Roy Carrigan’s, Aerotech P-51D Swap Meet Find

Roy shared his renovation of a rare model he had picked up at the Dino DiGiorgio Event at Mac Hodges Field in Georgia in October 2024.

It is an wonderful Aerotech Models P-51D that had been built but apparently never flown. Roy cleaned up the structure and installed a DLE55-RA for power.  The cowling was rebuilt to new condition.  Roy added the canopy opening hardware and repainted the model in an aluminum scheme.  The bright chrome surfaces on the fuse were painted with Krylon rattle-can paint over a dark primer.  The Krylon chrome is sensitive to touch and can be rubbed dull.  A clear-coat over the Krylon chrome dulls the shine as well.  Roy used Rustoleum Chrome rattle-can paint on the drop tanks and found the finish much more durable to touch so he did not have to clear-coat the tanks.

After painting, nomenclature and paint masks were applied to the airframe and received a clear-coat applied.  Some light airbrushing was added to the gun ports and exhaust stack.  Roy may weather the airframe in the future.

The maiden flight is expected as the weather warms!

Larry Sorenson’s F-35 Rehab

Larry Sorenson shared his F-35 rebuild project.  The composite jet was originally a Fly-Safe Models kit and had bad luck in connecting with a tree while in motion last summer.

Larry explained his unique repair methods for a lightweight reconstruction of the damaged structure that would be strong enough for the high-G maneuvers of the turbine powered model.

The technique involved primarily fiberglass cloth and CA adhesive.  Use of epoxy resin was limited to reconstructing areas that were missing.  Very little filler was needed, as the CA/fiberglass method left the surface ready to paint.

We look forward to its next flight!

Mike Davis’ Bates SBD Dauntless Project

Mike shared his Dynamic Balsa Cockpit Kit for his Jerry Bates SBD Dauntless project.  The kit consists of a large number of vacuum formed styrene parts as well as details.  Mike was impressed with the details but concerned about the instructions to put it all together.

Members experienced with these cockpit kits recommended viewing ESM videos (on YouTube) for reference.

Mike is hoping to be able to fly the SBD at the Northern Alliance Military Fly-In at SMMAC Field in August 7-9, 2025.

Roy Maynard’s Bleriot XI Project

Roy shared his 1/5th scale 3-Seabees Models Bleriot XI project. This is a model of the first aircraft to fly across the English Channel in 1909.

The original model was sold as a static display model by 3-Seabees Models. Roy rebuilt it to flying condition with full functioning controls including wing warping for roll/turning!

The elevator and rudder servos are HiTEC mini servos. Each wing has its own ProModeler mini servo for wing warping as a closed loop system.

Power is by a BadAss brushless motor buried inside a 3D printed Anzani 3-cylinder engine from Old School Models turning a 15x6 APC prop.  The pilot was from Aces of Iron and hand painted by Roy. The model is ready to fly at 7-1/2 lbs. (including 1 lb of weight to the nose) running on a 3S Lipo and is expected to maiden once the weather warms.

This model will require calm winds to be enjoyable!  A couple members have built planes that use "Wing-Warping" for control.  If you're unfamiliar here is a short video of a member demonstrating it to the group;

https://youtu.be/BR8pjQF1a5Q?si=v7LJgImSSDhCaMkF

Chris Launer Ordinance Works Drop Tank

Chris shared a ¼ scale (very detailed) 3D printed drop tank that has built for another member.

If you are looking for unique ordinance for your model, contact Chris to see if he can build it for you.

Careful, don't ask'em for  discount like I did while taking this picture ...

Scott Anderson's Suggested Scale Events for 2025!

Scott Anderson’s 1/5th Scale Fieseler Storch Fi-156

It's covered with a detailed printed covering that looks to represent the Eastern Front in 1939-1942.  The structure includes the unique floating aileron and flap surfaces as well as the fixed slats on the leading edge of the wing.  Scott reduced the weight in the tail by replacing the supplied tails struts with lighter airfoil shaped aluminum tubing match-drilled to the existing blind nuts.

Power will be from a DLE35-RA 35cc gas engine.  As the cockpit is fully visible, all the radio is located below the floorboards.  Scott has painted the underwing tips yellow to be consistent with the Eastern Front scheme and may be looking to provide a white-wash winter overcoat in the future.

Maiden flight is expected after the engine break-in.

Ernest Ruona’s Bates Mitsubishi Ki-51 Sonia Project

Ernest Ruona brought in his Jerry Bates Ki-51 airframe. Ernest has an extensive build thread on RCScaleBuilder.com. 

The link is at the bottom of this segment for your convenience.

He's been working on this project for nearly 2 years, and it has an incredible amount of scratch built detail to date that he has picked up by reading the threads of other builders within the RCSB forums.

Ernest has built his own molds for the landing gear pants and fairing as well as for his canopy sections and framework.  He’s built a Japanese modified version of the Vickers machine gun for the rear gunner that is removable for transport. Power will be by a Saito FG60-R3 gas 4-stroke, 3-cyclinder radial engine.

Ernest tells us that it should be ready to fly in 2026.  His RCSB Link for more details:

https://www.rcscalebuilder.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34812&PN=1

Darren Bitzer’s Composites Study

Darren Bitzer shared a study he’s performing on weight and strength of a range of composite materials based on previous work performed on his B-1 project. 

He showed us common cores used in vacuum bagging of R/C airplanes and he wanted to know the different weights of them and test their sear strengths.  Darren is trying to see what is more useful and easier for a better product for the end consumer.

In the picture to the right we can see the different weights of a 6" x 6" square for 2mm and 3mm airex types,1.5 mm and 3mm soric, 1/8" Balsa and 3mm honeycomb cores.

Tom Tschida’s Extra 260 Project

Tom shared a ¼ scale Extra 260 project that he had acquired.  The airframe was assembled over 30 years ago and is in excellent condition.

In the early 1970’s Leo Loudenslager started with a Stephen Akro design.  He engineered and conducted modifications to increase roll rate, climb rate, and increased overall strength while decreasing the airplanes’ weight.

The resulting airplane contained only 10% of the original design. Leo Loudenslager flew his Laser 200 to victory in seven US National Aerobatic Championships and one World Aerobatic Championship between 1975 and 1982.  The airplane is on display at the National Air and Space Museum.  This 1/3.5 scale model was manufactured by Sports Aviation Company in Japan and the ARF kits were sold in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.  Sports Aviation company created a unique covering technique using a graphic printed foam covering glued over balsa.

The airplane has an 86 inch wingspan with a suggested engine size of 50cc. The factory burned down in 1992, ceasing operations. Ok Models Company purchased the rights to the EZ name and continued with some of the original models but not all of them.

Tom is updating the controls and power plant and is hoping to fly it this spring!