For visitors to my website, this “Build of the Month (BOTM) Series” is meant to help others who are trying to get started in building their own Radio Controlled (RC) model aircraft.

 If you are currently not an active builder, and you want to be, this webpage would be a great place to start. If you have an RC model aircraft that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which I will then post in a future BOTM edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

Build of the Month Series - May 2024 Edition

 I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM edition on the Miss Vintage RC Model. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which will then post in a future BOTM edition. Just send an email to Larry's BOTM Series.

 Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of May 2024. While I have build many different kinds of Balsa RC models over the past 35+ years, one type that I have never attempted is a non-powered glider. Therefore, this month features the Bowlus Baby Albatross that was featured in a September 1975 Model Builder magazine.

 The Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross is an American high-wing, strut-braced, open cockpit, pod-and-boom glider that was designed by Hawley Bowlus and introduced in 1938. Bowlus designed the Baby Albatross as an inexpensive glider during the Great Depression. The aircraft initially sold for US$750 ready-to-fly, and US$385 as a kit for amateur construction. Bowlus produced kits until the outbreak of World War II in 1942, and the rights to the design were purchased in 1944 by Laister-Kauffmann, although that company went out of business before commencing production. The BA-100 is of mixed construction. The wings and tail surfaces are of wooden structure, covered in aircraft fabric. The tail boom is made from a metal tube and the cockpit pod is of molded plywood. The wing is reminiscent of the German Grunau Baby design. The aircraft features no glide-path control devices, although some were later modified with spoilers. The airfoil is a modified Gö 535 section. The production of the BA-100 totaled 156 kits delivered. Many other modifications were carried out, including one Baby with a steel tube pod built by Schweizer. Many soaring notables had a Baby Bowlus as their first ship, including Dick Johnson, Dick Schreder and Joe Lincoln, and flights of more than 402 km / 250 miles have been made. One example belongs to the National Soaring Museum. The Vintage Sailplane Association has plans.

Full Size Aircraft General Characteristics & Performance:
Crew: one
Wingspan: 44′ 6″
Wing area: 150 sq. ft.
Gross weight: 505 lb.
Maximum glide ratio: 20:1
Rate of sink: 135 ft./min.
Wing loading: 3.3 lbs./sq. ft.

 The Balsa RC model was designed by Col. Bob Thacker, is 2.75″ = 1′ scale, spanning 122″, and faithfully replicates the full-scale glider's design attributes. The two-piece wing attaches to the fuselage with iron rods running through each wing panel and the aluminum fuselage tail boom. Controls are ailerons, elevator, rudder, spoilers, and even a landing tire brake. A tow hook location for winch launching is not shown but could be easily installed. Other flying options include slope soaring and installation of electric propulsion in the nose - decidedly non-scale but easing the challenge of getting the plane aloft. For added robustness, the aluminum towel rack fuselage tail boom could be replaced with an unbreakable lightweight 1 inch O.D. fiberglass or carbon fiber boom.

 Here is a link to an excellent build thread on RC-Network.de, that started on 7 February 2023 and runs to 23 January 2024: “Bowlus Baby Albatross.” This build thread will take you step-by-step through the construction of the Bowlus Baby Albatross model with dozens of very nice images. If I were to build the BA-100, this thread would be my number one source.

 The Bowlus Baby Albatross can be built using a great set of plans which are available from: “AeroFred” and provided for you below:

AeroFred Model Builder's Bowlus Baby Albatross Webpage.
Bowlus Baby Albatross Full Size Plans in PDF format.
Bowlus Baby Albatross Article.

 For those who like this style of model, but are not scratch builders, you might just want to check out this link: “PLANET-HOBBY Bowlus Baby BA-100 Albatross Wooden Construction Kit Gliding Model.” Check it out!

 I hope you have enjoyed this months selection and maybe I spurred some interest in trying your hand at building an RC model glider.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!

Build of the Month Series - April 2024 Edition

 I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM edition on the Pica Waco YMF Golden Age Biplane RC Model. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which will then post in a future BOTM edition. Just send an email to Larry's BOTM Series.

 Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of April 2024. As I indicated in an earlier edition, I tend to favor older aircraft for my scratch builds. So, for this edition I wanted to find something that was pre-WW 1, but not be too difficult for the RC scratch builder who doesn't have several builds under their belt. After some research on the web, I finally decided to go with something that is not true scale, but still results in a model that captures the style of the aircraft that were actually flying during the pre-WW 1 period. Therefore, this month features the George F Jennings Miss Vintage that was featured in a 1976 Radio Control Modeler (RCM) magazine.

 Quote: “Miss Vintage, designed around .25 to .35 size engines, George Jennings vintage type aircraft will help you capture the yesteryear of aviation...

 Miss Vintage will help you capture yesteryear, a time when aviation was in its infancy before the airplane went to war. What romance those early machines must have wrought with flying wires singing, empennage vibrating and the smell of hot engine exhaust permeating the nostrils. Yes, that was really flying! Imagine what it must have been like to fly with no airspeed indicator, engine monitoring devices, or other modern-day instrumentation. Just a stick, rudder bar, throttle, deafening roar, and the sting of the wind in the face were all the pilot had to keep him company.

 Those days are gone forever, and we can only thrill to the written accounts of those aerial pioneers or reconstruct such bold and daring ventures in our own daydreams. Unless we fly RC! Through the medium of RC, we can re-create such an exciting era.

 Miss Vintage will help you capture that feeling, that romance, that return flight to nostalgia. Miss Vintage is a thoroughly tested and practical machine. Designed around the economical .25 to .35 sized RC engines, it duplicates the looks, slow, deliberate, flight characteristics and realism of an old-timer. It is completely reliable, easy to fly and designed to look complicated and yet be quick and economical to construct.

 Wing construction is a snap with a high lift flat bottom airfoil for easy building on a flat surface. Half ribs and diagonal braces are used for strength as well as looks. They require very little time to install and, as a plus, you don't have to sheet the leading edge of the wing. Ailerons are of the simple and effective strip type, making the choice of three or four channels an easy one for the builder. Very little extra effort is required to add ailerons.

 The fuselage is constructed almost entirely of hardwood. Fuselage sides are cut from 1/8″ Lite Ply and are almost as light as balsa with far greater strength. The open framework is built from 3/16″ square spruce which is also very light and strong. The only balsa contained in the fuselage is one bulkhead and the top block. The main advantage to this type of structure, in addition to its ruggedness, is economy!

 The tail surfaces are primarily constructed of laminated spruce and provide protection from warping and, again, are economical to build as well as rugged and light. Finished with see-through covering, Miss Vintage is a real showstopper guaranteed to attract attention from fellow RC'ers and spectators alike.

 Flying capabilities are extremely good. Miss Vintage is capable of many aerobatics including inverted flight and yet is very gentle and easy to fly. Because of the easy take-off and landing characteristics, Miss Vintage could be used as a trainer and first airplane. If you have built at least one RC plane and understand basic construction techniques, you can build Miss Vintage - so let's get started!”

 Before beginning, it is best to secure all materials needed for the job. You can probably find most materials at your local hobby shop; however, some shops don't stock spruce and Lite Ply. These can be purchased directly from SIG or Balsa USA.

 The Miss Vintage can be built using a great set of Radio Control Modeler (RCM) plans, which are available from: “Outerzone” and provided for you below:

Outerzone Miss Vintage (oz4746) Webpage.
Miss Vintage RCM Full Size Plans in PDF format.
Miss Vintage 1976 RCM Article.
Miss Vintage RCM Review.

 For those who like this style of model, but are not scratch builders, you might just want to check out this link: “Hanger One Kits Aerotique.” They offer Miss Vintage in both a Short Kit and a Complete Airframe Kit. They also offer George F Jennings Aerotique (RCM 1981 and shown below) which is the follow-on sister to Miss Vintage. Their website also has downloadable plans and construction articles. To make building of the curved spruce tail pieces easy they have included some MDF formers which you can bend the spruce around for laminating. Simply soak the spruce, bend it around the formers and cable-tie it in place until dry. Then remove it and apply aliphatic glue and tie it back around the formers until dry. You will be rewarded with a very strong and good looking part. Check it out!

 I hope you have enjoyed this months selection and maybe I spurred some interest in trying your hand at building a vintage style RC model airplane. FYI - I started my scratch build of Miss Vintage in March 2024.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!

Build of the Month Series - March 2024 Edition

 I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM edition on the F-22 Raptor “Foamy” RC Model. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which will then post in a future BOTM edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

 Ok, now lets see what I found for the month of March 2024. Since starting the BOTM Series in August 2023, I have yet to feature a biplane. For the scratch builders, an RC biplane model means LOTS of wing ribs. I tend to be biased toward the Golden Age of aviation in the selection of the models that I scratch build, and such is the case with this months featured build. While there are many different designs and builders of biplanes to consider, there are only a couple that really stand out when it comes to a beautiful reproduction of the full size airplane. So given these requirements, this month features the Pica Waco YMF Golden Age Biplane.

 In the mid-1930s, Waco was one of the most successful builders of personal and business airplanes in the country. Wacos were powerful, fast and a delight to fly, and they were expensive. That’s why pilots coveted the graceful biplanes then, and now. Waco — pronounced wah-co, not way-co like the city in central Texas — The name evokes images of the Golden Era of Aviation when real planes had two sets of wings and round engines. The Weaver Aircraft Company (WACO) was founded in 1920 by two businessmen, Elwood Junkin and Clayton Brukner, along with two famous barnstorming pilots Charley Meyers and George Weaver. The plane's barnstorming heritage was very evident in its beautiful lines and aerobatic abilities. The sturdy airframe soon earned the Wacos a reputation as rugged and reliable airplanes. Wacos were sought after by traveling businessmen, world explorers, and even the postal service. In the early years, Waco built dozens of models of biplanes, probably no two exactly alike. The company was among the first to offer a fully enclosed cabin biplane designed for purposeful transportation. By 1935 it created the YMF, what many pilots believe to be the most beautiful and desirable sport airplane ever built. That is the model that is back in production now by Waco Classic Aircraft. The full size Waco YMF-3 has a wingspan of 30 feet and a length of 23 feet 1 inch. The aircraft has a height of 8′ 5″ and an empty weight of 1,155 pounds. The fuel capacity of the aircraft is 48 gallons, and it has a useful load of 965 pounds. The Waco YMF-3 is powered by a Jacobs R755A2 engine that produces 300 horsepower. The aircraft has a two-blade MT constant speed propeller. The wing area of the YMF-3 is 233.5 square feet. The Waco YMF-3 has a maximum speed of 95 mph indicated (102 mph true).

 The Golden Era of Aviation will come alive with this gentle flying RC model of the popular Waco YMF. PICA produced the YMF-3 in 1/5th (72-inch wingspan) and 1/6th (60-inch wingspan) scale kits. These are the perfect size to attract the attention and admiration of your fellow modelers. Responsive control gives this model realistic maneuverability in all aspects of flight. Since the real aircraft has all of the necessary areas and moment for an excellent flying model, the PICA plans produce a 100% scale outline. The large wing area provides a stable platform for smooth picture-perfect takeoffs and landings. The all balsa wood and light plywood build PICA plans feature step by step instructions with positional isometric drawings, detailed full-size plans, built up tail surfaces, and use a Clark-Y airfoil. Remember what I said earlier about biplane models and the number of wing ribs? Well, there are a total of 66 ribs in the two wings of the 1/5th scale model. The finished RC model flies very realistically. It can be competitive in stand-off scale and would be great for a modeler wishing to get involved in competition.

 The Waco YMF-3 Golden Age Biplane can be built using a great set of Morten Tanger plans from PICA, which are available from: “Outerzone” and provided for you here:

Note - The 1/5th scale PDF plans file is a large file size since it includes 3 large sheets of the actual plan plus another 44 (yes, 44) A4 pages that show all (hand-traced) formers and include 15 pages of text instructions.

Outerzone Waco YMF-3 (oz3269) Webpage.
PICA 1/5th Scale Full Size Plans in PDF format.
RC Scale International 1/5th Scale Kit Review.
PICA 1/6th Scale Full Size Plans in PDF format.
PICA 1/6th Scale Assembly Manual.
RCM April 1977 Kit Review.

 I hope you have enjoyed this months selection and maybe spurred some interest in trying your hand at building an RC model biplane.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!

Build of the Month Series - February 2024 Edition

 I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM edition on the Pilot Quick Build Series Piper Cub J-3 RC model. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which will then post in a future BOTM edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

 Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of February 2024. While many of us are not “foamy” model aircraft builders, we do have some flying club members that build them from scratch. Given this, I figured I need to have a BOTM edition for a simple “foamy” RC model build. In our review of the Internet to find materials for this edition, one aircraft seems to be the choice of many modelers for a simple “foamy” build of one of our nations best jet fights. So, this month features a F-22 Raptor “Foamy” RC Model.

 The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is an American single-seat, twin-engine, supersonic all-weather stealth fighter aircraft developed for the USAF. As a product of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program the aircraft was designed as an air superiority fighter, but also incorporates ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence capabilities. The prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, built most of the F-22's airframe and weapons systems and conducted final assembly, while program partner Boeing provided the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.

 The F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation air superiority fighter that is considered fourth generation in stealth aircraft technology by the USAF. It is the first operational aircraft to combine supercruise, super maneuverability, stealth, and integrated avionics (or sensor fusion) in a single weapons platform to enable it to conduct missions, primarily offensive and defensive counter-air operations, in highly contested environments. The aircraft's dual Pratt & Whitney F119 augmented turbofan engines are closely spaced and incorporate pitch-axis thrust vectoring nozzles with a range of ±20 degrees, and the nozzles are fully integrated into the F-22's flight controls and vehicle management system. Each engine has maximum thrust in the 35,000 lbf. class. Maximum speed without external stores is approximately Mach 1.8 at military power and greater than Mach 2 with afterburners. The ability to supercruise, or sustain supersonic flight without using afterburners, allows it to intercept targets that afterburner-dependent aircraft would lack the fuel to reach. The F-22 was designed to be highly difficult to detect and track by radar, with radio waves reflected, scattered, or diffracted away from the emitter source towards specific sectors, or absorbed and attenuated.

 The F-22 first flew in 1997 and entered service in December 2005 as the F-22A. Although the USAF had originally planned to buy a total of 750 ATFs, the program was cut to 187 production aircraft in 2009 due to high costs, a lack of air-to-air missions at the time of production, and the development of the more affordable and versatile F-35. In total, 195 F-22s were built. The last F-22 was delivered in 2012. The United States Air Force is the only operator of the F-22, and as of August 2022, it has 183 aircraft in its inventory. On 4 February 2023, an F-22 of the 1st Fighter Wing shot down a Chinese spy balloon within visual range off the coast of South Carolina at an altitude of 60,000 to 65,000 feet (20,000 m), marking the F-22's first air-to-air kill.

 This F-22 RC model is based on a design by Kosh, adapted for EPP by Dekan, and the plans are by Firetrappe. This scratch build is about as simple as you can get. You can download the F-22 Raptor plans and build your own RC model in just one night! The construction uses 9mm EPP, 3mm carbon tubes, 1.5mm carbon tube, and 3x0.5mm carbon strips. Expanded polypropylene (EPP) is a soft-elastic to hard, closed-cell and thermoplastic foam. EPP foam has a high structural strength at low weight and combines several positive mechanical properties, such as very good energy absorption and high resilience. In addition, it has excellent thermal insulation properties as well as good chemical resistance and the ability to absorb sound.

 All the required materials are available at your local Hobby Shop, and from many sources on the Internet. The assembly requires a glue such as Bob Smith Industries BSI-142 Clear Foam-Cure Craft Glue, 4 oz. which gain can be found at your local Hobby shop, or on Amazon at: BSI-142 Glue. Do NOT use hot glue because it is way too heavy.

You can also install First Person View (FPV) equipment on this RC model.

 Here is a link to a good F-22 Scratch Build Time Lapse You Tube Video. The F-22 model in this months selection is built from a set of plans that I found at: “RC-Plans.com” and provided for you below:

F-22 Plans in a .zip file.
F-22 Layout in a .PDF format.
Great Twisted Hobbies F-22 “foamy” Kit Review w/video.
Free F-22 Depron Plans with LOTS of Pictures
Construction Guide for Quick Build F-22 Raptor.
Set of F-22 “foamy” plans from AeroFred.
Super Easy F-22 Depron Detailed Build, Plans and Video.

 I hope you have enjoyed this months selection and spurred some interest in trying your hand at building a “Foamy” RC model.

Until next month - Keep the “Foamy???” Dust Flying!!

Build of the Month Series - January 2024 Edition

 I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM edition on the RCM New Era III Sport-Pattern RC model. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which will then post in a future edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

 Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of January 2024. How about I try our hand at something that will build quickly, flies great, and just about everyone that has ever been to an RC flying field has seen at least once. Given its low speed and gentle handling characteristics, many RC modelers learned how to fly using this RC model. So given these requirements, this month features the Pilot Quick Build Series Piper Cub J-3 designed by Y. Matsumoto.

     

 The Piper J-3 Cub is an American light aircraft that was built between 1938 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. The aircraft has a simple, lightweight design which gives it good low-speed handling properties and short-field performance. The Cub is Piper Aircraft's most-produced model, with nearly 20,000 built in the United States. Its simplicity, affordability and popularity invokes comparisons to the Ford Model T automobile. The aircraft is a high-wing, strut-braced monoplane with a large-area rectangular wing. It is most often powered by an air-cooled, flat-4 piston engine driving a fixed-pitch propeller. Its fuselage is a welded steel frame covered in fabric, seating two people in tandem. The Cub was designed as a trainer. It had great popularity in this role and as a general aviation aircraft. Due to its performance, it was well suited for a variety of military uses such as reconnaissance, liaison and ground control. It was produced in large numbers during World War II as the L-4 Grasshopper. Note - An excellent example of an RC model L-4 Grasshopper can be found on Tom Brittain's “Builders Page”. Many Cubs are still flying today, and Cubs are highly prized as bush aircraft. The aircraft's standard chrome yellow paint came to be known as "Cub Yellow" or "Lock Haven Yellow". The full size aircraft general characteristics are: capacity: pilot and one passenger; useful load: 455 lbs; length: 22′ 5″; wingspan: 35′ 3″; height: 6′ 8″; wing area: 178.5 sq. ft.; empty weight: 765 lbs; max takeoff weight: 1,220 lbs; and power plant: 1 × Continental A-65-8 air-cooled horizontally opposed four cylinder, 65 hp. at 2,350 rpm.

 This RC model features simple built up construction using balsa and plywood which results in a light yet strong structure. The flat bottom airfoil wing can be built directly over the plans, and provides handling characteristics that make this model an excellent trainer plane. The full length ailerons are powered by a single center mounted servo, but you could modify the plans to incorporate separate aileron servos in each wing. The fuselage is a simple box construction which provides ample room for all the electronics and control servos, provided you use the smaller sized servos available today. The Pilot plans provide excellent details and include a third sheet with patterns of all the cutout pieces and a detailed parts listing. The model make use of many fuselage formers and side panels cut from 1/8th inch plywood stock, versus the stick built methodology found in other smaller RC models. The engine cowling can be made using either shaped balsa or fiberglass. The finished RC model flies very realistically. It can be competitive in stand-off scale and would be great for a modeler wishing to get involved in competition. The model is a great choice for a Sunday sport-scale flyer.

 Here is a link to an excellent build series video: “RC Piper Cub J-3 - Build Series - Balsa RC Planes. By Mark Robinson”. This is a 15-part build series that will take you step-by-step through the construction of the Piper Cub J-3, culminating in a maiden flight, and to be followed by a build and flight review. The finished model is powered by a 2-stroke nitro engine. The build is a 4-channel RC, ailerons, elevator, rudder and throttle. A very well done video series.The model in the video is built from a great set of plans from Pilot using the link provided below, which are available from: “Outerzone” and provided for you here:

Outerzone Piper Cub J-3 Webpage.
Pilot Full Size Plans in PDF format.
Pilot Construction Guide.
Main Landing Gear Plan.
Piper Cub J-3 Decals.
Field and Bench Review June 1982 Article.

 I hope you have enjoyed this months selection, and just maybe, I have spurred some interest in trying your hand at building an RC model airplane.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!

Build of the Month Series - December 2023 Edition

 I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM edition on the RCM Big Bird and Big Bird 2. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which will then post in a future edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

 Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of December 2023. Lets try our hand at something that will build quickly, flies great, and won't break the bank. I also want to introduce a class of model that I have yet to cover in the BOTM Series, a low-wing sport-pattern airplane. This is not a beginner pilot's aircraft. Although a novice or higher might enjoy flying this aircraft at slow speeds, it can be very fast requiring the techniques of a more advanced pilot. So given these requirements, this month features the RCM New Era III designed by Don Dewey and updated by Joe Beshar.

     

 The RCM New Era III is a sporty, 45″ wingspan, small sport-pattern plane, originally designed by Chuck Cunningham and Don Dewey in 1969, but another version, the "New Era III Revisited", was modified and updated by Don Dewey and published in RCM Magazine in 1996.

 This model features built up construction using a well established method of balsa and ply construction that results in a light yet strong and rigid structure needed for a pattern model. The full symmetrical airfoil wing provides a high lift coefficient and excellent handling characteristics needed for a sport-pattern plane. One item I found very helpful in building full symmetrical wings is a simple wing jig. The jig holds the wing ribs above the plans and ensures all are properly aligned while the remaining wing structure is assembled. Provided in the link section below is an article from RCM so you too can make this very simple wing jig, and is pictured below when used to build a Bokkie model, a similar sport-pattern design. This RCM New Era III model grooves -- it goes exactly where you point it, and will do each and every maneuver that you call upon it to perform from sustained knife edge flight to vertical maneuvers of any type. Yet, you can slow it down, and drag it in nose high at a landing rate so slow that you will find it almost impossible to believe that it is still airborne.

  

 Here is a link to an excellent build series video: “RCM New Era III Revisited - Build Series - Balsa RC Planes. By Mark Robinson.” This is a 19-part build series that will take you step-by-step through the construction of the New Era III model, culminating in a maiden flight, and to be followed by a build and flight review. The finished model is powered by an English made Irvine .25 Mk III, an excellent 2-stroke nitro engine. The build is a 4-channel RC, ailerons, elevator, rudder and throttle. A very well done video series.The model in the video is built from a great set of plans from RCM using the link provided below, which are available from: “Outerzone” and provided for you here:

Outerzone New Era III Webpage.
New Era III Article found in Radio Control Models (RCM).
Another Article found in RCM.
45″ Wingspan Full Size Plans in PDF format.
RCM Wing Jig Article.

I hope you have enjoyed this months selection, and just maybe, I have spurred some interest in trying your hand at building a Sport-Pattern RC model airplane.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!

Build of the Month Series - November 2023 Edition

 I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM edition on the Douglas XTB2D-1 Skypirate. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in a future BOTM edition or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which will then post in a future edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

 Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of November 2023. I received an request to feature a model that could initially be built as a basic high-wing trainer, and then after having mastered flying that version, could then be easily converted to a low-wing sport plane. So I set off on my search for such a model. After an extensive search I was unable to find an RC model that could meet the request. If anyone knows of such a plane, please let me know so it can be featured it in a future BOTM edition. But I was able to find an RC model that can be built either as a high-wing or a low-wing trainer. This edition will be the first “dual build option trainer” featured in the BOTM Series, and a plane that many of you may have seen or even built yourself. So given the search results, this month features the RCM Big Bird and Big Bird 2.

 The original Big Bird happens to be a powered aircraft that could be recommended as a first RC model project, particularly for a person who either does not have, or does not want an experienced RC'er to assist them. We are all aware of modelers who will assemble their first model and then go out alone to make their very first RC flight. The probability of success on this first unaided attempt is very low with the majority of the “trainer” type RC models. The Big Bird approach is to combine low weight with generous wing area and a small throttle equipped engine to obtain a forgiving, slow flying model. This allows the new pilot ample time to correct their mistakes before the model smashes into the ground. In fact, with the Big Bird at a reasonable altitude, if the new pilot has managed to get their model into a awkward situation, they merely have to throttle back the engine, return controls to neutral, and the Big Bird will right itself.

 The construction of either Big Bird is very straightforward. A basic LONG box fuselage, stick build tail surfaces, and a BIG flat bottom wing. As indicated earlier, this would be a great plane for the first-time scratch builder to build and fly. The original Big Bird is very similar to the Dynaflight Butterfly kit. I modified the Big Bird 2 plans to use “bolt-on” wings, added ailerons to each of the outer wing panels and flaps to each of the inner wing panels, increased the rudder and elevator by approximately 30%, extended each of the inner wing panels to 23″ which yields an overall wingspan of 94″, and removed the dihedral at the wing center section joint. An O.S. .26 Surpass 4-stroke was initially used for power, but later changed to an O.S. .25 FX 2-stroke. I used five channels in thus plane, but that is not to say fewer could be used if you did not want the ailerons and/or flaps, or more can be used if you want to drive each flap and aileron surface servo using a separate channel on the receiver. Your call on this one.

 The RCM Big Bird and Big Bird 2 can be built from plans, which are available from: “Outerzone” and provided for you here:

Original Big Bird Article found in RCM - Sep 1980.
Big Bird 84″ Wingspan Full Size Plans in PDF format.
Big Bird 2 Article found in RCM.
Big Bird 2 Full Size Plans in PDF format.
My Big Bird 2 Build Description in PDF format.

I hope you have enjoyed this months selection and maybe generated some interest in trying your hand at building a dual build option trainer RC model airplane.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!

Build of the Month Series - October 2023 Edition

 I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM edition on the Diamond Demon. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in a future BOTM edition or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which will then post in a future edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

 Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of October 2023. Given that the last two BOTM editions contained RC models that were simple to build and would be very easy to fly, in this edition I am going to feature something different. This RC model will require not only a high level of scratch builders experience, but also an RC pilot with considerable flying time under their belt and possess moderate to advance flying skills. This edition will be the first “warbird” featured in the BOTM Series, and a plane that many of you have never seen or even knew existed. So given these requirements, this month features the Douglas XTB2D-1 Skypirate.

     

 The full size Douglas XTB2D-1 Skypirate was an exceptionally large 70-foot span, 3 seat shipboard torpedo bomber. In November 1942, the United States Navy commissioned the Douglas Aircraft Company to design, develop and produce their new bomber. The project gained the necessary impetus to move forward in late October 1943, when the contracts for two airworthy prototypes (the second fuselage slightly lengthened) and a "Skypirate" named "XTB2D-1" were signed. When Douglas engineers (a team including the famous American aeronautical engineer Ed Heinemann) got to work, the twin-engine approach was eventually abandoned in favor of a single-engine approach with considerable power. This became the Pratt and Whitney XR-4360-8 3,000 hp supercharged radial piston engine driving a pair of 14.3-foot diameter four-blade counter-rotating propeller units. Internal bomb bays were also part of the original design plan, while aft turrets would be used to defend against trailing air threats. A fairly modern tricycle landing gear was installed to provide the necessary clearance for the large blades, while also simplifying the loading/reloading of ammunition. Each wing contains two hardpoints for carrying a 2,100-pound torpedo load (or equivalent for traditional thrown weapons). Further exploration was made of outboard mount points for disposable fuel tanks that could be used to increase the combat range. Each wing was also equipped with 2 each .50 caliber Browning M2 heavy machine guns for forward firing at ground targets. Firestone provided work for the back turret, which was armed with 2 each .50 caliber M2 Browning heavy machine guns. The turret was mounted in the center of the aircraft, with the cockpit in the front. The ventral structural fairing was planned below, and that station would feature a viewing window, as well as 2 more .50 caliber Browning M2 remote-controlled heavy machine guns. Lots of firepower on this aircraft. This torpedo bomber was intended for service on Midway and Essex class aircraft carriers as it was too large for the decks of earlier carriers. Two prototypes were completed but by the time it was ready the dedicated torpedo bomber was becoming an outdated concept and with the end of WW-II the "Skypirate" was deemed unnecessary and was canceled.

 If the plans you acquire are for the late 1960s-era design by Claude McCullough, you have all the ingredients for a unique and good-flying RC model! His design was a successful competition scale model, but more so, consider the attributes of its 1:1 scale big brother:

 All these things combine to make this almost glider-like airplane a perfect 5-6 channel RC scale model, provided you want an airplane that is not wildly "light on its feet" as an aerobatic machine. I think this aircraft is in the MAJESTIC category, and it sure is a seldom-seen beauty.

 The Douglas XTB2D-1 Skypirate can be built from plans, which are available from: “Outerzone” and provided for you here:

An Article found in RCM - Nov 1968.
84″ Wingspan Full Size Plans in PDF format.

I hope you have enjoyed this months selection and maybe generated some interest in trying your hand at building an unusual warbird RC model airplane.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!

Build of the Month Series - September 2023 Edition

 I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM edition on the Clancy Aviation Speedy Bee. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which will then post in a future edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

 Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of September 2023. How about a "Old Timer" RC model. Again, this should be a model that is simple to build and will be very easy to fly. This model should also bring back the early era of when RC flying was more by the "seat of your pants" versus the computer controlled capabilities we all have available to us today. So given these requirements, this month features the Diamond Demon from Ben Buckle.

     

 The Diamond Demon is a lovely, 49″ wingspan, vintage plane from the late 1930's, designed by Jerry Stoloff, which was first kitted out in 1939 by the Bay Ridge Model Airplane and Supplies Co.

 Typical of the era, this model features built up construction using the well established by then, method of balsa and doped tissue construction which gave a light yet rigid structure considered essential at that time. A generous under camber wing provides a high lift coefficient and a slow flying model which was not so important then, as everything went away down wind at the same speed. Style was becoming a consideration and while today's eye would consider it a caricature of a light aircraft, that deep fuselage had its counterparts in full size aviation at that time.

 The Diamond Demon can be flown either RC or free flight (F/F), and is one of Ben Buckle Vintage Kits best selling smaller kits and a really great flyer. It makes an ideal 'lob and chase' model that climbs gently away then settles into a nice turn so (hopefully) will not fly away and is an ideal introduction F/F if you have not tried it before. Their Diamond Demon kit contains pre-cut wing ribs, tip shapes, plywood formers, strip and sheet balsa, full size plans, undercarriage wire, glazing material, and a simple hardware package. Everything needed to build the basic airframe of the model. Recommended engine size of 0.75 to 1.5 cc or similar.

 Here is a link to an excellent build series video: “Diamond Demon - Build Series - Balsa RC Planes. By Mark Robinson”. This is a build series that will take you step-by-step through the construction of the model, culminating in a maiden flight, and to be followed by a build and flight review. The finished model is powered by a 1940's Bantam 19 ( • Bantam 19 Spark I... ), an excellent spark ignition engine. The build is a 2-channel RC, elevator and rudder. A very well done video series.The model in the video is built from a great set of plans from Ben Buckle Vintage Kits, UK, using the link provided below. The Diamond Demon can also be built from other plans, which are available from: “Outerzone” and provided for you here:

An Article found in Model Builder.
Review Article found in Silent Flight - Dec 1995.
Another Article found in RCMW - Sept 1999.
34″ Wingspan Full Size Plans in PDF format.
49″ Wingspan Full Size Plans in PDF format.

Please check out this link to "Ben Buckle Vintage Kits" for Diamond Demon plans, kits, and other items.

 How about a Double Diamond, which is twice the size of the Diamond Demon free flight model. It has a light structure and low frontal area as well as plenty of wing area making it a very graceful model that can be flown on minimal power. The distinctive deep fuselage makes it very vintage looking as well as adding to its stability in the air. The Ben Buckle kit features pre-cut balsa and plywood wing ribs, tip shapes, formers, sheet and strip wood, hardware pack and full-size plans. Everything you will need for the basic airframe of this model. The Double Diamond has a large wingspan of 96″, will handle glow engines .45 - .65 2-stroke or .45 - .60 4-stroke, and can be controlled using a simple 3-channel RC system. Click the following link to see the Double Diamond fly Video. The model in the video was built using a brushless 4250-650 motor, 14x7 prop, 85A SBEC, and two 3,000mAh, 3S, 11.1v LiPo. And here is a nice Diamond Demon flight video: Big Red.

I hope you have enjoyed this months selection, and just maybe, I spurred some interest in trying your hand at building a Vintage RC model airplane.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!

Build of the Month Series - August 2023 Edition

 I thought I would start out with a model that is simple to build, fairly easy to fly, and a very unique design. Many RC model builders will recognize the name “Clancy.” So, this month features the Speedy Bee from Clancy Aviation.

     

 The Speedy Bee is a fun 40″ wingspan four channel mid-winged sport plane, which is still very much a Bee. You know: Oversized control surfaces, hands-off stability, very low minimum flying speed, easy aerobatics. The Speedy Bee is just a Bee that's a little speedier. It can handle having more power than a Lazy Bee. It's also a speedier building job. No lamination required! :-)

 The Speedy Bee can use glow engines from .10 2-stroke up to .30 4-stroke. It's light enough to fly with glow engines as small as the Cox .09. It will climb at an angle of about 75 to 80 degrees on a sport .15 and have a take-off roll measured in inches rather than feet. With larger engines it will probably have vertical.

 An electric-powered Speedy Bee typically will have a total flying weight of around 30 to 35 ounces ready to fly. It's recommended you use motors with a power output of about 250 to 600 watts. The electric Speedy Bee tends to be tail heavy with brushless motors. You might want to use an oversize motor to help balance the plane even though you don't need the extra power. Larger motors can be de-tuned by throttling them down, or by using a smaller prop than specified for the motor, or by not using the maximum number of cells. The best battery size to use is a 4-cell LiPo pack of around 2200 mah.

 Speedy Bees work great with #9 Trexler Wheels--the same as those for the Lazy Bee, and they can be purchased thru the “Andy Clancy Designs” link provided below. You can also use the same Lazy Bee floats for fun on the water or snow.

 Here is a link to an excellent 21-part build series video: “Speedy Bee - Build Series - Balsa RC Planes. By Mark Robinson”. This build series will take you step-by-step through the construction of the Speedy Bee model, culminating in the maiden flight, and a build and flight review. A very well done video series. The model is build from a great set of plans, which were obtained from: “Outerzone” and are available for you to download here:

The Article found in RC Modeler - July 1996.
Speedy Bee Instructions.
Speedy Bee Manual.
Full Size RCM Plans in PDF format that can be downloaded and printed.
Speedy Bee Review.
Speedy Bee Plans, Build Article, and Videos.
Speedy Bee Maiden Flight Video.
My Speedy Bee Build Description, in PDF format, which includes pictures and scratch build hits.

Also check out this link to "Andy Clancy Designs"

I hope you have enjoyed this months selection, and just maybe, spurred some interest in trying your hand at scratch building an RC model airplane.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!