SFM News Letter

March 2004

by: David P. Andersen

See You at Our Next Meeting!
The last meeting of winter of The Scale Flyers of Minnesota will be held on Friday, March 26, 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post, 6501 Portland, Richfield. East entrance, downstairs. Guests are always welcome. Come early and dine in the restaurant (check out the all-you-can-eat fish fry). At the last meeting…
John Katics displayed a gorgeous 36% Sukoi built from a Lanier kit. 43 lbs, 10’ span, RCS 210 radio, RCS 215 5-cylinder radial engine w/ collector ring muffler. Tank uses a mechanical swivel instead of a clunk. This eliminates the need for a header tank. Titanium R/C car links. Three servos on each control surface. Rudder cables are 16" stranded steel. Two receivers, custom Y-harnesses w/ Dean connectors. Kit is "like a Goldberg kit. For the price, I’m impressed, but the tail, cowl and canopy are heavy. Would be nice if it were lighter." Color scheme is Perfect Paint. Pilot is a plush bear.
Pauls Christen Eagle.jpg (356639 bytes) Paul Costello’s colorful Christen Eagle is a modified Great Planes ARF. "Pretty decent airplane" but "the worst Monokote I’ve ever seen." Same size and weight as a Byron. G45, Bisson muffler, 19 lbs.
Duane Dahnert presented his original design Grumman Gulfhawk II. Modeled after original in Smithsonian. 1/4 scale, 87" span, est. wt. 45-50 lbs. GT 80. CB Assoc 6 1/2" wheels. Primer is water-based polyurethane varnish with green food coloring added. Balsa USA Sopwith Pup cowl. Novel ply jig holds aircraft off its wheels during construction. Canopy retracts in flight by servo and brass tubing rails. Duane demonstrated his original design retractable landing gear made from brass tubing. Silver soldered oleo shocks.

Duanes Gulfhawk.jpg (265181 bytes)
Duane’s Gulfhawk rested on a medical table brought by Mike Dorff. Deluxe table has a very flat Formica surface. Height is hydraulically adjustable with a fold-away crank. Tables are for sale in 6’ and 8’ lengths for $250. Another model sells for $150. Call Mike at 763-754-7250.
Bernies Lockheed.jpg (283138 bytes) Always colorful Bernie Kobilka brought a model of a Lockheed Orion that he built in 1932 when he was 14 years old. Solid balsa with engine cylinders, landing gear struts, metal prop from welding rod. 1/32nd scale. He stopped building at 14 due to other interests. Restarted at age 70. He described building 14 Spacewalkers. All but two are still flying. "Those that could handle them, kept them. Those that couldn’t, sold them," he said while staring at Johnny B.
John Baligrodzki’s Balsa USA Fokker D-8 was modified to restore scale nose length, shortening it by 2 inches. "Good, clear instructions." OS 180. But "lots of small deviations" from the referenced 3-views which John is fixing in order to be competitive. Sub-wing is removable for repairs: "Nice!" Cabane struts held in place by wing—easy to repair: "a neat idea." Bare bones fuselage showed John’s excellent workmanship.
Bruce Anthony brought a box of vintage R/C gear—escapements, a reed transmitter, etc. Very interesting. Thanks, Bruce.

 

Raffle prizes were a 12 v. Cermark geared starter and an M1 gas pump

Recommended wed site: www.landings.com. Click on databases and registrations. Look up owner of any current airplane by tail number or a/c type. Source of scale info.

Fly well...Fly safely

Mark Prokop, President, mjprokop@aol.com  David P. Andersen, Grand Poo-bah, davidpandersen76@gmail.com