American Junior Hornet 2X with Radio Control

Jim Walker Hornet compared to Hornet 2x by Noel Martin

Model designed & built by
Frank Macy & Noel Martin

The American Junior Hornet 2X is a double size version of the original rubber powered A-J Hornet, it was built by Frank Macy. It has been fitted with small radio control equipment and a geared electric motor/battery system by Noel Martin. It is capable of taking off from the runway or being hand launched and is not overpowered. The flight characteristics are very similar to Jim Walker's original Hornet, being smooth and graceful, with no bad habits. Flight time is about 15 minutes.

Radio equipment uses micro servos, a single conversion receiver, ten amp speed control and a two cell lithium polymer battery. Connections to elevator and rudder are cord, in a pull-pull arrangement. The aircraft weighs about 11 ounces.


Construction is similar to the original, with the wing sliding in a cut in the fuselage and the elevator rubber banded to its mount. The rudder is full flying and controls turning very capably. The elevator is small, about the same scale as the Firebaby, and does not have enough authority to cause a bad stall.

The wing is one piece of
balsa sheet, with false ribs, and steamed for camber
and dihedral just like the original American Junior Hornet.

The motor mount is machined to resemble the plastic propellor mount and fits over the end of the fuselage..

Hornet 2X ready to fly with radio control.

A beautiful tribute to Jim Walker's classic Hornet, whose roots go back to American Junior of the 1930's.

Watch Noel fly the Hornet 2X

R/C information provided to American Junior Classics by Noel Martin 2/24/05. This was a joint project
with Frank Macy building and painting the model and Noel Martin adding the radio control upgrade.