The .020 Silver Lining is dead, long live the .049

Don't get me going Dave. I'm always interested in wierd airplanes, but that one is really out there. Looks like something that I would build, some scrap aluminum, a hammer and a rivet gun. There are internet rumblings about an airworthy car about to be marketed here. Fly to town, fold the wings and do your shopping.

Somehow there is a .049 in there.

Davenz13 wrote:You know Bob, if your stuck for rainy days projects it wouldn't take a lot of modifying and you could have one of these.

Well, that’s a nice... umm, what is that

They were used in New Zealand for a while for top dressing
It’s a Transavia PL-12 Airtruk, I kid you not, that’s its name.
I don’t know if Dracula had one but is does look a bit batty  

There was an Air Truk used in one of the MAD MAX movies (I think the first one) from Down Under years ago.
I'd love to see one in person.

A bit unusual for a crop duster but from what I hear, very practical, sort of reminds me of Keith Laumer's free flight Pee Wee powered Little Red Twin.

Outerzone Plan# oz216: 26in Little Red Twin by Keith Laumer from Oct. 1962 M.A.N.
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=216

It was in "Beyond Thunderdome" Here's a link to a bit about it.
As you will read they were made in Australia.

https://madmax.fandom.com/wiki/Transavia_PL-12_Airtruk_%22The_Flying_Jalopy%22

Davenz13 wrote:You know Bob, if your stuck for rainy days projects it wouldn't take a lot of modifying and you could have one of these.

i remember this plane from mad max

Davenz13 wrote:
As you will read they were made in Australia.

And proud of it!! I mean, surely it must have been extremely functional, 'cos it doesn't win any beauty contests.
There was one in an (now defunct) air museum I visited many years ago. It was hand-painted up all weird in numerous colours, so I assume it might have also been a movie star at some point. You could sit in the cockpit and even climb through the hopper, which you could stand up in. Saw one doing really low level manoeuvres at an airshow and was amazed at how nimble it was.

Airtruk color scheme for Silver Lining. Canopy shape changed

I like it Levent, especially the windshield/canopy. Maybe the "Red Herring".

Iconic:



Getting there on .049:

A little longer, a little more wing, a little more belly = a .049.  This one won't be silver.









I don't understand why everyone isn't building one.

Scrap balsa, simple, that neglected Cox Babe Bee laying in a draw some place.  Maybe it's - too wierd, ain't gonna fly, why build it.

So....ya never tried anything different?  

It ain't no P-38/Nobler....that's the point.

Different likes company too.

Dunno

Maybe I ought to start another contest.  Most interesting S/L build (type) get's an engine or two based on popular vote. Ten or more entries to qualify.

Good idea Bob
Inviting members to...

Floh scale model:

Floh 16 ins wingspan model plan:

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=4030

Levent Suberk wrote:Floh 16 ins wingspan model plan:

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=4030

I like the smiley face, but that's a whole lot of drag.

My new .049 version is going to look like this, as good as I can get it anyway.



Picture and wall hanger worthy, right up there with your drawing of the Silver Lining.  

Second coat of Min Wax sanding sealer.  This stuff is like applying thinned epoxy.  Sticky, get it in the cracks and on the bitter ends like wing tips.  Sand off first and second coats with blocked 100 grit.  Third coat with 320 grit, then apply paint.  First sanding removes about 90%, what is left is in the cracks. Subsequent coats the same.  My first quart lasted four years, need another.  Price has gone up from about $7.50 to $20.00.



Above:

I don't understand why everyone isn't building one.

Scrap balsa, simple, that neglected Cox Babe Bee laying in a draw some place.  Maybe it's - too wierd, ain't gonna fly, why build it.

So....ya never tried anything different?  

It ain't no P-38/Nobler....that's the point.

Different likes company too.

Dunno

Maybe I ought to start another contest.  Most interesting S/L build (type) get's an engine or two based on popular vote. Ten or more entries to qualify.

Despite me taking the forum to the wood shed nobody wants to play.  Every day 30+ members log on and I can't find ten that wants to build one based on Levents original drawing and equipped with any Cox engine .049 or less including TD's, medallions, etc.

 With Jacobs approval I would develop rules, sponsor and offer prizes to first, second, and third participants based on popular vote.  Think engine of the month.  

Thought it would be fun but maybe not.

I've been making decals for 12 ins wingspan. Do you want another decal or logo or any additional insignia?

Levent Suberk wrote:I've been making decals for 12 ins wingspan. Do you want another decal or logo or any additional insignia?

Thanks Levent - AIRTRUK would be nice.

Bob

rsv1cox wrote:

rsv1cox wrote:Maybe I ought to start another contest.  Most interesting S/L build (type) get's an engine or two based on popular vote. Ten or more entries to qualify.

Despite me taking the forum to the wood shed nobody wants to play.  Every day 30+ members log on and I can't find ten that wants to build one based on Levents original drawing and equipped with any Cox engine .049 or less including TD's, medallions, etc.

 With Jacobs approval I would develop rules, sponsor and offer prizes to first, second, and third participants based on popular vote.  Think engine of the month.  

Thought it would be fun but maybe not.

About 8 years ago, there was a Guillow contest of the year to build one in the series for that year. A poster going by the nym Kittyfritters contacted Guillow, who agreed for the contest, to supply one kit to the winning participant. Winner selection by photo of the built model and acclaimed flight duration with date and time was finally done by the Guillow Company employees, although it could be done similar to the Cox Engine of the Month Contest monthly winner, with the winning 2 to be selected by Jason's dice roll.

For example, one year, it was the easy to build semi-scale flyers of nominal 17 to 18 inch wingspan, Series 900:

https://www.guillow.com/series900.aspx


I'd think such a contest could be possible, but it would have to be done with a longer time frame, say at least several months, may be 6 months to a year, to garner sufficient contestants and give them a chance to build and fly given someone's busy schedule. It would not have to involve winning a kit. Prize could be simpler, a ball cap, patch, decal, full size plan, Cox logo ball pen, etc.

Perhaps you could post an interest survey in a category more specific to the proposed contest?

I have more or less given up on this idea George.  Asking 10 people out of thirty to build something is expecting too much even when considering how easy this model is to build.  It's not like people guessing how many engines were in Jason's jar, or my - guessing the weight of my Tri-planes contests.  Building something takes some effort.

I was thinking about three weeks to a month to build.

 I have never found building any Guillows easy.  My first was a French Spad when I was 12/13.  Turned out pretty good for a first timer.  Bought the identical kit some four years ago just to have it.



It was nice that Guillows got involved.  

Today, I'm kicking back with a heating pad and a root beer float.  Hours with a pressure washer yesterday did me in!

Actually I wasn't referring doing a Guillows build for a CEF contest, rather, your idea of the Silver Lining commemorative Manx Kitten and variations build using Cox engines. I think I could still be done, but by selling the idea and getting buy in from several, then propose to Jason. I've been wanting to build one, but the wife has been having health issues, I'm still recovering from back surgery, plus am working on house repairs.

Had one of those brain f**ts of an idea, perhaps a push-pull Manx Kitten with .049 on front and .049 pusher in rear. Use the standard profile Cox generic mount



on both front and rear, have a 4 wheel landing system using the mounts.

Funny you should mention that George.  While reading the August issue of Air Classics, this picture caught my eye and you guessed what I was thinking. A couple of Babe Bees back to back and propped correctly!!




BTW the F-86 makes my top ten.  If you analyze this picture closely you will see the leading edge slats deployed along with the ailerons positioned correctly for this low speed photo.  The relating article is a history lesson in itself.  

A4 size lettering sheet:

https://www.mediafire.com/file/6dr05xfvafol9ru/Airtruk_Lettering_A4.png/file

Levent Suberk wrote:A4 size lettering sheet:

https://www.mediafire.com/file/6dr05xfvafol9ru/Airtruk_Lettering_A4.png/file

Thanks Levent. Got it.