FanFacts W
elcome back! As I write this at the end of January, the entire country seems to be cold, so hopefully some of the routine maintenance on our planes that needs to get done is getting done (hint, hint, and hint). For example, I have mentioned bat- tery maintenance, and actually logging the charge/discharge characteristics of each pack. I’m glad I did, since I had a pack that registered “good” as far as the voltage, but when cycled only exhibited 30% of its rated capacity. Needless to say, it has been re- placed!
I also found a fill valve for a set of retracts that had decided to leak, and I’m very happy it was discovered at home in the basement, not 800 miles away at an event. To para- phrase the credit card commercial: “What’s on your fix it list?”
I don’t have a lot to “talk” about this month, but I do have a few photos to whet your appetite for construction. I was very fortunate to get to spend several days in Mesa, Arizona the weekend before Thanks- giving (man, does that seem like a long time ago!) seeing friends and doing a little flying. Not only that, but I was able to view several airplanes that I was curious about! The first I bring to your attention is Mike Warren’s big, beautiful 1⁄6 scale Hawker Hunter. This is a licensed copy of the Mick Reeves kit produced by Ripmax in the U.K., and manufactured in China to higher than normal tolerances and degree of prefabrica- tion. Distributed in the U.S. by Global Jet Club
www.globaljetclub.com, it is very nice in fit, finish and flying characteristics. Mike elected to power his with a Wren 120, and it seems to be an almost perfect choice. Any more thrust and it would fly like a hyper sport jet, not the most beautiful fighter ever as ye-olde editor feels. This is not a small air- plane! At 93 inches long, it will ride as an arm rest between the front seats in smaller SUVs/cars, but you will be smiling once the 68-inch wingspan takes to the air. At rough- ly 27 pounds, the plane flies like it is on rails, yet slows down to land like a trainer—a tes- tament to the original designer!
PHOTOGRAPHY: GREG MOORE Mike Warren’s Huntershows the clean lines of its 93-inch long fuselage in the skies over Mesa, AZ.
Having been flown as a very large edf by Kirk Sonnier, this is an airframe that just works. So if you have the room for a large, beautiful, nice flying classic warbird, this Hunter might be for you! Additionally, the Hunter has been re-done (in the same sized package) as a set of plans and laser-cut parts for 110mm edf on 12S (or smaller turbine) weighing about 16 pounds. Available from Traplet Plans in the UK at:
www.trapletshop.com this lighter-weight beauty has the same delightful flight charac- teristics as its heavier brother—and most importantly for me—the plans can be re- duced in size so that it will fit in my minivan! Plans are about $45.00. A thread discussing this version, and a YouTube video of it flying on a 12S powered Stumax fan can be found on RCUniverse at:
http://tinyurl.com/9wb2j2w. In a slightly smaller and lighter package, Dynam
www.dynam-rc.com has brought us another jet in the “most beautiful” category: the Me-262 Swallow. This is a 59-inch wingspan foamie with attitude, having a very nice surface and electric retracts. Twin 70mm fans are powered by a single 4S bat- tery, and while it is quite quick, it is not so fast as to get ahead of itself. Highly maneu- verable, this little beauty showed its han- dling ability by making consistently low, in- verted passes while its partner/wingman
flew around right-side up. One of them was modified, the other used the stock motors and fans, yet no one could tell the difference, so all I can say is: Well done, Dynam! Two more have already shown up at my club field. Available from Nitro Planes
www.nitroplanes.com as a ready to fly (RTF) package, or as a receiver ready arf version, all you need to do is practice your German accent in order to join the fun.
Also seen was a profusion of edfs, some conversions, and some “Styrofoam” with a few scratchbuilt versions thrown in as well. Larry Wolfe flew his WeMoTec Midifan pow- ered JHH F-86/Fury to nice effect while son Chris flew the paint off of his NT Jets Pan- ther prototype, powered by an e-Turbax. Somewhat smaller was one of my favorites, a Starmax F-5 done in the Patrouille Suisse colors driven by a 4S battery. T-38/F5 air- frames just look fast sitting still, and when they are done well, and flown well, look even better! Clark Hans continued his scratchbuilding ways for 90mm fans with his own designed “YakSuMigski”. It seems like every year he has at least one new design, and they all seem to fly super nicely, as does this one! Well, I’m out of space, so until next time: keep busy with your building projects, fly safe, and trust in thrust!
by greg moore You can reach Greg Moore via e-mail at
jetflyr@comcast.net
This is the surface detailing and weathering (at left) of the Ripmax/Global Jet Club Hunter right out of the box. Not too heavily done, and looks great. While the backdrop (above) could substitute for the conflict in Aden during the late 1950s, it is just the beautiful Superstition Mountains of Arizona.
46 FEBRUARY 2013
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