SINCE THE RULES changed, and the
Sterling Guardian has become outdated for
Navy Carrier competition, there has been
more or less a continuing question about
the availability of a kit that can be used for
our events. A couple of profile MO-1 kits
have been highly competitive, and Brodak
still offers the Bob Smurthwaite Bearcat
and Skyraider.
Brodak also sells the Calkins Guardian,
which can be very competitive with a few
modifications. Pete Mazur won Profile
Navy Carrier at the 2009 Nationals with
the design. His score was a respectable
358.6 points. For Class I and Class II,
options have been nonexistent for all
practical purposes, except for converting
October 2009 139
Carrier ARF options, conversions, and modifications
[[email protected]]
Control Line Navy Carrier Dick Perry
Above: Pete Mazur’s Corsair uses a plywood crutch
attached to three formers, a stringer, and fuselage
skin to hold the tailhook and tail skid.
Left: Pete Mazur converted this Corsair from a
Great Planes RC Combat ARF to Electric Class II
Navy Carrier.
The Great Planes’ Mustang’s tailhook is installed
into existing balsa blocks aft of the wing mount.
John Vlna’s RC Combat Mustang bellcrank mount is installed on
the servo tray with reinforcement of the fuselage side.
The Corsair’s bellcrank mount can be seen under the battery tray
looking through the wing mount.
the Profile MO-1s to full-bodied
models with new fuselages.
There are now quite a few
options—not in kit form, but as
ARFs. The impetus for these ARFs
was an AMA RC Combat event for
1/12-scale models. The event
dictated a scale tolerance of either
5% or 10%, depending on the
event. Those rules have changed
significantly, but the models
remain on the market.
Those airplanes are designed
for .15-.25 cu. in.-displacement
engines, and landing gear is not
required, so some strengthening
10sig5.QXD 8/21/09 12:35 PM Page 139
modifications, as well as adding a controlline
system, landing gear, and tailhook,
are. But the total effort is still less than
building from scratch or from a kit, for
those who are interested in getting into
Navy Carrier with minimal time and effort
in the workshop.
I will feature a partial list of ARFs for
Navy Carrier later in the column that I
compiled from major hobby distributors’
Internet sites. I’ve held the text short this
month, to allow for a few more photos of
some models that are already being flown
in competition.
We are a creative group of modelers,
and the conversion of these ARFs should
not present a problem for anyone who is
motivated to give it a try.
The models shown are from the Great
Planes Combat line, which includes a
Corsair, a Mustang, and a Spitfire. The
Corsair is the largest, with a 43.25-inch
span and roughly 340 square inches of
wing area. The Mustang and Spitfire each
has approximately 275 square inches of
wing area.
Pete Mazur converted the Corsair in the
photos for Electric Class II. The Mustang
belongs to John Vlna. It is also a Class II
model, but with a SuperTigre .46 engine.
Probably one of the more important
parts of the modification is strengthening
the fuselage side during the bellcrankplatform
installation. The fuselage needs to
withstand the pull test, and the original
material is roughly 1/16 balsa. Additional
thickness, bulkheads, and/or gussets will
be required.
The photos suggest some possible
modifications. Neither Pete’s nor John’s
model has difficulty with the pull test.
With the airplanes’ removable wings, the
bellcrank does need to be installed in the
fuselage for proper load transfer. Pete and
John used grooved blocks for installing
the landing gear. Tie them in well to the
existing wing structure.
The ARFs on my list can be converted
for use in Navy Carrier. The Great Planes
aircraft are the only ones that I can
confirm to meet our event’s scale
requirements. The Model Tech Mustang is
designed for larger glow engines.
The listing includes the name of the
aircraft, the wingspan, the wing area
(assuming that the ARF is built to scale),
the construction material (built-up or
foam), and the power for which the model
was designed (electric or glow).
Great Planes Model Manufacturing:
• Combat Corsair: Wingspan, 43.25
inches; wing area, 349 sq. in.;
construction, built-up; power, glow
• Combat Spitfire: Wingspan, 39 inches;
wing area, 270 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, glow
• Combat Mustang: Wingspan, 38.5
inches; wing area, 250 sq. in.;
construction, built-up; power, glow
Hobby Lobby:
• Art-Tech F4U Corsair: Wingspan, 39.5
inches; wing area, 285 sq. in.;
construction, foam; power, electric
• Art-Tech P-51 Mustang: Wingspan,
37.75 inches; wing area, 245 sq. in.;
construction, foam; power, electric
• Hobby Lobby F-4 Phantom II EDF:
Wingspan, 28.38 inches; wing area, 250
sq. in.; construction, foam; power, electric
• Alfa Model Bristol Beaufighter:
Wingspan, 40.38 inches; wing area, 248
sq. in.; construction, foam; power, electric
• de Havilland Mosquito: Wingspan,
45.25 inches; wing area, 307 sq. in.;
construction, foam; power, electric
ParkZone:
• F4U Corsair: Wingspan, 44 inches; wing
area, 350 sq. in.; construction, foam;
power, electric
• T-28 Trojan: Wingspan, 44 inches; wing
area, 322 sq. in.; construction, foam;
power, electric
Hobby People:
• Model Tech P-51: Wingspan, 43.3
inches; wing area, 316 sq. in.;
construction, built-up; power, glow
AirBorne Models/World Models:
• AT-6 EP: Wingspan, 44 inches; wing
area, 295 sq. in.; construction, built-up;
power, electric
• P-51 EP (light): Wingspan, 39.5 inches;
wing area, 282 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, electric
• Spitfire (light): Wingspan, 39.5 inches;
wing area, 257 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, electric
• Zero (light): Wingspan, 39.5 inches;
wing area, 264 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, electric
Manufacturers’ offerings change
frequently, so some models might be
unavailable by the time this is printed.
However, it is just as likely that there will
be additional possibilities.
Be creative and may you have good
hunting. MA
Sources:
Richard L. Perry
427 Live Oak Ln. NE
Albuquerque NM 87122
Brodak Manufacturing
(724) 966-2726
www.brodak.com
Great Planes Model Manufacturing
(800) 637-7660
www.greatplanes.com
Hobby Lobby
(866) 412-1444
www.hobby-lobby.com
ParkZone
(800) 338-4639
www.parkzone.com
Hobby People
(800) 854-8471
www.hobbypeople.net
AirBorne Models/World Models
(925) 371-0922
www.airborne-models.com
Navy Carrier Society
http://clflyer.tripod.com/ncs/ncs.htm
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/10
Page Numbers: 139,140,141
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/10
Page Numbers: 139,140,141
SINCE THE RULES changed, and the
Sterling Guardian has become outdated for
Navy Carrier competition, there has been
more or less a continuing question about
the availability of a kit that can be used for
our events. A couple of profile MO-1 kits
have been highly competitive, and Brodak
still offers the Bob Smurthwaite Bearcat
and Skyraider.
Brodak also sells the Calkins Guardian,
which can be very competitive with a few
modifications. Pete Mazur won Profile
Navy Carrier at the 2009 Nationals with
the design. His score was a respectable
358.6 points. For Class I and Class II,
options have been nonexistent for all
practical purposes, except for converting
October 2009 139
Carrier ARF options, conversions, and modifications
[[email protected]]
Control Line Navy Carrier Dick Perry
Above: Pete Mazur’s Corsair uses a plywood crutch
attached to three formers, a stringer, and fuselage
skin to hold the tailhook and tail skid.
Left: Pete Mazur converted this Corsair from a
Great Planes RC Combat ARF to Electric Class II
Navy Carrier.
The Great Planes’ Mustang’s tailhook is installed
into existing balsa blocks aft of the wing mount.
John Vlna’s RC Combat Mustang bellcrank mount is installed on
the servo tray with reinforcement of the fuselage side.
The Corsair’s bellcrank mount can be seen under the battery tray
looking through the wing mount.
the Profile MO-1s to full-bodied
models with new fuselages.
There are now quite a few
options—not in kit form, but as
ARFs. The impetus for these ARFs
was an AMA RC Combat event for
1/12-scale models. The event
dictated a scale tolerance of either
5% or 10%, depending on the
event. Those rules have changed
significantly, but the models
remain on the market.
Those airplanes are designed
for .15-.25 cu. in.-displacement
engines, and landing gear is not
required, so some strengthening
10sig5.QXD 8/21/09 12:35 PM Page 139
modifications, as well as adding a controlline
system, landing gear, and tailhook,
are. But the total effort is still less than
building from scratch or from a kit, for
those who are interested in getting into
Navy Carrier with minimal time and effort
in the workshop.
I will feature a partial list of ARFs for
Navy Carrier later in the column that I
compiled from major hobby distributors’
Internet sites. I’ve held the text short this
month, to allow for a few more photos of
some models that are already being flown
in competition.
We are a creative group of modelers,
and the conversion of these ARFs should
not present a problem for anyone who is
motivated to give it a try.
The models shown are from the Great
Planes Combat line, which includes a
Corsair, a Mustang, and a Spitfire. The
Corsair is the largest, with a 43.25-inch
span and roughly 340 square inches of
wing area. The Mustang and Spitfire each
has approximately 275 square inches of
wing area.
Pete Mazur converted the Corsair in the
photos for Electric Class II. The Mustang
belongs to John Vlna. It is also a Class II
model, but with a SuperTigre .46 engine.
Probably one of the more important
parts of the modification is strengthening
the fuselage side during the bellcrankplatform
installation. The fuselage needs to
withstand the pull test, and the original
material is roughly 1/16 balsa. Additional
thickness, bulkheads, and/or gussets will
be required.
The photos suggest some possible
modifications. Neither Pete’s nor John’s
model has difficulty with the pull test.
With the airplanes’ removable wings, the
bellcrank does need to be installed in the
fuselage for proper load transfer. Pete and
John used grooved blocks for installing
the landing gear. Tie them in well to the
existing wing structure.
The ARFs on my list can be converted
for use in Navy Carrier. The Great Planes
aircraft are the only ones that I can
confirm to meet our event’s scale
requirements. The Model Tech Mustang is
designed for larger glow engines.
The listing includes the name of the
aircraft, the wingspan, the wing area
(assuming that the ARF is built to scale),
the construction material (built-up or
foam), and the power for which the model
was designed (electric or glow).
Great Planes Model Manufacturing:
• Combat Corsair: Wingspan, 43.25
inches; wing area, 349 sq. in.;
construction, built-up; power, glow
• Combat Spitfire: Wingspan, 39 inches;
wing area, 270 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, glow
• Combat Mustang: Wingspan, 38.5
inches; wing area, 250 sq. in.;
construction, built-up; power, glow
Hobby Lobby:
• Art-Tech F4U Corsair: Wingspan, 39.5
inches; wing area, 285 sq. in.;
construction, foam; power, electric
• Art-Tech P-51 Mustang: Wingspan,
37.75 inches; wing area, 245 sq. in.;
construction, foam; power, electric
• Hobby Lobby F-4 Phantom II EDF:
Wingspan, 28.38 inches; wing area, 250
sq. in.; construction, foam; power, electric
• Alfa Model Bristol Beaufighter:
Wingspan, 40.38 inches; wing area, 248
sq. in.; construction, foam; power, electric
• de Havilland Mosquito: Wingspan,
45.25 inches; wing area, 307 sq. in.;
construction, foam; power, electric
ParkZone:
• F4U Corsair: Wingspan, 44 inches; wing
area, 350 sq. in.; construction, foam;
power, electric
• T-28 Trojan: Wingspan, 44 inches; wing
area, 322 sq. in.; construction, foam;
power, electric
Hobby People:
• Model Tech P-51: Wingspan, 43.3
inches; wing area, 316 sq. in.;
construction, built-up; power, glow
AirBorne Models/World Models:
• AT-6 EP: Wingspan, 44 inches; wing
area, 295 sq. in.; construction, built-up;
power, electric
• P-51 EP (light): Wingspan, 39.5 inches;
wing area, 282 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, electric
• Spitfire (light): Wingspan, 39.5 inches;
wing area, 257 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, electric
• Zero (light): Wingspan, 39.5 inches;
wing area, 264 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, electric
Manufacturers’ offerings change
frequently, so some models might be
unavailable by the time this is printed.
However, it is just as likely that there will
be additional possibilities.
Be creative and may you have good
hunting. MA
Sources:
Richard L. Perry
427 Live Oak Ln. NE
Albuquerque NM 87122
Brodak Manufacturing
(724) 966-2726
www.brodak.com
Great Planes Model Manufacturing
(800) 637-7660
www.greatplanes.com
Hobby Lobby
(866) 412-1444
www.hobby-lobby.com
ParkZone
(800) 338-4639
www.parkzone.com
Hobby People
(800) 854-8471
www.hobbypeople.net
AirBorne Models/World Models
(925) 371-0922
www.airborne-models.com
Navy Carrier Society
http://clflyer.tripod.com/ncs/ncs.htm
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/10
Page Numbers: 139,140,141
SINCE THE RULES changed, and the
Sterling Guardian has become outdated for
Navy Carrier competition, there has been
more or less a continuing question about
the availability of a kit that can be used for
our events. A couple of profile MO-1 kits
have been highly competitive, and Brodak
still offers the Bob Smurthwaite Bearcat
and Skyraider.
Brodak also sells the Calkins Guardian,
which can be very competitive with a few
modifications. Pete Mazur won Profile
Navy Carrier at the 2009 Nationals with
the design. His score was a respectable
358.6 points. For Class I and Class II,
options have been nonexistent for all
practical purposes, except for converting
October 2009 139
Carrier ARF options, conversions, and modifications
[[email protected]]
Control Line Navy Carrier Dick Perry
Above: Pete Mazur’s Corsair uses a plywood crutch
attached to three formers, a stringer, and fuselage
skin to hold the tailhook and tail skid.
Left: Pete Mazur converted this Corsair from a
Great Planes RC Combat ARF to Electric Class II
Navy Carrier.
The Great Planes’ Mustang’s tailhook is installed
into existing balsa blocks aft of the wing mount.
John Vlna’s RC Combat Mustang bellcrank mount is installed on
the servo tray with reinforcement of the fuselage side.
The Corsair’s bellcrank mount can be seen under the battery tray
looking through the wing mount.
the Profile MO-1s to full-bodied
models with new fuselages.
There are now quite a few
options—not in kit form, but as
ARFs. The impetus for these ARFs
was an AMA RC Combat event for
1/12-scale models. The event
dictated a scale tolerance of either
5% or 10%, depending on the
event. Those rules have changed
significantly, but the models
remain on the market.
Those airplanes are designed
for .15-.25 cu. in.-displacement
engines, and landing gear is not
required, so some strengthening
10sig5.QXD 8/21/09 12:35 PM Page 139
modifications, as well as adding a controlline
system, landing gear, and tailhook,
are. But the total effort is still less than
building from scratch or from a kit, for
those who are interested in getting into
Navy Carrier with minimal time and effort
in the workshop.
I will feature a partial list of ARFs for
Navy Carrier later in the column that I
compiled from major hobby distributors’
Internet sites. I’ve held the text short this
month, to allow for a few more photos of
some models that are already being flown
in competition.
We are a creative group of modelers,
and the conversion of these ARFs should
not present a problem for anyone who is
motivated to give it a try.
The models shown are from the Great
Planes Combat line, which includes a
Corsair, a Mustang, and a Spitfire. The
Corsair is the largest, with a 43.25-inch
span and roughly 340 square inches of
wing area. The Mustang and Spitfire each
has approximately 275 square inches of
wing area.
Pete Mazur converted the Corsair in the
photos for Electric Class II. The Mustang
belongs to John Vlna. It is also a Class II
model, but with a SuperTigre .46 engine.
Probably one of the more important
parts of the modification is strengthening
the fuselage side during the bellcrankplatform
installation. The fuselage needs to
withstand the pull test, and the original
material is roughly 1/16 balsa. Additional
thickness, bulkheads, and/or gussets will
be required.
The photos suggest some possible
modifications. Neither Pete’s nor John’s
model has difficulty with the pull test.
With the airplanes’ removable wings, the
bellcrank does need to be installed in the
fuselage for proper load transfer. Pete and
John used grooved blocks for installing
the landing gear. Tie them in well to the
existing wing structure.
The ARFs on my list can be converted
for use in Navy Carrier. The Great Planes
aircraft are the only ones that I can
confirm to meet our event’s scale
requirements. The Model Tech Mustang is
designed for larger glow engines.
The listing includes the name of the
aircraft, the wingspan, the wing area
(assuming that the ARF is built to scale),
the construction material (built-up or
foam), and the power for which the model
was designed (electric or glow).
Great Planes Model Manufacturing:
• Combat Corsair: Wingspan, 43.25
inches; wing area, 349 sq. in.;
construction, built-up; power, glow
• Combat Spitfire: Wingspan, 39 inches;
wing area, 270 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, glow
• Combat Mustang: Wingspan, 38.5
inches; wing area, 250 sq. in.;
construction, built-up; power, glow
Hobby Lobby:
• Art-Tech F4U Corsair: Wingspan, 39.5
inches; wing area, 285 sq. in.;
construction, foam; power, electric
• Art-Tech P-51 Mustang: Wingspan,
37.75 inches; wing area, 245 sq. in.;
construction, foam; power, electric
• Hobby Lobby F-4 Phantom II EDF:
Wingspan, 28.38 inches; wing area, 250
sq. in.; construction, foam; power, electric
• Alfa Model Bristol Beaufighter:
Wingspan, 40.38 inches; wing area, 248
sq. in.; construction, foam; power, electric
• de Havilland Mosquito: Wingspan,
45.25 inches; wing area, 307 sq. in.;
construction, foam; power, electric
ParkZone:
• F4U Corsair: Wingspan, 44 inches; wing
area, 350 sq. in.; construction, foam;
power, electric
• T-28 Trojan: Wingspan, 44 inches; wing
area, 322 sq. in.; construction, foam;
power, electric
Hobby People:
• Model Tech P-51: Wingspan, 43.3
inches; wing area, 316 sq. in.;
construction, built-up; power, glow
AirBorne Models/World Models:
• AT-6 EP: Wingspan, 44 inches; wing
area, 295 sq. in.; construction, built-up;
power, electric
• P-51 EP (light): Wingspan, 39.5 inches;
wing area, 282 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, electric
• Spitfire (light): Wingspan, 39.5 inches;
wing area, 257 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, electric
• Zero (light): Wingspan, 39.5 inches;
wing area, 264 sq. in.; construction, builtup;
power, electric
Manufacturers’ offerings change
frequently, so some models might be
unavailable by the time this is printed.
However, it is just as likely that there will
be additional possibilities.
Be creative and may you have good
hunting. MA
Sources:
Richard L. Perry
427 Live Oak Ln. NE
Albuquerque NM 87122
Brodak Manufacturing
(724) 966-2726
www.brodak.com
Great Planes Model Manufacturing
(800) 637-7660
www.greatplanes.com
Hobby Lobby
(866) 412-1444
www.hobby-lobby.com
ParkZone
(800) 338-4639
www.parkzone.com
Hobby People
(800) 854-8471
www.hobbypeople.net
AirBorne Models/World Models
(925) 371-0922
www.airborne-models.com
Navy Carrier Society
http://clflyer.tripod.com/ncs/ncs.htm