I've gotten the opinion from jet enthusiast on a nice beginner ducted fan kit between the F-18 and the F-16, What do you guys think about the A-10 twin ducted fan with 45's. How would something like this work for a beginner? I know with this kit everything will come in two's. But I'm ready. I remember there was a nice kit offered by Sunset models who are no longer in business. They offered three different models of this kit. What I'm looking for is a Fiberglass fuselage with foam core wings for twin 45's. Do you guys no of any companies who still offer something like this. Any Info, Pictures, Links or telephone numbers would be extremely helpful. Please give me your feedback on this project.

Thanks Ty

We sell the Beaulieu plans for the A-10 ($40.00 + shipping), which was the basis for the George Miller Warthog that ended up at Sunset Models. They make quite an accurate model that flies very well on a pair of Turbax/.45-.48 fan/engine combos. Normally we suggest that a guy start with a single engine airplane, but certainly you're free to do whatever you like!

Best regards,
Larry Wolfe
[email protected]

Do you have any photos of this model, how hard would something like this be to build. If any photos please email, thanks Ty

I would not recommend starting with a twin engine ducted fan. I would recommend starting with a single engine ducted fan.

What aircraft have you flown to date?

How difficult this project would be depends on your building experience. If that is limited to ARFs, then it will be difficult for you. If you're a scratch-builder or have built several wood kits, it shouldn't be that bad.

Logic would really dictate that it makes more sense to start with one engine rather than two to maximize your probability of success.

Larry

The Sunset Models and George Miller A-10 Wart hogs ARE Not the same.

I have had both.

The Miller is Very scale and quite a bit larger than the Sunset version. Sunsets was "Stand way back and squint scale" Atleast the one I had was!

AND the Sunset one had a goofy airfoil that was nowhere near the "Scale undercambered airfoil that the Miller kit has.

Here is a pic of the Miller F-glass fuse version I built for a client.

You are correct that Miller's and Sunset's are not the same. I stated that incorrectly. At one time, Miller and Buz Evans of Sunset were business partners and the A-10 was a joint project for a period of time, I believe. However, when they split, they each did their own version. Miller's were off the Beaulieu drawings--which are quite accurate.

Does anyone know what happened to Miller's A-10 molds? Haven't seen nor heard of George Miller in about 10 years--about the time he was getting out of the hobby and the business.

Larry

I think that the guys at Craig Aviation have them now.. been looking for info for my self on them

The last I heard, was the Miller A-10 molds were lost in a fire somewhere. I got this from John Craig who as you know accuired all the rest of the miller molds before he bought out Byrons line.

John also said if demand warranted he would remake them, but that was before the Byron purchase.

Some time ago I corresponded with John Craig about the George Miller A-10, because I had bought a semi kit online, which includes the fiberglass fuse and other parts, and the ribs & stringers for the wings and tailplanes.

He gave me a price on an A-10 kit that is exactly the same size as the GM A-10, but with foam wings instead of wood. He also gave me a parts list and was willing to sell spare parts for anything I needed on the GM plane.

I'm not saying he has THE molds, but he has a way to produce a fiberglass fuselage in that size.

I have both of the Sunset A-10 kits. The smaller one is an all wood kit and is sized for two 46's while the larger one has a fiberglass fuse with scale foam undercambered wings and is sized for two 91's. The small wood kit is designed around spring air retracts and the large kit came with very scale and very expensive CJM retracts.

I myself I have the Josh Harrell plans build one that I am building for a life time now and I must say that this thing is huge. Also with two engines going I feel that this is not a first time kit to get into ( too many things going at the same time to pay attention to for a beginner to d/fs), start with a single engine a/c, the less you have to worry about the better.

Mine is not completed yet ( who knows when this event will happen) but here is a shot of the same kit I took when I was in PA last Aug.

Lee

The A-10 could be done as an electric. This would make it nearly impossible to get a one engine out situation (NEVER SAY NEVER). It would also simplify initial set up as getting two electric fans to run reliably and at same speed is a lot easier than two glow engines.

However, the costs would be very high. The fans, motors, controllers and charger would run costs similar to a pair of fans, engines and pipes, but there is still the cost of the batteries. Since batteries have a long life if you fly the plane a lot, after about 100 flights the cost of fuel would be start becoming greater than the investment in batteries.

The other down side is flight times (about 5 min max) and lower thrust. The plane weight with batteries would be reasonably close the a fueled A-10.

You could also build one of a reasonable size (up to 80") and the Cbt Models A-10 has been converted a few times to electric. There are a few small electric A-10s out there but even the Cbt one is small for may tastes.

Just thinking out loud. For glow though a single is a much better path.

Stephen

I just aquired one of these. Do any of you have any experience with the flight of these kits. Was the thrust generated by the homemade duct sufficent to fly the model?

Basically, there is a ply plank coming up from the fuse that the engine is mounted on. Using this as a base, a wooden duct is built. What you end up with is a duct that is cut in half by the ply member.