Gents,

more fine responses. Thanks.

A little confession seems in order prior to addressing comments. As far back as I can remember, I have always had a strong attachment to CAP's. (Not so for Extra's, Yak's and Sukhoi's.) I think there are 4 of them in my shop in various forms, shapes and sizes. In fact, there is just something about boxer engines that runs in my blood. I suppose Ferrari might have something to do with it. The car is one of the few things, like soccer, that I feel national pride for, which, coming from me, is rather unusual (not in my typical personality traits).

Because of this, and my fascination with the TOC since I was a kid (as Rusty's I imagine), I naturally gravitated toward two boxer engine models of the 1980 TOC - the Dalotel DM-165 and the CAP-21. The Dalotel, like the Curare, is a model icon of R/C heroism in my book. One of those designs and models which stood out throughout time because of who first brought it to light back in the day - Mr. Prettner. And the CAP-21, well, mostly just because it is a CAP but also because of it's importance in CAP history. There's also just something very unusual about it's empennage layout. And finally both, of course, for their nice meaty cheeks - just like my daughters!

With that said, I am working toward the idea of producing 90 size TOC models of these two fine scale aerobatic aircraft. While the plans will hopefully be power platform agnostic (i.e., glow/gas/electric), my particular models would be electric powered (there goes my love for boxer engines!) - basically because of the simplicity of rigging, low "fuel" cost and lower overall cost of model production (motors can be considerably cheaper than engines and "fuel" need not be bought until maiden time).

After several evenings of design work, the DM-165 workup is basically done. Before proceeding with the TOC size though, I will produce a 25 size (48" span/450 squares) mini version as a way to proof the plans & laser cut. If all's well, it will then be a fairly simple matter of scaling the model 150% to result in the desired 90 size TOC version (72" span/1012 squares).

The CAP-21 would proceed in a similar fashion. However, unlike the DM-165 which started with a 60 size scale, the CAP is starting with a quarter scale (of full) 1.60 plan. The DM-165 plans will therefore go from 48" to 72" (25 -> TOC) while the CAP-21 plans will probably go from 54" to 81" (25 -> TOC) for a 432 wing squares 25 size model. Again, the idea here would be to proof the plans and cut prior to producing the TOC version. Note that in both cases the small (25) and large (TOC) models are 66% or 150% scale versions of each other (depending on how you look at it). For a starters, I would therefore end up with two 25 size proof models with similar wing areas but rather different planforms and airfoils. That, in itself, will be interesting to compare in terms of flight characteristics.

As with other overambitious projects (which I seem to be setting my mind on these days... ) - The only catch will be to find the time and dedication (and cash I suppose) to build all four models. [:-] The smaller prototypes should come fairly easily while the TOC versions will require more time and dedication - something I hope to have more of once I've cleared my shop of "other" projects later this year.

So, with that not so little confession, I should reply to your good ideas and suggestions.

David.