I love the world models skyraiders, but they sure cover them with some ugly "toughlon". It's really just the wings that are ugly, but you get my drift. I set out to redo this one completely except for the factory yellow which I thought would look good on there. I used Ultracote silver, and I think ultracote is my new favorite covering. It's super easy to use and my LHS carries all of the colors. I still don't know what kind of markings to put on the plane, WW2 warbird stickers or give it the raceplane look. I'm also thinking about installing retracts, if they will fit into that wing. Ya'll let me know.

Brett,
I also am very fond of WM's Mach I & II.
I agree, their wings leave a bit to be desired.
You difinitaly need to add something to her.
All of that silver will be hard to see, especially with clouds for a background.
My 4* was the same color top and bottom so I put large diamonds on the bottom.
I recommend a racing motif. I'm an old hippie so don't get into the warbirds.
I even look for the ones I like - T34, T28 & AT6, with civilian markings.
Please keep us posted on the outcome.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

you were right the wings did need to be recovered. I dont care much for the factory covering job they put on this plane. I did the same with my tower uproar. I stripped the wing and recovered it. The plane looks good Brett post more pics when you finish it.

Does look nice in a different color, and the covering should hold up a lot longer than the factory Toughlon covering.

After 3 years my Sky Raider Mach II was flying on packing tape - every flight required more and more tape to hold it together. The plastic was separating from the backing all over the plane. I just couldn't see putting $40.00 worth of covering into a $65.00 plane so I just retired it. I'll get a new one with the pinched nose to pylon race next year -I wont mind putting some Monokote on a plain white version of the Sky Raider.

Forget about retracts in it. There is not enough structure in the wing to withstand any type of landing gear, let alone retracts. Plus you have the weight gain from retracts that will ruin the fun flight characteristics of the design.

Hogflyer

Looks good. I'd buy some WW-2 military decals. After all it is silver with a yellow tail similar to some Mustangs. Just be careful with the gray and silver colors, they can disappear in the sky really easy under the right conditions. They can for me anyhow.

Retracts wouldn't be impossible but I'd definitely beef up the wing. There is no structure there at all to support even fixed gear. If you like the WM planes, take a look at the Rambler 45. It flys great and comes with factory installed retracts. I've been in the process of re-covering my Rambler for a few months. Other projects just seem to get in the way. Eventually it will be Cub yellow and purple.

Also, flip your main gear around so it angles back instead of to the front. It will make the plane nicer to land. I did it on my old Mach-1 and it worked well.

Hi brett65,
I'm thinking of picking up a high wing skyraider but do you think my Thunder tiger pro .36 will be enough engine??
I crashed my trainer and I'm looking for something quick to put the .36 into.


Thanks

Steve

It would probably fly it, but it would not be a great performer. You should look on tower for a smaller trainer type of plane. If you are close to the point of getting a second plane, you can move to something like this that will take your 36 and fly great with it. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXEDN7&P=0

If you want a trainer for your 36 try this. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXEDN6&P=0

I have a phoenix plane, they're nicely built.

A dozen of our club members bought the Sky Raider Mach II for informal pylon racing and we restricted engines to .46 or smaller, plain bushing, models.
Most used older engines they already had:
K&B 40
TT GP-42
OS 40 FP
OS 40 LA
OS 46 LA
All of these engines fly the plane very well.

One thing to note, some of our pilots had to tie wrap the receiver pack to the engine mount to avoid adding nose weight with the lightweight bushing engines.

I'm not sure, but I'd expect the .36 Pro to outperform most of the engines listed above. I think the Mach I is the same weight as the Mach II, so I'd be willing to try the .36 on one.

Pardon me butting in. But your 36 will do just fine in the High Wing Sky Raider.

Brett, here's an example of the silver/yellow Mustang I was talking about. One is a 1/2a kit I built a few years ago and the other is a H-9 Mustang.

The Mach I is a larger and heavier plane than the Mach II.
I run a OS 46 LA on my Mach I and it does fine.
It is a very aerobatic plane with a semi-symetrical wing.
I also had to add a weighted spinner to get it to balance.
I would be skeptical of the 36 with this plane.
Fly? Probably Perform? I doubt it.
Try it and see. If you don't like it - buy a new engine.
There are a lot of 46s out there for less thay $100.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter