The March meeting had 22 members and guests attend.  We had a number of wonderful projects brought in to share and some great group discussions on techniques and products.

Our last SFM Club Meeting of the 2021/2022 building season will be on Friday, April 25th.  I look forward to seeing all of you there and at the various R/C events and competitions this summer!

PS:  Don't forget to use the AMA Events Search Engine linked in the main header of our websites Home Page.  This will help you stay on top of dates, times and locations of those events that interest you.

The kit is an F-89 scorpion from Air C Race in Germany.  The kit is no longer in production. It has a 106.5 inch wingspan including tip tanks. The scale is around (1:6.7).  The molds and kit were originally designed around being a twin turbine (80-100N).  A major design flaw was having the nose gear way forward of the scale location.  In addition the other major flaw was a well mounted fuel cell but far behind the CG.  

The fiberglass work is excellent.  All control surfaces including flaps were pre-hinged.

Roy ordered the kit with behotec electric retracts (high quality) (Google, behotec.de) and scale struts and wheels were provided but from another source.

The main gear retracts drop in to preinstalled mounts.  A rudimentary cockpit provided but this leaves the builder with the opportunity to detail it to your liking.

Roy has been in correspondence with a German modeler who successfully completed and flown the model.  His recommendations included using a single turbine with a Y pipe which will keep weight and complexity at lower level.  In addition, most modelers have moved the nose gear to the scale location which is being planned for.  These modifications will require saddle fuel tanks being installed on the CG. 

Roy shared his custom double walled Y-pipe for the single turbine adaptation.  It is a beautiful example of engineering and craftsmanship.  This model will be powered by a Xicoy 180 turbine and guided by a Jeti radio.

Roy and David Andersen were permitted to visit the Minnesota Air National Guard Museum at MSP and spent several hours measuring and photographing the details of the F-89 on display. The model will be painted as a Minnesota Air National Guard F-89. 

Scott Anderson’s, Ryan PT-22 Recruit

Scott brought in his first giant scale fiberglass project, his Ryan PT-22 fuselage.  It’s started as a Seagull Models ARF but he wanted to dress up the fuselage by stripping the grey plastic covering and replacing it with aluminum panels.

After watching some YouTube videos on glassing giant scale models, he acquired some .75 ounce/sq ft fiberglass cloth on-line and used ZAP epoxy finishing resin thinned to the consistency of water and brushed it on.  Using the toilet paper technique to soak up excess epoxy the saturation looked good.

The next step is to prime and sand the glass to have a smooth base for the Flite Metal.

Scott’s hoping to have it finished this June ... keep an eye on the flight-line!

	PS: If your in the St Paul, Minnesota area why don't you checkout the Ryan PT-22 Recruit the CAF has in their hangar!  It's a beautiful restoration of this 1940's aircraft and you can schedule an unforgettable "PT-22 History Flight"
https://www.cafmn.org/store/p25/PT-22_History_Flight.html

Concept Models ¼ scale Fleet Bipe

Paul has been looking to get into flying giant scale models and has a real passion for biplanes.

He came across this beautiful Concept Models ¼ scale Fleet Biplane and purchased it last week.  It has a Zenoah G38 in the nose that looks like it has never been run.

Paul’s getting assistance from Scott Russell & Jan Larsen in getting it ready for the 2022 flying season!

We look forward to seeing him at our events!

Paul flies with Scott Russell & Jan Larsen in Stillwater and runs a hobby business making and selling scale drogue parachutes for scale RC Jets.  Check'em out on Facebook "RC Jet Chutes!

Paul started his business in 2018 making custom chutes.  He has created a line of specialized parachutes that are designed to look and fly like the full scale versions.  The chute he brought to display is modeled after the drogue-parachutes from the SR-71 Blackbird.  This is an extremely strong, ribbon style chute with a special harness so it may be packed and deployed similar to the full size aircraft.

Since Friday was extremely windy, it was a perfect time to deploy it out in the church parking lot to see it function.

He makes all his parachutes using his sewing machine.  The SR-71 drogue-chute is at least 6 hours to construct.  Paul’s "RC JET CHUTES" outlet is on Facebook as “RC Jet Chutes”.  You can contact him through Facebook for chutes for your Jet!

Dan shared his beautifully built early WWI project, the Pfalz A-1 parasol monoplane.  One of the unique features of this aircraft are no separate control surfaces for pitch, roll or yaw.

The 1915 Pfalz A-1 was built under license from the French aircraft manufacturer Moraine-Saulnier Type-L  as well as the Oberursel rotary engine built under license from French engine manufacturer LeRhone.  Some things in war never change, use the enemy’s technology against them.

This particular aircraft was used in the Austro-Hungarian theater of WWI.  Three aircraft set out from Toblach which is on the Austria/Italy border to bomb a target in Italy flying these crates through the Bavarian Alps.  Each aircraft carrier up to 10 Carbonite bombs each weighing 10Kg.  Dan doubts if they did much damage.

The model is 1/6 scale giving it a 73" wingspan.  It has full flying tail surfaces meaning no horizontal stab or vertical stab.  The most unique feature is that it also has fully functioning wing-warping for lateral control.  The wing is warped by a closed loop cable system which pulls up on one side and simultaneously down on the other.

Video of Pfalz A-1 Wing-Warping: "Dan's Pfalz A-1"

The original builder, David Burrell, set his up for an Enya 56 4-cycle. Dan converted the model over to electric and used a 3300mah 4C not only for some flying time but for ballast.  As it turns out the amount of lead he had to add to the inside of the cowl, around 1 lb brought it right back to the weight with the I.C. engine.

The plane weighs right around 6 1/4 pounds with battery, but with all the wing area works out to around 17oz./ Sq.ft.  Now you get a better idea of what was termed "dawn patrol", winds were less. It is covered in antique Oratex and markings are painted with Behr latex.

Plans available at: www.sarikhobbies.com/product/pfalz-a1/

The designer also recommended using Stix-it along with the heat activated backing of the Oratex because of the highly under-cambered airfoil. Dan felt $22 for a pint is ridiculous and it stinks to high heaven so he bought a $3.00 bottle of Mod Podge from Michaels Crafts (or Amazon), brushed it on with no smell. It dries quickly and when he ironed on a sample to it, it pulled the wood fibers right off, he’s sold on it!

We’re looking forward to a day with warm temperatures and calm winds for the maiden flight of the Pfalz A-1. Get some pictures Dan!

Balsa USA ¼ scale Nieuport 28

The first thing Larry said ... surprise, it’s Not a Jet! (No doubt referring to his last 5 years of acquiring turbine powered aircraft)

Larry say’s he ran across this beauty and had to buy it.  It is a stock Balsa USA kit built model that appears to be built exactly to the their instructions (surprise surprise!)  It is powered by a DLE 30 and has been flying very well.