Small Flying Arts

This is a little embarrassing as I started this model years ago while the old SFA was still going, and I am hardly any further on now. However I hope this will spur me on to the finish line.
A brief reminder of what I am doing. This is a 1/20th scale model of the Lockheed Altair which I plan to finish in the scheme of the plane which Sir Charles Kingsford Smith flew; the "Lady Southern Cross". It is my own design and is for electric power with a Zombie controller.

This is the scheme and a pic of "Smithy" posing on the wing.

Here are a few pics of the build. I posted all these previously so this is just a few as a reminder rather than a re-run.

Some more.

The last pic I put on SFA was (I think) nearly eighteen months ago and not much has changed. The main progress has been that the Altair now has a canopy and two pilots. In another area I have gone backwards. A few weeks back I was at a point where I was ready for some flight trimming so I put the model in my van and headed out to my flying field. It was a pleasant evening, if a bit too breezy but i hoped the wind would die down as the sun went down. When I picked up the model. the tailplane now looked more like a propellor! In spite of pre shrinking and having been flat for months.

So no flight tests yet; instead tail end surgery. I cut out the tailplane and have rebuilt it with a carbon rod across the span and have given it a symmetrical section with balsa laminations top and bottom to hopefully stiffen it. I am not too bothered about the extra weight as I had to mount the Lipo battery at the CG to balance it so I can move that forwards a smidge if I need to.

Repairs.

It's looking great, Tim!
(I like the pilots too- are they those vac-formed ones, or have you just got very good at carving?)
Pete

Thanks Pete, they are Dave Banks pilots but with nothing left but the heads. You must be having a laugh if you think I carved them!

What a nice build Tim. Really clean.

Really nice. I love the color scheme.
Mike

Nice work. This plane sure has some beautiful lines!