I am wanting to build and fly a challenging model. Any ideas are welcome, the size I want is .40 or .60. Preferbly a kit also but scratch is no big deal. Thanks for your time,mike.

Anything from Maratuka

Is it the build that's supposed to be the challenge or the flying aspect? Are you talking war birds, sport, pattern, or biplanes?
My vote is for a Pica RC-7 Jungmeister BU-133 1/5th Scale (1:5.1) Laser Cut.

Any IKON kits
http://www.ikonnwst.com/listofkitspagef.html

Marutaka kits are found at Hobby Barn
http://hobbybarn.com/airplanes_marutaka_kits.htm

John

Just realized what I did. I replied to a post that I have no direct knowlege about, having neither built the Pica nor the IKON kits. I think I just let my fingers ran away instead of my mouth! Sorry guys.
John

RCM has a set of plans for a SR-71. I bought a set and plan to put a .46 FX in it.

Mike I like to scratch build or kit bash. Both for me are challenging and rewarding . My currant plans bash is that of a Goldberg SR. falcon converted into a twin. It is finished just waiting for a calm day. I have in the past bashed a falcon 56 kit into a low wing tail dragger .Kitted, built, and flown a low wing ag sprayer .40 size. Flew the ag so much that I recovered it and modified the looks a bit, took away the tall canapy and went with a more sleek look.
Its all in what you want to do as a challenge and what you are searching for in the finished product .Tell us, do you want a scale war bird,a lazy Sunday flier. a fast speed plane. You stated a 40 to 60 size, but the design criteria for a challenging model is unlimited unless you have some idea of the type of plane you want to end up with.

Well nothing specific in design comes to mind. If I had to list my top choice it would probably be a tompson trophy flier like a gee bee. In this hobby I really enjoy having something different. Also I would enjoy having a challenging flyer as well as the building. As far as my experience goes I have built a 4*60, sig fazer,4*120 as well as many of my own designs and scrach built sunday flyers. Thanks for all the replies,Mike

How about the flying lawn mower plans. lol

Take a look at the Miss Los Angeles Brown B2 I just finished (except the numbers). She is from a set of 1981 Model Aviation Plans. Warning, there is a bunch of small wood in this thing. It is designed for a .25 and with a .25 FX it goes like stink. Also in the pic you will see a PT-19 built from a set of free pull-out plans in RC Scale. This one flies very nicely on a clapped out .40 LA. The PT was my first non-kit build and was fairly easy.

It sounds to me like you are a Gee Bee man! Might I suggest the Adrian Page 1/5th or 1/4 scale Gee Bee R-2 or his 1/5th Gee Bee Z? These are great kits that are challenging but fun to build. You wont be disappointed.

Yak

[link]http://www.adrianpage.com[/link]

Try a Pushy Cat or Pushy Galore. Do a search on this site! They can slow way down, climb like crazy, fly knife edge almost indefinately and in 1/4 scale fit in your car. Quite a pylon racer! Real racy looks.
Mine is from plans.

Thanks for all the info guys! It will not be an easy desision on wich one to do first, as of right now I would love to build them all, with time I'm sure I will. Thanks for your time, Mike.

Don't forget the Howard Pete. RCM or one of the other mags had a construction artical for one. I liked it, it is very scale, but a bit on the complicated side.

how about 4 .40 size engines. it is my next project. its a Lancaster kit.
its sold by RCME (UK) for more info goto: [link=http://www.volkan-dil.co.uk/fp.htm]http://www.volkan-dil.co.uk/fp.htm[/link]
you can also email me for contact details!

I would second the Paige R-2. I have the plans from RCM. It would be a challange from plans. A kit less so. They are supposed to fly nice. They look really cool. I saw a Paige R-2 at Rheinbeck this year. Nice plane. If a warbird is to your taste. How about a Skyshark kit. Or a SIG smith miniplane. Great flier and a challanging build. good luck whichever way you go. Oh one last suggestion. Go to the RCM web site and scan through thier plans. Find something that gets your socks smokin and buy the plans and build it. Good plans at a great price. Check out this month's RCM. Dick Sarpoulis has a neat plane in the construction article.

Mark Shuman