Sportsman Aviation: Paramount 60 Freestyle ARF

Model Airplane News, May 2004 by Luciano, Carmen

* Final installations. I used a three-line setup for the fuel tank with an R/C City fuel-dot fitting. The servo hatch, landing gear and radio components were easy to install in the spacious fuselage. I routed the antenna through the bottom of the fuselage behind the hatch and secured it with three short lengths of inner Nyrod. I installed the battery (a 4.8V, 700mAh 4-cell Ni-Cd) in the fuel-tank compartment to help balance the model at the specified CG.

I used a 2¼-inch plastic spinner and a 12x6 Master Airscrew prop to complete the power system. Don't forget to balance your prop.

I cut and trimmed the molded canopy and glued it to the cockpit. Before taking this final step, though, I had to decide who would pilot this airship. With such a novellooking plane, just any old pilot would not do. I chose a character who "lives in a pineapple at the bottom of the sea"-an absorbent little fellow named "SpongeBob SquarePants." What a great final touch for such a unique freestyle model!

The plane balanced laterally without my having to add any weight to the wingtips. To get the specified CG, however, I had to add an additional 3 ounces of lead, which I secured to the firewall with glue and screws. I began with the CG at 4 inches behind the leading edge. If you want your model to be more aerobatic, you can increase this to 5 inches later.

Since the engine is inverted, gravity can cause excessive fuel to be fed to the carburetor if you install the fuel tank as recommended. I had to drop the tank by ¾ inch by enlarging the hole in the firewall and cutting a small hole in the bottom of the fuselage. I covered this with thin plastic sheeting, since the tank now protrudes through the opening, but the cowl hides this.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Catalog and Web-page photos don't do justice to this 3D freestyle model. As you build the Paramount and add its striking multicolored transparent and solid covering, you'll be eager to complete its construction and show it off. You'll have no trouble getting it from the bench to the field in fewer than 18 hours. With a computer radio, you'll be able to set the throws to produce a docile aerobat or one with full aerobatic capability that does spectacular 3D maneuvers.

Cool Power; distributed by Morgan Fuel (800) 633-7556; morganfuel.com.

Global Hobby Distributors (714) 963-0329; globalhobby.com.

Hitec RCD Inc. (858) 748-6948; hitecred.com.

JR; distributed by Horizon Hobby Inc. (800) 338-4639; horizonhobby.com.

Magnum; distributed by Global Hobby Distributors.

Master Airscrew; distributed by Windsor Propeller Co. (916) 631-8385; rnasterairscrew.com.

R/C City Products; distributed by Planes Plus Inc. (630) 904-9983.