Outstanding!

Try this again, with edits...

The Alamo Escadrille had Pinkham Field Stick on the agenda for the January monthly flying session.  My Sky Bunny had been lost in a tree over a year ago, so I needed a new stick model.  With 24 hours to go before the meet I decided to build Kittyfritter's Skinny Bomber from the plans distributed through the AMA Safety column.  Started it about 9 AM on Friday morning and had it ready to fly before going to bed. I experimented a bit on this one using Eze Dope with Esaki tissue - results were quite satisfactory if not quite perfect.  I got a few minor blemishes in the finish where I allowed a bit of puddling on the wet tissue, but the tissue is taut and well-sealed with no warps, good enough for a quick build.

Trimming took just a flight or two.  On a loop of 3/16" rubber the model climbed like a maniac but had a fairly short motor run - I switched to a loop of 1/8" and got a nice climb and longer cruise.  Dave Semeraro had his Sky Bunny flying well in the cool and breezy conditions.  After a few trimming flights we were both getting over a minute out of our models.  We went back and forth increasing our times until the Skinny Bomber disappeared behind a hangar on the boundary of the field after an 81-second flight.  At that point Dave conceded and we moved on to other events with the Skinny Bomber in first place.

Mike

Slipped in a quick build last week - H.K. Weiss' "Minute Model" Nieuport 161 from the June 1938 Model Airplane News magazine. A nice simplified scale model, 10.75" wingspan.

Built per the plan other than a removable noseblock, peg moved forward and a few tissue anchors and gussets here and there.  Airframe weighs 7.2g balanced for flight.  Motor is 1x18" loop 1/16" rubber (1.7g lubed and ready to go), giving an all-up flying weight of 8.9g.

Surprisingly, it flies quite nicely for such a tiny model.  A dozen or so trimming flights got it doing 40-50 seconds.  Lots of fun in a little package!

Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eK7SVCeUBY

Mike

Finished another old-time rubber model this week.  Henry Struck's Triangle Sportster, from the Sep 1938 Model Airplane News.  Has quite a unique look and was an interesting build.  This was built as part of the Magazine Madness group build in the Vintage & Old-Timer forum on RC Groups - build thread at:  https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?4077689-MM2022-Triangle-Sportster...

More experimenting with Eze Tissue on this one.  The checked and white tissue is stock Eze Tissue; the red and black tissue trim was bulk-printed on white Eze Tissue, then cut from the printed stock.  This is the first full model I've sealed with Eze Dope.  I followed the instructions on the package and at Deluxe Materials' web site and YouTube channel, and I'm quite pleased with how the system works.  I'm not going to trade in my Krylon and Nitrate, but it's good to have another choice and nice to be able to do all the finishing work in my upstairs office.

Trimming went well.  It's very stable with the shoulder wing and long landing gear, took several flights to get it into a nice right-circling pattern.  Not sure how long I'll have this one - it's thermal bait.

Build and flight video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw6UVPSkMpQ

Mike

Outstanding!!!  Now adding a new plane to the "To Do List" 

Here's the Waco C7 dimer I built for the 2021 cookup.  Based on a Mike Isermann plan out of the FAC newsletter.  16" span, weighs about 26g without rubber.  Alaska Airlines scheme and markings printed on white EZ tissue.  The skis gave me a few problems during trimming until I got them restrained (the tips would float up, turning them into a big speed brake on the bottom of the model.  Fought a bit more with the model, but after moving the CG about 3/32" forward of where the tail volume suggested it should have been the model settled down and now flies nicely.

Video at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZkERp1b2o4

Mike

Well, the hangar has a little more room in it.  The Utility Special and Super Fike flew away at the Texas Cloud Climbers' Fall Annual meet in Hamilton TX 18-19 September.  The Utility Special got caught in a breezy thermal Saturday afternoon and drifted south out of sight after about 5-6 minutes.  Sunday the Super Fike got caught in a big thermal and drifted overhead for more than 15 minutes before disappearing against the scattered puffy clouds.

Videos here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2l_5s-CNOk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glrqiAIipBU

Time to pick some new subjects...

Mike

Finished off another scale build yesterday.  P-47 Razorback from an original 1940s Model Craft kit.  19.5" span, weighs about 34g without rubber.  Built this one as part of the Vintage Open Kits group build on RCGroups, build thread at: 
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?3827819-VOK-2021-Model-Craft-P-47.... 

Structure used the kit wood, with additional infill and assorted detail bits.  Carved prop with way too much gingerbread added to it.  Printed tissue finish representing Capt Charles Mohrle's "Touch of Texas from the 510th Fighter Sqadron, using a fantastic flight sim skin found here: 
https://www.lockonfiles.com/files/category/756-p-47d-22-razorback-skins/

Hope to get this one in the air in early August.

Mike