Recently Finished Projects

CARF Models Corsair

First is the CARF-Models Corsair done up as a 1945 USS Bunkerhill carrier plane. Weathered and war weary this 1/4 scale plane really flys well. Weight is about 50 pounds with a wingspan of 110 inches. It is powered by a Moki 250 cc five cylinder radial engine that has bags of power. It took me about 2 and a half years to complete. It uses a PowerBox Royal for power distribution and has an optional fuel pump for the Moki to get rid of the vacuum assist that comes standard. 

Test pilot Mike Allman and me are all smiles after the Corsair's maiden flight

The plane was painted in automotive base coat hardened with no clear coat. The markings are all painted on using stencils. I have been flying it with a 2 blade 32 x 18 prop but also have the scale 3 blade Solo prop and hub. I like the performance with the 2 blade and will eventually try the 3 blade.

                           

Skymaster A-10 Warthog

This video is of my 1/6th scale Skymaster A-10 Warthog that was maidened at Princeton BC. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi_oXujODVE&noredirect=1

It has two Jet Central Chettah turbines with a total combined thrust of 61 pounds. Weighing in at about 70 pounds with fuel it fly's very well and floats on landing. It took me about 2 years to complete and was modelled after the A-10 in Osan air base Korea. It turns out after maiden flights that I am nose heavy which is always a good thing if you have had to add weight to the nose to get the suggested C of G. 

Also I have too much pressure in the main oleo's which causes the plane to have a negative angle of attack and makes the take off rolls longer than necessary. This was easily changed by letting out some of the air in the oleo's. The best landing gear I have ever seen which use air over hydraulic fluid instead of springs. Wish my Corsair had the same system.

I look forward to getting more flight time on the A-10 after I have re-balanced it. I also found a small crack in the glue joint on one of the engine nacelles where it joins the fuse part. I will strengthen this area up. I think the plane will benefit from an adjustment to the throttle curve. Right now most of my throttle is in the upper half of the stick. I would like to have a bit more authority at the mid position.

Skymaster  Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

This is my next project. Plane should be arriving in the next week or so and I will post more pictures of it when it does. It is a 1/5th scale model with a wingspan of 52.6 inches (1336 mm) and a length of 131.4 inches (3338 mm).

I will be doing a complete flight metal finish and look forward to the help of a good friend of mine and master builder Joe Grice who is also doing the same plane in flight metal. At this point it is my intention to do this plane in the RCAF markings as the earlier planes were kept in natural aluminum with only small area's painted such as the wings and the stab. I believe Joe is doing his as a USAF version all in metal as well. It should be fun working on these together and comparing notes.