In my March 2014 column, I made reference to the budding rebirth of all-sheet FF Scale balsa types. Inspired by the website of Paul and Ralph Bradley, the Cleveland Free Flight Society (CFFS) is building replicas of the all-sheet masterpieces originally produced by Top Flite, Hales Frogflite, Carl Goldberg, and others.
In late 2013, the CFFS began discussing a new all-sheet event for models at its local contests. There was speculation that the Flying Aces Club (FAC) might sponsor a similar event. As it turned out, the FAC, already “blessed” with more than 40 events, elected not to sponsor an all-sheet event at this time. CFFS will sponsor an all-sheet event at its contests in 2014. Updates will follow.
Brothers Paul and Ralph Bradley have a website that should be seen by all FF Scale builders. The site offers photos of models built from downloadable plans.
Of particular interest are Paul’s slightly modified and updated all-sheet Scale classics. Most of these first appeared roughly 50 years ago and were great favorites of teenage modelers (myself included) who built and flew them to destruction.
The models were angular caricatures of well-known military and civilian aircraft. They were quickly built and great fun to fly, although they seldom flew for more than a fraction of a minute.
Paul has modified his offerings to be made from 1/32-inch sheet balsa rather than the 1/16-inch sheet used to build the original aircraft. In a stroke of genius, he has introduced the option of printing surface details and markings on sheet balsa using T-shirt transfers. The results are stunning and weight is negligible.
CFFS members have built several all-sheet models from these plans and they have used a variety of ways to cover them, including T-shirt transfers, spray paint, marking pens, and tissue upon which the coloring and markings have been created using a color copier. Many are looking forward to testing prototypes in the upcoming flying season.
New Offerings
In addition to the Bradleys’ website, information on all-sheet types may be obtained from Hip Pocket Aeronautics, a website that devotes itself to a large variety of FF and FF Scale subjects and plans. Mike Stewart, from the United Kingdom, has an excellent website that covers, among other things, a number of all-sheet plans from England.
Finally, Jim Lueken has started a new online business offering high-quality Scale FF plans and modeling publications from the great Bill Hannan and the legendary Frank Zaic, whose books are still relevant and again available.
2014 FAC Nats Reminder
The always fascinating FAC Nats will be held in Geneseo, New York, on July 16-19, 2014. The FAC Nats is the largest FF Scale event in the world and will attract hundreds of enthusiasts worldwide. It is a delight not to be missed.
WW I Centennial
Another major gathering will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. To be held in Dayton, Ohio, the event will be sponsored by the National Museum of the United States Air Force and the Great War Aeroplanes Association September 27-28, 2014.
Featured will be flying demonstrations of WW I model aircraft, full-scale aircraft, an antique automobile parade, a reenactment program, and educational/hands-on programs. Evening events for participants only will include Saturday dinner on the backfield and Sunday’s Dawn Patrol banquet inside the museum.
