Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Anyone built and flown Mike Pastro's designs in RCM for the CT-114 Tutor and F-18 pusher prop planes?

Checksix!

My Feedback: (1)

I built the F-18 a few years back and it performed well. Not as fast as you'd hope due to a fairly thick wing but it does help the landings quite a bit. Make sure you have a slightly nose up attitude built into the gear or it will stick to the runway like glue until you give up elevator and then STRAIGHT UP!!

Dave

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

I owned his prototype A-10 pusher...it was a real fun airplane and loved being tossed around the sky. Takeoffs were an adventure though....

mwalsh6

Jim,
Just finished the Canadair Tutor from RCM plans. It's easy to build and I will let you know how it flies. The plane requires alot of lead in the nose to balance, however I am a Heavy builder. Here's a couple of pics of the finished product. I added a mac smoke system and mini mag headlight and underwing fuel tanks for added scale.

Mike

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

That looks fabulous Mike!!!

mwalsh6

Jim,
The Snowbird Tutor flies great, however don't put the mac smoke system in it. I should of realized that with the exhaust backwards there is enough back presure to push the smoke oil into the cylander head choking the engine. Lucky I was high enough and in good position for a dead stick landing. I kept the landings a little hot as with pushers the lack of prop blast over control surfaces make the less responsive at slower speeds. Other than that a great little project and a good flyer, I highly recomend it. good luck..

Mike

mwalsh6

Jim, I forgot to mention but if you are interested in the F-18 design from Mike Pastro the is a Kit available from G&P sales. Heres a couple of pics of the f-18 from them that I built. The camo one is the one I built and the blue angel I picked up at a fun fly, both fly well but I waited a long time to get the kit. A good flyer but grass fields rake havoc on the landing gear. If you have any questions I'll be glad to help...

Mike

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

You don't have to give up on the smoke.... just get a Traxxas header (TRX5540) and cut it into a "J" pipe, as in the photo, and JB weld it on to the end of your muffler. It redirects the exhaust flow. and cuts down the back pressure.

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Thanks Mike, I'm building the F-18 (40 size) currently. It's about 80% complete now and working on the front canopy and deck. Picking a colour scheme. I was going to paint it, but I might just use ultrakote for the first model. I have both plans, the CT-114 and F-18. Like the snowbird scheme, but also snapped photos of the AETE version at the Armed Forces Day in June. Was the canopy for the CT-114 from Bob Holman plans.

Jim

mwalsh6

Jim,
yep both the foam wing cores and the canpoy were from Holman plans and were both good quality. I don't know what he's asking for them now, mine sat on the shelf for awhile before I got a chance to built it. I like the paint scheme you picked. Mine was z-poxy and .75 fiberglass cloth painted with topflite paint. Me and monokote just don't get along. I made the decals with the Testors paper and my computer printer and then clear coated them with topflite clear to fuel proof. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Mike

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

I've used z-poxy for the center sections of planes, but never considered it for laminating 0.75 oz. cloth to a fuselage and wing before. Wouldn't it make it heavy? By top flite paints, i guess you used lusterkote. How many cans did it take to finish the model? It's just too bad the it's only available in spray cans. I was considering latex for my F/A-18 and than spraying it with top flite clear. But it's getting late in the summer and over the winter I don't have any place to spray paint. Except for the paint shop at work (black or light black).

Jim

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Hi Mike, so far here is the completed stages of the 0.40 CF-18 Pusher. Just trying to decide on a colour scheme. Just too many nice ones to choose from. I ended up using 0.75 oz cloth with minwax polycrylic. It's final surface doesn't have the toughness of fibreglass resin or finishing epoxy. It does take many coats to fill the weave of the cloth unless you add baby powder to the polycrylic mix. Smell baby fresh though. Primed with duplicolor filler primer .... sanded off ...... filled again ..... reprimed ..... sanded off ..... primed ..... sanded off...... etc.

Jim

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Here it is so far .....

HornetFitter

My Feedback: (2)

Hey Jim,
If I can be of assistance to your build, please let me know... I was a member of the team this year...
Cheerz,
Dave

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

Getting to the equipment install stage. Couldn't resist putting a hornet on it.

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

I checked with G&P Sales, the kit isn't at a bad price but the shipping was going to cost me $100.00 To bad my brother-in-law doesn't drive semi'sout to the west coast anymore.

Jim