polecat help
 

I recently got this kit from a club member. He got it from a friend who was clearing out his hobby room. I can't find any info about this plane. Is anyone familiar with this kit ? I need some building instructions or at least a little guidance. This is all it came with, and there are no tail plans.

RE: polecat help
 

Measure the length of the wing (actual wing) , then measure the length of the wing (on the plans), then measure the length of the tail on the plans.

Take the Actual Length of the wing and multiply by the measured tail length (on the plans) and divide by the Length of the wing on the plans. This will give you the length of what the tail should be.

Is there an elevator Joiner included with the kit?

What specifically do you have questions about? There are enough people here that can talk you through each step, looks like most of the hard work is done. It is a nice looking plane.

RE: polecat help
 

Even looks like the firewall may be glued in??

RE: polecat help
 

Thanks DAVEN. There are no tail plans to measure. Yes, it does have an elevator joiner, which hooks up inside the fuse. I did find the rudder (which is fiberglass also). The firewall is already glued in and the wing is already sheeted (foam core). It appears the formers are all here. I plan on putting a West .50 with a tuned pipe on this plane, but not sure which way to mount it. The pipe may give me problems. I am not new to kit building, however this is my first fiberglass fuselage.

RE: polecat help
 

In your second picture above (the middle one) there is a top view of the plane. Measure the tail on there.

RE: polecat help
 

Hmm, this is interesting. I think that it may have been designed by Bob Root, since the isometric drawing is nearly identical to the Stinger that Root designed before handing it off to Don Rice. The basic glass work and shape matches up with the Stinger as well, like one was made from the other's plug to make the mold. "SRS" might refer to Bob Smith, his brother and Root, but that's a guess without researching the history. Email Bob at his glue factory and he could surely tell you for certain.

You have an interesting piece of history, and more than likely the molds are long lost. You should have someone splash the glass before building.

The tail would have had around 75 squares with a 15-16" span, of 1/4 balsa sheet.

RE: polecat help
 

HighPlains, what does this mean? BTW I will find out the name of the man who initially had this kit. I know he is from the Houston area.

RE: polecat help
 

Pull a mold of the fuselage before building.

RE: polecat help
 

Good looking polecat, I'm taking a break from glassing the wing on a LR1-A as I'm posting this. What do you plan to use for power? I've got a rire K&B and going to add a tuned pipe just to scare the locals at the field! I've got a second LR1-A fuse and cores if you decide you don't want to finish the cat. I'd be interested in buying old F-1 kits or projects anyone else has they want to sell!

RE: polecat help
 

I plan on using a weston .50v1 with a tuned pipe if it will fit. [link]http://www.westonuk.co.uk/index_021.htm[/link]

I don't intend to race, just burn holes in the sky.

RE: polecat help
 

What I would really like to see is a good tutorial on finishing a fiberglass fuselage and glassing the wing.

RE: polecat help
 

It's probably Dave Layman, possibly J.P. Hanway, possibly one of the Cranfill clan. FWIW.

RE: polecat help
 

there are quite a few tutorials / posts out there on fiberglassing a wing. This one has some good tips:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5869620/tm.htm

A good resin to start with, is Z-Poxy finishing resin. Especially if your not sure if Fiberglassing is something you may want to do. Its sold in 4 oz bottles for 10-$15. Take a look at your local hobby store.

As to finishing the fiberglass fuze, there is a great tutorial at www.darrolcady.com . One thing about fiberglass fuses is that you want to make sure that the fiberglass is completely cleaned with warm soapy water to remove all mold release and wax before you start working on it.

RE: polecat help
 

Kieth Frederickson

RE: polecat help
 

I realize this is an old post but I just joined, The kit for the polecat was sold by
bob violet in the mid to late seventies. I am curently building one that I have had since around 1977, I also have another unbuilt kit.

RE: polecat help
 

looking for JP Hanway.... Does anyone know how to reach him? we are long time friends from the early 70s but I lost track of him.

Thanks in advance!
Richard Crisp

rdcrisp AT earthlink DOT net

RE: polecat help
 

S-10, if you really wanna scare the locals, bolt in a fire-breathing F1 .40, complete with mini-pipe, and run 60-65% nitro! Just remember to wear hearing protection when you start it...

RE: polecat help
 

Hi Richard. I also know Mr hanway. He helped me build a plane back in the 70s. He belonged to the same r.c. club as I, and lived in the same town. I was traveling through on vacation and was going to try and connect up with him but it didn't work out. He is still listed in the phone book in Colony Texas. Also a listing in Frisco, and Little elm Texas. Maybe owns more than one house or? I never got a chance to call. Good luck,I know this post is old, let me know if you find him, I still would like to connect with him. He's a good guy. I had a lot of fun with him. Later. Bob.

RE: polecat help
 

This is a very old post, so all the origional suspects may have moved on to other crimes. The airplane shown is clearly NOT a Bob Violet Polecat. There are several clues, but two will be sufficient. On Violet's Polecat the virtical fin was not molded in as part of the fuselage. Also the cockpit area was done differently. There was no molded in floor on the Violet airplane, and the canopy was mounted from the underside. I suspect the airplane shown here is a Dave Layman Polecat. If the origional "poster" still needs information on the size of the stabilizer, myself and others could provide it for the Violet Polecat. Good luck, Greg