FF SPORT 2013/07 Planes, people, plans, and procedures

Author: Gene Smith

Edition: Model Aviation - 2013/07
Page Numbers: 129,130,131

Planes, people, plans, and procedures

Approximately two years ago I saw a photo of Al Timken launching his Wanderer at the Flying Aces Club (FAC) Non-Nats. It immediately went on my building list.

The Old-Timer Rubber design was "rediscovered" by Bill Schmidt. Jim O'Reilly drew the CAD plans and Bob Holman offers the short kit. The model has proven popular and mine practically flew off the board.

I moved the motor peg forward one bay. That allowed the model to accommodate a blast tube and helped with the CG.

Jace Pivonka

I met 13-year-old Jace Pivonka at the Magnificent Mountain Men's Labor Day contest last year and was impressed by his flying skills. With only two years of experience, Jace consistently picked thermals.

He flies Indoor, Coupe P-30, and Catapult Gliders. When he was still in middle school, Jace outflew high school students in an Indoor competition. He has already given back to the hobby by serving as a mentor to United States Air Force Academy cadets at an academy event last December.

Jace plans to try out for the 2014 Junior F1B team.

Aaron Narance — Oily Bird

Ten-year-old Aaron Narance and his father, David, had fun at the AMA Nats last summer, flying several models including an Oily Bird. Aaron has been building with a passion since becoming interested in model airplanes through a Cub Scout project. He will become a Boy Scout this year and looks forward to earning an Aviation Merit Badge.

The Oily Bird article and plans were featured in American Aircraft Modeler, October 1968. The model is basically an enlarged AMA Delta Dart with a firewall for a Cox .020 engine. The engine run is controlled using an eyedropper tank.

The magazine's digital archives don't go back that far, but you could probably get a copy of the original article from the AMA Lee Renaud Memorial Library. Plans are available for this model (Plans No. 31393) through the AMA Plans Service.

Marcel Lavoie's Balsa Cutting Tools

Several years ago I came across an interesting article by Marcel Lavoie on the FF Scale website, Small Flying Arts. Marcel outlined the use of some unique tools for quickly and accurately cutting the uprights of stick fuselages.

The article was interesting, but I wasn't motivated to use it until I discovered that Marcel had produced a three-part video tutorial illustrating his technique. It can be seen on YouTube. It convinced me to get out of my building rut and give Marcel's method a try.

Marcel uses sharp, single-edge blades mounted on tongue-depressor sticks. The long sticks allow the builder to easily see when the blade is vertical. Hard balsa blocks with pins are key to the technique, allowing the top and bottom longerons to be raised from the board as the uprights are slid into position for cutting. Keeping those blocks on the plans also means that the fuselage sides will be identical. Try Marcel's method and I think you will be pleased. To find the video on YouTube, use "harrier1934" in the search function. A nice pictorial that documents tool and jigging block sizes is also available online.

Canopy Framing Techniques

This canopy-framing tip isn't my idea, but I wish it was. Begin with tissue of the proper color for the canopy frame. It can be chalked or lightly doped to intensify the color. Apply glue stick to the reverse side of the tissue (the chalked side if you've done that). Let it dry, then cut out the appropriate frame shapes for your canopy.

Carefully place a strip against the canopy with the glue side facing the plastic. Run water over the tissue using a small, pointed paintbrush. The water will penetrate the tissue, dissolve the glue, and attach it to the canopy. Smooth the piece with a fingertip and let it dry in place.

The tissue will shrink as it dries, conforming to the surface of the plastic. After the tissue pieces have dried, apply a coat of clear dope using a small, pointed paintbrush. The same technique works for tissue trim applied to tissue-covered surfaces and for windscreen trim on cabin models.

Comet Porterfield Outdoor Championships One-Design

The One-Design aircraft for the 2013 FAC Outdoor Championships, September 5–6, in Muncie, Indiana, is the 25c Comet Porterfield. For details, check the contest flyer on the FAC website.

Veron Hawker Fury Build

If you are interested in watching a model-building video that will bring a smile to your face, go to YouTube and search for "Veron Hawker Fury Build." One would never guess that it could be so much fun to watch a stick-and-tissue model being built!