OLY II

[Click image for closer view.]

Sky Bench is proud to announce the availability of the famed Original Airtronics Olympic II sailplane kit, better know as the OLY II. We are now producing this great flying and super durable Lee Renaud design.

Dave Garwood's photo's for his OLY ll kit review published in Flying Models magazine December 2004 issue.

The OLY II has been the best beginners R/C Sailplane for years and has taught thousands of r/c sailplane enthusiasts how to fly successfully. The OLY II will stay up on the slightest of thermal activity and produce long flights for the beginner, but don't be fooled into thinking it is only for beginners. The OLY II is still winning contests, Tom Kellevang flew his OLY to first place in the 2000 AMA/LSF Nostalgia NATS and the wind was fierce all day.

The kit was originally designed to build fast and now Sky Bench has improved on that with laser cut wing ribs that are stacked, and ready for immediate use with out needing to be punched out like a die cut kit. The fin is now a one piece laser cut part that saves building time and more importantly makes a much stronger tail section to better withstand a flip over landing. Both the stab and rudder also have laser cut parts to save building time and create more accurate and stronger flying surfaces. The fuse top and bottom are now laser cut and this will also save building time.

The wing leading edges are pre shaped and require minimal sanding, spoilers are optional, but installation is shown on the construction plan. All hardware to complete the model is furnished except the adhesives and covering materials. The 5/16" steel wing rod that joins the two wing halves is a competition level wing joiner.

Separate plans are furnished for the wings and the construction manual is illustrated with lots of photos to make building a snap.

This was my second build after the Gentle Lady. The OLY II had its test flight this weekend and did great. 16 minutes off the winch with very little lift. Looking forward to building the Big Bird.

Ron

OLY II Construction Tips

Oly II Testimonials with Photos

Click here See Ed Whyte's OLY II Instructions.
New instructions for Sky Bench's revised OLY ll kit will be written and posted here when completed.

Kit Price, $136.95

Bob Legue's Electric Conversion

.. Interior motor area dimensions ..
W: 1-3/8" H: 1-5/8" L: ADJ. 2-1/2" to 3-7/8"

Notice.......... January 2006

I have been continually striving to improve the OLY ll kit to improve the strength and the ease of assembly.

The kit now includes the Du Bro Laser push rod package and Du Bro metal clevises. This will improve the quality of the kit and make the building more enjoyable.

An electric motor mount former is also included in the kits. Use this to mount a Graupner Speed 600 motor for ease of launching. Other more powerful motors can be used.

Flight Battery and Servo Information:

I use a 4 cell, KR-1400-AE Ni-Cd Flight Battery pack from Batteries America, with a Hitec receiver protection rubber pad (1/8" thick) between the nose block and pack. This fits just right in my OLY ll. I have two quarters for added nose weight. I'm using the larger size Hitec HS 300 servos for rudder and elelvator.

Electric Motor mount former for Speed 600 (included in kit)
One part $1.85. Shipping is $1.25 for up to 4 parts or zero shipping cost if ordered with other items.

14 year old wins first place in his first contest flying an "Oly II"

Laser cut fuse parts. Snap lock parts totally reduces building time and the newly designed parts increase the fuse strength tremendously. Note the servo/switch tray and 1/64 plywood doublers, Lee Renaud would be proud of this kit.

The stab tips and leading edge center splice part, elevators with control horn mounting holes, rudder top and bottom and fin are all laser cut for fast building time.

This is my completed parts. The bottom of the stab and bottom of the fin were left uncovered for gluing purposes.

Designs by Leon Kincaid

3m Scooter

SKY BENCH is pleased to add the Scooter to it's growing list of quality RC Sailplanes. Leon Kincaid has authorized Sky Bench the production of his Nats winning glider the Scooter formerly produced by Spirit of Yesteryear models.

The Scooter is a three metre built up aircraft for rudder, elevator and spoiler. The wing carries ballast tubes. Selected wood, which is laser cut, precise drawings and hardware make for a very complete kit.

The Scooter has a long history of competition victories to it's name including six Nats wins a Tangerine win and many State championships.

Leons original airfoil was forwarded to Michael Selig for evaluation and was smoothed out for improved performance. It caries the K3311SM number. Wind tunnel test results may be seen in the publication Summary of low-speed airfoil - Volume 1 by Michael Selig et. al.

Details:

Full Kit Price: $189.95 includes rod/tubes

Laser Parts only: $94.95

Wing Rod and Brass Tubes: $18.95

CLICK HERE FOR ...Ray's BUILDING TIPS

• This design will also be a great flyer with flaps only or with both spoilers and flaps.

Leon and his Scooters

A 3M Scooter in action!

Designs by Ed Slobod

Pierce Arrow, Pierce 970, Paragon, Paramount, Gemini and Ridge Rat.
Sky Bench has Exclusive Mfg. Kit Rights to the above designs. Watch for further information. Sky Bench currently is mfg. the Pierce 970, Paragon and Pierce Arrow.

There are three Paragons and two Pierce 970 pictured.
Ed is displaying his red and yellow Paragon, Bill Nibley is launching.
Both designs are Nostalgia legal and are very easy to build and fly.

PIERCE 970

This is how I moved the stab control horn inside the fin. I also cut some lightening holes. This takes more building time, you measure the reward.

Click here for kit details.

Click here for text info.

Beautiful symmetrical stab and fin. Stab ribs include building jig tabs for accurate and easy construction.

The top photo is my 2nd Pierce 970 I had way back in 1977. Hard to see, but I put flaps on this one. The airfoil is a thin flat bottom and was one of the best at lifting out in light lift. The Sky Bench kit includes half inch wide vertical balsa shear webbing between the 1/2" wide spars in the inner wing panels that will make a very strong wing. Carbon strips are not included. Ed Slobod is famous for his Paragon design, but I think when the Pierce 970 starts showing up at the flying fields, you fellas will see the light and want a 970 too. The flight speed envelop is much larger due to the thin wing. Back in 77, we didn't have carbon to beef up the wings and so the 970 was a bit fragile, but not anymore. This is a big sailplane with 120 inch wing span that is very easy to build and one of the great all time best Nostalgia performers.

Thanks to laser cutting, I have saved the builder a lot of construction time on this kit. The wing rib cap strips have been eliminated, the wing is set up for a single wing rod instead of two, the inner wing panels have 1/2" wide spars with precut vertical shear webs between the spars, the stab ribs do not require cutting in half like the original kit did, but still has a sysmetrical section and the stab control horn can be built attached to a stab root as shown on the plans or within the fin to reduce drag and protect it from breakage.

The fuse sides, top and bottom are laser cut for a fast build with tab and slot former construction to keep the fuse straight. 1/64" plywood doublers are used at the nose/wing joiner and at the fin junction. The fuse wing joiner area has been modfied to greatly increase the strength.

John Boughton with his P 970. John has his balance point at 3 1/4" back from the leading edge and the tow hook is 2 1/2" back from L. E.

The plan show the balance point way forward of John's setting, but John kept pushing the CG rearward until the proper performance was achieved. Just looking at the plan, most everyone should know it is positioned on the plan too far forward. The P 970 has a low wing incidence and that requires a rearward CG location. I'm nearly finished building my P 970 and I'll start the CG at John's setting. Thanks John.

Alberto's beautiful Pierce 970 flies in Venezuela skies

I have found a good use for an Aluminum Cigar tube, it makes a great ballast holder, complete with screw cap. I use a brass tube filled with melted tire weights ( think green ) that easily slides in and out of the Aluminum ballast holder tube. The Aluminum tube is glued into the fuse at a downward angle and is centered length wise over the balance point.

View of spoiler servo wiring connectors epoxied to inside of fuse and wing at the same time to insure alignment.

Paragon

Span 118" - Wing Area 1080 sq. in.
Wing Loading 6.4 oz/sq.ft. - Flying Weight 48 oz.

ED SLOBOD'S PARAGON KIT INSTRUCTIONS

Paragon Laser Cut Parts

Kit now includes this newly designed Dihedral brace.
Reduces build time and strengthens the center wing joint.


PARAGON CANOPY AND FRAME

This is a very, very quick building kit. The fuse snaps together with dead on accuracy. And the wing is three piece for easy transporting and construction. No wing rod to install means QUICK CONSTRUCTION.

I am very glad I can bring this classic back to the flying fields and it is just in time for today's high interest in installing e power to our Sailplanes. There is plenty of room in the fuse for the motor and batteries with easy access.

Paragon complete Kit .. $158.95

Hi Ray, The Paragon kit arrived yesterday right on schedule. I'm very impressed with the quality of the cutting, the wood and the way the parts are organized. Also, the use of hardwood for stringers and spars for both the wing center section and tips as well as the cross-grained filler between the spars in the center section promises to make a much stronger wing than the original. Thanks again. Tom Ball AMA99767

PIERCE ARROW

Another famous design by Ed Slobod. This was the forerunner of Ed's Paragon and has now become a popular conversion to Electric by adding three more ribs in each center wing panel to extend the wing to 91 inches.

This laser cut kit includes the six extra ribs.

Pierce Arrow specifications: 

• Wing span: 76"

• Wing area: 500 sq. in.

• Weight: 26 oz.

24 oz. flying weight shown on Ed's construction plan. Extra six ribs adds 112.5 sq. in. wing area.

Partial Kit Only, Laser cut parts include:

Beautifully accurate laser cut wing ribs, plywood wing joiner braces, balsa tips and center section of stab and plywood canopy pieces.

Fuse sides, strip wood, spars and tail stick stock not included.

Partial Kit price including plans and instructions: $46.95

Gordy Discovers Ken's Windlord.
Click here for Gordy's video and comments on flight performance.

Gene North's electric version.
See power system details on the Electric Sailplane page.

Windlord for Electric or Winch

wing span 100"    area 1400 sq. in.
weight 50-70 oz.    loading 5-7 oz. sq. ft.

Ken Bates assembling his Windlord at Wood Crafters

Superior Flying Wing performance designed by Ken Bates

Semi Kit includes: Laser cut parts as shown in photos.

Partial kit ... $89.00
5/16" Wing rod - brass tubes ... $18.95

See Ken's build thread on RC Groups

Windlord Laser Cut Parts

Ken Bates' Merlyn

Wing Span ... 155"   Wing Area ... 2100 sq. in.
Offered with choice of original Aguila airfoil or S3014 that requires fuse modification by builder to install wing rods.

Full KIT PRICE ... $288.95   SH ... $24.95
Includes: two 5/16" dia. wing joiner rods and brass tubes, fuse needs modification from plan to install above two rods, fuse is cut according to plan. Refer to plan, builder's choice on wing rods installation. Large single wing rod not yet available from Sky Bench. See Ray's build pages 1-2, page 3, and page 4 for photo clarification.

Plans and instructions not included

KIT PRICE ... $263.95   SH ... $24.95
No wing rods and brass tubes furnished.
A good option for the steel rods is a straight Aluminum wing rod and glass tubes. Spar is 1/2" wide. Rod and tubes are not furnished.

Plans and instructions not included

Partial Kit
Includes Laser Cut parts only
$169.95 ... SH ... $22.00

Order construction plan #354 and build instructions
from AMA Plan Service (web) or (email).

Changes Made by Sky Bench

Aguila flat bottom Airfoil	Selig S 3014 Airfoil

Ken Bate's Merlyn Building Instructions

Hi Ray,

Just put my ordre in the mail for your Cloud Bound 4 full kit. I plan to motorize it just like I did the Merlyn. I've attached some Merlyn pictures and a short video of its maiden takeoff from the dolly (Quick-Time). The Merlyn flys extremely well which makes this ol' (84) man very happy.

Chet

This is the power set up Chet installed in his Merlyn:
The Merlyn uses an Axi 4130/20, 18 x 9 folding prop with 6s 3200 Li-polys.

Ken Bate's Merlyn Building Instructions

Richard Robbins and his newly completed electric powered Merlyn

U-TUBE videos of Richard Robbins E Merlyn

Bob Barger has been flying Merlyn's for years. This one is launched by an electric motor.

Legionair



1978 F3B Team Selection Finals, Pennsacola, Florida.

The famous Legionair series of sailplanes designed by Cecil Haga are coming back. Cecil's son Bill has given exclusive rights to Sky Bench to kit the whole series of Legionairs. Cecil designed several versions of the Legionairs, 2M, 100", 132",140" and the Shuttle in 2M and 100". The Legionairs were very popular and well know and exceptional performers. The airfoil was designed to handle the Texas high winds with a low wing loading which will allow today's rc pilot to penetrate and search for lift far from the confines of the flying field and still thermal out in light air. Prices and more information will be posted when available. Send an email and you will be notified when the Legionairs are available, pricing, etc. I will not be able to respond to questions due to time constraints on Sky Bench. We are swamped, but I wanted to let everyone know this great flying sailplane will be available.

A special thanks goes to Bill Haga, Jack Womack, Bill Maserang, Jim Ealy, and Jim Deck for their help in this project.

Building tips and parts change notification

Ray,

You asked me to send you a picture when I had built my Legionaire 132. I attach a couple of it albeit as yet uncovered. When I finish it off (should be in about a week's time) I will send you a couple more pics - do with any or all of them whatever you may wish. I also recently came across a photo of me taken in the mid 70's with my original Legionaire 132 - I will include that also in the next email just for interest. I also found it slightly confusing to built to a plan which did not fully represent the variant you have (very sensibly) kitted. As such to help my friend who has yet to start to his 140 version, I typed up some expanded building notes as I went along. These I also attach in case they are of any use or interest to you. Obviously no-one builds models of this type without a fair bit of prior experience so, by and large, such notes are probably redundant for most builders. However as they now exist you are welcome to a copy. In passing the kit was excellent - the key features of the fuselage pod and canopy being a vast improvement on the original and the oher key feature of the laser cut ribs also being a perfect fit. The carbon wing spar should make for a pretty strong wing able to stand brutality on launch and the fuselage boom (of bigger dia carbon) is clearly going to be a vast improvement on the original 1/2" alloy boom which flexed at high speed and was susceptible to "permanent set" type damage. In short - thanks for the nice kit, it made up very easily.

Best wishes, Robin Sleight

Robin Sleight's Legionaire Notes

Jack Womack's Legionair 100

SKY BENCH'S LEGIONAIR 140 LASER CUT PARTS

Fiber glass pod and carbon boom

Full Kit to build 100" or 132" or 140" versions...$350.00 + $24.95 SH
Full Kit includes: plans (state which plan) and modification list, laser cut parts, machine cut stab mount, beautiful fiberglass fuse pod and canopy, 1/2" aluminum wing joiner rod, carbon tube and wood spars, carbon boom, all sheet wood and tip blocks, Dubro Laser Nylon Push Rod pkg and hardware.

CHALLENGER


(Otto launching his Challenger
at the 1974 Soar Nats)

(Otto Heithecker with Jim Vanderzyl's
Challenger, Wood Crafters 2002)

Gary Bussell and his beautiful Challenger at LOFT field 1975 (?).
Look closely and see the chute coming off the tow hook due to a tow line break.

CLOUD BOUND 4

Cloud Bound 4, designed by Don Drury and published in RC Modeler May 1977. This is a versatile design that can be flown in Nostalgia events and yet, due to the availability of programmable radios, can give the flyer all the controls possible. It can be set up with flaps, flaperons, flaps and ailerons, and spoilers. Click on (more info) for graphics and specifications. The Cloud Bound 4 can also be constructed with just spoilers to qualify for RES rules.  I am going to build mine for RES, but include the short landing brakes that can be de-activated during an RES event.

Using an Aquila airfoil, the wing can incorporate spoilers and short or long span landing flaps for precise landing speed/decent control as well as camber changing.

Truly an elegant V-Tail r/c sailplane design.  I am proud to make Don's creation available as a laser cut kit. Wood kits provide two levels of gratification. It is a wonderful feeling to see your hand-built kit, first arriving as a box of wooden parts and requiring your building skills, then soaring high with the clouds.

The wing joiner system and spar has been updated to handle modern day winch launching. The diagonal wing rib construction has been retained and all ribs are laser numbered. After talking to Don about his design, I decided the fuse may not be strong enough to handle the extra load (twisting) the V-tail exerts and decided adding laser cut 1/16" balsa sheeting fuses sides would solve the issue.

Like the Aguila, the Cloud Bound 4 will provide a fairly wide speed envelope and definitely be able to spec out on light lift.

A BEAUTIFUL NOSTALGIA OR RES DESIGN.

Full Kit price..........$198.95

RCM Magazine Instructions Article

Ray's Cloud Bound 4 fuse modifications

Ray,

Here is the picture of the Cloud Bound 4 we talked about at the Wood Crafters Event last week-end. It was great to see all the different planes and meet so many friendly people during the Wood Crafters Event. It was a great week-end. As you can see the Cloud Bound is one impressively large plane. I enjoyed building this plane and hope to fly it soon.

David Howell
Cleveland, Tennessee

Dear Ray;

Hope this note finds you well. I finally completed the CB4 - E conversion. You sold me a short kit about a year ago. I would never have finished this without the kit! Pictures attached. I have taken about 100 assembly pictures including a "how I did that" on the conversion of the fuselage to sufficient E power. I can forward these [smaller versions] if you wish. Major changes aside from the E conversion were carbon fiber strip reinforcement of the spar, fiberglass reinforcement of wing rods and fiberglass reinforcement of the wing root and inner-to-outer panel attachment. Glad I did this as I had a potentially ugly incident right after launch.

Maiden flight was yesterday. The CG was too far in the tail end direction ... I forgot about the 4 inch extension of the tail moment. That made the first 20 seconds after launch "interesting". I learned a lot in that 20 seconds. First, this wing really does not like to stall. Snap and roll. Not helped by the Dutch roll tendency of the V tail. Ugly recovery. But it recovered. The recovery bent the two 1/4 inch drill rods I used as wing attach points. We'll fix all this drama by moving the CG forward.

But once we got things trimmed, what a beautiful flyer! Majestic! V-tail control authority is ample. The penetration into the breeze was remarkable, although this was, no doubt, helped by the high wing loading due to the e-conversion [13.6 oz/sq ft]. While this seems like a lot, I note that Esprit sells some very expensive, large E-sailplanes with the same loading . The Lee Renaud wing profile probably helped too [just don't stall it].

A fabulous airplane...thanks for keeping her alive.

Best,
Rick

WF-XL
inspired by the

WF-XL KIT ... $179.95

Now taking orders for kit with straight 1/4" diameter Injector heat treated steel core pin wing rod version.
Suitable for Hi-Start, Light Foot Winch launching, Slope Soaring or as Electric Powered Sailplane.

WINDFREE

Greg Smith at Wood Crafters 2003
Ray with his new Windfree at Spring Break, April 2003, getting ready for Wood Crafters 2003 "One Of A Kind Event"	The cover of R/C Modeler showing the Windfree. You can find links to the entire article at our Links page.

 

Mark Smith with Windfree
1974 SOAR NATS

 
My Windfree sporting two new decals on the wings and soon it will have smaller Windfree decals for the fin or fuse sides. Decals also available for the Windward.

Specifications: wing span: 100", wing area: 555 sq. in.

Requires 2ch radio or if you want spoilers we stock the Hitec 3G ss 3 ch. complete radio system with two HS-80 servos and an inexpensive micro servo for the spoilers.

Would our line of Nostalgia and RES sailplane kits be complete without a Hobby Hanger Windfree? No way, this is a timeless design with great looks and fantastic flight performance.

The airfoil is a flat bottom E 387 and will work light lift extremely well or with a couple ounces of ballast will fly in gusty turbulent windy conditions.

It is perfect for those evening Flying sessions when the lift is very light and the fading sun glitters on this beautiful glider. The wings have D-tube construction that is necessary for an accurate airfoil and a strong wing. The wood selection in the kit is very good and light. The average weight is 25 to 30 oz. and easy to build.

Mark Smith made the Windfree famous in the seventies winning major contests all over the USA.

I cut my R/C soaring teeth on the Windfree in the early seventies. The modifications I made to it were narrowing the fuse and reducing the fuse height as maybe noticed in the photo of my current red Windfree, sometimes I would sheet the top of the wings (I probably built at least ten of the Windfrees back then).

My current Windfree weighs 23 1/2 oz.. A sharp leading edge on the inboard 2/3 of the wing produces excellent results for working very light lift. Years ago, I discovered how to fly upside down in thermals with the Windfree for added kicks.

The best looking Windfree I had was all white with red monokote on the bottom of the wings and stab. Enjoy. 

If you would like to participate in a Windfree Postal contest, please let me know. Skybench@Comcast.net

Ray Hayes LSF 803 NSS 029

WINDWARD




(Kitted with permission
from Mark Smith)

Correction to an old misprint, this is Rod Smith, not Ron, he is Mark Smith's farther. This was their start in the model kit manufacturing business.1971 photo, second annual Nationals Soaring Event that became known as The SOAR Nats. Click here or on photo for larger pic and magazine text.

Dan Pruss, John Nielson and SOAR crew hosted seven consecutive events, 1970 thru 1976.

Wing Span: 72 in., Wing Area: 532 sq. in., Weight: 24 oz.

Windward
Partial Kit Laser Parts only ... $58.00
Includes plans and instructions

Wing Span: 72 in., Wing Area: 532 sq. in., Weight: 24 oz.

The Windward won the first Chicago Soar Nats in 1971 and the 1971 Western R/C Soaring Championships and is still a very good performer today. The Windward design lead to the 100" Windfree kit designed by Mark Smith and both models flew exceptionally well, the Windward kit is extremely easy to construct. The rudder and elevator are pre shaped sheet balsa wood, laser cut wing ribs, and many other laser cut parts, and original Mark's Models kit plans and instructions. The wing dihedral joint and spars are beefed up for today's strong electric winches. Rudder and elevator control only, however, spoilers and ailerons are an easy builder option.

Designed for high performance slope and thermal soaring, the Windward is easy to fly and an ideal trainer. Enjoy.

Ray: I have seen the Windward fly and always wanted one, now, at last I can enjoy building and flying a Windward. I will also build one with a geared Speed 400 and narrow the fuse.

Pictured above are the laser cut parts for the Sky Bench Windward kit. One of the areas I work on when I redo old kit designs like this Windward, the OLY ll and other kits to come, is try hard to reduce the parts count which means quicker building time for you and me. Some important changes I made to the Windward is moving the spar back to the high point of the airfoil. This requires wider wing sheeting stock, but improves the wing strength and the airfoil. The trailing edge was changed from built up 1/16 sheet to Trailing Edge stock which is also more costly than the original kit, but sure reduces building time. The original kit didn't have a fuse former, it does now. I substituted some balsa fuse parts for plywood parts plus changed the wing dihedral braces to improve strength in critical areas. Remember, they used 6 volt winches when the original kit was introduced. The wing tip parts are laser cut according to the plan as well the center rib angle template is included.

All Laser cut wood parts, original construction plans, instructions are included. I hope you builders will reduce the width of the fuse, especially from the wings leading edge (that is where the new former is located) forward to the nose block. The wide nose section on the original was due to the large size of radio equipment back then.

Hi Ray,
Thought you might like to see how the Windward kit I purchased from you turned out. You may recall I was in AZ when I ordered the kit and have since moved to TX. It was quite hot and humid when I got here so it gave me something to do while I was staying cool indoors. Most of my tools are in storage yet so kind of hacked it out by hand but it did not seem to ham the way it fly's. For its test flight I hand tossed it from a green down a fairway on the golf course here and was starting to wonder if there was going to be enough course. It sailed along about 250 yards before landing. It is going to be a good one. Bill Batzloff PS thinking about the Lil Bird next. Bill Batzloff

Hi Ray,

Just wanted to say Happy New Year and send you a couple of photos of the Windward kit my 5-year old son and I just finished. I've been away from models for quite a while, and wanted to introduce my son to the joys of building and flying gliders, something I loved when I was a kid. Anyway, the Windward was the perfect kit for that! We built it with no mods to the plans. Wings are covered with traditional silk and dope and the fuselage/tail is covered with Silkspan and dope. Initial test glides were perfect, she really floats! Looking forward to getting it on a high-start as soon as the weather cooperates. We already have one of your Oly II's waiting to get built as well. Anyway, thanks for being a great source for the kits we all love and remember.

Best Wishes,

Pete Brown

Hats off to you Pete, I hope your son Henry will have a great time learning his Dad's modeling skills.

Hi, Ray.

Back in 2001, I emailed you to order a Windward kit. I remember relating that my previous model had lasted 17 years, until I strained it through an oak tree. The Windward has been a favorite of mine since the early 1970s, and I promised to send you a photo when I completed my latest. Well, one thing led to another and the plans languished in my "to-build" file until last year. I finally managed to sit down and knock out my third Windward and flew it this past March, on the local hill I've been using for almost 40 years (I think my friends and I spent most of our teenage years up there!). Anyway, I'm enclosing a couple of pics taken right after the maiden flights. As you can see, I built up the horizontal stabilizer and put lightening holes everywhere else. This one weighs around 22 oz., with standard Futaba 3004 servos and a 600-milliamp pack up front. Since I was flying alone, and it was a gusty afternoon, I couldn't get any flight shots, but I hope you enjoy these.

Regards,
Mark Shipley
Thousand Oaks, CA

VIKING ... MK I AND MK II

Terry Koplan's Viking

Dale Leggett and his Sky Bench Viking ...Electrified!

• Wing Span: 118"
• Wing Area: 1200 sq. in.
• Flying Weight: Mark I 52 oz., Mark II 54 oz.
• Wing Loading: Mark I 6-1/4 oz., Mark II 6 1/2 oz.
• Airfoil: Mark I 11-1/2% Flat Bottom, Mark II 12% Semi-Symmetrical

The Viking was an extremely popular kit design back in the days of NOSTALGIA and today it will qualify for both RES and NOSTALGIA CLASSES. Introduced in May, 1978 by Tom Williams of Craft - Air, the Viking and line of Windrifters dominated the r/c soaring scene in the early years.

Terry Koplan of California flew a Viking in the 1978 FAI Team Finals, Pensacola, Fl., to 2nd place beating out the Aquila Grandes, Grand Esprits, Aquilas, Paragons, Legionairs, others, and I'm sure he still has one or two of these beauties still flyable [see below]. This is still one of the best "Floaters"

A couple of the main reasons for the designs success was the large wing area and light wing loading. The wing proved to be very strong and should have no problems with todays 12V winches, back in the good ol'e days, we used 6 volt winch batteries and smaller test tow line. Sky Bench includes some tips and parts to strengthen the fuse weak spots, just in front of the fin and wing.

Features we are proud to present in this kit are the laser cut fuse parts with TAB-SLOT construction for quick accurate building and superbly laser cut wing ribs that will make this kit a joy to build. The kit is furnished with all hardware, wood, original construction plans and instructions. Two Sky Bench Case Hardened Tool Steel Wing Rods, 5/16" diameter, are furnished.

I know you will be delighted with the flight performance and ease of building this design and I can't wait to have mine completed and in the air. Enjoy!

Beautifully Laser Cut Viking kit, Mark I or Mark II
Full Kit ... $178.95

Available as a partial kit, Laser cut parts only ... $89.95

Viking MK I Build Thread by Kevin Laurion
June 23, 2009

Windrifter

Cal Posthuma and his brand new Sky Bench Windrifter built from our partial kit.

Windrifter

Partial Kit as shown with
plans and building instructions ... $88.95

Windrifter 100" now available as a partial kit, click here to go our Partial Kit page. See a Photo of the laser cut Windrifter parts, vastly improved engineering from original kit produced years ago that includes tabbed formers and slotted fuse sides with 1/64 plywood doublers.

Carl Lorber's Thermal Queen

144" wing span Eppler 385 airfoil
Nothing floats as good as this one.

Laser cut plywood and balsa wood parts only $85.00

Partial kit includes: Wing, stab and rudder ribs, fuse formers and crutch, plywood wing dihedral braces and 1/64 plywood fuse side doublers.

Order the plans and instructions from
Flying Models Magazine 1-888-526-5365

Carl's construction article appeared in the November 1970 issue of Flying Models magazine. The laser cut wing ribs have been modified from two bottom spars to two top and two bottom spars, this allows the builder to fill between the spars with vertical balsa shear webs and shear webs on the sides of the spars. I built a Thermal Queen in the early seventies and will build another one from this Sky Bench kit. Watch for my construction photos.

Fly the Queen after dinner, it will go up in the slightest of rising air. Building this kit is simple for me, but I have over sixty years of building experience and don't need instructions to build any woody sailplane. If you're an instruction word by word, step by step builder and haven't learned how to "read" a construction plan, forget this kit.

Thermal Queen Instructions
Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Carl Lorber never had this in mind when he designed his great flying Thermal Queen. Installing e power in RC Sailplanes is very, very popular these day's. Bruce built his TQ from a Sky Bench kit and reports the design is a real floater.

Carl Lorber with his Prancer

Standing with Carl is Dwight Hartman, original mfg. of the fiberglass fuse mold.

Gulf Coaster

Ray's Gulf Coaster Building Tips

Don Harris has been flying his Gulf Coaster in the Nostalgia event for several years with great success. Don built his GC from scratch.

Now you can have this great flying old timer from an easy to build laser cut kit with an accurate Clark Y airfoil.

Wing span 108" ......... Easy to install Electric
Partial Laser cut kit, parts shown in above photo.

Kit Price ........................................ $ 86.95
Steel Wing Rod and Brass Tubes.... $ 18.50
5/16" Ejector Pin

Purchase Plans and Instructions from Air Age

>> NOTICE <<
Changes to the laser cut kit parts
from the parts shown on the PLAN:

Spar notches in ribs are 1/8 x 3/8" and 1/8 x 1/4" instead of 1/4 square.

Re-designed Plywood Polyhedral joint braces that fit on front side of spars.

Wing ribs are cut to require wider ( 1-15/16" ) T.E.
Cut T.E. sheet stock 1-15/16" wide.

Plan shows two 3/16" piano wire wing rods.
One 5/16" Ejector Pin will handle Zooom launching without bending.
Ribs are not cut for any wing rods.

Ray launching his Gulf Coaster

Don's success in the Nat's Nostalgia events with his Gulf Coaster was the motivation to kit the design. The Clark Y is a very competitive airfoil to use in Nostalgia designs, I flew mine in the very high wind conditions at the 2010 AMA Nostalgia Nats with 9 oz. of ballast and finished 4th even after losing 1000 points for missing the landing box. Kits available from Sky Bench finished 2nd thru 7th at the 2010 Nostalgia Nats, a very enjoyable event regardless of where you place.

Ray's Gulf Coaster, Maiden Flight, LOFT Field, 6-23-08

Placed fourth in the 2010 AMA NATS Nostalgia, so what is the big deal about that ? Considering I had a zero flight, the Gulf Coaster did very well. Don Harris also had a zero score with his Gulf Coaster and finished 7th. Don and I love to compete with with this design. Ray LSF 803