Opps I did it again

It wasn't my fault. I was just browsing and this gorgeous Phoenix Tucano feel into my arms. It's a balsa ARF that I've had my eye on for a little while now.

The first time I saw it I thought it was a PC9 done in the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force for Internation Visitors) colours. However, the Tucano is actually another plane, but one that like the PC9 is used as an advanced trainer for pilots before moving onto faster less forgiving aircraft.

In the end I decided that in the sky it would take a good eye and good knowledge to realise this isn't a PC9 Roulette. The colour scheme is very similar, but not idential. If I chuck some RAAF stickers on I will fool most people (except for you of course, dear reader).

Here's the Tucano with her stablemate, an Ultrafly P51 Mustang (both planes have been added to the hangar link now if you want some more details).

The ARF has gone together reasonably quickly, although the usual amount of faffing around on my part has seen some slow progress in some parts. One slightly annoying thing is the engine mount options. The plane is really only built to accomodate one engine, and if you don't have that type (a front mounting brushless outrunner) you aren't using their mount. There is no stick mount, or other easy alternative so I guess I'm building a mount from spare balsa for the RV4.

Saturday here in Canberra - normally a day I like to get some flying done, but the wind does not look good today.