has anyone built a radio controlled kitfox?

[Ramos]

We have been working to get one done for some time now.. they should be available this year.. Hopefully within the next couple months.

Darn you, Mr. McBean. Darn you!!!
Maybe I will manage to wad up my Sport Cub about the time the KF RC comes out.....

[airlina]

I have made a few attempts at some small scale replicas of my Series 5 Outback, and while I am happy how they turned out, I realized that flying them was not feasible primarily due to final weight. When scaling down to the small sizes that I built , the Aerodynamics change and even though , I upsized the empennage and wing they did not want to fly. I went all electric for the motors, they sure taxi nice and make nice shelf displays. The first photo is the real thing and the others are the models. I am currently working on the third one that I think will be the one that finally flies.

[jrevens]

That is a cool looking model! Just not enough power with the electric motor? I think if you would get rid of that full IFR panel you could lose a lot of weight!

[ken nougaret]

Airlina, very nice! And i like your dedication to multiple attempts to get it right. I started this thread because i was hoping someone else did the legwork. I'll have to wait and see what John M comes up with.
what is your scale size?

[tampaflyer]

the model looks good. I'm surprised there was not one out there yet.

[PapuaPilot]

I've been toying with the idea of making a 1/4 scale Kitfox with folding wings and a gas engine. What slows me down is the thought of welding up a scale fuselage, I wouldn't want to make a scale Kitfox fuselage out of sticks of wood, it just wouldn't be right.

I haven't researched the airfoil to see how the actual KF airfoil would work scaled down. It might be better to use a proven RC airfoil that provides good slow flight characteristics. You could change the airfoil without loosing the scale appearance.

John McB, do you need some help with your model? I was into RC building and flying for many years. I've done gas, glow & electric powered planes from small foamies to 1/4 scale size. I would love to see what you have sometime.

[airlina]

Ken, to give you an idea on the size of my first 2 models , here they are next to a yardstick. The wingspan on the small one is only 18" and then the next attempt I built bigger with a 32" wingspan.

John, even though I know you were joking about the IFR panel, you aren't too far off of the problem. I have always loved to build my models with scale details (the instrument panel you are referring to is actually a picture of the panel from my full scale Kitfox, scaled down to fit ) and I put a full cockpit in both models which of course adds weight. Also I built them with doors that open , which made that center section over the gear way too weak for the rigors of flight because they are made out of balsa. The one I am working on now is a 40 inch wingspan that will have less detail and more strength. what they call standoff scale. I am anxious to see what Mr. Mcbean is developing.