Author Topic: My just finished Magician #4 (Read 3409 times)

Jim Kraft · « **on:** January 05, 2011, 02:16:36 PM »

I decided to do something different this time from my last paint jobs. My last three Magicians were all trimmed about the same, although different colors on the first one. So, Ta Da! Here is my new one.

Bill Little · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2011, 02:24:36 PM »

Sweet, Jim!

A McCoy .40RH, I presume?

Ed Keller · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2011, 02:31:42 PM »

That's a great looking Magician - did you build this one from plans?. I know this has been covered before, but I am wondering what is the difference between your plane, & the kit offered by Brodak. I have an old Magician workhorse that I think was built from plans, (don't remember). It has flaps, & appears to be similar to your plane. I like it so much that I want to build another. Regards, Ed

mike hartung · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2011, 02:37:12 PM »

Great looking plane.

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2011, 02:45:47 PM »

Thanks Bill; Yes, it is a McCoy 40. Since I have two of them, I have McCoy 40's on both Magicians. I was a little amazed that this one came out weighing exactly what my other one weighs. Both are completely silked, fuse and all, and finished with Sig dope. Both weigh 37 ounces which gives a wing loading of about 10.8. And, both balance at the same place. The one I have been flying does very well, so I am hoping this one will too.

Thanks Ed; Yes, I build all of mine off of the Midwest plan. The original Magician Brodak kit, is a little smaller, and has a few other minor changes from the Midwest version. All of mine are built per plan with no changes, and have all flown well. It is the only plane that I have scratch built four of, so I guess I like it alot. They are very easy and fun to fly.

Jerry Leuty · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2011, 02:50:37 PM »

I've never flown much less owned a Magician. I have only seen a couple in my life time. The rear empanage always looked a little short to me. I have always wondered why Jim left so much over hang on the tail. I have had one Banschee about 12 years ago and the nose seemed too long to me. So I shortened it by about and inch and a half. It seemed to fly fine. The box said it flew like a Chipmunk. One of my hobby dealers has a Banschee and a Twister kit for under $50 each. I think about purchasing them everytime I am in there. I can't buy the wood for that price to scartch build either of them. I have thought about possibly getting a Magician kit. Mike's Hobby Shop in far north Dallas county has a kit. The ole Red Head McCoy on your plane makes it look the Classic era. Just what I need; 3 more kits to add to my already 12+ planes, 4 scratch builts either under construction or ready to build, and my 7 other kits ready to open and get started on. A man just can't have too much of this stuff.

Jerry

Ed Keller · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2011, 02:53:25 PM »

Thanks Jim - I think I may have the plans, but just in case, where can I get a copy of these Midwest size plans? Ed

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #7 on:** January 05, 2011, 03:00:34 PM »

I got my plans from Stuka Stunt.

Allen Brickhaus · « **Reply #8 on:** January 05, 2011, 05:46:13 PM »

Jim, The new Magician looks great. I have seen them fly and would like to have another one in my inventory in the future.

Allen Brickhaus

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2011, 06:21:29 PM »

Thanks Allen; Back in the 60's when I started flying again, the hobby shop in our small town never had a Magician, and I guess it made me want one more. I am making up for lost time.

They really do fly better than they look like they should. All of mine have flown almost identical, and have been set up about the same. I do balance mine a little further back than the plans show because of the flaps.

Here is a little evolution of my Magicians. The blue one was my first with a Fox 35. The Topeka contest wind ate it. The red, yellow and black one with the gold tissue tissue numbers was the second one with a McCoy 40. It died at VSC when the engine quit from a lean run inverted and slow in practice. The red black and yellow with black numbers, I am still flying.

Kim Mortimore · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2011, 06:37:25 PM »

Jim,
Looks great. The cream and light blue are a nice combination.

Ed,
Tom Dixon also lists the Magician plan--actually two Magician plans. The Midwest version is in the Classic section, and the 40" Snafu Co. version is in the Old Time section (this may be the one the Brodak version is based on(?) Google "tom dixon model airplanes" for the website. I haven't ordered from him in some time, but assume he is still in biz since the website is active.

Larry Renger · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2011, 06:46:26 PM »

OK Magician fans. If you want the real, original design, get a copy of my Baby Magician plans from Flying Models and scale it up to .35 size. I have signed documentation from Jim Silhavey stating that what I ended up drawing and building from his photos and comments is what he was flying before Midwest kitted it! It has a slightly longer outboard wing and half-ribs to improve the airfoil. My only tweak was to use laminated balsa wingtips instead of solid ones. Mine are lighter and stronger, but do what you want.

The Baby that I published is a delight to fly and is a multiple contest winner. A scale-up would be killer. By the way, flaps on a Magician are a waste of time, effort and weight. The tail moment is too short for them to efficient, unless you really restrict the throw to, maybe 10% of the elevator throw. With more flap, the elevator has to provide so much more turning power that the drag becomes excessive. Keep it super light and forget the flaps!

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2011, 06:54:33 PM »

Larry; I have never flown one without flaps, but I can tell you that mine are set up 1 to 1, and they fly extremely well. They corner better than any plane I have built, and come out flat from a turn. It may be the power from the McCoy 40's that gives them the edge. I don't know, but I like mine with flaps. As said above, I do balance mine about 3/4" back from what the plans show.

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #13 on:** January 05, 2011, 07:46:14 PM »

Quote from: Jim Kraft on January 05, 2011, 02:16:36 PM

I decided to do something different this time from my last paint jobs. My last three Magicians were all trimmed about the same, although different colors on the first one. So, Ta Da! Here is my new one.

So THAT's what I was supposed to do with "that" McCoy .40

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #14 on:** January 05, 2011, 07:59:44 PM »

Yeah Randy; That one runs so well I got another one. It is a superb Magician motor for sure. I run a 12-6 APC cut to 11, with the tips left square, and 5% nitro, and the things just motor around in a solid 4 stroke just beeping to a 2 when needed. I really like the way they run. Arn't you glad your old motor is being put to good use?

ray copeland · « **Reply #15 on:** January 05, 2011, 09:00:08 PM »

Very nice Jim!! I saw my first Midwest Magician fly a couple years ago and was very impressed, it is on my list!!

Bill Little · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2011, 09:34:26 PM »

Quote from: Jim Kraft on January 05, 2011, 07:59:44 PM

Yeah Randy; That one runs so well I got another one. It is a superb Magician motor for sure. I run a 12-6 APC cut to 11, with the tips left square, and 5% nitro, and the things just motor around in a solid 4 stroke just beeping to a 2 when needed. I really like the way they run. Arn't you glad your old motor is being put to good use?

GMA said they were the best timed stunt engine he had seen. Says a lot! I love them, and if taken care of, they last plenty long in the little usage mine get. Best "saver" I have found is to throw a Series 21 piston with a Frank Bowman ring (direct swap) in them once they lose compression.

Tom Lay suggested the Rev Up 10-6 EW for the .40RH. And they do work great, but rare these days to find. The few I have are only used on the RH .40s!

john e. holliday · « **Reply #17 on:** January 06, 2011, 08:54:04 AM »

I have both verions of the Magician. The original Magician did not have flaps and is about 75% size of the Midwest Magician. The Midwest Magician showed with or without flaps. On the shelf I have the Walter Umland version of the Original Magician. May build this one for myself as the kids have taken over the Brodak Version of the Origanal Magician. Also on the Midwest version used the stab as a pattern to make a new one out of 3/16 hard balsa. All of mine had the half ribs because it looked better.

Bill Little · « **Reply #18 on:** January 06, 2011, 02:49:10 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on January 06, 2011, 08:54:04 AM

I have both verions of the Magician. The original Magician did not have flaps and is about 75% size of the Midwest Magician. The Midwest Magician showed with or without flaps. On the shelf I have the Walter Umland version of the Original Magician. May build this one for myself as the kids have taken over the Brodak Version of the Origanal Magician. Also on the Midwest version used the stab as a pattern to make a new one out of 3/16 hard balsa. All of mine had the half ribs because it looked better.

Hi Doc,

Many years ago, we built a "Jim Lee" modified Midwest magician. Aaron did it to resemble Windy's "toxic green" Cardinal, copying the entire paint scheme of it. Still have it and the Kawasaki Green, Plum Crazy Purple, and red still looks wild! Flew pretty good, too.

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #19 on:** January 06, 2011, 03:57:07 PM »

Quote from: Jim Kraft on January 05, 2011, 07:59:44 PM

Yeah Randy; That one runs so well I got another one. It is a superb Magician motor for sure. I run a 12-6 APC cut to 11, with the tips left square, and 5% nitro, and the things just motor around in a solid 4 stroke just beeping to a 2 when needed. I really like the way they run. Arn't you glad your old motor is being put to good use?

You bet!!! I gotta fine another one.................ah, under $100 though!

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #20 on:** January 06, 2011, 06:03:41 PM »

Just....MAGICAL! Nice job! I need to get to work on my Magician 15...!

Bill Little · « **Reply #21 on:** January 06, 2011, 08:54:01 PM »

Quote from: Randy Ryan on January 06, 2011, 03:57:07 PM

You bet!!! I gotta fine another one.................ah, under $100 though!

Randy, it can be done. Just takes a good bit of looking. Most I have paid for one was right at $40 for one not even broken it. Now the *McGas .40* which I had been looking for going on about 15 years or more took a good bit of horse trading to get. but no currency changed hands, my favorite kind of deal.

I want to run, it but am almost afraid to! LOL!!

Bill