| Scale & Sport Planes ...all images on this page are thumbnails, click on any one to see the full size image. |
SWOOSE - originally designed in 1939 as a 40" freeflight
model it was recreated in 1989 by Nick Ziroli as a float plane.
This Swoose was built from enlarged Ziroli plans and has a
72" span. Weight is approximately 10 lbs and it flies very well.
My idea of what an airplane should be was formed by the
golden age of 1930s aviation. This is my attempt to create a
Bill Barnes like airplane.
The nose was lengthened one inch to achieve proper CG.
Power is a Thunder Tiger .75 4 stroke. Finish on the fuse is
1/2 ounce glass cloth and antique coverite on the wings. All
paint and clear is Klass Kote Epoxy. Construction build along
can be found by clicking here.
model it was recreated in 1989 by Nick Ziroli as a float plane.
This Swoose was built from enlarged Ziroli plans and has a
72" span. Weight is approximately 10 lbs and it flies very well.
My idea of what an airplane should be was formed by the
golden age of 1930s aviation. This is my attempt to create a
Bill Barnes like airplane.
The nose was lengthened one inch to achieve proper CG.
Power is a Thunder Tiger .75 4 stroke. Finish on the fuse is
1/2 ounce glass cloth and antique coverite on the wings. All
paint and clear is Klass Kote Epoxy. Construction build along
can be found by clicking here.
Taurus by Ed Kazmirski was originally kitted by Top Flite in the early 1960s. Recently the Taurus has bee
recreated as the Primus by Home and Hobby Solutions. I purchased the kit from them and was extremely
pleased with quality of the plans, parts fit, kit engineering and pre carved turtledeck..
recreated as the Primus by Home and Hobby Solutions. I purchased the kit from them and was extremely
pleased with quality of the plans, parts fit, kit engineering and pre carved turtledeck..
Modifications made to the kit were to mount the engine sideways instead of upright.
The canopy was replaced with a Jet Style shape from Wing Manufacturing. The
engine is a vintage HP.61 Gold Cup which powers the plane nicely. Finish is
KlassKote in purple and gold the colors of LSU.
The canopy was replaced with a Jet Style shape from Wing Manufacturing. The
engine is a vintage HP.61 Gold Cup which powers the plane nicely. Finish is
KlassKote in purple and gold the colors of LSU.
Goldlen Oldie, was designed by the late Fred Reese. This is my second one, the first was built from a Fred
Reese laser cut kit. This one is built from RCM plans.
The Golden Oldie spans 60", is powered by an old OS .52 four stroke (an engine I wouldn't recommend to
anyone with funds to purchase better) and is covered with 21st Century blue coverite fabric on the fuselage
and antique fabric coverite on the wings and stab.
The 5" Williams Brothers wheels and the aluminum cowl decking give the model a distinctive look. Observers
all try to identify it but it really is just what Fred wanted a homologation of many ideas and looks that makes a
pleasant looking little plane. The construction article can be found by clicking here.
Reese laser cut kit. This one is built from RCM plans.
The Golden Oldie spans 60", is powered by an old OS .52 four stroke (an engine I wouldn't recommend to
anyone with funds to purchase better) and is covered with 21st Century blue coverite fabric on the fuselage
and antique fabric coverite on the wings and stab.
The 5" Williams Brothers wheels and the aluminum cowl decking give the model a distinctive look. Observers
all try to identify it but it really is just what Fred wanted a homologation of many ideas and looks that makes a
pleasant looking little plane. The construction article can be found by clicking here.
Miles Sparrowhawk and Laser 150 - I'd planned to build a Miles Hawk Speed 6 from Philip Kent plans
when I found a review in a British web site of the Seagulls Models Miles Sparrowhawk ARF. Soon after the
article was published in Britain Horizon Hobby offered the 70" span version in the US.
The power for this plane is a British Laser 150 4C. Featuring pushrods, muffler and carburetor in the rear
the Laser is easily cowled.
I am very impressed with the quality of the Seagulls ARF. All parts and alignments were spot on. The test
flights were great and it handles like a pattern plane. The Laser easily powers it through loops, very axial
rolls, only a blip of down is needed for inverted and it tracks well on both take off and landing. I really like
this plane.
when I found a review in a British web site of the Seagulls Models Miles Sparrowhawk ARF. Soon after the
article was published in Britain Horizon Hobby offered the 70" span version in the US.
The power for this plane is a British Laser 150 4C. Featuring pushrods, muffler and carburetor in the rear
the Laser is easily cowled.
I am very impressed with the quality of the Seagulls ARF. All parts and alignments were spot on. The test
flights were great and it handles like a pattern plane. The Laser easily powers it through loops, very axial
rolls, only a blip of down is needed for inverted and it tracks well on both take off and landing. I really like
this plane.
DeHavilland Dragon Rapide. This plane was built by the late Slick Larsen from Robert Schwiezer plans. Power is provided by two OS .48 4C engines and
they are controlled by a Twin-Sync synchronizer system from RC Showcase. Spanning 96" it is a handful to fly especially when tail heavy as it was for its first
flight.
It is now hanging from the ceiling awaiting repairs from an ill advised take off at a speed below that needed to fly.
they are controlled by a Twin-Sync synchronizer system from RC Showcase. Spanning 96" it is a handful to fly especially when tail heavy as it was for its first
flight.
It is now hanging from the ceiling awaiting repairs from an ill advised take off at a speed below that needed to fly.
On the left is a Mini Mambo from the Early RC Aircraft kit. Power is a Norvel .061 which is an
excellent engine. Usually hand launched it surprises folks with how quiet it is and how well it flies.
The Ben Buckle ELF is an update to the 1930s Frank Ehling design. The kit is expensive and not
real good. If I were to do it again I would build it from RCM plans. Power is a Magnum .30 4C swinging
an 11X4 prop which is more than enough power for this 60" span, 4-1/4 lbs plane.
excellent engine. Usually hand launched it surprises folks with how quiet it is and how well it flies.
The Ben Buckle ELF is an update to the 1930s Frank Ehling design. The kit is expensive and not
real good. If I were to do it again I would build it from RCM plans. Power is a Magnum .30 4C swinging
an 11X4 prop which is more than enough power for this 60" span, 4-1/4 lbs plane.
PICA 1/5th Waco YMF-3. Built in 2003 from a late kit from Pica Enterprises this 72" span Waco is powered by an upright OS .91FX swinging a Bolly Carbon Fiber
16X6 prop and muffled with a Slimliine straight down exhaust. The kit and plans were challenging but by ignoring my instincts and instead following the directions
the plane came out very nicely. It weighs 10.5 lbs and is a delight to fly. The WACO is probably my favorite airplane when it comes to fun to fly. It will loop easily
from level flight, flies inverted with little if any down elevator and takes off and lands almost on its own. The OS .91FX quit in flight so many times that I was
disgusted with it. An older modeler observed it in flight and said it was overheating. That didn't seem possible because the gigantic cowl opening let in all the air it
could use. He was right though, the air exit area between the cowl and fuse was not enough to let out all the air it was taking in creating a static air mass in the
cowl. Blocking off the cowl except for the area right in front of the engine cured the overheating problem and turned an unreliable engine to one of the most
versatile and dependable in my inventory. If you can tell, I really like this plane.
16X6 prop and muffled with a Slimliine straight down exhaust. The kit and plans were challenging but by ignoring my instincts and instead following the directions
the plane came out very nicely. It weighs 10.5 lbs and is a delight to fly. The WACO is probably my favorite airplane when it comes to fun to fly. It will loop easily
from level flight, flies inverted with little if any down elevator and takes off and lands almost on its own. The OS .91FX quit in flight so many times that I was
disgusted with it. An older modeler observed it in flight and said it was overheating. That didn't seem possible because the gigantic cowl opening let in all the air it
could use. He was right though, the air exit area between the cowl and fuse was not enough to let out all the air it was taking in creating a static air mass in the
cowl. Blocking off the cowl except for the area right in front of the engine cured the overheating problem and turned an unreliable engine to one of the most
versatile and dependable in my inventory. If you can tell, I really like this plane.
Recently two changes have been made to the Swoose. A Cline proportional fuel control
system has been installed and "gills" cut into the cowl to aid in cooling.
system has been installed and "gills" cut into the cowl to aid in cooling.
