While trying to make room in my material storage area, I came across some packing foam scrap that needed to be burned up.
Using some basic math, I doubled the scale of the Guillow’s micro TBF Avenger plans, and started putting the cheap packing foam to work. I didn’t want to rely on the actual structure of the foam for the strength to hold the plane together, so I experimented with a navy blue poster board for the skin. After the wing was complete, I started to worry because it was starting to
get heavy. After the fuselage, rudder, and elevator came together, it took what seemed like roughly half a pound of clay to balance the plane out. Now the plane felt like a rock and I wasn’t sure if at this point it would be much more than a display piece.
The test flight did not go as anticipated. It went better than that, as the plane glided smooth and clean across the green, landing elegantly, and precisely where I had aimed it. The debate in my mind about whether this would simply be a static glider, or a complete RC scratch build was over… this would be destined to get electronics. So far the project is still under a few dollars, my goal is to keep the total cost below $25.
So now that I have some space freed up, I’ve started knocking down the list of projects to get out of the way. The lingering Focke Wulf balsa build finally got the attention it needed and now has new life as a captured war bird.
The vibrant contrast of the colors between these two planes compels me to fly them together for joint maidens. They’re both close enough in progress that I can probably make that happen.
On another note, I’ve had this shiny Cox .049 engine for a while, and the current game plan was to incorporate it into an 800mm wingspan F4U Corsair build, although it’s possible it will find itself on a completely different plane. My current dilemma with that project is figuring out how to control the throttle via the transmitter.
A build video of the previous P-51B Dumas build is in the editing phase, and the requested build video on my FPV joystick project will start production soon. Finally, the Walnut Hangar project is nearing completion, and proper build productions with the set can ensue.
-Richard
Fun4Change 