Hi everyone,
 
I thought I  would share my latest project with fellow electric stunt flyers.  The plane is an original design built in 1964. It was rather large for its day with a 62 inch span and 670 sq inches of wing.  Power at that time was the perennial Fox 35 and as flown in 1964 it weighed 47 oz.  (50 oz after 45 years of wall hanging!!!)  It won at several meets in the Mid-west that year and was replaced by some semi-scale ships for the following year.  It has been hanging on the wall for the past 45 years.
 
 I have been enjoying electric stunt for the past 5 years and so far have built/flown 8 different models over that period and have competed successfully with several of them..  Recent conversations with the Adamisins included the " wonder what some of our "older" planes would fly like if electrified".   Bingo.. a perfect test plane was on the wall.  After about 5 hours of work, the original motor/tank/firewalls  were  easily removed and replaced with "space" for electric components. I installed my favorite motor size an AXI 2826/12 which I have 4 years of experience with and have great phrase for and have recommended to many,  running a 12/6 APCE with a 4 cell 3700 battery pack controlled by PX 45 and Hubin timer, another item I also highly recommend.  Electric power systems have really developed over the past several years and they are truly "plug and play" at the current time.
 
The plane was flown this past week for several flights and I was extremely impressed by the power  and consistency of having an electric system in this aircraft.  The plane did gain 11 oz in the conversion but even at 61 oz, the 670 sq inches seem to handle it very well.  Seeing it on the end of the lines brought back many wonderful memories of flying it 45 years younger.  Needless to say full stunt patterns from  the second flight on, it felt so natural.  I remembered Dennis Adamisins words about flying familiar models,  "Like an old favorite comfortable pair of shoes".  He is  absolutely correct.
 
I am writing this to encourage others  to think seriously about doing the same.  I'm sure we all have "old hanger queens" hanging on our  walls or in our  garages.  Seriously , you should think about converting them to electric power.  The conversion should not be that difficult. You might be really amazed at what  enhanced flight performance you might now see.  In addition I'm sure it will bring  a smile to your face as you try on once again  an " old comfortable pair of shoes".
 
Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts with you,
 
Richard Sawicki
 

That's a great story Rick! Thanks for sharing it with us.  Hmmm, your plane and I are about the same age but your plane seems to be in much better condition.

Having been there to fly with Rick and see him fly this old bird it was I have to say pretty impressive. The 2826/12 is a wonderful match for models this size and if you look at the specs you will find the T-rex is the same size. The model Rick flew was built much heavier in its day 45 years ago than we build today and if built for electric from first intention would easily come out 10 ounces lighter. Rick and I have trimmed together all summer and this bird has come in very quickly. I've always heard stories from local fliers of Ricks planes from back in the day, was a pleasure to see one in the air. Now if we can convince him to convert some of those scale beauties he flew back in the same era that followed this bird, we'd really have a treat.

Get to work Rick!

bob branch

Having been there to fly with Rick and see him fly this old bird it was I have to say pretty impressive. The 2826/12 is a wonderful match for models this size and if you look at the specs you will find the T-rex is the same size. The model Rick flew was built much heavier in its day 45 years ago than we build today and if built for electric from first intention would easily come out 10 ounces lighter. Rick and I have trimmed together all summer and this bird has come in very quickly. I've always heard stories from local fliers of Ricks planes from back in the day, was a pleasure to see one in the air. Now if we can convince him to convert some of those scale beauties he flew back in the same era that followed this bird, we'd really have a treat.

Get to work Rick!

bob branch

I second that idea for the Semiscale beauties. I've not only seen these,...... I flew em. They are GREAT stunters.

Gentlemen,

Thank you very much for your responses and very nice comments, they are all greatly appreciated.

Bob,
  Thanks to your and Frank Carlisle's  help and suggestions we were able to get the "old buggy" trimmed and "contest ready" in only 4 flights. Now if only I can get my reflexes back to where they were 45 years ago (??)  I'll have a winning combination once again. Regarding the 2826/12 question, well,  you  personally were there and saw it pull a 62 inch, 670 sq in,  61 oz plane very easily through the entire pattern several times.  I would highly recommend that you try it in your T-Rex.  It should pull it easily and if you were to need more power then you could easily go to 5 cells on the same motor.  I've used them for 4 years and have found them extremely  reliable and highly recommended their use.

Will,
  Yes, it was a real pleasure for me also, meeting you, having some wonderful conversation,  and also sharing flying the many electric planes we had at the Midwest flying field that day.  Please visit us again and we can all spend another great day together.  We should  plan to make this a more frequest outing.

Dave,
  Thanks for your rsponse and encouragement to bring back to life some of the semi-scale planes that are "also" still hanging on the wall in the "airplane room".  Yes, you flew them all, and I hope that the pictures of them that I have attached below will bring back many happy memories of the same planes you flew in the late 60's (and provided excellent feedback back to me).  Thanks....a guarantee..you will get to fly them..or their clones again.

Arch,
Thanks a lot for your kind comments and  especially for our 45 year friendship.  Yes, with your help we will get them CADed up this winter and Yes, they will fly again...I did promise that to your brother (above).  I hope you enjoy the pictures I  have included below of the Dornier 335, P-40 Warhawk and F-4 Phantom...all built 65 thru 68 when I was still very active in Stunt...before  the Carrier "addiction" hit our family.

A big thanks to everyone once again, your coments are greatly appreciated,

Rick Sawicki

Hi Mike-

If you want to build a twin electric Do 335 you will not need a shaft.
You can use one timer two ESCs and one Battery(or more). It will work
out to be much lighter and simpler to build. Each motor can be set to
drive a tractor or pusher prop. I have two twins and enjoy flying them.
 Walt Brownell

Hi Rick. The launch shot of the P-40 has a sizable crowd in the background. Was this at the Nats or at the Willow Run air show???

Hi Rick:

The Do335 looks like an I-beamer. If you can put me on a list or something to alert me when the plans are available, I would appreciate it. Absolutely no rush on this as I have my building projects for the next two or so years lined up. Oh, by the way ... how did it fly? And does it still exist?

And how did you persuade that pretty young helper to assist in a smelly oily hobby like this?

Rick, you are a fortunate fellow all around! My wife is very supportive of my hobby (this one anyway) but it stops way short of polishing the models and being my launcher!

As for old models, I still have the Goldberg Viking FF I flew in the 1963 Nats at Los Alamitos NAS. Plus a Shoestring Stunter I scratch-built while living in a 400-year-old farmhouse in Tuscany in 1974. The latter still flies but not the former.