeast of Lakeville.
And here's one of the last photographs taken of Jerry Long's Heinkel, just before it disappeared into the blauer Himmel northeast of Lakeville.
11/1/09
Halloweenpfaltz
It turns out Ed's ancestors were just about as fun loving as he is. Here's his grandfather - who has convinced comrades that he just made it back with the wings of his airplane shot off - about to reveal the joke.
10/28/09
10/19/09
Why free-flight?
I started to get interested in free flight several years ago when I discovered Mike Stuart's excellent website. I remember seeing a question at the top of Mike's home page: Why free-flight? At the time I couldn't think of an answer, but Mike's explanation made sense and it wasn't long before I showed up at the Marin Aero Club.
Our friend Roberto Soncin Gerometta answers the question in his own way in an article featuring George Benson: Model Airplanes for the Purist, published at NewsPlink in May 2009. If you haven't already seen this item, it is definitely worth checking out. (Photo by Roberto)
Our friend Roberto Soncin Gerometta answers the question in his own way in an article featuring George Benson: Model Airplanes for the Purist, published at NewsPlink in May 2009. If you haven't already seen this item, it is definitely worth checking out. (Photo by Roberto)
10/17/09
Fleet Wheels
Brian asked how I made the Fleet wheels. I bought a pair of RC wheels with light foam tires and heavy rimmed plastic hubs, replacing them with a roughly doweled balsa center and 1/16th sheet discs glued to its ends. I then drilled the new hubs for Al tubing.
After all that work I found I had cut too much off the wire axles - already part of the fuselage structure - and had to countersink the hubs so as to leave enough axle showing for the stops.
After all that work I found I had cut too much off the wire axles - already part of the fuselage structure - and had to countersink the hubs so as to leave enough axle showing for the stops.
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