How Many Fly Plastic Model Conversions for Fun rather then just PMC competition?

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Micromeister

Micro Craftman/ClusterNut
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I have to ask... Am I alone out here? Are there other folks who like to build and fly Plastic model conversions just for fun?

Yes! I started like most folks Way back in the Stone age building PMC's just for NAR competition..but I got hooked.

I've found it's just as much fun building and scratch converting those Static display intended plastic models to fly with BP power:)
When doing it just for Fun we're not restricted to Space models, Missiles or Jet's as in competition. I have a flying M85 Tank, a submarine, blimp, I've been desperatly looking for a model of a Dodge Van to convert in to a flying DHL Van as seen on TV a couple year back:) Lately I've been converting 1/144th scale plastics into Micro Max powered flyers.
Anyone else Bitten by the PMC bug?

In the TRF Scale forum a couple of us were talking about a new forum for PMC's, I started this thread to see if there are enough folks building and flying PMC's to warrent asking the owners to set up such a thing?

090-sm_M48-A5 Vampire Tank Odd-RocPMC_03-02-91.jpg

090c1-sm_M48-A5 Tank PMC_on pad_03-09-91.jpg

X15-sm_48th PMC_03-05-72.jpg

Vostok-a-sm_USSR PMC complete 04-03-71.jpg

Pan Am Space Clipper Orion-1-sm_1st Flt 144PMC b&w_01-06-72.jpg
 
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Oh man....
I miss my old Orion...
Never had even considered doing a PMC on it.

And the Tank.
The Tank is awesome.

ALL Hail Micromeister!!!
:clap:
 
i've only ever done three PMC, and one of them was for a competition.
two were V2, and i did really enjoy building and flying them.
The other one was a TARDIS (Dr Who fans will know what this is).
apart from the novelty fact PMC is not a big pull for me, although i love your tank.
 
Hey John that is some great work but you should have used a leopard for the tank :) I have yet to do a PMC but right now am glaring at a big build pile and trying to get on the go as it were :) I also liked your NIke smoke launch rail in another thread :)
Cheers
fred
 
Humm!
Now Bob I can't believe you don't do PMC's... It Can't just be me! come on down I want-ta see some of yours now.

Dave:
When you've been building and flying for 40+ years it's not all that hard to have tried a few different things along the way LOL!!!

Fred22:
I have a couple of those piles also LOL!! it's all about switching up on the mind set for awhile;)

Gillard:
I'm with ya on the V-2s I have a couple myself, Rocket models, well shoot Space vehicle models are kinda hard to come by but there are a few out currently that im looking at converting. Lindberg recently released a "Mars Probe" that is a lot larger then it looks in the add. Should be an excellant conversion if I ever get to it.

Currently the fleet has 35 PMC's in it. Micro Maxx Powered to D12 clusters. 1/144th to 1/18th scales.
OK here are a few of the extreames.

189a_PanAm SpaceClipper Orion PMC_07-07-96.jpg

469p2-sm_F104g_18thScale Completed hanging leftside_08-26-07.JPG
 
I love PMC for fun (have never competed in PMC) but haven't built any in a few years... When I get a chance I will get some of my pix up in here...
 
I converted the Ariane V 1/125 heller plastic model to fly on 24mm. Since I ended up building a rocket inside the model it was easy to stretch it a bit for stability. It flies well on D12-3's to about 400 feet. It is currently awaiting paint and decals. Ted

ARIANE5.jpg
 
I converted the Ariane V 1/125 heller plastic model to fly on 24mm. Since I ended up building a rocket inside the model it was easy to stretch it a bit for stability. It flies well on D12-3's to about 400 feet. It is currently awaiting paint and decals. Ted

Man that looks great :)
Cheers
fred
 
Thanks Fred. It was my first try at a PMC. The paper middle section was added to isolate the styrene plastic airframe from the ejection gases. It separates at the white ring which is a transition(60-56) connected to the BT-56 stuffer tube. It is a pretty heavy rocket and it's difficult to pack enough parachute in for a slow recovery. After a couple of flights it was necessary to reinforce the boosters with plastic spars made from sprues.
I'm interested to know how other builders protect the plastic from the ejection gases? Ted
 
Ted:
Pretty nice looking Ariane V, i have a couple of them in the unbuilt pile also.

Generally the internal working parts of PMC's are made up just like any other model rocket using standard bodytubes as the core. These are located with custom centering rings or balsa shims between the outer plastic airfame and body tube.
Here are a few construction pics of different pmc's showing a few different ways of installing Bt's in plastic models.
Hope it helps.

F15-E-b_Eagle-PMC 5pic Construction-32nd_10-21-03.jpg

178-b4_Ferry Rocket LL detail 3pic 8x10_09-16-05.jpg

MM 337b6-sm_Fit-up cluster lower section_08-24-07.JPG

MM 337d4-sm_taper cut and fit T3 stuffer tube_08-26-07.jpg
 
It's possible with some of the Plastic kits to actually use the Launcher or launch vehicle as part of the PMC.

One of the first Micro PMC's I looked at was the Lacross Missile and it's truck mounted launcher. Works every well tho the model itself is on the heavy side so it only gets about 35feet but it looks pretty KEWL sitting on a grass "Hill" before launch to get the launch angle to nearly vertical. Others like the Nike-Hercules, Bomarc, Aerobee-Hi, Mercury-Atlas complex and Patriot take a little more to make them flyable from the launchers but can be a relaxing get-away for the everyday stuff, sure makes you think ahead of building thats for sure.

181b_Mercury-Atlas PMC w Launcher & 180 Redston_11-95.jpg

242a_MM Aerobee-Hi & Trailer_40th.jpg
 
I have never done one for either purpose. I can't seem to find any models that are suitable for conversion (even using Micro's very elastic/expansive criteria). Where do folks find these models? Also, I can't say that I have ever seen any competitions that include PMC since I became a BAR 5 years ago.

MarkII
 
Humm!
Now Bob I can't believe you don't do PMC's... It Can't just be me! come on down I want-ta see some of yours now.
I have never done a PMC.

I do have a plastic 1/72 scale V2 that looks like it would be the right size for 13mm motors. Maybe one of these days..
 
I have never done one for either purpose. I can't seem to find any models that are suitable for conversion (even using Micro's very elastic/expansive criteria). Where do folks find these models? Also, I can't say that I have ever seen any competitions that include PMC since I became a BAR 5 years ago.

MarkII

Mark:
One of the best resources I have for inexpensive PMC models is www.squadron.com These folks have an on-line Plastic model service that is outstanding. They also send out a quarterly Sales catalog that always takes me several days to really go thru. Many of the other on-line Hobby shops have extensive Plastic models to choose from. you can always check out the manufactures sites as well, Revell, Testors, Heller, Lindberg and so on. Don't forget about Micheals, AC Moore, Wal-mart, and of coarse your local Hobby shops generally have some sort of Plastic model selection.
Not sure if QCR still offers them by Mr. Brown used to sell a couple wonderful F100 and F104 starter "Kits" for beginners in NAR PMC competition.

I'm not sure what you mean by Suitable? By the Pink Book the NAR Event is open to models "consisting of commerically available plastic kits of Guided missiles, Rockets, Space vehicles or Jets"....etc.
If not for NAR competition just about any kit that suits your fancy can be converted for flight. I'm currently looking for a Dodge Mini-Van model (Any Scale by the way) that I can convert into a flying DHL delivery van sort of like the TV commerical they used to run a year or so ago:) As mentioned I have a Flying M85 Vampire Tank, a Submarine, I've been thinking about a 1/535 USS Missouri Battleship just for fun.
Many of the classic Jets are fun and fairly easy to convert. Standards for competition are the F100 SuperSaber and F104 StarFighter. Both are considered by most pmc'ers as must haves on those windy competition days.
While Prop driven plane models are not generally used in competitions there are several that can be converted and i've won a regional or two with an XFY-1 Pogo in 1/48th scale. Lindberg just re-released a 1/72 version that i'm hoping to get to soon. So you can see your selection is open to just about anything your imagination would like to convert.

PMC was one of the craftsmanship events at a few of the fairly recent Narams... 44, 46 & 48 if IIRC? I seem to recall seeing several advertized regionals with PMC as the craftsmanship evert in Sporty Rocktery over the last several years as well. It can be an extremely fun & interesting event...some like to refer to it as "Plastic Death". I ware a hard hat when flying or Judgeing the event just to keep in the spirit. LOL!

Bob:
the 1/72 V-2 is an excellent flying PMC. Special hobbies still has a series of 3 or 4 varients including the winged and Piloted versions that also convert well.

165-sm_XFY-1 Pogo 48th PMC_12-09-94.jpg

188_F8-E Crusader-PMC_72nd.jpg

CIMG1675-b_PMC Judge_me_08-06-04.jpg
 
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Heres the box tops of those varients Bob: I haven't built them yet but did the 1/72 V2 in one of the White Sands launch colors. Both Revell 1/54th and Condor/Special Hobbies 1/72 convert well and make excellent flyers on 13mm motors.

While I'm talking about Special Hobbies, They have out currently both 1/48 and 1/32 X-15A2 models that are tops for conversions. Both of these should be outstanding flyers on D12's. I'm "in the process" on both, but they've fallen aways down on the priority list.

but if you want a real Challange the 1/180th Lindberg XB-70 Valkerie 6 motor MMX cluster is a trip to build and fly LOL!!!

X15-A2-d_Special Hobbies SH-48008 48th (129dpi)_03-15-03.jpg

337a-sm_XB-70 Valkyrie 180th Micro Cluster PMC_09-10-07.jpg
 
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When I was much younger I stuffed an Estes C motor in a plastic P-51 Mustang model. It did not go as planned. The model was not well balanced and the extra drag from the twiddly bits hanging off the model (bombs, wheels, antenna,etc) made for a nice power dive instead of a nice powered climb. The model smacked into the lawn and then the ejection charge blew it all apart. Live and learn.
 
but it you want a real Challange the 1/180th Lindberg XB-70 Valkerie 6 motor MMX cluster is a trip to build and fly LOL!!!

Ooh that is outstanding work. :clap: How well does it fly?

I've been thinking about doing an XB-70 somehow. Maybe plastic is the way to go.
 
When I was much younger I stuffed an Estes C motor in a plastic P-51 Mustang model. It did not go as planned. The model was not well balanced and the extra drag from the twiddly bits hanging off the model (bombs, wheels, antenna,etc) made for a nice power dive instead of a nice powered climb. The model smacked into the lawn and then the ejection charge blew it all apart. Live and learn.

I hear ya there! it takes a bit to include all the parts and pieces when flying with external stores and wheels down, but they just look so much Better flying that way.
When converting assymetric models it really helps to do both a top and side view cardboard cutout of the model including as many projections as you can. Then average the two LCP locations to get a better handle on the overall model balance. Both of my F100's 1/48th and 1/72 fly with huge overloaded stores and wheels down, without the side view cutouts I doubt either would fly as well as they do. If your converting a prop-job be sure to include the propeller as well. Here's a look at a couple cardboard cutouts i'm talking about, works for all size models.

MM 286e3b-sm_F104 model & cutouts_10-13-03.jpg

469e2-sm_Cardboard Cutout completed for LCP_06-21-07.jpg
 
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Here are some of my PMC projects from way back:

Jet plane

Various PMC models including Jet, X-15 (revel model), Klingon ship (AMC I believe) and a robot model (you can see him legs pointing towards camera, on the right near the Space Man model.

Would this qualify as PMC? It IS plastic, and was never intended to fly... (this is a conversion by Chris Tavariis.

Vary Nice Jim! Those are some nifty PMC's. the X3 Stilleto is a great example of a small clusterd PMC. A couple A10's make for some awsome fights. I've had one ready for paint a couple years but haven't finished it.

When are you gonna put some paint on that F-104? it's almost criminal flying it naked like that;)
NO Bottle rockets only Count as Odd-Rocs but thats "A Whole Nother Level" LOL!!!!
 
Ooh that is outstanding work. :clap: How well does it fly?

I've been thinking about doing an XB-70 somehow. Maybe plastic is the way to go.


Fly she does; Well is another story. To be perfectly honest, I built this one on a dare. I was told I couldn't make this large a model fly on micro motors, especially with an in-line cluster of 6. Finished weight without motors is 95grams. LOWt with 10" compeition type 1/4Mil mylar chute was 101.6grams (3.58oz). my best guess was the first flight peaked at 10-12feet deploying the chute just before landing. Only damage was a broken wing tip but it's not what I'd call a great flying PMC. Got a couple decent liftoff and flight shots. Truely this one is much more fun building then flying, very exciting though. Will she fly again, Sure. but it's just a cluster show piece.

MM 337b2-sm_Cluster Manifold T3 tube cut_08-22-07.JPG

MM 337b3-sm_Cluster Manifold 1st glued_08-22-07.JPG

MM 337b5-sm_Add T3 lower ejection gas tube_08-22-07.JPG

MM 337Lp01a2_6x MMX Cluster Valkyrie almost apogee_09-22-07.jpg
 

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Vary Nice Jim! Those are some nifty PMC's. the X3 Stilleto is a great example of a small clusterd PMC. A couple A10's make for some awsome fights. I've had one ready for paint a couple years but haven't finished it.

When are you gonna put some paint on that F-104? it's almost criminal flying it naked like that;)
NO Bottle rockets only Count as Odd-Rocs but thats "A Whole Nother Level" LOL!!!!

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about the bottle... LOL Paint on the 104? hhmmmmm guess I will have to build another as I flew that one to death years ago LOL
 
Mark:
One of the best resources I have for inexpensive PMC models is www.squadron.com These folks have an on-line Plastic model service that is outstanding. They also send out a quarterly Sales catalog that always takes me several days to really go thru. Many of the other on-line Hobby shops have extensive Plastic models to choose from. you can always check out the manufactures sites as well, Revell, Testors, Heller, Lindberg and so on. Don't forget about Micheals, AC Moore, Wal-mart, and of coarse your local Hobby shops generally have some sort of Plastic model selection.
Walmart doesn't sell plastic model kits anymore. They used to have a real nice section, but they got rid of it about 3 or 4 years ago. Oddly enough, neither does the one and only hobby shop in my part of the state.

I'm not sure what you mean by Suitable? By the Pink Book the NAR Event is open to models "consisting of commerically available plastic kits of Guided missiles, Rockets, Space vehicles or Jets"....etc.
Yes, these are the types of kits that I cannot seem to find anywhere. Even though I'm not looking into it for NAR competition.

If not for NAR competition just about any kit that suits your fancy can be converted for flight. I'm currently looking for a Dodge Mini-Van model (Any Scale by the way) that I can convert into a flying DHL delivery van sort of like the TV commerical they used to run a year or so ago:) As mentioned I have a Flying M85 Vampire Tank, a Submarine, I've been thinking about a 1/535 USS Missouri Battleship just for fun.
The only kits that I ever see are for classic cars (muscle cars, mostly) and trucks, and contemporary cars and trucks. I'm not really interested in trying one of those for my very first PMC - maybe later on though. Hey, I WISH I could find a kit of a tank, sub or battleship, not necessarily for PMC, but just to build for itself. There are all kinds of kits of Camaros and Hummers out there, though.

Many of the classic Jets are fun and fairly easy to convert. Standards for competition are the F100 SuperSaber and F104 StarFighter. Both are considered by most pmc'ers as must haves on those windy competition days.
While Prop driven plane models are not generally used in competitions there are several that can be converted and i've won a regional or two with an XFY-1 Pogo in 1/48th scale. Lindberg just re-released a 1/72 version that i'm hoping to get to soon. So you can see your selection is open to just about anything your imagination would like to convert.
I would give a scale kit of ANY kind of flying craft a serious look, but other than the occasional Wright Flyer, nothing like that is on the shelves. Of course, I would prefer jets; finding plastic models of rockets or spacecraft (real or fantasy) seems like an impossible dream. Even if I could afford it (which I can't), I would not want to pay $100 for something off of eBay, just to have something to convert into a heavy, fragile and and poorly-flying rocket.

PMC was one of the craftsmanship events at a few of the fairly recent Narams... 44, 46 & 48 if IIRC? I seem to recall seeing several advertized regionals with PMC as the craftsmanship evert in Sporty Rocktery over the last several years as well. It can be an extremely fun & interesting event...some like to refer to it as "Plastic Death". I ware a hard hat when flying or Judgeing the event just to keep in the spirit. LOL!
I don't scrutinize the competition calendar all that closely, but as I said before, over the past five years, I cannot recall every seeing PMC listed as an event in any meet. My only acquaintance with the event has been reading about it in the Pink Book. (It seems to be included as an event about as often as flexwing glider duration. :rolleyes: ) I remember reading a thread that you posted about your Micromaxx PMC of a jet a couple of years ago, which sparked my interest in the discipline, but just for sport.

I'll check out some of the online sites that you mentioned. Thanks.

MarkII
 
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Actually, could my Mini Marz Lander (the all-plastic version) be considered a PMC...


... that was done at the factory? ;)



What about my Lucky Seven?.... :D

MarkII
 
Heres the box tops of those varients Bob: I haven't built them yet....
The top two are the ones that I have. I bought them quite a while back to build as static models.

Who knows, maybe I'll build one into a flying model.
 
Actually, could my Mini Marz Lander (the all-plastic version) be considered a PMC...


... that was done at the factory? ;)



What about my Lucky Seven?.... :D

MarkII

unfortunately no: to be considered a PMC the model has to be a conversion of a commerically available model "intended" for Static display.

Mark! got home last evening to fine the latest www.squadron.com catalog. This one has some very interesting Missiles and Space vehicles you may want to check out a 1/72 Condor German WWII Missile Set, Bell-X1 and X-2 rocket planes, Sk anti ship missle, Glencos 3-stage Ferry rocket, Jupiter-C and Explorer-1, Revell 144th Saturn-V and a new 1/400 Saturn-V with gantry to name just a few. I also saw a couple re-released F100's in 72 and 32 scales. Each time I've ordered from Squadron I've been impressed with their response and delivery times. UPS wasn't all that bad either.

Bob:
Yes the Condor 1/72 V2 is the one I pictured earlier painted as WhiteSands round #2. One of my former NAR Team mates Paul Miller is a sort of V2 fanatic, He has V-2 in just about every scale and size you an imagine. He told me once he has flying V2's from 1/8A to K impulse several of which are PMC's. LOL. Heres a display built from scratch around I believe the 1/72 condor V2 model on an HO scale Flatcar with support tender and loco.

HO V2 on German Train-b_(128dpi)_05-05-06.jpg
 
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