Many MDMC members will be aware of Trevor Main’s ME109E project which he started in December 2006. The accompanying photographs show airframe construction to be almost complete and build quality to an exceptionally high standard. As is customary with Trevor’s projects, keeping model weight to a minimum is a high priority. His construction techniques enabled him to achieve this without any sacrifice to strength or scale detail.

The model was built from a Brian Taylor plan which Trevor has had scaled-up from its original 68″ wingspan to 97″, giving a true 1/4 scale model. Trevor calculated that when completed it just fits inside his car!

To ensure a scale finish Trevor overcome several technical problems. Wheels, tyres, canopy and spinner were commercially unavailable to acceptable scale and weight criteria, so all of these have been designed by Trevor for construction from conventional materials. Also, to achieve a completely enclosed engine installation, yet still retain easy access to the engine bay, a manifold and silencer system had to be “scratch” built.

Power and Weight:
Finished weight is 25lbs and powered by a MOKI 210 turning a 20×10 prop, performance is expected to be true to scale.

Wheel Details:
The tyres are 6-3/8″ diameter x 1.5″ wide shaped from foam blanks by Alan Odom.
The two piece hubs were turned from plywood also by Alan Odom.

Manifold and Silencer:
Manifold flange is mild steel with the rigid and flexible pipe work being stainless steel and all silver soldered. The silencer is 1/16″ thick alum. and has one internal baffle all tig welded by Simon Askew.

Gallery