THUNBERG-ING THE FUTURE

According to Whittaker, modern eco-awareness dovetails nicely with traditional modelling techniques.

- Alex Whittaker

The truth is, many modern foam models are very easy to put together. Assembly barely requires the IQ of a fridge magnet. Now there is nowt wrong with that. However, as many modellers are re-discovering, making things yourself can be very rewarding. A few years back I decided to make my own homage to the great David Boddington, and my ‘Keil Kraft Years’. In their joint honour, I designed my own Boddo-esque RCM&E Bushwhacker, a traditional 52” span high-winger. It turned out as an easy-build, three-channel, trainer-cum-sports model. I even put G-BODD on the fin and the printed plans. Bushwhacker did well as a free RCM&E plan (MAG1560) and, almost two decades on, it is still available as a Ben Buckle traditional kit.

Now before you ask, no, I have never received any kit, plan or CNC pack royalties! We do this all for the love. At least that's what the Editor tells me…

TRAD BRIT DIY

However, I had an ulterior motive behind the design of Bushwhacker. At the time wooden Clubman ARTFs were at their zenith, and I wanted to re-affirm traditional values. I decided to use the Bushwhacker build process, and its articles and plan, as a thinly disguised ‘teach in’ for Trad. Brit. constructional techniques. Therefore, Bushwhacker had banded-on wings, hand-made wheels, and a hand-bent piano wire undercart. Furthermore, she had other traditional features like sewn-on hinges for her control surfaces. As we used to do in ye olden days, the new model even had its own (pre-nylon) home-brew bespoke radio clevises.

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