Just a little background how it got started.
Many years ago, Fred Reese, a model airplane designer, designed the Cloud Kitten for .15Cuin glow engines and rudder/elevator controls, which was published in an issue of the now defunct RCM magazine many years ago. When the speed400 motors became very popular later, he redesigned the Cloud Kitten for geared speed400 size electric motors, just before he passed away. His article was published in the Flying Models magazine by his brother, I think.
I have been fascinated by some of his works as his model airplane designs often features simplicity and yet eye appealing. One good example is the Buttercup, which stole many hearts amongst the modellers. During a quick houskeeping session, I stumbled on some unused brushless motor and ESC, which were left behind after expiring an earlier model. I also have a mode 2 trasmitter and a receiver to go along with it. My FP 3S 1800mAh packs have been hibernating after the pylon race some years ago. After summing up all these, I found very little excuse NOT to start building it.
The airframe are basically built like what you'll do with a rubber powered free flight model, other than it's size. The design features oversize airframe for the powerplant and yet built ultralight. The entire airframe are mostly built-up with sticks and covered with lightweight covering films.
Apart from using brushless setup on this ship, I also made some minor deviations. I added a steerable tailwheel assembly from Dro-Bro for better ground handling. I couldn't find the main balsa spar material with the right size and I substituted it with a narrower spruce strip instead. Else, I'll say it is mostly original.
The end result is no surprise at all. This superlight ship floats very well and has plenty of power and endurance to make you feel carried away while flying. It is like a very good strike between a Slowstick and an E-starter. It is much more floaty than the E-starter and yet much more rigid than the Slowstick. For someone like me, who has been flying mode 1 for the past 19 years, and yet still can take-off, fly and land this plane on mode 2, I think this already speaks for itself.
Many years ago, Fred Reese, a model airplane designer, designed the Cloud Kitten for .15Cuin glow engines and rudder/elevator controls, which was published in an issue of the now defunct RCM magazine many years ago. When the speed400 motors became very popular later, he redesigned the Cloud Kitten for geared speed400 size electric motors, just before he passed away. His article was published in the Flying Models magazine by his brother, I think.
I have been fascinated by some of his works as his model airplane designs often features simplicity and yet eye appealing. One good example is the Buttercup, which stole many hearts amongst the modellers. During a quick houskeeping session, I stumbled on some unused brushless motor and ESC, which were left behind after expiring an earlier model. I also have a mode 2 trasmitter and a receiver to go along with it. My FP 3S 1800mAh packs have been hibernating after the pylon race some years ago. After summing up all these, I found very little excuse NOT to start building it.
The airframe are basically built like what you'll do with a rubber powered free flight model, other than it's size. The design features oversize airframe for the powerplant and yet built ultralight. The entire airframe are mostly built-up with sticks and covered with lightweight covering films.
Apart from using brushless setup on this ship, I also made some minor deviations. I added a steerable tailwheel assembly from Dro-Bro for better ground handling. I couldn't find the main balsa spar material with the right size and I substituted it with a narrower spruce strip instead. Else, I'll say it is mostly original.
The end result is no surprise at all. This superlight ship floats very well and has plenty of power and endurance to make you feel carried away while flying. It is like a very good strike between a Slowstick and an E-starter. It is much more floaty than the E-starter and yet much more rigid than the Slowstick. For someone like me, who has been flying mode 1 for the past 19 years, and yet still can take-off, fly and land this plane on mode 2, I think this already speaks for itself.
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