Eindecker EIII R/C Aircraft

[Larry Folk]

Been a while since I posted anything so I thought I'd share my latest project using my laser.

This is 1/3 scale radio controlled aircraft of an Eindecker EIII from WWI.
135" wingspan, gas powered. Weight is 39 lbs. ready to fly.

All design work done with SketchUp and parts exported to Corel as .svg files for cutting on the laser.
Mostly 1/8" Baltic Birch plywood for the structure with some 1/8" and 1/4" balsa.

The aluminum cowl is 14" in diameter and the wheels are 9" in diameter.

I currently have 3 prototype kits under construction and one prototype under going test flights.

This will be a kit that I will be selling in the near future.


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[Gary Hair]

Very nicely done! Is that some type of monokote or paper/dope covering? What size and type of engine?

[Larry Folk]

Gary,

The covering is an iron on fabric called Coverall. It is then sealed and painted.

The one flying has a DA 85 single cylinder gas engine. (5.24 ci.)

The photo attached shows a Zenoah G62 that I am using in my plane. (3.5 ci.)

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[Gary Hair]

I actually used Coverall on a small J3 that I built many years ago and my dad used it on a much larger J3 as well, so long ago I forgot what it was called. I still have his but haven't flown it in years, it's got a 120 4 stroke swingin a big prop, well not as big as that one you are using, but a lot bigger than what I swung on my .25 and .40 powered planes...

['Jacques Malan']

Now that is absolutely stunning.

[David Rust]

Larry,

Impressive!! Looking at your work from being an old A&P, I.A. and Pilot this is really great work... All the best on your designs! Keep 'em flying!

[Rangarajan Saravana kumar]

Excellent and stunning to see it flying.... tks for sharing

Regards

[Dan Hintz]

I used to love making these as a kid... sadly, though, I never got to see any of them fly.

Even just seeing the technical drawings brings a smile to my face :)

[John Coloccia]

This may well be one of the few actual kits on the market today. Midwest maybe makes one or two kits. Not sure if Goldberg still makes an actual kit. Royal is gone. Champion/Davey systems is gone (man, I miss the Hammer). MK is gone. Ace is gone.

Sig is still making kits, somehow. Great Planes makes a handful of kits. Balsa USA still makes kits. I think that's about it.

[Larry Folk]

Thanks for the comments and encouragement guys. There is a of of work to bring a new product to market
and this is a special niche within the world of R/C aircraft.

The aircraft flying has had some more work done to it and some lipstick added.

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[Jimmy Phillips]

That is incredible! Well done!

How much would a typical model like this sale for?

I can't imagine how you will make a profit on this? It must take an enormous amount of your time, and you have to spread the development cost over the sale of future models.

All I can say is WOW!

[Sotos Patistas]

Masterful work Larry, truly very very nice, and Jimmy...




How much would a typical model like this sale for?

I can't imagine how you will make a profit on this? It must take an enormous amount of your time, and you have to spread the development cost over the sale of future models.



Hey from another local, and to answer part of your question, the saying in the RC Model business, is that if you want to end up with a million dollars, you need to start with 2 million. ;-)

[Jimmy Phillips]

No doubt! :)

[Guy Hilliard]

What are those flappy things doing on the end of your wings???

[Chuck Jarrett]

Very nice! Wish you well selling them as a kit. Is that a PA12 or a J5 in your picture?

[Gary Hair]

Is that a PA12 or a J5 in your picture?

The shape of the cowling looks like either a J3 or a PA12, but windshield shape makes me believe it's a J3, but I could be wrong.

[Larry Folk]

Jimmy, Guy, Chuck and Gary

I have a very detailed spread sheet tracking all of my material costs on this project. My target price for these kits is right around $1,000 to $1,100
dollars. These kits will be complete with everything needed to build it without covering, engine or radio gear.
Meaning every nut, bolt, landing gear/wheels, cowl and all wood pieces required.
It is easier to create a greater value for the kit if everything is included.

I have also done all of the design work in 3d with SketchUp and I am creating all of the building instructions from this 3d work.

Due to the size that I am working with (1/3 to 1/2 scale) I am using a lot of 1/8" Baltic Birch plywood instead of balsa wood.
My baltic birch runs me $0.80 and sq. ft. and 1/8" balsa runs me $2.36 sq. ft. plus shipping.

This design of my Eindecker has been changed to ailerons on the wings to keep things simpler. The full scale had wing warping.

I have been in this hobby for fifty years now and I have seen a lot of hobby businesses come and go. I am working a niche market and not trying to be everything to everyone but to offer the best product available to my target buyers. This is not my primary business but is a nice companion to my architecture and architectural modeling businesses.

The picture in my avatar is my 1/3 scale Super Cub. 144" wing span. This is the plane that I currently compete with at scale contests and have been very successful with.

Currently I am working on the design of a half scale Nieuport 11. I am working on this for the 2014 Dayton Dawn Patrol event in Sept. 2014 at the Air Force Museum. This will be a major event and will commemorate the beginning of WWI. There are at least 10 half scale WWI aircraft under construction for this event.

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[Jimmy Phillips]

Larry,

All I can say is I am impressed!

V/r,

Jimmy