Under Construction

Ten years on from the successful Flying Legends 20% scale Spitfire, This photograph shows that Mike is well advanced with the pattern making for his latest project - a 112" 25% scale Spitfire. The first four prototypes will form the basis of a new Supermarine display team for the 2006 season.

The entire model will be moulded in epoxy and will have every detail included, even the correct gull wing layout on the underside inboard wing roots. All the rivets, fastener and hatches are represented as can be seen here on this photograph of a wing panel. Mike aims to eventually release a kit to cover not just the first Mk 9s, but also Mks 2, 5, 8, and 14 also PR Mks 7, 10, and 11. This is clearly something for us to look forward to.

As of 2/1/06 Mike was half way through the moulding process. All detail had been added and it was ready for moulding after careful alinement of wings and fuselage.

Here are the wing panels, with the dihedral moulded in. They slot together on an aluminium tube which picks up the laminated full length spar in each unit..

Here is the first fuselage made to prove the moulds, in aluminium. This is always laid up as a "heavy" non-flying version to be use solely for building the patterns for the engine cowling and cockpit canopy. It also gets used for templating all the internals, ie formers control runs and tailplane fitting etc. Mike's trusty tea mug lends scale to the 25% Spitfire.

To give an idea of the time that goes into pattern making for moulding, rather than producing a one off model, these three pictures illustrate the work required to produce the cowl mould. The first picture shows the engine cowling profile with spinner and thrust line checked. The second picture has the foam added ready for carving. finally 28 hrs you get to picture three.

Here is the finished engine cowling ready to mould. Dzus fasteners and all, after approximately 35/40 hours.

James Morris' Challenger 2

James' model for 2006 is to be another biplane based on a Pitts, but with Ultimate wings. The fuselage is slightly larger than his previous Pitts and it will have a slightly larger wingspan. The model will be lighter than his ex-Pitts and with larger control surfaces. So it should again have an entertaining performance. Will there be another awesome smoke system? - we will just have to wait and see.

Here is the main fuselage woodwork completed.

Here the front of the fuselage has been covered with fiberglass sheets screwed to the woodwork.

The wings are now complete and assembled (January 2006).

At the bottom of the fuselage are some cooling ducts for the exhaust (January 2006).

Nearly complete (March 2006).

Colin Hammond’s (Phoenix) Ziroli Dakota

For those that saw the sad demise of Ken Ritchie’s Dakota at Catton Park in 2005, she’s risen from the debris like the intrepid Phoenix!

It is of course a Nick Ziroli plan, featuring a fibreglass nose unit from Nick Ziroli, and Colin utilised some of the parts from the damaged airframe under the guidance of Tony Nijhuis. (The Flying Dutchman) The rear of the old airframe was untouched from the trailing edge of the wing rearwards and was sweated onto a new front end, once again under the watchful eye of ‘Nidge’ using the same idea he uses for his 18’ Lancaster. (It fits in his Volvo! Don’t you know!)?

The retracts resembled a tangled ball of bent and broken tubes, until Mike Jackson kindly offered to, “straighten em out!” Superb job done, many thanks Mike!

S.M Services have supplied me with new wiring, Backers, and switches. Thanks Sandra & Terry, nice to talk to Terry again after his illness, love his outlook on life, “Magic, keep it up Terry.”

Thanks also to Harold of the Catton Group for repairing the Zenoah 38’s, look forward to picking them up at the AGM in November 2006.

If you are reading my (Colin's) scribbling and do not belong to the LMA, take it from me, superb Association, please give it some serious thought, and join us around the shows in 2006, you won’t be disappointed.

Well, I’m now off to those grand gents down At Shoreham, West Sussex, Graham and John of Fibre-Tec, to stock up with materials to glass the old girl. (The Dak of course!!)

See you around the shows in 2006.

Photograph: Vince Raia

Here is the model completed ready for test flying.

Dave Johnson's Airbus

So, just what does our Chairman get up to when he is not busy running the LMA and organising shows. well he has been known to do a bit of building. Here is his latest project a 15ft wingspan Airbus. He estimates the weight will be 80 lb. It will be powered by two Wren 14lb thrust turbines. Andrew Johnson is also building one, so these will make a nice pair!

Developing well with his little helper in the corner! (February 2004).

Initial flights in primer were made in November 2006. Dave says it flys great, is very stable and no trouble at all.

Now painted (January 2006) Dave poses next to the model in the workshop.

Here it is ready for flight. "It flys great", reported Dave, "no problem at all". He tells me he has tested its glide and landing without engines and said it was no bother at all. So it look like another successful project to join the Johnson stable. It's going to make a great addition to this year's show circuit.

Photograph: Keith Mitchell

..and here it is in-flight. Photograph taken by Keith /Mitchell at the Scottish Airshow 2006/

Keith Mitchell's 33% scale Hunter.

Because of the amount of pictures on this model a separate page is linked here.

Paul Craggs' Cessna Skymaster

This 20ft wingspan plane has an anticipated weight of 125lb. It will be powered by two 3W 150cc engines driving a 30"x12" at the rear and 32"x10" at the front.