Dear Bill;

All the older U-control Kyosho kits with four engines were in the 82" to 90" area for wing span. I believe the Super G Connie is 83", for I built one At Ninh Hoa, as well as the C-124. The wood then, was acceptable, because there was no other alternative for us to use. The kit wood is not up to today's standards, but you have a full kit to use as patterns, to trace onto good material. Both kits flew quite well, and that sprug main landing gear is a trip. All are set up with fixed gear in the kits, kit wood is not that good, but usable for tracing bulkheads for duplicating. All the wings seem a little more involved then need to be, and if I were to build, I would concider changing the build up with the wings...the fus build up are all straight forward...and there is a bit of carving to do in these kits too.

I flew off of Super Seiners out of American Samoa and Guam. In 14 years doing this work, I ended up making port to discharge fish in all the Pacific Island Nations, from Christmass Island to Thailand...and even in the America's. I went to both China and Taiwan too in the work. The last ship I was on was an American Flagged Vessel, of 1800 Tons, 293 feet long-that was a 62 day trip. I would be at sea from three weeks to three months...and I very rarely flew over land...5600 hrs over water, single engine piston and turbine powered helicopters. I spotted fish up in Alaska in a Robinson, and had a stint flying a DHC-2 too. It was fun and I built some great kits up there and still have them all, and all are still flyable...and yes, a couple have had a rebuild.

As to flying a "V" tail as a twin/three engine model, I know that Beechcraft built and flew one, for I've seen it...and touched it too. NO I did not get to fly it, but I know it is a feasible concept. I did a lot of reading years ago about the problem that Beechcraft had with the "V-tail Bananza (sp?). I read the NTSB reports, I saw the pictures, and helped to modify several Beech "V-tails" myself. The airframe never once failed that I know of, when flown inside the flight manual perimeters. All the catastrophic tail failures accured durring flights outside the flight envelope priscribed in the flight manual. The leading edge would fold down, increasing the load onto the "V" tail, at a high over speed, high G over load. But Beech was blamed, and fixed the problem. The Debonair never had a tail failure, and the airframe was identical, sans the Tail feathers between models. The Debonair is one tough bird...and has T-34 history too in its family.

Beech played around with the angle of the "V"...the angle varies between some Beech Bananza's...mine is set on the model at 109 degrees, and this seems to be the ideal angle from all I can find out about. The center engine should be a plus and asymmetrical thrust, by any out board engine should not be as critical...as just a twin engine model, I do pray...

I opted to build a nice large "V" tail on my model, so I feel I will have the control authority I will need...(oh please, please work). I've flown several gliders with "V" tails, and all flew well. I've just never flown a "V" tail multi before. It's part what I know, part arm chair aerodynamics, and a prayer in its design.

But three is a problem here too over a twin engine model, and that is if I lose two engines, one on a wing and one on the fus., I will have less power on the side running, due to splitting up of the total power into three power plants, not two. All three engines would be a total displacement of .18 x 3 engines + .54. With a twin engine Slo Poke, I would use two .25's to .36's. I will only have 1/3 the power, not half, so if I lose two on a three engine model, I feel I will need to pull all power, and take what I can get on a landing. It's a no sweat deal if I've only the center engine running. Time will tell. Only the gods know and until it flys, I will not know what my out board wing single engine performance will be, if any at all. Maybe my single engine control speed will be below the stall speed of this model...that would be nice surprise and gift.

I've given this a little thought, and I will admit I'm no aerodynamic wiz... I changed out the full span flaps to half aileron, for at least the first flights. Then I will use expo and slowly dial in the Spoilers for roll control...a little at a time. Any way... with the spoilers, I'm going to have some serious pitch control to play with...

The Dual Trexler main gear tires were a definite brain lock...but looks cool as heck. I've flown Trexler tires for many years, and they have a nice bounce to them.

I choose the Slow Poke to modify because it is a most different looking model. I'm going to buy the ARF model and play with it for a while, then fly my three engine rendition of the kit.

My only real concern is if the tail incidence is correct at Zerro-Zerro, with the main wing. Danged if I know how check it...any advice on this ?

Soft landings always,
Bobby of Maui