Nelson Hobby Specialties

Aircraft Kits

Reflections on future kit projects.

by Jerry Nelson

May 20, 2009

I have several kit projects that have been started and others that I would like to make. My goal is to develop some unique kits, both in design and more importantly in their construction materials. I am been unable to progress significantly on my kit projects due to many reasons. Main reason is the lack of resources to develop the kits. Like many businesses in our country, sales have dropped. Most of my products are building related. Many modelers are now buying ARF's and are not purchasing building materials like they use to.

I would like to sell my existing business so I can spend my available time producing kits. However, in recent times there are few individuals that are interested getting into the R/C industry. As I get older, I am finding it more and more difficult to keep up with the day to day operation of my business. If I could sell my existing business, I could relax a little and then I could focus my time on creating kit projects. But, I must think positive and try and cope with the business conditions that exist now. I will continue to develop potential kits on a part time basis. Hopefully in the near future, I may be able to put some of my kit projects into production.

I think there is a sufficient market out there for highly engineered scale and specialty kits. These would be somewhat expensive and will not be for everyone and that is OK by me. But these kits will be of very high quality and will be of two different construction methods. One method is to use aluminum tubing for the fuselage and tail groups. The other being typical balsa wood construction. I have the ability to utilize professional (CAD) Solid Modeling computer software to engineer the kits on professional level. Examples of my CAD work are shown below.

30% Scale all wood CX4 homebuilt. 85" wingspan. 30-40 cc engines. Two piece wing and scale cockpit. Weight apx. 20 lbs.

30% 1980 Great Lakes. Aluminum tubing scale structure for fuse & tail .60- 90cc Engines. 95"wingspan. Weight Apx. 35 lbs.

Of particular interest to me will be scale R/C flying models that are built in a similar method of full scale aircraft. These would not be scale R/C models, instead they would be miniature R/C aircraft. Scale inside as well as scale outside!!. Notably, steel tube and fabric models such as Piper Cubs, Wacos, Pitts Specials, etc. These type of aircraft are all built very similar. The construction materials and engineering of the steel tube and fabric covered aircraft have not changed much since the 1930's.

I have found an epoxy (MetalWeld by System Three Resins) that can bond aluminum to aluminum with an excellent bond. I can create a scale metal tubing structure like a Piper Cub or a Waco from aluminum tubing. Then simply epoxy the aluminum tubing together. The aluminum tubing structure is much lighter than using steel tubing. Also, steel tubing is difficult to weld and takes specialized equipment.

7AC Aeronca Champion

Two metal tubing and fabric projects have been started. A 30% 7AC Aeronca Champion and a 30% Great Lakes Biplane. The 7AC is over 50% complete with a completed fuselage and tail group. It has been engineered using a conventional 2D AutoCAD computer software.

Photo shows the almost competed 7AC Aeronca Champion fuselage and rudder assembly. Aluminum tubing is epoxied together. Fuselage is about 6 1/2 ft. long. Wingspan is 125". Weight of structure as shown in the photo is about 13 pounds. Estimated weight is 30 pounds.

GREAT LAKES Biplane

The Great Lakes project is about 90-95% drawn in a 3D CAD format. Upper ailerons need to be drawn and the items in front of the firewall. As with the Aeronca project, original factory drawings are being used to engineer the model's structure. Here is another example of my CAD drawing for the Great lakes. Estimate there are over 400 hours of time over a period of a year spent on the drawing.

An illustration of the cockpit area of the 30% Great Lakes. Computer generated photo quality illustration shows all the details. Servos are located under the rear seat and are hidden from view. Rudder petals would work too. If the servos were deleted from the illustration, perhaps the viewer may think this a photo of a real ai craft. Many of these types of illustrations would be used in my instruction manuals.

Here is another illustration of the Great Lakes. The upper ailerons, fiberglass cowl nose bowl, wheel pants, and flying wires are not shown in this view. Gas tank is located in the center section of the top wing.

CX4 Homebuilt

Another project that I have spent a quite a bit of engineering time on is a 30% all wood scale model of the CX4 homebuilt. The CX4 is a somewhat new all aluminum homebuilt that is becoming popular. Single place and powered with a VW engine. A very nice looking aircraft. My CX4 is a project that will be of lower investment cost for me. Perhaps a project that will be affordable for me in the near future.

30% Scale CX4 homebuilt. 85" wingspan. 30-40cc engines. All wood construction. Fiberglass cowl and wheel pants. OSBGX engine shown inside cowl.

My CX4 is of all balsa and liteply construction. Typical type of construction for this type and size of model. Cowl and wheel pants are fiberglass. The drawings are complete other than all of the construction or shop drawings. I have started construction on the model. Sorry to say, to date I have only built the stabilizer. Wingspan is 85 inches. Will feature a scale cockpit with a sliding canopy. Room for a full figure 1/4 scale pilot is provided for. Plan to use an OSBGX converted to ProSpark ignition and with a Walbro carburetor. Estimated weight about 20 pounds.

I initially planned to offer a complete kit, but that doesn't seem realistic for me at this time. Instead I will offer plans, instructions, and a short kit for the laser cut parts. Prices not determined yet.

In the near future I do not see me working on the Aeronca, Great Lakes, and the CX4 projects. Just cannot afford the development and tooling costs as well as the initial inventory of materials. To come up with a much lower cost investment project that I can afford to produce, I have decided on doing a limited series of Vintage R/C aircraft. some with electric power. I still have many of my original R/C aircraft that I designed in the 50 and 60's. Some of these I plan to reengineer into a CAD format.

TRIXTER BEAM

A 1950 Vintage R/C reengineered for electric power

First project will be a Trixter Beam. The Beam was one of the first popular R/C kits. It was designed by Lou Andrews (designer of the still poplar Aeromaster biplane) and produced by Guillows in 1950. Only single channel rudder control was provided for. Only single channel R/C equipment was available in 1950. Wing span is 50 inches and the model was powered with a McCoy 09.

My reengineered Trixter Beam. All wood construction. Powered with an Astro 02 electric motor. Rudder and elevator flight controls. 50" wingspan. Aluminum landing gear with 2 inch wheels. Estimated weight 40-45 ounces. One should be able to fly my Beam under most common wind conditions.

The Beam is a project that I can afford to produce. It will be available in plans only. Detailed instructions with many illustrations will be available on-line available in a PDF file format. A short kit with all the laser cut parts will also be available. Initially the plans will be offered for $25 plus shipping. Plans can be purchased on our shopping cart. Plans are individually computer generated in three 24" x 48" drawings.

Will have a short kit with laser cut parts. Do not have an cost of time estimate for the laser cut short kit.