"Better than a day at work"

[wwwarbird]

 Today was only the second day I've had off work since July 26th. With our summer Sturgis Motorcycle Rally traffic at the dealership it's been seven days a week starting at 8:00am until at least 6:00 or 7:00pm, some days even later. I normally don't complain about it, but man I'm beat.

 Today though I got up, packed a lunch, and made a point to spend the entire day at the local flying field. I got there about 10:00am and stuck around 'til about 5:00pm. As usual at this field no one was around so it was all stooge flying. I was able to bang out a bunch of flights on the Zero, and I think I'm finally homing in on a good needle/prop combo. The thing has been very finicky and hasn't wanted to run consistently, but it seems to be getting closer at least. When I got tired of flying the Zero, I put up a few flights with the Shark 402.

 It was a great day, about 80 degrees with a real light breeze all day. It had been so long since I'd flown last that I even noticed a few seconds of dizziness after the first flight.

 Ahh yes, much better than a day at work.

 Get out and fly, summer will be slipping away before we know it.

[Brian Massey]

Love your planes, and your use of a stooge! I have a stooge, but as yet it is untried.

I've gone to Sturgis twice now, in 2000, and 2007. What dealership are you at?? Maybe I hasseled you sometime in the past.

Brian

[wwwarbird]

I've gone to Sturgis twice now, in 2000, and 2007. What dealership are you at?? Maybe I hasseled you sometime in the past.

Brian

 Bergdale Harley-Davidson, one mile west of I-35 on I-90 at Exit 157, Albert Lea, MN

[Gary Mondry]

I've had as much of this summer as I can handle.  Today in Wichita was our 45th day of triple digit heat.  Tomorrow we tie the summer of 1980 for the second most triple digit days.  50 is the record and it's not out of reach.  I haven't been outside by choice since the end of June.  The best break was 5 days in rural Minnesota (God's country, but then you know that) the first week in August.  I wish I had brought something to fly because it was 80 degrees and light winds the whole time.  Would have taken me back to my youth.  Ringmaster with a K&B Stallion at the ball diamond...  Fall can't get here soon enough for me.

[DanielGelinas]

Hi,

Beautiful planes!!
What is the stuka from? Is it the Dick Mathis version?

-Dan

[wwwarbird]

 Daniel,

 The "Stuka" is a highly modified Sig Twister that I built 5 or 6 years ago. It's really showing it's age but is still an excellent flier with an FP.40 and a 10x6 Tornado three blade prop.

 Here's an old post with some more info on it: http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=2132.msg14736;topicseen#msg14736

[Jerry Leuty]

Now I see why your handle is WWWarbird. I also enjoy the old warbirds. But I don't build 'enemy' aircraft. My reasoning is that too many US servicemen lost their lives to these 'enemy' planes. But that is just my weird reasoning. To each his own. Now for my input on your thread; I am now retired and have sometime to invest in our beloved hobby. I well remember of working at my desk and dreaming of new planes to come. A hobby is meant to be a diversion from our normal work a day routine. Thus it is meant to be part time in nature. Enjoy your youth as a working man. By that I mean when you finally get to that magical date of 'retirement' you will find out that your body is mostly worn out from the previous 50+ years of working. So take it a day at a time, be thankful that you have the health and strength to work, and enjoy your days while on earth. Keep in mind that eternity is not too far out in the future. And go flying as often as you can.

[DanielGelinas]

Love that Stuka! Any close-up pictures I can see? I like the idea of converting the Twister!
Thanks,

-Danny

[wwwarbird]

 Danny,

 Check out the attached thread above for more pictures.

 Jerry,

 Yep, the "wwwarbird" just comes from my initials with Warbird added to it since I am a major Warbird fanatic. WWII aircraft are by far my favorite and the majority of my models are semi scale U.S. aircraft or other designs finished in U.S. Military markings. My favorite markings are U.S. Navy, but I like most all the military planes and schemes.
 Some of my personal "weird reasoning" with all the military themes on my models is actually my own small way of showing respect to the servicemen you mention above. I sincerely mean that and I do think about it often through every stage of my modeling. It is many times my inspiration for a new model. With that, I am always proud to show up at the flying field with another new representation of one of our U.S. Military aircraft.
 With respect to all, I especially appreciate all who were invloved in WWII service. Like the saying goes, I definitely consider them the "Greatest Generation".  

[Bill Little]

Hi Wayne,

Of course I think all your models are super cool!

Is the Hellcat a Sterling kit?  Through one of the great guys here I got a "builder's kit" of the Sterling version, but haven't talked to anyone who has built one.  It "looks" like it will be a decent flying profile for its size, and I will probably use an OS .40FP on mine.

Still love that Zero and the Catalina!

Big Bear

[Jim Kraft]

Very neat warbirds. I only have a Sterling Mustang, but it is fun. I have to agree with Gary. I went out to fly a little yesterday afternoon as the temp only got to around 95. A real cool front for this year in Kansas. Can't wait for fall and some cooler weather.

[wwwarbird]

Is the Hellcat a Sterling kit?  Through one of the great guys here I got a "builder's kit" of the Sterling version, but haven't talked to anyone who has built one.  It "looks" like it will be a decent flying profile for its size, and I will probably use an OS .40FP on mine.

 Bill,

 The Hellcat was built nearly straight out of the box from the Sterling kit. I even used the crappy mahogany nose doublers. I did add some material along the bottom of the nose to be able to achieve a more scale profile outline. Since the airfoil is razor thin I added a 1" wide by 1/8" strip across the entire T/E span of the wing to gain some more wing area. Doing that also allowed me an easy way to incorporate an outboard trim tab, which I didn't end up needing to adjust. Nothing lined up well at all building the wing with the kit parts, it took a lot of cutting, fitting, and cheating things to get it to come out straight. I also made all new tail surfaces because the kit wood was rock hard and super heavy, nearly petrified I think. They are the same shape and dimensions as the kit parts. I designed and scratchbuilt all new landing gear doors to my own preference. The "Cattin' Around" nose art is a play on words derived from the Hellcat name and us C/Ler's flying in circles. It's got an LA.40 on it with a Tornado 10x6 three blader and I'd say the plane performs as well as the design and airfoil allows. Don't expect this one to be a great Stunter though, just a fun sport plane that looks cool and will stunt.