May 2012 Issue

This issue of RCMW & FSP is late because I was up in Canada, about 125 miles North of Calgary for about 10 days on a (mostly) business trip.

I stopped in Lewistown, Montana to visit a long time modeler, Karl Gies, whose flying field must be the envy of about 99% of the modelers in the world. He lives 7 minutes (by his stopwatch) from several thousand acres of an old WWII bomber airbase.

It is still a general aviation airport but that only takes up a small corner of the original facility. The runways that were built to handle the heavy bombers are pretty much unused and make a great place for free flight as well as other types of model flying.

If I weren't pretty well established here in West central Illinois, it would be a temptation to relocate to Lewistown and fly models with Karl.

More news about upcoming projects and model designs. Tom Binkley, a new contributor has submitted two nice designs for publication, one of which, ONE 70 TOON, is loosely based on the Cessna 170 and makes up into a nice little RC model that will appear in the June issue. The other, QUIRK E, will be in the July or August issue.

Well, now I'm starting immediately on the June issue so that it can go out the first week of June according to schedule. My apologies for being late with this issue but it took me a while to get off the top of the pickup truck. If the Meese, Mooses, (or whatever is the plural for Moose) hadn't been stopped by the Mounties for drinking and driving I might still be up in Canada

Keep 'em Flying - Roland Friestad, Editor

A Quick Look at This Issue - And What's Coming Up

Photo from Canada trip ???

While I was up in Canada, which resulted in the May issue being late, one of our loyal subscribers sent this photo to Bob Aberle with the caption -- "I don't know what Roland looks like -- but could that be him on the roof of this truck?????" Boy, it seems that you can't even take a little time off these days.

Well, I'm back in the saddle and the May issue is ready for downloading. Also FSP Issue 027 of the printed plans will be in the mail next week as soon as we get them back from the printers.

The SCHMAEDIG STICK RC Micro version by Bob Aberle

This shot shows two of Bob Aberle's SCHMAEDIG STICK designs. The larger one is an 1100 square inch electric powered version that was published in the January 1992 issue of Flying Models. The smaller one is the current 200 square inch version that is the subject of this issue.

Bob reports that the little one flies great and builds up quickly. Bob has been putting out feelers to see if one of the manufacturers is interested in producing a kit of this version. If a kit becomes available, we will report it in an upcoming issue.

Bob Selman's DOODLE LZ - Soon to be a kit

Bob Selman has come up with a nifty semi-aerobatic RC Micro model that he calls the DOODLE LZ. It uses aileron and elevator control with a fixed rudder.

Here's what Bob says about the design -- "These were just outlines, but I had been thinking of building something with dope and tissue, so the designed evolved into what you see here. My goal was to use ailerons and to keep the wing loading under 1 gram/sq. inch. Small models under 1 gram/sq. inch just seem to fly well."

Plans are full size in this issue and can be printed out on one sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 paper. Watch for a kit to be available soon from Bob.

RING RAT - Stevens Aero Micro RINGMASTER - Article by Bill Lyons

And for those of you who cut their teeth on the venerable Sterling RINGMASTER U-Control model many years ago, here is an RC Micro version called the RINGRAT from Stevens Aero. Bill Lyons just had to buy it at the recent Toledo Expo as a reminder of how much fun he had with the regular UC RINGMASTER. Read the article for details.

Bill used the "guts" from the ParkZone Mustang for power and the brick RC and servo unit for control and power. He says it flew like the old RINGMASTER on really long lines and would easily loop. Join the fun, read about it and get one for yourself!

Aberle's Micro RC version of his ACE THREE TEN

Our regular contributor, Bob Aberle is at it again! Here's his latest design that will appear in the June issue, a 150 square inch version of his original design that was published in the December 1977 issue of Flying Models.

At 8.4 ounces with 53 watts of input power it is fast and maneuverable, Which is helped by the strip ailerons, something not always seen on an RC Micro ship.