CL Scale-2012/04

Author: Bill Boss

Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/04
Page Numbers: 138,139

Something Old and Something New

In 1986, scale modelers were treated to an extraordinary model of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, which took first place in the Sport Scale event. The model was built by retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jack Stolly, from Dallas. What made Stolly’s model so different from most CL Scale models of that time was the manner in which the model’s flaps were made to operate.

Jack copied the operation of the Fowler flaps as they were deployed on the full-scale aircraft. The series of links and tracking used for extending and retracting the flaps were completely concealed within the wing assembly, and the flaps were operated with a “jackscrew” that Jack designed.

The February 1988 issue of Model Aviation featured a large article and plans for building this model. Jack’s 1986 Nats model was painted in the colors of the P-38 that resides in the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. In later years, Jack painted the model in the colors of the 5,000th Lockheed P-38J—the famous vermilion red with “YIPPEE” in white on the nose and underside of the airplane’s wing.

The airplane also bore the signatures of hundreds of the factory workers involved in building the aircraft. The P-38 “YIPPEE” was flown across the country in a program promoting the sale of World War II war bonds.

Jack’s P-38 was successful on the contest circuit and won many first-place awards. The model has been retired and now resides in his trophy room.

The P-38 Lightning was one of the most effective American fighter aircraft of World War II, used in the Pacific and the China-Burma-India Theaters of Operation. The airplane performed several operational roles, including dive bombing, ground strafing, and photo reconnaissance missions. The P-38 was also used as a long-range escort fighter when equipped with drop tanks beneath the wings.

Two of America’s top aces—Richard Bong with 40 victories and Thomas McGuire with 38 victories—flew P-38s in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations.

The P-38 was manufactured by Lockheed and designed by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson. It had its first flight in January 1939, was introduced to service in 1941, and retired from U.S. service in 1949. The aircraft was primarily flown by the United States Army Air Forces, the Royal Air Force, and the Free French Air Forces. More than 10,000 were produced between 1941 and 1945, costing roughly $98,000 per unit.

Frank Beatty’s Latest Creation

We had something old from Jack Stolly with his P-38 “YIPPEE”; now we are treated to something new from Frank Beatty of Granite City, Illinois. Frank submitted his latest 1/2A twin-engine creation: the Curtiss-Wright AT-9 “Jeep,” derived from Paul Matt three-view plans.

Frank’s Curtiss-Wright Jeep has a 25-inch wingspan, weighs 18.4 ounces, and is powered by two Brodak Mark II .049 engines. The model is finished with Brodak dopes. Panel lines were done with a Top Flite black panel-line pen.

Brodak Crystal Clear dope was used for the final finish because of its extra-high gloss, giving the model a metallic (silver) finish. The model performs well in the air and on the ground. Takeoffs are smooth, and the model is fast and stable in flight.

Frank entered the Jeep in the 2011 Broken Arrow contest, held at Buder Park in Valley Park, Missouri, in September 2011. Although attendance was down slightly, the weather was great for the contest: it was not too hot, and the air was dead calm for the entire day. All of the models performed well and looked great in the air without having any wind problems.

Frank’s Jeep was entered in the 1/2A twin-engine event and placed first. Tim Pansic’s Bell Airacuda and Pete Peterson’s Lockheed P-38 were also winners in the event.

In the Military Scale event, Frank’s Berliner Joyce placed second to a well-done B-29 by Ed Mason of Florida. (Frank notes that it is hard to beat a well-performing four-engine model.) In the Civilian Scale event, Frank’s Staaken Flitzer placed second to a museum-quality Skymaster by Grant Heistand of Wheaton, Illinois.

The 2012 Broken Arrow contest will again be at Buder Park, September 22–23. The scale events for the two-day contest will include:

Military and Non-Military Sport Scale
Military and Non-Military Civilian Scale
1/2A Profile Scale Twin-Engine

Put this contest on your calendar; it is one good time you don’t want to miss.

The Curtiss AT-9 Jeep was a twin-engine advanced trainer used by the United States during World War II to fill the gap between single- and twin-engine combat aircraft. The AT-9 had retractable landing gear and was powered by Lycoming R-680-9 radial engines.

The AT-9 was built with stressed metal-skin construction and was purposely designed to be less stable, making it difficult to fly and land. These characteristics were suitable for training pilots for the newer high-performance multiengine aircraft.

The AT-9’s first flight took place in 1941, and the aircraft was produced between 1941 and 1943. Used primarily by the U.S. Air Force, 792 were built, including the prototype and the AT-9A variant.

Two AT-9s still exist: one is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, and the other (wreckage recovered from a crash in 2003) is at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, awaiting restoration. It will take a long time before restoration is complete and the aircraft can be put on display.

EAA AirVenture 2011

Douglas Dahlke of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, provides a brief report about his trip to the 2011 EAA Convention (AirVenture). Doug says if you’re serious about scale, the convention is the place to be.

One of the great things he saw on the flightline was an actual flying Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Doug asked the owner, “with some amazement,” where he found something this rare. The owner answered that a museum in the San Diego area went bankrupt and sold it. The owner also noted that no restoration was needed—just inspections, tests, and fuel.

Parked next to the Helldiver was what appeared to be an Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in all its gothic glory with loads of great details. The only problem with the craft was that it was nine-tenths the size of the full-scale Fw 190. The aircraft was made from a German kit; the engine, electrics, and other parts are commercially available in the U.S.

Doug closes his report with this question: “If you wanted to build a scale model of this ‘kit’ Fw 190, just what rules would apply, and could the model of the kit be too scale?” Doug also notes that visitors are invited to the Hartzell Propeller booth to watch preteens carve pine propellers.

The EAA Convention is a great place to see the best of aviation, past and present. Don’t miss it in 2012.

Please send ideas, notices of upcoming CL Scale events, contest reports, and especially photos of CL Scale activity to me at the email address at the beginning of my column.