FF Scale
Dennis Norman
The long-awaited book about Cleveland's Ed Packard is now shipping!
Also included in this column:
- Details of the FPG-9 Styrofoam-plate glider
- New short kits from Air Ace Models
- Don's Fly Lite Tissue
- Cleveland Free Flight Society's new monthly tradition
- New Diels Engineering kits
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I hope the season has brought and will continue to bring many blessings to you and yours.
I have exciting news for all of us in FF Scale: the long-awaited story of Cleveland Model & Supply Company and its colorful founder has just been released. Entitled Aviation's Great Recruiter: Cleveland's Ed Packard, the book was in preparation for years and has finally been presented by H.L. (Herm) Schreiner and published by Kent State University Press.
You may contact Kent State University Press at www.kentstateuniversitypress.com. The paperbound, 352-page book is printed on 8 1/2" x 10 1/2" inch paper and has 200 photos, 20 of which are in color. It includes notes, a bibliography, and an index. The retail price is $39.95 plus shipping.
Founded in 1919, Cleveland Model & Supply Company ruled the modeling roost by World War II. This book has been well researched and beautifully illustrated with colorful ads, stunning model photos, and examples of the meticulous plans which set Cleveland apart from most of its competitors.
H.L. Schreiner has more than 25 years of experience as a director of the American Historical Society, and he brings a scholarly, but warm, touch to the Cleveland Model story. He has taken the time to introduce the major contributors to Cleveland-designed models and has presented the reader with some of the company's outstanding models. Although Ed Packard was often controversial, his prodigious line of kits and scale drawings was widely admired.
Anyone who is interested in FF Scale modeling will probably find H.L. Schreiner's book to be invaluable for the insights and inspirations it brings to our wonderful hobby. I highly recommend obtaining a copy of Aviation's Great Recruiter for your library.
The Cleveland Model & Supply Company still exists and markets many of the plans for the original Cleveland kits. You can obtain further information online at www.clevelandairline.com or by contacting the company at Box 59562FM, Indianapolis IN 46205; Tel.: (317) 257-7878; Fax: (317) 257-7877. An illustrated catalog is available for $5 in the US ($10 abroad).
For those who are new to FF, AMA National Model Aviation Museum volunteer Jack Reynolds has developed a simple glider called the FPG-9, which uses a 9-inch-diameter Styrofoam plate as a starting point to quickly build a good-flying glider for even the youngest fliers.
My two eldest grandsons Finn and Joe are both 4 years old. At Joe's recent birthday party, FPG-9s were built from instructions provided by the museum. The models took only minutes to make from the pattern and instructions provided, and they performed well, to the delight of Finn, Joe, and his friends.
You can get information about the FPG-9 project by contacting the National Model Aviation Museum at www.modelaircraft.org/museum/museminfo.asp.
I am marketing a new series of models for the seasoned builders under the name Air Ace Models. Available in Peanut Scale (13-inch span) and Walnut Scale (17.25-inch span), the kits make use of the methods described in my article "Color Copier Techniques" (in the June 2002 MA).
There are currently three versions of the Spad XIII (Rickenbacker's 94th Aero Squadron, deTorenne's SPA 48, and a spoof-war US Army Air Service 17 Pursuit Squadron), two versions of the Fokker D.VII (von Hantelmann's famous skull and crossbones and Udelt's legendary "Du doch nicht!!"), the Sopwith Triplane and a Fokker triplane (Collishaw's "Black Maria"), and a Fokker triplane (Richthofen's 152/17-streaked green-and-red markings).
There is also a Nieuport 17 (Nungesser's famous scheme), an S.E.5a (Mannock's markings), a P-51B Mustang ("Ding Hao!" flown by Medal of Honor winner Colonel James H. Howard), a Bf 109E (in the Battle of Britain markings of J.G. 26), and the colorful Vichy Curtiss Hawk 75 (of French Ace Georges Lemare).
Each model "kit" includes a booklet with scale plan, construction and covering notes, a selection of photographs and diagrams, a construction plan, and full-color covering with the paint scheme and markings printed (using a color copier—not a computer printer) on white Japanese tissue.
The "kits" do not include wood, propellers, etc., but those items should be available from most hobby shops or mail-order suppliers. Prices for the kits vary with scale and subject, and postage and packaging are extra.
FF Scale
Dennis Norman
Available from commercial supply houses. The Peanut sizes are $22.50 (postage included) and the Walnut sizes are $34 (postage included). The "kits" are made in limited numbers, so no dealers please (sorry). Make checks payable to me at 11216 Lake Ave., Cleveland OH 44102. You can obtain more information about various models by checking my Web site at www.airacemodels.com.
Robert Passerelli of Greenwich, Connecticut, recently completed the Walnut Air Ace S.E.5a. He sent me a picture of himself with the completed model, which he claims threatens to fly out of sight. Robert is currently working on another Air Ace subject—the Spitfire XIV—which should be available by spring 2006.
This column has to be written approximately three months before it appears in print. Since I had obtained an extension of one month to cover the 2005 Flying Aces Club (FAC) Non-Nats for the October issue, I was not in a position to ask for a delay in publishing this column, which was due the day after the 2005 FAC Outdoor Champs at Muncie, Indiana, September 10-11.
Fortunately my good friend Fred Wunschke has provided me with excellent photographs of some of the entrants and their builders. All of you are encouraged to share pictures of your well turned out models of interest.
Plans are already being made to cover the 2006 FAC Nats in Geneseo, New York. There will be more about that in my next column.
I am always happy to make you aware of products that are available for our use. Recently I received a sample of tissue from Don’s Bass and Balsa Wood in Canada (116 Main E., Grimsby, Ontario L3M 1N8, Canada; Tel.: [905] 945-5647; Fax: [905] 945-5156). Marketed as Don’s Fly Lite Tissue, it measures 25 x 36 inches and weighs approximately 9 grams per sheet.
This tissue is a bit heavy for smaller models but should do nicely for larger types (spanning 30 inches or more). It is purported to have excellent wet strength and may be obtained in packs of five sheets or 10 sheets (no price given).
According to Don, he was one of those responsible for Easy Built Models before it became American-owned, and he has a great deal of experience with FF Scale modeling.
Cleveland Free Flight Society (CFFS) President Rich Weber has started a monthly tradition that other clubs might want to consider for their membership. He has instituted club meetings on the third Thursday of each month at the party room of a local restaurant. This has made our club meetings even more social while enabling us to conduct club business in a relaxed setting.
In addition, CFFS Vice President Geoff Phillips has been cooking hot dogs for the participants at our contests. This has provided us with another gracious touch to our gatherings and has been enthusiastically received by our members and guests.
Dave Diels of Diels Engineering, Inc. intends to introduce as many as six new models to his line in 2006. His latest offering—the Japanese Nakajima “Kate” attack bomber—is available in 1/4 scale (a 25.42-inch span) and may be obtained at $32.95 per kit plus $7 shipping and handling.
You can contact Dave by E-mail at [email protected] or by snail mail at Box 263, Amherst OH 44001.
The FAC has issued its first calendar, consisting of at least 12 8-1/2 x 11-inch color photos of FAC Scale aircraft. It is an absolute must for those who are interested in FF Scale modeling. To purchase a calendar, send $20 (postpaid) to FAC-GHQ, 3301 Cindy Ln., Erie PA 16506. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
