My interest in Ray Malmstrom's aeroplanes started when I bought a copy of the plan of the Forray (For Ray), by Mike Parker. It's an unusual aeroplane as you will see below. However, on the plan it mentions that the design was influenced by Ray Malmstrom's Mimi and Martian funfliers. I just happened to mention this to my friend and clubmate Peter Carter, and within a few days Peter had produced copies of these plans. I was well and truly hooked.
Ray was one of the most original, creative, and prolific designers of model aeroplanes. His output was astounding, and most are very easy to build.
I don't want to say too much about Ray here because his story is covered in detail on the website run by the club he founded in 1946, the Impington Village College Model Aeroplane Club. There you will find details of how to buy copies of Ray's plans (over 170 to choose from), and dates of the clubs next meeting, where they display copies for sale. Whatever you do you simply must go along and have a look.
Beware the Malmstrom effect
I should warn you that Ray's designs are infectious. Once you build one you will want to construct more and more, and people who see you flying them will also become hooked.
I built the Mimi first and flew it at Middle Wallop in November 2001, and it flew so well that both Peter and a friend of his, Rod, have subsequently built examples. Peter has also built a Skyrida which he found in American Aircraft Modeller, and Miss Flighty, and I have built the Martian, and the Skygypsy. So between us we seem to have started something of a Malmstrom revival.
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This is the plane that kick-started the whole thing. As you can see it is rather unusual. It flies well under power, but does not glide very far, which is just as well because, even with the prop on backwards, and the engine set at rich, a full tank takes it up to considerable height.
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I took this plane to the Impington club meeting at the end of 2001, because they were asking for people to bring examples of Ray's designs for a display. I was not sure how well it would be received as it was not one of his designs, or if anyone had ever heard of it.
However, I need not have worried. As soon as I went through the door to the display room someone said in a friendly voice, " Ah, Mike Parker's Forray". (This is the only time, so far, that it has been recognised)
I put the plan on the table together with the model just to make sure people saw the bit about the design history, and this was picked up by the editor of Model Flyer and a photo appeared soon afterwards.
At this time the model was actually unflown, so there was no damage from landing backwards in hedges, or spiralling-in because I forgot to straighten the canard forplane before launching. If you look carefully you will see the break in the fuselage just behind the forplane. This happened at Middle Wallop when I managed to hand-launch it into the ground, (it needs a firm throw), the engine did not stop so I ran up to it, and without a second thought launched again - I should have straighted the wings first - OUCH!
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Amazing little biplane with the most delightful flying characteristics. From the very first flight I just knew it was going to fly well, and now that it is trimmed, it flies in neat left-hand circuits (the plan warns against right-hand circuits) under power and gliding.
The MP Jet 040 (.6cc) is really far too powerful, but this enables me to run the engine very slowly. So slow, in fact, that it makes the model wobble in flight, especially at the end of the engine run when the engine coughs a bit.
I bought a clear tank as it is essential to be able to see how much fuel there is before launching. I hate to think how far it would fly on a full tank. However, although it climbs well under power, it is not a great glider, and every time it lands it tumbles base over apex, but this does not seem to do it any harm.
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I just could not resist installing eyes on the Mimi and Martian models, they just seem to bring them to life. Perhaps I should add a grin as well - you know the modellers silly grin?
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This delightful tandem wing design has all the character I have come to expect from a Ray Malmstrom design. Both this and the Mimi only took me two weeks of evenings (2 to 3 hours each day) to build. I became so excited whilst building the Martian that my construction standards began to drop - as you will see from the very wobbly wing rib.
The tandem wing format makes this quite a tricky plane to fly, and, as the plan says, the elevons are very sensitive. The first flight saw the Martian climbing in a near vertical spiral to about 50 feet, followed by a near vertical spiral dive into the soft grass on Chobham Common - very exciting.
After several trimming flights I managed to achieve a neat right-hand climb, followed by a neat left hand glide, and a flight of about three minutes duration. The only problem is that when I clean it down after each flying session, I have to be very careful not to move the elevons. Apart from that it is a delight to fly, looking quite comical in flight because it is such an unusual shape.
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This is one of Ray Malmstrom's larger model designs, and employs the tab and slot method of construction. All the formers have tabs and the fuselage sides have coresponding slots cut to accommodate them. Sounds easy but in practice you have to be very careful cutting the parts out.
However, it builds very easily and quickly into quite a conventional-looking model. The only criticism I have is that the main wing spar is not strong enough for the rough-and-tumble flying on Chobham Common.
It is designed for .75 to 1cc diesels, so I have installed an Amco .87, given to me by my Dad. It needed the mounting lugs replacing, and a new piston, before I could install it, but although it is still a bit tight, it starts easily, runs beautifully and provides the just the right amount of power for the Skygypsy. So I am looking forward to many long walks at Middle Wallop and Chobham Common!
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This plane, (top, centre of the pic below) was built by my friend and clubmate Peter. It appeared in American Aircraft Modeller, October 1969, and was intended for beginners, and so is more conventional than some of Ray's designs. However, it still retains that Malmstrom character, whilst being strong and easy to trim and fly. I suspect that it will have a better glide than all the other models in the picture.
The wing contruction is pure Malmstrom - all ribs the same shape, glued onto 1/16 inch sheet balsa, no spars, no leading or trailing edge, and 1/16 sheet on top - very simple, very strong, easy to build.
I wonder if Ray, rather like me, was very enthusiastic about building and flying models, but really wanted to spend more time flying than building.
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The little orange coloured rubber powered plane in the bottom of the picture above is Miss Flighty, (again built by Peter), designed by Ray, and featured in Model Aircraft, May 1964. It is typical of the man - unusual in shape and construction, and clearly intended for maximum fun. It was missing its windscreen when I took the photograph.
One bright, clear day, when the wind was light he took it to our flying field for the first time, filled up the tank and started the engine. He was not sure how much fuel there was in the tank, but egged-on by a flying pal launched the model skywards. It was immediately obvious that this Mimi was going to fly well. It spiralled upwards and downwind at an alarming rate.
Peter and friend raced across the field after it, crossing over a small bridge and under some very large oak trees. When they emerged from under the trees the Mimi had vanished, but they continued over the fields in the direction in which it had last been seen drifting.
Well two hours later only Peter was left searching. It's a very small model, and very easy to loose. Ray Malmstrom once said that thermals were no trouble to him, but long grass was a real problem.
Eventually even Peter gave up. He turned for home and joined a path which lead roughly in the direction of the flying field. After about 250 yards he rounded a corner, and lo-and-behold, there was his Mimi sitting on the edge of the path just waiting to be collected. It was undamaged, and is still flying today, but usually with only a small drop of fuel.