Brian Austin 1

There is no plan availabel, much the same as the WOT4. Only available as a kit.

Have ordered 2, 4 cell 4000 li po's for it. Motor is geared Kontronik 480 -2800, that I had lying around, as I wanted to keep costs down. I did away with the ABS moulding for the front, wanting a more streamlined shape, as was on the original, even though the original lost some of that, with the HP40 & silencer hanging out ( have noticed that a lot of those made from the kit, do not round the fuselage off enough, which misses out on the quartering in the build corners, leaving plenty of wood to cover this) . Also hate the modern idea of servos hanging out of the airframe, so used nylon tube a cable for the rudder/elevator, run through ali tubing glued to inside of fuselage. Also ganged two servos together to drive strip ailerons, in place of the one used on the original.(see picture in previous post) This allows the ailerons to be mixed for a flap effect for landing, although the original would land slowly by adding power to the up elevator, to drag it in.

Finished the the Skyliner now, apart from a mod to fit the Fox spinner to the mm shaft on the electricc motor. Fifty one years from the original flight., hence the decoration. Note the wheels raked well forward and original fit Williams Streamline wheels 21/4" dia, from old friend, thanks Nige.

I have had it in mind, to re create the Skyliner/Bean, for some time now. To this end I obtained a kit from Paul at P B Models. that had parts missing. But seeing as I had created it 50+ years ago now, decided that 2023, would be a good time to celebraate the 50 thanniversary of the design. To bring it up to date, also electrified it. Plan is to re create Dave Masons original in green film covering,(his was the original one built) which earned it the nick name of Green Bean, due to the slim fuselage. Some pictures of the build so far. Never liked servos haging outside the model, so 2 servos gangedti drive the strip ailerons with the rudder/elevators driven with tube & cable through ali tubes, glued to fuselge inside.

Better start saving up now, as there are approx 16 sheets 3/32 balsa X 4inch, needed for the wings alone.

The Fiesta, is not my design, but one of my mentors in the 50's, Dave Platt. Published in August 1967 Radio Modeller magzine. The Mag never had the wing plan.I have never seen a reproduction of the Fiesta, in my time in aeromodelling, but I do have scanned plans for it now.

Screen shot of the original plan of the Bean/Skyliner(on top of drawing)Showing the basic plan of the Skyliner, that ALL the originals were built from, before the PB Models kit came out. I have kept scanned copies of all my designs.

The Dwarf Bean was a full size plan to suit a mgazine. It was based on the original Bean but was shoulder wing mounted, so as to access the battery and for hand launching. As to the ABS front housing, on the kit Bean, think this came about from using a radial engine mount, rather than wood bearers. This latter made building a balsa cowl area easier. You could replicate the original, using a radial mount, by making a 23/8" ply former. Mount it on the engine prop driver, allowing some clearance for the back of the spinner. This can now be infilled with balsa, around the engine. Remove motor and round off and fair into fuselage. Picture of my latest build, showing this on the "Fiesta" Also some pictures of my designs from the 70's, all were made locally within the club at that time, from a very basic plan I drew up then. The Bean and the Skydancer hen kitted by Saturn Models in the 70's, neither had plans, just cutaways to show construction. My old best friend Dave Mason sadly deceased, with the original Green Bean, which he built before me, as he loved the shape when he first saw it. That was the one that changed the name, from Skyliner to Green Bean as a wag thought it looked like a Runner Bean. The last B&W picture is of my version of the Fiesta, that was published in 1967. My version greatly simplyfied for a 35/40 engine and called Lorraine, in recognition of colour scheme depicting the Cross of Lorraine across the top of the wing.

I have a spare copy of my book now Phil Brian

It is with some sadness to report that Bill Morley has passed away last week. Bill was in his mid 90's and did not do much in terms of model flying in his latter days, but is fondly remembered by those who remember him in the 40'-60's, when he flew control line, with his famous design stunt models called Thunderbolt and the beautiful Scimitar, which formed the basis of the KK Spectre. He worked in H J N's shop in Holloway Rd as manager, then left to form Merco Engines, contrary to what has been posted on this site, stood for Model Engine Research Co. Privilege to have known you Bill RIP Brian Austin

Hi Tony Yes the cowel would be a restraining effect on the fuselage section. On mine and others from long ago, the front was all built up from balsa block around engine bearers. The original undercarriage mounting was the result of considerable trial & error. It should be a 1/4" ply plate let into the bottom of the wing. A smaller ply plat is let into the top of the wing as an anchor point. This transfers the load on the torsion twisting effect on the bottom plate, as the height of the wing decreases the load on the bottom. plate. In the early days is was normal for the anchor wire to only go through the lower mounting block, which could and did become loose in the foam wing. Never had a problem using the former method even after lots of touch & goes

Glad to see that the Bean/Skyliner performed OK, not that I thought it would not having flown many from my original plan from the early 70's. The addition of weight to the aft end, seems to be due to the modern engines being heavier than the originals used in the 70's in the form of the HP40, which at 10 ounces was very light and powerful. I never knew of one then that needed weight at the back. The landings can be slowed down by cutting the throttle to idle, then coming round applying up elevator till itstarts to sink, then applying throttle to just keep it coming forward. Once you get the knack you will be amazed at how it will slow down for landings. You will find it will not drop a wing that is tip stall. I see on your version that the wing tips are not as on the original in that they are squared off, rather than at the sweep back. Also very few people seem to round off the fuselage corners to get a more rounded shape, which I think is more attractive. Edited By Brian Austin 1 on 25/02/2017 15:51:44

Posted by FlyinBrian on 13/12/2016 13:18:49: I remember Brian flying a (Green) Bean at a couple of comps in the '70's I think it was powered by an HP40 and remember thinking "God that's quick" Oh dear, you must be as old as me. Yes the details are correct as to the original "Bean" Lovely engine the HP40, shame it used to eat the so called silencers!! It was always one of the nicest models I flew, testified to how many have been made since. Cannot make a comment as to the kit as I have never made one from it, I do know that they are put together by the same people who make the majority of this type of kit in the UK. As a plug my latest is the "Stella Clipper" in Decembers RCModelworld

I have had a problem with a Nanotech 1300 3 Cell 45-95C battery. I had flown the particular model in a comp on Whitsun Bank Holiday Saturday, in an E Soaring contest where the motor was run for 30 seconds max, then on the glide from there. On checking out the battery a week later it was totally dead, nothing regisered on the meter. It transpired that the No2 cell was flat, so the battery is junk now. OK they are not expensive but the model they are used in most certainly is. The model was disconnected so it had happened in storage.

I think from memory that it is 38" span. Yes it would convert to IC, but look better in electric as there is no silencer hanging down spoiling the lines. A good 20 would fly it OK.Have added a couple pics of the original.