I built a few of these Mann-Winn trainers. Each plane took one night to build. One has a Cox .049 and the other has a Norvel Big-Mig .061. I think that I will try 40' lines with the Norvel. Speaking of lines I used the Coroplast to make the handles as well. I laminated two pieces together and used the duct tape to make it more comfortable. It looks like it should work ok.

John

Motor offset looks weird?   

Couldn't agree more..That's what the plans say though. I guess since there is no fin it is necessary to keep things going the right direction.

Good on Ya John!

                       I've seen dozens of these planes
and everyone who has built one is delighted with it.
You won't be winning the Nats with one but they're just
the thing for knocking the rust off of your C/L flying.      


The extreme offset is correct and necessary.
The only thing I do different from the plan is to cut
dashed slots (- - - - - -) in the "hinge" to make it
more flexible.
   I often read about a person who is having trouble
learning to fly inverted. Some have been flying for
thirty years and still haven't worked it out. I find
myself talking to the computer screen...
"Just build a Mann-Winn! It's so simple...Just make one!"
     I'm told the trick is to just keep thinking " pull down...
pull down..." 
(After 40 years of inverted flying, I don't think anything.)

I found it best to flip the Baby Bee over and launch the
plane inverted for training.

   We can get Mann-Winns to fly loops and eights with Cox
reed engines but it takes a knack. I've never seen one with
a Big Mig .061 on it, but I've seen a few with TDs and they
can really stunt!  The Big Mig is an awfully nice engine to
have on a humble Mann-Winn. How's the CG and balance?

   John, keep us posted on how you're doing with these planes,
particularly the Big Mig. The snow is going to melt soon......!

Cheers!