Hangar Talk – May 2017

Don’t forget the AGM on June 1, 7:30pm at Kings Meadows Health Centre

May 22 – Update on “Doc’s” Sopwith Pup.

As promised by Peter Daniel, Peter sent me an update on the maiden of Doc’s beautiful scale model along with some sad news. Here is what Peter had to say –

“Hello George, I am not sure if i sent you the pics of Steve’s Pup on the maiden and last flight (on May 5). Disaster struck in the form of a broken aerial outer (ground plane I believe) where it enters the casing. Hope to be at the AGM and catch up if you are going to be there.”

I’m not sure how long Doc would be in mourning but it would take me a while to get over it. Some specs on the Pup are –

• Plans drawn up by Doc from 3D drawings obtained from Jane’s book of aircraft.
• Scratch built.
• Wingspan 88″
• Motor – Turnigy 160 (Which is the equivalent of a 160 glow engine)
• Batteries 10s LiPo

Some pictures of the “Pup” –

May 18 – Who’s been restocking their hangar?

After turning up at the field and being confronted with 1600 sheep, Fred Willis decided not to waste the trip and called in for a chat. The discussion soon turned to Fred’s recent trip to the mainland where he again picked up a a couple of models to add to his burgeoning hangar. The first was a Fly Baby ARF to replace the one recently lost and the second was a Stinson Voyager that he bought from a modeller who was clearing out his hangar. Fred got home only to find that the engine that was with the aircraft and would have bolted straight in, was advertised and sold after he had picked up the airframe. Had he known that the engine was for sale, he would have bought that also and saved himself a bit of work. It usually doesn’t take Fred long to assemble these models ready for their maiden so look out for them over the next few months.

April 29 – Merv Cameron’s “Stitts Playboy”

Thank you to Kevin Hay and Andrew de Water, who responded immediately to the call for some input. Andrew sent some photos in whilst he was at the field. Isn’t technology fantastic – you can take a picture on your smartphone and send them to me either by email or as in Andrew’s case, via MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) which is just a text message but with images or sound files etc. 

The first image was just of the model and I replied to Andrew “Some details please” Then I saw Merv and Kevin in another image and I said, “Is it Kevin or Merv’s – I thought it was yours”. To which he replied, “I wish it was mine haha. No it is Merv’s”. A few days later I called Merv to get some details. The model was scratch built from plans sourced from The Outer Zone free plans service (website is here). From what I can gather, Merv has increased the size from the 66″ in the plans to 88″in his model.  Specifications are –

• ⅓ Scale model of a Stits SA-3A Playboy 
• Wingspan 88″
• Weight ~8kg
• Engine – Tartan Twin 44cc
  • Converted to electronic ignition.
  • RCGF reed block
  • Walbro carburettor
• Prop – 22 x 8″
• Radio gear – Futaba
• Servos – Hitter HS645’s
• Hobbyking pilot and covering material.

Merv thought he had completed this model about 12 months ago but there are rumours it may have been quite a bit earlier than that 😉. Due to Merv’s health issues, the model hadn’t seen the light of day until the maiden on April 29. Kevin was the test pilot and typical of Merv’s build quality and to quote Kevin “a couple of clicks of elevator and a click of aileron” was all the trim required and “it flew beautifully”.

Full size details are – The Stits SA-3A Playboy (also called the Stitts SA-3A Playboy) is a single seat, strut-braced low-wing monoplane that was designed by Ray Stits for amateur construction. The aircraft was designed and the prototype was completed in a three-month period during 1952. The design went on to become one of the most influential in the post-war boom in aircraft homebuilding. More information can be found here

Not to rest on his laurels, Merv has another on the building board – A “Skyote” biplane, again based on a homebuilt aircraft. This will be about 6′ or 7′ in wingspan and powered with a 40cc engine. Wikipedia details of the Skye are here

Images of the Stits are here and kindly supplied by Andrew de Water.

Put a Spark in your life and fly electric…