Now we come to the old master himself again, and every plan set he does, he seems to out-do his previous ones. This time it is Lamar Steen's "Skybolt", one of the sexiest of home-builts.

The "Skybolt" spans 78 inches, wing area is about 1650 squares and the estimated gross weight is 17 to 20 lbs., at 20 lbs.the wing loading comes to 27.92 or 8 ounces per squart foot. Since Dario "Mr. Quadra" Brisighella shows a 50 cc Quadra mounted in the nose of this plane, it should really perform.

The fuselage basic framework is from 3/8 inch square spruce for longerons, uprights and diagonals plus cross bracing in the area forward of the rear cockpit and 1/4 x 3/8 inch balsa aft of the rear cockpit. The forward area is sheeted with 1/8 inch balsa from the lower wing trailing edge to the firewall. Side and bottom stringers are spruce, and the firewall is built up of plywood with spacer rings to suit the engine used. Plans show the top of the fuselage planked with balsa strips from firewall to fin.

The pylon cabane strut is welded up of 5/32 inch music wire and has to be jigged to make sure it is straight, however a cabane and landing gear assembly can be purchased already made for you, as can the cowl and wheel pants. The mounting of the cabane to the fuselage and the top wing look very substantial, so it should take some of the knocks and dings we all seem to give them without having to retrammel everything. The dimensions of all wood used is keyed on the plans. So there is never any doubt as to size. The scale of this airplane is slightly over 1/4 at 26 percent and a 3 1/2-inch CB spinner is used.

The top view of the fuselage is split on the center line with half of it being the bottom view. The "Maestro" thinks of everything for you. This airplane also utilizes a CB tailwheel assembly.

The empennage is built up from 3/8" x ¾ " balsa on all edges with ¼" x 3/8 balsa ribs and guy wires and their mountings are shown. Oh yes, all joints on the fuselage are gussetted, tank position is also shown. Two marks show the CG range. Top wing spans 78 inches and the bottom wing spans 72 inches. Top wing builds flat and the bottom wing has 1-19/32 inch dihedral in each panel, both wings have ailerons with two servos mounted in the bottom wing center section, and slave struts operate the ailerons in the top wing, bottom wing ailerons are operated by bellcranks, aileron shave a mass balance mechanism that is hardly noticeable, to prevent flutter within the speed envelope. The airfoil appears to be symetrical and simular to the Aeromaster in proportional thickness. Both wings have a cord of 11 1/8 inches Spars are 1/4 inch square balsa or spruce with vertical grain shear webbing on both. Wings are sheeted back to the front spar, forming a "D" section. Ribs are from balsa and ply with cap strips. Tip bows are laminated, bent and glued around a fixture. Interplane struts are from 1/4 inch plywood and are "I" struts. All rigging rod locations are noted on the plans, but not necessary for flight, only looks and scale effect.

They are fabulous. It's worth the price just to have a set to drool over, even if you never build it! The plans come in three sheets, with one sheet showing stab and elevator and all patterns and arrangements of various components. Believe me there is nothing during construction, left to worry about, as how to create it.

It is ALL on the plans. These plans were drawn from a set of drawings for a full scale aircraft and are exact scale. I'm all caught up on the back-log of plans now, and who knows what we'll see in the Spring Issue. If no plans come in, I have some stuff in my memory bank I'd like to throw at you, to get your reactions, plus I think starting with the Spring Issue I'll also include a product review... but only products I have used. I can't sell anything I don't believe in.

With winter coming on, why not put skis on your big bird and have some fun. You haven't lived until you shove the throttle forward, see the snow fly behind your bird, and watch it leave the ground. Just be damned sure your batteries are fully charged, and check them after every flight, and while you are at it, take something to keep your battery warm also.

Check Al Alman's articles in Model Builder for good hints on skis...