Author Topic: Joe Reinhards Guardian (Read 5046 times)

Airacobra · « **on:** May 10, 2014, 08:18:45 PM »

Had an opportunity to see Joe this morning and while at their home he showed me his new Guardian. Most of you guys who know Joe, know that he turns out exceptional stunters and the Guardian is no exception. Joe shared with me that it weighs in at 55 ounces. This should be a real winner and I am anxious to see the first flights soon.

Airacobra · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2014, 08:28:42 PM »

Try this again, another shot.

Mike Keville · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2014, 08:29:48 PM »

Fantastic! I'd been wondering when (if) someone would do that. Long ago, I built the Berkeley kit version (53" span design by '53 Nats champ' Bob Elliott). It was rather porky and hefty...didn't fly all that well on the K&B .35 Greenhead. Sure is nice to see someone do it correctly.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2014, 09:26:49 PM »

That is WAAAY cool!!!

More details and more photos please!

Jim Hoffman · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2014, 09:40:29 PM »

I too saw it a few weeks ago. Typical Joe unbelievable quality. I will list a few of its unique features:

•   This airplane is not the Berkeley kit, but is based on it. Lots of mods to make sure it flies well. It has flaps, I am not sure the Berkley kit had flaps.

•   EVO 60 power

•   Wing is D-Tube construction. I forgot the wing area and I am not going to guess.

•   Elevators are open bay

•   Stab is built up and sheeted. Flat, no airfoil.

•   Motor bolts to an alum plate. The plate is fastened to the motor mounts

•   All color paint is Duplicolor, top coat is Sig clear dope.

•   Not rubbed out – a perfect matt finish was achieved

•   That homemade 4 blade prop not only looks cool, it is functional, although it will not likely be the first prop of choice (or the 2nd or 3rd)

•   Unique rudder hinge lock – more elegant that hanging a clevis and nylon horn out in the breeze. Involves a round machined part imbedded into the fix part of the fin, and has the rudder hinge wire passing thru its center. A pair of 2-56 screws lock the rudder to deflect to whatever angle is desired. Of course there are end of stroke stops to prevent the rudder from moving far enough to interfere w/ the elevator motion.

Jim Hoffman

Dennis Holler · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2014, 06:55:12 AM »

Very Nice indeed. I love blue, the shade is perfect!

john e. holliday · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2014, 07:51:32 AM »

That is one outstanding airplane. I have the Berkeley kit and it does have flaps. I can see why it never caught on with all the construction in the kit.

proparc · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2014, 08:01:32 AM »

Absolutely outstanding!!!

Mike Keville · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2014, 08:08:00 AM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on May 11, 2014, 07:51:32 AM

. . . I have the Berkeley kit and it does have flaps . . .

================================================

Odd. The one I had (plus others I'd seen) did NOT have flaps.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2014, 08:10:44 AM »

Well I will see if I can find the old kit in the stash, You realize I'm getting old and the memory is going at times. Still wonder who that is that is looking in the mirror.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2014, 08:49:16 AM »

Outstanding! Should fly well. This is another candidate for Warbird Stunt.

bill bischoff · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2014, 11:06:32 AM »

Fantastic job, but don't the "toy" wheels detract from the overall impression?

wwwarbird · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2014, 05:52:07 PM »

Quote from: bill bischoff on May 11, 2014, 11:06:32 AM

Fantastic job, but don't the "toy" wheels detract from the overall impression?

I was thinking the same, beautiful airplane but it really deserves some more scale appearing wheels.

One option might be these from Kavan: http://www.modellhobby.de/k_staufenb_e/prodpic/KAVAN-SuperLight-Std-Wheel-100mm-1Pair-0200166_b_0.JPG

The style shown above is their "Standard" wheel. They are very light too, roughly the same as the DuBro foamies. I've got them on a few airplanes and they work well. Last I knew you could still get them from Sig Mfg.

Steve_Pollock · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2014, 08:26:21 PM »

The 53" Guardian by Elliott does not show flaps on the plan.

Mike Keville · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2014, 09:40:26 PM »

Quote from: Stephen_Pollock on May 11, 2014, 08:26:21 PM

The 53" Guardian by Elliott does not show flaps on the plan.

========================================================
That's because there weren't any.

Shug Emery · « **Reply #15 on:** May 11, 2014, 09:42:05 PM »

I have a case of modeling envy going on here. That is art.
Shug

Wayne J. Buran · « **Reply #16 on:** May 12, 2014, 04:58:31 AM »

Outstanding, love those Guardians, another Joe Reinhard beautyand fly well it will.
Thanks
Wayne

skyshark58 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 12, 2014, 08:45:03 PM »

I have two Berkley Guardian kits I would be willing to part with. Both the boxes are rough but all the parts are there including the metal cowling and canopy, Make me an offer ! Mike P.

Airacobra · « **Reply #18 on:** May 13, 2014, 09:54:17 AM »

I know there is allot of chatter on here about the Berkley kit. Just for clarification, the Berkley plans were used to just give a comparable general outline shape of the Guardian along with several three-views that Joe had. This plane is in no way an upgrade of the Berkley kit, it is a full modern stunter with very competitive stunt numbers that Joe has arrived at over a long number of years of experience. Here is a shot of the engine compartment with the plate that Jim has described.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #19 on:** May 13, 2014, 11:05:39 AM »

Continuing to be impressed here, this is a very cool model.

I hope the Evo works out though, wouldn't have been my first choice, but at least it's got a glow plug.

Airacobra · « **Reply #20 on:** May 13, 2014, 11:18:35 AM »

If you look at the engine compartment photo you will see an aluminum plate. Joe has 2 plates, one that will be used with the Evo and one is set up for a Tiger 51. No changes to the cowl are needed as Joe built it with the intention of being able to switch engines.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #21 on:** May 13, 2014, 11:28:38 AM »

Quote from: Airacobra on May 13, 2014, 11:18:35 AM

If you look at the engine compartment photo you will see an aluminum plate. Joe has 2 plates, one that will be used with the Evo and one is set up for a Tiger 51. No changes to the cowl are needed as Joe built it with the intention of being able to switch engines.

Excellent.

Wayne J. Buran · « **Reply #22 on:** May 14, 2014, 05:27:43 AM »

Has to be a site to see when Joe flys it. A site not seen since the Werwage Guardian of years back.
Wayne

Airacobra · « **Reply #23 on:** May 14, 2014, 07:01:37 AM »

Hope it will fly soon, but the weather has not really cooperated to much recently. I will get flight shot's when it does happen.

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #24 on:** May 14, 2014, 07:50:54 AM »

Beautiful finish! The contrasting panel lines really set it off.
I bet it flys as good as it looks!

billbyles · « **Reply #25 on:** May 14, 2014, 09:52:07 AM »

A few years ago I had flown my biplane to Oceanside airport to visit with Paul White and Ray Cote. While I was in their hangar I heard a large radial engine so I walked out to the ramp and it was a Grumman Guardian in the overhead for a landing. I watched him land & taxi to the paint shop parking. Walking around that airplane I was impressed with how huge it was. Over the next few weeks I visited there several times while it was being painted. Then I got to watch it fly out of Oceanside; it was impressive in the way that Grumman carrier airplanes of the era were - very short takeoff.

As mentioned by Jim Hoffman Joe got the spectral reflectivity of the finish right - just flat enough. What a masterpiece.

Gordan Delaney · « **Reply #26 on:** May 15, 2014, 09:43:44 AM »

Joe,
Another beautiful plane comes for the masters hands.
Great Job.
Gordy