Astro Hog (oz969)

 

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User comments

Hi Steve, I just test flew my Astro Hog, electric powered. Here's a picture for the gallery [more pics 004].
Paul - 06/09/2013
Your plans illustrate the balancing location for "control line" flying, no dimensions are shown for radio controlled flying. Can't find those balancing dimensions anywhere, even on other web sites.
anon - 20/04/2015
Hello. My name is Kathleen Dunn, wife of the late Fred Dunn. It warms my heart to still see posts about Fred. I still have Fred’s “original” Astro-Hog plans, and, the original plane. Fred was a wonderful husband and was a truly kind person to the core. He is greatly missed. R.I.P. Fred.
Kathleen Dunn - 25/01/2021
Dear Ma'am, your husband's model was an inspiration for a lot of modellers and designers. My first low wing model was certainly based on your husband's one, although smaller, which was a blessing for us Europeans! :-)). It is also wonderful to know his memory is still cherished by his loving family. My best wishes for you and your family, and my thanks for the joy my 'mini Astro Hog' gave me many years ago. AC
Arn Correia - 27/01/2021
I am sincerely glad to see this hobby of ours bring some pleasant feeling to the wife of one of our Pathfinders. I hope we'll meet that multitude who took and will take the Last Thermal to that large cumulus up there.
And if the cloud feels too crowded it's no worry, in my Father's house are many mansions. One for FF, one for RC, one for CL, one for... ;-)
Miguel - 28/01/2021
This message is for Kathleen Dunn asking if she would post pictures of Fred's Astro Hog on the Vintage Radio Control Society RC Groups thread at https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?3157192-Vintage-Radio-Control-Society. We would love to see it.
Mike Denest - 31/01/2021
I have converted Astro_Hog_oz969_decals picture to SVG file, so you can cut or engrave. BTW, how to upload a file here?
Jay - 13/04/2022
Hi Jay. See FAQ. In short, email.
SteveWMD - 13/04/2022
Astro Hog CG: Berkeley, in its marketing wisdom, tried to sell most of their models as suited for free flight, control line or RC. Nobody ever built one of these for control line. I would balance the Hog about on the main spar, you'll be close enough. I've flown one of the SIG versions of the Hog, flew fine but had a tendency to give down elevator effect when using rudder. Sig moved the stab location to top of the fuselage, but the bottom position is better, as shown. Plan shows WAAAAAAY too much elevator movement, probably for control line use. You will need less than half. Much less. Resist the temptation to use the plan amount, then set dual rates for less, it will still be too much. Unflyable. Notice the ancient Aerotrol radio shown on the plans. I had one of these about 1960. It was a piece of crap, never worked. Not even remotely suited to this airplane either. Berkeley kits were awful, beautifully drawn plans but sorry wood, cut with a chain saw. Most builders just threw the wood away and used the plans. Well, some used the ribs. You'll have a classic and a fine flyer when built. A 60 is more than you need, a good 46 is plenty.
doug smith - 13/04/2022
I have been an addict admirer of Berkeley Models, not the kit quality, but the designs. Bill Effinger, Berkeley's owner had the wisdom of contracting the top designers of that time including Fred Dunn, Don McGovern, Henry Struck, Roy L. Clough Jr., Paul del Gatto and others to design and prepare the plans and parts for his kits. This is why the plans from that company were superb. Not easy to build but beautifully designed with excellent flying performance. The plans themselves were a work of art. I myself have almost all of his kit plans in my collection, have built some of his models that confirmed what I am expressing. Building instructions were sometimes very basic or printed using a font so small that you had to use a magnifying glass to read them And yes, almost all Berkeley kits were designed for either FF, CL or RC. Obviously, some designs could never be flown free flight, like the Astro Hog. He also made some very nice boat and car kits.
Eduardo - 13/04/2022
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