CONTROL LINE SCALE
Bill Boss, 77-06 269th St., New Hyde Park NY 11040
PLASTIC MODELS as Documentation
According to the Sport Scale rules (Paragraph 4.2.c), a plastic model can be used for proof of scale as a substitute for a three-view drawing.
Bill Michaels (Acton MA) warns that while most of us might accept the plastic models as being accurate, plastics are not always an accurate rendition of the prototype. He also said that he used to (somewhat naively) assume that if the box said the model was a Spitfire, P-51, etc., that it was an accurate rendition of the real thing. "Boy, was I wrong!" he said.
Michaels found that by having Internet access, and the ability to access the Usenet newsgroup, he became interested in the postings on rec.models.scale, the newsgroup for the plastic-modeling community. He learned that there are many inaccurate plastic models on the market.
Here are a few examples of the informal kit reviews he found on the rec.models.scale newsgroup:
- One company that makes a model of the Fokker D.VII has the fuselage too tall and the top and bottom wing taper opposite that of the prototype.
- A recent PBY-5 1/48-scale kit has one major flaw: the fuselage at the tail's leading edge is about twice the thickness that it should be.
- An English modeller reported that the Hawker Hurricane Mk I and Mk II kits have the fuselage length wrong. The fuselage of the Mk II from the firewall forward should be larger because of the fitting of a supercharger. The modeller reported that most plastic kits of the Mk II are close to the Mk I in fuselage appearance.
Michaels wrote that his purpose in bringing the question of accurate/inaccurate plastic kits to our attention was merely to raise the issue that some of our readers may not be aware of the problem. He concluded his comments with the old warning that you need to "cross-reference and double-check your sources." This clearly applies to plastic models as well as published three-view drawings.
THIS MONTH'S PHOTOS
While I was looking through a box of letters, newsletters, and other submissions, I discovered a very long letter from Everett Shoemaker (Goldsboro NC) and some photos of models he has built. Some time has gone by, but I thought it was "better late than never" to show one of his major projects, and some ideas he has on painting the lozenge pattern on a WW I airplane.
The fine-looking Mosquito Bomber was Shoemaker's first try at a multiengine model. The model took two years to build and has some fine operational features. The model weighs slightly more than eight pounds and is powered with two O.S. FP .35s that are controlled by a standard three-line bellcrank system.
The flap operation and landing gear are controlled by separate two-line bellcranks mounted in the airplane and on the control handle, making a total of seven lines to control all of the operating features. The landing gear is operated with a Sonic-Tronics pneumatic system; the flaps are moved up and down by a homemade jack screw and limit-switch arrangement. The model also has operational position lights.
The extra lines for all of the operational features proved to be very cumbersome. Flight setup time is long and slack lines can cause unwanted operation of the flaps or landing gear. Shoemaker noted that he is contemplating the use of a newer electronic control system instead of all of those lines and bellcranks.
The Dornier D-1 is one of Shoemaker's early scale endeavors. The model weighed approximately 18 ounces, was powered with a 20-year-old O.S. .09 engine, and was flown with two lines and no throttle control.
Shoemaker used a unique approach in applying the lozenge pattern. He enlarged a copy of the pattern to a size that would fit the model, then he made a number of copies to match the number of colors in the pattern. Each copy was made into a stencil by cutting out all areas of the same color.
The first step in applying the colors was to paint the entire lozenge pattern area with the lightest color. Each stencil was then taped into place and the appropriate color for that stencil was sprayed on. This same procedure was followed until all of the colors were applied. Shoemaker noted that a low-pressure spray is recommended when you are applying the paint, so that one color does not bleed under the stencil onto a previously-applied color.
This seems like a better way to go than trying to paint each color area by hand, which I am sure some of you have done.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Harold Youds (Vancouver BC Canada) likes to be different when selecting modeling subjects to build. He said that he has a picture of an eagle hanging on a wall in his home, so he built a control line (CL) model that looks very much like an eagle.
Another of his "different" models is a semiscale version of a Lee Richards two-seater airplane that was built in the early days of aviation. The model has a span (diameter) of 28½ inches, weighs about 3½ pounds, and has an Enya .35 for power that is controlled with a standard three-line bellcrank system for throttle.
Youds noted that he was shaking in his boots as he rolled the model out for the first takeoff. The model went about 25 feet, Youds applied a little up elevator, and the model had a very smooth takeoff. A most-successful flight ended with a great glide and perfect landing.
Youds concluded his comments on the Lee Richards by saying that even though his semiscale Lee Richards isn't a highly sophisticated model, building something very different gets his juices going (which happens to many of us when we're building a model of a favorite subject).
WORKSHOP HINTS
The following tips were found in the Indy Sportliners CL Club Newsletter (and taken from The Beacon, Joe Bachman, editor) and relate to possible engine problems.
#### Lubrication
Lubrication is one of the most important aspects of the fuel we use in our model engines. Clarence Lee says that many model-fuel manufacturers have reduced the oil content in fuels from standard previous practices, and that this can result in engine problems, or in many cases, burned-up engines. Many modelers aggravate the situation by leaning-out their engines to get that last bit of power. The lubricant content in many fuels has been dropped from the prior 22 to 25 percent per gallon to about 18 percent and as low as 12 percent.
There is a school of thought that certain synthetic oils with superior qualities will still properly lubricate an engine at the lower percentages of lubricant. If you're on the rich side of the power curve, less oil may not be a problem. If you give it a few more clicks leaner, you will be looking for serious damage.
The best advice for Sport, Scale, and Pattern flying is to find a fuel that has not less than 20 to 22 percent lubricant, preferably with a blend of synthetic and castor oil. Although ABC-type engines are somewhat more tolerant than ringed or lapped engines, don't forget that it is the oil that carries away the heat.
#### Bubbles in the Fuel Line
Former AMA president Don Lowe notes that we often wonder why our engines set so erratically, lean-out in flight, and then die. If there are visible bubbles in the fuel-feed line, or you can see frothing in the tank, that's your clue. Using rubber engine mounts is a great help, but the best solution is to wrap the tank in soft foam rubber. If this is properly set up, you should almost never have to readjust your needle valve between flights.
#### Spinner Backplate
Do you have the problem of a spinner backplate being loose on the engine shaft? You can cure the problem by using a center punch to punch a few marks around the shaft hole. This usually pushes the metal inward enough to take up a few thousandths-of-an-inch clearance; one more giving the backplate a good fit over the engine shaft.
Please send ideas, notice of upcoming CL Scale events, contest reports, and especially photos of CL Scale activity, to me at the address at the top of the column. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
