1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship"  
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Tower Hobbies
Enter up to 4 keywords or Tower stock numbers
Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
    Search This Thread  
 
Printable Version

All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> Glow to Electric Conversions >> 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship"
Page: [1] 2   next >   >>  

Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/6/2005 11:07 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 4814
Score: 104
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 11/4/2009
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline
Hi all,

This Travel Air Model R "Mystery Ship" was originally built by Paul Weigand in 1988 from a Fred Reese "Golden Age Models" kit. It was powered by an O.S. 1.08 FSR. It won a Dolly Wisher hand-made Teddy Bear as the Pilots Choice award at the 1989 K-W Flying Dutchman Scale Rally in Kitchner, Ontario.

The model was sold in 1991 and used for display in an office. In June of 2005, it was repurchased by the original builder and owner, Paul Weigand, who converted it to clean and quiet electric power. After 14 years, the Travel Air "Mystery Ship" flies 2 pounds lighter.

Specifications:
1/5 Scale
70" wingspan
800 sq. in. wingarea
49" length
Flying weight is 10.5lbs

Power System:
AXI 4130/16
Jeti 77-amp Opto
6v UBEC
6-cell Kokam 3.2AH pack
APC 16x10 e-prop
1080 watts at 53amps
6700 RPM


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 9/7/2005 10:01 PM >


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures
       Post #: 1

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/7/2005 1:04 AM   
pmmartin


 

Posts: 88
Score: 100
Joined: 3/23/2002
Last Login: 11/4/2009
From: East Amherst,NY-Vero Beach, FL, USA
Status: offline
Looks great! This is very interesting. Where and when will it fly next?

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 2

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/7/2005 3:20 PM   
airflow



Posts: 80
Score: 100
Joined: 10/6/2002
Last Login: 11/5/2009
From: Brockport, NY, USA
Status: offline
Superb Craftsmanship on this Mystery Ship.
Does it have a UBEC? Does it have a Discharge Protection Module?
Please keep us informed of any updates on the plane.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 3

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/7/2005 9:56 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 4814
Score: 104
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 11/4/2009
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline
Yes, it uses a 6v UBEC. I'll add it up top.

I'll post more on this ship soon like flying photos and a video. It is flying up in Kitchner, Ontario this weekend trying to recapture its trophy from 14 years ago.

It will also be in my tent at the NEAT Fair on September 16th-18th.

An interesting story is that it was originally sold because the builder couldn't stand having it unclean after flying it and it was a real job to get all the glow fuel off, taking several hours. The advancement in electric flight over 14 years provided the opportunity to fly it again, this time only lighter and cleaner.


< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 9/7/2005 10:03 PM >


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to airflow)
       Post #: 4

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/11/2005 10:23 PM   
bigbobed


 

Posts: 66
Score: 100
Joined: 10/7/2003
Last Login: 11/3/2009
From: Foxfire Village, NC, USA
Status: offline
Here's some more pictures.

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 5

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/12/2005 12:38 AM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 4814
Score: 104
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 11/4/2009
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline
Hey Bob,

See how your cowl photo was before Paul added the spark plug wires as in mine above?

I went to drop off my 35mm photos of the Mystery Ship flying and pulled the wrong roll of film out of my camera case. A total lack of focus on my part! :/


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to bigbobed)
       Post #: 6

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/12/2005 2:38 AM   
bigbobed


 

Posts: 66
Score: 100
Joined: 10/7/2003
Last Login: 11/3/2009
From: Foxfire Village, NC, USA
Status: offline
Greg, my pictures were taken on Aug 21 at the Great Electric Funfly. Paul didn't have it ready to fly then, and I was disappointed that I couldn't stick around to see it fly. He mentioned that there was a missing cylinder that he had removed to make room for the glow motor and he intended to replace it. I wondered how he could find the missing cylinder after all those years. If you compare our photos side by side, it appears he replaced the whole motor rather than just the missing cylinder. Just shows you what an exacting scale modeler he is. By the way, looks like some Kokam's under the AXI? Guess you mentioned them in your first post.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 7

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/12/2005 9:49 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 4814
Score: 104
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 11/4/2009
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline
Bob,

Are you the guy that showed me the new way to mount AXI motors with PVC spacers?


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to bigbobed)
       Post #: 8

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/12/2005 10:17 PM   
bigbobed


 

Posts: 66
Score: 100
Joined: 10/7/2003
Last Login: 11/3/2009
From: Foxfire Village, NC, USA
Status: offline
Yep.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 9

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/12/2005 11:59 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 4814
Score: 104
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 11/4/2009
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline
Ahhh, see my memory still works a little. It was the Texas address that threw me.


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to bigbobed)
       Post #: 10

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/22/2005 2:27 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 4814
Score: 104
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 11/4/2009
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline
The Mystery Ship flew at the NEAT Fair noontime demos on Friday and Saturday. Although these photos don't show it, the pilot was replaced by a hand-painted pilot from the Kitchner event. I believe the place is called "First Flight".

I still haven't developed my 35mm film roll yet.

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 9/22/2005 2:36 PM >


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 11

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 9/24/2005 1:55 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 4814
Score: 104
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 11/4/2009
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline
Paul W. flies the Mystery Ship on Labor Day weekend.


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 9/25/2005 12:35 AM >


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 12

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 10/20/2005 7:51 PM   
scalepilot


 

Posts: 8
Score: 100
Joined: 11/17/2004
Last Login: 11/5/2009
From: Forence, KY, USA
Status: offline
Hey Guys-

Just wanted to see how much interest there would be on the Golden Age Models Kits of the Travel Air.
I now own the rights to Golden Age Models. I have not started producing any yet, but I have most of the parts. Should have a 1/4 scale fuselage made soon the original mold was lost. Of course I have the 1/5 scale "R" if anyone is interested.

By the way Greg incredible model!!

Thanks

Matt

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 13

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 10/25/2005 6:25 AM   
hcuellart



Posts: 119
Score: 100
Joined: 4/4/2004
Last Login: 11/7/2009
From: South Padre Island, TX, USA
Status: offline
I would be very interested in the 1/4 scale version of the travel air mystery ship. Matt, which other models were produced by the company I am very interested in these scale old timers.
Good luck!!!
Homero

_____________________________

Best regards,
Homero Cuellar

Hide Signatures

(in reply to scalepilot)
       Post #: 14

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 10/25/2005 5:46 PM   
scalepilot


 

Posts: 8
Score: 100
Joined: 11/17/2004
Last Login: 11/5/2009
From: Forence, KY, USA
Status: offline
Homero-


Well currently the Fred Reese designed Travel Air Mystery Ship in 1/5 and 1/4 scale, also a 1/4 scale Ryan STA.
In the future there will be a .20 and .60 size Gee Bee R-1/R-2 Glass fuse foam cores. This is a hobby for me also not much of a business. I couldn't be more thrilled to offer the Fred Reese designs they are incredible models that not too many people have.


Thanks for asking-

Matt

Hide Signatures

(in reply to hcuellart)
       Post #: 15

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 10/30/2005 9:53 PM   
Eplane65


 

Posts: 143
Score: 100
Joined: 5/26/2003
Last Login: 10/28/2009
From: Zephyrhills, FL, USA
Status: offline
Greg, will a 5v UBEC work ok??

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 16

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 10/15/2006 7:33 PM   
jfassino


 

Posts: 47
Score: 100
Joined: 9/11/2003
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: Dunlap, IL, USA
Status: offline
Any chance we could see the plane from below? I have never seen the paint scheme from below. Great looking Mystery Ship

Jim

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Eplane65)
       Post #: 17

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 10/16/2006 2:07 AM   
N1EDM



Posts: 2246
Score: 105
Joined: 7/19/2002
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: Brockton, MA, USA
Status: offline
I saw your plane at the NEAT Fair - immaculate workmanship. Maybe someday I can come close to that...

Sorry that I missed the demo (I came on Sunday morning) but even as a static display, that was a beautiful airplane.

Bob

_____________________________

AMA 4307 Club Saito Member #61
An expert is someone who has been doing it for 15 minutes longer than you.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to jfassino)
       Post #: 18

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 10/21/2006 12:47 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 4814
Score: 104
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 11/4/2009
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline
Hi guys,

Paul replaced his 6s 3200mAh cells with new Cellpro (20C) 5000mAh cells and it gave the Mystery Ship much better power and duration as it is a bit on the heavy side for an AXI 4130 motor. He flew it all 3 days during the demos. These 5000mAh cells are the same as PolyQuest, Tanic, and Duralite EVO.

Here are some photos from the NEAT Fair. In the group shot of Team FMA, left to right is Lynn Bowerman, Dan Egabroad, Devin McGrath, myself, and Paul Weigand.


photos by "Papa Jeff" Ring

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 10/21/2006 12:52 PM >


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to N1EDM)
       Post #: 19

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 10/21/2006 12:56 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 4814
Score: 104
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 11/4/2009
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline
The Mystery Ship placed second in the scale competition to the Imperial Airways commercial passenger plane made from wood. The builder did a spectacular job!


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 10/21/2006 12:57 PM >


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 20

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 11/30/2006 3:30 AM   
East RC


 

Posts: 92
Score: 100
Joined: 7/18/2007
Last Login: 10/27/2009
From: Zebulon, NC, USA
Status: offline
Greg,

Chris from HL here....Has the VTOL article been printed yet..or am I way behind?

_____________________________

East R/C Monkey

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 21

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 12/2/2006 2:05 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 4814
Score: 104
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 11/4/2009
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline
Hi Chris,

Part 1 of my "Project VTOL" is scheduled for the January or February issue of Quiet Flyer so it could be the next issue coming out. My new job outside the R/C industry has kept me busy so I am not sure when the next part will be ready.

As you can see from the photos, most of the main parts are from Hobby Lobby.

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to East RC)
       Post #: 22

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 7/11/2007 9:07 AM   
Rube Goldberg


 

Posts: 220
Score: 105
Joined: 6/5/2006
Last Login: 10/27/2009
From: Whale Tail, RI, USA
Status: offline
Here's a few photos of my Fred Reese Travel Air Mystery Ship. I'm probably the third owner, I think the original owner was the one that added stick-on lead weights to the Williams Bros. looking faux radial cylinders. Of course that was a structural disaster to the inner cowling that probably didn't last long.
Anyway, not nearly as scale looking as the one in the initial thread, but for I think $75 at a swap meet it was a good buy. Wing weighs a ton, fuselage weighs virtually nothing. Still, and probably will always be a "slimer" with an OS 91 four stroke.

I'd guess not many of these kits were produced.

Rube

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 23

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 5/12/2008 3:30 PM   
MormonMike


 

Posts: 1192
Score: 110
Joined: 9/18/2002
Last Login: 10/11/2009
From: millville, UT, USA
Status: offline
It's nice to see all this but nobody has said where there might be a possibility of finding and buying a kit of this plane. Who and where please. MM

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Rube Goldberg)
       Post #: 24

RE: 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship" - 5/13/2008 1:09 AM   
N1EDM



Posts: 2246
Score: 105
Joined: 7/19/2002
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: Brockton, MA, USA
Status: offline
Let me know if you want to sell it... and, bring it to the SSRCC Scale Fly-In in August in Bridgewater... show it off!

Bob

_____________________________

AMA 4307 Club Saito Member #61
An expert is someone who has been doing it for 15 minutes longer than you.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to MormonMike)
       Post #: 25

Page:   [1] 2   next >   >>  
All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> Glow to Electric Conversions >> 1929 Travel Air "Mystery Ship"
Page: [1] 2   next >   >>  





Jump to:


 
Google 



Search | Marketplace | Event Calendar | Local Clubs | Magazine | Product Ratings | New Products | Discussion Forums

Photo Gallery | Instructor Search | Field|Track|Marina Search

Advertisers | Hobby Vendor Resources | Rate Manufacturers | Sign In/Sign Up

SITE MAP!   : :   FORUM RULES

© 2001 - 2007 24-7 RC, LLC, all rights reserved.

Charities we support that also need your help
Yorkie Rescue | Humane Society | ASPCA | Crohn's-Colitis America

Kaango.com Classifieds


1.219RCU1