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<RC-06US Thomas Morse Scout S-4C DATA SHEET>
Besides a look at this new 1/5 scale ARF, you get the lowdown on how to convert it to electric power.
There is a new "paradigm" in R/G modeling today... the ARF (Almost Ready-To-Fly) has reached new heights of quality, reliability, and performance. Now, 3 Sea Bees, a Lake Stevens, WA importer of Philippine manufactured ARFs designed and built by Goran Kalderen's K&W Models, has reached the heights of this new paradigm. They are importing a series of twelve 1/5 scale models ranging from the 63-inch, 1909 Bleriot XI channel crosser, that uses wing warping, to the monstrous 94-inch, 1917 Bristol F2B biplane, and the soon to be available Spirit of St. Louis and 1903 Wright Flyer. The quality of the engineering, assembly, and finish of these kits is far superior to anything the average R/C modeler is capable of doing and approaches the quality of work from even the most experienced R/C sport-scale modeler. Among 3 Sea Bees' current offerings are four biplanes in the 62-69 inch range designed for 0.46-0.60 twostroke or 0.65-0.90 fourstroke power. The ThomasMorse Scout S-4C, or the "Tommy", was the United States' favorite, single-seat, armed trainer of World War I, and is one of the available models. Though considered too slow for combat service, the full-scale Scout's light wing loading and highly maneuverable character influenced fighter design for more than a decade after World War I.
The kit comes pre-covered with a plain olive drab fabric type covering, and a plain aluminum cowl. Dave dressed the plane up by painting the checkerboard cowl and the wheels. which make the model come alive.	This model Scout seemed to be the perfect subject for electric conversion (E-con), with its ample size of 62.5inch wingspan, light wing loading, and expected good maneuverability. This E-con model even provided an opportunity to try the relatively new Sanyo 3000CR nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) cells for added power and duration. But what about the short nose moment and balance? Where would the batteries go, and how would the total weight be affected? Finally, would the model's flight characteristics match those of the original Scout? I was excited to give it a try.
The kit arrived in a large, heavy duty, cardboard box that contained each part en closed in its own plastic bag and generously covered with bubble wrap for safety. This attention to quality and detail was the first example of many to come. This ARF includes the assembled fuselage containing its alu minum cowl, a 9-cylinder Le Rhone dummy engine, and motor mounts. The four wing panels were packaged separately with the ailerons installed in the upper panels. A one-piece, removable stab/elevator is supplied, as well as a removable fin/rudder/tailcone assembly. Finally the 3-piece landing gear assembly, wheels and a scale prop for static display only, rounded out the components. For realism, I asked 3 Sea Bees to include one of their optional l/S scale U.S./ British pilots. What a first impression! This is probably the most unique ARF model available today. Many of the traditional ARF construction techniques found in the majority of ARF models are not evident in this model (that's a big complement). The manner in which the model is made is much like the way it might have been made if it was built from a kit, with no shortcuts. Very few details have been neglected, from the fabric covering (Solartex), to the prepared wire rigging, scale pull-pull control systems, removable tail section, and even the rubber bungy shocked landing gear and tail skid, the crafting is very impressive.		Dave experimented with a variety of prop diameters and found that an 18-8 was the one best suited to the plane. It provided plenty of aerobatic ability with motor / gear drive, and still good flight duration.
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<RC-06US Thomas Morse Scout S-4C DATA SHEET>