136 MODEL AVIATION
MY WIFE AND I attended AMA Convention 2005 January 7-9 in
Ontario, California. Scale modeling was well represented on the
West Coast with a variety of kit and part manufacturers.
The weather didn’t cooperate with the event, and rain was the
norm for the week. However, that didn’t seem to have an effect on
the modelers and families who attended the show. There were
good crowds Friday and much larger crowds Saturday and Sunday.
The convention had the largest gathering of RC scale boats I’ve
ever seen. Many kinds and scales were present, including the
World War II LCT, submarines, paddle wheelers, and many others.
The only type I didn’t see was an aircraft carrier. A large pool at
one end of the convention site was used for boats and submarine
demonstrations throughout the weekend.
But the real treats for us were the Scale aircraft that peppered
the event floor, including Lawrence Klingberg’s Bellanca
Aircruiser known as the Flying “W.” It was covered with Solartex,
painted with Rust-Oleum paint, and powered by a Quadra 400
engine.
Lawrence constructed the model from Bellanca factory
drawings in 1⁄6 scale. It took him a year to build, and he finished
just a week before the show. The aircraft interior was completed
with two pilots and all of the instruments and hardware. Lawrence
took first place in the civilian Scale category with his beautiful
model.
Scale organizations and clubs were in attendance at the
convention. The Scale Squadron and the National Association of
Stan Alexander, 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville TN 37211; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL SCALE
Aerospace Composite Products’ display of carbon tubes, carbon
rods, carbon pultruded tubes, and fiberglass tubes.
Sam Wright and Esther Alexander tended the NASA and Scale
Squadron booths all weekend during the AMA Convention.
Chip Mull explains the cloth covering system commonly known
as Stits Lite. He gave the audience a great presentation.
Scale Aeromodelers (NASA) presented the Road Show, which
has been so popular at the Toledo, Ohio, Weak Signals show.
Volunteers from both organizations manned the booths and the
Road Show during the weekend.
The Scale Squadron began in 1979 and founded the US Scale
Masters Championships. The Southern California-based group
holds the US Scale Masters Qualifier, Toys for Tots, and T-6
races with the House of Balsa kit. For more information about the
races, check out the club’s Web site.
The Scale Squadron’s members have been extremely active
and continue to be movers and shakers in Scale competition
across the country. Bob Rosenlof is the present commander, and
many other members attended the show and helped out in the
booth, including Jim Reed, Sam Wright, Randy Wilbur,
Lawrence Klingberg, Gary Holderness, Nick Rivaldo, Gordon
Jet Hangar Hobbies’ FJ-3 Fury: the US Navy version of the F-86.
Several changes were made to the stock F-86 for the Navy.
Lawrence Klingberg’s huge, beautifully finished Bellanca
Aircruiser won the Scale, Civilian (non-jet) static class.
Dave Patrick shows his new 2.10 two-stroke engine for largescale
applications. It costs $299.99 without muffler.
Truax, Rich Koehrer, and Don Aitken.
Hobby People donated a Model Tech
P-51 Mustang and a Magnum XL 70
four-stroke engine, and Airtronics
donated an RD6000 computer-radio
system for the raffle. Everyone seemed to
have a great time, and I look forward to
seeing them all again next year.
Some of the topics at this year’s Road
Show were “Retract Installations and
Maintenance” by Sam Wright; “Applying
Fabric for Scale Aircraft” by Chip Mull;
“Rivets, Panel Lines, and Their
Application” by Larry Wolfe; and my
“Scale Flight Routines.” These Scale
seminars were the convention’s first, and
the attendance was encouraging for the
participants.
One of the best visual presentations
was when Chip Mull covered a
horizontal stabilizer with the Stits Lite
covering system. He used the old triedand-
true system to cover with fabric,
brushing on the adhesive, sealing the
surface, and then shrinking it.
As I watched, I realized that it took
him no longer to cover this than it does to
apply a good MonoKote job. The cloth
goes around compound surfaces without
wrinkling too much, and the iron takes
the wrinkles out that do appear quickly.
Chip used an electronically calibrated
heat iron to get the temperature to 350°,
to shrink the material and prepare it for
the Stits paint. He stated that this was
crucial to the process because other irons
can be off by 10°-15° with the oldfashioned
dial thermostats.
Dave Patrick Models is expanding its
line with several new models, one of
which is a clipped-wing Piper PA-18
Super Cub. It has a wingspan of 88
inches.
One of the neat things about this
Super Cub line is that the models are
available in a variety of color schemes,
including red/white, blue/white,
yellow/white, all white, and almost ready
to cover—so you do have a choice. The
company’s other ARFs—such as the
Ultimate, the Extra 330L, and the Edge
540T—have similar choices available.
Dave Patrick is also selling a new
engine line, which includes a DPM Blue
Head 1.35, 1.80, and 2.10. These look
similar to the Moki engine line.
Dave Patrick Models and Airtronics
sponsored the AMA Scholarship Fund
raffle, which helps to send some of our
brightest young people to college each
year.
Some of the neat items I noticed during
the weekend were from Aerospace
Composite Products. The company
features a full line of carbon-fiber tubes,
laminates, and laminated panels made from
a variety of materials including
fiberglass/foam, fiberglass/balsa, double
fiber and balsa, fiberglass/Nomex, and
fiberglass sheets.
Aerospace Composite Products also has
a line of fiberglass cloth for builders that is
available in a number of different weights,
sizes, and lengths, some of which are
perfect for fiberglassing wings or fuselage
surfaces.
The thing that caught my eye was the
multitude of carbon-fiber items available; I
had never seen so many. There were
extruded rods that were small enough yet
strong enough to use for wing spars on
indoor models, and there were solid
carbon-fiber rods.
One of the kit manufacturers that
attended the show has a specialty that
many readers enjoy: jets. Jet Hangar
Hobbies has been around for more than 30
years and has a good variety of models
from which to choose.
You say you can’t afford a jet? Many
modelers can’t spend the $10,000-$15,000
it takes to build some models, but Jet
Hangar Hobbies sells smaller jets that can
be flown at many more fields. Included in
the kit line is a Grumman F9F-8 Cougar
with a 56-inch length and a 47-inch
wingspan. It is priced at $550 and is
designed for 5-inch ducted-fan systems or
turbines.
Other available jets include the Mirage,
the A-4 Skyhawk, the A-7D/E Corsair II,
an F-86 Sabre, an F-4 Phantom, and an F-
15 Eagle. Others are in the works.
By adding the retract package, the
turbine, and other parts, you can build a
turbine-powered Scale jet for less than
$4,000. And you can have the added perk
of flying it at a local paved field instead of
having to find an airport or an old military
base from which to fly.
An old favorite that many people see at
airports or military bases is the C-130
Hercules, and Jet Hangar Hobbies sells a
version of it in semikit form. The big
transport spans 12 feet. Power can be .60-
1.08 two-stroke or 120-150 four-stroke
engines. Retracts, spinners, and tires are
sold separately.
One of the best sport-kit manufacturers
is Bruce Tharpe Engineering. Bruce was
an employee of Sig Manufacturing before
he struck out on his own. He has the best
in balsa/plywood kits for the sport
modeler, but he has hinted that he is
working on a Scale model. I hope so!
I’ve just finished a Bruce Tharpe
Engineering Venture 60, which is a lowwing,
aerobatic sport model that is great
for practice. It has a 72-inch wingspan and
flies on a good .60 engine. Several other
types of models are available. Bruce also
has a sport-jet kit, which he is now
shipping.
If you have a chance to attend a modeling
show, or a mall show for that matter, why
not? Events such as the AMA Convention,
the Weak Signals R/C Exposition (Toledo
Show), and others offer modelers
discounts on most items that you won’t
see any other time of the year. Plus you
get to see the latest and newest products
and services.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Sources:
Dave Patrick Models
1811 E. 400 North Rd.
Milford IL 60953
(815) 457-2938
www.davepatrickmodels.com
Airtronics Inc.
1185 Stanford Ct.
Anaheim CA 92805
(714) 978-1895
www.airtronics.net
Scale Squadron
17 Via Anadeja
Rancho Santa Margarita CA 92688
http://scalesquadron.tripod.com/
NASA
Secretary/treasurer Bonnie Rediske
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
www.nasascale.org
Aerospace Composite Products
357 Stealth Ct.
Livermore CA 94551
(925) 443-5900
Fax: (925) 443-5901
www.acpsales.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
Fax: (562) 467-0261
www.jethangar.com
Bruce Tharpe Engineering
8622 E. Evans Creek Rd.
Rogue River OR 97537
(800) 557-4470
www.btemodels.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/04
Page Numbers: 136,137,138,139
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/04
Page Numbers: 136,137,138,139
136 MODEL AVIATION
MY WIFE AND I attended AMA Convention 2005 January 7-9 in
Ontario, California. Scale modeling was well represented on the
West Coast with a variety of kit and part manufacturers.
The weather didn’t cooperate with the event, and rain was the
norm for the week. However, that didn’t seem to have an effect on
the modelers and families who attended the show. There were
good crowds Friday and much larger crowds Saturday and Sunday.
The convention had the largest gathering of RC scale boats I’ve
ever seen. Many kinds and scales were present, including the
World War II LCT, submarines, paddle wheelers, and many others.
The only type I didn’t see was an aircraft carrier. A large pool at
one end of the convention site was used for boats and submarine
demonstrations throughout the weekend.
But the real treats for us were the Scale aircraft that peppered
the event floor, including Lawrence Klingberg’s Bellanca
Aircruiser known as the Flying “W.” It was covered with Solartex,
painted with Rust-Oleum paint, and powered by a Quadra 400
engine.
Lawrence constructed the model from Bellanca factory
drawings in 1⁄6 scale. It took him a year to build, and he finished
just a week before the show. The aircraft interior was completed
with two pilots and all of the instruments and hardware. Lawrence
took first place in the civilian Scale category with his beautiful
model.
Scale organizations and clubs were in attendance at the
convention. The Scale Squadron and the National Association of
Stan Alexander, 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville TN 37211; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL SCALE
Aerospace Composite Products’ display of carbon tubes, carbon
rods, carbon pultruded tubes, and fiberglass tubes.
Sam Wright and Esther Alexander tended the NASA and Scale
Squadron booths all weekend during the AMA Convention.
Chip Mull explains the cloth covering system commonly known
as Stits Lite. He gave the audience a great presentation.
Scale Aeromodelers (NASA) presented the Road Show, which
has been so popular at the Toledo, Ohio, Weak Signals show.
Volunteers from both organizations manned the booths and the
Road Show during the weekend.
The Scale Squadron began in 1979 and founded the US Scale
Masters Championships. The Southern California-based group
holds the US Scale Masters Qualifier, Toys for Tots, and T-6
races with the House of Balsa kit. For more information about the
races, check out the club’s Web site.
The Scale Squadron’s members have been extremely active
and continue to be movers and shakers in Scale competition
across the country. Bob Rosenlof is the present commander, and
many other members attended the show and helped out in the
booth, including Jim Reed, Sam Wright, Randy Wilbur,
Lawrence Klingberg, Gary Holderness, Nick Rivaldo, Gordon
Jet Hangar Hobbies’ FJ-3 Fury: the US Navy version of the F-86.
Several changes were made to the stock F-86 for the Navy.
Lawrence Klingberg’s huge, beautifully finished Bellanca
Aircruiser won the Scale, Civilian (non-jet) static class.
Dave Patrick shows his new 2.10 two-stroke engine for largescale
applications. It costs $299.99 without muffler.
Truax, Rich Koehrer, and Don Aitken.
Hobby People donated a Model Tech
P-51 Mustang and a Magnum XL 70
four-stroke engine, and Airtronics
donated an RD6000 computer-radio
system for the raffle. Everyone seemed to
have a great time, and I look forward to
seeing them all again next year.
Some of the topics at this year’s Road
Show were “Retract Installations and
Maintenance” by Sam Wright; “Applying
Fabric for Scale Aircraft” by Chip Mull;
“Rivets, Panel Lines, and Their
Application” by Larry Wolfe; and my
“Scale Flight Routines.” These Scale
seminars were the convention’s first, and
the attendance was encouraging for the
participants.
One of the best visual presentations
was when Chip Mull covered a
horizontal stabilizer with the Stits Lite
covering system. He used the old triedand-
true system to cover with fabric,
brushing on the adhesive, sealing the
surface, and then shrinking it.
As I watched, I realized that it took
him no longer to cover this than it does to
apply a good MonoKote job. The cloth
goes around compound surfaces without
wrinkling too much, and the iron takes
the wrinkles out that do appear quickly.
Chip used an electronically calibrated
heat iron to get the temperature to 350°,
to shrink the material and prepare it for
the Stits paint. He stated that this was
crucial to the process because other irons
can be off by 10°-15° with the oldfashioned
dial thermostats.
Dave Patrick Models is expanding its
line with several new models, one of
which is a clipped-wing Piper PA-18
Super Cub. It has a wingspan of 88
inches.
One of the neat things about this
Super Cub line is that the models are
available in a variety of color schemes,
including red/white, blue/white,
yellow/white, all white, and almost ready
to cover—so you do have a choice. The
company’s other ARFs—such as the
Ultimate, the Extra 330L, and the Edge
540T—have similar choices available.
Dave Patrick is also selling a new
engine line, which includes a DPM Blue
Head 1.35, 1.80, and 2.10. These look
similar to the Moki engine line.
Dave Patrick Models and Airtronics
sponsored the AMA Scholarship Fund
raffle, which helps to send some of our
brightest young people to college each
year.
Some of the neat items I noticed during
the weekend were from Aerospace
Composite Products. The company
features a full line of carbon-fiber tubes,
laminates, and laminated panels made from
a variety of materials including
fiberglass/foam, fiberglass/balsa, double
fiber and balsa, fiberglass/Nomex, and
fiberglass sheets.
Aerospace Composite Products also has
a line of fiberglass cloth for builders that is
available in a number of different weights,
sizes, and lengths, some of which are
perfect for fiberglassing wings or fuselage
surfaces.
The thing that caught my eye was the
multitude of carbon-fiber items available; I
had never seen so many. There were
extruded rods that were small enough yet
strong enough to use for wing spars on
indoor models, and there were solid
carbon-fiber rods.
One of the kit manufacturers that
attended the show has a specialty that
many readers enjoy: jets. Jet Hangar
Hobbies has been around for more than 30
years and has a good variety of models
from which to choose.
You say you can’t afford a jet? Many
modelers can’t spend the $10,000-$15,000
it takes to build some models, but Jet
Hangar Hobbies sells smaller jets that can
be flown at many more fields. Included in
the kit line is a Grumman F9F-8 Cougar
with a 56-inch length and a 47-inch
wingspan. It is priced at $550 and is
designed for 5-inch ducted-fan systems or
turbines.
Other available jets include the Mirage,
the A-4 Skyhawk, the A-7D/E Corsair II,
an F-86 Sabre, an F-4 Phantom, and an F-
15 Eagle. Others are in the works.
By adding the retract package, the
turbine, and other parts, you can build a
turbine-powered Scale jet for less than
$4,000. And you can have the added perk
of flying it at a local paved field instead of
having to find an airport or an old military
base from which to fly.
An old favorite that many people see at
airports or military bases is the C-130
Hercules, and Jet Hangar Hobbies sells a
version of it in semikit form. The big
transport spans 12 feet. Power can be .60-
1.08 two-stroke or 120-150 four-stroke
engines. Retracts, spinners, and tires are
sold separately.
One of the best sport-kit manufacturers
is Bruce Tharpe Engineering. Bruce was
an employee of Sig Manufacturing before
he struck out on his own. He has the best
in balsa/plywood kits for the sport
modeler, but he has hinted that he is
working on a Scale model. I hope so!
I’ve just finished a Bruce Tharpe
Engineering Venture 60, which is a lowwing,
aerobatic sport model that is great
for practice. It has a 72-inch wingspan and
flies on a good .60 engine. Several other
types of models are available. Bruce also
has a sport-jet kit, which he is now
shipping.
If you have a chance to attend a modeling
show, or a mall show for that matter, why
not? Events such as the AMA Convention,
the Weak Signals R/C Exposition (Toledo
Show), and others offer modelers
discounts on most items that you won’t
see any other time of the year. Plus you
get to see the latest and newest products
and services.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Sources:
Dave Patrick Models
1811 E. 400 North Rd.
Milford IL 60953
(815) 457-2938
www.davepatrickmodels.com
Airtronics Inc.
1185 Stanford Ct.
Anaheim CA 92805
(714) 978-1895
www.airtronics.net
Scale Squadron
17 Via Anadeja
Rancho Santa Margarita CA 92688
http://scalesquadron.tripod.com/
NASA
Secretary/treasurer Bonnie Rediske
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
www.nasascale.org
Aerospace Composite Products
357 Stealth Ct.
Livermore CA 94551
(925) 443-5900
Fax: (925) 443-5901
www.acpsales.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
Fax: (562) 467-0261
www.jethangar.com
Bruce Tharpe Engineering
8622 E. Evans Creek Rd.
Rogue River OR 97537
(800) 557-4470
www.btemodels.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/04
Page Numbers: 136,137,138,139
136 MODEL AVIATION
MY WIFE AND I attended AMA Convention 2005 January 7-9 in
Ontario, California. Scale modeling was well represented on the
West Coast with a variety of kit and part manufacturers.
The weather didn’t cooperate with the event, and rain was the
norm for the week. However, that didn’t seem to have an effect on
the modelers and families who attended the show. There were
good crowds Friday and much larger crowds Saturday and Sunday.
The convention had the largest gathering of RC scale boats I’ve
ever seen. Many kinds and scales were present, including the
World War II LCT, submarines, paddle wheelers, and many others.
The only type I didn’t see was an aircraft carrier. A large pool at
one end of the convention site was used for boats and submarine
demonstrations throughout the weekend.
But the real treats for us were the Scale aircraft that peppered
the event floor, including Lawrence Klingberg’s Bellanca
Aircruiser known as the Flying “W.” It was covered with Solartex,
painted with Rust-Oleum paint, and powered by a Quadra 400
engine.
Lawrence constructed the model from Bellanca factory
drawings in 1⁄6 scale. It took him a year to build, and he finished
just a week before the show. The aircraft interior was completed
with two pilots and all of the instruments and hardware. Lawrence
took first place in the civilian Scale category with his beautiful
model.
Scale organizations and clubs were in attendance at the
convention. The Scale Squadron and the National Association of
Stan Alexander, 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville TN 37211; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL SCALE
Aerospace Composite Products’ display of carbon tubes, carbon
rods, carbon pultruded tubes, and fiberglass tubes.
Sam Wright and Esther Alexander tended the NASA and Scale
Squadron booths all weekend during the AMA Convention.
Chip Mull explains the cloth covering system commonly known
as Stits Lite. He gave the audience a great presentation.
Scale Aeromodelers (NASA) presented the Road Show, which
has been so popular at the Toledo, Ohio, Weak Signals show.
Volunteers from both organizations manned the booths and the
Road Show during the weekend.
The Scale Squadron began in 1979 and founded the US Scale
Masters Championships. The Southern California-based group
holds the US Scale Masters Qualifier, Toys for Tots, and T-6
races with the House of Balsa kit. For more information about the
races, check out the club’s Web site.
The Scale Squadron’s members have been extremely active
and continue to be movers and shakers in Scale competition
across the country. Bob Rosenlof is the present commander, and
many other members attended the show and helped out in the
booth, including Jim Reed, Sam Wright, Randy Wilbur,
Lawrence Klingberg, Gary Holderness, Nick Rivaldo, Gordon
Jet Hangar Hobbies’ FJ-3 Fury: the US Navy version of the F-86.
Several changes were made to the stock F-86 for the Navy.
Lawrence Klingberg’s huge, beautifully finished Bellanca
Aircruiser won the Scale, Civilian (non-jet) static class.
Dave Patrick shows his new 2.10 two-stroke engine for largescale
applications. It costs $299.99 without muffler.
Truax, Rich Koehrer, and Don Aitken.
Hobby People donated a Model Tech
P-51 Mustang and a Magnum XL 70
four-stroke engine, and Airtronics
donated an RD6000 computer-radio
system for the raffle. Everyone seemed to
have a great time, and I look forward to
seeing them all again next year.
Some of the topics at this year’s Road
Show were “Retract Installations and
Maintenance” by Sam Wright; “Applying
Fabric for Scale Aircraft” by Chip Mull;
“Rivets, Panel Lines, and Their
Application” by Larry Wolfe; and my
“Scale Flight Routines.” These Scale
seminars were the convention’s first, and
the attendance was encouraging for the
participants.
One of the best visual presentations
was when Chip Mull covered a
horizontal stabilizer with the Stits Lite
covering system. He used the old triedand-
true system to cover with fabric,
brushing on the adhesive, sealing the
surface, and then shrinking it.
As I watched, I realized that it took
him no longer to cover this than it does to
apply a good MonoKote job. The cloth
goes around compound surfaces without
wrinkling too much, and the iron takes
the wrinkles out that do appear quickly.
Chip used an electronically calibrated
heat iron to get the temperature to 350°,
to shrink the material and prepare it for
the Stits paint. He stated that this was
crucial to the process because other irons
can be off by 10°-15° with the oldfashioned
dial thermostats.
Dave Patrick Models is expanding its
line with several new models, one of
which is a clipped-wing Piper PA-18
Super Cub. It has a wingspan of 88
inches.
One of the neat things about this
Super Cub line is that the models are
available in a variety of color schemes,
including red/white, blue/white,
yellow/white, all white, and almost ready
to cover—so you do have a choice. The
company’s other ARFs—such as the
Ultimate, the Extra 330L, and the Edge
540T—have similar choices available.
Dave Patrick is also selling a new
engine line, which includes a DPM Blue
Head 1.35, 1.80, and 2.10. These look
similar to the Moki engine line.
Dave Patrick Models and Airtronics
sponsored the AMA Scholarship Fund
raffle, which helps to send some of our
brightest young people to college each
year.
Some of the neat items I noticed during
the weekend were from Aerospace
Composite Products. The company
features a full line of carbon-fiber tubes,
laminates, and laminated panels made from
a variety of materials including
fiberglass/foam, fiberglass/balsa, double
fiber and balsa, fiberglass/Nomex, and
fiberglass sheets.
Aerospace Composite Products also has
a line of fiberglass cloth for builders that is
available in a number of different weights,
sizes, and lengths, some of which are
perfect for fiberglassing wings or fuselage
surfaces.
The thing that caught my eye was the
multitude of carbon-fiber items available; I
had never seen so many. There were
extruded rods that were small enough yet
strong enough to use for wing spars on
indoor models, and there were solid
carbon-fiber rods.
One of the kit manufacturers that
attended the show has a specialty that
many readers enjoy: jets. Jet Hangar
Hobbies has been around for more than 30
years and has a good variety of models
from which to choose.
You say you can’t afford a jet? Many
modelers can’t spend the $10,000-$15,000
it takes to build some models, but Jet
Hangar Hobbies sells smaller jets that can
be flown at many more fields. Included in
the kit line is a Grumman F9F-8 Cougar
with a 56-inch length and a 47-inch
wingspan. It is priced at $550 and is
designed for 5-inch ducted-fan systems or
turbines.
Other available jets include the Mirage,
the A-4 Skyhawk, the A-7D/E Corsair II,
an F-86 Sabre, an F-4 Phantom, and an F-
15 Eagle. Others are in the works.
By adding the retract package, the
turbine, and other parts, you can build a
turbine-powered Scale jet for less than
$4,000. And you can have the added perk
of flying it at a local paved field instead of
having to find an airport or an old military
base from which to fly.
An old favorite that many people see at
airports or military bases is the C-130
Hercules, and Jet Hangar Hobbies sells a
version of it in semikit form. The big
transport spans 12 feet. Power can be .60-
1.08 two-stroke or 120-150 four-stroke
engines. Retracts, spinners, and tires are
sold separately.
One of the best sport-kit manufacturers
is Bruce Tharpe Engineering. Bruce was
an employee of Sig Manufacturing before
he struck out on his own. He has the best
in balsa/plywood kits for the sport
modeler, but he has hinted that he is
working on a Scale model. I hope so!
I’ve just finished a Bruce Tharpe
Engineering Venture 60, which is a lowwing,
aerobatic sport model that is great
for practice. It has a 72-inch wingspan and
flies on a good .60 engine. Several other
types of models are available. Bruce also
has a sport-jet kit, which he is now
shipping.
If you have a chance to attend a modeling
show, or a mall show for that matter, why
not? Events such as the AMA Convention,
the Weak Signals R/C Exposition (Toledo
Show), and others offer modelers
discounts on most items that you won’t
see any other time of the year. Plus you
get to see the latest and newest products
and services.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Sources:
Dave Patrick Models
1811 E. 400 North Rd.
Milford IL 60953
(815) 457-2938
www.davepatrickmodels.com
Airtronics Inc.
1185 Stanford Ct.
Anaheim CA 92805
(714) 978-1895
www.airtronics.net
Scale Squadron
17 Via Anadeja
Rancho Santa Margarita CA 92688
http://scalesquadron.tripod.com/
NASA
Secretary/treasurer Bonnie Rediske
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
www.nasascale.org
Aerospace Composite Products
357 Stealth Ct.
Livermore CA 94551
(925) 443-5900
Fax: (925) 443-5901
www.acpsales.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
Fax: (562) 467-0261
www.jethangar.com
Bruce Tharpe Engineering
8622 E. Evans Creek Rd.
Rogue River OR 97537
(800) 557-4470
www.btemodels.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/04
Page Numbers: 136,137,138,139
136 MODEL AVIATION
MY WIFE AND I attended AMA Convention 2005 January 7-9 in
Ontario, California. Scale modeling was well represented on the
West Coast with a variety of kit and part manufacturers.
The weather didn’t cooperate with the event, and rain was the
norm for the week. However, that didn’t seem to have an effect on
the modelers and families who attended the show. There were
good crowds Friday and much larger crowds Saturday and Sunday.
The convention had the largest gathering of RC scale boats I’ve
ever seen. Many kinds and scales were present, including the
World War II LCT, submarines, paddle wheelers, and many others.
The only type I didn’t see was an aircraft carrier. A large pool at
one end of the convention site was used for boats and submarine
demonstrations throughout the weekend.
But the real treats for us were the Scale aircraft that peppered
the event floor, including Lawrence Klingberg’s Bellanca
Aircruiser known as the Flying “W.” It was covered with Solartex,
painted with Rust-Oleum paint, and powered by a Quadra 400
engine.
Lawrence constructed the model from Bellanca factory
drawings in 1⁄6 scale. It took him a year to build, and he finished
just a week before the show. The aircraft interior was completed
with two pilots and all of the instruments and hardware. Lawrence
took first place in the civilian Scale category with his beautiful
model.
Scale organizations and clubs were in attendance at the
convention. The Scale Squadron and the National Association of
Stan Alexander, 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville TN 37211; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL SCALE
Aerospace Composite Products’ display of carbon tubes, carbon
rods, carbon pultruded tubes, and fiberglass tubes.
Sam Wright and Esther Alexander tended the NASA and Scale
Squadron booths all weekend during the AMA Convention.
Chip Mull explains the cloth covering system commonly known
as Stits Lite. He gave the audience a great presentation.
Scale Aeromodelers (NASA) presented the Road Show, which
has been so popular at the Toledo, Ohio, Weak Signals show.
Volunteers from both organizations manned the booths and the
Road Show during the weekend.
The Scale Squadron began in 1979 and founded the US Scale
Masters Championships. The Southern California-based group
holds the US Scale Masters Qualifier, Toys for Tots, and T-6
races with the House of Balsa kit. For more information about the
races, check out the club’s Web site.
The Scale Squadron’s members have been extremely active
and continue to be movers and shakers in Scale competition
across the country. Bob Rosenlof is the present commander, and
many other members attended the show and helped out in the
booth, including Jim Reed, Sam Wright, Randy Wilbur,
Lawrence Klingberg, Gary Holderness, Nick Rivaldo, Gordon
Jet Hangar Hobbies’ FJ-3 Fury: the US Navy version of the F-86.
Several changes were made to the stock F-86 for the Navy.
Lawrence Klingberg’s huge, beautifully finished Bellanca
Aircruiser won the Scale, Civilian (non-jet) static class.
Dave Patrick shows his new 2.10 two-stroke engine for largescale
applications. It costs $299.99 without muffler.
Truax, Rich Koehrer, and Don Aitken.
Hobby People donated a Model Tech
P-51 Mustang and a Magnum XL 70
four-stroke engine, and Airtronics
donated an RD6000 computer-radio
system for the raffle. Everyone seemed to
have a great time, and I look forward to
seeing them all again next year.
Some of the topics at this year’s Road
Show were “Retract Installations and
Maintenance” by Sam Wright; “Applying
Fabric for Scale Aircraft” by Chip Mull;
“Rivets, Panel Lines, and Their
Application” by Larry Wolfe; and my
“Scale Flight Routines.” These Scale
seminars were the convention’s first, and
the attendance was encouraging for the
participants.
One of the best visual presentations
was when Chip Mull covered a
horizontal stabilizer with the Stits Lite
covering system. He used the old triedand-
true system to cover with fabric,
brushing on the adhesive, sealing the
surface, and then shrinking it.
As I watched, I realized that it took
him no longer to cover this than it does to
apply a good MonoKote job. The cloth
goes around compound surfaces without
wrinkling too much, and the iron takes
the wrinkles out that do appear quickly.
Chip used an electronically calibrated
heat iron to get the temperature to 350°,
to shrink the material and prepare it for
the Stits paint. He stated that this was
crucial to the process because other irons
can be off by 10°-15° with the oldfashioned
dial thermostats.
Dave Patrick Models is expanding its
line with several new models, one of
which is a clipped-wing Piper PA-18
Super Cub. It has a wingspan of 88
inches.
One of the neat things about this
Super Cub line is that the models are
available in a variety of color schemes,
including red/white, blue/white,
yellow/white, all white, and almost ready
to cover—so you do have a choice. The
company’s other ARFs—such as the
Ultimate, the Extra 330L, and the Edge
540T—have similar choices available.
Dave Patrick is also selling a new
engine line, which includes a DPM Blue
Head 1.35, 1.80, and 2.10. These look
similar to the Moki engine line.
Dave Patrick Models and Airtronics
sponsored the AMA Scholarship Fund
raffle, which helps to send some of our
brightest young people to college each
year.
Some of the neat items I noticed during
the weekend were from Aerospace
Composite Products. The company
features a full line of carbon-fiber tubes,
laminates, and laminated panels made from
a variety of materials including
fiberglass/foam, fiberglass/balsa, double
fiber and balsa, fiberglass/Nomex, and
fiberglass sheets.
Aerospace Composite Products also has
a line of fiberglass cloth for builders that is
available in a number of different weights,
sizes, and lengths, some of which are
perfect for fiberglassing wings or fuselage
surfaces.
The thing that caught my eye was the
multitude of carbon-fiber items available; I
had never seen so many. There were
extruded rods that were small enough yet
strong enough to use for wing spars on
indoor models, and there were solid
carbon-fiber rods.
One of the kit manufacturers that
attended the show has a specialty that
many readers enjoy: jets. Jet Hangar
Hobbies has been around for more than 30
years and has a good variety of models
from which to choose.
You say you can’t afford a jet? Many
modelers can’t spend the $10,000-$15,000
it takes to build some models, but Jet
Hangar Hobbies sells smaller jets that can
be flown at many more fields. Included in
the kit line is a Grumman F9F-8 Cougar
with a 56-inch length and a 47-inch
wingspan. It is priced at $550 and is
designed for 5-inch ducted-fan systems or
turbines.
Other available jets include the Mirage,
the A-4 Skyhawk, the A-7D/E Corsair II,
an F-86 Sabre, an F-4 Phantom, and an F-
15 Eagle. Others are in the works.
By adding the retract package, the
turbine, and other parts, you can build a
turbine-powered Scale jet for less than
$4,000. And you can have the added perk
of flying it at a local paved field instead of
having to find an airport or an old military
base from which to fly.
An old favorite that many people see at
airports or military bases is the C-130
Hercules, and Jet Hangar Hobbies sells a
version of it in semikit form. The big
transport spans 12 feet. Power can be .60-
1.08 two-stroke or 120-150 four-stroke
engines. Retracts, spinners, and tires are
sold separately.
One of the best sport-kit manufacturers
is Bruce Tharpe Engineering. Bruce was
an employee of Sig Manufacturing before
he struck out on his own. He has the best
in balsa/plywood kits for the sport
modeler, but he has hinted that he is
working on a Scale model. I hope so!
I’ve just finished a Bruce Tharpe
Engineering Venture 60, which is a lowwing,
aerobatic sport model that is great
for practice. It has a 72-inch wingspan and
flies on a good .60 engine. Several other
types of models are available. Bruce also
has a sport-jet kit, which he is now
shipping.
If you have a chance to attend a modeling
show, or a mall show for that matter, why
not? Events such as the AMA Convention,
the Weak Signals R/C Exposition (Toledo
Show), and others offer modelers
discounts on most items that you won’t
see any other time of the year. Plus you
get to see the latest and newest products
and services.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Sources:
Dave Patrick Models
1811 E. 400 North Rd.
Milford IL 60953
(815) 457-2938
www.davepatrickmodels.com
Airtronics Inc.
1185 Stanford Ct.
Anaheim CA 92805
(714) 978-1895
www.airtronics.net
Scale Squadron
17 Via Anadeja
Rancho Santa Margarita CA 92688
http://scalesquadron.tripod.com/
NASA
Secretary/treasurer Bonnie Rediske
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
www.nasascale.org
Aerospace Composite Products
357 Stealth Ct.
Livermore CA 94551
(925) 443-5900
Fax: (925) 443-5901
www.acpsales.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
Fax: (562) 467-0261
www.jethangar.com
Bruce Tharpe Engineering
8622 E. Evans Creek Rd.
Rogue River OR 97537
(800) 557-4470
www.btemodels.com