Barnstormers - May 2012

Welcome to Barnstormers! We would like to share with you a variety of model photos submitted by the readers of Flying Models. We'd love to feature your models, too. Instructions on how to submit your photos can be found at the bottom of this article!

Grumman "Gulfhawk" by Eric S. Emory

Eric starts us off this month with one of his scratch built models. Eric writes, "Enclosed are a few photos of my Grumman 'Gulfhawk' Design 22. This was the Cleveland kit drawn in 1/8 scale. The plan is no longer in the Cleveland catalog; I, fortunately, obtained another – just in case! The model plan is noted for its failure to draw the landing gear struts in that they collided ¾ of the way under the fuselage. This meant that the length of each of the telescoping units had to be determined mathematically. I built the ship with all of the controls operating from the cockpit behind a model of the first 1,000 hp Wright Cyclone. Note: this octogenarian still builds with balsa and what used to be Japanese tissue."

Cessna U3A by Richard Bruce

Richard Bruce started with a stock foam Dyna Planes Cessna 310 from Nitro Planes that included both electric retracts and navigation lights. Richard started by removing the stock navigation lights and adding a full set of his own navigation lights that also includes a landing light. To complete the look of a military U3A, Richard trim painted the Cessna Olive Green and applied decals from CalGraphix. Richard says the plane performs great and is much more manageable since he re adjusted the center of gravity from the 65 cm as illustrated in the manual to 50cm.

Flying Models Barnstormers welcomes your submissions! Readers of Flying Models are invited to submit pictures (no more than three) and a brief description of their model (no more than 300 words). Images should be at least 1024 pixels across. Please send your submissions to Associate Editor Jim Wiggin for consideration. We look forward to your contributions!