120 MODEL AVIATION
Also included in this column:
• A foam brush-painting
technique
• Cool scale aileron-linkage
trick
• Plastic documentation
• Scale kit resources
• DC-4E mishap
• Stories of the 4th Fighter
Group
• Odd Scale on the Internet
What kind of yellow is your model?
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Scale Stan Alexander
The author’s PA-11 wears Nelson Hobby
Specialties Insignia Blue, Lockhaven Yellow,
and primer white paint. Also shown are the
sponge applicators.
Using a sponge applicator, the task of painting the fuselage will be completed once an
additional coat is applied on the vertical fin.
From above is a good view of the aileron connection and how it’s built into the wing panel
on the PA-11.
The author replicated a custom plywood control horn; it has a brass washer cut from
stock tubing for the ailerons on his Piper PA-11.
HAVE YOU BUILT a new Scale model
or been thinking about a subject that might
interest you? Could it be a P-51 Mustang
or a jet? Maybe a simpler type of homebuilt
such as a Bowers Fly Baby or a
Pietenpol Scout is more to your liking.
This year at the Experimental Aircraft
Association’s Oshkosh AirVenture
gathering in Wisconsin, the Brodhead
Pietenpol Association—the “type club” for
the full-scale aircraft—will celebrate its
80th anniversary. For more information
about this airplane, visit the Brodhead
organization’s Web site. Start planning
now for your next winter build.
As soon as the paint dried on the Piper
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 12:01 PM Page 120
The plans and plastic for this pretty 59-inch-wingspan Cessna 195 are available from Rich
Uravitch. It can be powered with glow or electric.
The Piper PA-11’s fuselage interior is
ready for a seat, pilot, and details. Never
overlook this area on a Scale model.
PA-11 interior, I realized that I had
goofed. The yellow from Nelson was what
I ordered, but it was a lemon shade—not
the color featured on the full-scale
version.
In talking to Jerry Nelson of Nelson
Hobby Specialties, I realized that there are
several “Piper” yellows on the market. All
of the covering manufacturers make a
version for Piper aircraft that appears to
be a hue of lemon.
I needed a paint with a deeper orange
tint, which turned out to be Nelson
Lockhaven Yellow. It matches color chips
from Randolph Paint Company, which
produces paints for full-scale aircraft.
Once I ordered and received the tone I
wanted, I painted a strip of scrap fabric
and held it up after it had dried for 15
minutes. I had what I needed to finish
covering the airframe.
I painted the PA-11’s fuselage with a
sponge, which was a new adventure in
modeling. I had never used this method,
but I’m open to experimenting with
different techniques.
A good thing about using a sponge is
that you don’t have to worry about
shedding a bristle into your paint job.
After adding the primer coat to a surface,
you can wet-sand the airframe to even out
any high spots that the primer creates.
When using the sponge, make long
strokes from front to back; ensure that
your strokes are the length of the part on
which you are working. This will keep the
finish smooth and ready for the next layer
of paint.
You add a sealant at the rate of eight
drops per ounce of paint, to protect
against fuel damage (including gas or
anything with nitromethane). I mixed my
paint in baby-food jars, which is quick
and easy.
The Nelson paint cleans up with water
and doesn’t smell up the house. That had
something to do with my wife’s liking it.
There is much less odor when using the
Nelson product than with even latex house
paint.
Best of all, the Nelson paint is
nontoxic. You don’t have to wear a body
suit and respirator or air tank to use it.
Paint for automotive uses are not intended
for most modelers. And work quickly on
one section at a time; the paint will dry in
less than 15 minutes.
I used typing paper to make a pattern
for the separation of colors on the fuselage
sides. Folding the paper in half and cutting
out the pattern produced mirror images for
each side. Use whatever tape works for
you to tack the paper to the primer coat.
When using the sponge, it is much easier
to get a straight line on the fuselage by
carefully laying the side in your lap.
I’ve received several questions about
the PA-11’s aileron installation. A photo
shows the servo mounted in the outboard
wing panel. As I built the wing, I added
access holes to the ribs for servo leads,
back to the center of the wing. I used the
thinnest plywood I could find—1/64 works
fine—for the guide from the servo to the
aileron.
Robart scale hinges work well with the
aileron hinges and the other control
surfaces. I made a plywood linkage for the
control horn by cutting a slot into the
aileron with my saw, and then I used 30-
minute epoxy to glue it in place. I’ll pin
this linkage into the aileron with
toothpicks to make sure it can’t work its
way out.
I added clevises to the hinge side of the
pushrod wire and a Z-bend into the wing to
the aileron servo. Although you could use
Z-bends on both ends, it would negate
adjustability. But you might consider it for
scale realism after you get the model
trimmed. I used a servo hatch under the
wing for access.
Around Scale: Have you checked out
plastic model kits lately? The prices are
skyrocketing! When I wrote this in March,
you could purchase many scale and sport
models that could actually fly for the same
price or less than the plastic versions.
One of the sources I often use to buy
books is the Squadron Web site: “The
Hobby Shop That Never Closes.” It carries
a full range of plastic models (which
sometimes have documentation) as well as
books that will interest Scale modelers.
New Products: Sometimes new items are
resources we have for Scale modeling.
This month I’m going to let you know
about two companies that have a variety of
plans, parts, etc.
Reid’s Quality Model Products has
been around for more than 25 years. The
company sells numerous models, ranging
from the simple Pietenpol Scout with an
81-inch wingspan to the Piper Tomahawk
that spans 100 inches.
Another source is my friend, Rich
Uravitch. He has a unique mix of models
ranging from the Golden Age to jets; there
is a good variety of designs.
Rich offers “Plans & Plastic” packages
on his Web site; all you have to do with
those is cut the parts or order them from
Precision Cut Kits. Models sold that way
include the Fokker D.VII, RAF S.E.5a, and
two sizes of OV-10 Bronco.
A cute Cessna 195, in a scale that can
be flown at almost any field, has a 59-inch
wingspan. You can find it in Rich’s
Golden Age group. Several other plans
packs and parts are offered for these
models.
On the other end of the spectrum is
scale jets, including the Lockheed T-33
and F-80; each has a wingspan of 64
inches. Sport jets and the Lockheed S-3
Viking are also available. Take a look at
Rich’s Web site to see the scope of
products he offers.
My goof in the column with the Air Trails
magazine cover in it has been caught—not
by one or two members, but by several
members who have graciously let me know
that the airplane in the photo is a one-of-akind
Douglas DC-4E. Only one was built!
I examined the inside cover of the
magazine, trying to make sure that it was a
June 2009 121
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 1:36 PM Page 121
Lockheed Connie, but no luck; it was
only an artist’s imagination of what might
be. Thanks to those who try to keep me
straight!
Bookshelf: 4th Fighter Group in World
War II (ISBN 0-89747-515-1) by Larry
Davis is published by Squadron Signal
Books USA. This volume has great
writing, along with interesting period
photos and color side views.
A paragraph on the first page reads:
“Ralph ‘Kidd’ Hofer was busy
building a reputation in Salem,
Missouri, as a Golden Gloves boxing
champion. Gregory ‘Gus’ Daymond was
attending high school in Burbank,
California. Duane Beeson was working
in an Oakland, California, hotel trying
to gather enough money to attend law
school. Although none of these young
men had ever met, within a few months
they would all be part of an elite
fraternity—combat pilots and not just
any combat pilots. They would be
Americans in the Royal Air Force in the
Eagle Squadrons.”
Men who would eventually be in the
4th Fighter Group transitioned from basic
trainers to advanced trainers, and they
didn’t even have airplanes when activated
in England against the Axis forces. They
waited and finally received Brewster
Buffalos—not the Spitfires for which
they had hoped.
Many Eagle Squadron members were
“washouts” from American military
training squadrons, and Royal Air Force
(RAF)/Royal Canadian Air Force
recruiters were more than ready to give
them a chance. England was desperate for
fighter pilots, and the requirements were
different from in the US. American pilots
had to have two years of college, while
RAF pilots had only to have graduated
from high school.
This book is a great read, and it mixes
technical information with good personal
stories of the men and their machines.
There are more than 35 color side views
of Hurricanes, Spitfires, P-47
Thunderbolts, and P-51 Mustangs of the
group. There are even a few color photos,
which were rare in World War II.
On the Internet: If you ever poke around
on the Internet, looking for old aircraft to
model and fly, whether indoors or in 1/3
scale, the modelflight site is a good place
to start. Check out the “Early Birds”
section to see various and odd airplanes
that were in existence during the infancy
of flight—before World War I.
Some of the aircraft look like they
would make great indoor models, while
others are accompanied by little
documentation information for modelers.
A rare subject you can see on the site is a
1913 Eastbourne Monoplane, which a
Swiss gentleman designed and built in
England.
Only one Monoplane was constructed,
because of the onset of WW I. There
seems to be only one photo of the aircraft.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Sources:
Brodhead Pietenpol Association
Box 3501
Oshkosh WI 54901
www.pietenpols.org
Nelson Hobby Specialties
(817) 431-9898
www.nelsonhobby.com
Squadron
(877) 414-0434
www.squadron.com
Reid’s Quality Model Products
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Rich Uravitch
(321) 728-0486
www.richuravitch.com
modelflight
http://modelflight.regheath.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/06
Page Numbers: 120,121,122
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/06
Page Numbers: 120,121,122
120 MODEL AVIATION
Also included in this column:
• A foam brush-painting
technique
• Cool scale aileron-linkage
trick
• Plastic documentation
• Scale kit resources
• DC-4E mishap
• Stories of the 4th Fighter
Group
• Odd Scale on the Internet
What kind of yellow is your model?
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Scale Stan Alexander
The author’s PA-11 wears Nelson Hobby
Specialties Insignia Blue, Lockhaven Yellow,
and primer white paint. Also shown are the
sponge applicators.
Using a sponge applicator, the task of painting the fuselage will be completed once an
additional coat is applied on the vertical fin.
From above is a good view of the aileron connection and how it’s built into the wing panel
on the PA-11.
The author replicated a custom plywood control horn; it has a brass washer cut from
stock tubing for the ailerons on his Piper PA-11.
HAVE YOU BUILT a new Scale model
or been thinking about a subject that might
interest you? Could it be a P-51 Mustang
or a jet? Maybe a simpler type of homebuilt
such as a Bowers Fly Baby or a
Pietenpol Scout is more to your liking.
This year at the Experimental Aircraft
Association’s Oshkosh AirVenture
gathering in Wisconsin, the Brodhead
Pietenpol Association—the “type club” for
the full-scale aircraft—will celebrate its
80th anniversary. For more information
about this airplane, visit the Brodhead
organization’s Web site. Start planning
now for your next winter build.
As soon as the paint dried on the Piper
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 12:01 PM Page 120
The plans and plastic for this pretty 59-inch-wingspan Cessna 195 are available from Rich
Uravitch. It can be powered with glow or electric.
The Piper PA-11’s fuselage interior is
ready for a seat, pilot, and details. Never
overlook this area on a Scale model.
PA-11 interior, I realized that I had
goofed. The yellow from Nelson was what
I ordered, but it was a lemon shade—not
the color featured on the full-scale
version.
In talking to Jerry Nelson of Nelson
Hobby Specialties, I realized that there are
several “Piper” yellows on the market. All
of the covering manufacturers make a
version for Piper aircraft that appears to
be a hue of lemon.
I needed a paint with a deeper orange
tint, which turned out to be Nelson
Lockhaven Yellow. It matches color chips
from Randolph Paint Company, which
produces paints for full-scale aircraft.
Once I ordered and received the tone I
wanted, I painted a strip of scrap fabric
and held it up after it had dried for 15
minutes. I had what I needed to finish
covering the airframe.
I painted the PA-11’s fuselage with a
sponge, which was a new adventure in
modeling. I had never used this method,
but I’m open to experimenting with
different techniques.
A good thing about using a sponge is
that you don’t have to worry about
shedding a bristle into your paint job.
After adding the primer coat to a surface,
you can wet-sand the airframe to even out
any high spots that the primer creates.
When using the sponge, make long
strokes from front to back; ensure that
your strokes are the length of the part on
which you are working. This will keep the
finish smooth and ready for the next layer
of paint.
You add a sealant at the rate of eight
drops per ounce of paint, to protect
against fuel damage (including gas or
anything with nitromethane). I mixed my
paint in baby-food jars, which is quick
and easy.
The Nelson paint cleans up with water
and doesn’t smell up the house. That had
something to do with my wife’s liking it.
There is much less odor when using the
Nelson product than with even latex house
paint.
Best of all, the Nelson paint is
nontoxic. You don’t have to wear a body
suit and respirator or air tank to use it.
Paint for automotive uses are not intended
for most modelers. And work quickly on
one section at a time; the paint will dry in
less than 15 minutes.
I used typing paper to make a pattern
for the separation of colors on the fuselage
sides. Folding the paper in half and cutting
out the pattern produced mirror images for
each side. Use whatever tape works for
you to tack the paper to the primer coat.
When using the sponge, it is much easier
to get a straight line on the fuselage by
carefully laying the side in your lap.
I’ve received several questions about
the PA-11’s aileron installation. A photo
shows the servo mounted in the outboard
wing panel. As I built the wing, I added
access holes to the ribs for servo leads,
back to the center of the wing. I used the
thinnest plywood I could find—1/64 works
fine—for the guide from the servo to the
aileron.
Robart scale hinges work well with the
aileron hinges and the other control
surfaces. I made a plywood linkage for the
control horn by cutting a slot into the
aileron with my saw, and then I used 30-
minute epoxy to glue it in place. I’ll pin
this linkage into the aileron with
toothpicks to make sure it can’t work its
way out.
I added clevises to the hinge side of the
pushrod wire and a Z-bend into the wing to
the aileron servo. Although you could use
Z-bends on both ends, it would negate
adjustability. But you might consider it for
scale realism after you get the model
trimmed. I used a servo hatch under the
wing for access.
Around Scale: Have you checked out
plastic model kits lately? The prices are
skyrocketing! When I wrote this in March,
you could purchase many scale and sport
models that could actually fly for the same
price or less than the plastic versions.
One of the sources I often use to buy
books is the Squadron Web site: “The
Hobby Shop That Never Closes.” It carries
a full range of plastic models (which
sometimes have documentation) as well as
books that will interest Scale modelers.
New Products: Sometimes new items are
resources we have for Scale modeling.
This month I’m going to let you know
about two companies that have a variety of
plans, parts, etc.
Reid’s Quality Model Products has
been around for more than 25 years. The
company sells numerous models, ranging
from the simple Pietenpol Scout with an
81-inch wingspan to the Piper Tomahawk
that spans 100 inches.
Another source is my friend, Rich
Uravitch. He has a unique mix of models
ranging from the Golden Age to jets; there
is a good variety of designs.
Rich offers “Plans & Plastic” packages
on his Web site; all you have to do with
those is cut the parts or order them from
Precision Cut Kits. Models sold that way
include the Fokker D.VII, RAF S.E.5a, and
two sizes of OV-10 Bronco.
A cute Cessna 195, in a scale that can
be flown at almost any field, has a 59-inch
wingspan. You can find it in Rich’s
Golden Age group. Several other plans
packs and parts are offered for these
models.
On the other end of the spectrum is
scale jets, including the Lockheed T-33
and F-80; each has a wingspan of 64
inches. Sport jets and the Lockheed S-3
Viking are also available. Take a look at
Rich’s Web site to see the scope of
products he offers.
My goof in the column with the Air Trails
magazine cover in it has been caught—not
by one or two members, but by several
members who have graciously let me know
that the airplane in the photo is a one-of-akind
Douglas DC-4E. Only one was built!
I examined the inside cover of the
magazine, trying to make sure that it was a
June 2009 121
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 1:36 PM Page 121
Lockheed Connie, but no luck; it was
only an artist’s imagination of what might
be. Thanks to those who try to keep me
straight!
Bookshelf: 4th Fighter Group in World
War II (ISBN 0-89747-515-1) by Larry
Davis is published by Squadron Signal
Books USA. This volume has great
writing, along with interesting period
photos and color side views.
A paragraph on the first page reads:
“Ralph ‘Kidd’ Hofer was busy
building a reputation in Salem,
Missouri, as a Golden Gloves boxing
champion. Gregory ‘Gus’ Daymond was
attending high school in Burbank,
California. Duane Beeson was working
in an Oakland, California, hotel trying
to gather enough money to attend law
school. Although none of these young
men had ever met, within a few months
they would all be part of an elite
fraternity—combat pilots and not just
any combat pilots. They would be
Americans in the Royal Air Force in the
Eagle Squadrons.”
Men who would eventually be in the
4th Fighter Group transitioned from basic
trainers to advanced trainers, and they
didn’t even have airplanes when activated
in England against the Axis forces. They
waited and finally received Brewster
Buffalos—not the Spitfires for which
they had hoped.
Many Eagle Squadron members were
“washouts” from American military
training squadrons, and Royal Air Force
(RAF)/Royal Canadian Air Force
recruiters were more than ready to give
them a chance. England was desperate for
fighter pilots, and the requirements were
different from in the US. American pilots
had to have two years of college, while
RAF pilots had only to have graduated
from high school.
This book is a great read, and it mixes
technical information with good personal
stories of the men and their machines.
There are more than 35 color side views
of Hurricanes, Spitfires, P-47
Thunderbolts, and P-51 Mustangs of the
group. There are even a few color photos,
which were rare in World War II.
On the Internet: If you ever poke around
on the Internet, looking for old aircraft to
model and fly, whether indoors or in 1/3
scale, the modelflight site is a good place
to start. Check out the “Early Birds”
section to see various and odd airplanes
that were in existence during the infancy
of flight—before World War I.
Some of the aircraft look like they
would make great indoor models, while
others are accompanied by little
documentation information for modelers.
A rare subject you can see on the site is a
1913 Eastbourne Monoplane, which a
Swiss gentleman designed and built in
England.
Only one Monoplane was constructed,
because of the onset of WW I. There
seems to be only one photo of the aircraft.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Sources:
Brodhead Pietenpol Association
Box 3501
Oshkosh WI 54901
www.pietenpols.org
Nelson Hobby Specialties
(817) 431-9898
www.nelsonhobby.com
Squadron
(877) 414-0434
www.squadron.com
Reid’s Quality Model Products
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Rich Uravitch
(321) 728-0486
www.richuravitch.com
modelflight
http://modelflight.regheath.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/06
Page Numbers: 120,121,122
120 MODEL AVIATION
Also included in this column:
• A foam brush-painting
technique
• Cool scale aileron-linkage
trick
• Plastic documentation
• Scale kit resources
• DC-4E mishap
• Stories of the 4th Fighter
Group
• Odd Scale on the Internet
What kind of yellow is your model?
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Scale Stan Alexander
The author’s PA-11 wears Nelson Hobby
Specialties Insignia Blue, Lockhaven Yellow,
and primer white paint. Also shown are the
sponge applicators.
Using a sponge applicator, the task of painting the fuselage will be completed once an
additional coat is applied on the vertical fin.
From above is a good view of the aileron connection and how it’s built into the wing panel
on the PA-11.
The author replicated a custom plywood control horn; it has a brass washer cut from
stock tubing for the ailerons on his Piper PA-11.
HAVE YOU BUILT a new Scale model
or been thinking about a subject that might
interest you? Could it be a P-51 Mustang
or a jet? Maybe a simpler type of homebuilt
such as a Bowers Fly Baby or a
Pietenpol Scout is more to your liking.
This year at the Experimental Aircraft
Association’s Oshkosh AirVenture
gathering in Wisconsin, the Brodhead
Pietenpol Association—the “type club” for
the full-scale aircraft—will celebrate its
80th anniversary. For more information
about this airplane, visit the Brodhead
organization’s Web site. Start planning
now for your next winter build.
As soon as the paint dried on the Piper
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 12:01 PM Page 120
The plans and plastic for this pretty 59-inch-wingspan Cessna 195 are available from Rich
Uravitch. It can be powered with glow or electric.
The Piper PA-11’s fuselage interior is
ready for a seat, pilot, and details. Never
overlook this area on a Scale model.
PA-11 interior, I realized that I had
goofed. The yellow from Nelson was what
I ordered, but it was a lemon shade—not
the color featured on the full-scale
version.
In talking to Jerry Nelson of Nelson
Hobby Specialties, I realized that there are
several “Piper” yellows on the market. All
of the covering manufacturers make a
version for Piper aircraft that appears to
be a hue of lemon.
I needed a paint with a deeper orange
tint, which turned out to be Nelson
Lockhaven Yellow. It matches color chips
from Randolph Paint Company, which
produces paints for full-scale aircraft.
Once I ordered and received the tone I
wanted, I painted a strip of scrap fabric
and held it up after it had dried for 15
minutes. I had what I needed to finish
covering the airframe.
I painted the PA-11’s fuselage with a
sponge, which was a new adventure in
modeling. I had never used this method,
but I’m open to experimenting with
different techniques.
A good thing about using a sponge is
that you don’t have to worry about
shedding a bristle into your paint job.
After adding the primer coat to a surface,
you can wet-sand the airframe to even out
any high spots that the primer creates.
When using the sponge, make long
strokes from front to back; ensure that
your strokes are the length of the part on
which you are working. This will keep the
finish smooth and ready for the next layer
of paint.
You add a sealant at the rate of eight
drops per ounce of paint, to protect
against fuel damage (including gas or
anything with nitromethane). I mixed my
paint in baby-food jars, which is quick
and easy.
The Nelson paint cleans up with water
and doesn’t smell up the house. That had
something to do with my wife’s liking it.
There is much less odor when using the
Nelson product than with even latex house
paint.
Best of all, the Nelson paint is
nontoxic. You don’t have to wear a body
suit and respirator or air tank to use it.
Paint for automotive uses are not intended
for most modelers. And work quickly on
one section at a time; the paint will dry in
less than 15 minutes.
I used typing paper to make a pattern
for the separation of colors on the fuselage
sides. Folding the paper in half and cutting
out the pattern produced mirror images for
each side. Use whatever tape works for
you to tack the paper to the primer coat.
When using the sponge, it is much easier
to get a straight line on the fuselage by
carefully laying the side in your lap.
I’ve received several questions about
the PA-11’s aileron installation. A photo
shows the servo mounted in the outboard
wing panel. As I built the wing, I added
access holes to the ribs for servo leads,
back to the center of the wing. I used the
thinnest plywood I could find—1/64 works
fine—for the guide from the servo to the
aileron.
Robart scale hinges work well with the
aileron hinges and the other control
surfaces. I made a plywood linkage for the
control horn by cutting a slot into the
aileron with my saw, and then I used 30-
minute epoxy to glue it in place. I’ll pin
this linkage into the aileron with
toothpicks to make sure it can’t work its
way out.
I added clevises to the hinge side of the
pushrod wire and a Z-bend into the wing to
the aileron servo. Although you could use
Z-bends on both ends, it would negate
adjustability. But you might consider it for
scale realism after you get the model
trimmed. I used a servo hatch under the
wing for access.
Around Scale: Have you checked out
plastic model kits lately? The prices are
skyrocketing! When I wrote this in March,
you could purchase many scale and sport
models that could actually fly for the same
price or less than the plastic versions.
One of the sources I often use to buy
books is the Squadron Web site: “The
Hobby Shop That Never Closes.” It carries
a full range of plastic models (which
sometimes have documentation) as well as
books that will interest Scale modelers.
New Products: Sometimes new items are
resources we have for Scale modeling.
This month I’m going to let you know
about two companies that have a variety of
plans, parts, etc.
Reid’s Quality Model Products has
been around for more than 25 years. The
company sells numerous models, ranging
from the simple Pietenpol Scout with an
81-inch wingspan to the Piper Tomahawk
that spans 100 inches.
Another source is my friend, Rich
Uravitch. He has a unique mix of models
ranging from the Golden Age to jets; there
is a good variety of designs.
Rich offers “Plans & Plastic” packages
on his Web site; all you have to do with
those is cut the parts or order them from
Precision Cut Kits. Models sold that way
include the Fokker D.VII, RAF S.E.5a, and
two sizes of OV-10 Bronco.
A cute Cessna 195, in a scale that can
be flown at almost any field, has a 59-inch
wingspan. You can find it in Rich’s
Golden Age group. Several other plans
packs and parts are offered for these
models.
On the other end of the spectrum is
scale jets, including the Lockheed T-33
and F-80; each has a wingspan of 64
inches. Sport jets and the Lockheed S-3
Viking are also available. Take a look at
Rich’s Web site to see the scope of
products he offers.
My goof in the column with the Air Trails
magazine cover in it has been caught—not
by one or two members, but by several
members who have graciously let me know
that the airplane in the photo is a one-of-akind
Douglas DC-4E. Only one was built!
I examined the inside cover of the
magazine, trying to make sure that it was a
June 2009 121
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 1:36 PM Page 121
Lockheed Connie, but no luck; it was
only an artist’s imagination of what might
be. Thanks to those who try to keep me
straight!
Bookshelf: 4th Fighter Group in World
War II (ISBN 0-89747-515-1) by Larry
Davis is published by Squadron Signal
Books USA. This volume has great
writing, along with interesting period
photos and color side views.
A paragraph on the first page reads:
“Ralph ‘Kidd’ Hofer was busy
building a reputation in Salem,
Missouri, as a Golden Gloves boxing
champion. Gregory ‘Gus’ Daymond was
attending high school in Burbank,
California. Duane Beeson was working
in an Oakland, California, hotel trying
to gather enough money to attend law
school. Although none of these young
men had ever met, within a few months
they would all be part of an elite
fraternity—combat pilots and not just
any combat pilots. They would be
Americans in the Royal Air Force in the
Eagle Squadrons.”
Men who would eventually be in the
4th Fighter Group transitioned from basic
trainers to advanced trainers, and they
didn’t even have airplanes when activated
in England against the Axis forces. They
waited and finally received Brewster
Buffalos—not the Spitfires for which
they had hoped.
Many Eagle Squadron members were
“washouts” from American military
training squadrons, and Royal Air Force
(RAF)/Royal Canadian Air Force
recruiters were more than ready to give
them a chance. England was desperate for
fighter pilots, and the requirements were
different from in the US. American pilots
had to have two years of college, while
RAF pilots had only to have graduated
from high school.
This book is a great read, and it mixes
technical information with good personal
stories of the men and their machines.
There are more than 35 color side views
of Hurricanes, Spitfires, P-47
Thunderbolts, and P-51 Mustangs of the
group. There are even a few color photos,
which were rare in World War II.
On the Internet: If you ever poke around
on the Internet, looking for old aircraft to
model and fly, whether indoors or in 1/3
scale, the modelflight site is a good place
to start. Check out the “Early Birds”
section to see various and odd airplanes
that were in existence during the infancy
of flight—before World War I.
Some of the aircraft look like they
would make great indoor models, while
others are accompanied by little
documentation information for modelers.
A rare subject you can see on the site is a
1913 Eastbourne Monoplane, which a
Swiss gentleman designed and built in
England.
Only one Monoplane was constructed,
because of the onset of WW I. There
seems to be only one photo of the aircraft.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Sources:
Brodhead Pietenpol Association
Box 3501
Oshkosh WI 54901
www.pietenpols.org
Nelson Hobby Specialties
(817) 431-9898
www.nelsonhobby.com
Squadron
(877) 414-0434
www.squadron.com
Reid’s Quality Model Products
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Rich Uravitch
(321) 728-0486
www.richuravitch.com
modelflight
http://modelflight.regheath.com