Yep, the original kit has this piece as a vacuum form part not fiberglass. I elected not to use it as this model will have a modern engine with muffler in it. You can see from the pictures that I still need to carve away clearance for the muffler and needle valve access. If I use the 40 FSR the needle is in the front. If I use a newer model 40 I need to make room at the rear.

I plan to build another for the VRCS Concours and will most likely include the cover but I will be using a K&B Greenhead 45.

Bob Harris

PS: Ray, I would like to have a copy of the article you have. Any chance of having it scanned and e-mailed to me?

I have the article as well. If Ray doesn't have the means to scan for an e-mail, I can mail you a hard-copy of the article. Let me know.

I was wondering if you think you NEED to have a removable cowl piece for accessibility, or if you can get by without it. It would certainly simplify construction.

Would an alternative be to shape the area, then use a Dremmel wheel or saw to cut out the cowl? I did that on my King Altair with the inverted engine, (not the one that was lost). The plastic piece in the DeBolt kit looked flimsey and "tacky."

Duane

Up to you BobHH. If you PM me your e-mail address I can send an attachment. It is an eight page article and the PDF file size is 7.0MB.

If anyone else wants a copy just let me have your e-mail address and I will send it.

Ray

Actually Duane I don't think the removably top cover really matters. I am just shoe horning the engine into position and really don't see any advantage of this cover. Now to get to the nose wheel steering arm and such will require removing the engine. As for the removable cowl that would be a plus. That could be done using a plastic motor mount.

On this model the balsa side pieces are epoxied to the hard plywwod engine beams for additional support . I plan to fit the engine in quite snug and beleive the nose will finish up very smooth without the cover piece. We will see!!

Bob Harris

Actually Duane I don't think the removably top cover really matters. I am just shoe horning the engine into position and really don't see any advantage of this cover. Now to get to the nose wheel steering arm and such will require removing the engine. As for the removable cowl that would be a plus. That could be done using a plastic motor mount.

On this model the balsa side pieces are epoxied to the hard plywwod engine beams for additional support . I plan to fit the engine in quite snug and beleive the nose will finish up very smooth without the cover piece. We will see!!

I also may eliminate the rubberband wing hold down dowels and bolt the wing on. I will include this mod in the assembly manual.

Bob Harris

Point of information :

Contrary to the grim comments displayed in earlier posts.......Brett's Perigee is a smooth flying pattern bird hardly requiring a "master" at it's controls.
If you had/have a "snapper" on your hands - check the balance . If you have wash in - rest assured that Tom was smarter than that.

Period.

Well said----you should see the plane up close. Tom was a engineer and a meticulous builder. I think a lot of the "bad rap" the plane got was because of the low quality of the kit, and heavy wood. The plane needs to be kept light, (5-5 1/2 lbs)

Duane

After reading through this thread, my interest has really risen in building a Perigee. I remember seeing them as a kid and was impressed with it. But then what kid wouldn't be! Is there a link so I can get my name on the kit list? TIA!

FB

I have 3 semi-kits en route as we speak, they should get here Friday the 31st. I would gladly sell one (or two). Where are you located?

Check your PM!

Where did you get your semi-kits from--------is it from Early R/C, (through Wing Mfg who is working with Bob) already producing kits??

Wing's Mfg info:

Dan Gipe [email protected]

Web site: www.wingmfg.com

Phone (269) 665-9630

Free Bird, just for clarity this kit was developed for Early RC Models as per Kingaltair's post. You can contact Dan Gipe at www.earlyrcmodels.com or www.wingmfg.com to get on the list. Dan is also offering some other vintage pattern designs and even had one of his other prototypes at the BPA meet in Huntsville.

This will be a complete (full) kit including CAD plans, vacuum formed canopy, formed landing gear and light hardware. It will also have a detailed assembly manual with pictures showing the complete construction.

My design has been slightly modified from the original to take advantage of precision laser cutting and better adhesives. The outline will be exact and a wing from the original model can be substituted and vice versa with no issues. I also hope to lighten up the model by excluding a few parts that are not needed as well as given extra strength to areas that have a history of failure. Basically trying to make it a more builder friendly kit than my original DeBolt kit I have been using for reference.

I am sure William's short kit is of highest quality and accurately duplicates the original design. He has the original velums. He is also a member of the Vintage RC Society and should be familiar with its history.

I am now in the middle of this build to make the assembly manual. Many of these pictures I have posted, and will post, will be in the manual. I always build and test every kit I design to make sure they perform as expected. Unfortunately this takes time and it may be a bit longer before I release it to Dan. So if you can't wait for Dan's kit, take up WEDJ offer.

Bob Harris

I'm getting them from William at Pastime hobbies. Free Bird has spoken for one already. We're in the same state, so it's easy. Hopefully, we will both be going to the first NE SPA event in NJ Oct 6

It's great that you are interested in Jim's first SPA get-together this Oct 6th. Jim has attended my SPA contest in Asheville, so he's seen how it's done first-hand, and can pass it on in his own meet.

I would really like the first get-together for the Northeast Chapter to be a great success. There are "tons" of ex-pattern pilots up there, and your area of the country probably has the greatest potential for rapid growth once the "ball" gets rolling. I'd ask anyone in the area who might be a little curious, to come on out and try the "SPA Experience". It'll be great!!

Hope your Perigees are ready, and that Jim posts his pictures here on RCU, and on the SPA web site.

Duane

Bobhh,

Thanks for the info, a full kit sounds great! I'll be in line to get one!

Not to get off track, but I'd like to see some SPA meets in the NE. So far I only see activity down South, which is too far to travel. I hope that NJ is just the start to bigger and better things to come!

FB

The only reason we have SPA meets in the south is because of a bunch of interested modelers willing to get together and organize something that others can come to. Over time the number of contests and different locations has expanded. The same thing can happen in the NE if we can get a core group who really enjoy the competition and fellowship, and are willing to promote an SPA meet at their local clubs. The second ingredient are enough participants willing to drive for 2-3 hours in some cases, and maybe stay overnight for a weekend event. Most established SPA contests are 4 rounds Saturday, and 2 rounds Sunday. Everybody heads for home by about 1:30.

I hope it happens, and soon.

Now Bob--back to the build..........

You & me both!

King,

I understand how all that works out, and hope that it spreads in the NE. Maybe with the help of others, like WEDJ, it can grow.

Many moons ago, I used to call for my father who flew pattern in the mid 60's to the mid 70's. I had wanted to fly pattern myself, but as a pre-teen, we all know how things can and usually turns out (school, girls, cars etc., not necessarily in that order!). When helis came along, I really got swept up in that arena and after learning to fly them, got into AMA contests (much like pattern). Everyone is into 3D now, but I still like precision aerobatics. I've been watching the SPA, and recently decided it's the change of pace I'm looking for, and fills that contest need. If only there were more contests in the NE. I will be at the 10/6 SPA event in NJ to check things out though!

Sorry if I got off track in this thread, so lets get back to the Perigee build!

Last night I was looking through some old plans, and I found a set of Hobby Helper plans for the Perigee. I had forgotten that I had them. After drooling over them for a few hours and "think building" it in my head, the Perigee is now on my winter build list. Lets get going Bob, I want to see this puppy finshed and flown!

FB

I was out of R/C for 17 years-didn't want to spend time down the basement when I had two jobs and a baby, but I've come back.

I think you will love SPA--everybody who has actually tried it gets hooked. It's fun, inexpensive, and it gives you a reason for flying--each practice flight has a purpose behind it.

I think we're just keeping the thread "warm" until Bob comes back

BTW-I don't know where "somewhere out there" is, and how motivated you are, but we are having our most "northern" SPA meet the weekend of 9/15-16 in Knoxville, Tn. Come on out and look for yourself.

BTW 2--I just got out my Dad's old Perigee plans, (very "busy" plans) covered with Ambroid glue and notations in an orange colored pencil---they are very beat-up. Tom Brett was a member of my club back when I was a young teen, and I saw the Perigee and its sister ship the Apogee fly up close. It was a very fast, and "sexy" plane (with that swooping fin and all) for its time, and still looks good today.

How about that picture again to hold us over

I can see myself getting hooked on SPA, there's a lot going for it like you said. Unfortunately I won't be available on 9/15-16 or I'd take the trip Knoxville. I'll have to wait until 10/6 for that first SPA experience.

That "somewhere out there" is in Connecticut. I'm not too far from WEDJ (the designer of the Peppermint Patti), and we plan on getting together next weekend for a little fun. I remember as a kid, going with my father to NJ to visit Tony Bonetti. They were pretty good friends back then. I also remember checking out his Troublemaker and thinking how cool it was. Some other oldtimers in my club is Pete Reed (now in NH) and Bob Wallace, I've known them since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Another modeler from our club, althought he passed away many years ago, was Jerry Wagner (WEDJ might also remember him). He was one the of best modelers I ever met. He loved designing his own planes and was the best craftman I ever saw. Too bad he's not around these days.

This vintage pattern bug has biten me pretty hard and I'm really excited about it. Like you said, it give purpose to flying. I'm glad to see interest in the Perigee, as it's one of my favorites.

FB

I sure do remember Jerry Wagner - my first .15 PP had one of his "modified" Fox .15s in it. Huge intake, untimed crank pressure to the fuel tank, it turned an 8x4 cut down to 7" at 19k rpms! RIP old buddy.

We all used to go to the NCRCC meets in East Granbyand fly our pattern planes in Sport Pylon. back then I belonged to the Wallingford Club.

Ah yes, the Granby meets. Spent many an hour there while Dad flew! It was a great flying site in its day.

OK guys, bet you thought I forgot about the build!! Surprized Duane has not called!! Been a bit busy on some other projects but not that it is getting cooler in the shop thought I would work on the Perigee.

Here are pics of the tail assembly going together. All ribs are laser cut with flat detachable tabs so you can build it on a flat surface. Remember the horizontal tail is also tapered. Basic light weight construction with 1/16 balsa sheeting top and bottom. I just rough sanded the parts for rough fitting as I usually sit down and do all my final sanding in a few weekends!! I did change the horizontal center ribs slightly so I could have a 1/4 slot for the vertical fin to fit into. Makes a clean strong connection rather than gluing it to the top of everything!!

The elevator connector is a stock SIG product and will be included in the kit. The pushrod will be connected before installing the elevator inside out of site. Still feels a bit light but I have not built the wing yet!

Bob Harris

Very nice Bob! I'll be first in line to get a kit when it's available!

I like the idea of a rudder slot.

Boy, those empannage curves are sexy!