I try to build at least one or two kits per year, though lately it's starting to get out of hand as I just don't seem to kill them as often as I once did. As a result I've found myself with an Ultra Sport 40, GP 40 sized P-51, 4 Star 40, and soon to be a Club 40 racing plane for pylon events. The biggest problem with that is they're all practically the same plane. Sure, they have slightly different tendencies here and there, but for the most part they're quite similar. In addition to the giant scale kit I'm considering for the work bench, I'm looking for something in the 40-60 range that's just "different"...the type of plane you just don't see at the field very often. Instantly I thought about either a pusher, a canard, or a pusher canard, though I couldn't come up with any specific examples. Another oddball that is intriguing to me is something like the Balsa USA Northstar. I just wish I had somewhere to fly off of water so I could take advantage of that aspect of it. I'm not opposed to scratch building or having a kit cut from plans, so let me know what kind of ideas you guys have.

Oh and it has to fly well, it can't just look cool if it flies like a turd.

IF a pusher interests you you may want to build a Balsa USA Enforcer.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_gu...cfm?kit_id=999


Tom

try a classic pattern plane. sleek, sexy, fast and beautiful if done right. put a screaming piped rossi on a well painted plane with retracts and the guys at the field will take notice. the project won't break the bank and if you're not in a hurry might as well do it well.

The northstar is definitely differant. You dont have to fly them off water. I built one and have flown it off land. Here is a picture of it landing.

If you want someting to fly off snow (is there any in Alabama?) and for a quick build you could try a Sig AquaStar. It is cheap and goes together fast. It flys lousy off water but hand launch is easy and it flys nice and lands on grass or snow with no problem. I built mine without the pontoons and used electric power.
I am also considering the Black Star RC Excaliber pattern plane. But I can't find anyone who built this plane. It is "plans only" or "plans and un-cut wood". I looks like a nice project to build from scratch but I am unsure of the quality of the plans, etc..

A quick build is a sig wonder. I built mine about 8 years ago with a dissapointing speed 600 power system , put it away for 7 or so years, changed it to a cheap 25 amp brushless setup thinking it might be okay as a park flyer, now it eats up too much sky for any of the local parks around here. Its easy, different, fairly fast, and handy when I dont feel like getting out all the glow stuff.

The northstar is not only good off of land, but you don't even need wheels!

It's a blast flying it right off its belly from grass!

Not a fast bird, but definitely different. I've been thinking about one of [link=http://www.pteroworks.com/pteros.htm]these.[/link]

Now THAT looks cool!

Minn,

If you'll do a build thread on that, it just may tip me over the fence. You could teach us more covering techniques with such a project

If I had the time, I would LOVE to build one!

That thing is awesome, and if I had any urge to get into electrics it might be worth doing.

I had wondered if the Northstar could fly off the grass without gear. Figured it could, though I'd give it about 2 takeoffs and landings before I tear the bottom of the plane off on a stick or a spot of hard dirt. [:'(]

The complete opposite of "different" for most but different for me, I've actually considered building another Eagle 2 using the same scheme as my first plane I built 15 years ago. After flying sport planes all day, it wouldn't be bad to settle in for a 20+ minute flight of touch-and-goes at sunset.

How about a Piaggio-Pegna P.c.7? (Pee-ah-gee-o- Pain-yah) You could drive it onto its hyrdrofoils using electric powered marine prop and then start main prop and uncouple marine prop for flight. NOBODY has built an RC version of this airplane and if you could succeed you would go down in history as the FIRST!

How about a Big Profile? Paul makes excellent kits that hold up real well. They feature a fiberglass backbone, removable wings, (larger szes) and they fly like nothing else.

http://www.swanyshouse.com/mojo60/mojo60.aspx

HI
If you want something different , you might try a " NU B2". It has a 40" wingspan and flies equally as well with fuel or electric.
I had these arf'd in a small quantity and have a few of the Arfs , and Ready to cover left.
It is a fun plane to fly and despite it's small size , and it's appearance , it has no bad habits. It is very aerobatic , but it will also float in easily dead-stick.
it does not drop a wingtip when it stalls. The nose drops and it recovers quickly. If you are interested in details contact me at [email protected].
phone # (760)429-8311-John

http://www.btemodels.com/vortex.html

A sweet flying plane and most likely no one else will have one at your field. Mine gets everyone's attention every time I fly it. It looks twice as fast as it really is. I fly mine with a YS 61 two-stroke and retract gear.

Anything that you actually BUILD will be different!

Brian