Hi Phillip;
I'll be sending you an email with a file for the ToughBaby and the other two coreplast models that we sent to people who signed up for them at the KidVenture circles. It's been a very reliable and durable airplane for the purpose it was designed for.
I had been attending Oshkosh and volunteering for KidVenture for several years and Bob Arata started riding along. At the time we were using SIG 1/2A Skyrays, Bratco Skybabies, and some Cox PT-19 trainers but it was apparent that the endeavor needed a better model. For several years on the long ride home, Bob and I would discuss what the model needed to be and what it didn't need to be. One thing we learned in talking to people was that most people had no access to a hobby shop and it needed to be built from common materials available anywhere, except of course the engine and bell crank, which could be bought on line. Then, of course, it needed to be tough, crash survivable, stable an fly well. It did not need to be a stunt model or really look like anything. Bob did the original construction using political yard sign material that the good people of St. Louis County provided one year after the primary elections, hardware store materials and some scraps from his job at a local airport. We designed and sized it to be powered by the Norvel .061, as we had lots of these at KidVenture thanks to SIG Mfg. For that and a few other reasons, he just used the outline of the Bratco Skybaby for the airframe. It just clamps between a top and bottom piece, which also serves as the base for the bell crank. Fuselage parts have been made from all sorts of different wood products. No real need to paint or fuel proof anything either. If the wings or control surfaces get damaged at all, just unbolt the fuselage pieces, take out the old, and put in the new. We took the original 5 models to Oshkosh in 2010 and they have been in continuous use ever since, surviving anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 flights between them! I think that qualifies the model to wear it's name, ToughBaby!
Check your email for the letter and the files.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee