Jace Pivonka is an up-andcoming
FF modeler with the
Magni cent Mountain Men FF
club. Photo by Catherine Snider.
The author’s
Wanderer flies well
and was easy to
trim. The covering
is Japanese tissue
over 1/4-mil Mylar.
Aaron Narance flew his Oily
Bird at last year’s Nats.
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 fl ew off of 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 Magnifi cent Mountain Men’s
Labor Day contest last year and was impressed by his fl ying skills. With
only two years of experience, Jace consistently picked thermals.
He fl ies Indoor, Coupe P-30, and Catapult Gliders. When he was
still in middle school, Jace
outfl ew 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 Narace Oily Bird
Ten-year-old Aaron Narace
and his father, David, had
fun at the AMA Nats last
summer, fl ying 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 fi rewall 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 number 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
Planes, people, plans, and procedures
by Gene Smith
[email protected]
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
www.ModelAviation.com JULY 2013 Model Aviation 129
FF SPORT
129-131_MA0713_SmithFFSport.indd 129 5/20/13 12:49 PM
Apply the technique described in the text and your
model can have a beautifully framed canopy.
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
130 Model Aviation July 2013 www.ModelAviation.com
ff sport
129-131_MA0713_SmithFFSport.indd 130 5/20/13 12:49 PM
Bob Clemons’ slick Comet Porterfield spans
24.5 inches and weighs 33.4 grams empty.
Covering is yellow Esaki tissue with black
tissue trim. Clemons photo.
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 25¢ 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!
Shorty’s Basement
Shorty’s Basement has a new,
improved website. Check “Sources” for
the website address.
SOURCES:
Jim O’Reilly Model Plans
(316) 744-0856
www.jimoreillymodelplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
AMA Plans Service
(800) 435-9262, ext. 507
www.modelaircraft.org/plans/plans.aspx
Marcel Lavoie’s stick fuselages
[email protected]
www.newg.info/marcel_lavoie.html
Flying Aces Club
www.flyingacesclub.com
Shorty’s Basement
(269) 339-9795
www.volareproducts.com/BUY
YouTube
www.youtube.com
National Free Flight Society
www.freeflight.org
www.ModelAviation.com July 2013 Model Aviation 131
129-131_MA0713_SmithFFSport.indd 131 5/20/13 12:49 PM
Edition: Model Aviation - 2013/07
Page Numbers: 129,130,131
Edition: Model Aviation - 2013/07
Page Numbers: 129,130,131
Jace Pivonka is an up-andcoming
FF modeler with the
Magni cent Mountain Men FF
club. Photo by Catherine Snider.
The author’s
Wanderer flies well
and was easy to
trim. The covering
is Japanese tissue
over 1/4-mil Mylar.
Aaron Narance flew his Oily
Bird at last year’s Nats.
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 fl ew off of 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 Magnifi cent Mountain Men’s
Labor Day contest last year and was impressed by his fl ying skills. With
only two years of experience, Jace consistently picked thermals.
He fl ies Indoor, Coupe P-30, and Catapult Gliders. When he was
still in middle school, Jace
outfl ew 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 Narace Oily Bird
Ten-year-old Aaron Narace
and his father, David, had
fun at the AMA Nats last
summer, fl ying 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 fi rewall 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 number 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
Planes, people, plans, and procedures
by Gene Smith
[email protected]
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
www.ModelAviation.com JULY 2013 Model Aviation 129
FF SPORT
129-131_MA0713_SmithFFSport.indd 129 5/20/13 12:49 PM
Apply the technique described in the text and your
model can have a beautifully framed canopy.
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
130 Model Aviation July 2013 www.ModelAviation.com
ff sport
129-131_MA0713_SmithFFSport.indd 130 5/20/13 12:49 PM
Bob Clemons’ slick Comet Porterfield spans
24.5 inches and weighs 33.4 grams empty.
Covering is yellow Esaki tissue with black
tissue trim. Clemons photo.
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 25¢ 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!
Shorty’s Basement
Shorty’s Basement has a new,
improved website. Check “Sources” for
the website address.
SOURCES:
Jim O’Reilly Model Plans
(316) 744-0856
www.jimoreillymodelplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
AMA Plans Service
(800) 435-9262, ext. 507
www.modelaircraft.org/plans/plans.aspx
Marcel Lavoie’s stick fuselages
[email protected]
www.newg.info/marcel_lavoie.html
Flying Aces Club
www.flyingacesclub.com
Shorty’s Basement
(269) 339-9795
www.volareproducts.com/BUY
YouTube
www.youtube.com
National Free Flight Society
www.freeflight.org
www.ModelAviation.com July 2013 Model Aviation 131
129-131_MA0713_SmithFFSport.indd 131 5/20/13 12:49 PM
Edition: Model Aviation - 2013/07
Page Numbers: 129,130,131
Jace Pivonka is an up-andcoming
FF modeler with the
Magni cent Mountain Men FF
club. Photo by Catherine Snider.
The author’s
Wanderer flies well
and was easy to
trim. The covering
is Japanese tissue
over 1/4-mil Mylar.
Aaron Narance flew his Oily
Bird at last year’s Nats.
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 fl ew off of 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 Magnifi cent Mountain Men’s
Labor Day contest last year and was impressed by his fl ying skills. With
only two years of experience, Jace consistently picked thermals.
He fl ies Indoor, Coupe P-30, and Catapult Gliders. When he was
still in middle school, Jace
outfl ew 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 Narace Oily Bird
Ten-year-old Aaron Narace
and his father, David, had
fun at the AMA Nats last
summer, fl ying 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 fi rewall 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 number 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
Planes, people, plans, and procedures
by Gene Smith
[email protected]
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
www.ModelAviation.com JULY 2013 Model Aviation 129
FF SPORT
129-131_MA0713_SmithFFSport.indd 129 5/20/13 12:49 PM
Apply the technique described in the text and your
model can have a beautifully framed canopy.
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
130 Model Aviation July 2013 www.ModelAviation.com
ff sport
129-131_MA0713_SmithFFSport.indd 130 5/20/13 12:49 PM
Bob Clemons’ slick Comet Porterfield spans
24.5 inches and weighs 33.4 grams empty.
Covering is yellow Esaki tissue with black
tissue trim. Clemons photo.
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 25¢ 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!
Shorty’s Basement
Shorty’s Basement has a new,
improved website. Check “Sources” for
the website address.
SOURCES:
Jim O’Reilly Model Plans
(316) 744-0856
www.jimoreillymodelplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
AMA Plans Service
(800) 435-9262, ext. 507
www.modelaircraft.org/plans/plans.aspx
Marcel Lavoie’s stick fuselages
[email protected]
www.newg.info/marcel_lavoie.html
Flying Aces Club
www.flyingacesclub.com
Shorty’s Basement
(269) 339-9795
www.volareproducts.com/BUY
YouTube
www.youtube.com
National Free Flight Society
www.freeflight.org
www.ModelAviation.com July 2013 Model Aviation 131
129-131_MA0713_SmithFFSport.indd 131 5/20/13 12:49 PM
