Hi all,

While I have been a member of RCU for some time I rarely post but tend to read a lot. But I have erecently decided to finally get off my butt and do some modeling for a change. I have been flying since about 1990, learning to fly while stationed at Osan AB, Korea. I flew for many years and had a ton of time to build and fly most everything for trainers to DF. For some reason I got out of the hobby for a long time (from around 200-present); not really sure why but it doesn't matter now. I got into model trains for a time but it never really took off on me (pun intended) and have recently come back around to RC due to involvement by my neighbor in sailplanes and electrics. I have also taken a new job that is forcing me to be away from my family during the week and has given me a significant amount of time in which I can pursue the hobby. I have already started on a Great Planes .60 Extra to give me something to fly soon but I am itching to get started on something a little more me. I also picked up a brand new DX7 from a local flyer that was won at a raffle cheap :-)

I have decided that this year if the year to finally do something scale. The goal is to get a plane done that would be good enough to attend a US Scale Masters qualifier and do well. The problem I am having is deciding on a plane to build. I have a list of items that MUST HAVES as follows:

1. Must be fairly large (1/4 scale or so)
2. MUST NOT be a jet :-)
3. Civilian pototype is heavily favored over military, but military not out of the equation
4. Must fly well on electric power (I am so done with glow and gas)
5. NO ARFS

What do you think would be a good plane and why? Mind you it needs to be a plane that I can research easily. Something in a museum in Alaska is not a a good candidate LOL I was thinking I would head down to the local airport and see what planes were there and possibly model a local aircraft. It would make it easy to document and photograph which will help in static scoring.

Any thoughts on the subject are appreciated. Meanwhile I will plug away on the Extra and I look forward for any suggestions.

John Martin
Sumter, SC (Weekdays)
Fort Mill, SC (Weekends)