1/2A Texaco Foote Westerner

A gift from Larry Davidson.   This silk covered model was built in 1993 and was quite competitive.  I have to fix the warps and tears in the stab, but it should be flying again soon.   This is the A version of the Foote Westerner with the extended wing.   It is now available as a kit.   It's distinguished from the C version by the larger fin and undercambered stabilizer.

C Westerner here.


Larry's Store here

I just finished building a flying wing and the wings folds, 1/2 a size  
Gil Morris 

I used the micro timer from Bob Stalick in Jack Knife ( flying wing design) and it worked well but  the model spins like a top going up from engine torque, Plan to build Swing Wing Delta in place of Jack Knife in hopes of improving performance from less spinning which eats up energy.. See Vladimer Sychov article of 2012 of similar history http://www.thebuildingboard.com/2012/02/vladimir-sychovs-folder.html  Thought you might wonder where the Micro Timers are going.   Gil

Getting Ready for Italy

Getting ready for the 2019 European SAM Champs.  Level 5 sailplane pilot  and world traveller Johnny Berlin with his brand new McCoy .6o powered Lanzo Airborn from a Bob Holman laser cut kit.   http://www.bhplans.com/GMPg2.html


Attenzione! Gli americani stanno arrivando a Ferrara!

Winter Gathering at The Boice Model Ranch

Foam Dragonfly from Thomas Ryan on Vimeo.

1937 Fillon Wakefield

I have found a suitable home for Richard Thompson's Fillon 1937 Wakefield model at the Air Museum in Angers, France.
https://www.musee-aviation-angers.fr/collection
They are quite enthusiastic at the prospect of diplaying the model. (The original Fillon model is at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace is Le Bourget near Paris)
I'll bring it Thursday, complete with replacement bamboo landing gear and wheels which were missing.
Looking forward to seeing you.

Jean-Marie Piednoir

PS: You may be interested in the attached documents detailing the 
single-skein, flexible drive, free-wheel, remote unlock system devised 
by Emmanuel Fillon.

Richard James Thompson was born February 4, 1931 in Adrian, MI. He is the son of the late James and the late Doris (Hoffman) Thompson. He was a graduate of Adrian High School Class of 1950; where he was a gifted 3-Sport athlete (Football, Basketball, and Track).
He attended Western Michigan University for a year before joining the U.S. Marine Corp during the Korean War. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War from 11/02/1951 to 11/01/1953. He married Muriel Margaret Lantz on January 13, 1952 in Adrian, MI.
Upon returning to Michigan, he played Semi-Pro Football for the Michigan Big Red football team in Adrian. Dick last worked for T.R.W. in the Romeo Plant; a tool and die pattern maker. He helped with the development of passenger safety restraint systems. His name is on at least nine patents for air bags.
He enjoyed building and flying model airplanes, hunting (mostly: turkey, pheasant, and waterfowl), fishing, and camping. He was fond of saying, "Everything you do-do it your very best." Dick was a national champion model airplane builder; a meticulous master craftsman, he was a member of the Society of Antique Modelers. He won several national titles. He also competed abroad. He loved France!