Control Line Scale - 2009/12 | Model Aviation Library

Author: Bill boss

Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/12
Page Numbers: 141,142

Control Line Scale — Bill Boss [[email protected]]

The Rapide postwar — Frank Beatty

Frank Beatty of Granite City, Illinois, has a great knack for picking unique 1930s aircraft to model. This time he chose the post–World War II Rapide G‑AHKV, the prototype for the de Havilland D.H.89A Mk 6 and one of the airplanes in the Dragon family. The "Dragon" name is taken from the dragonfly insect.

Rapides were generally powered by two 200-horsepower, six-cylinder, air-cooled engines. Typical specifications included a wingspan of about 47.99 feet, a maximum speed of 135 knots, and a service ceiling near 19,000 feet.

De Havilland produced the Rapide as a six- or eight-passenger aircraft and put it into service in April 1934. Hillman Airways Ltd. was the first British operator, beginning in July 1934. The D.H.89A was not put into production until 1937, when the Royal Air Force (RAF) acquired several aircraft. The RAF operated them with No. 24 Squadron for VIP transport and communications duties.

After World War II began, production continued as the D.H.89B Dominie Mk I, used as a navigation trainer, and the Mk II, which served as a communications aircraft for the RAF. At least six Dominies were made available to the US Army Air Forces between December 1942 and August 1944; the 27th Transport Group used them as communication aircraft.

One of the Rapide's stranger uses was for advertising by Sky Neon Aviation Ltd. Brackets fitted to the underside of the lower wing held neon lighting; aircraft flown over London in the evening displayed the message, "Drink Ovaltine."

More than 700 Rapides of various designations were produced. Approximately 200 returned to civilian use, while about 500—known by the RAF as Dominies—served in the air forces of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other countries.

Frank Beatty's model is a profile version painted in the color-and-markings of the Rapide used by Automobile Association Services from November 1957 until June 1963. At that time it was owned by Cartographical Services Ltd. and based at Eastleigh, United Kingdom.

Construction and model details:

Scale: 5/8 inch = 1 foot, yielding a 28.5-inch wingspan.
Power: two Brodak MK II .049 engines.
Structure: sheet balsa construction; engine mounts of 1/4 x 5/16-inch maple; 1/64-inch plywood to reinforce landing gear and engine nacelle areas.
Markings: Frank enlarged the full-size plate to the model's size and traced the markings directly to ensure accurate scale.

Frank built the Rapide to fly in the 1/2A Multi-Engine Profile Scale class at the Broken Arrow 22 Contest at Buder Park in St. Louis, Missouri. The event took place September 26–27; results will be reported in an upcoming column.

WACO Reunion

Mike Welshans of Ferndale, Michigan, attended the 50th WACO Reunion at Wynkoop Airport in Mount Vernon, Ohio, the weekend of June 25–27, 2009. The reunion, held annually for several years, gives modelers and families a chance to see many flying WACO biplanes from the 1930s. This year's event featured 51 well-maintained and restored aircraft; Mike photographed 47 (four had left before he arrived).

For those interested, roughly 150 photos of the fly-in are on John Rees's website (see Sources). The site explains how to obtain prints of the high-resolution photos and lists prices.

WACO aircraft make excellent models. Consider obtaining the Paul Matt three-view drawings of WACO aircraft from Wind Canyon Books:

Available drawings: UMF/YMF-5, UPF-7, and YKS cabin version.
Sheet size: two- and three-sheet sets measuring 18 x 22 inches.
Scale: 1/2 inch = 1 foot.

The photo included of the WACO UPF-7 shows one of 600 produced in a Troy, Ohio, factory between 1937 and 1942. James E. Keller of Canton, Ohio, owns the aircraft shown; it was produced late in 1942 and featured at the 50th Reunion.

UPF designation meaning:

U = 220-horsepower Continental W-670-6A engine
P = wing and fuselage design
F = model type/series

The UPF-7 had a varied service record: pilot trainer at the Boeing School of Aeronautics (Oakland, California) in September 1941, crop duster, glider tow plane, aerobatic trainer, and aerobatic/passenger airplane at air shows. After WWII, WACOs became popular with collectors and owners; more than 150 original UPFs are still registered.

Mike Welshans is willing to e-mail a few of his photos (selection at his discretion). A CD with 230 photographs of the 47 aircraft he photographed is available for $12 postpaid.

NASA Newsletter

Ted Kraver is doing an excellent job with the National Association of Scale Aeromodelers' (NASA) newsletter, Replica. Coverage across all scale categories is good, and the photo and commentary quality is high.

If you're not a NASA member, consider joining. Memberships are $20 (U.S.) and $25 (foreign) and include Replica six times a year and a copy of the NASA Scale Resource Guide. Your membership supports all scale aeromodeling categories (RC, FF, and CL) and helps supply volunteers for the AMA Scale Nats. Send membership fees to NASA Secretary/Treasurer Bonnie Rediske (address in Sources).

Please send ideas, notices of upcoming CL Scale events, contest reports, and especially photos of CL Scale activity to Bill Boss at the e-mail address at the top of this column or to his street address in the Sources list.

Now that the flying season is finished for most of the country and many are starting new builds for next year, why not send information about your projects? I need input and look forward to hearing from many of you.