Radio Control Models
by Steven Perry

Fokker D.VIII

Kit: Scratch (1:12)

The D.VIII was scratch built from magazine plans ans is 30" Feiago BL motor in a GWS S1 GB 3 cell 340 mAh LiPo and 8x4.3 prop. The loz is a scan of A/G printed on clear decal and applied over gray iron on film covering. The top wing is clear Doculam painted with Acrylic/Future mixed to DSAs ideas. Cammo wise it works real well with the lozenge. The model was very heavy and was more than scale fast and a bit of a handful. It is retired now. Sure was pretty in the air though.

DH-2

Kit: Kavan (1:12)

update

Steve sent in these in-flight photos of his DH-2

The Dh.2 flies like a pig, but it looks totally cool doing it. It's fairly twitchy in pitch, but has a real aversion to turning, especially to the right.. It does glide in well though which is nice in light of the less than substabtial U/C .

I got it fully rigged and only lack a few details and the Lewis gun.. It has flown that way on a 2 cell 1900 mAh LiPo. I have an 8 cell pack of I think 1100 mAh Nicads. I haven't tried that yet. It might give more unph.

E-III

Kit: Peter Rake Designs (1:12)

Peter Rake R/C kit with Wright Brothers R/C Spandau gun kit mounted on it.

Fokker D-VII

Kit: Bengston Aerodrome (1:10)

I finally finished my D.VII. AUW is 23.3 oz and it balances exactly where the plans say. I'm scared to maiden it. Have to find a competent pilot :-)

Fokker Dr.I

Kit: AerodromeRC (1:12)

Here's some shots of the Dr.I I built for a friend. It's a Bengston short kit. It is using a Himax BL in a gearbox (don't know which motor or GB) With a 1320 3 cell spinning an 11x7 prop. It draws just shy of 14 amps static at full throttle. I doubt he'll ever use full throttle. It seems mucho overpowered. OTOH it balances perfectly with no adjustments. 28 oz AUW

I used Tomasz' research and rendering of the GOTNW image. BvB says it looks like an aging Richard Pryor with horns and wings. Never seen a Dr.I with upper surface markings on the lower wings.

Aerodrome RC Halberstadt D.III

Approximately 1:10 scale Halberstadt D.III from http://www.aerodromerc.com/

I am trying to make a flyable R/C model with minimal consession to the R/C gear and a decent rendition of scale for the size. The Halberstadt didn't fly like an R/C pattern ship and neither will my model.

There are loads of places where R/C conflicts with scale. I won't address all of them on this model, but I have addressed and solved a few. The on off switch is hidden under the Halbie's little chin bump, which slides back and forth. The rudder and elevator servos are mounted inverted on a servo tray/false floor. The arms and cinnections are underneith and the protruding servo bodies are the seat support. The servos are exactly where the plans called for them fore & aft and also invisible from the cockpit.

I used 1/64 ply for the seat and the cushion is several layers of Parafilm folded over and cut to seat shape. The buttons are little brass pin heads which were stuck through and clipped on the underside. Seatbelts are copper foil and the buckles are cut from 10 thou card. Interior structure is strips of 1/64 ply and the bracing wires are thin music wire.

Next up, the joystick/rudder bar assembly.

Hanriot HD.1

Kit: Aerodrome R/C (1:10)

Aerodrome R/C 38" span , (1/10 scale as a W.A.G.), Speed 400 running a 2.3:1 Mini Olympus GB,.9x6 APC prop, 1320 3 cell LiPo., 4 servos, 2 HS-55, 2 GWS Pico, Electron 6 rec., E-Flight 30 Amp ESC . 25.3 oz AUW

Of scale interest is the open rear fuselage bay with bungee sprung tailskid and internal centerline elevator horn & pushrod with a pull/pull rudder. Scale in function if not in exact form.

Nieuport 17

Kit: Prototype (1:8)

I'm attaching some shots of my 40" (1/8 scale) N.17. It's a prototype kit and I'm writing instructions as I go.

The kit features scale aileron cranks, slanted fuselage sides and asymetrical cowl buldges. What it lacks id the Vee shaped indent behind the cowl on the bottom, underside strut fairings, false ribs and a dummy motor. Not a bad compromise for a sport scale model.

The use of carbon fibre spars and LEs make for a seriously strong wing. If it crashes hard enough to break a wing, the rest will be balsa chips :-)

You really started something by getting me hooked on e-flight. I haven't molested a piece of styrene in over a year. I'm just having too much fun flying :-)

Sikorski S.16

Kit: Aerodrome RC (1:12)

Once i got it set up with appropriate power, it flew well. Here are some stills of the model and a short vid of the motor spinning.

Movie of spinning motor (MPEG)

Se5a

Kit: Aerodrome (1:9)

The SE.5a is an AerodromeRC kit of 26 5/8" span. It has the power system out of the D.VIII. It is covered in Coverlite and varnished with Krylon Acrylic clear. It is a 45th Aero Squadron machine of Joseph Boudwin. It has one flight and needed some control adjustments. I'm awaiting good weather to try it again.

Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter