Sam Invites you to Click on His Logbook to the Right to View it or to Make an Entry in it
Click on a Photo, Below, to See That Model's Construction Pix
Handley Page Heyford Bomber Started 22 Aug 2011	The HEYFORD was the last of the RAF's heavy biplane bombers. It was built to a 1927 specification and served with eleven front-line squadrons. It was an 'express' bomber, designed to deliver a large bomb load at high speed, then land, refuel and re-arm quickly- in less than a half hour! The HEYFORD is known for being used in two very important developments: in-flight refueling and aircraft-detection radar. Wingspan of the HEYFORD was just over 75 feet and length was 58 feet. Maximum speed was just over 140 mph with and ceiling of 21000 feet and range of 920 miles. A unique feature of the aft fuselage was a gun turret, called a 'dustbin', which could be lowered below the bottom of the fuselage where it could be rotated for a wide range of firing positions. There was also a gunner atop the rear fuselage and another atop the nose.
German WWI GOTHA Bomber Started 26 Dec 2010	In the spring of 1917, a bomber with sufficient range and numbers became available to the Germans to bomb the London area. It was called the Gotha Bomb Dropper. The first attack on London was actually made by a Gotha LVG-CH on November 26, 1916. The first daylight raid on London was made by 14 Gothas on June 13, 1917. This two-engine nightmare with its six 200 pound bombs came barrelling in at 81 miles per hour and made the giant Zeppelins obsolete over night. The Gotha was armed with guns on the nose and behind the pilot. The rear gun could even fire down through a slot in the fuselage, much to the surprise of many British fighters attacking from below!
Gloster Javelin Started Jan 2010	The Javelin was the last aircraft to bear the Gloster name. It was Gloster's response to a 1947 British Air Ministry request for a high performance, all-weather, jet fighter/interceptor for the Royal Air Force. The Javelin prototype first flew 26 Nov 1951 and was placed in service on 29 Feb 56. It was retired in April 1968. A total of 435 aircraft were built. It was the RAF's first missile-armed intercepter and the RAF's only delta-winged fighter. Sam will scratch-build the Javelin with 2 jet turbine engines. Click HERE for Javelin Info
Laird-Turner Meteor Racer (Repro) Started Mar 2009	By 1935, Roscoe Turner had won both the Bendix and Thompson trophies in air racing. in 1936 Turner designed a new racer, a full cantilever, mid-wing monoplane with fixed gear. It was to be powered by a huge 1830 cid, 1000 hp radial Twin Wasp Sr engine. He dubbed the new plane the R-14 Meteor. Although he was in the lead with the Meteor in the 1937 National Air Races in the final lap, he had to re-circle a pylon he missed. In spite of this delay, he came in 3rd with a speed of 253.8 mph. In 1938, his Meteor was sponsored by the Pump Engineering Services Corporation (PESCO), and he won his 2nd Thompson Trophy with a speed of 283.4 mph. After winning his 3rd Thompson Trophy in 1939 with the Meteor, Turner retired from racing. The 1939 version of the Meteor is hanging in the National Air and Space Museum, Garber Facility in Maryland. Unfortunately, the Meteor was totally destroyed on its maiden flight due to a bad cell in the battery pack.
Miles Hawk Speed Six Racer (Repro) Started Mar 2009	Sam's Miles Speed Six Racer Completed Aug 2009
Junkers JU-87B STUKA Started Sep 2008	Sam's JU87B Stuka Completed Feb 2009
DeHavilland DH-108 Swallow Started Jan 2008 & Completed Aug 2008	This is Sam's 2nd model of the DH-108. The first was sold a few years ago, but Sam liked it so much he decided to do another version. This is the first of three prototypes of the DH-108: Model # TG/283 Note: The wing-top pods contained anti-spin parachutes which did not perform as desired and were eliminated on the two subsequent prototypes. This feature was not implemented on this model, for obvious reasons!
RQ-17 UAV Started Aug 2007 & Completed Nov 2007	The RQ-17 drone is a double-delta design. It is an approximate quarter-scale copy of a UAV observed in early 2005 flying over the higly-classified and secret Area 88 in northwest Australia, reported by some to be the area used by the US to develop unmanned aerial vehicles. It is thought the RQ17 has already been tested in combat situations in remote areas of Afghanistan as early as 2006. The operational range is about 88 miles in the present design, making it practical to be carried on Stryker M1127 Reconnaissance Vehicles to provide protection and observer capabilities. From reports, the full-scale RQ-17 employs a special terrain-following system which permits it to fly as low as 25 feet using a new GPS-based autonomous flight system. It is also anticipated that it will use the new classified mini-missile system that reportedly can track and kill un-armored vehicles and personnel at ranges of up to three miles from the release point, allowing the RQ-17 to make lightning hit-and-run forays directly into enemy convoys and defensive positions. Details on the full-scale RQ-17, if ever really built, may be released at that time. Information, however, will be provided on this jet turbine-powered model by Sam Snyder as construction and flying progress....
RQ-16 SYZYGY UAV Started Jan 2007 & Completed Apr 2007	Sam has had this RQ-16 design under development on the design board of his imagination for some time, ever since he first saw the original prototypes fly down the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 'Nam - one of the first drones ever used in real combat, or was that a dream he had while enduring those endless monsoons? Sam named his drone the SYZYGY, a term meaning 'a kind of unity, especially through alignment or coordination, a kind of conjunction'. Fitting. The completed weight for the 96 inch span, twin-boom jet is 22 pounds. It first flew at the Mississippi Afterburner event in April, 2007.
Yakovlev Yak-40 Soviet Airliner Started May 2006 & Completed Jan 2007	This is the construction project for a 102 inch span, scale flying model of the Yakovlev Yak-40, a commercial passenger aircraft. Sam's model is be a scratchbuilt version, built from his own plans, and be powered by one 14-pound thrust jet turbine engine. The interior of the model is detailed like that of a private version of the Yak-40, including seats, tables, etc. This Yak40 model first flew in April 2007 at the Mississippi Afterburner event.
Martin RB57D Canberra Spy Plane Started Sep 2005 & Completed May 2006	This is the construction project for a 102 inch span, scale flying model of the Martin RB57D Canberra - a high altitude reconnaisance aircraft. Sam's model is a scratchbuilt version, built from his own plans, and is powered by two 14-pound thrust jet turbine engines. This is a 'long-wing' version of the original English Electric Canberra. The RB57D model was lost on an early test flight when one of the tanks broke loose and slid back, causing a stall and crash, on takeoff.
Lockheed U2/TR-1 Spy Plane Started Mar 2005 & Completed Aug 2006	This construction project is for a 1/12 scale flying model of the U2/TR-1 Dragon Lady, and is a scratchbuilt version. It is powered by a 14-pound thrust jet turbine engine and has a 104 inch wingspan. This U2 model is highly susceptible to even minor cross winds, like the full-scale version, and suffered a major crash at a jet event in Mt. Pleasant in late 2005 while being test-flown by a friend of Sam. However, it was quickly restored and has received many awards at jet events across the east.
deHavilland D-110 Sea Vixen Started Oct 2004 & Completed Mar 2005	Sam over-whelmingly prefers to build all his models from scratch, developing his own plans from plans and photos of the original aircraft, but this project involved a major bashing of an existing kit by Bob Violett Models of Florida!! The Sea Vixen was first flown in early 2005 at several jet events in the east and has won several awards for workmanship.
Dornier DO-17 Bomber Started Feb 2004 & Completed Oct 2004	This is a model of the very successful DO-17 bomber used extensively by Germany in WWII. Sam's scratch-built model of this aircraft sports a 96 inch wingspan and is powered by two OS-108 engines. It is a faithful and beautiful rendition of the bomber. The D0-17 flew successfully in 2007.
Dornier DO-23 Bomber Started Aug 2003 & Completed Feb 2004 )	This is a scratch-built version of this old bomber flown by the Germans in the period betwenn WWI and WWII. It is a faithful reproduction of this aircraft, including the rails used by the crew members when moving between forward and aft cockpits during flight! This DO-23 model has flown in several events and won awards, primarily that of Best Craftsmanship.
DeHavilland 108 Swallow Completed in 2002	Sam's model of the Swallow was an instant success when flown in jet meets in 2003 and later. It won many awards, including Best Craftsmanship. The original Swallow was known for its instability, and killed its pilot in a devestating crash. The model was unstable until Sam finally found the sweet spot of the center of gravity. Since then, it was a pleasure to fly. This model of the Swallow was sold to an enterprising modeler who is in the process of making molds that will be used to make kit parts to sell.
Avro Vulcan, Post-WWII Bomber Started in 2001 Completed and Flown in 2007	This is a huge, 108 inch wingspan, scratch-built model of this beautiful British bomber. This awesome plane was delayed in its first flights due to being slightly overweight when construction was completed. In the meantime, the Vulcan won awards when displayed staticly at meets. A waiver was from AMA was finally granted and the Vulcan made its first two flights on the weekend of 11 August 2007 at Waco, Texas. And it flew magnificently! Click HERE to see the 1st-flight photos Click HERE to see the 2nd-flight photos Click HERE to see the AVRO VULCAN fly at TOP GUN 2009
Lockheed Sirius Completed circa 2000	This is a scratch-built version of the Sirius. Sorry, no construction photos are available.
British Spitfire Fighter Completed ?????	Scratch-built. Sorry, no constuction photos are available.
Soviet MiG-15 Korean War Vintage Jet Fighter Completed ?????	Scratch-built. Sorry, no constuction photos are available.

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