Hello Gent's,

I was at a swap meet on Saturday and I ran across a Mystic 30 that the person was selling ready to fly for $100.00. According to the seller, he put the plane together, but never flew it. The plane had fixed trike gear and an OS 40FP motor which appeared to be slightly used with a stock muffler even though the belly pan was molded to accept a tuned pipe. The plane looked like an early ARF, but I may very well be wrong on that point. Even though the covering looked like it was a pre-printed paper type and the plastic parts didn't exactly match the covering, the plane appeared to be in good condition. The only real thing that bothered me about the plane was that it seamed to be somewhat heavy for the size and there was about 1-1/2 ounze of stick-on weights under the horizontal stab. I may be crazy, but when the seller told me he would take $80.00 for the plane, I still went home without it.

Can you guys shed a little light on the background of the Mystic 30? Do I need my head examined for walking away from the plane ? ? ?

TIA

David

Next...

David,

If it was an ARF, you did the right thing. I've never been too fond of the OK/EZ ARF's. I especially don't like all the "matching" plastic parts here and there. They also typically used a foam "sheeting" over the wood framework which was printed on and appears more like paper as you described - not my favorite.

On the other hand, the OK kits were not bad - typically Japanese. However,... (yes, again) they are extremely heavy! I recently acquired one (thanks to Rich), and realized that the fuse structure is made from solid 1/8" balsa sides PLUS 1/8" regular - not lite - ply. In other words, the fuse is a laminate 1/4" thick!! The formers are also all made from 1/8" ply. It's basically a tank and could easily handle a 56-63 sized four stroke without breaking a sweat. The wings and empennage are fine.

Unfortunately my kit was not untouched (partly assembled) so I'll have to resort to other measures to lighten it up. On the other hand, the reason I bought it was primarily because of the plans (can you believe that... ). I intend to add this model to the 20 size MK conservation project (ok, MK and OK ) but it will be redesigned to build to a much lighter airframe better suited to a 32-35 2-stroke, 40 4-stroke or 750W electric. I expect this larger model to come in at 56-62 oz max rather than the 70+ oz of the kit. It'll probably have 3/32" fuse sides and a 1/64 doubler (electric) or 1/32 doubler (glow) and 1/8" lite ply formers. Ounces shed!

If you're interested in this plane, one will eventually be available (but don't have any ETA) - fresh and light!

The Mystic was Hanno's entry into F3A after the Supra-Fly and, previously, Calypso if I'm not mistaken, or thereabouts. I believe the original was a 1.2 4S size ship - early turnaround. It is supposed to be an excellent flyer!

David.

David,

The sequence was -

1983 - Calypso
1985 - Supra Fly
1987 & 1989 - Supra Star
1991 - Mystic 120
1993 - Mystic 60

Ray

Ray,

thanks for clearing up the vintage. You wouldn't happen to have an article/plan from the period by any chance...?

So what was the 1991 ship? SF, Calypso? I loose track in the later years.

David.

Sorry David - I think you posted when I was editing

I don't think there are any plans for Hanno's later models. His designs were only available as ARTFs. I do have a Supra Star plan, the details of which were taken from a dissected ARTF. I kinda lost interest in F3A when 4 strokes/turnaround started. So did Hanno it seems; 1993 was his last World Championship but at least he quit at the top although his win was somewhat controversial. The event was held in Austria ( local boy etc...) and many thought Chip Hyde should have won.

Ray

No probs Ray.

Good to see that my memory still serves!

What was Chip flying in Austria '93? Who was third?

I know you've posted the F3A top three for the last 20 years or so before but I forget where it might be now.

I'd be interested in seeing that Supra Star plan if you have the means. I'd like to see how he changed it compared to the Supra Fly.

David.

I can't remember where I posted it either []

Chip was flying a Jekyll with an OS 120 and Wolfgang Matt was third with a YS 120AC powered Rubin.

Ray

Interesting,

I wonder why Hanno went from the Mystic 120 in '91 to the 60 in '93 - just more used to his 60 size ships?

David.

Pattern Tek kitted the Supra-Star as a glass foam kit in the early '90s along with several others (Silent ST, Miss Beetle, etc.).

Just for interest, some shots of the designs mentioned.

Ray

Love the look of the mystic.

Ray,

fantastic shots! Thanks for posting them.

Now I know how Hanno's Mystic really looked. My scheme will follow his - just seems fitting. Question is, a 32 SX and Hatori 300 or a smooth closed cowl, 700W electric and a three blade Graupner 11x7?

It's interesting how the designs seem to sort of morph from one into the next. A composite scaled morph of the complete Hanno's design evolution would be cool to see (but that's just me).

David.

Some additional shots.

It occurred to me that the OS 40 VF on a soft mount might be the perfect candidate for the Mystic 30. But maybe a tad heavy. I'm going to have a field day going at that fuse. It'll loose 5-10 oz for sure.

I wonder why the Mystic BGX if there was a Mystic 120. This last must have been to satisfy F3A requirements.

Ray,

I bumped into this by accident in wandering through my file system - I'm sure you posted it.

I'm just wondering if these were rounds or final scores. Must have been another F3A year.

David.

David,

Don't think I posted that but it does indeed show the final placings at the 1991 World Champs held in Australia where Hanno placed a disappointing 5th with the Mystic 120. Perhaps that's why he returned to a 60 powered Mystic ( Hanno Special) to win the event in 1993

The Mystic (OS)BGX was designed for use as a display model and possibly for a European contest class called, I think, RCI-X. This uses larger and heavier designs outside FAI limits. It was available as an ARTF and the shots you posted were taken at the annual Kempton Park Show ( a horse race course near London) which Hanno attended for many years as a demo pilot. I saw him fly the Mystic BGX there and it was the first time I had seen a knife edge loop performed. Needless to say I rushed home and spent months learning how to do it.

Ray

Today's pop quiz: what design comes after the Mystic?

Well, if we are talking "serious" FAI, F3A type competition models as opposed to his numerous demo designs ( Supra,Sensation etc.) then this is what Hanno was working on to use in Japan at the 1995 World Championships. In the end he didn't compete in Japan due to illness and indeed never flew in any more World Championships. The end of an era - World F3A Champion seven times between 1971 and 1993.

They are both 2 meter turnround designs - an Extra 300S and a Cranfield A-1. One of the Extras and the Cranfield are powered by the OS supercharged 120 four stroke and the other Extra by a Hanno Special with 1.82:1 reduction belt drive.

Ray

Not to butt in guys but I flew the Mystic 30 (ARF) in F3A at a contest in 1993 (I believe) and was winning after the first day against some pretty big names. However some of the guys got together (I heard later) and decided I was making a mochary of the event (Flying a 30 size model) and so I ended up second. I had borrowed it from a friend who had a webra 32, in it with a pipe, turning a 9-7 (at like 14,000) and retracts.

Come to think of it I liked it so much I bought one and its still new in the box at my parents house. I may have to put it together sometime just to see if memory serves me correctly. (I think its a great flying plane)

Chip

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The "Mystic 2"?
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Chip,

Thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it.....

David

Based on my wife's opinion - "all those models look the same" - it would have to be the Super Sicroly Mk 25.

Ray

Chip,

great to have your comments on the model - most reassuring. Do you happen to recall roughly how much your ARF weighed? I suspect that they are lighter than the kits - possible?

This other little jewel would also make a very nice setup. Jett 30's have the same mount pattern as OS 32's. A rotation of the mount and perhaps a fresh cowl makes for an easy OS SE to Jett RE conversion.

OPS also used to make a 29 RE but they can no longer be had (maybe with difficulty). Are there any other 30 class RE engines out there?

David.

You should have bought it. Strip it, recover it, make the plastic parts minus the cowl and canopy from wood, put a real engine on it...then go have fun.

It was an EZ arf, my brother had one when they first came out. I think you are nuts for not buying it for $80 but thats just my opinion. EZ's were the best arfs in their day and they all flew very well. Between my borther and myself we had several!

The EZ kits are well made but half of what's in there I wouldn't use - it just seems like "toy airplane" stuff to me. If you're going to task on an ARF, what's the point of one in the first place. Might as well build yourself a nice model with the proper materials and finish it the way you prefer - that printed paper stuff is for the birds if you ask me. Heck, I've got an EZ CAP which has printed fields on the wing bottom - but I'd be darned if I can get anyone else to recognize that!

The wing foam skins were also know to be particularly prone to damage and difficult to repair. I'll probably sell the EZ CAP and build one to my liking (well I guess I am in the process of that).

ARF's aside, I still think David will enjoy a hand crafted real airplane much more. With all due respect to Chip, build an original kit (better) and improve it, scratch build one (considerably better), or, a laser kit (much better).

Actually, to be perfectly honest, whenever I've bought an ARF, I lost interest in the model within a few days. I'm still trying to see if I can win that battle and get an ARF in the air.

David.