136 MODEL AVIATION
I ALWAYS WELCOME overseas mail, and I have the opportunity
once again to write about and show the work of Karl George Krafft of
Hagen, Germany. In the past several years we have seen some of his
great work in the form of his Curtiss Gulfhawk, Curtiss Goshawk, and
Northrop Gamma. This month we will take a look at his Boeing Model
100.
According to the Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, the
Model 100 was the company designation of four airplanes, similar to
the F4B-1, that were built as commercial and export aircraft. The 100A
was a single special
two-seat aircraft
built originally for
Howard Hughes.
Model 100E, two
aircraft, was
equivalent to the US
Army’s P-12E and
was supplied to
Thailand. The
Model 100F, a
Karl Georg Krafft’s Boeing Model 100 and Pond Racer
[bossmosquito@aol.com]
Control Line Scale Bill Boss
Also included in this column:
• A good source for information
about early aircraft
• 2004 Scale World
Championships CD
Karl Georg Krafft’s Boeing 100 has epoxy cast engine cylinders
that make up the fine-looking rotary engine. Krafft photo.
Karl Georg’s excellently detailed Boeing 100’s color-and-markings
are those of a civil sport version. Krafft photo.
Karl Georg’s profile Scale version of the Pond Racer flown in the
1990-1993 Reno Air Races has two O.S. .20s. Krafft photo.
single aircraft that was equivalent to the US Army’s P-12F, was built
as an engine test bed for Pratt & Whitney.
Karl Georg’s airplane was built to 1/6.3 scale, producing a model
with a wingspan of 55 inches and a weight of 9 pounds. The airplane’s
color-and-markings represent a civil sport version of the F4B fighter
that was used at air shows.
Karl Georg notes that the full-scale aircraft was flown by Frank
Tallman and Kermit Weeks, both of which were great stunt pilots.
Frank Tallman did stunt flying in motion pictures such as The Blue
Max, The Great Waldo Pepper, Catch 22, and Capricorn One.
Kermit Weeks won the United States Aerobatic Championships
twice and won several invitational masters championships in different
worldwide competitions. One of Weeks’s greatest accomplishments
was the establishment of the Weeks Air Museum facility in Polk City,
Florida, which is approximately 20 miles southwest of Walt Disney
World.
The museum features a main attraction called “Fantasy of Flight,”
which allows the public to see part of the world’s largest private
collection of vintage aircraft. It also features many exhibits that tell the
story of the early days of aviation.
Karl Georg’s scratch-built Model 100 has several true-to-scale
construction features. The wings are covered with Solartex and have
simulated rib tape and stitching. He built the tail assembly in the usual
manner with balsa and then covered it with a fine sort of corrugated
cardboard, providing the corrugated look of the prototype’s tail
assembly. He made the flying wires from a flat steel with cut-down
clevises silver-soldered to the ends.
Power for the model is an O.S. .91 four-stroke engine, controlled
with a two (coated)-line system and a four-function electronic system
that is available from ex-World Champion Vladimir Kusy.
Another feature is the model’s onboard glow system that is used
for starting the aircraft and keeping the glow plug hot during low-rpm
runs. The onboard system consists of two 1100 mAh cells and is
controlled in conjunction with the throttle servo. The system allows the
engine to be started without the use of an external battery and provides
a safety margin since you don’t have to reach into the area of the
spinning propeller to disconnect a glow-plug lead.
Another of Karl Georg’s models I’m featuring this month is a
profile Pond Racer he flies in “semiscale” class events. These
categories have a maximum limit for static points, and a great deal of
emphasis is placed on the competitors’ flying ability. Because static
points are noncritical for scoring, the semiscale events draw many
more competitors.
Burt Rutan developed the Pond Racer, an Unlimited-class airplane,
for Bob Pond, who was trying to introduce new technology at the
Reno Air Races. It was hoped that success at Reno with the new
10sig5.QXD 8/24/06 1:21 PM Page 136technology would help to take over, replace,
and save many of the World War II warbirds
and engines that are destroyed each year.
The racer was built in the US in 1990 and
was equipped with two Electromotive-Nissan
VG-30-6 3-liter GTP engines. The engines
were designed to run on methanol and develop
1,000 horsepower.
The airplane had a wingspan of 25 feet, 5
inches, and a length of 20 feet. However, the
engines didn’t live up to expectations and
developed only roughly 600 horsepower. The
aircraft appeared at the Reno Races in 1991 to
1993, where it qualified at 400 mph. It was
destroyed in a landing crash on September 14,
1993, which killed pilot Rick Brickert.
Karl Georg’s Pond Racer is built to 1/6
scale, which gives it an approximately 6-foot
wingspan. Power is provided by two O.S. .20
engines that are controlled with a three-line
system.
The model’s balsa wing has a symmetrical
airfoil and was built using sparless
construction in a foam cradle. The fuselage
and booms are not solid; they are built-up
structures. For convenience when transporting
the model, the outer wing sections were made
removable with two sizes of carbon-fiber
tubes.
Karl Georg says the model, with its sweptforward
wing, looks great in the air and is a
pleasure to fly.
The Pond Racer is a great example of how
an out-of-the-ordinary prototype can turn into
a fine Scale project. What subject can you find
that would make a unique CL Scale model? If
you find one, I would like to hear from you so
I can tell our readers about it.
Since I have written about vintage and
unusual aircraft, I want to let you know that a
good source for such aircraft information is
World War I Aeroplanes, Inc. 15 Crescent Rd.,
Poughkeepsie NY 12601. The company
produces two publications dealing with early
aircraft: WW 1 Aero: The Journal of the Early
Aeroplane (1900-1919) and Skyways: The
Journal of the Airplane (1920-1940).
Both publications contain a variety of
information about early aircraft that includes
technical drawings, three-views, historical
research, cockpit views, information about
paint and color, old engines, and some scale
modeling material.
I have been receiving the Skyways journalfor several years and have found it to be fine
reading as well as a great source of
information for the Scale modeler. The cost of
each journal is a minimum contribution of
$42, and anything exceeding the minimum
amount is tax-deductible. For further
information about the publications, write to the
address or go to www.ww1aerojournal.org or
www.skywaysjournal.org.
The 2004 Scale World Championships was
held at the Air Force Academy in Deblin,
Poland. US CL Scale team member Dale
Campbell has produced a CD covering the
event.
The disc contains more than 300 photos
including competing models and modelers
from the other nations. It also includes several
video segments showing some of the Polish
landmarks, the local people, and championship
officials.
Dale said he will provide a copy of the CD
to anyone who is interested in getting a
glimpse of what a world competition is like.
The cost is $5 to cover the packaging and
postage. You can write to Dale at 126 Wise
Rd., Vale NC 28168.
Please send ideas, notice of upcoming events,
contest reports, hints for “how-to”s in the
workshop, and especially photos of CL Scale
activity to me at the E-mail address at the head
of this column. You can also send US mail to
me at 77-06 269th St., New Hyde Park NY
11040.
Remember that your photos must be 35mm
prints or submitted on CD if from a digital camera.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/10
Page Numbers: 136,139
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/10
Page Numbers: 136,139
136 MODEL AVIATION
I ALWAYS WELCOME overseas mail, and I have the opportunity
once again to write about and show the work of Karl George Krafft of
Hagen, Germany. In the past several years we have seen some of his
great work in the form of his Curtiss Gulfhawk, Curtiss Goshawk, and
Northrop Gamma. This month we will take a look at his Boeing Model
100.
According to the Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, the
Model 100 was the company designation of four airplanes, similar to
the F4B-1, that were built as commercial and export aircraft. The 100A
was a single special
two-seat aircraft
built originally for
Howard Hughes.
Model 100E, two
aircraft, was
equivalent to the US
Army’s P-12E and
was supplied to
Thailand. The
Model 100F, a
Karl Georg Krafft’s Boeing Model 100 and Pond Racer
[bossmosquito@aol.com]
Control Line Scale Bill Boss
Also included in this column:
• A good source for information
about early aircraft
• 2004 Scale World
Championships CD
Karl Georg Krafft’s Boeing 100 has epoxy cast engine cylinders
that make up the fine-looking rotary engine. Krafft photo.
Karl Georg’s excellently detailed Boeing 100’s color-and-markings
are those of a civil sport version. Krafft photo.
Karl Georg’s profile Scale version of the Pond Racer flown in the
1990-1993 Reno Air Races has two O.S. .20s. Krafft photo.
single aircraft that was equivalent to the US Army’s P-12F, was built
as an engine test bed for Pratt & Whitney.
Karl Georg’s airplane was built to 1/6.3 scale, producing a model
with a wingspan of 55 inches and a weight of 9 pounds. The airplane’s
color-and-markings represent a civil sport version of the F4B fighter
that was used at air shows.
Karl Georg notes that the full-scale aircraft was flown by Frank
Tallman and Kermit Weeks, both of which were great stunt pilots.
Frank Tallman did stunt flying in motion pictures such as The Blue
Max, The Great Waldo Pepper, Catch 22, and Capricorn One.
Kermit Weeks won the United States Aerobatic Championships
twice and won several invitational masters championships in different
worldwide competitions. One of Weeks’s greatest accomplishments
was the establishment of the Weeks Air Museum facility in Polk City,
Florida, which is approximately 20 miles southwest of Walt Disney
World.
The museum features a main attraction called “Fantasy of Flight,”
which allows the public to see part of the world’s largest private
collection of vintage aircraft. It also features many exhibits that tell the
story of the early days of aviation.
Karl Georg’s scratch-built Model 100 has several true-to-scale
construction features. The wings are covered with Solartex and have
simulated rib tape and stitching. He built the tail assembly in the usual
manner with balsa and then covered it with a fine sort of corrugated
cardboard, providing the corrugated look of the prototype’s tail
assembly. He made the flying wires from a flat steel with cut-down
clevises silver-soldered to the ends.
Power for the model is an O.S. .91 four-stroke engine, controlled
with a two (coated)-line system and a four-function electronic system
that is available from ex-World Champion Vladimir Kusy.
Another feature is the model’s onboard glow system that is used
for starting the aircraft and keeping the glow plug hot during low-rpm
runs. The onboard system consists of two 1100 mAh cells and is
controlled in conjunction with the throttle servo. The system allows the
engine to be started without the use of an external battery and provides
a safety margin since you don’t have to reach into the area of the
spinning propeller to disconnect a glow-plug lead.
Another of Karl Georg’s models I’m featuring this month is a
profile Pond Racer he flies in “semiscale” class events. These
categories have a maximum limit for static points, and a great deal of
emphasis is placed on the competitors’ flying ability. Because static
points are noncritical for scoring, the semiscale events draw many
more competitors.
Burt Rutan developed the Pond Racer, an Unlimited-class airplane,
for Bob Pond, who was trying to introduce new technology at the
Reno Air Races. It was hoped that success at Reno with the new
10sig5.QXD 8/24/06 1:21 PM Page 136technology would help to take over, replace,
and save many of the World War II warbirds
and engines that are destroyed each year.
The racer was built in the US in 1990 and
was equipped with two Electromotive-Nissan
VG-30-6 3-liter GTP engines. The engines
were designed to run on methanol and develop
1,000 horsepower.
The airplane had a wingspan of 25 feet, 5
inches, and a length of 20 feet. However, the
engines didn’t live up to expectations and
developed only roughly 600 horsepower. The
aircraft appeared at the Reno Races in 1991 to
1993, where it qualified at 400 mph. It was
destroyed in a landing crash on September 14,
1993, which killed pilot Rick Brickert.
Karl Georg’s Pond Racer is built to 1/6
scale, which gives it an approximately 6-foot
wingspan. Power is provided by two O.S. .20
engines that are controlled with a three-line
system.
The model’s balsa wing has a symmetrical
airfoil and was built using sparless
construction in a foam cradle. The fuselage
and booms are not solid; they are built-up
structures. For convenience when transporting
the model, the outer wing sections were made
removable with two sizes of carbon-fiber
tubes.
Karl Georg says the model, with its sweptforward
wing, looks great in the air and is a
pleasure to fly.
The Pond Racer is a great example of how
an out-of-the-ordinary prototype can turn into
a fine Scale project. What subject can you find
that would make a unique CL Scale model? If
you find one, I would like to hear from you so
I can tell our readers about it.
Since I have written about vintage and
unusual aircraft, I want to let you know that a
good source for such aircraft information is
World War I Aeroplanes, Inc. 15 Crescent Rd.,
Poughkeepsie NY 12601. The company
produces two publications dealing with early
aircraft: WW 1 Aero: The Journal of the Early
Aeroplane (1900-1919) and Skyways: The
Journal of the Airplane (1920-1940).
Both publications contain a variety of
information about early aircraft that includes
technical drawings, three-views, historical
research, cockpit views, information about
paint and color, old engines, and some scale
modeling material.
I have been receiving the Skyways journalfor several years and have found it to be fine
reading as well as a great source of
information for the Scale modeler. The cost of
each journal is a minimum contribution of
$42, and anything exceeding the minimum
amount is tax-deductible. For further
information about the publications, write to the
address or go to www.ww1aerojournal.org or
www.skywaysjournal.org.
The 2004 Scale World Championships was
held at the Air Force Academy in Deblin,
Poland. US CL Scale team member Dale
Campbell has produced a CD covering the
event.
The disc contains more than 300 photos
including competing models and modelers
from the other nations. It also includes several
video segments showing some of the Polish
landmarks, the local people, and championship
officials.
Dale said he will provide a copy of the CD
to anyone who is interested in getting a
glimpse of what a world competition is like.
The cost is $5 to cover the packaging and
postage. You can write to Dale at 126 Wise
Rd., Vale NC 28168.
Please send ideas, notice of upcoming events,
contest reports, hints for “how-to”s in the
workshop, and especially photos of CL Scale
activity to me at the E-mail address at the head
of this column. You can also send US mail to
me at 77-06 269th St., New Hyde Park NY
11040.
Remember that your photos must be 35mm
prints or submitted on CD if from a digital camera.