Meet Our "New" Newsletter Editor

Scott Anderson will be serving as SFM's Newsletter Editor.  He is a master scale modeler, an excellent writer and photographer as well as a frequent contributor to the Twin Cities Radio Controllers newsletter.

For those worldwide members and non-Minnesota visitors to our website, we just want to go on record that not everyone in the club is named Anderson!

Please help us welcome Scott Anderson and pass along those tidbits and stories you'd like to see included in his meeting newsletter journal.  Scott's email is: andersonscotte@hotmail.com and will be placed on this and future SFM Newsletters.

Dave Andersen shared the latest development in his 1/4 Scale Hurricane project. It is being designed as a Gas or Electric powered design. Dave talked about the desire to make a large electric powered Hurricane sound like a Full size Hurricane using digital recording of the Merlin engine projected through a pair of 4” speakers mounted forward and backward in the radiator.

Dave described the ease in building a scale radiator by simply removing (carving or sanding) the balsa that does not look like the radiator. :-)

Jeff Micko brought his molds for a giant scale Vultee Vindicator engine cowling that he’s building for Jeff Quesenberry.  It is a complicated shape that requires a split mold to make it work properly.  Jeff discussed the details for creating the plug and the split mold.

Jeff Quesenberry and Richard Steine brought in their completed Dave Andersen designed Kawasaki Ki-45’s.  Each are powered by a pair of Zenoah G45’s with Biela 20”x10”x3 bladed props.

Jeff’s aircraft weighs in at almost 48lbs.  Jeff has 17 flights on his grey schemed Ki-45 so

far.  He flew it at the NAMFI in Owatonna last August and got in 13 flights at "Warbirds Over the Midwest" in Fond Du Lac, WI.  The Ki-45 got a lot of attention at the Fond Du Lac meet by warbird pilots every time it came to the flight line.

He did have some initial issues with the CG.  The original test flights indicated it was a bit tail heavy.  This was fixed by adding 13 ounces to the nose (moved the CG ½” forward).  He also found that it needed more rudder authority on the take-off roll but was just fine in the air.

Richard (Dick) Steine has his Ki-45 just about ready for its first flight.  He’s painted it with latex paint and rattle can trim colors.  The Dark Green & Grey home defense color scheme really stands out!  The panel lines and shading really add to the effect.

Dave Andersen talked about the benefits of having his prototype designs built by several friends as a method to work out issues before it is published to the public. Dave mentioned he’s received over 22 revisions and suggestions from the Ki-45 prototype team.

It has Sierra Giant Scale retracts that had been modified by Down & Locked for electric operation. Brian has had several problems with the electrified gear and has had to replace motors several times.

Last year Brian stripped the original ARF covering and closed up the open structure before applying fiberglass finishing.  It’s been flying great for 3 years so Brian plans to detail it this winter. He tells us that it flies best on a 22x10