Free Flight Scale
Dennis Norman [[email protected]]
Products available from Shorty's Basement
SHORTY'S BASEMENT'S latest catalog offers an ever-growing list of models and accessories for our interest group. In addition to kits by manufacturers such as Aerographics, West Wings, and Replikit, the catalog includes:
- Ducted fans
- Adjustable nose buttons
- No. 11 hobby blades
- Motors and batteries
- Lycra thread
- Freewheeling clutches by Steve Griebling
- Esaki tissue
- Humbrol paints
- AeroGloss dope (new for 2007)
- FAI Tan Sport rubber (new for 2007)
- Superior Balsa propellers (new for 2007)
Contact Shorty's Basement: 1036 Bexley Ave., Marion OH 43302 Tel.: (740) 223-7471 or (740) 225-8671 Web site: www.shortysbasement.com
Tools
Tools are a crucial part of our hobby. They enable us to bring our inspirations to life and save time and labor.
Jim Jones balsa stripper
One of my favorite tools is a small balsa stripper designed by Jim Jones. The originals were fashioned from hardwood and Plexiglas; they were durable, adjustable, and I have had mine for decades. The original design went out of production years ago.
The Jim Jones design is back and improved. The new stripper still has an adjustable guide for slicing balsa strip from 3/16 inch down to a sliver. The body is now metal, and the cutter appears to be a section of a No. 11 knife blade rather than a single-edged razor. The new Jones stripper looks and feels professional and produces high-quality results.
Produced by A2Z CNC: A2Z CNC, 1530 W. Tufts Ave. Unit B, Englewood CO 80110 Tel.: (720) 833-9300; Fax: (720) 385-2118 Web site: www.a2zcnc.com
Also available from Shorty's Basement as item AD40 for $59.50.
Vacuum formers
A vacuum former is an indispensable tool for scratch-building FF Scale (FFS) subjects (unless you enjoy plunging molds into hot plastic). Plans for homemade vacuum formers have appeared in model airplane magazines through the years. Don Ross describes methods in his book Flying Models.
Flying Models is available from Carstens Publications: Carstens Publications, Inc., (888) 526-5365 — $19.95 plus shipping and handling.
If you do not have time to build a vacuum former, Chris A. Boehm makes a small (4.5 x 6.5-inch) unit that comes with a detailed instructional booklet. You can purchase it from Chris or from Shorty's Basement (item AD41) for $50 plus $10 shipping and handling.
Contact: Chris A. Boehm, 5586 Chethem Ln., Grand Blanc, MI 48439
Dremel tools
Dremel offers an excellent series of tools useful for modeling. I received my first Dremel hand tool as a gift in 1970, and it opened a new chapter in my modeling life. If you are unfamiliar with Dremel, contact them for a catalog:
Dremel: (800) 437-3635
I suggest a Dremel tool with speed control, since modeling often requires different speeds. There is a large variety of bits for routing, grinding/sharpening, cutting, polishing, etc. These products will assist you greatly with your projects.
Spirit of St. Louis (Lindbergh) and Steve Griebling
In the last column I noted the 80th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight and proposed building "Spirit of St. Louis" models in his honor. Steve Griebling built a scratch-built, 22-inch-span Spirit this month. The model weighs only 20 grams without a motor; Steve plans to power it with four strands of 3/32-inch rubber as soon as weather permits. It promises to fly well.
Steve is a prolific designer and builder. This past winter he built:
- Three Debuts (Gordon Roberts’ Embryo Endurance design)
- A new Goon
- A Silver Lancer
- A Booth Ranger (both Fiction Flyers)
- An Me 334
- A Martinsyde Elephant
- A WACO Menasco-powered C-8
- A 16-inch-span Beech Staggerwing
- A 16-inch-span Boeing Monomail
- The Ryan “Spirit”
He will be busy trimming his fleet, and the results should be impressive.
International activity (UK)
I believe it is important to be aware of model-aviation activity outside the US. My friend Charlie Newman is sharing FFS activity in the UK.
Charlie alerted me to two recent projects by Derek Knight (one of England’s best):
- A scratch-built French EDF/rocket Baroudeur powered by twin Rapier L3s. The model requires a crew of two to launch, but its performance is spectacular.
- A 35-inch-span ANEC 2 for geared rubber power. The model weighs 59 grams, uses a ball-raced gearbox, and has spoke wheels. Although the model spans 35 inches, its flying propeller will have only a 5-inch diameter (hence the gearbox).
The ANEC 2 was a 1923 Lympne Trials aircraft.
Reader correspondence and Churchill
John Hunton wrote enthusiastically about the December 2006 column and called my attention to a paper Sir Winston Churchill wrote in the early 1930s. Churchill explained his joy of painting; his thoughts seem equally applicable to the joy of model aviation.
"The cultivation of a hobby is a policy of first importance to a man," he wrote.
Whether painting, collecting, or building, a hobby provides something you thoroughly enjoy without making it part of your livelihood or obligations. A model kit can be enjoyed on several levels: admired as purposeful design without building it, appreciated as an expression of a historical event, or assembled and set in its natural element — which is what this hobby is all about.
Micro-X status
Bruce Pike asked whether Micro-X is still in business. I checked with Robert Skrjanc, son of the late Gerald A. Skrjanc (founder of Micro-X), and was told the business is presently dormant but will be revived when time permits.
Those familiar with Micro-X recall the high quality of its balsa, kits, and accessories. We can only hope Robert finds the time to make these quality products available again in the near future.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
