anox1246

Finished the wings (minus the two red trim stripes). Couldn't resist the nice east Tennessee weather today, so out for a maiden flight. Still breaking in the YS 80, but should be a good power match. I think I will experiment with a some pops other than the 12X8, probably a 13X6 next

rg1911

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Looks great!
Here (Laramie, WY) it's 16 degrees (high of 20) with high winds and snow.

I've managed to screw up the fuselage somehow on my build. Wish Jeff were making more kits.

Richard

kingaltair

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georgewaldrop

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Wow! 4 years and still not built! Here I am reading through the thread again and dreaming of getting mine done. I think I might have been to the field 5-6 times in that 4 years...life stuff in the way...just went part time, and have a few more family projects to finish, but really looking forward to getting back to building!

Has anyone built the 108" version and powered it with a OS 1.08 using a fairly large three blade prop? Just wondering how it might carry the extra power without the high revs...Latest completion is gorgeous! Really encouraging me to get busy!

Keep it up guys!

Have a Blessed Day!
George Waldrop
L~1307

anox1246

My Simla came in at 9lb - 10 oz (no fuel) with monokote covering. It was almost perfectly balanced with the YS 80. This engine pulls if very nicely. I get very good vertical, but speed is limited by the thick airfoil. I'd say with the tuned pipe, it probably has the power of a standard 90. Like others, I needed quite a bit of down elevator trim to stabilize it on maiden. Once trimmed, it was a very nice flying airplane. Roll rate was surprisingly fast with the 96" wing and engine combination. Unfortunately, the YS 80 is a helicopter engine, and has a large heat-sink area. While it loves 90+ degree summertime weather, it does not perform well under 60F. I put four flights on Saturday, and had four dead stick landings due to engine outs. The glide rate is impressive, and dead-stick landings are no problem.

I had originally planned to install either an OS 90 or 108 FSR engine (have both). These engines are quite large, and would not fit without moving the firewall back about 1/2" (or extending the nose a bit), so I strapped on the YS 80 (60 size case). I'd recommend one of the newer 90s that are in the smaller 60 size case (e.g. TT 91, OS 91 FX, OS 95AX)

I'm up for a Simla meet once warm weather returns in the spring. We have a nice field that may be centrally located for the east-coasters, just a bit east of Chattanooga TN (Bradley County RC Model Airplane Club).

-Chris

kingaltair

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Chris,
Chattanooga is within my driving range. In fact, SPA has a yearly contest there at one of the Chattanooga clubs.

The original Simla prototype featured in the article hasn't flown since 2012, and I'd like to fly it again from a good field, (mine is a bit rough for this plane). Let me know when you'd like to get together and we can invite everyone with a Simla for a get-together.

I have an OS .90 2-stroke with a three blade prop on mine. Performance is adequate but not spectacular. The plane looks like an airliner when it comes in to land.

anox1246

My apologies for the late reply. I have been offline for a while. I see that SPA has events nearby in Knoxville TN May 18-19 and in Chattanooga Sep 20-21. Maybe we could have a Simla get together one of these weekends if the event allows. My local Club (Bradley County RC Club) is always an option (between Knoxville and Chattanooga). We have a nice grass field with a section of heavy geo-textile type material. This may also make for a nice article in model aviation, or at least a good VP's report.

https://bradleycountyrcclub.webs.com/

I was just flying the Simla this past weekend. The engine is breaking in nicely. I am really starting to enjoy this airplane.

-Chris

bem

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Hi,
Maybe this photo has been posted here before. But here it comes anyway. It is from a book "Radio Control Manual", 1964-65.
/Bo

Ed Kazmirski with his Simla.

Michaelj2k

They made an error; it's Taurus II.

bem

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At a closer look the plane is in seize like a Taurus as You say. And the wing paint scheme do not match either with Ed's Simla.
But a nice (Taurus II) plane.
I'm unable to Edit my previous post to correct (no Edit button anymore on that post).
/Bo

kingaltair

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Hi BEM
If you scroll up a couple pictures you see the Simla kit prototype that appeared in the 2010 article, and how much bigger it is with a 102" wingspan.
The plane above was talked about a lot in the Ed Kazmirski's Taurus thread. It was Ed's last *and most advanced), Taurus design which we called the Taurus II or (T2.) A friend, John Castronover, and I pooled our resources and bought the plane from Ed's estate in 2008. We restored pars of it and refitted it for flight. The plane is featured flying in two YouTube videos (look under kingaltair1 or Ed Kazmirski.) Plane has a symmetrical wing with a Bosch airfoil, a midwing placement, (due to fitting the new wing in the old fuselage which originally had a very thick airfoil), and a generally more slim shape. Here is one of my favorite photos showing both of Ed's Taurus models side by side. It was taken in Muncie on the day the most famous Taurus was donated to the AMA Museum in September, 2009.

The Taurus II flew about 20 times while we gathered photos of it flying, then we unofficially "retired" the plane for the second time. I have it now.

Taurus II (left) with Ed's famous Taurus (right)

Beauty Pass

Take off

bem

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kingaltair,
What a wonderful Taurus II built by Ed Kazmirski and comleted by You and Your team, now at AMA museum. Nice it got some flights again before it was retired at the museum.
I have a Simla kit myself, bought from Jeff Petroski (Home and Hobby Solutions, Inc) while it was sold by that company. It is waiting for build (will probably be when I retire, and it is some years still left).
/Bo

kingaltair

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Bo
The Taurus on the right is the one that was about to be donated to the museum. It was not restored to flying condition-only enough to display. The Taurus II is on the left and is the plane we own and have flown. It’s the one in the flight pictures.

Duane

bem

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Duane,
Both Taurus planes looks gorgeous, thanks I understand now what plane made it into AMA moseum.
Have You flown anything lately with Your own Simla? (that is in this thread)
/Bo

kingaltair

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My Simla, the one in the article and pictured above, last flew in 2012 at a Vintage RC event (where I’m posing with it in the yellow shirt).

Since then I’ve been flying and practicing for Senior Pattern Association, (SPA) contests.

Lately though I’ve been having vision problems and don’t want to risk the plane until things improve. The plane is safe.

Duane

anox1246

I've been taking my Simla out into the 100+ degree heat index Tennessee summer over the past few weekends. The YS-80 loves it. I slaved in 3% down elevator mix on the throttle. This is works well to keep her at level flight at all power levels. Mine tended to climb in a nose-up attitude as power was increased.

-Chris

Lewis S.

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Great thread, I have both the SIMLA and Primus kits from Home Hobby Solutions. Kits that my dad never got around to. Any idea where would be the best avenue to sell they if I decided to?

Thank you