PILOTPROJECTS
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THE IRON BUTTERFLY Peter Donk, Wayland, NY Like many RC pilots, Peter Donk took a hiatus from the hobby and is now back full-force. Last summer, he began looking for an interesting project for the wintertime because he enjoys both building and flying. “Due to my renewed interest in all types of aviation, I found myself looking at all kinds of different ultralight
designs,” he writes. Peter decided upon a unique little ultralight called the
Affordaplane ( affordaplane.com) and, after much consideration, decided he was
going to build a 1⁄4-scale RC version.
1
st
This project was a succession of firsts for Peter—it was his first project built
from plans, his first giant-scale plane and first attempt at anything more than sport
scale, first gas engine and first fabric-covered model! “The full-scale plane is built
mostly from aluminum bolted together much like an overgrown Erector set, so I
decided my model would be,
too,” he
commented.
After a six-month build, this
bird was ready for a dawn patrol
PILOT
PROJECT
OF THE
MONTH
40-BASIC PRACTICE MODEL
Richard B. Dao, Rancho Cordova, CA
This 40-Basic Practice model airplane is
designed and built from scratch (it took 100
hours) by Richard B. Dao, who writes, “I was
inspired by the low cost of materials used to
build this airplane.” The cowling and canopy are
made from recycled soda bottles, and it’s powered by an O.S. FP 40 and 10x6 prop. The plane
is controlled by a Futaba 4-channel system and
can perform basic maneuvers such as inverted
flight and split-S’s.
this past June. After a
little bit of a slow
start, Peter knew this
would be like no
model he’d ever flown
before. But his perseverance paid off—
“Once I had a few
minutes to fly the
plane in better trim, it
was clear that I had a
very scale-flying, ultralight model!”
How did you finish the model?
Peter: In keeping with the theme, I decided this plane HAD to be fabric covered.
Any plane I’ve ever built I finished with MonoKote so I had no experience with fabric of any kind. After reading up on the subject, I decided to give Sig Koverall a try. I
used their Stix-It adhesive and sealed it with nitrate dope. For color I used garden-variety Valspar spray paint for the yellow and vinyl decal material for the purple
trim. I put the name “Iron Butterfly” across the right wing because of the all-metal
construction and the fact that’s it’s an ultralight. When added to my affinity for rock
music, it seemed a very fitting name. All things considered, I’m very happy with
how my first experience with fabric turned out.
For Peter’s full story on this incredible build and more photos of his Iron Butterfly,
head to modelairplanenews.com
Carl Lorber, Salem, VA
This PT- 17 Stearman was built from Model
Airplane News plan FSP 06831. The PT-13D
plans were revised to “Super Stearman” status
by adding upper wing ailerons, a motor cowling
and wheel pants. The wingspan is 48 inches
and the electric conversion includes an AXI
2820/10 motor, 60A ESC, 12x6 prop and a
3S1P, 5000mAh LiPo. “Like all Stearman models, it is an outstanding performer!” Carl writes.
SEND IN YOUR SNAPSHOTS! Model Airplane News is your magazine, and we encourage reader participation. In “Pilot Projects,”
we feature pictures from you—our readers. Color slides and color prints are acceptable, but please do not send digital printouts or
Polaroid prints. Emailed submissions must be at least 300dpi. We receive so many photographs that we are unable to return them.
Each month, one pilot’s project will be selected as the “Project of the Month” and will win a Model Airplane News baseball cap.
Send entries to “Pilot Projects,” Model Airplane News, Air Age Inc., 20 Westport Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 USA.
