Hi all
I recently acquired a picco .60 with a tuned pipe-I would love to get into pattern flying to become a better pilot. However I cannot find, at a decent price, a modern looking pattern plane to go with my power setup-I am therefore looking to build my own.

As a start, I need to answer the question-fibreglass fuselage or built up bulsa? Personally I would prefer fibreglass (ease of build+repairability)but i know that it can be a lot heavier than bulsa. Any thoughts? I do not have access to vacuum bagging so I would probably use the lost foam technique with carbon rod and ply reinforcements. Is it possible to acheive all this in a 1.5m by 1.5m plane with all up weight of less than 3.5 kg? Or am I barking up the wrong ally totally here.

Please give me your opinion-I am very keen to do this but don't want to waste my time if it's a non starter.
Thanks
Gareth

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You could always go with the Gitano. It was designed around 96 maybe it was after turn around came into play. And if memory serves me correct it was designed by a South African.
It is a smaller fuselage than todays design by far. But was designed around the Hanno 60 with a tuned pipe.

Look for the Kyosho Oxalys .50

Gereth,

The engine that you have on hand is the type that was popular many years ago. With that in mind, I would suggest one of the Bridi kits. There is a company currently making such kits, just do Google search for it and you should be able to find it.

Good luck,

Teo

Plane is tiny for that engine.

The Picco 60 was a very powerful engine on pipe and is suited well to planes like Curare, Atlas, Arrow, etc. Look at the Classic Pattern Forum. There are several birds available

The Gitano , a Bridi XLS or a Disire 60 are easy to build and would work well.

Well thanks all for the advice

I have decided to bite the bullet and do a full plug, mould and vacuum bagged layup with a foam core and internal supports. The reason is I much prefer the look of the modern pattern planes, and I have always wanted to learn how to do this. Will be starting a build thread-the plug is on its way as we speak.
Thanks for the help
Gareth