Welcome to “My Balsa Models Builders Page.” All of the projects you will find in this webpage are my hand-built Balsa RC model aircraft. I have been building RC model aircraft for more than 35 years, starting out with many kits, but 16 of my last 17 model builds have all been scratch-built. I love working with balsa, plywood, and the 2-D views of an RC model plane on paper plans to see how things can come together in a 3-D fully functional flying RC model aircraft. I develop my various model build descriptions so other RC modelers can potentially avoid many of the pitfalls and mistakes that I have made (and still do today). If anyone has questions during your scratch builds, I'd be more than happy to try and assist you.

 If you are serious about trying to build your own Balsa RC model aircraft, you should look at the "Magnetic Build Board" section I have on this page. It contains the link to "Airfield Models". Airfield Models has really great information on building Balsa models. I also provided you with the link to "RCPlanes.Online". RCPlane.Online has a great CG calculator along with various other calculation programs you might need for building your own RC models.

 "Aerofred.com" and "Outerzone.co.uk" are two of my favorite web sites to obtain free RC model airplane plans for my new builds. Additionally, they like to post images of Builder's models, and both sites have posted my RC model images and build descriptions under the heading of the associated aircraft model. Other good sources for free plans are: "Hip Pocket Aeronautics Builders' Plan Gallery", "Vintage & Old-Timer RCM Free Plans", "James Hatton Blog Free Plans and Articles", "Hlsat Blog RCModeler Free Plans and Articles", and "Don Dewey Memorial RCM Plans Collection."

 To aid in getting the plans you download to a set of full-size plans, I highly recommend you take the time to view a great 2-part video series produced by Mark Robinson titled "Download & Print Plans - Balsa Model Airplane Building". I also recommend your use PDF X to view/edit and print your RC model plans.

 NOTE - You can view all images using a “Spotlight Box” by simply clicking on any image.

Andy Clancy's Stagger Bee Scratch Build

 With my Miss Vintage build complete, I need to have something (in addition to my Stained Glass projects) to keep my fingers busy over the next few winter months. So, after building and flying my Andy Clancy Speedy Bee, I figured I would try my hand at some modifications and a scratch build of Andy Clancy's Stagger Bee.

     

 “Note” Top Left Image Source: Stagger Bee Build, and all others extracted from Andy Clancy plans.

 The Stagger Bee captures the special classic grace of a Stagger-wing Beechcraft. It is a fun 29 inch top and 23.5 inch bottom wingspan three channel sport biplane, which is still very much a Bee. You know: Oversized control surfaces, hands-off stability, very low minimum flying speed, and easy aerobatics. The Stagger Bee is just a Bee that is a biplane. It can manage having more power than a Lazy Bee.

 I start my Stagger Bee scratch built using a great set of Andy Clancy Aviation Stagger Bee plans (see images above), assembly manual, and an RCM review that you can download from: Aerofred Stagger Bee Webpage, and/or Outerzone Stagger Bee Webpage. Please take a moment and check out this link to "Andy Clancy Designs."

 This posting is as of 20 November 2024 and I updated my “Stagger Bee Build Description” which you can view and download using the link provided below. Also, the “Stagger Bee Materials and Hardware List” link below contains all the materials and hardware required to build my Stagger Bee. I will update this list as I proceed through the build.

Building the Modified Wheel Skirts

 Before I dive into the modifications of the bottom wing, I need to fully understand how the wheel skirts will be modified so they can be mounted to the bottom wing with wood screws or hex head bolts, versus the rubber bands shown in the plan. I also need their final size to establish the related modifications to the bottom wing, therefore I'm going to build the wheel skirts first. So, let's get started.

 Builders Note —Looking over the various wheel skirt template pieces, the things I see that will require modification are: 1) Replace four 1/32″ birch plywood forward mounting plates parts #13-3 with two 3/32″ birch ply parts; 2) Addition of two new 3/32″ birch plywood aft mounting plates; 3) Add an aft notch cut into the top of the four 1/16″ balsa parts #12-1 that will fit the new aft mounting plate; 4) Move the top notch at the front of these four parts aft approximately 3/4″ so that parts #13-3 will be even with the front of the wheel skirts; 5) Trim 3/32″ off the tops of parts #12-2 and 12-3 for front mounting plate.

 Using the templates plan sheet, cut out the various balsa wheel skirt parts paying special attention to the grain directions. Fabricate two modified forward mounting plates parts #13-3 and two new aft mounting plates using 3/32″ birch plywood for all parts. The forward plates should be 1″x2.75″, and the aft plates 1″x2.25″, all with rounded corners. Now cut the required notches in parts #12-1 to accept the new mounting plates. Note — The axle hole location on the plan for part #12-1 is not in the correct location. Use part #12-3 as a template to establish the correct hole position. The aft plate notch should be just aft of the existing notch for part #13-1. When finished you should have the parts shown in the image below.

 I'm going to put this build on hold for a while so I can finish the stained glass lantern for my workshop entryway, and then design and build a fantasy castle stained glass panel for my grandchildren.

 If you have any questions about this build, please feel free to send me an email @: Stagger Bee.

Latest Version of My Stagger Bee Build Description.

Latest Version of Stagger Bee Materials and Hardware List.

Modified Wing Ribs in a PDF file.

Miss Vintage

 While working on the coding for the April 2024 edition of my “Build of the Month” Series, I found the model selection so interesting that I decided to build one for myself. Changes I made to the original design are discussed in my “Miss Vintage Build Description” which you can download using the link provided below.

 “Miss Vintage, designed around .25 to .35 size engines, George Jennings vintage type aircraft will help you capture the yesteryear of aviation...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. Little extra effort is required to add ailerons. The fuselage is constructed almost entirely of hardwood. Fuselage sides are cut from 1/8th Lite Ply and are as light as balsa with far greater strength. The open framework is built from 3/16th 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 us get started!” Note: Quote extracted from the Miss Vintage 1976 RCM article.

 If you have any questions about this build, please feel free to send me an email @: Miss Vintage.

 My Miss Vintage was built from a great set of Radio Control Modeler (RCM) plans, article, and a review which can be found @: “AeroFred” and/or “Outerzone” and you can download them from:

AeroFred Miss Vintage (plan ID 96793) Webpage.

Outerzone Miss Vintage (oz4746) Webpage.

Final Version of My Miss Vintage Build Description.

Final Version of Miss Vintage Materials and Hardware List.

See All Images Taken During the Miss Vintage Build.

AMTN Beechcraft Starship

 I was contacted by a flying club friend who asked me if I would be interested in building him a new kit he wanted to purchase. Even though this would not be a scratch-build, I was very interested in the kit because I felt I could use the wing and fuselage design to aid me in coming up with a set of plans for the JetZero BWB RC model I discuss further down on this webpage.

 The AMTN kit shown in the top image to the left, and the HIMARK Aircraft Mechanics Electric Retracts were brought to me on 5 April 2024. A "Callie-Graphics" package was used for most of the decals. As you can see in the two images of my completed build to the left, she is a very unique aircraft indeed.

 You can see more images and read additional information about the kit @: AMTN Starship. There also is a GREAT multi-part “Plane Fun R/C Channel” Build Log by Saul that you can view @: Starship Build.

 We made several modifications to the AMTN kit. The major one was moving the two motor LiPos and ESCs from inside the motor mounts forward to a large fuselage bay area located under the cockpit canopy. This required that we move the receiver from that upper bay to a new bay which we created on the bottom side of the fuselage. All kit modifications are covered in my build description.

 My build of the AMTN kit was completed on 3 August 2024. Our Starship is powered by two Sunnysky X3120-KV880 motors using two Spektrum SPMXAE1060 ESCs and two SMC 4S 2,800mah 45C LiPos. Man, those Sunnysky X3120-KV880 motors turning 10x9 Scimitar 5 Blade Props put out some tremendous thrust. Model flight control is provided using a Spektrum AR8360T, AS3X and SAFE, 8 Channel Receiver, with Blue Bird BMS-127WV+ servos for both elevators and ailerons, and a Hitec HS-5087MH servo for NLG steering. The covering is Ultracoat Gloss White with the fiberglass motor cowlings and plastic cockpit canopy painted with Krylon Gloss White and Rust-Oleum Clear High Gloss spray paint. Final total “ready-to-fly” weight came out right at 6,353 grams (14 pounds). Considering this RC model has an overall wingspan of 2,000mm (78.7″); canard span of 860mm (33.9″); a total length of 1,600mm (63″); all the internal structure built using 3mm Lite ply which is then totally sheeted with 1.5mm balsa; add three mechanics electric retracts, two large motors, two ESCs, and two LiPo battery packs, that's not too bad.

 Latest update received from David on 24 Aug 2024. As you can see in the two bottom images, he has installed his Spektrum AR8360T receiver with all eight data ports and the remote receiver port filled. He indicated he has installed the batteries, verified all the servos are correct to the flight control mapping he established for the Starship, set all control throw directions and travel. You can also see the two antenna leads will go into small plastic tubes to ensure they remain 90 degrees to each other. More to come from David, I'm sure.

 Should you have any questions about this build, please feel free to send me an email @: Starship.

AMTN Beechcraft Starship Website.

My Starship Build Description with LOTS of Builders Notes.

See All Images Taken During the Starship Build.

AWESOME RCGroups.com Build Log of a Quarter Scale Starship.

Andy Clancy's Speedy Bee

 After publishing the August 2023 Edition of my "Build of the Month" Series, I decided to start yet another scratch build to keep me busy over the winter months, and that being the Andy Clancy Speedy Bee. As I worked through my scratch build, I posted new build images such as those to the right, and update my build description which you can obtain via the link provided below. After finishing my build I made the decision to change the main landing gear from the rubber band suspension per the plans to an oil filled shocks/springs suspension.

 Maiden flight finally accomplished on 2 May 2024. Had to make an adjustment to the elevator setting, but after that she flies great. The balloon tires and Traxxas oil filled shocks/springs make landings nice and smooth and the ground handling is well behaved. Overall, a fun plane and this one will see lots of flying. I hope you will enjoy this scratch build as much as I did. If you have any questions, just send me an email.

 My Speedy Bee was built from a great set of Andy Clancy plans and assembly manual, and RCM article, which are available from: Outerzone Speedy Bee Webpage; and/or Aerofred Speedy Bee Webpage.

Final Version of My Build Description.

See All Images Taken During the Speedy Bee Build.

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1929 Velie Monocoupe

 The Velie Monocoupe Model 70 was one of the first airplanes ever built for private fliers. A total of 350 Velie Monocoupe were built from 1927-1929. The Velie Monocoupe was a wooden framed, doped fabric-covered monoplane, seating two people side-by-side in an enclosed cabin (hence the name). Conceived by pilot/businessman Don A. Luscombe, who developed a mock-up in 1926, and developed into a flying airplane by farmer-turned-plane-designer Clayton Folkerts—first produced by Central States Aircraft Corp in Davenport, Iowa—the little plane was a revolution in personal aviation: small, relatively inexpensive, quick, and efficient (70-80 mph on just 55 horsepower), and with an enclosed cockpit (protected from the weather) for two people. In an era of big, costly, lumbering, open-cockpit biplanes, the Monocoupe was like a flying sports car coupe. Powered by the little 55 hp Velie five-cylinder air-cooled radial engine and a wingspan of 32’, the model 70 Monocoupe was a very successful airplane. The company sold so many units in 1928 that they were able to claim that 80 percent of the civilian airplanes sold in the U.S. in that year were Monocoupes.

 The free 1929 Velie Monocoupe plan and article were downloaded from "Aerofred.com" and are also available from "Outerzone.co.uk." The Velie in this build was designed by Jack de Vries, Colonel U.S.A.F., and the article is from a January 1973 Radio Control Modeler (RCM) magazine. This 40-size version has a wingspan of 66", an overall fuselage length of 45", and is designed for a .30 - .60 cu. in. engine. I installed a Thunder Tiger .54 4-stroke my father used many years ago. With the wing being longer than my magnetic build board, this build will be accomplished using the old wood build board pin-in-place method. The Velie is a good stick build for anyone with some basic woodworking skills, but I would not say it should be considered for your first scratch build project. While doing some web research for my build I came across a very nice build log on "RCGroups.com" for the same plans. Reading thru that post I learned some new (for me) build methods which I adopted in my build.

 The images on the left are: top - a 1929 Velie Monocoupe Model 113 from Aerial Visuals; 2nd - my Velie RC model fit checks; 3rd & 4th - my completed Velie RC model; bottom - my fathers 1932 Monocoupe Model 90 at the 1963 AAA fly-in, and yes that is me with my father who restored N429N, which is now on display at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Rhinebeck, New York.

 My Velie was built from a great set of plans and RCM article, which are available from: Outerzone Velie Webpage; and/or Aerofred Velie Webpage.

My Velie Build Description.

See All Images Taken During the Velie Build.

Old School Build

 Here are a couple images that show some “old school” building techniques. These are from my 1929 Velie Monocoupe that I started in winter 2022, and was completed in March 2023.

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STOL Pigeon

 The free STOL Pigeon plan and article were downloaded from "Aerofred.com." This is a GREAT site to obtain plans for scratch builds.

 The construction of this model is very straightforward. Simplified wings give all of you scratch builders a well-deserved break. The ribs are spaced as far apart as practical, and the wings are identical in all respects. The rib spacing allows a mere 38 ribs to be used for both wings. That number is very close to most 2-meter gliders, but remember, you get all the nostalgia of two wings for the building time of one.

 This is a great plane for the first-time scratch builder to build and fly. I modified the plans to use "bolt-on" wings (template found on “BalsaWorkbench.com”,) increased the rudder by 30%, extended both wings to 48" removed the dihedral, and put an O.S. .35 2-cycle in for power.

 I used five channels in this airplane but that is not to say fewer could not be used. This biplane has been flown on three channels and it even does well on two channels. The reason for the five channels in my aircraft is that I tend to get frustrated with a slow aircraft if I can't do aerobatics and have lots of functions to play with.

 First step in most of my builds is to print out a copy of the full-size plan on my Canon printer using the "poster" settings, and then put all the pages together for an overall 77" x 42.5" plan on two sheets. You can also get the plan printed out at Fed Ex for around $25 a copy. Having the full-size plan, I then went thru and determined all the materials I would need to make the build. Any balsa sticks and sheets, basswood or plywood needed were ordered from Balsa USA.

 My STOL Pigeon was built from a great set of plans and RCM article, which are available from: Outerzone STOL Pigeon Webpage; and/or Aerofred STOL Pigeon Webpage.

My S.T.O.L. Pigeon Build Description.

See All Images Taken During the S.T.O.L. Pigeon Build.

Junior Telemaster

 You want a scratch build that is very simple, will not require a lot of materials, and results in a GREAT trainer? Then this little balsa and ply RC model is just what you want to try. Anyone that has been to an RC flying field has probably seen some version of a Telemaster in one size or another. The Telemaster is a classic RC design that thousands of modelers have built and flown for generations. An exclusive mainstay of the Hobby Lobby brand, anyone who learned to fly in the 1960s, '70s, or '80s knows that the Telemaster in its various sizes is a popular, easy-to-build, great-flying airplane. Even today, if you have not actually flown one, you certainly know someone who has. Originally produced by Alexander Engel of Germany and imported to the United States by Hobby Lobby International in the late '60s, the Telemaster spawned three versions of kits (and even ARFs): the standard 6-foot-span model, the 8-foot-span Senior Telemaster, and the 4-foot-span Junior Telemaster, making it one of the oldest, continually produced airplane designs available today.

 A classic part of the Hobby Lobby lineup of kits for decades, the Telemaster was retained when Mark Cleveland purchased Hobby Lobby and changed its name to Hobby Express. Mark has been working with Treeline Development to expand the Telemaster heritage and introduce it to a younger generation of makers by forming an approved STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) development course. The curriculum is planned to be compatible as a stand-alone class, a work-study job, or an after-school program in which high-school students will learn the basics of quality control and safety while meeting the demands of manufacturing a full-production product. It goes without saying that the program will also encourage student engagement in ideation and entrepreneurial thinking and RC model aviation!

 I think the Telemaster is an ideal trainer. With or without ailerons it responds positively to the controls and goes where you point it even in moderate winds. The controls are effective down to the stall point, which is gentle and occurs at a very low speed. It is moderate in size for economy and ease of transportation, yet has plenty of room for radio equipment. Also, it is strong without being heavy or difficult to build. This version is called a “Junior Telemaster”, and can be powered by nitro engine or electric motor. Mine is powered by an old O.S. .26 4-stroke engine, and is a joy to fly.

 My Jr. Telemaster was built from a great set of plans and Flying Models article, which are available from: Outerzone Telemaster Webpage; and/or Aerofred Telemaster Webpage.

New Big Tables

 I built a number of these flat top tables for R.G. Satow RC Flying Field. I created a PDF file with instructions and a complete bill of materials if you would like to build one for your own use at home. Click the link to download or view the instructions.

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Boeing Blended Wing Body Concept

 I'm going to try and draw up some plans for an RC model using two electric ducted fans (EDFs) for propulsion. Something around 48" to 60" for a max wingspan. A built-up fuselage using light ply formers and skinned with 1/16" balsa. Wings as I normally build using a "boxed D" design. I plan to use 5/8 inch carbon fiber tubes to mate the wings to the fuselage. Right now the overall span is 54", but a large part of that is the wide fuselage, which also acts as another large wing like lifting surface. Overall wing loading I hope will end up being less than 20 oz. per square foot. The twin EDF fans will be inside the fuselage, with access panels on the bottom of the fuselage. Tricycle gear, but not going with retracts on this first try. To help with handling and to try and not have a crash-and-burn on first flight, I want to use a Spektrum receiver with the "Safe" technology built in. I don't see this new BWB design flying much different than my 150 Wonder since both are about the same size, weight, and power.

 5/3/2023 Based on my review of available EDFs, I will be using twin Freewing 64mm 12 Blade Ducted Fans powered by 2840-2850KV motors, and a single 4S 5200mah LiPo in my design of the Boeing BWB military transport. These two EDFs will give me a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio (assuming 5.5 lbs total weight) at full thrust.
After having drawn up several different views using paper and pencil, I decided to try my hand at 2D Computer Aided Design. As of today, I have all fuselage profiles established; detailed layouts for both wings; a top, bottom, and side view of the fuselage; rib profiles; all now in digital 2D drawings. You can see these via the links to the left below.

 Using the center fuselage front and aft profile views, I printed out templates for all the fuselage formers and fuselage ribs. I then took the templates and generated actual full size formers/ribs cut from 1/8 inch form core board.

 With the announcement on 13 October 2023 from the USAF that JetZero, an aerospace company based in the US, will build the world's first blended wing body (BWB) demonstrator aircraft (bottom image to the left) for the USAF, my design efforts to model the Boeing BWB have been placed on hold. Should I decide to try and model the JetZero BWB concept, updates will be posted on this webpage. More to come, maybe.

 I will try and keep you up to date on my progress. For those of you that want to follow me through the process, I will post the date here for when the files below have changed.

(as of 5/3/2023)

My Design and Build Document

Front Profile View

Aft Profile View

Fuselage Top View

Fuselage Bottom View

Fuselage Side View

Left Wing Top View

Right Wing Top View

BWB Rib Profiles (1-4)

BWB Test Fit Formers

BWB Scale Model Design and Build

 This build description is going to be somewhat different from others I produced in the past for my other scratch builds. First, this build is based only on a picture I ran across in a copy of Aviation Week and Space Technology (Feb 13-26, 2023) of a new concept from Boeing for a Blended Wing Body (BWB) military transport targeted for the US Air Force. This scalable configuration could be developed as a tactical airlifter Lockheed C-130 replacement, or a Boeing C-17 size strategic transport. The wingspan of the initial Boeing concept is estimated at about 130 feet, using medium or even high-bypass-ratio turbofans buried along the sides of the center fuselage. Second, there are no plans that I can download from the web for this build. Therefore, I will start this build description by working up the requirements of the RC model, and development of the plans to scratch build from. The first thing I needed to do was to see what additional data I could find on this new BWB transport, which I rapidly found was only a few more pictures. There is nothing in the way of any three views, line drawings, or specifications. Boeing currently is not releasing any additional data.

 Using the top view picture I worked up my initial 'scale' representation of the BWB outline. Next, I broke out my old engineering design drawing kit (from my bachelors engineering class back in the mid-70's) and pulled out several scaled rules to find something that would provide me with a scale I could use to end up with a model in the 48-60 inch wingspan range. This wingspan range was set to be able to store the model in my workshop, and to carry it to the flying field in the bed of my Colorado pickup. What resulted was an initial plan that comes in with a 54-inch wingspan and a center fuselage of 13.5 inches wide by 30 inches long. So, this top view of the overall outline was put down on drawing paper as the starting point for my plans. Please read “My Design and Build Document” via the link in the section to the left for more of my design story.

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My Cloud Dancer Build Description.

See All Images Taken During the Cloud Dancer Build.

Cloud Dancer

 The free Cloud Dancer plan and article were downloaded from "Outerzone.co.uk", but plans can also be found on "Aerofred.com", which has several versions of the Cloud Dance ranging from 40" to 86" wingspans. There also is a laser short kit for the larger Cloud Dancer 120 available for purchase on "The Balsa Workbench."

 The Cloud Dancer I built was designed by Fred Reese, and the article is from a June 1993 edition of Radio Control Modeler (RCM). This .60 size version has a wingspan of 73" with a total wing area of 850 sq. inches, which will result in a light wing loading of approx. 17 oz. per sq. in. The overall fuselage length is 57", and is designed for a .40 - .60 two stroke. I installed a Thunder Tiger .61 2-stroke my father used many years ago.

 First step in this build was to print out a copy of the full size plan on my Canon printer using the "poster" settings, and then put all the pages together for an overall 77" x 51" plan.

 Given the plan only has the right wing and right horizontal stab drawn, I inverted the plan file vertically to get a left wing and stab, and that copy of the plan was cut up to get the patterns for all the ribs, formers, fuselage sides, etc.

 You can also get the plan printed out at Fed Ex for around $25 a copy.

 My Cloud Dancer was built from a great set of plans and article, which are available from: Outerzone Cloud Dancer Webpage; and/or Aerofred Cloud Dancer Webpage.

Bokkie MK II

This low wing .20-.30 powered sport flier builds quick, flies great, and won't break the bank.

150% SIG Wonder

 My original SIG Wonder was getting too small for my aging eyes, so I built a 150% version. Powered by an O.S. .45 FX she flies great, and is still just as fast and responsive as the little Wonder.

SIG Wonder Building Manual.

Original Wonder Full Size Plans from SIG.

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 My Big Bird II was built from a great set of plans and article, which are available from: Outerzone Big Bird II Webpage; and/or Aerofred Cloud Dancer Webpage.

My Big Bird II Build Description.

Big Bird II

 This build is very similar to the Dynaflight Butterfly plane. The construction is very straightforward. A basic LONG box fuselage, stick built tail surfaces, and a BIG flat bottom wing. This would be a great plane for the first-time scratch builder to build and fly. I modified the 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. There are some other modifications which I call out in my build description that I've provided to the right. I initially used an O.S. .26 Surpass 4-cycle for power, but later changed to an O.S. .25 FX 2-cycle so I could use the 4-cycle on another model. I elected to use five channels in my scratch build 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. It is your call on this one.

Double Trouble 40

 She has a wing span of 36.5", overall length of 38", and is powered by an O.S. 46LA.  A very simple build, and she turned out to be an interesting aerobatic biplane.

Parts list by Larry Nieman.

Magnetic Build Board & 1935 Aeronca C-3

The Results: A scratch built 1935 Aeronca C-3. Six foot wingspan and powered by an O.S. .35 2-cycle.

Here are the links to download the Full Size Plans and the January 1974 RCM Article, both from AeroFred Aeronca C-3 Webpage.

"Airfield Models"

Lots of good info here, and is where I got the info I needed to make my magnetic building board and all the various fixtures.

"Retro RC LLC"

Another good source of magnetic build board information and many different types of fixtures that you can purchase.

Ed Kazmirskis' Simla

 The Simla was RC pioneer and legend Ed Kazmirskis' boldest and most ambitious design. In 1965 the Simla was a giant leap into the unknown world of large-scale RC Aerobatics (Pattern) airplanes, decades before big models would be commonplace. The Simla was an experimental, one-of-a-kind effort employing out-of-the-box thinking at a time when aircraft design was as much intuition as scientific. It featured adjustable high-, mid-, and low-wing positions; adjustable dihedral and stabilizer incidence; and, best of all, an early form of plug-in wings in an era when dowels and rubber bands were holding all other models wings on. Plans for the Simla can be ordered from the Model Aviation Magazine Plans Service. You can find a link to their site on my  "RC_Links" page by simply clicking on the “AMA Plans Service” link.

The Model Aviation Article that got me interested in scratch building the Simla.

My Simla Build Description.

My Simla Material List.

See All Images Taken During the Simla Build.

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1911 Voisin Canard
A Truly Different Aircraft

 The Voisin Canard was an aircraft developed by the Voisin brothers during 1910 and first flown early in 1911. It was named the Canard because of the resemblance of its forward fuselage to that of a duck's long neck while in flight. It was originally flown as a land plane: with the addition of floats it became one of the first seaplanes used by the French Navy.

 My Voisin Canard was built from a great set of plans and article, which are available from: Outerzone Voisin Canard Webpage; and/or Aerofred Voisin Canard Webpage.

My Voisin Canard Build Description.

See All Images Taken During the Voisin Canard Build.

A short video of my Voisin Canard actually flying.

Big Double Trouble
and X-20

 When I first saw the Virgin Galactic White Knight Two and Spaceship Two back in 2008, I thought it would be interesting to see if these two aircraft could be built as RC models. As with the two Virgin Galactic aircraft, the mothership model would carry a smaller aircraft model to altitude and then released to allow another member of our flying club to control its flight using a separate transmitter. I searched the web for any existing plans but came up with zero. So, I decided that I would come up with something myself.

 My White Knight Two model would be similar by having two fuselages, a very large wingspan, and a center wing section that would carry the smaller captive carry RC model. Because of its very gentle handling characteristics, known flying qualities, and rather simple design, I decided to use the plans from my Dynaflight Butterfly kit as a starting point, and then made many additions and modifications from there. The largest difference was this would be a twin fuselage model using two 4-cycle engines for power, and a wingspan of 152 inches overall. Not a small model. Details of this build are contained in my build description which is provided below.

Big Double Trouble Hardware List.

My Double Trouble Build Description.