What is missing from here?

[Flying Monkey fab]

This question is so broad that I don’t even know where to post it.
I’m retiring in a few months and then I’ll have a bit more time to devote to all things RC. I’ll be 90% guided by my own passion and interest but I am open to a little guidance from you all about what you think is missing here?

I’ll more than likely try to design some planes. Is there one you have begged for with no response ? Other things?

Nothing is off the board. Shoot your ideas.

 

[Tench745]

Personally, I love the oddball stuff that no one models. Of course, there's not a lot of demand for planes like the Armstrong Whitworth A.W. 15, the Bristol Blenheim, or the AE 145.
But then, if it's something I really like, I tend to just make it for myself, like the Progressive Aerodyne Sea Rey or the Dumod Infinite II.

 

[Flying Monkey fab]

Personally, I love the oddball stuff that no one models.

Oh , I do too and will make time for things no one else will want to build.

 

[Tench745]

The secret sweet zone would seem to be something that lots of people know and love, can be made to fly well, and is rarely modeled.
Like the Sea Angel or the Sea Duck.
I thought my Spirit of St Louis might be well received, but haven't heard of anyone else who built one.
GeeBees are ever popular and a couple people have built foam ones, but I don't know if they ever released plans.
Trying to think of what else would be a good subject...

I really like the WW1 and interwar stuff, but the excess of struts, flying wires, and short noses make them hard to model, especially in foamboard.

 

[Foamforce]

I always want to build an airliner. It seems like the newer ones would have plenty of power since the scale engines are so large. There seems to be very few designs for them. Maybe they’re difficult to model?

@Tench745, I’ve seen your Spirit of St Louis and will likely eventually build one! I love that story.

 

[LitterBug]

A U2 would be nice. An old cool plane which I haven't seen in foamboard yet. I've started building from scratch based on balsa plans but it's stalled out....

 

[Flying Monkey fab]

A U2 would be nice. An old cool plane which I haven't seen in foamboard yet. I've started building from scratch based on balsa plans but it's stalled out....

Yes, a U2 would be a very cool FPV platform.

 

[Shurik-1960]

I have been retired for a long time, since I was 46. I have a selection of Maly Modelarz magazines. I enlarged them in Photoshop to a span of 800 mm and the models flew well. Alas, there is a very large waste of paper in the trash. I want to try to increase it to a span of 120-130 cm (the larger size of the model does not fit into the Nissan MIcra). Here is the download of the logs to Yandex.disk. https://disk.yandex.ru/d/Y1OTHCYOXE8iig

 

[Dutch Breeze]

The secret sweet zone would seem to be something that lots of people know and love, can be made to fly well, and is rarely modeled.
Like the Sea Angel or the Sea Duck.
I thought my Spirit of St Louis might be well received, but haven't heard of anyone else who built one.
GeeBees are ever popular and a couple people have built foam ones, but I don't know if they ever released plans.
Trying to think of what else would be a good subject...

I really like the WW1 and interwar stuff, but the excess of struts, flying wires, and short noses make them hard to model, especially in foamboard.

I am building a 12.5’ sea duck

Build log of the GIANT SEA DUCK BUILD. yes, it’s happening.

So, I decided to scratch build a giant Sea Duck. I loved how the FT kit built and flew. If you haven’t built/flown one, do yourself a huge favor. You wont regret it. My Duck finally met its demise after I attempted to thread the needle in my back yard, the second time. That’s right, nailed it on...

forum.flitetest.com

 

[Mr NCT]

GeeBees are ever popular and a couple people have built foam ones, but I don't know if they ever released plans.

Plane - Gee Bee QED

A nice flying plane and fast if you want it to be. Zip file includes plans and 3D stls. The development and build thread is here: https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/gee-bee-qed.71100/

forum.flitetest.com

 

[Flying Cherokee]

A U2 would be awesome! (especially since I really like gliders and jets, and a U2 is a combination of the two).

 

[Mr Man]

Plane - Gee Bee QED

A nice flying plane and fast if you want it to be. Zip file includes plans and 3D stls. The development and build thread is here: https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/gee-bee-qed.71100/

forum.flitetest.com

I think he means stuff like the r1, r2, Z, and a couple others that I forgot. Needless to say, your design is still way better than what I can do.

 

[Mr NCT]

I think he means stuff like the r1, r2, Z, and a couple others that I forgot.

LOL, maybe the QED was one of those you forgot.

 

[Mr Man]

LOL, maybe the QED was one of those you forgot.

It is cool, but not THE Iconic Gee Bee. Still a great design though!

 

[Mr Man]

Almost built it a couple of times.

 

[quorneng]

Airliners are not that easy to design and build particularly in foam board. Big round fuselages and small thin wings!
The challenge is they have to be light. It can be done with thin 3mm foam sheet.
My first airliner was the result of seeing a Bombardier Q400 flying over head. It wings looked ridiculously small (fuselage longer than the span) so I decided I just have to build one!
Full size

My 1525 mm (60") span version. Not exactly a beginner design.

Hand launch /belly land but fortunately the props just clear the ground.
Light and with "sufficient" power it flies surprisingly well.

 

[L Edge]

@Flying Monkey fab

Couple of ideas:

Over the past years, cheap and lightweight "foam type material" for building is disappearing . Looks like the future direction to go is printing your design. Especially if you exploring your "design". Hey, with enough pilots going at it, and with successful flights and durability, you could exchange patterns and have a fleet of airplanes. You will have the same problems as when foamy's were introduced, but it seems this is one of the future ways of RC planes will be built.

Another area that needs exploring is with EDF's. Very few jets(single and multi) are designed due to weight and structural constraints, as well as inlet/exhaust problems. IMHO, exploring printed jets would help solve and open the way to producing the NYGAD future jets.

 

[Flying Monkey fab]

@Flying Monkey fab

Couple of ideas:

Over the past years, cheap and lightweight "foam type material" for building is disappearing . Looks like the future direction to go is printing your design. Especially if you exploring your "design". Hey, with enough pilots going at it, and with successful flights and durability, you could exchange patterns and have a fleet of airplanes. You will have the same problems as when foamy's were introduced, but it seems this is one of the future ways of RC planes will be built.

Another area that needs exploring is with EDF's. Very few jets(single and multi) are designed due to weight and structural constraints, as well as inlet/exhaust problems. IMHO, exploring printed jets would help solve and open the way to producing the NYGAD future jets.

I like your idea of exploring more alternative materials. That was the idea of dtfb at the time. I don't know if I'll ever fully embrace fully 3d printed planes but maybe as hybrids.

 

[Mr NCT]

I like your idea of exploring more alternative materials. That was the idea of dtfb at the time. I don't know if I'll ever fully embrace fully 3d printed planes but maybe as hybrids.

I love the idea of 3D printed planes and how they end up looking - gorgeous! But.... for me they don't fit my flying landing style just not robust enough. If I ever get a smooth runway then maybe.

 

[LitterBug]

I love the idea of 3D printed planes and how they end up looking - gorgeous! But.... for me they don't fit my flying landing style just not robust enough. If I ever get a smooth runway then maybe.

I would like to see a few landings of 3D printed planes that are on the very rough side. Then again, I'd like to see one in combat and get firmly nailed. I think some of these scenarios should happen at FliteFest '25!