I ATTENDED the annual Westchester
Radio AeroModelers (WRAM) hobby trade
show, held at the Westchester County Center
in White Plains, New York. The show
features exhibits by approximately 150
manufacturers and organizations. It is the
largest of its type on the East Coast and one
of the largest held in the country. This event
has been held continually since 1968.
When I attend this type of show, I’m
always on the prowl for goods and services
specifically designed for the larger models.
The following are just a few
products I saw.
B&B Specialties: B&B Specialties
advertises that it is “Your Giant
Scale Headquarters,” and it certainly
is—especially for gas engines and
associated accessories. B&B
specializes in Zenoah, Quadra, U.S.,
and Fuji engines.
The company’s booth was chock
full of wares, from complete
engines to the smallest fittings.
What caught my eye was the blue
fuel tubing. Many of the aircraft I
own have the Tygon brand of fuel
tubing installed. This brand is
greenish-yellow in color and is
available in different sizes. It is
manufactured for use with gas and
diesel fuels and is a very good
product although it becomes slightly
stiff with age.
The blue tubing B&B offers is
manufactured by Aerotrend and is
L-R: Nick Ziroli Jr., Tony Kirchenko, Nick Sr., and Mike
Gross staffed the Ziroli booth at the WRAM Show.
Many Giant Scale products were seen at the 2007 WRAM Show
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Giants Sal Calvagna
Also included in this column:
• J&B access panels
• BatShare battery backup by
Smart-Fly
The 2007 WRAM Show featured exhibits from approximately 150 manufacturers and organizations.
J&B Access Panels offers an assortment of
machine-manufactured hatches that come
with flush-fitting screws.
The BatShare battery backup device by
Smart-Fly provides dual redundant
security for the airborne system.
June 2007 129
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130 MODEL AVIATION
Only the starboard-side spark-plug wire seen in this low pass gives
away Lou Zackman’s B-25 as a model.
A Fokker Dr.I replica under construction at the Vintage Aviation
Foundation and Pioneer Flight Museum in Kingsbury TX.
sold as Easy Flex gas and diesel fuel line. It is
extremely flexible and doesn’t harden with
age. The price is $1.25 per foot. This is my
favorite choice of fuel lines for gas engines.
If you would like to try some, contact
Dick Bennett at B&B Specialties. The
telephone number is (574) 277-0499 or visit
the online catalog at www.bennettbuilt.com.
Ziroli Plans: Among his other talents, Nick
Ziroli Sr. is a prolific model airplane designer.
Now Nick has designed an all-wood sport jet
called the Turbinator, which incorporates
proven wood-type construction.
The model is International Miniature
Aircraft Association-legal with a wingspan of
72 inches and length of 80 inches. The all-up
weight is 20-22 pounds, and it was designed
for a turbine with 12-16 pounds of thrust.
The plans are available from Nick Jr. at
Nick Ziroli Plans for $54. The available
accessories include canopy, scale pilot figure,
Robart retracts, and an air support package.
Nick’s model has a Robart Funsonic 12-
pound-thrust turbine installed.
For more information about this newest
offering, contact Nick Ziroli Plans at (631)
467-4765 or visit the Web site at www.ziroli
plans.com.
Futaba: One of the more exciting new
products available for RC modelers is the 2.4
GHz radio system. AMA has approved it for
models of all sizes. Futaba states that it has
been using spread spectrum technology for
nearly 15 years in industrial RC applications.
The company’s new system, the Futaba
Advanced Spread Spectrum Technology
(FASST), utilizes custom integrated circuit
chips that are ideally suited for unique
demands of RC modeling. Its features include
a small but powerful R606FS receiver that
can easily control Giant Scale models.
The system incorporates continual channel
shifting that occurs every two milliseconds.
This ensures that signal conflicts and
interruptions are virtually impossible.
The Futaba 6EX transmitter has a unique
identification code. After linking with the
R606FS receiver, the code assures that this
receiver will only follow commands from this
transmitter. With more than 134,000 possible
codes, there’s no chance for a conflict.
The 6EX 2.4 GHz transmitter is available
in different configurations, and the street price
for the transmitter/receiver set is only
$219.99.
For more information about this system
and all the other great offerings from Futaba,
please visit the company’s Web site at www.
futaba-rc.com.
In addition to the preceding, I’ve found some
other helpful products. J&B Access Panels
offers access panels that can add serious value
to a model. J&B claims, “Just like their fullsize
cousins, model airplanes benefit greatly
from access panels and removable hatches.”
After building a few Giant Scale models, I
have to agree. I especially appreciate the use
of servo hatch mounts/covers. Fabricating
these hatches yourself is not difficult, but it is
time-consuming.
J&B has made the process easy. Choose
the size and shape of the panel you want,
install your equipment, and glue the whole
installation in place.
Made from plywood, the panels come in
two pieces: the base and removable panel.
The base is machined with an end mill to
form a precise opening that fits the panel
perfectly. The servo mounting blocks are
made when the base is machined.
You remove these pieces when you cut
the base open. Holes are predrilled and
countersunk, and the servo-arm slots are cut
partway through the panel. All mounting
screws are provided.
To see the company’s access panels and
servo mounts, visit the J&B Web site at
www.j-baccesspanels.com. You can contact
J&B at 140 Springhill Ave., Bowling Green
KY 42101; Tel.: (270) 781-6780.
BatShare is a battery backup device by
Smart-Fly. The company claims that it is
dedicated to providing the RC modeler with
high-quality, high-performance, affordable
products.
BatShare enables the modeler to use two
battery packs and two switches to provide
dual redundant security for the airborne
system. The product can tolerate a single
failure (open circuit, short circuit, or lowvoltage
conditions) in either of the battery
packs, switch, or battery wiring without
losing radio control. The unit continuously
monitors the battery packs and switches to
the one with the higher voltage.
BatShare features include 3-amp
continuous current per input (connector
limited), very low voltage drop (0.47 volt at
6 amps, 0.55 volt at 12 amps), a visual
power indicator (LED), all 22-gauge wiring
on inputs and outputs, and dual 22-gauge
outputs for minimal voltage drop.
For more information about the
BatShare or to see Smart-Fly’s other
products, visit www.smart-fly.com or
contact the company at Quest Engineering
& Development, 1328 E. Cottonwood Ln.,
Phoenix AZ 85048; Tel.: (480) 460-2652;
E-mail: [email protected].
That’s it for this month. Summer is here, so
fly often and have lots of fun—safely! MA
BMJR Model Products
Box 1210
Sharpes, FL 32959-1210
321-537-1159
www.BMJRModels.com
• Wing Span 36"
• Wing Area, 175 sq. in.
E-36 Power system
4.8V geared motor prop....$18.75
Timer 4-40 sec. ....$23.50
4/190mAh NiCd....$12.00
Charger....$28.00
Connectors....$4.00/pair
$3875
$5.00 postage
REX HINSON'S
SPARKS
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