Free Flight Scale
Dennis Norman [email protected]
"Whatcha buildin'?" is one of the nicest questions you can ask an active modeler. It says "I care" and "I am interested in your creative activity."
Readers' projects
Steve Griebling, one of the pillars of the Cleveland Free Flight Society (CFFS), proudly showed his new 22-inch-span Martinsyde Elephant — the British aircraft flown operationally from 1914 to 1918 and beyond. The model is a fresh subject for the WWI Combat Event and, considering its grace and proportions, it is surprising it has been overlooked for so long.
- Steve scratch-built his Elephant from three-views and documentation by J. M. Bruce.
- Wing area: 150 sq in.
- Weight: just over 35 grams (without motor).
- Flight tests: 3/16-inch braided Tan II rubber, wound to no more than 300 winds, produced a great rate of climb and good stability. Steve expects to reduce motor size. Little nose ballast was required to reach the correct CG, and he enlarged the tail surfaces roughly 10% to improve flying properties.
A photo of the Elephant shows its handsome lines; the model will be featured in an upcoming issue of Crosswinds (more on Crosswinds below).
Pres Bruning of the Detroit Cloudbusters built a Gee Bee pedal plane for his granddaughter Camille's 3rd birthday and sent a photo of Camille in the Gee Bee. He also turned a small pumpkin into a "Snoopy Fighter" for Halloween. Neither project is an FF Scale model, but both show how an FF Scale modeler shares his joy with a youngster.
My grandsons Finn (age 6) and Joe (age 5) give insight into how future modelers get started. They rapidly assemble LEGO cars, trucks, and buildings, often completing a model in one session. Finn recently got his first Snap-Tite model — an F-18 Hornet in Blue Angels markings — and is eager to build it with grandpa's help. By summer I expect Finn will be flying a Catapult Glider version of the F-18 at local contests.
Gene Klemanek builds model airplanes for the sheer joy of it. He showed me his Fokker Dr.I triplane built from a Guillow's kit. Presented in "bare bones," Gene added a cockpit, armament, rigging, and other details that made it eye-catching. He generously gave the finished model to my grandson Joe, who proudly displays it in his room.
Joe Hauk is building an 18-foot, fully lit display case for the model museum in his home. The case will display a collection of 18 3/4-inch-scale models bequeathed to him by Chicago's Carl Buttita, a commercial artist who scratch-built exquisitely detailed models.
- Carl's models were meticulously researched and handcrafted, often taking him roughly a year each. He built the airframes in minute detail, extensively photographed them, then covered and hand-painted them. The results are like seeing full-scale aircraft reduced to display-case size.
- Joe sent dozens of photos; I am sharing a small sample here and hope to present more of the Buttita collection with Joe in the future.
Jim Hyka showed his latest Peanut Scale effort: a Heinkel He 112 in Romanian markings. He flew the model last summer at the Flying Aces Club (FAC) Nats but considers it a work in progress as he continues adding details.
Rich Weber flew the prototype of his de Havilland D.H.29 at last year's Nats and is completing construction plans that will be published soon in the CFFS Crosswinds quarterly. Rich delights in presenting new subjects; his attention to proportions and detail is making him increasingly successful in FAC competition, though he modestly says winning Kanones is not his major concern.
Rich's latest project is a gorgeous 16-inch-span Beech Staggerwing in Dime Scale (a simplified Scale category), finished in bright-red-and-black markings of a Canadian-owned Staggerwing. This model will also appear in Crosswinds.
Crosswinds — Nieuport 28 issue
My latest project was preparing the fall issue of Crosswinds, in which I presented in-depth coverage of the Nieuport N.28C-1.
- I selected three sets of Nieuport 28 plans by other modelers and drew my own version as "fresh" plans. My preference is to draw plans to Peanut Scale and present them as an 11 x 17-inch centerfold that can be removed from the newsletter for copying or enlargement.
- The issue includes excellent scale drawings, an article from an old Aeromodeller magazine, and detailed drawings from a 1955 series prepared for Model Airplane News by Bergen F. Hardesty. Historical plans reproduced include the 1933 version from Cleveland Model and Supply Company, the 1957 Guillow's plans, building comments by Stew Myers of the D.C. Maxecutters, and a 1980 effort by Czech modeler Lubomir Koutny.
- I also included a five-view diagram and color specifications reproduced from the 1:48-scale Aurora/K&B plastic kit (circa 1972), a series of historical photos of Nieuport 28s, and a page of my historical commentary.
The Nieuport 28 issue is 20 pages long and features full-color front and back covers: a painting of Eddie Rickenbacker's Nieuport 28, a full-color photo of a restored Nieuport 28, full-color five-views of one subject, and profile views of eight other Nieuport 28s.
A subscription to Crosswinds is $16 for four issues. Send payment to: Russ Brown 4909 N. Sedgewick Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Air Ace Models
I am also preparing a new Air Ace Models issue with more material, including construction photos, a full construction article, and full-color covering and insignia on sheets of Japanese tissue.
- Available sizes: Peanut Scale or Walnut Scale.
- Prices:
- Peanut version: $22.50 postpaid.
- Walnut version: $34.00 postpaid.
Send check or money order payable to Dennis Norman to: 11216 Lake Ave. Cleveland, OH 44102
You may also call (216) 631-7774 for further details.
Club newsletters and Flying Aces Club (FAC)
Club newsletters are a great way to build local interest in FF Scale. If you want to make others aware of your efforts, send information to me for publication in future columns — I'd be honored to share your work.
Flying Aces News is one of the most widely read newsletters; you get a subscription by joining the FAC. It is often 24 pages long and is supplemented by three or more double-sided 11 x 17-inch pages of plans (some vintage, some new).
FAC membership rates:
- United States: $15 per year.
- Canada: $20 per year.
- Overseas: $25 per year.
Send payment in US dollars to: FAC-GHQ 3301 Cindy Ln. Erie, PA 16506
I also propose a special "Spirit of St. Louis" event for this year's FAC contests (either a mass-launch competition or a timed solo event) to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight. Lindbergh's flight inspired generations of modelers; it's fitting we pay homage.
Special event — Dawn Patrol Rendezvous
The National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, Ohio, will hold its biennial Dawn Patrol Rendezvous World War I Fly-In September 21–23, 2007.
- This premier event features full-scale and near full-scale World War I aircraft, vintage automobiles, and military vehicles.
- Re-enactors add nostalgic realism; numerous vendors (including me) will display WWI memorabilia.
- The event includes a buffet-style dinner at the museum on September 22, with entertainment by the USAAF band.
Mark your calendars — it’s an outstanding event.
Condolences
Please join me in sending condolences to the family and friends of Bob Bojanowski, who passed away in December after a brief illness. Bob was a fine gentleman, a prolific builder, and a good friend. Let us honor his memory by continuing to participate enthusiastically in and support the hobby he loved.
— Dennis Norman
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
