Tony Richardson

Just googled "air tractor" and their website actually has dimensional drawings for the model builder if they wish to print them, there is also info on one builder who has been building the AT-502 mdel for some time and has fiberglass fuselage and kits for sale, oh well not so different after all I guess.   I still think a vote on type of aircraft eg twin, single engine, civil or military and then let Tony/David present us with some options, that said you. cannot please all of the people all of the time.    Too many airplanes not enough time.

Atta boy Terry, I was a little dissapointed to like Barry I was hoping the Whirlwind would pull it off. How about one of the air tractors for next year????  say the 401b with a radial engine (I think the fullsize has a P&W 1340) it is purpose built and looks that way and has enough detail to drive the most zealous scale builder to drink.

Adam if soaking alone wont free it up, try warming it a little, sit it on an old pan in a warm oven (cooker as me mother used to say) around 175-200 degree's F not Celcius fr maybe 5-7 mins DO NOT BAKE IT a little and often is way better, if you have one a sonic cleaner filled with methanol/ethanol will free it nicely, its the oil (castor I suspect) that turns to varnish and gets sticky.

Good point Phil, as a model pilot I like to fly solo for that very reason, two or more fliers would have to co-ordinate their routine, never been a fullsize warbird pilot so would imagine it could get hairy at times ( often wondered how many mid-airs their were in wwii???)  I live pretty close to a US air base that is just across the water from us, the odd time I have got to watch the birds fly they seem to be in pairs and the wingman is pretty close to his lead.   I was back home in the UK a few  years ago and while staying with relatives in Cumbria was fortunate enough to witness two Tornados chasing a BAE Hawk for practice, my wife and I were out walking and were atop a high hill on one side of a valley when these three aircraft cme screaming down the valley and we were able to look down at them as they passed, very interesting perspective, I digress I know, but my point is I have mostly seen attack aircraft in pairs only, is this the norm, to split the flight into pairs with designated targets/objectives if so good communication between the pilots would allow for the previously described manouvre, I think???

Thanks for the heads-up on this thread David because I had no idea what a "Derry Turn" was or who first performed it, now I do, it would appear ( model flying at public events aside ) that a Derry Turn is a manouvre by a pilot in a turn of one direction but changes his/her mind and instead of rolling back to level flight and turning opposite direction rolls through inverted and obtains a banking turn in the opposite direction?  This could also be used  as a reversing (non competative)  manouvre at the end of the flight line could it not, similar to a procedure turn, peformed with a fast moving warbird at the end of a straffing run, a climbing turn away from the runway, roll trough inverted, decsending turn in the opposite direction and ready to straff the runway again, or is this already called something else?

Bush/Obama be carefull what you wish for you may just get it? but that is for another time and another place.   I think the Lysander will be an interesting build and Tony is going to have some challenging moments in the design I am sure.   David, Terence has raised an interesting point as to what style, type, era of aircraft should be voted for, one alternative would be to run a thread from now until the autumn say, and get the members to vote on type and era in much the same way as the "pick a plane" thread was run and then when it is time for next years "pick a plane" limit the choices to that type and time in history, it may even get some of us to do a little more research before we actually vote, good practice for gathering all the info needed for a scale (semi-scale) build.   It has been suggested the model and build should be relatively easy, if you purchase the plan pack it can be! to build entirely from the plan is more of a challenge but some builders will prefer that, either way, these plans are a good way to increase one's skills in the traditional building of a model, I love to build from a plan and a kit but I also assemble an ARF now and again if I see one I like this hobby is so diverse it should suit  just about anyone.   Tony/David I am looking forward to this one can you please design with both IC and Electrickery in mind. 

Erfolg, that ugly light aircraft is a Piper PA-6 Sky Sedan first all aluminum aircraft piper built I think, first flew in 1947 and was aimed at the homebuilt/private market.

Erfolg this is the P12 I am pretty sure it is the one you refer to, a little on the ugly duckling side don't you think... ">" width="350" alt="" />

  ">" width="350" alt="" /> How about this one? its not a warbird its no longer in production, in fact there only was one ever built and I think it looks a little different, it was also the first aircraft built by this company that had retractable gear.   Could be a relatvely simple build with scope for a scale fanatic to do their own thing,  I am sure most if not all of you know what it is and who made it.

Erfolg  you are correct about the P12 it was actually a wing albeit a small one and a turret on the rear end, apparently it was a proto of what was destined to be a night patrol/fighter aircraft for the coastal areas of Britain, seems it was broken up well before the war ended.   Graeme I too have the Auster by airsail 72" and plan to modify the cabin area to dispose of that unsightly servo and rubber bands that hold the wings together, as my old boss used to say anything can be done provided you give it the thought, time and money.

Erfolg   Not sure its a tandem wing?  but it is a very lage tailplane bit like a quickie but in reverse,  tried to post a piccy but for some reason cannot get this site to accept U R L from photo bucket.

Erfolg I think you are right just too different, the Lysander seems a popular choice but could present problems for some builders as the canopy/cockpit  is very involved with all its glass, that said painted windows would work on a smaller model?   Has anybody thought of the Lysander P12 ??  that would be really different.

Testing testing /  thanks Phil it does work, it would be nice if you could change your mind in the pick a plane forum after a week or two, don't think anybody else went for the Blohm and Voss BV 141! I really think this would be a great free plan at 60 to 72 inch for electric or glow, really unusual.

Chris c  can you explain how to edit a post,  I cannot for the life of me figure it out wondered if it was something else that has not been de-bugged yet???

We have two Martin mars here on Vancouver island,  I posted some pics of an electric model ( somewhere on this site ) built by a fellow club member that may appeal to some as a free plan, are you willing Tony???? would make a great follow up to your Sunderland.   I am suprised the fullsize are not on their way to oz ,mind you the fires could be out by the time they get there they really do lumber along, don't move much faster than treacle at the north pole.

Havn't heard anything from Barry lately hope he hasn't fallen victim to the wild fires???

Ben if you are into electric models there are a few motors that have counter rotating shafts for twin props so the Gannet is a perfect model.

Erfolg if I remeber correctly a plan was spread out over two issues, a sport flying boat called Di- Fleidamous? I think it translated to the flying mouse ( a bat ? ) I think the fus was printed one month with the wing the following.   As for making them really simple "why" we would be building from a plan or a wood pack can usually be purchased to make it a little easier, if simple is what we need then ARTF's are available for all kinds of aircraft.   Let's see something a little different, the Spit was the first model three years ago followed by the Typhoon ( cracking little model and not offered as a kit or ARFF too often. now we have the Hurricane, at risk of getting it wrong I would say the most well known British warbirds have been covered, let's see if we can find one that is not too common.

I have to go with the Westland Whirlwind again as it is a twin and one that is not modeled often, as I like unusual models here are my three picks.   Westland Whirlwind.   Gee Bee model A bi-plane ( the first aircraft the Granville brothers built ).   The very odd looking Blohm and Voss reconnaissance plane.

That would be interesting on floats don't ya think..

Here we go again.

Ed the "problems " of which you complain are pretty typical for an ARF.  Was the engine mount a complete unit or two seperate arms if two arms the solution is to knock out the blind nuts and relocate them as required by the engine used, the bubbles in the covering can usually be removed working slowly and carefully with a cool "covering" iron, all part of the hobby in most peoples mind, stick with it and the rewards are endless, build from a kit or plan and the feeling you get when that pile of sticks takes to the air for the first time is a feeling that cannot be desribed.

Maybe #119 will be lucky,  David you really have to send this one too Canada I have always admired the Foss models and cannot ever remember seeing one this side of the pond so c'mon make it a first pleeeeeeeeese.

Hi there, heard someone talking about Ivan Pettigrew plans, one of my fellow club members built a model of a Martin Mars water bomber from his plans and I had the pleasure of seeing it ROW for the first time last weekend it is dressed out in the colour's of the fullsize aircraft that is based here on Vancouver Island at sproat lake.  The weight ready to fly is 8 1/2 lbs power comes from four 480 electric motors driving 3 blade props through a gearbox, steering on the water is aided by being able to slow the motors on one side while increasing power on the opposite side, when flown slowly ( the fullsize really lumbers around ) it looks very scale. Bare with me while I try and insert a piccy or two.