Bob's Top Gun Taylorcraft

Plans

$45.00

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In 1992, soon after my experience of being the first modeler to fly an electric powered airplane at a U.S. Scale Masters Championship, I began experimenting with a series of large scale models to find the best combination of readily available electric power systems and a no – compromise approach to scale model design that would permit me to become more competitive in future U.S. Scale Masters and other similar scale aeromodeling contests. Based on the experience gained over several years with many very different models, I began doing research for a Taylorcraft, with the intent of building a model that would combine the predictable flight characteristics and moderate wing and power loadings of a classic lightplane with the appearance of something other than "just another Cub". The resulting model, a ¼ scale replication of a 1941 model BC-12-D based in Illinois, was flown in several competitions during 1997, the first of which occurred just a few weeks after the model's initial test flights. In this first season of contest flying, my airplane placed well in Expert Scale at the 1997 AMA Nats at Muncie, won me the First Alternate position on the 1998 FAI World Championship Scale Team, and made the qualification "cut" that allowed me to take it to the U.S. Scale Masters Championships in Dallas, where it impressed a lot of people and finished in the top half of the competition, ahead of a lot of "heavy metal" engine powered airplanes. Since then the T-Craft has gone on to become the first electric powered model ever to compete at TOP GUN (in 1999) and to win 5th in Designer Scale at TOP GUN 2000.

Although my prototype has become well known as a competition trail blazer, the design is equally appropriate as the basis of a satisfying sport scale model. Ever since the model first appeared, I have had requests for plans, and as a result I have been working for over a year to produce a comprehensive set of CAD drawings from all of my original working sketches and patterns. Now they are here. You can build one for competition or to fly as an impressive, reliable sport scale model that will command the attention everywhere and tell the story of the exciting potential of electric flight to everyone who sees it.

My original model still flies on the Astro 90 and standard gearbox / 36 cell combination for which it was designed. Today you can save weight by using Astro Flight's new Superbox gearbox or a belt drive and an Astro 60 motor, or adapt another appropriate motor and reduction drive / battery combination that will allow you to turn an 18-12 prop at 5000 RPM. Although the model flies impressively on electric power, with power and duration to spare under demanding contest conditions, there is no reason that a four stroke glow engine of 1.20 to 1.60 displacement could not be used with simple modifications. Notes describing these changes are included on the plan.