Electric Old Timers Fact Sheet
- Details
- Last Updated: 17 July 2018
- Published: 16 August 2012
Here is some information about 'Electric Old Timers' a facet of our hobby that the AEFA is actively developing and promoting. A 'Fact Sheet' covering this material can be accessed here .
‘Old Timers’ come in all shapes and sizes but note the term describes a particular variety of model aircraft, not their pilots.
In essence they are vintage models,
based on designs published or available as kits during the “golden era of model aviation”, the decade of the thirties to the beginning of WWII.
The Society of Antique Modelers (SAM), recognized as a world wide authority and advocate of these aircraft, calls models prior to 1939,“antique”, and before 1942, “old timer”. Aircraft up to 1956 are in the “nostalgia” category.
There are ‘chapters’ of SAM throughout Australia, encouraging all age groups to experience the pleasure of building and flying these character filled models.
Competition among ‘old timer’ flyers has led to the development of rules and regulations that make sure the models look like their vintage counterparts while allowing modern building materials and structural improvements. Replacing ignition or glow motors with electric power is now also an option.
‘Old Timer’s were originally free flight models powered by ignition engines or rubber motors. In that era, there were two types of competition, one for a limited motor run, the other for a limited fuel allowance. Current competition rules emulate those concepts.
Rules for events currently flown by the AEFA are in the Rules section of this website (here) or downloadable here . In broad terms they are:
- Texaco - limited battery (fuel) allowance based on aircraft weight
- Duration - limited motor runs, battery based on wing area
- Height Limited - single, limited motor run to a capped ceiling
- 1/2A Texaco - the same idea as Texaco but aircraft are limited in size and battery options are reduced
- Vintage Glider - 7 minute flight. Single motor run with an electronic plug-in device limiting motor run time and aircraft height under power.
Starting out with ‘old timers’ might seem a challenge but selecting a good design, and appropriate power package can be very simple if we look at what currently works for others
Here are some tables describing some of the models currently competing in AEFA events.They show that one or two designs dominate and that mid to low price range motors give good results.
DURATION
Model |
Wingspan |
Weight |
Motor |
Prop |
Battery/Current |
Playboy |
80” 2030mm |
49oz 1390g |
2848-4800 in-runner Astro gear |
Bolly 12” |
2200-3S 100A |
Sunduster |
88” 2235mm |
60oz 1720g |
Scorpion HK4015-1050 |
12x6 |
1800-6S 89A |
Airborne |
114” 2895mm |
67oz 1900g |
Scorpion 3026-890 |
13x8 |
2200-4S 70A |
Playboy Cabin 102% |
79.5” 2020mm |
47oz 1332g |
Hyperion ZS3025-10 |
12x6 |
1800-4S 50A |
Record Hound |
68” 1727mm |
50oz 1470g |
MVVS |
13x10 |
1800-4S 53A |
Lanzo Bomber86% |
78” 2000mm |
59oz 1417g |
Scorpion 4020-12 |
13x6 |
1800-6S 50A |
Playboy |
80” 2030mm |
Axi |
12x6 |
2200-3S |
|
Cumulus |
79” 1778mm |
56oz 1588g |
Neu 1509 |
14x10 |
2200-4S 140A |

HEIGHT LIMITED
Model |
Wingspan |
Weight |
Motor |
Prop |
Battery /Current |
Record Hound |
68” 1727mm |
50oz 1417g |
MVVS 4.6/840 |
13x10 |
1800-4S 53A |
Playboy |
80” 2030mm |
49oz 1390g |
2848-4800 in-runner Astro gear |
Bolly 12” |
1750-3S 70A |
Airborne |
114” 2895mm |
67 oz 1900g |
Scorpion 3026-890 |
13x8 |
2200-4S 60A |
Airborne |
48” 1220mm |
22oz 624g |
Hyperion 2218-10 |
12x6 |
1300-3S 18A |
Lanzo Bomber70% |
67” 1710m |
35oz 992g |
Hyperion 3025-8 |
11x5.5 |
1200-3S 28A |
Lanzo Bomber70% |
70” 1780mm |
31oz 880g |
Eflite Power 15 |
10x8 |
2200-2S 20A |
Sunduster |
88” 2235mm |
60oz 1720g |
Scoprion HK4015-1050 |
13x6 |
1800-3S 70A |
Dallaire Sportster |
108” 2740mm |
88oz 2495g |
Turnigy 3648-850 |
14x7 |
2600-3S 63A |
TEXACO
Model |
Wingspan |
Weight |
Motor |
Prop |
Battery/Current |
Lanzo Bomber 70% |
70” 1780mm |
31oz 879g |
Eflite Power 15 |
13x6 |
920-2S 18A |
Airborne |
114” 2895mm |
67 oz 1900g |
Scorpion 3026-890 |
13x8 |
900-4S 55A |
Lanzo Bomber70% |
70” 1780mm |
26oz 750g |
400 size Turnigy outrunner |
10x6 |
800-2S 12A |
Lanzo Bomber70% |
67” 1710mm |
34oz 964g |
Hyperion 3025-8 |
11x5.5 |
900-2S 20A |
Nimbus |
123” 3125mm |
154oz 4365g |
Turnigy 5065-400 |
16x8 |
2200-4S 35A |
Dallaire Sportster |
108” 2740mm |
88oz 2495g |
Turnigy 3648-850 |
12x6 |
1600-3S 32A |
Experience in AEFA competitions has also shown that for these first three categories, flyers can be very successful using the same airframe and motor. All that is needed is to change propeller and battery for each category.
1/2A TEXACO
Model |
Wingspan |
Weight |
Motor |
Prop |
Battery/Current |
Playboy |
36” 915mm |
10 oz 283g |
Hobbyking |
6x3 |
450-2S 5A |
Stardust Special |
55” 1397mm |
13oz 369g |
Hyperion |
8x6 |
450-2S 9A |
Airborne |
48” 1220mm |
11oz 312g |
Multiplex |
8x6 |
450-2S 8A |
Airborne |
54” 1370mm |
14oz 385g |
Rimfire outrunner |
9x6 |
450-2S 9A |
Dallaire Sportster |
50” 1270mm |
13oz 369g |
Rimfire outrunner |
9x6 |
450-2S 9A |
Playboy |
51” 1300mm |
14oz 397g |
SCM-3323 1500 Kv |
7x4 |
450-2S 10A |
Powerhouse |
42” 1066mm |
11oz 312g |
Himark 2812-1200 |
7x5 |
460-2S 5A |
