A few years ago, I decided to build what is, in my opinion, one of the all-time most attractive planes, the Argus, by Steve Wooley.
The size and shape led me to build it around my favorite engine, the SAITO .30.
After a few flops, one being building it too light
, I finally got it dialed in and it's turned out to be the best flying plane I've ever owned.
The plane is attractive, a snap to build (I had it ready for covering in two weeks), VERY easy to fly and, for it's rather small size, remarkably good in the wind. I flew it in conditions that had some larger planes bouncing around and it just seemed to ignore the wind.
I feel that in the hands of a competant pilot, this plane would be a real trophy collector in both classic and ama precision aerobatics.
It is very easy to scratch-build and the I-beam is foolproof.
Mine is silk covered, weighs around 40 ounces, needs around 2 ounces of fuel (Brodak 10-23, 50/50), flies well on 59 foot, .015 lines attached to a stock EZ Just Hot Rock handle and a simple non-uniflow metal tank.
After substantial experimentation, I found the ideal prop, an APC 9 1/2-6. PERFECT!!!
And, of course, the sound of the little 4-stroke engine tops out the package.
Bob Z.