Jay B. Scott

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Just got finished with this 1/12th scale Cessna 310B. I used a Walter M. Jeffries 3-view and lots of photos to put it together over the past year. Did the color scheme after a colorized B&W promo shot of Sky and Penny and the Songbird, as you can see from the lower left corner of the back of the DVD. It uses MP Jet brushless outrunners, although I intend not throwing all that TLC into the air just yet, as anyone on the flying field knows that sh happens. I'm going to make molds of all the compound curve parts for vacuum forming plastic parts. That plane I won't have any trouble tossing because I'll be able to replace parts easily. The first pic of my plane is in its natural habitat hanging from my shop ceiling. The second is the plane coming in for a deadstick landing from out of the clear blue of the western sky. "Look out, Uncle Sky!" "Hang on to your teatI mean seatPenny!" Those were the days . . .

Jay B. Scott

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I forgot the pic from the back of the DVD. That would be helpful, as there is some internet misinformation going around about the color of the 310 Songbird. Oh, by the way, this year is the 50th anniversary of the model year of Songbird II, 1958.

marktur

BEAUTIFUL!!!!

I am just finishing up the Top Flite version. Starting to get scared/excited to fly her...she's HEAVY! OS 70 FS II's on it for power, with all the bells and whistles, and of course, Bikini Barbee in the passenger seat!

How large is your wingspan? And weight? What are you powering it with?

Thanks,
Mark

Jay B. Scott

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Thanks, Marktur!

I've been flying the Top Flite 310 around on the simulator, and it's not bad there. I know the thing has a wing loading in the 50s, but I read in a review that it still flies pretty easy. I'd like to know the secret to that one, but as long as it works, then a big tip of the hat to Top Flite.

Mine is 1/12th scale, which makes the wingspan 36". AUW is about 30 ounces. E Flite has a new Sea Fury with those same specs, so even though I haven't flown mine yet, I'm confident that it'll be fine. I'm using MP Jet 22/7-60Ds for the prototype, but I've got two Axis lined up for the vacuum formed second model.

marktur

Cool - a little guy!

I may have to bribe you for one!
Although I'd drop a couple of OS 30 four-strokes into it for power!

What most people don't take into account on the TF version, I think, is that the nacelles are formed as a high-lift airfoil - so maybe this "wing area" is not accounted for. That would definitely lower the wing loading some...but man, it's HEAVY. Even without the batteries in it...

But...I have seen lots of videos of this fatty flying on .46's and .50's and it seemed just fine...

Jay B. Scott

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Yes, little, but only the beginning! I have a 1/7th scale in mind to do. But first I want to make a 1/7th scale working model of the front retract. Conventional retracts won't fit into that tight nose area on the 310B. As you know, it's really right up in the front. I have the mechanics figured out for the retract and steering, but now it's a matter of figuring out what off-the-shelf parts I can use and what parts I'm going to have to make myself.

As for the lift, don't forget the symmetrical stab. As long as it's airfoil-shaped, it will lift.

Jay B. Scott

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I thought I'd throw in some "construction" photos. It's not blow-by-blow, but rather some of my scratch-building techniques.

1. Start with the obvious three-view. This is a freebee from Jeffries. Take advantage of it, guys [)] 2. Blow up three-view in computer and print out sections on transparencies, then tape together. 3. Draw your outline from this, from which you make your plans design. 4. Example of plans section. I use wax paper spray glued to printer paper for the printout. This gets pressed directly to the wood sheet. High clarity, no mess! 5. Jig for making fuselage, made from 1/16th inch matte board. 6. Milestone! Fuselage wood done! 7. Another milestone! All wood on airplane! 8. Video still showing half of the flying crown. 9. Putting it in my trusty old PhotoDeluxe and making a mirror image. 10. Printing that out and tracing an outline over it, then scanning that back into the computer. 11. Decal print-out sheet. 12. Color patterns designed for monokote or painting.

Jay B. Scott

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I also couldn't resist this one. I posed my plane to compare it with this awesome still shot of the N5348A before it got its TV "decals" put on.

Jay B. Scott

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I was hoping to generate some discussion about the colors of the TV 310 Songbird. Barring that, I’ll commence with a monologue instead -) The prevailing Internet information has the colors as Honey Gold, Bamboo Bronze, and Polar White. The Source of this information is this lovely straight-tail 310 (1). But turn this into a Black and White picture (2), and compare it to this awesome Black and White still photo of N5348A (shown iconically at the beginning and ending of the last 33 episodes of Sky King) (3), and it’s easy to see that the colors can’t be the same. Now, if I owned a straight-tail 310, I would put “Songbird� on it and make-believe I was Sky King, too! It’s all about having fun. But just to clear the slate and keep the purists on the right page, let’s start over again. (Continued . . .)

Jay B. Scott

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The man who got me thinking outside the box is Lew Thompson from Sarasota, FL. Here at RC Universe in 2004, he posted this inspiring pic of his quarter scale Bud Nosen 310, modified as the straight-tail Songbird (1). He said he and his wife guessed at the colors. Now turn this into Black and White (2) and compare (3). Way better! I tip my hat to this brave couple who dared to call the Emperor on his new clothes! (Continued . . .)

Jay B. Scott

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I, too, was about to follow the Gold and Bronze path. As I had to finish my prototype in plastic for the purpose of best withstanding my molding process for subsequent vacuum-formed plastic parts, I chose Monokote Cub Yellow and Tan as the closest colors. But after seeing Lew’s plane, I switched to Cream and Missile Red. Only at the last moment did I also dare to be different, and substituted Pearl White for the Cream. I’m still not satisfied, as Pearl White tends to look metallic, which is not desirable. But as I have two more Songbirds to build in this project, a vacuum-formed 1/12th scale and a 1/7th scale with (scale!) retracts, I’m going to continue to experiment with the Off-White color. And all of this long-windedness brings me to my main point: I’m really stuck on the Off-White color being Antique White (1). Look at this pic again (2) and tell me it ain’t so!

maxpower1954

Just came across your thread Jay - just a stunning, beautiful job! Have you flown it it?

About the Songbird colors. Ever since I was a kid, I had always assumed the Songbird was turquiose/black and white, but that's probably because of the Aurora plastic model which I'm sure you're aware of - I still have one in the box. If that picture of the honey gold, bamboo bronze 310 is the source of the information that those were the Songbird colors, well, that airplanes a 1956/57; N5348A was a 1958 310B, and the scheme isn't the same!

I like the red you chose so much better, looks more like Sky would have picked. The short-lived Dumas 310 perpetuated the honey gold scheme on the kit box photo. I don't think available Cessna production orders had the paint color listed, but I could be wrong. They probably want an arm and a leg for it, anyway.

BTW, did you know that Walter M. Jeffries, who did many, many beautiful three-views was the art director for the original "Star Trek" and designed the first U.S.S Enterprise? He was a antique airplane buff and owner; he passed away a few years ago.

Progress on the next version and flight reports when you get a chance, please! Russ Farris

aeroscale

Here's a link to a video of my 310. http://www.rcuvideos.com/item/L09RBK0G55HZW2MH
Rich

maxpower1954

Hi Rich, I admired your 310 when you posted this last year. Any progress on the M.A.N. construction article? Your 310 is the perfect size for me...do you plan on having a short kit available? Russ Farris

timothy thompson

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mine is leccy 22.6 lbs and flys great! lands nice hard to believe that wing load no. i bet the tip tanks generate lift and they are not counted in the calc. 10 min flights eflite power 60s 2s2p 5000ma each nacelle 12x8 apc leccyprops. this plane land like a trainer dead stick1111111111111111111111

EWRT

What a beautiful reproduction of a '58 310. I read all the posts and the real Songbird was Mustard and Brown but your's is more striking. If you ever decide to mass produce let me know. Can't get more exact...better than the Top Flight (different model design). Nice work!

aeroscale

Thanks, guys, glad you enjoyed it!
Russ, MAN now has all the material and the delay has been my fault, not theirs. Seems like work gets in the way of my modeling activities. They are preparing the material for publication and I expect it is only two issues away. I will have a molded plastic part set (cowls, nose fairing,tip tanks and cabin/cockpit area) and www.hobbyhangar.com will have a laser cut parts package when the article appears.
I've got a LOT of flying on it now and really do enjoy it....enough that I've built a second one which I'll probably finish as a U-3 "Blue Canoe" so I can use it at Warbird meets.
Thanks again!
Rich

maxpower1954

Looks fantastic Rich, looking foward to the article! Maybe it's an age thing, but I always liked the 310 Songbird over the Bamboo Bomber...Russ Farris

airbusdrvr

In case you want to watch while you build or view for referrence reasons, here is a link where you can watch all the episodes of Dky King: http://www.americanflyers.net/entertainment/skyking.asp

EWRT

Jay, I think my comments about the 310B were placed in the wrong area (I am new to posting and forums) The other 310's are well done but your 1/12 310B is fantastic!! Really nice job. I have owned a real 310 and have tons of material on the 310's from the beginning to the end in 1981. Your model is so close to the actual aircraft I was wondering if you plan a production kit? Anyway, excellent work!

Jay B. Scott

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"Jay, I think my comments about the 310B were placed in the wrong area (I am new to posting and forums) The other 310's are well done but your 1/12 310B is fantastic!! Really nice job. I have owned a real 310 and have tons of material on the 310's from the beginning to the end in 1981. Your model is so close to the actual aircraft I was wondering if you plan a production kit? Anyway, excellent work!"EWRT

Thanks, EWRT! Sorry for not getting right back to you, or anyone else posting here for that matter, as I haven't even looked at my post for nearly a year!

I'm not a prolific builder by any means, and this plane was very special to me, which is the only reason why I poured my heart and soul into it to get it right. It was also my first completely scratch-built project, and I'm very proud of it. I do plan on making vacuum-formed parts of all the compound-curve parts, and re-designing a simpler plan that still retains the scale quality. This I would make available on a small scale, as I do not intend to go commercial with it.

Thanks again for your inspiring comment! I just can't believe anybody's still looking at this thing!

airwalk

I just found your songbird thread.Your plane Jay B Scott looks just fanastic! It really brings bach old memorys as a kid.watching Skyking on a saturday morning.Both you and Aeroscale planes looks just like the ones on the tv series. Bulding molds to make replacement parts is a smart thing to do.I doing the same with a baron 58 project.Anyway I just wanted to let you guys know how I admire your planes! keep up the great work!

SpaceRanger

The colors of N5348A, the 310B used in "Sky King," were Sierra Gold (a dark yellowish brown), Coronado Yellow, and white, one of four stock color schemes available for the 310B. These colors are confirmed by (1) the 310B brochure, (2) the 310B parts manual, and (3) the Cessna production record card for N5348A (copies of all of which are in my possession), as well as the sole surviving piece of N5348A, its vertical fin, which is in the hands of a private collector.

The red-and-white scheme, though attractive, is totally bogus. The image seen on the DVD/video cassette box art is an inaccurately colorized black-and-white image.

I was consultant to Squadron/MMD on their recently released Cessna T-50 kit.

Avaiojet

Kudos on the "Songbird" builds.

I have the Songbird art/graphixs for tha era. Including the Flying Crown Ranch graphixs. I'm moving, but I'll dig them up in Oct.

Remember to PM me then and I'll send a set out to those that have the Songbird, at no charge. Yes, I can make them different sizes. Just send a SASE.

I have everything needed to bulid the Songbird, as the T-50. I'm debating to finish it as the Songbird or something else.

The Songbird II is also a nice model, but my current interest is the first Songbird. Probably has something to do with my age.

Watching that series, as a child, probably led me to become the washed out pilot, I am now, but wasn't for over 25 years.

Great series, great airplane, great characters. Inspired me.

Charles

www.cfcgraphics.com