Guys,
I was looking through an issue of Control Line World last night that featured a Bio of Jim Silhavy. In it Jim discussed the Magician and indicated that once Midwest took over the production of the kit they made changes that included the 48" span and a "sheeted  leading edge". Has anyone seen one of the sheeted versions of the Midwest Magician? Maybe there were proto types built this way that didn't make it into the production kit. Since Jim said it is this a classic legal mod to the Magician?

Best,          DennisT

I don't know Ty, The first thing that Midwest did was get rid of the half ribs to save money so they could lengthen the wing. The model really does need the half ribs and I think a big thank you is due Walt for including them when he did the kit. As to the smaller wingspan that is the correct original design by Mr Silhavey and flies as well as the enlarged version. I've wondered why John Brodak didn't make the larger one. Don't think that it was over permission to kit it as that had been granted. Perhaps because it was/is unique.

Hi Dennis,

I believe you are on track with the "unique" angle as to why John kitted "The Original".   Over the years I have seen many Midwest Magicians, but never the "Original" until Walter's kits came out.  We've had a couple Midwest Magicians, both kit stock and some mods.  If I could get the time, and one of John's kits,  I'd like to build one!

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

Ty,
The attraction for the Magician is that you could fly Profile, Classic, N30, and PA with one ship if one chooses. There are not many profiles that meet this, the Magician can be competitive (see some of Jim Kraft's stats with the Magician). Sometime we travel to contests with a few guys and storage space is important so you need to plan ahead. If you can find some pictures of those Magicians it would be interesting to see how the Magician morphs.

Best,   DennisT

Ty,
Sounds like you built it to light. I assume your on 60' lines at around 4.9 sec lap time. An interesting experiment would be to add a couple oz of clay at the CG and see it if it gets better. Also check that the stab/tail is not twisting, that will drive you nuts cause it kinda goes were the air pushes it including prop turbulence.

BB,
One other thing in my choose was wanting to use the Fox 35. I like this motor cause I got a bunch of them and I can make then run. But for me that limits the ship to 38 oz max and < 50" span (I really like about 46", but with 2 1/2 wing tips makes it ok).

Best,         DennisT

I believe that GSM stood for Golden State Models.

Does anyone know anyone from GSM did they use a prototype of the Midwest Magician that might used the sheeted leading edge? Would be nice to know if they had a bases for the difference in the design? For classic you only have to show that a model was designed or built for it to be legal. So if there were some pre-production models that Midwest built with LE sheeting before finalizing the kit it would be legal.

Best,          DennisT 

I built a Magician from plans, and made some modifications to it-to "jazz it up" a little. I changed the fuselage shape and fin, wing and tail tips, full-span flaps, moved the horizontal stab aft 2 inches, trike landing gear, and nose ribs between each of the original ribs. It seems to fly well, and doesn't bounce on landing. And, it looks like a completely different airplane. I hope no one is offended by my changes. Let's see if a picture will stick...

Is the Magician 35 with the half ribs classic legal? What mods are allowed? Also can you increase the thickness of the stab/elevator to 3/16"? How about moving the stab/elevator back a couple inches? Seems like many Magicians were built with these mods back in the day?

Best,        DennisT

I flew a Magician a few years back and spoke with Jim at some contest and asked him about all the mods I made to the Midwest version and he said the half ribs I used and the half panel I added to the outboard wing were what he would have recommended and used. He agreed that the two inch assymetry as p[er the plans was excessive. Straight from the designers mouth. I mounted the gear straight down rather that raked forward for pavement which is where I flew mine most, and it would land on the mains as pretty as a picture every time. I also glued 1/32 ply over the joiner wire at the elevator for stiffness. My stab 3/16 and 1/8" elevators. I used a 4" bellcrank. I brought home lots of hardware with that little airplane with no coupled flaps and you might be surprised at some of the folks I beat with it too! Also, the Brodak 40 was a great marriage to that airframe. I wish i still had it and I may build another.

Hi Doug

You may end up having to move the lead-outs forward some.  I had to on mine, although I got away with just moving the rear one only.    May depend on which plan version you built.

Dan