Rendezvous
by Dennis Norman
[email protected]
Because FAC rules place limits on Jet-Cat models,
AAM is proposing a new line that should qualify.
This Hawker Hunter is the rst of the proposed line.
Holly Chenail photo.
AAM’s proposed line of Jet-Cat subjects will
feature full-color graphics on white 8.5 x 11-
inch label stock, such as these for the AAM’s
Hawker Hunter. Chenail photo.
The history of aviation is o
en passed from one
generation to another. Here, a grandfather in
period uniform shows a youngster details of a WW I
replica. National Museum of the USAF photo.
This striking Nieuport 28 was one of several unique WW I models at the 2011 Dawn Patrol
Rendezvous in September 2011. National Museum of the USAF photo.
In late September 2011, I had the pleasure of attending the World War I Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in
Dayton, Ohio. The event is usually held at two-year intervals, but the next will be
delayed until 2014 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WW I.
I have attended the last several gatherings. Because the theme is focused on WW I,
vendors are encouraged to bring items based on that period. The event features fullscale
or nearly full-scale WW I aircraft replicas. Generally 15 to 20 replicas are present
and re-creations of WW I combat occur daily during the three-day event.
Pilots dress in authentic reproductions of WW I uniforms and gear. Reenactors are
also present in full WW I gear, complete with fi rearms. Early 20th century automobiles
are displayed and driven by their owners in period dress. An outstanding display of
WW I RC Scale models takes place daily. The Rendezvous is held on the airfi eld
adjacent to the fabulous USAF museum.
I often help the families of deceased modelers with the sale of their collections.
Much of this is done via the Internet, but I prefer to bring old kits, etc. to gatherings
such as the Dawn Patrol event, the Weak
Signals’ Toledo Expo, and similar events.
There is something to be said for actually
seeing and touching kits long out of
production. I often bring classic kits from
manufacturers such as Cleveland Model
& Supply Company, Comet, Sterling, and
others. Because the Dawn Patrol focuses
on WW I, I usually bring kits from that
era.
Cleveland MiG-15
Richard Hughes,
83, is a friend of
mine who lives near
the USAF museum.
We often meet
at model airplane
shows in Ohio.
Richard spent much of his life in the US
military and has witnessed much aviation
history.
At the 2011 Dawn Patrol, Richard
asked me if I had any Cleveland Model
& Supply Company models in my
inventory. Specifi cally, he wanted to know
if I had the 1951 Cleveland Simplex
18-inch Russian MiG-15. I had several
Cleveland kits from the early 1950s and
promised that I would check for the MiG
kit when I returned home.
I found one 18-inch MiG-15 kit, but
the box was damaged, the 60-year-old
plans were tattered and yellowed with
age, and the cockpit canopy had been
fl attened by a previous owner’s improper
storage. The kit was also missing most of
the wire parts for the landing gear.
I told Richard of the kit’s condition and
because he is a good friend and a loyal
customer, I offered to replicate the kit as
a gift. He was delighted at the prospect.
That began the challenging odyssey of
replicating the 60-year-old kit. I know
others have done similar projects, but
this was a fi rst for me, and I thought you
might appreciate the story of my journey.
The Simplex series of kits was created
by Cleveland in the early 1950s. To my
knowledge, six subjects were kitted
including S-79, a 20-inch-span Vought
Corsair; S-94, a 27-inch-span Piper Cub;
S-121, a 15-inch-span Lockheed F-90;
S-122, an 18-inch-span McDonnell
Banshee; S-123, a 15-inch-span Vought
Cutlass; and S-124, the 18-inch-span
MiG-15.
Cleveland kits had been in production
since the late 1920s and were considered
to be among the fi nest rubber-powered
FF Scale types in the world. Other
manufactures had crowded into the
market by the early 1950s, bringing
innovations including die-cut sheet wood
parts, preformed wire landing gear parts,
preshaped LEs and TEs for the wing,
vacuum-formed canopies, and turned
cowl parts. To meet the challenge of
its competitors, Cleveland created the
Simplex line which featured the latest
twists of the industry.
I built Cleveland’s McDonnell Banshee
and the MiG-15 as a teenager. Because
they were jet models, they were not
fi tted with propellers (that was probably
viewed as inappropriate in the 1950s).
Builders were encouraged to fl y the
models as gliders. I initially catapulted
mine with a large loop of T-56 brown
rubber.
At roughly the time that I was building
the MiG-15, I became aware of Jetex
Rocket Motors. I elected to paint my
MiG with Testor’s gloss black butyrate
dope. It gave the MiG a sinister look
that seemed to complement the exotic
Jetex 50 motor that I fastened slightly
below the CG. Unfortunately, the Jetex
repeatedly malfunctioned and proved
to be an unreliable source of propulsion.
The MiG resumed fl ight as a glider and
continued as such until it was tattered
and broken.
Right: Cleveland’s colorful box, detailed plans,
print wood, preformed wing LEs and TEs, balsa
strip stock, turned cowl and tailpipe, landing
gear pieces, and a fresh canopy complete Gene
Klemanek’s model. Dennis Norman photo
This rugged-looking pilot was carved from a
piece of Styrofoam stock, which was painted
with acrylics to evoke an Asian pilot of the
Korean War. Patrick Norman photo.
The Cleveland clone is
in formation with its
wingman in a low pass
over the plans. Cleveland
plans are superbly
detailed. Norman photo
The MiG remained only a memory
until a few years ago when my buddy
Gene Klemanek made one as a hanging
display for Wing’s Hobby Shop in
Lakewood, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. I
always admired Klemanek’s work and his
MiG-15 is a fi tting tribute to the quality
of the Simplex kits. I took a few photos to
give you an idea of the fi nished product.
In starting my clone of the kit, I
decided to fabricate a cardboard box
like the one used for the original. A visit
to a local art-supply store led me to
white tag board, which was similar in
thickness to the brown cardboard used
for the original kit. After a couple of
hours of careful measuring, cutting, and
fi tting, I replicated a box for the MiG-15.
Cleveland’s kits in the 1950s featured
boxes printed in red, white, and blue and
the Simplex line followed that tradition.
I duplicated the graphics by making
full-color photocopies of the box. I
elected to photocopy the replica artwork
onto Avery full-sheet labels (stock no.
5353).
Avery’s labels are 81/2 x 11 inches, but
the kit is more than 18-inches long. I
solved this challenge by using four sheets
of labels to copy the graphics in full color.
Each sheet showed approximately onehalf
of the kit’s front and back and onehalf
of one of the kit’s sides. I overlapped
the copies to ensure full coverage and
to create a nearly seamless joint when I
attached sections to the box.
Cuts were made over a rubberized mat
with a straightedge and X-Acto knife
with a new #11 blade. The fi rst half was
carefully adhered to the box and the
second half precisely aligned and buttjoined
to the fi rst. The process was then
repeated for the remainder of the box.
The art on the end fl aps was copied and
carefully attached.
A replica of the construction plans was
made by carefully passing the tattered
set through an engineering copier with
surprisingly good results.
The wood in the original kit consisted
of three sheets of 1/16 x 3-inch balsa sheet
stock, upon which the parts were printed
in blue ink in classic Cleveland tradition.
The new parts were die cut to pop free
of the sheets without the labor of cutting.
The MiG’s tail surfaces were also die cut
from a 1/16-inch sheet. For reasons unclear,
that sheet was not preprinted, but die cut.
Die cutting my replica’s parts was out
of the question. Today the parts would
be laser cut, but the cost of laser cutting
the parts for a replica kit would be
prohibitive. I opted to copy the original
three parts sheets onto full sheet labels,
which were carefully cut and fi tted to
1/16-inch sheet balsa. If Richard wants to
build the replica kit, he can cut the parts
from the sheet and peel off the labels
before assembling the model.
Because the sheet for the tail surfaces
was die cut, I elected to make a drawing
of the parts on it, which I transferred to
full sheet labels as before and adhered to
a fourth sheet of balsa.
The Simplex MiG-15 had turned balsa
parts for the nose intake and tail exhaust.
These were duplicated by turning pieces
of thick balsa sheet on a Dremel tool
using a 1/16-inch, tapered rat-tail fi le. The
original parts were probably turned on
a lathe, but the Dremel-turned copies
closely matched the originals.
The Simplex models had precut LEs
and TEs for the wings. The LEs were
preshaped and the slots for the ribs
were precut. I couldn’t fi nd commercial,
preformed LEs to match the MiG, so I
made my own from 1/4-inch square balsa
strip.
The rib slots were carefully cut in square
stock using a band saw before shaping
the LE. I hand-shaped the LE using a
blade and a sanding block. I found some
appropriately sized, preformed TE stock in
a dusty bin at Wings Hobby. Slots for the
rib TEs were cut into this with a band saw.
The fuselage stringers were cut in
15-inch lengths from a 1/16-inch square
balsa strip. The original kit came with
wheels and preformed wire gear, which I
replicated using .047 piano wire. I would
have turned the wheels from hardwood,
but I had received a number of Cleveland
wheels as payment for plans that I drew
for E.T. Packard in the late 1960s. I found
three that closely matched those in the
kit.
The original Simplex kit provided white
Japanese tissue for covering and a small
sheet of red stars intended as markings for
the fi nished model. Rather than duplicate
these items, I elected to place a sheet of
silver Esaki tissue in the replica kit along
with red stars printed on label stock that
could be cut out, leaving a 1/16-inch white
border and then pressed onto the model.
As I mentioned, the original cockpit
canopy was badly damaged and unusable.
I carved a canopy mold from balsa block
using the plans drawings as a reference. I
formed a great-looking new canopy from
0.10-thick clear Butyrate sheet to replace
the damaged one.
Klemanek’s MiG-15 kit was missing
a canopy and he had used a nonscale
substitute. With his permission, I replaced
the canopy. I added some cockpit interior
detail including a headrest, instrument
panel, and refl ector site. I also carved a
pilot bust from Styrofoam and painted
it with acrylic to look like a pilot from a
Central Asian republic.
I sent the completed duplicate kit
to Richard in early January 2012 as a
belated Christmas gift. He was delighted.
FAC Jet Catapult Event
With the advent of Rapier Rocket
Motors a few years ago, there was
renewed interest in building jet- and
rocket-powered FF Scale models. For a
few seasons, the Flying Aces Club (FAC)
contests blossomed with dozens of Rapierpowered
models, but currently Rapiers are
unavailable and we are forced to look for
other means of propulsion. Small ducted
fans are coming into the market and might
be the best choice for small jet and rocket
models in the immediate future.
In an effort to keep the jets flying, the
FAC is urging its members to consider
flying in the FAC Jet Catapult (Jet-Cat)
event. Rules for this are in the latest FAC
rule book that you can download from the
FAC website.
FAC rules limit contestants to launching
from a motor stick no greater than 9
inches with a power source of a single
9-inch-or-less loop of rubber, so models for
this event will probably be small.
Air Ace Models (AAM) is exploring
the introduction of a line of jet subjects to
be flown in conformity with FAC Jet-Cat
rules. AAM’s proposed line would have a
61/2-inch or less wingspan.
AAM will provide full color markings
printed on 81/2 x 11-inch plain label
stock. When the models’ components are
cut out, the covering for each component
will be cut from the label stock and
pressed on.
AAM’s approach may be seen in its
small Hawker Hunter model, which is
currently being tested. AAM’s contact
information is in the “Sources” list if you’d
like more details.
Thermals to all this flying season!
SourceS:
Air Ace Models
Dennis o. Norman
11216 Lake Ave.
cleveland oH 44102
(216) 906-6146
[email protected]
cleveland Model & Supply company
(317) 257-7878
www.clevelandairline.com/default.asp
National Museum of the united States Air Force
(937) 255-3286
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
Wings Hobby Shop
17112 Detroit Ave.
cleveland oH 44107
(216) 221-5383
FAc
[email protected]
www.flyingacesclub.com
National Free Flight Society
http://freeflight.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/06
Page Numbers: 132,133,134,135,136
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/06
Page Numbers: 132,133,134,135,136
Rendezvous
by Dennis Norman
[email protected]
Because FAC rules place limits on Jet-Cat models,
AAM is proposing a new line that should qualify.
This Hawker Hunter is the rst of the proposed line.
Holly Chenail photo.
AAM’s proposed line of Jet-Cat subjects will
feature full-color graphics on white 8.5 x 11-
inch label stock, such as these for the AAM’s
Hawker Hunter. Chenail photo.
The history of aviation is o
en passed from one
generation to another. Here, a grandfather in
period uniform shows a youngster details of a WW I
replica. National Museum of the USAF photo.
This striking Nieuport 28 was one of several unique WW I models at the 2011 Dawn Patrol
Rendezvous in September 2011. National Museum of the USAF photo.
In late September 2011, I had the pleasure of attending the World War I Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in
Dayton, Ohio. The event is usually held at two-year intervals, but the next will be
delayed until 2014 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WW I.
I have attended the last several gatherings. Because the theme is focused on WW I,
vendors are encouraged to bring items based on that period. The event features fullscale
or nearly full-scale WW I aircraft replicas. Generally 15 to 20 replicas are present
and re-creations of WW I combat occur daily during the three-day event.
Pilots dress in authentic reproductions of WW I uniforms and gear. Reenactors are
also present in full WW I gear, complete with fi rearms. Early 20th century automobiles
are displayed and driven by their owners in period dress. An outstanding display of
WW I RC Scale models takes place daily. The Rendezvous is held on the airfi eld
adjacent to the fabulous USAF museum.
I often help the families of deceased modelers with the sale of their collections.
Much of this is done via the Internet, but I prefer to bring old kits, etc. to gatherings
such as the Dawn Patrol event, the Weak
Signals’ Toledo Expo, and similar events.
There is something to be said for actually
seeing and touching kits long out of
production. I often bring classic kits from
manufacturers such as Cleveland Model
& Supply Company, Comet, Sterling, and
others. Because the Dawn Patrol focuses
on WW I, I usually bring kits from that
era.
Cleveland MiG-15
Richard Hughes,
83, is a friend of
mine who lives near
the USAF museum.
We often meet
at model airplane
shows in Ohio.
Richard spent much of his life in the US
military and has witnessed much aviation
history.
At the 2011 Dawn Patrol, Richard
asked me if I had any Cleveland Model
& Supply Company models in my
inventory. Specifi cally, he wanted to know
if I had the 1951 Cleveland Simplex
18-inch Russian MiG-15. I had several
Cleveland kits from the early 1950s and
promised that I would check for the MiG
kit when I returned home.
I found one 18-inch MiG-15 kit, but
the box was damaged, the 60-year-old
plans were tattered and yellowed with
age, and the cockpit canopy had been
fl attened by a previous owner’s improper
storage. The kit was also missing most of
the wire parts for the landing gear.
I told Richard of the kit’s condition and
because he is a good friend and a loyal
customer, I offered to replicate the kit as
a gift. He was delighted at the prospect.
That began the challenging odyssey of
replicating the 60-year-old kit. I know
others have done similar projects, but
this was a fi rst for me, and I thought you
might appreciate the story of my journey.
The Simplex series of kits was created
by Cleveland in the early 1950s. To my
knowledge, six subjects were kitted
including S-79, a 20-inch-span Vought
Corsair; S-94, a 27-inch-span Piper Cub;
S-121, a 15-inch-span Lockheed F-90;
S-122, an 18-inch-span McDonnell
Banshee; S-123, a 15-inch-span Vought
Cutlass; and S-124, the 18-inch-span
MiG-15.
Cleveland kits had been in production
since the late 1920s and were considered
to be among the fi nest rubber-powered
FF Scale types in the world. Other
manufactures had crowded into the
market by the early 1950s, bringing
innovations including die-cut sheet wood
parts, preformed wire landing gear parts,
preshaped LEs and TEs for the wing,
vacuum-formed canopies, and turned
cowl parts. To meet the challenge of
its competitors, Cleveland created the
Simplex line which featured the latest
twists of the industry.
I built Cleveland’s McDonnell Banshee
and the MiG-15 as a teenager. Because
they were jet models, they were not
fi tted with propellers (that was probably
viewed as inappropriate in the 1950s).
Builders were encouraged to fl y the
models as gliders. I initially catapulted
mine with a large loop of T-56 brown
rubber.
At roughly the time that I was building
the MiG-15, I became aware of Jetex
Rocket Motors. I elected to paint my
MiG with Testor’s gloss black butyrate
dope. It gave the MiG a sinister look
that seemed to complement the exotic
Jetex 50 motor that I fastened slightly
below the CG. Unfortunately, the Jetex
repeatedly malfunctioned and proved
to be an unreliable source of propulsion.
The MiG resumed fl ight as a glider and
continued as such until it was tattered
and broken.
Right: Cleveland’s colorful box, detailed plans,
print wood, preformed wing LEs and TEs, balsa
strip stock, turned cowl and tailpipe, landing
gear pieces, and a fresh canopy complete Gene
Klemanek’s model. Dennis Norman photo
This rugged-looking pilot was carved from a
piece of Styrofoam stock, which was painted
with acrylics to evoke an Asian pilot of the
Korean War. Patrick Norman photo.
The Cleveland clone is
in formation with its
wingman in a low pass
over the plans. Cleveland
plans are superbly
detailed. Norman photo
The MiG remained only a memory
until a few years ago when my buddy
Gene Klemanek made one as a hanging
display for Wing’s Hobby Shop in
Lakewood, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. I
always admired Klemanek’s work and his
MiG-15 is a fi tting tribute to the quality
of the Simplex kits. I took a few photos to
give you an idea of the fi nished product.
In starting my clone of the kit, I
decided to fabricate a cardboard box
like the one used for the original. A visit
to a local art-supply store led me to
white tag board, which was similar in
thickness to the brown cardboard used
for the original kit. After a couple of
hours of careful measuring, cutting, and
fi tting, I replicated a box for the MiG-15.
Cleveland’s kits in the 1950s featured
boxes printed in red, white, and blue and
the Simplex line followed that tradition.
I duplicated the graphics by making
full-color photocopies of the box. I
elected to photocopy the replica artwork
onto Avery full-sheet labels (stock no.
5353).
Avery’s labels are 81/2 x 11 inches, but
the kit is more than 18-inches long. I
solved this challenge by using four sheets
of labels to copy the graphics in full color.
Each sheet showed approximately onehalf
of the kit’s front and back and onehalf
of one of the kit’s sides. I overlapped
the copies to ensure full coverage and
to create a nearly seamless joint when I
attached sections to the box.
Cuts were made over a rubberized mat
with a straightedge and X-Acto knife
with a new #11 blade. The fi rst half was
carefully adhered to the box and the
second half precisely aligned and buttjoined
to the fi rst. The process was then
repeated for the remainder of the box.
The art on the end fl aps was copied and
carefully attached.
A replica of the construction plans was
made by carefully passing the tattered
set through an engineering copier with
surprisingly good results.
The wood in the original kit consisted
of three sheets of 1/16 x 3-inch balsa sheet
stock, upon which the parts were printed
in blue ink in classic Cleveland tradition.
The new parts were die cut to pop free
of the sheets without the labor of cutting.
The MiG’s tail surfaces were also die cut
from a 1/16-inch sheet. For reasons unclear,
that sheet was not preprinted, but die cut.
Die cutting my replica’s parts was out
of the question. Today the parts would
be laser cut, but the cost of laser cutting
the parts for a replica kit would be
prohibitive. I opted to copy the original
three parts sheets onto full sheet labels,
which were carefully cut and fi tted to
1/16-inch sheet balsa. If Richard wants to
build the replica kit, he can cut the parts
from the sheet and peel off the labels
before assembling the model.
Because the sheet for the tail surfaces
was die cut, I elected to make a drawing
of the parts on it, which I transferred to
full sheet labels as before and adhered to
a fourth sheet of balsa.
The Simplex MiG-15 had turned balsa
parts for the nose intake and tail exhaust.
These were duplicated by turning pieces
of thick balsa sheet on a Dremel tool
using a 1/16-inch, tapered rat-tail fi le. The
original parts were probably turned on
a lathe, but the Dremel-turned copies
closely matched the originals.
The Simplex models had precut LEs
and TEs for the wings. The LEs were
preshaped and the slots for the ribs
were precut. I couldn’t fi nd commercial,
preformed LEs to match the MiG, so I
made my own from 1/4-inch square balsa
strip.
The rib slots were carefully cut in square
stock using a band saw before shaping
the LE. I hand-shaped the LE using a
blade and a sanding block. I found some
appropriately sized, preformed TE stock in
a dusty bin at Wings Hobby. Slots for the
rib TEs were cut into this with a band saw.
The fuselage stringers were cut in
15-inch lengths from a 1/16-inch square
balsa strip. The original kit came with
wheels and preformed wire gear, which I
replicated using .047 piano wire. I would
have turned the wheels from hardwood,
but I had received a number of Cleveland
wheels as payment for plans that I drew
for E.T. Packard in the late 1960s. I found
three that closely matched those in the
kit.
The original Simplex kit provided white
Japanese tissue for covering and a small
sheet of red stars intended as markings for
the fi nished model. Rather than duplicate
these items, I elected to place a sheet of
silver Esaki tissue in the replica kit along
with red stars printed on label stock that
could be cut out, leaving a 1/16-inch white
border and then pressed onto the model.
As I mentioned, the original cockpit
canopy was badly damaged and unusable.
I carved a canopy mold from balsa block
using the plans drawings as a reference. I
formed a great-looking new canopy from
0.10-thick clear Butyrate sheet to replace
the damaged one.
Klemanek’s MiG-15 kit was missing
a canopy and he had used a nonscale
substitute. With his permission, I replaced
the canopy. I added some cockpit interior
detail including a headrest, instrument
panel, and refl ector site. I also carved a
pilot bust from Styrofoam and painted
it with acrylic to look like a pilot from a
Central Asian republic.
I sent the completed duplicate kit
to Richard in early January 2012 as a
belated Christmas gift. He was delighted.
FAC Jet Catapult Event
With the advent of Rapier Rocket
Motors a few years ago, there was
renewed interest in building jet- and
rocket-powered FF Scale models. For a
few seasons, the Flying Aces Club (FAC)
contests blossomed with dozens of Rapierpowered
models, but currently Rapiers are
unavailable and we are forced to look for
other means of propulsion. Small ducted
fans are coming into the market and might
be the best choice for small jet and rocket
models in the immediate future.
In an effort to keep the jets flying, the
FAC is urging its members to consider
flying in the FAC Jet Catapult (Jet-Cat)
event. Rules for this are in the latest FAC
rule book that you can download from the
FAC website.
FAC rules limit contestants to launching
from a motor stick no greater than 9
inches with a power source of a single
9-inch-or-less loop of rubber, so models for
this event will probably be small.
Air Ace Models (AAM) is exploring
the introduction of a line of jet subjects to
be flown in conformity with FAC Jet-Cat
rules. AAM’s proposed line would have a
61/2-inch or less wingspan.
AAM will provide full color markings
printed on 81/2 x 11-inch plain label
stock. When the models’ components are
cut out, the covering for each component
will be cut from the label stock and
pressed on.
AAM’s approach may be seen in its
small Hawker Hunter model, which is
currently being tested. AAM’s contact
information is in the “Sources” list if you’d
like more details.
Thermals to all this flying season!
SourceS:
Air Ace Models
Dennis o. Norman
11216 Lake Ave.
cleveland oH 44102
(216) 906-6146
[email protected]
cleveland Model & Supply company
(317) 257-7878
www.clevelandairline.com/default.asp
National Museum of the united States Air Force
(937) 255-3286
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
Wings Hobby Shop
17112 Detroit Ave.
cleveland oH 44107
(216) 221-5383
FAc
[email protected]
www.flyingacesclub.com
National Free Flight Society
http://freeflight.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/06
Page Numbers: 132,133,134,135,136
Rendezvous
by Dennis Norman
[email protected]
Because FAC rules place limits on Jet-Cat models,
AAM is proposing a new line that should qualify.
This Hawker Hunter is the rst of the proposed line.
Holly Chenail photo.
AAM’s proposed line of Jet-Cat subjects will
feature full-color graphics on white 8.5 x 11-
inch label stock, such as these for the AAM’s
Hawker Hunter. Chenail photo.
The history of aviation is o
en passed from one
generation to another. Here, a grandfather in
period uniform shows a youngster details of a WW I
replica. National Museum of the USAF photo.
This striking Nieuport 28 was one of several unique WW I models at the 2011 Dawn Patrol
Rendezvous in September 2011. National Museum of the USAF photo.
In late September 2011, I had the pleasure of attending the World War I Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in
Dayton, Ohio. The event is usually held at two-year intervals, but the next will be
delayed until 2014 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WW I.
I have attended the last several gatherings. Because the theme is focused on WW I,
vendors are encouraged to bring items based on that period. The event features fullscale
or nearly full-scale WW I aircraft replicas. Generally 15 to 20 replicas are present
and re-creations of WW I combat occur daily during the three-day event.
Pilots dress in authentic reproductions of WW I uniforms and gear. Reenactors are
also present in full WW I gear, complete with fi rearms. Early 20th century automobiles
are displayed and driven by their owners in period dress. An outstanding display of
WW I RC Scale models takes place daily. The Rendezvous is held on the airfi eld
adjacent to the fabulous USAF museum.
I often help the families of deceased modelers with the sale of their collections.
Much of this is done via the Internet, but I prefer to bring old kits, etc. to gatherings
such as the Dawn Patrol event, the Weak
Signals’ Toledo Expo, and similar events.
There is something to be said for actually
seeing and touching kits long out of
production. I often bring classic kits from
manufacturers such as Cleveland Model
& Supply Company, Comet, Sterling, and
others. Because the Dawn Patrol focuses
on WW I, I usually bring kits from that
era.
Cleveland MiG-15
Richard Hughes,
83, is a friend of
mine who lives near
the USAF museum.
We often meet
at model airplane
shows in Ohio.
Richard spent much of his life in the US
military and has witnessed much aviation
history.
At the 2011 Dawn Patrol, Richard
asked me if I had any Cleveland Model
& Supply Company models in my
inventory. Specifi cally, he wanted to know
if I had the 1951 Cleveland Simplex
18-inch Russian MiG-15. I had several
Cleveland kits from the early 1950s and
promised that I would check for the MiG
kit when I returned home.
I found one 18-inch MiG-15 kit, but
the box was damaged, the 60-year-old
plans were tattered and yellowed with
age, and the cockpit canopy had been
fl attened by a previous owner’s improper
storage. The kit was also missing most of
the wire parts for the landing gear.
I told Richard of the kit’s condition and
because he is a good friend and a loyal
customer, I offered to replicate the kit as
a gift. He was delighted at the prospect.
That began the challenging odyssey of
replicating the 60-year-old kit. I know
others have done similar projects, but
this was a fi rst for me, and I thought you
might appreciate the story of my journey.
The Simplex series of kits was created
by Cleveland in the early 1950s. To my
knowledge, six subjects were kitted
including S-79, a 20-inch-span Vought
Corsair; S-94, a 27-inch-span Piper Cub;
S-121, a 15-inch-span Lockheed F-90;
S-122, an 18-inch-span McDonnell
Banshee; S-123, a 15-inch-span Vought
Cutlass; and S-124, the 18-inch-span
MiG-15.
Cleveland kits had been in production
since the late 1920s and were considered
to be among the fi nest rubber-powered
FF Scale types in the world. Other
manufactures had crowded into the
market by the early 1950s, bringing
innovations including die-cut sheet wood
parts, preformed wire landing gear parts,
preshaped LEs and TEs for the wing,
vacuum-formed canopies, and turned
cowl parts. To meet the challenge of
its competitors, Cleveland created the
Simplex line which featured the latest
twists of the industry.
I built Cleveland’s McDonnell Banshee
and the MiG-15 as a teenager. Because
they were jet models, they were not
fi tted with propellers (that was probably
viewed as inappropriate in the 1950s).
Builders were encouraged to fl y the
models as gliders. I initially catapulted
mine with a large loop of T-56 brown
rubber.
At roughly the time that I was building
the MiG-15, I became aware of Jetex
Rocket Motors. I elected to paint my
MiG with Testor’s gloss black butyrate
dope. It gave the MiG a sinister look
that seemed to complement the exotic
Jetex 50 motor that I fastened slightly
below the CG. Unfortunately, the Jetex
repeatedly malfunctioned and proved
to be an unreliable source of propulsion.
The MiG resumed fl ight as a glider and
continued as such until it was tattered
and broken.
Right: Cleveland’s colorful box, detailed plans,
print wood, preformed wing LEs and TEs, balsa
strip stock, turned cowl and tailpipe, landing
gear pieces, and a fresh canopy complete Gene
Klemanek’s model. Dennis Norman photo
This rugged-looking pilot was carved from a
piece of Styrofoam stock, which was painted
with acrylics to evoke an Asian pilot of the
Korean War. Patrick Norman photo.
The Cleveland clone is
in formation with its
wingman in a low pass
over the plans. Cleveland
plans are superbly
detailed. Norman photo
The MiG remained only a memory
until a few years ago when my buddy
Gene Klemanek made one as a hanging
display for Wing’s Hobby Shop in
Lakewood, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. I
always admired Klemanek’s work and his
MiG-15 is a fi tting tribute to the quality
of the Simplex kits. I took a few photos to
give you an idea of the fi nished product.
In starting my clone of the kit, I
decided to fabricate a cardboard box
like the one used for the original. A visit
to a local art-supply store led me to
white tag board, which was similar in
thickness to the brown cardboard used
for the original kit. After a couple of
hours of careful measuring, cutting, and
fi tting, I replicated a box for the MiG-15.
Cleveland’s kits in the 1950s featured
boxes printed in red, white, and blue and
the Simplex line followed that tradition.
I duplicated the graphics by making
full-color photocopies of the box. I
elected to photocopy the replica artwork
onto Avery full-sheet labels (stock no.
5353).
Avery’s labels are 81/2 x 11 inches, but
the kit is more than 18-inches long. I
solved this challenge by using four sheets
of labels to copy the graphics in full color.
Each sheet showed approximately onehalf
of the kit’s front and back and onehalf
of one of the kit’s sides. I overlapped
the copies to ensure full coverage and
to create a nearly seamless joint when I
attached sections to the box.
Cuts were made over a rubberized mat
with a straightedge and X-Acto knife
with a new #11 blade. The fi rst half was
carefully adhered to the box and the
second half precisely aligned and buttjoined
to the fi rst. The process was then
repeated for the remainder of the box.
The art on the end fl aps was copied and
carefully attached.
A replica of the construction plans was
made by carefully passing the tattered
set through an engineering copier with
surprisingly good results.
The wood in the original kit consisted
of three sheets of 1/16 x 3-inch balsa sheet
stock, upon which the parts were printed
in blue ink in classic Cleveland tradition.
The new parts were die cut to pop free
of the sheets without the labor of cutting.
The MiG’s tail surfaces were also die cut
from a 1/16-inch sheet. For reasons unclear,
that sheet was not preprinted, but die cut.
Die cutting my replica’s parts was out
of the question. Today the parts would
be laser cut, but the cost of laser cutting
the parts for a replica kit would be
prohibitive. I opted to copy the original
three parts sheets onto full sheet labels,
which were carefully cut and fi tted to
1/16-inch sheet balsa. If Richard wants to
build the replica kit, he can cut the parts
from the sheet and peel off the labels
before assembling the model.
Because the sheet for the tail surfaces
was die cut, I elected to make a drawing
of the parts on it, which I transferred to
full sheet labels as before and adhered to
a fourth sheet of balsa.
The Simplex MiG-15 had turned balsa
parts for the nose intake and tail exhaust.
These were duplicated by turning pieces
of thick balsa sheet on a Dremel tool
using a 1/16-inch, tapered rat-tail fi le. The
original parts were probably turned on
a lathe, but the Dremel-turned copies
closely matched the originals.
The Simplex models had precut LEs
and TEs for the wings. The LEs were
preshaped and the slots for the ribs
were precut. I couldn’t fi nd commercial,
preformed LEs to match the MiG, so I
made my own from 1/4-inch square balsa
strip.
The rib slots were carefully cut in square
stock using a band saw before shaping
the LE. I hand-shaped the LE using a
blade and a sanding block. I found some
appropriately sized, preformed TE stock in
a dusty bin at Wings Hobby. Slots for the
rib TEs were cut into this with a band saw.
The fuselage stringers were cut in
15-inch lengths from a 1/16-inch square
balsa strip. The original kit came with
wheels and preformed wire gear, which I
replicated using .047 piano wire. I would
have turned the wheels from hardwood,
but I had received a number of Cleveland
wheels as payment for plans that I drew
for E.T. Packard in the late 1960s. I found
three that closely matched those in the
kit.
The original Simplex kit provided white
Japanese tissue for covering and a small
sheet of red stars intended as markings for
the fi nished model. Rather than duplicate
these items, I elected to place a sheet of
silver Esaki tissue in the replica kit along
with red stars printed on label stock that
could be cut out, leaving a 1/16-inch white
border and then pressed onto the model.
As I mentioned, the original cockpit
canopy was badly damaged and unusable.
I carved a canopy mold from balsa block
using the plans drawings as a reference. I
formed a great-looking new canopy from
0.10-thick clear Butyrate sheet to replace
the damaged one.
Klemanek’s MiG-15 kit was missing
a canopy and he had used a nonscale
substitute. With his permission, I replaced
the canopy. I added some cockpit interior
detail including a headrest, instrument
panel, and refl ector site. I also carved a
pilot bust from Styrofoam and painted
it with acrylic to look like a pilot from a
Central Asian republic.
I sent the completed duplicate kit
to Richard in early January 2012 as a
belated Christmas gift. He was delighted.
FAC Jet Catapult Event
With the advent of Rapier Rocket
Motors a few years ago, there was
renewed interest in building jet- and
rocket-powered FF Scale models. For a
few seasons, the Flying Aces Club (FAC)
contests blossomed with dozens of Rapierpowered
models, but currently Rapiers are
unavailable and we are forced to look for
other means of propulsion. Small ducted
fans are coming into the market and might
be the best choice for small jet and rocket
models in the immediate future.
In an effort to keep the jets flying, the
FAC is urging its members to consider
flying in the FAC Jet Catapult (Jet-Cat)
event. Rules for this are in the latest FAC
rule book that you can download from the
FAC website.
FAC rules limit contestants to launching
from a motor stick no greater than 9
inches with a power source of a single
9-inch-or-less loop of rubber, so models for
this event will probably be small.
Air Ace Models (AAM) is exploring
the introduction of a line of jet subjects to
be flown in conformity with FAC Jet-Cat
rules. AAM’s proposed line would have a
61/2-inch or less wingspan.
AAM will provide full color markings
printed on 81/2 x 11-inch plain label
stock. When the models’ components are
cut out, the covering for each component
will be cut from the label stock and
pressed on.
AAM’s approach may be seen in its
small Hawker Hunter model, which is
currently being tested. AAM’s contact
information is in the “Sources” list if you’d
like more details.
Thermals to all this flying season!
SourceS:
Air Ace Models
Dennis o. Norman
11216 Lake Ave.
cleveland oH 44102
(216) 906-6146
[email protected]
cleveland Model & Supply company
(317) 257-7878
www.clevelandairline.com/default.asp
National Museum of the united States Air Force
(937) 255-3286
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
Wings Hobby Shop
17112 Detroit Ave.
cleveland oH 44107
(216) 221-5383
FAc
[email protected]
www.flyingacesclub.com
National Free Flight Society
http://freeflight.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/06
Page Numbers: 132,133,134,135,136
Rendezvous
by Dennis Norman
[email protected]
Because FAC rules place limits on Jet-Cat models,
AAM is proposing a new line that should qualify.
This Hawker Hunter is the rst of the proposed line.
Holly Chenail photo.
AAM’s proposed line of Jet-Cat subjects will
feature full-color graphics on white 8.5 x 11-
inch label stock, such as these for the AAM’s
Hawker Hunter. Chenail photo.
The history of aviation is o
en passed from one
generation to another. Here, a grandfather in
period uniform shows a youngster details of a WW I
replica. National Museum of the USAF photo.
This striking Nieuport 28 was one of several unique WW I models at the 2011 Dawn Patrol
Rendezvous in September 2011. National Museum of the USAF photo.
In late September 2011, I had the pleasure of attending the World War I Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in
Dayton, Ohio. The event is usually held at two-year intervals, but the next will be
delayed until 2014 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WW I.
I have attended the last several gatherings. Because the theme is focused on WW I,
vendors are encouraged to bring items based on that period. The event features fullscale
or nearly full-scale WW I aircraft replicas. Generally 15 to 20 replicas are present
and re-creations of WW I combat occur daily during the three-day event.
Pilots dress in authentic reproductions of WW I uniforms and gear. Reenactors are
also present in full WW I gear, complete with fi rearms. Early 20th century automobiles
are displayed and driven by their owners in period dress. An outstanding display of
WW I RC Scale models takes place daily. The Rendezvous is held on the airfi eld
adjacent to the fabulous USAF museum.
I often help the families of deceased modelers with the sale of their collections.
Much of this is done via the Internet, but I prefer to bring old kits, etc. to gatherings
such as the Dawn Patrol event, the Weak
Signals’ Toledo Expo, and similar events.
There is something to be said for actually
seeing and touching kits long out of
production. I often bring classic kits from
manufacturers such as Cleveland Model
& Supply Company, Comet, Sterling, and
others. Because the Dawn Patrol focuses
on WW I, I usually bring kits from that
era.
Cleveland MiG-15
Richard Hughes,
83, is a friend of
mine who lives near
the USAF museum.
We often meet
at model airplane
shows in Ohio.
Richard spent much of his life in the US
military and has witnessed much aviation
history.
At the 2011 Dawn Patrol, Richard
asked me if I had any Cleveland Model
& Supply Company models in my
inventory. Specifi cally, he wanted to know
if I had the 1951 Cleveland Simplex
18-inch Russian MiG-15. I had several
Cleveland kits from the early 1950s and
promised that I would check for the MiG
kit when I returned home.
I found one 18-inch MiG-15 kit, but
the box was damaged, the 60-year-old
plans were tattered and yellowed with
age, and the cockpit canopy had been
fl attened by a previous owner’s improper
storage. The kit was also missing most of
the wire parts for the landing gear.
I told Richard of the kit’s condition and
because he is a good friend and a loyal
customer, I offered to replicate the kit as
a gift. He was delighted at the prospect.
That began the challenging odyssey of
replicating the 60-year-old kit. I know
others have done similar projects, but
this was a fi rst for me, and I thought you
might appreciate the story of my journey.
The Simplex series of kits was created
by Cleveland in the early 1950s. To my
knowledge, six subjects were kitted
including S-79, a 20-inch-span Vought
Corsair; S-94, a 27-inch-span Piper Cub;
S-121, a 15-inch-span Lockheed F-90;
S-122, an 18-inch-span McDonnell
Banshee; S-123, a 15-inch-span Vought
Cutlass; and S-124, the 18-inch-span
MiG-15.
Cleveland kits had been in production
since the late 1920s and were considered
to be among the fi nest rubber-powered
FF Scale types in the world. Other
manufactures had crowded into the
market by the early 1950s, bringing
innovations including die-cut sheet wood
parts, preformed wire landing gear parts,
preshaped LEs and TEs for the wing,
vacuum-formed canopies, and turned
cowl parts. To meet the challenge of
its competitors, Cleveland created the
Simplex line which featured the latest
twists of the industry.
I built Cleveland’s McDonnell Banshee
and the MiG-15 as a teenager. Because
they were jet models, they were not
fi tted with propellers (that was probably
viewed as inappropriate in the 1950s).
Builders were encouraged to fl y the
models as gliders. I initially catapulted
mine with a large loop of T-56 brown
rubber.
At roughly the time that I was building
the MiG-15, I became aware of Jetex
Rocket Motors. I elected to paint my
MiG with Testor’s gloss black butyrate
dope. It gave the MiG a sinister look
that seemed to complement the exotic
Jetex 50 motor that I fastened slightly
below the CG. Unfortunately, the Jetex
repeatedly malfunctioned and proved
to be an unreliable source of propulsion.
The MiG resumed fl ight as a glider and
continued as such until it was tattered
and broken.
Right: Cleveland’s colorful box, detailed plans,
print wood, preformed wing LEs and TEs, balsa
strip stock, turned cowl and tailpipe, landing
gear pieces, and a fresh canopy complete Gene
Klemanek’s model. Dennis Norman photo
This rugged-looking pilot was carved from a
piece of Styrofoam stock, which was painted
with acrylics to evoke an Asian pilot of the
Korean War. Patrick Norman photo.
The Cleveland clone is
in formation with its
wingman in a low pass
over the plans. Cleveland
plans are superbly
detailed. Norman photo
The MiG remained only a memory
until a few years ago when my buddy
Gene Klemanek made one as a hanging
display for Wing’s Hobby Shop in
Lakewood, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. I
always admired Klemanek’s work and his
MiG-15 is a fi tting tribute to the quality
of the Simplex kits. I took a few photos to
give you an idea of the fi nished product.
In starting my clone of the kit, I
decided to fabricate a cardboard box
like the one used for the original. A visit
to a local art-supply store led me to
white tag board, which was similar in
thickness to the brown cardboard used
for the original kit. After a couple of
hours of careful measuring, cutting, and
fi tting, I replicated a box for the MiG-15.
Cleveland’s kits in the 1950s featured
boxes printed in red, white, and blue and
the Simplex line followed that tradition.
I duplicated the graphics by making
full-color photocopies of the box. I
elected to photocopy the replica artwork
onto Avery full-sheet labels (stock no.
5353).
Avery’s labels are 81/2 x 11 inches, but
the kit is more than 18-inches long. I
solved this challenge by using four sheets
of labels to copy the graphics in full color.
Each sheet showed approximately onehalf
of the kit’s front and back and onehalf
of one of the kit’s sides. I overlapped
the copies to ensure full coverage and
to create a nearly seamless joint when I
attached sections to the box.
Cuts were made over a rubberized mat
with a straightedge and X-Acto knife
with a new #11 blade. The fi rst half was
carefully adhered to the box and the
second half precisely aligned and buttjoined
to the fi rst. The process was then
repeated for the remainder of the box.
The art on the end fl aps was copied and
carefully attached.
A replica of the construction plans was
made by carefully passing the tattered
set through an engineering copier with
surprisingly good results.
The wood in the original kit consisted
of three sheets of 1/16 x 3-inch balsa sheet
stock, upon which the parts were printed
in blue ink in classic Cleveland tradition.
The new parts were die cut to pop free
of the sheets without the labor of cutting.
The MiG’s tail surfaces were also die cut
from a 1/16-inch sheet. For reasons unclear,
that sheet was not preprinted, but die cut.
Die cutting my replica’s parts was out
of the question. Today the parts would
be laser cut, but the cost of laser cutting
the parts for a replica kit would be
prohibitive. I opted to copy the original
three parts sheets onto full sheet labels,
which were carefully cut and fi tted to
1/16-inch sheet balsa. If Richard wants to
build the replica kit, he can cut the parts
from the sheet and peel off the labels
before assembling the model.
Because the sheet for the tail surfaces
was die cut, I elected to make a drawing
of the parts on it, which I transferred to
full sheet labels as before and adhered to
a fourth sheet of balsa.
The Simplex MiG-15 had turned balsa
parts for the nose intake and tail exhaust.
These were duplicated by turning pieces
of thick balsa sheet on a Dremel tool
using a 1/16-inch, tapered rat-tail fi le. The
original parts were probably turned on
a lathe, but the Dremel-turned copies
closely matched the originals.
The Simplex models had precut LEs
and TEs for the wings. The LEs were
preshaped and the slots for the ribs
were precut. I couldn’t fi nd commercial,
preformed LEs to match the MiG, so I
made my own from 1/4-inch square balsa
strip.
The rib slots were carefully cut in square
stock using a band saw before shaping
the LE. I hand-shaped the LE using a
blade and a sanding block. I found some
appropriately sized, preformed TE stock in
a dusty bin at Wings Hobby. Slots for the
rib TEs were cut into this with a band saw.
The fuselage stringers were cut in
15-inch lengths from a 1/16-inch square
balsa strip. The original kit came with
wheels and preformed wire gear, which I
replicated using .047 piano wire. I would
have turned the wheels from hardwood,
but I had received a number of Cleveland
wheels as payment for plans that I drew
for E.T. Packard in the late 1960s. I found
three that closely matched those in the
kit.
The original Simplex kit provided white
Japanese tissue for covering and a small
sheet of red stars intended as markings for
the fi nished model. Rather than duplicate
these items, I elected to place a sheet of
silver Esaki tissue in the replica kit along
with red stars printed on label stock that
could be cut out, leaving a 1/16-inch white
border and then pressed onto the model.
As I mentioned, the original cockpit
canopy was badly damaged and unusable.
I carved a canopy mold from balsa block
using the plans drawings as a reference. I
formed a great-looking new canopy from
0.10-thick clear Butyrate sheet to replace
the damaged one.
Klemanek’s MiG-15 kit was missing
a canopy and he had used a nonscale
substitute. With his permission, I replaced
the canopy. I added some cockpit interior
detail including a headrest, instrument
panel, and refl ector site. I also carved a
pilot bust from Styrofoam and painted
it with acrylic to look like a pilot from a
Central Asian republic.
I sent the completed duplicate kit
to Richard in early January 2012 as a
belated Christmas gift. He was delighted.
FAC Jet Catapult Event
With the advent of Rapier Rocket
Motors a few years ago, there was
renewed interest in building jet- and
rocket-powered FF Scale models. For a
few seasons, the Flying Aces Club (FAC)
contests blossomed with dozens of Rapierpowered
models, but currently Rapiers are
unavailable and we are forced to look for
other means of propulsion. Small ducted
fans are coming into the market and might
be the best choice for small jet and rocket
models in the immediate future.
In an effort to keep the jets flying, the
FAC is urging its members to consider
flying in the FAC Jet Catapult (Jet-Cat)
event. Rules for this are in the latest FAC
rule book that you can download from the
FAC website.
FAC rules limit contestants to launching
from a motor stick no greater than 9
inches with a power source of a single
9-inch-or-less loop of rubber, so models for
this event will probably be small.
Air Ace Models (AAM) is exploring
the introduction of a line of jet subjects to
be flown in conformity with FAC Jet-Cat
rules. AAM’s proposed line would have a
61/2-inch or less wingspan.
AAM will provide full color markings
printed on 81/2 x 11-inch plain label
stock. When the models’ components are
cut out, the covering for each component
will be cut from the label stock and
pressed on.
AAM’s approach may be seen in its
small Hawker Hunter model, which is
currently being tested. AAM’s contact
information is in the “Sources” list if you’d
like more details.
Thermals to all this flying season!
SourceS:
Air Ace Models
Dennis o. Norman
11216 Lake Ave.
cleveland oH 44102
(216) 906-6146
[email protected]
cleveland Model & Supply company
(317) 257-7878
www.clevelandairline.com/default.asp
National Museum of the united States Air Force
(937) 255-3286
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
Wings Hobby Shop
17112 Detroit Ave.
cleveland oH 44107
(216) 221-5383
FAc
[email protected]
www.flyingacesclub.com
National Free Flight Society
http://freeflight.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/06
Page Numbers: 132,133,134,135,136
Rendezvous
by Dennis Norman
[email protected]
Because FAC rules place limits on Jet-Cat models,
AAM is proposing a new line that should qualify.
This Hawker Hunter is the rst of the proposed line.
Holly Chenail photo.
AAM’s proposed line of Jet-Cat subjects will
feature full-color graphics on white 8.5 x 11-
inch label stock, such as these for the AAM’s
Hawker Hunter. Chenail photo.
The history of aviation is o
en passed from one
generation to another. Here, a grandfather in
period uniform shows a youngster details of a WW I
replica. National Museum of the USAF photo.
This striking Nieuport 28 was one of several unique WW I models at the 2011 Dawn Patrol
Rendezvous in September 2011. National Museum of the USAF photo.
In late September 2011, I had the pleasure of attending the World War I Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in
Dayton, Ohio. The event is usually held at two-year intervals, but the next will be
delayed until 2014 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WW I.
I have attended the last several gatherings. Because the theme is focused on WW I,
vendors are encouraged to bring items based on that period. The event features fullscale
or nearly full-scale WW I aircraft replicas. Generally 15 to 20 replicas are present
and re-creations of WW I combat occur daily during the three-day event.
Pilots dress in authentic reproductions of WW I uniforms and gear. Reenactors are
also present in full WW I gear, complete with fi rearms. Early 20th century automobiles
are displayed and driven by their owners in period dress. An outstanding display of
WW I RC Scale models takes place daily. The Rendezvous is held on the airfi eld
adjacent to the fabulous USAF museum.
I often help the families of deceased modelers with the sale of their collections.
Much of this is done via the Internet, but I prefer to bring old kits, etc. to gatherings
such as the Dawn Patrol event, the Weak
Signals’ Toledo Expo, and similar events.
There is something to be said for actually
seeing and touching kits long out of
production. I often bring classic kits from
manufacturers such as Cleveland Model
& Supply Company, Comet, Sterling, and
others. Because the Dawn Patrol focuses
on WW I, I usually bring kits from that
era.
Cleveland MiG-15
Richard Hughes,
83, is a friend of
mine who lives near
the USAF museum.
We often meet
at model airplane
shows in Ohio.
Richard spent much of his life in the US
military and has witnessed much aviation
history.
At the 2011 Dawn Patrol, Richard
asked me if I had any Cleveland Model
& Supply Company models in my
inventory. Specifi cally, he wanted to know
if I had the 1951 Cleveland Simplex
18-inch Russian MiG-15. I had several
Cleveland kits from the early 1950s and
promised that I would check for the MiG
kit when I returned home.
I found one 18-inch MiG-15 kit, but
the box was damaged, the 60-year-old
plans were tattered and yellowed with
age, and the cockpit canopy had been
fl attened by a previous owner’s improper
storage. The kit was also missing most of
the wire parts for the landing gear.
I told Richard of the kit’s condition and
because he is a good friend and a loyal
customer, I offered to replicate the kit as
a gift. He was delighted at the prospect.
That began the challenging odyssey of
replicating the 60-year-old kit. I know
others have done similar projects, but
this was a fi rst for me, and I thought you
might appreciate the story of my journey.
The Simplex series of kits was created
by Cleveland in the early 1950s. To my
knowledge, six subjects were kitted
including S-79, a 20-inch-span Vought
Corsair; S-94, a 27-inch-span Piper Cub;
S-121, a 15-inch-span Lockheed F-90;
S-122, an 18-inch-span McDonnell
Banshee; S-123, a 15-inch-span Vought
Cutlass; and S-124, the 18-inch-span
MiG-15.
Cleveland kits had been in production
since the late 1920s and were considered
to be among the fi nest rubber-powered
FF Scale types in the world. Other
manufactures had crowded into the
market by the early 1950s, bringing
innovations including die-cut sheet wood
parts, preformed wire landing gear parts,
preshaped LEs and TEs for the wing,
vacuum-formed canopies, and turned
cowl parts. To meet the challenge of
its competitors, Cleveland created the
Simplex line which featured the latest
twists of the industry.
I built Cleveland’s McDonnell Banshee
and the MiG-15 as a teenager. Because
they were jet models, they were not
fi tted with propellers (that was probably
viewed as inappropriate in the 1950s).
Builders were encouraged to fl y the
models as gliders. I initially catapulted
mine with a large loop of T-56 brown
rubber.
At roughly the time that I was building
the MiG-15, I became aware of Jetex
Rocket Motors. I elected to paint my
MiG with Testor’s gloss black butyrate
dope. It gave the MiG a sinister look
that seemed to complement the exotic
Jetex 50 motor that I fastened slightly
below the CG. Unfortunately, the Jetex
repeatedly malfunctioned and proved
to be an unreliable source of propulsion.
The MiG resumed fl ight as a glider and
continued as such until it was tattered
and broken.
Right: Cleveland’s colorful box, detailed plans,
print wood, preformed wing LEs and TEs, balsa
strip stock, turned cowl and tailpipe, landing
gear pieces, and a fresh canopy complete Gene
Klemanek’s model. Dennis Norman photo
This rugged-looking pilot was carved from a
piece of Styrofoam stock, which was painted
with acrylics to evoke an Asian pilot of the
Korean War. Patrick Norman photo.
The Cleveland clone is
in formation with its
wingman in a low pass
over the plans. Cleveland
plans are superbly
detailed. Norman photo
The MiG remained only a memory
until a few years ago when my buddy
Gene Klemanek made one as a hanging
display for Wing’s Hobby Shop in
Lakewood, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. I
always admired Klemanek’s work and his
MiG-15 is a fi tting tribute to the quality
of the Simplex kits. I took a few photos to
give you an idea of the fi nished product.
In starting my clone of the kit, I
decided to fabricate a cardboard box
like the one used for the original. A visit
to a local art-supply store led me to
white tag board, which was similar in
thickness to the brown cardboard used
for the original kit. After a couple of
hours of careful measuring, cutting, and
fi tting, I replicated a box for the MiG-15.
Cleveland’s kits in the 1950s featured
boxes printed in red, white, and blue and
the Simplex line followed that tradition.
I duplicated the graphics by making
full-color photocopies of the box. I
elected to photocopy the replica artwork
onto Avery full-sheet labels (stock no.
5353).
Avery’s labels are 81/2 x 11 inches, but
the kit is more than 18-inches long. I
solved this challenge by using four sheets
of labels to copy the graphics in full color.
Each sheet showed approximately onehalf
of the kit’s front and back and onehalf
of one of the kit’s sides. I overlapped
the copies to ensure full coverage and
to create a nearly seamless joint when I
attached sections to the box.
Cuts were made over a rubberized mat
with a straightedge and X-Acto knife
with a new #11 blade. The fi rst half was
carefully adhered to the box and the
second half precisely aligned and buttjoined
to the fi rst. The process was then
repeated for the remainder of the box.
The art on the end fl aps was copied and
carefully attached.
A replica of the construction plans was
made by carefully passing the tattered
set through an engineering copier with
surprisingly good results.
The wood in the original kit consisted
of three sheets of 1/16 x 3-inch balsa sheet
stock, upon which the parts were printed
in blue ink in classic Cleveland tradition.
The new parts were die cut to pop free
of the sheets without the labor of cutting.
The MiG’s tail surfaces were also die cut
from a 1/16-inch sheet. For reasons unclear,
that sheet was not preprinted, but die cut.
Die cutting my replica’s parts was out
of the question. Today the parts would
be laser cut, but the cost of laser cutting
the parts for a replica kit would be
prohibitive. I opted to copy the original
three parts sheets onto full sheet labels,
which were carefully cut and fi tted to
1/16-inch sheet balsa. If Richard wants to
build the replica kit, he can cut the parts
from the sheet and peel off the labels
before assembling the model.
Because the sheet for the tail surfaces
was die cut, I elected to make a drawing
of the parts on it, which I transferred to
full sheet labels as before and adhered to
a fourth sheet of balsa.
The Simplex MiG-15 had turned balsa
parts for the nose intake and tail exhaust.
These were duplicated by turning pieces
of thick balsa sheet on a Dremel tool
using a 1/16-inch, tapered rat-tail fi le. The
original parts were probably turned on
a lathe, but the Dremel-turned copies
closely matched the originals.
The Simplex models had precut LEs
and TEs for the wings. The LEs were
preshaped and the slots for the ribs
were precut. I couldn’t fi nd commercial,
preformed LEs to match the MiG, so I
made my own from 1/4-inch square balsa
strip.
The rib slots were carefully cut in square
stock using a band saw before shaping
the LE. I hand-shaped the LE using a
blade and a sanding block. I found some
appropriately sized, preformed TE stock in
a dusty bin at Wings Hobby. Slots for the
rib TEs were cut into this with a band saw.
The fuselage stringers were cut in
15-inch lengths from a 1/16-inch square
balsa strip. The original kit came with
wheels and preformed wire gear, which I
replicated using .047 piano wire. I would
have turned the wheels from hardwood,
but I had received a number of Cleveland
wheels as payment for plans that I drew
for E.T. Packard in the late 1960s. I found
three that closely matched those in the
kit.
The original Simplex kit provided white
Japanese tissue for covering and a small
sheet of red stars intended as markings for
the fi nished model. Rather than duplicate
these items, I elected to place a sheet of
silver Esaki tissue in the replica kit along
with red stars printed on label stock that
could be cut out, leaving a 1/16-inch white
border and then pressed onto the model.
As I mentioned, the original cockpit
canopy was badly damaged and unusable.
I carved a canopy mold from balsa block
using the plans drawings as a reference. I
formed a great-looking new canopy from
0.10-thick clear Butyrate sheet to replace
the damaged one.
Klemanek’s MiG-15 kit was missing
a canopy and he had used a nonscale
substitute. With his permission, I replaced
the canopy. I added some cockpit interior
detail including a headrest, instrument
panel, and refl ector site. I also carved a
pilot bust from Styrofoam and painted
it with acrylic to look like a pilot from a
Central Asian republic.
I sent the completed duplicate kit
to Richard in early January 2012 as a
belated Christmas gift. He was delighted.
FAC Jet Catapult Event
With the advent of Rapier Rocket
Motors a few years ago, there was
renewed interest in building jet- and
rocket-powered FF Scale models. For a
few seasons, the Flying Aces Club (FAC)
contests blossomed with dozens of Rapierpowered
models, but currently Rapiers are
unavailable and we are forced to look for
other means of propulsion. Small ducted
fans are coming into the market and might
be the best choice for small jet and rocket
models in the immediate future.
In an effort to keep the jets flying, the
FAC is urging its members to consider
flying in the FAC Jet Catapult (Jet-Cat)
event. Rules for this are in the latest FAC
rule book that you can download from the
FAC website.
FAC rules limit contestants to launching
from a motor stick no greater than 9
inches with a power source of a single
9-inch-or-less loop of rubber, so models for
this event will probably be small.
Air Ace Models (AAM) is exploring
the introduction of a line of jet subjects to
be flown in conformity with FAC Jet-Cat
rules. AAM’s proposed line would have a
61/2-inch or less wingspan.
AAM will provide full color markings
printed on 81/2 x 11-inch plain label
stock. When the models’ components are
cut out, the covering for each component
will be cut from the label stock and
pressed on.
AAM’s approach may be seen in its
small Hawker Hunter model, which is
currently being tested. AAM’s contact
information is in the “Sources” list if you’d
like more details.
Thermals to all this flying season!
SourceS:
Air Ace Models
Dennis o. Norman
11216 Lake Ave.
cleveland oH 44102
(216) 906-6146
[email protected]
cleveland Model & Supply company
(317) 257-7878
www.clevelandairline.com/default.asp
National Museum of the united States Air Force
(937) 255-3286
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
Wings Hobby Shop
17112 Detroit Ave.
cleveland oH 44107
(216) 221-5383
FAc
[email protected]
www.flyingacesclub.com
National Free Flight Society
http://freeflight.org
