Guillow's PC-6 Porter

Written by Don DeLoach. Fly the rubber-powered STOL utility aircraft Read an abridged summary and see bonus photos. Featured in the October 2013 issue of Model Aviation.

A name familiar with balsa model lovers for generations, the Guillow’s company has been making kits in Wakefield, Massachusetts for more than 80 years, dating back to 1926. Little has changed at Guillow’s in those years. Their kits have always been (and continue to be) balsa and tissue, just like the Guillow’s kits the kids of Depression era experienced. Plastic propellers and vacuumed formed spinners and canopies were upgrades in the 1960s and 1970s, but since then little has changed, until now. Enter the new 300 series Guillow’s scale FF kits featuring laser-cut parts. One of three brand-new designs in the series (the others are the 20-3/4 inch Edge 540 and the 24 inch DH-2 Beaver) is the Pilatus PC-6 Porter, a simple-to-build Swiss high wing utility plane designed in 1959. The PC-6 spans 26-1/16 inches and looked ideal for the Flying Aces Club (FAC) Modern Civilian competition event, so I dove into a build. I really enjoyed my Guillow’s PC-6 build. It’s a well-engineered design and the kit features excellent balsa, decals and instructions. With my few minor modifications, I expect my PC-6 to be a formidable competitor. Read Don's entire review in the October 2013 issue of Model Aviation. Don DeLoach [email protected]

Specifications

Model type: Semiscale rubber-powered kit Wingspan: 26-1/16 inches Wing area: 80 square inches Ready-to-fly weight (less rubber motor): 39 grams Rubber motor: 10 grams of 1/8-inch wide FAI Tan Supper Sport, four strands Propeller: Yellow Czech Ikara P-30 9.5-inch diameter, cut down to 9 inches and scraped thin, until it weighed roughly 5 grams Price: $26.99

Pluses

• Great vacuum-formed cowling and spinner. • Beautiful decals. • Extremely light sheet wood. • Accurate laser cutting. • Outstanding building plans and instructions.