Jim Kirkland designed the Beachcomber for proportional control he did use some borrowed elements of reed planes is his setup. Was the Beachcomber a clean sheet design most certainly but with ideas from eariler designs. The Compensator used the diamond stab from Kirkalnds Intruder but was also longer by about 4 inches than the Tiger Tail/Sweetator and longer by over 2 inches than the Intruder. These were all planes from Southern RC and from the same general geographic location Southern Alabama panhandle of Flordia. It is safe to say that Steve Helms probabily did borrow ideas from his Southern RC fellow flyers and designers. At the same time how much could you change with the 10 cc rule for power in book. Changes came as more power was made from later engines ie bigger planes with longer moments to smooth up flying even further. The Bootlegger is 3 inches longer and no diamond stab, but with slightly less area than a Compensator. I will still try to build a bootlegger with wood fuse using the Compensator has basis for the former placement aft of wing saddle but use, bootlegger length, side area, and flying surfaces.

Tim

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