Scientific Gulfhawk

@duaneh , thanks for posting a scan of the plan. I looked through my archives referencing Scientific ads and catalogs to find its wingspan without luck. What is it?

In a net search, did find https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=15096 Grumman F8F Bearcat by Walt Musciano from American Modeler February 1961, 26in span

Outerzone plan thumbnail.

Given that Walt shows sample McCoy .29 and Fox .19 installations, I gather that Walt perhaps liked to fly with longer lines, hot and fast.

Looks like by the proportions that Walt Musciano did some simplification so it could be kitted by Scientific, like the profile fuselage.

It would not take much for someone to change the colors to post WW2 Navy and return it to warbird status.

Beautiful Duane.

You and roddie excel at Bearcats.

I love the formed cowl.  What a neat and clean build.

Well that's some serious hacking at balsa right there LOL Very nicely done You do a good job of figuring the scale something I just can't seem to get a grip on . Can't wait for the paint /covering finish !

Berkley made a Bearcat kit. One of my friends made a model of the white Smirnoff racer and powered it with a Veco .35. It flew well but it was faster than hxxl. Duaneh you build some nice models. I always look towards your next build.
Mike1484

@duaneh , you did a very nice job on finishing, paint matches the Monokote, engine installation is very cleanly and neatly done, fanning "sunburst" color striping adds a touch of class mimicking the real thing.

Just looking at the proportions, it certainly tends to resemble the same period Cox TD-3 ready-to-fly, especially the wing outline.

WOW Duane! Nice job man!! I like the way you inset the front-inner corner of the fuel-tank into the cowl. I suppose it was necessary.. but it's nice and neat.

@duaneh , you lucky dog to own that TD-3 classic! And, in such a nice NOS condition!  

duaneh wrote:I never thought about it until you mentioned it, but there is a resemblance in the wing outline and especially tip shape.

However, it would not surprise me that the Scientific would be the better flyer. Just looking, it is not nose heavy like the TD-3 and has a symmetrical wing rib profile so to fly inverted equally well.

The engine cowling on this profile adds a touch of class. For a quick build though but a touch less classy, one could go cowl-less with one of those engine mounts like that on the old Sterling Beginner and Midwest Warbird half-A profiles that Bernie, Matt, and Brodak sells.

https://coxengines.ca/cox--049-engine-firewall-mount-control-line.html

Except that current stock is in black.

But, the enclosed cowling speaks volumes on perhaps one of the prettiest C/L half-A's that Walt Musciano ever designed.

Just for a comparison.. the version I designed for the 1st CEF speed contest 10 years ago has a solid/flat wing of 17" span, 70 sq. in. but weighs-in at 7.2 oz. It's a lead-sled.. Yours will surely fly with more maneuverability Duane.

Beautiful Airplane Duaneh . A+++++++++++

Beautiful , you knocked it out of the park again ! Love the paint scheme going to look good fling !

Beautiful job on the model building and exemplary on covering and finish…Excellent subject too!!

What a beauty

Adding the spar was probably a good idea, especially now that the wing chord increased. I guess a lot of old plans relied on the stiffness of the covering material to keep the wing from flopping around. Oracover won’t give that kind of support, so the spar is a good addition.

Again, great looking plane, great skills!

Duane,
I'd like some details on that tank. Maybe I need to use.my PC to get a better view of it.

And when is the maiden flight scheduled?

Duane,
I love your tank! For some reason mailbox tanks appeal to me. I guess it is because I was used to seeing them in ads as a kid.

I have more questions regarding the build. I see the trailing edge is notched. I think I see the leading edge appears to be notched wing runs with a slat behind another run of balsa. Is the forward edge grooved for the slat? Or do I just see something telling me I need glasses?

Yeah, that is one solid wing! Thanks for the details. Doing that by hand would be a bear. I assume you did the cutting job on a machine.

I'd love to be there when it flies.

duaneh wrote:Jim, I mostly cut out parts on the band saw.

If you can make the drive from MS, come on up to the SIRS Club Vintage Model Aviation Days on June 22-23. We are located near the small town of Mclean, IL.
We will be flying many 1/2A CL models, including Cox and other RTF plastics. I will have the Gulfhawk, TD-3, the Top Flite Junior Aces, and others.

I so hope that you will share photos from that weekend!

Congrats and thanks, @duaneh for sharing the wealth and posting your plans plus decals on Outerzone!

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=15331 Grumman Gulfhawk by Walt Musciano from Scientific 1961, 19.5-in span


Outerzone plan thumbnail.