I am returning to RC design and flying after 11 yrs of paying for kids (love 'em but OUCH). Need ideas for my first large scale project. I'm interested in multi engine bombers from the 50s to now, but I don't want to build what everyone has already seen. I've seen some articles on an ill fated B52. Sounds like they'll have that licked. What's out there?

Welcome back!

The advances in electric power have been incredible over the last decade. If I were a manufacturer of glow engines, I'd be very concerned about long term prospects for the glow engine market. With the improvement in electric power and the availability of the small gasoline engines, more and more modelers are giving up glow engines.

How about a B58 Hustler? That's something you don't see everyday. That big delta wing, with pylon mounted engines, would make a natural for electric flight. Wouldn't need to use ducted fans, motors with props in the front of the pylons would be less expensive and perform better. A nice feature of pylon mounted engines is the ease in which you can exchange powerplants. You could start with props to work out any problems with the airframe, then exchange them in pairs for ducted fans.

Good luck!

DT56

Good points on the B-58. All that wing area would also make wing loading less an issue. My main worry about turbines is cost. Electric would be a good alternative.

how bout a douglas B-66? i don't think i have EVER seen one of those... just image search on google, because i don't think there is much lit. on them...

The B66 is a nice looking plane; just the right proportions, like so many aircraft of that era. I've only seen one set of plans offered for the 66, but they were for a small version.

I suggested the B58 because of the large wing area of the plane, since Medman stated he was resuming the hobby after an extended period of time. I also think it's easier to build a strong, low aspect ratio wing like a delta, than those beautiful swept wings on the B66.

Medman:

I was referring to electric ducted fans, not turbines. Not sure how large a model you're interested in, but if the size is reasonable, electric power would be a viable option. When you get too large, electric isn't much less expensive than turbine. Price some large Lipo batteries for instance.

DT56

yah i took one look at the B66 and fell in love... where didja see the plans?

Liking the B66, but the B 58 is sounding a bit more forgiving as a get back into it plane. As far as turbines vs electric, even with the price of batteries, seems like a lot less to go wrong. Anybody know of a way to get the tubine sound sans the turbine? Maybe a small speaker and a chip? 'Course that adds battery weight too, so probably a no-go.

Spark,

The plans I saw were from one of the plans sellers on e-bay. Sorry I don't recall name of the seller.

DT56

I'd watch out for the plans sellers on eBay. Some are good and sell original plans from their personal stashes; others flog copies without regard for copyright or ensuring that the copies are correct. Then there are the ones who sell the "thousands of plans on CD-ROM"

eBay runs with the auction premise: buyer beware!

If you're looking around for plans, I'd recommend trying the magazine publishers first. They are the holders of the LEGAL copyright for the plans they are selling and you can be guaranteed that the plans you will recieve are 100% correct and do not have errors introduced by being cheaply photocopied.

Oh well, enough of my sounding off on this soapbox for now....

what about a F-86! lol jk uhh how about the F-15E ive never seen one although its not big it would be fun
Although ive never seen a edf fly ill be the first one at my feild i beleive since we can now fly them because we used to have a dirt rwy.

I know its not 50's, but some German late WWII bombers, and ones they had on the drawing board are interesting. the Arado AR-234 is an easy to build, good flying proportion airframe.

Having returned to model building four times over the years, due interruptions from other priorities, I can empathize with your situation. Welcome back.

Recent advances in EDF has made it feasible to convert airframes previously designed for glo-DF. Of course, you can also design from scratch You may already know that 90mm diameter fans with 5-lbs static thrust have been around the last couple of years. Fans in the 105mm w/ 10-Lbs thrust & 120mm w/ 15-lb s.t. are just becoming available. As far as bombers go beside the B-52, Bullet (RCgroup handle) have build & flown a B-1 & B-70. Chris Gold of the UK have plans for an A-5 Avenger. There was a large Vulcan glo-DF which was unfortunately lost a couple of years ago; it might be convertible to EDF. I'd wish someone would build a Vulcan or Valiant. Then there are the B-45 & B-47.

Hope to hear soon what you finally decide to start on. Cheers,

Phil

i know she's not classed as a bomber really, but what about a C-17 Globe Master, i've not seen any of those in a flying model. not sure when she first came out either

red dragon, there is a giant scale C-17 out there 2 giant scales actuallysnd its in no way shape or form a bomber although it does do airdrops