flyingvranch

Several of my friends on this board have asked to see my newest plane so here it is.....

I just finished up an old Larry Sewell kit from the eighties. It's the single seat version of the famous Pietenpol Aircamper designed in the 1920's.

The kit was in pretty sad shape when I bought it, so a lot of this is scratch built obviously. It's powered by a hacker c-150 with a 6:1 gearbox using a 6 cell lipo. It is covered in silk and doped with 6 coats of Randolph butyrate dope. I tinted the last few coats to give the fabric an antique translucent look.

The full scale plane uses a Ford Model A motor, so I replicated that using balsa, brass, aluminum, etc. The radiator is fabricated from solid brass sheet stock and soldered together just like the full scale. The cowling and forward turtledeck I fabricated out of aluminum lithoplate and I did the engine turned finish myself as per the full scale plane. There are a lot of metal fittings on this plane and I made them just like the full scale shape using various thicknesses of brass stock.

The finished model weighs 11 lbs with the battery and spans 81 inches. The wing is one piece and nearly two inches thick, so it rather resembles an ironing board! It's quarter scale to the full size and is rather large as it takes up a good bit of my shop when assembled.

To add a little comedy, I cut the well worn leather cockpit coming out of my old wallet! (I got a new one for Christmas anyway) I figured since my wallet is always flying out the door to buy airplane supplies, I may as well have it really fly. The model does fly very nicely and is a relaxing slow and easy plane.

The plane is certianly not contest scale in my opinion, but rather a study in scale construction methods to push the envelope a little farther on each plane that I build. I've been building over 35 years and I always try to improve a little if possible with each new build.

Thanks for looking!

LunaSea

A real BEAUTY! You really did a great job on the engine and radiator details! I have one of those kits in my storeroom (among 50+ others). I hope when I "get around to it" that mine will turn out as good... That antique neutral fabric look can also be acheived using clear WPBU thinned with a bit of strong tea.

soarrich

My Feedback: (98)

Beautiful. [sm=thumbup.gif][sm=thumbup.gif]

What did you tint the dope with?

foodstick

The pilot must have had a heck of a view with that big ole radiator straight in front of him! Its too bad they couldn't have worked that out better on the original...

great looking build...

flyingvranch

Rich,
I tinted the dope with an ink product I bought from Hobby Lobby Art Supply. It is Liquidtex Professional Acrylic Ink product number 4260332

A few drops is all it takes. It's rather hard to work with, but the end result looks much more realistic than just a pristine new dope finish.

Thanks for the compliments folks!

ARUP

Very nice! I like 'old timey' airplanes. Go ahead and enter some contests with it and let people know there are 'other' airplanes out there! (If you catch my drift- don't want to tick off 'same old same old' builders and flyers!). Who knows what inspiration may be had by your neat airplane. Tailwinds, ARUP

slither46

Awesome job! Can anyone tell me where I can get a copy of the wing plan for this plane? I have the opportunity to buy the same kit but it does not have the plan. Thanks, Bill

ARUP

The EAA has plans that could be scaled down.

slither46

Thanks for the info. Bill

balsa brain

ARUP, are the plans that Eaa has full scale? I have a set of the real full scale ones that i bought from Bernie Pietenpols son about 20 years ago that are so faded now as to be unuseable. Nice plane you put together there .

cfv007

My Feedback: (5)

Nice job! I love that plane. I have been looking for some time now for plans or a kit to build. I have an OS IL 300 I want to put in it. I might have to scale it up a bit ... maybe 27-30%.

Charles

Balsawings

Uncle Willie has a set of plans for the Pete'. You might have to do a bit of searching on his web site to find them but he has them and they are cheap. If I remember correctly, they are 1/4 scale.

uncle willies plans.com



Bob Cox

ARUP

I'm fairly certain the EAA has these plans available for homebuilders. I have a friend locally that is flying one powered with a 65hp Continental.

David Redden

I was the original owner of OmniModels and our one exclusive line was S2 Models owned by Larry Sewell. There were 5 kits in the line. The Ultimate Trainer 40, Ultimate Trainer 60, Miss Los Angeles classic pylon racer, a huge 1/3rd scale Decathlon and the Pietenpol. I actually still have the original prototype/trade show display model of the Pietenpol in my shop.

Nice build and it's great to see one still around. There were probably no more than 100 of that kit ever made.

cfv007

My Feedback: (5)

nice ... what is the wingspan of the pietenpol? 1/3 scale?

Charles

mangolo

Can someone help get a copy of the building instruction for the S2 Pietenpol Sky Scout


Thanks

Waldo
Waco brotherhood #22

flyingvranch

Thanks for the nice compliments folks!. Sorry about my tardy reply, but I had forgotten about this thread. Mangolo, I have sent you a PM about the building instructions....

mangolo

Bud Thanks for the prompt reply and much needed instruction,sent you a pm with my email address

Waldo
Waco brotherhood #22

dreid

My Feedback: (13)

I have plans and f/g cowl for the 1/4 scale Pietenpol Sky Scout. Also offer them in 1/3 scale. The plans that Uncle Willies offers are the plans I own the rights to and have the original mylar in my possesion. www.reidsmodels.com

Joe Pierson

My Feedback: (12)

Hi flyingvranch,
Great building job on your Aircamper!! Really looks nice! If any one runs onto a Sky Scout Kit 1/4 Scale (for Sale) Please let me know,!!!
Thank you,
Joe Pierson
Kerman Ca.

OFNAMAN

My Feedback: (3)

I know this is an old thread but it has be the closest thing i have found for what i am searching for. I have a S2 Ultimate trainer 60 that my neighbor gave me and i'm searching for the build instructions if there are any. i have the model plans but not sure if there were any build instructions for it as all the other models i have built had them. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Scott C.

[email protected]

atron

What a fantastic job!!!