A Good Day at The Field
This is two of my B scale planes – a P-47 Jug and a TA-152 – and my SSC pseudo scale P-51. The SSC is a favorite of mine. It’s a beautiful flyer with a bladder fed .15 powered engine. The bladder is in the wing and feeds the engine a steady stream of fuel until the bitter end. The engine runs are solid, steady and screaming. This setup renders te throttle little more than a shutoff mechanism, but then, who needs a throttle!
Focke-Wulf TA-152
This is one of my fastest planes. The JK Aerotech TA-152. That’s a 1/4 wave tuned pipe. This plane is a perfect example of a super fast, manuverable, light and FUN plane to fly!
CAD Software
CAD Software for scaling plans and drawings
- TurboCad Learning Edition [FREE, Windows] TurboCAD Learning Edition, from IMSI, is a comprehensive, fully functional 2D CAD software product. It is the ideal vehicle for new users to learn how to use and discover the concepts behind CAD software. In addition it is a viable product for producing professional 2D CAD drawings. Supports DXF files. If you can’t find it on the IMSI site, you can Download it from here.
- Two TurboCad books in PDF format available as free downloads courtesy of IMSI. Complete Guide to Learning CAD is a 271 page book written by Randall Newton and Robert Berry. TurboCAD for Acad Users is a 144 page book for those familiar with Acad R14. Both books are included with the free TurboCAD LE (Learning Edition), and explain many features of TurboCAD LE and v4, as well as 2D aspects of more recent TurboCAD versions. Follow the links below if you wish to download these PDF books separately from TurboCAD LE.
- QCad [FREE, Linux/Windows]. QCad is a powerful but easy to use 2D CAD program for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. It uses DXF as its standard file format. While other CAD packages are often rather complicated to use, QCad tries to stay comfortable, and even an absolute beginner can create professional drawings with a minimum of effort.
- AutoCad [$$$, Windows] AutoCad, the King of Cad, you get what you $pay$ for!
Flying Tigers Squadron
The Flying Tigers has an illustrious history dating back to 1937, just prior to the US entry into the Pacific WWII theatre. An American volunteer group was nicknamed the Flying Tigers. The unit consisted of approximately 100 pilots and 200 groundcrew personnel (most of whom had been released from the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines to volunteer for the A.V.G.) and was equipped with obsolescent P-40B airplanes. (more)
For more Historical information please visit the official home page of the American Volunteer Group – the Flying Tigers. On this site, you will find an excellent historical account of the Flying Tigers on this site.
Electric Combat
Electric Combat is coming on strong! It’s not like the loud, adrenaline pumping combat with .25 engines screaming across the sky. It’s a little more sedate with more touch and finesse. And, it’s a lot of FUN!
Overview
We all know what it feels like to have your knees shaking with that adrenaline rush of screaming .25 powered combat planes…it’s an incredible rush! Now and then though, and for those whose doctors have insisted no more .25′s (but, oh no, we’re not giving up the SSC’s), eCombat may be just the thing you’re looking for. It’s also good for those with limited building space. I mean, it’s a very small plane that requires a minimum of fuss and muss to build.
Well, what we’ve found for this to be the most fun, is you want to match performance as much as possible. This means, very similar, if not identical planes and equipment. This makes it a test if flying skill, rather than a contest of speed and luck! The planes fly slow enough that stopping in midair is actually a maneuver!
The plane that seems to embody all the best characteristics is called the “Buster.” This is our Club Combat design!
The “Buster”
The Buster is a simple plane created by our own Raymond Lafrancois (a.k.a. the Slayer). This plane is made from fanfold foam insulation board and not much more! The parts List is pretty simple.
Resources & Downloads
Plan Diagram. Download a larger version of the diagram on the left by clicking here.
Plan CAD file. Download a CAD drawing of Buster by clicking here.
Kline-Fogleman Airfoil. Download this analysis, by Rich Thompson, describing Buster’s airfoil by clicking here. Rich has a page you can visit and see his nice 3D plane, the Regal, in action on Video, as well as download plans in PDF form.
(Note – The Regal is not to be confused with our Club Combat design, the Buster, above. The Regal is a really nice 3D design that also uses the KFm airfoil)
Parts and Sources
The following Table should provide you with all you need to build the Buster!
| Electric Combat Sources | ||
| Item | Description | Source |
| Parts | ||
| Hinges | Blenderm Tape | Surgical Supply, Drug Store (Rite Aid, CVS). Look for Nexcare Flexible clear. |
| Control Connectors |
Dubro Micro Connectors | ww.hobbycity.com |
| Control Horns |
EFlite | Most Hobby shops/sites Alternatively, you can use 1/16″ plywood and make your own |
| Wire | .032 Piano Wire | Most Hobby shops/sites |
| Glue | White Gorilla Polyurethane Glue | Most Hobby shops, Hardware Stores |
| Material | Blue Fan-Fold Foam | Home Depot, Lowes, Building Supply |
| Paint | Cheap brushed on acrylic for $1.00. | Craft Store. Note – Most spray types melt foam, and the ‘floral’ paint, which they say does not IF used sparingly, costs $6.50 a can! |
| Spars | Spruce, Graphite, Strapping Tape, | Various Sources |
| Planes | ||
| Planes | 32-36″ Span, 23″ Len | Plans, Imagination |
| Plane | Avenger | http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=562080 |
| Plane | P-51 (scale to 36″) | http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=389720 |
| Plane | P-51, P40, Zero (scale up, +25% will get you 35″ on the Zero which works great) | http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=327236 |
| Motors | ||
| Motor | EssKay 400XT | http://www.hobby-lobby.com/brushless-skatty.htm |
| Motor & Speed Controler | Suppo 2208/17 | http://www.rchotdeals.com/Products/rc/Brushless_Motors_ESC/A2208_20a_combo.html |
| Motor | Suppo 2208-17, not the one with “B” in front of it, they have combos too) | http://www.lightflightrc.com |
| Props | GWS 9×5 HD/DD | Most Hobby shops/sites Note: Be sure to NOT buy the “Slow Flight” SF props!!! |
| Prop Saver | Prop saver w/o-ring retainer | Most hobby shops/sites |
| Batteries | ||
| Batteries | 3S (3 Cell) (11.1V) LiPo. 800-1100mAH | Best to try to get a few 1000mAH batteries. As it takes an hour to charge them, you want to have a few charged |
| Battery | Loong-Max | http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=5480
http://www.valuehobby.com/product_details.php?category_id=3&item_id=21 |
| Battery Charger | Balanced Charger for Batteries | Various sources |
| Battery Balancer | Astro Blinky or Thunder Power LiPoly Auto Balancer | Various Sources |
| Battery Connectors | Deans Ultra Connectors | Various Sources |
| Connectors | 3.5mm Bullet Connectors | |
| Radio | ||
| Receiver & Crystals | BERG 4L
Corona GWS |
Various places |
| Servos | 6g to 9g size, Tower Pro | http://www.hobbycity.com |
National Sport Combat Club
The National Sport Combat Club (NSCC) is an effort to promote and fly combat with planes that are easy to build, all the same planform (identical), virtually indestructable, fun to fly combat with, and very inexpensive. Basically, you take a Flat Bat, a 48″ wing, coroplast tail feathers, and a stock .25 with a 10×4 prop, and you have a really great club combat plan. This is all about how to build these planes.
Basic Rules
- Max engine .28cid
- Must have functioning R/C carb.
- No tuned exhaust.
- Engine price limit with muffler is $130. USD (retail)
- Engine claim rule is for $130.USD
- Flat bat must be used for body.
- Wing must be 11.25″ straight chord(no tapers), Ailerons included.
- Wing thickness no less than 1.25″
- Max Wing Span 48″
- Standard Servos
- Minimum Dry flying weight is 3.25lbs
- No flying stabs
- RCCA scoring will be used.
Web Discussions
Pictures
Plans
- SPAD Flat Bat Plans
- The McGrizz Bat by David McGinnis and Jim Grizzle
- S8037 Airfoil
Requires 1.5″ Ailerons for full 11.25″ chord. You may also fold a
coroplast wing to specification (be sure th make it a minimum of 1.25″
thick!
Resources – Where to get the Materials.
FiberGlass Rods
McMASTER-CARR Page 3345 Order Phone# 404-346-7000
Enough rods to build two wings:
4) 8543K27 1/8 fiberglass rods at $2.13 each
2) 8543K28 3/16 fiberglass rods at $2.20 each
Flat Bat Fuselage
Palos Sports Phone#1-800-233-5484
(when you call, you MUST specify the Black color bat) Part#24041 at $3.95 each
Fuel Tank and Engine Mount
Tower Hobbies Phone# 1-800-637-6050
Sullivan Slant Tank 4oz. or 6oz.
1) LFXU48 (4oz.) at $3.49 or 1) LFXU49 (6oz.) at $3.59
Dave Brown Engine Mount .20-.25
1) LXB870 at $3.89 each
Engines
Magnum .25 or .28XL is recommended for power. Replacement parts are
cheap and they make more than enough power. 1) LXTP68 at $61.99
For Magnum engine users, please read this advice on setting the engines up. There are some important things you should do to get it to run at peak efficiency.
Servos
Recommend the cheap standard servos at $9 each.
Packing Tape wing covering
Wing Cores
See plans section