122 MODEL AVIATION
Klemanek’s golden oldie
[[email protected]]
Free Flight Scale Dennis Norman
FAC Legend Gordon Roberts (L) proudly holds his 1/2-scale blackand-
yellow Ellila of 1950 Wakefield fame. The columnist holds
Gordon’s 1/2-scale Red Swan from 1951. These models are tributes
to the great Wakefield tradition, which the FAC is honoring this
year. Janine Trowbridge photo.
GENE KLEMANEK, one of Cleveland,
Ohio’s, most outstanding static Scale
model builders, continues to wow us with
his outstanding craftsmanship.
Although he doesn’t fly, Gene
frequently attends Cleveland Free Flight
Society meetings and often makes the
annual pilgrimage to the Toledo Weak
Signals Show. Those of us who are
fortunate enough to visit Cleveland’s
Wings Hobby Shop are continually
impressed by the growing collection of
Gene’s modeling masterpieces on display.
Most recently he completed work on a
magnificent 1930 Laird Solution. Built to
11/2 -inch scale, the model was based on
3/4-inch-scale plans from Cleveland Model
and Supply Company. The plans were
enlarged 200%, because Gene prefers to
build at bigger scales to maximize the
details that fill his meticulous efforts.
As do most master modelers, Gene
checked details on the plans (which still
hold up well nearly 80 years after they
were drawn) with several other sources.
He found that Cleveland fudged a bit with
things such as the number of ribs in the
stabilizer. (The original plans showed
more ribs than the careful work of later
draftsman and photographers.)
In addition, the size and location of
serial numbers on the Cleveland plans do
not agree with reputable documentation
from other sources. Even so, the
company’s plans provide an excellent
beginning for building a contemporary
model of one of the hundreds of aircraft
presented in the Cleveland line.
A photo of Gene’s Laird shows some of
the exquisite detail that is typical of his
work. Copies of this photo were sent to
John Jacox, the current owner of Cleveland
Model and Supply Company, and he was
ecstatic with them.
Thousands of modelers have collected
and are still collecting Cleveland kits and
plans for their archives. Those of us who
are involved in FF Scale (FFS) still
occasionally use Cleveland plans as
references for current projects.
Unlike Gene, who is not concerned
with the weight of his static Scale subjects,
most of us who intend to fly a Clevelandinspired
subject find it
necessary to eliminate
much of the structure
shown on the
company’s plans.
Cleveland models were
often overbuilt.
Devices such as
motorsticks were
frequently used in an attempt to
compensate for the considerable force of a
fully wound rubber motor that was
intended to power the company’s
airplanes. Contemporary designers have
all but eliminated motorsticks, because
they have found more effective ways to
deal with torsional forces.
One of the best ways I have found to
design an FFS fuselage is to use sheet
stock to reinforce the fuselage in the area
between the nose and that directly aft of
the wing TE. It is unnecessary to
completely sheet this part of the fuselage;
a 1/2- to 1-inch-wide sheet from around the
wing root, extending to the nose, is usually
sufficient.
Cleveland-designed plans are still
available and are very much worth
purchasing as references for current or future
projects. See the “Sources” listing at the end
of this column for contact information.
“Born Loser” is a charming Al Backstrom design
that was originally published in the October
2000 Flying Models. Shorty’s Basement now
sells high-quality kits of this model.
Carole Kane photo.
Also included in this column:
• Projects of note
• Half-scale Wakefields: FAC’s “Super Embryos”
• Go West, young modelers!
• Aircraft museum activities
Air Ace Model’s Grumman F6F Hellcat nears its moment of
“birth.” Masters for the preprinted covering and a book
documenting them are in the background. The company’s new
16-inch-span semikits include a vacuum-formed canopy,
construction plans, parts sheets, and bui lding/covering
instructions. Holly Klein photo.
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:44 PM Page 122
June 2011 123
Gene Klemanek’s fabulously detailed
static-scale model of the 1930 Laird
Solution. Based principally on Cleveland
Model plans enlarged to 11/2-inch scale,
this magni f icent ef fort shows the
elegance and quality that can be obtained
even from “ancient” plans.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force will host the Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous September 23-26. This World War I classic is a must for
all FFS builders. National Museum of the USAF photo.
The author’s Salmson 2A.2 will the covered in-depth in an upcoming
Cleveland Free Flight Society FFS Crosswinds newsletter. The club
often looks closely at a Scale subject and presents fresh plans with
scale documentation for the modeler’s consideration. Klein photo.
Shorty’s Basement has produced another
Flying Aces Club (FAC) gem called the
“Born Loser.” Al Backstrom designed the
model and had it published in the October
2000 Flying Models magazine.
This jaunty little biplane has a 15-inch
wingspan and is a fun flier that meets the
FAC Embryo rules. The comprehensive
kit contains fine-quality laser-cut balsa
parts. Also included is strip wood, Esaki
Japanese tissue, contest rubber, a plastic
propeller, wheels, block stock for the
nose, etc.
Al’s plans are clear, and the kit
includes a reproduction of the Flying
Models article. This design does not
mention a DT, and that might, in part,
explain its poignant name.
This is a high-quality, relatively quick
build, and the kit price is $24.95 plus
shipping and handling. It is well worth it!
See “Sources” for Shorty’s Basement
contact information.
CB Model Designs is about to release
a new rubber-powered Scale kit of the
Curtiss XP-40Q, which was the last of the
P-40 series. Drawn to 1/16 scale, it has a
wingspan of 26 inches and an overall
length of nearly 27 inches.
Dihedral appears to be a bit excessive
and should be reduced to give the model a
more scale appearance. The XP-40Q will
be marketed as a short kit for $35, which
includes three CAD construction
drawings, laser-cut parts, a four-blade
propeller, spinner, formed canopy, and
construction notes.
Distribution will be either directly
from Clint Brooks or through his CB
Model Designs website. See “Sources”
for contact information.
Air Ace Models is introducing a new line
of 16-inch-span Scale models inspired by the
explosive popularity of the movement that
Mike Nassise started. Mike is editor of the
Tailspin newsletter of FAC Squadron 24, and
Air Ace Models supports his efforts to return
to the joy of simplified FFS.
The company’s first 16-inch-span effort is
the popular Grumman F6F Hellcat. Based on
plans that Air Ace Models published 20 years
ago, the construction is similar to that of the
old Comet models and features traditional
former/longeron/stringer fuselage design and
minimalist structure for the wing and tail.
The prototype F6F is finished in
colorful Royal Navy markings that were
used in mid-1944. Each semikit includes
well-drawn plans with a parts sheet,
building and covering instructions,
colorful covering on Esaki tissue, and a
vacuum-formed canopy.
The price of the semikit will be in the
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:45 PM Page 123June 2011 123
Gene Klemanek’s fabulously detailed
static-scale model of the 1930 Laird
Solution. Based principally on Cleveland
Model plans enlarged to 11/2-inch scale,
this magni f icent ef fort shows the
elegance and quality that can be obtained
even from “ancient” plans.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force will host the Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous September 23-26. This World War I classic is a must for
all FFS builders. National Museum of the USAF photo.
The author’s Salmson 2A.2 will the covered in-depth in an upcoming
Cleveland Free Flight Society FFS Crosswinds newsletter. The club
often looks closely at a Scale subject and presents fresh plans with
scale documentation for the modeler’s consideration. Klein photo.
Shorty’s Basement has produced another
Flying Aces Club (FAC) gem called the
“Born Loser.” Al Backstrom designed the
model and had it published in the October
2000 Flying Models magazine.
This jaunty little biplane has a 15-inch
wingspan and is a fun flier that meets the
FAC Embryo rules. The comprehensive
kit contains fine-quality laser-cut balsa
parts. Also included is strip wood, Esaki
Japanese tissue, contest rubber, a plastic
propeller, wheels, block stock for the
nose, etc.
Al’s plans are clear, and the kit
includes a reproduction of the Flying
Models article. This design does not
mention a DT, and that might, in part,
explain its poignant name.
This is a high-quality, relatively quick
build, and the kit price is $24.95 plus
shipping and handling. It is well worth it!
See “Sources” for Shorty’s Basement
contact information.
CB Model Designs is about to release
a new rubber-powered Scale kit of the
Curtiss XP-40Q, which was the last of the
P-40 series. Drawn to 1/16 scale, it has a
wingspan of 26 inches and an overall
length of nearly 27 inches.
Dihedral appears to be a bit excessive
and should be reduced to give the model a
more scale appearance. The XP-40Q will
be marketed as a short kit for $35, which
includes three CAD construction
drawings, laser-cut parts, a four-blade
propeller, spinner, formed canopy, and
construction notes.
Distribution will be either directly
from Clint Brooks or through his CB
Model Designs website. See “Sources”
for contact information.
Air Ace Models is introducing a new line
of 16-inch-span Scale models inspired by the
explosive popularity of the movement that
Mike Nassise started. Mike is editor of the
Tailspin newsletter of FAC Squadron 24, and
Air Ace Models supports his efforts to return
to the joy of simplified FFS.
The company’s first 16-inch-span effort is
the popular Grumman F6F Hellcat. Based on
plans that Air Ace Models published 20 years
ago, the construction is similar to that of the
old Comet models and features traditional
former/longeron/stringer fuselage design and
minimalist structure for the wing and tail.
The prototype F6F is finished in
colorful Royal Navy markings that were
used in mid-1944. Each semikit includes
well-drawn plans with a parts sheet,
building and covering instructions,
colorful covering on Esaki tissue, and a
vacuum-formed canopy.
The price of the semikit will be in the
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:45 PM Page 123
$15 to $20 range. Similar efforts are
planned and will include such subjects as
the P-47 Thunderbolt, Fw 190, and others.
See “Sources” for Air Ace Models contact
information.
Wakefields are not Scale models; they are
high-performance endurance types that
usually weigh 4 ounces and often have
wingspans of nearly 4 feet. However, their
resurgence has taken the form of 1/2-scale
designs.
These types of aircraft have long been
enjoyed abroad, but thanks to the efforts of
England-born Gordon Roberts (the FAC
“Ace of Aces”) and well-known Cleveland
FFer Dave Pishnery, they are bursting onto
the US FF scene.
“Half-scale versions of Wakefield types
are technically scale models!” commented
Gordon with his dry wit.
With names such as “North Star,” “Oh
So Long,” “Jaguar,” “Ellila,” “Red Swan,”
and “Yankee Four,” the list of models looks
impressive. Flying Aces Club News Editor
Rich Weber jokingly says that there are
“thousands” of Wakefield subjects to be
found.
I have suggested that 1/2-scale Wakefield
types be called “Super Embryos,” in modern
FAC speak. The best news is that the FAC
has decided to let 1/2-scale Embryos fly in an
“unofficial” event at the FAC Non-Nats in
Geneseo, New York, this year. (Can
Kanones be far away?)
The Scale Staffel Free Flight Model
Airplane Club of San Diego, California, has
gone online with the latest version of its
outstanding newsletter. The club’s website
is colorful, well presented, and free.
Earlier hard-copy versions of Scale
Staffel Newsletter are among the prized
items in my modeling library. The most
recent effort promises to see this group rise
to even greater heights.
Such legends as Walt Mooney,
Clarence Mather, Bob Peck, and John
Hutchison founded the original Scale
Staffel (FAC Squadron 41) in the 1970s.
Several members have traveled to the FAC
Nats in Geneseo, New York, throughout
the years and have placed high in that
competition.
Most recently the club has sponsored
the WESTFAC I (in California) and
WESTFAC II (in Texas) contests.
WESTFAC III will be held this year in
Denver, Colorado, from June 23 to 25, and
it promises to be the best-attended edition
of this contest to date.
For further details, contact Scale Staffel
Newsletter Editor George Mansfield. His
information is in the “Sources” listing.
Aviation museums are important to the
preservation of full-scale aircraft and the rich
part they have played in history. As it has
done in previous years, the National Museum
of the United States Air Force in Dayton,
Ohio, will host the impressive WW I Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous September 23-25.
This stellar event features not only
full-scale replicas of WW I types, but
also radio-controlled models, re-enactors,
a vintage auto show, and dozens of
vendors selling a variety of collectables.
Admission is free.
The gathering is held adjacent to the
museum, which is also free and provides
visitors with its own delights. There is also
the opportunity for attendees to attend a
delightful buffet in the museum on evening
of September 24.
Tickets are available and should be
purchased in advance. Past buffets have
included entertainment by the outstanding
United States Air Force Band. This is a
perfect event for FF Scale enthusiasts.
If you travel to England, be sure to visit
the American Air Museum at Duxford. It
was founded in 1998 as a tribute to the
efforts of the US Army Air Force during
WW II in helping to defeat tyranny and
preserve freedom.
Museum funding has been adversely
affected by the international financial crisis
of the last few years. Even so, this facility is
highly successful, which draws hundreds of
thousands of visitors annually.
American help is still needed to
continue the operation of this fine
museum and its mission. All contributions
will be sincerely appreciated. See
“Sources” for contact information.
Keep ’em flying! MA
Sources:
Wings Hobby Shop
(216) 221-5383
Cleveland Model & Supply
(317) 257-7878
www.clevelandairline.com
Shorty’s Basement
(740) 225-8671
www.shortysbasement.com
CB Model Designs
Box 50018
Long Beach CA 90815
www.cbmodeldesigns.com
Air Ace Models
(216) 631-7774
www.airacemodels.com
Scale Staffel San Diego
www.scalestaffel.org
George Mansfield
5543 Barkla St.
San Diego CA 92122
[email protected]
WESTFAC III
www.westernfac.com/westfac3eventpage.html
National Museum of the US Air Force
(937) 255-3286
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
The American Air Museum
+44 (0) 1223 499 305
http://aam.iwm.org.uk
Flying Aces Club
www.flyingacesclub.com
Crosswinds newsletter:
Russ Brown
4909 N. Sedgewick
Lyndhurst OH 44124
124 MODEL AVIATION
Pat's Hobbys
• Align Helicopters
(Electric and Gas)
• ThunderPower Batt.
Learn-To-Fly Hobby
Supplies
609-584-1032
www.patshobbys.com
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:46 PM Page 124
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/06
Page Numbers: 122,123,124
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/06
Page Numbers: 122,123,124
122 MODEL AVIATION
Klemanek’s golden oldie
[[email protected]]
Free Flight Scale Dennis Norman
FAC Legend Gordon Roberts (L) proudly holds his 1/2-scale blackand-
yellow Ellila of 1950 Wakefield fame. The columnist holds
Gordon’s 1/2-scale Red Swan from 1951. These models are tributes
to the great Wakefield tradition, which the FAC is honoring this
year. Janine Trowbridge photo.
GENE KLEMANEK, one of Cleveland,
Ohio’s, most outstanding static Scale
model builders, continues to wow us with
his outstanding craftsmanship.
Although he doesn’t fly, Gene
frequently attends Cleveland Free Flight
Society meetings and often makes the
annual pilgrimage to the Toledo Weak
Signals Show. Those of us who are
fortunate enough to visit Cleveland’s
Wings Hobby Shop are continually
impressed by the growing collection of
Gene’s modeling masterpieces on display.
Most recently he completed work on a
magnificent 1930 Laird Solution. Built to
11/2 -inch scale, the model was based on
3/4-inch-scale plans from Cleveland Model
and Supply Company. The plans were
enlarged 200%, because Gene prefers to
build at bigger scales to maximize the
details that fill his meticulous efforts.
As do most master modelers, Gene
checked details on the plans (which still
hold up well nearly 80 years after they
were drawn) with several other sources.
He found that Cleveland fudged a bit with
things such as the number of ribs in the
stabilizer. (The original plans showed
more ribs than the careful work of later
draftsman and photographers.)
In addition, the size and location of
serial numbers on the Cleveland plans do
not agree with reputable documentation
from other sources. Even so, the
company’s plans provide an excellent
beginning for building a contemporary
model of one of the hundreds of aircraft
presented in the Cleveland line.
A photo of Gene’s Laird shows some of
the exquisite detail that is typical of his
work. Copies of this photo were sent to
John Jacox, the current owner of Cleveland
Model and Supply Company, and he was
ecstatic with them.
Thousands of modelers have collected
and are still collecting Cleveland kits and
plans for their archives. Those of us who
are involved in FF Scale (FFS) still
occasionally use Cleveland plans as
references for current projects.
Unlike Gene, who is not concerned
with the weight of his static Scale subjects,
most of us who intend to fly a Clevelandinspired
subject find it
necessary to eliminate
much of the structure
shown on the
company’s plans.
Cleveland models were
often overbuilt.
Devices such as
motorsticks were
frequently used in an attempt to
compensate for the considerable force of a
fully wound rubber motor that was
intended to power the company’s
airplanes. Contemporary designers have
all but eliminated motorsticks, because
they have found more effective ways to
deal with torsional forces.
One of the best ways I have found to
design an FFS fuselage is to use sheet
stock to reinforce the fuselage in the area
between the nose and that directly aft of
the wing TE. It is unnecessary to
completely sheet this part of the fuselage;
a 1/2- to 1-inch-wide sheet from around the
wing root, extending to the nose, is usually
sufficient.
Cleveland-designed plans are still
available and are very much worth
purchasing as references for current or future
projects. See the “Sources” listing at the end
of this column for contact information.
“Born Loser” is a charming Al Backstrom design
that was originally published in the October
2000 Flying Models. Shorty’s Basement now
sells high-quality kits of this model.
Carole Kane photo.
Also included in this column:
• Projects of note
• Half-scale Wakefields: FAC’s “Super Embryos”
• Go West, young modelers!
• Aircraft museum activities
Air Ace Model’s Grumman F6F Hellcat nears its moment of
“birth.” Masters for the preprinted covering and a book
documenting them are in the background. The company’s new
16-inch-span semikits include a vacuum-formed canopy,
construction plans, parts sheets, and bui lding/covering
instructions. Holly Klein photo.
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:44 PM Page 122
June 2011 123
Gene Klemanek’s fabulously detailed
static-scale model of the 1930 Laird
Solution. Based principally on Cleveland
Model plans enlarged to 11/2-inch scale,
this magni f icent ef fort shows the
elegance and quality that can be obtained
even from “ancient” plans.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force will host the Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous September 23-26. This World War I classic is a must for
all FFS builders. National Museum of the USAF photo.
The author’s Salmson 2A.2 will the covered in-depth in an upcoming
Cleveland Free Flight Society FFS Crosswinds newsletter. The club
often looks closely at a Scale subject and presents fresh plans with
scale documentation for the modeler’s consideration. Klein photo.
Shorty’s Basement has produced another
Flying Aces Club (FAC) gem called the
“Born Loser.” Al Backstrom designed the
model and had it published in the October
2000 Flying Models magazine.
This jaunty little biplane has a 15-inch
wingspan and is a fun flier that meets the
FAC Embryo rules. The comprehensive
kit contains fine-quality laser-cut balsa
parts. Also included is strip wood, Esaki
Japanese tissue, contest rubber, a plastic
propeller, wheels, block stock for the
nose, etc.
Al’s plans are clear, and the kit
includes a reproduction of the Flying
Models article. This design does not
mention a DT, and that might, in part,
explain its poignant name.
This is a high-quality, relatively quick
build, and the kit price is $24.95 plus
shipping and handling. It is well worth it!
See “Sources” for Shorty’s Basement
contact information.
CB Model Designs is about to release
a new rubber-powered Scale kit of the
Curtiss XP-40Q, which was the last of the
P-40 series. Drawn to 1/16 scale, it has a
wingspan of 26 inches and an overall
length of nearly 27 inches.
Dihedral appears to be a bit excessive
and should be reduced to give the model a
more scale appearance. The XP-40Q will
be marketed as a short kit for $35, which
includes three CAD construction
drawings, laser-cut parts, a four-blade
propeller, spinner, formed canopy, and
construction notes.
Distribution will be either directly
from Clint Brooks or through his CB
Model Designs website. See “Sources”
for contact information.
Air Ace Models is introducing a new line
of 16-inch-span Scale models inspired by the
explosive popularity of the movement that
Mike Nassise started. Mike is editor of the
Tailspin newsletter of FAC Squadron 24, and
Air Ace Models supports his efforts to return
to the joy of simplified FFS.
The company’s first 16-inch-span effort is
the popular Grumman F6F Hellcat. Based on
plans that Air Ace Models published 20 years
ago, the construction is similar to that of the
old Comet models and features traditional
former/longeron/stringer fuselage design and
minimalist structure for the wing and tail.
The prototype F6F is finished in
colorful Royal Navy markings that were
used in mid-1944. Each semikit includes
well-drawn plans with a parts sheet,
building and covering instructions,
colorful covering on Esaki tissue, and a
vacuum-formed canopy.
The price of the semikit will be in the
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:45 PM Page 123June 2011 123
Gene Klemanek’s fabulously detailed
static-scale model of the 1930 Laird
Solution. Based principally on Cleveland
Model plans enlarged to 11/2-inch scale,
this magni f icent ef fort shows the
elegance and quality that can be obtained
even from “ancient” plans.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force will host the Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous September 23-26. This World War I classic is a must for
all FFS builders. National Museum of the USAF photo.
The author’s Salmson 2A.2 will the covered in-depth in an upcoming
Cleveland Free Flight Society FFS Crosswinds newsletter. The club
often looks closely at a Scale subject and presents fresh plans with
scale documentation for the modeler’s consideration. Klein photo.
Shorty’s Basement has produced another
Flying Aces Club (FAC) gem called the
“Born Loser.” Al Backstrom designed the
model and had it published in the October
2000 Flying Models magazine.
This jaunty little biplane has a 15-inch
wingspan and is a fun flier that meets the
FAC Embryo rules. The comprehensive
kit contains fine-quality laser-cut balsa
parts. Also included is strip wood, Esaki
Japanese tissue, contest rubber, a plastic
propeller, wheels, block stock for the
nose, etc.
Al’s plans are clear, and the kit
includes a reproduction of the Flying
Models article. This design does not
mention a DT, and that might, in part,
explain its poignant name.
This is a high-quality, relatively quick
build, and the kit price is $24.95 plus
shipping and handling. It is well worth it!
See “Sources” for Shorty’s Basement
contact information.
CB Model Designs is about to release
a new rubber-powered Scale kit of the
Curtiss XP-40Q, which was the last of the
P-40 series. Drawn to 1/16 scale, it has a
wingspan of 26 inches and an overall
length of nearly 27 inches.
Dihedral appears to be a bit excessive
and should be reduced to give the model a
more scale appearance. The XP-40Q will
be marketed as a short kit for $35, which
includes three CAD construction
drawings, laser-cut parts, a four-blade
propeller, spinner, formed canopy, and
construction notes.
Distribution will be either directly
from Clint Brooks or through his CB
Model Designs website. See “Sources”
for contact information.
Air Ace Models is introducing a new line
of 16-inch-span Scale models inspired by the
explosive popularity of the movement that
Mike Nassise started. Mike is editor of the
Tailspin newsletter of FAC Squadron 24, and
Air Ace Models supports his efforts to return
to the joy of simplified FFS.
The company’s first 16-inch-span effort is
the popular Grumman F6F Hellcat. Based on
plans that Air Ace Models published 20 years
ago, the construction is similar to that of the
old Comet models and features traditional
former/longeron/stringer fuselage design and
minimalist structure for the wing and tail.
The prototype F6F is finished in
colorful Royal Navy markings that were
used in mid-1944. Each semikit includes
well-drawn plans with a parts sheet,
building and covering instructions,
colorful covering on Esaki tissue, and a
vacuum-formed canopy.
The price of the semikit will be in the
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:45 PM Page 123
$15 to $20 range. Similar efforts are
planned and will include such subjects as
the P-47 Thunderbolt, Fw 190, and others.
See “Sources” for Air Ace Models contact
information.
Wakefields are not Scale models; they are
high-performance endurance types that
usually weigh 4 ounces and often have
wingspans of nearly 4 feet. However, their
resurgence has taken the form of 1/2-scale
designs.
These types of aircraft have long been
enjoyed abroad, but thanks to the efforts of
England-born Gordon Roberts (the FAC
“Ace of Aces”) and well-known Cleveland
FFer Dave Pishnery, they are bursting onto
the US FF scene.
“Half-scale versions of Wakefield types
are technically scale models!” commented
Gordon with his dry wit.
With names such as “North Star,” “Oh
So Long,” “Jaguar,” “Ellila,” “Red Swan,”
and “Yankee Four,” the list of models looks
impressive. Flying Aces Club News Editor
Rich Weber jokingly says that there are
“thousands” of Wakefield subjects to be
found.
I have suggested that 1/2-scale Wakefield
types be called “Super Embryos,” in modern
FAC speak. The best news is that the FAC
has decided to let 1/2-scale Embryos fly in an
“unofficial” event at the FAC Non-Nats in
Geneseo, New York, this year. (Can
Kanones be far away?)
The Scale Staffel Free Flight Model
Airplane Club of San Diego, California, has
gone online with the latest version of its
outstanding newsletter. The club’s website
is colorful, well presented, and free.
Earlier hard-copy versions of Scale
Staffel Newsletter are among the prized
items in my modeling library. The most
recent effort promises to see this group rise
to even greater heights.
Such legends as Walt Mooney,
Clarence Mather, Bob Peck, and John
Hutchison founded the original Scale
Staffel (FAC Squadron 41) in the 1970s.
Several members have traveled to the FAC
Nats in Geneseo, New York, throughout
the years and have placed high in that
competition.
Most recently the club has sponsored
the WESTFAC I (in California) and
WESTFAC II (in Texas) contests.
WESTFAC III will be held this year in
Denver, Colorado, from June 23 to 25, and
it promises to be the best-attended edition
of this contest to date.
For further details, contact Scale Staffel
Newsletter Editor George Mansfield. His
information is in the “Sources” listing.
Aviation museums are important to the
preservation of full-scale aircraft and the rich
part they have played in history. As it has
done in previous years, the National Museum
of the United States Air Force in Dayton,
Ohio, will host the impressive WW I Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous September 23-25.
This stellar event features not only
full-scale replicas of WW I types, but
also radio-controlled models, re-enactors,
a vintage auto show, and dozens of
vendors selling a variety of collectables.
Admission is free.
The gathering is held adjacent to the
museum, which is also free and provides
visitors with its own delights. There is also
the opportunity for attendees to attend a
delightful buffet in the museum on evening
of September 24.
Tickets are available and should be
purchased in advance. Past buffets have
included entertainment by the outstanding
United States Air Force Band. This is a
perfect event for FF Scale enthusiasts.
If you travel to England, be sure to visit
the American Air Museum at Duxford. It
was founded in 1998 as a tribute to the
efforts of the US Army Air Force during
WW II in helping to defeat tyranny and
preserve freedom.
Museum funding has been adversely
affected by the international financial crisis
of the last few years. Even so, this facility is
highly successful, which draws hundreds of
thousands of visitors annually.
American help is still needed to
continue the operation of this fine
museum and its mission. All contributions
will be sincerely appreciated. See
“Sources” for contact information.
Keep ’em flying! MA
Sources:
Wings Hobby Shop
(216) 221-5383
Cleveland Model & Supply
(317) 257-7878
www.clevelandairline.com
Shorty’s Basement
(740) 225-8671
www.shortysbasement.com
CB Model Designs
Box 50018
Long Beach CA 90815
www.cbmodeldesigns.com
Air Ace Models
(216) 631-7774
www.airacemodels.com
Scale Staffel San Diego
www.scalestaffel.org
George Mansfield
5543 Barkla St.
San Diego CA 92122
[email protected]
WESTFAC III
www.westernfac.com/westfac3eventpage.html
National Museum of the US Air Force
(937) 255-3286
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
The American Air Museum
+44 (0) 1223 499 305
http://aam.iwm.org.uk
Flying Aces Club
www.flyingacesclub.com
Crosswinds newsletter:
Russ Brown
4909 N. Sedgewick
Lyndhurst OH 44124
124 MODEL AVIATION
Pat's Hobbys
• Align Helicopters
(Electric and Gas)
• ThunderPower Batt.
Learn-To-Fly Hobby
Supplies
609-584-1032
www.patshobbys.com
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:46 PM Page 124
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/06
Page Numbers: 122,123,124
122 MODEL AVIATION
Klemanek’s golden oldie
[[email protected]]
Free Flight Scale Dennis Norman
FAC Legend Gordon Roberts (L) proudly holds his 1/2-scale blackand-
yellow Ellila of 1950 Wakefield fame. The columnist holds
Gordon’s 1/2-scale Red Swan from 1951. These models are tributes
to the great Wakefield tradition, which the FAC is honoring this
year. Janine Trowbridge photo.
GENE KLEMANEK, one of Cleveland,
Ohio’s, most outstanding static Scale
model builders, continues to wow us with
his outstanding craftsmanship.
Although he doesn’t fly, Gene
frequently attends Cleveland Free Flight
Society meetings and often makes the
annual pilgrimage to the Toledo Weak
Signals Show. Those of us who are
fortunate enough to visit Cleveland’s
Wings Hobby Shop are continually
impressed by the growing collection of
Gene’s modeling masterpieces on display.
Most recently he completed work on a
magnificent 1930 Laird Solution. Built to
11/2 -inch scale, the model was based on
3/4-inch-scale plans from Cleveland Model
and Supply Company. The plans were
enlarged 200%, because Gene prefers to
build at bigger scales to maximize the
details that fill his meticulous efforts.
As do most master modelers, Gene
checked details on the plans (which still
hold up well nearly 80 years after they
were drawn) with several other sources.
He found that Cleveland fudged a bit with
things such as the number of ribs in the
stabilizer. (The original plans showed
more ribs than the careful work of later
draftsman and photographers.)
In addition, the size and location of
serial numbers on the Cleveland plans do
not agree with reputable documentation
from other sources. Even so, the
company’s plans provide an excellent
beginning for building a contemporary
model of one of the hundreds of aircraft
presented in the Cleveland line.
A photo of Gene’s Laird shows some of
the exquisite detail that is typical of his
work. Copies of this photo were sent to
John Jacox, the current owner of Cleveland
Model and Supply Company, and he was
ecstatic with them.
Thousands of modelers have collected
and are still collecting Cleveland kits and
plans for their archives. Those of us who
are involved in FF Scale (FFS) still
occasionally use Cleveland plans as
references for current projects.
Unlike Gene, who is not concerned
with the weight of his static Scale subjects,
most of us who intend to fly a Clevelandinspired
subject find it
necessary to eliminate
much of the structure
shown on the
company’s plans.
Cleveland models were
often overbuilt.
Devices such as
motorsticks were
frequently used in an attempt to
compensate for the considerable force of a
fully wound rubber motor that was
intended to power the company’s
airplanes. Contemporary designers have
all but eliminated motorsticks, because
they have found more effective ways to
deal with torsional forces.
One of the best ways I have found to
design an FFS fuselage is to use sheet
stock to reinforce the fuselage in the area
between the nose and that directly aft of
the wing TE. It is unnecessary to
completely sheet this part of the fuselage;
a 1/2- to 1-inch-wide sheet from around the
wing root, extending to the nose, is usually
sufficient.
Cleveland-designed plans are still
available and are very much worth
purchasing as references for current or future
projects. See the “Sources” listing at the end
of this column for contact information.
“Born Loser” is a charming Al Backstrom design
that was originally published in the October
2000 Flying Models. Shorty’s Basement now
sells high-quality kits of this model.
Carole Kane photo.
Also included in this column:
• Projects of note
• Half-scale Wakefields: FAC’s “Super Embryos”
• Go West, young modelers!
• Aircraft museum activities
Air Ace Model’s Grumman F6F Hellcat nears its moment of
“birth.” Masters for the preprinted covering and a book
documenting them are in the background. The company’s new
16-inch-span semikits include a vacuum-formed canopy,
construction plans, parts sheets, and bui lding/covering
instructions. Holly Klein photo.
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:44 PM Page 122
June 2011 123
Gene Klemanek’s fabulously detailed
static-scale model of the 1930 Laird
Solution. Based principally on Cleveland
Model plans enlarged to 11/2-inch scale,
this magni f icent ef fort shows the
elegance and quality that can be obtained
even from “ancient” plans.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force will host the Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous September 23-26. This World War I classic is a must for
all FFS builders. National Museum of the USAF photo.
The author’s Salmson 2A.2 will the covered in-depth in an upcoming
Cleveland Free Flight Society FFS Crosswinds newsletter. The club
often looks closely at a Scale subject and presents fresh plans with
scale documentation for the modeler’s consideration. Klein photo.
Shorty’s Basement has produced another
Flying Aces Club (FAC) gem called the
“Born Loser.” Al Backstrom designed the
model and had it published in the October
2000 Flying Models magazine.
This jaunty little biplane has a 15-inch
wingspan and is a fun flier that meets the
FAC Embryo rules. The comprehensive
kit contains fine-quality laser-cut balsa
parts. Also included is strip wood, Esaki
Japanese tissue, contest rubber, a plastic
propeller, wheels, block stock for the
nose, etc.
Al’s plans are clear, and the kit
includes a reproduction of the Flying
Models article. This design does not
mention a DT, and that might, in part,
explain its poignant name.
This is a high-quality, relatively quick
build, and the kit price is $24.95 plus
shipping and handling. It is well worth it!
See “Sources” for Shorty’s Basement
contact information.
CB Model Designs is about to release
a new rubber-powered Scale kit of the
Curtiss XP-40Q, which was the last of the
P-40 series. Drawn to 1/16 scale, it has a
wingspan of 26 inches and an overall
length of nearly 27 inches.
Dihedral appears to be a bit excessive
and should be reduced to give the model a
more scale appearance. The XP-40Q will
be marketed as a short kit for $35, which
includes three CAD construction
drawings, laser-cut parts, a four-blade
propeller, spinner, formed canopy, and
construction notes.
Distribution will be either directly
from Clint Brooks or through his CB
Model Designs website. See “Sources”
for contact information.
Air Ace Models is introducing a new line
of 16-inch-span Scale models inspired by the
explosive popularity of the movement that
Mike Nassise started. Mike is editor of the
Tailspin newsletter of FAC Squadron 24, and
Air Ace Models supports his efforts to return
to the joy of simplified FFS.
The company’s first 16-inch-span effort is
the popular Grumman F6F Hellcat. Based on
plans that Air Ace Models published 20 years
ago, the construction is similar to that of the
old Comet models and features traditional
former/longeron/stringer fuselage design and
minimalist structure for the wing and tail.
The prototype F6F is finished in
colorful Royal Navy markings that were
used in mid-1944. Each semikit includes
well-drawn plans with a parts sheet,
building and covering instructions,
colorful covering on Esaki tissue, and a
vacuum-formed canopy.
The price of the semikit will be in the
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:45 PM Page 123June 2011 123
Gene Klemanek’s fabulously detailed
static-scale model of the 1930 Laird
Solution. Based principally on Cleveland
Model plans enlarged to 11/2-inch scale,
this magni f icent ef fort shows the
elegance and quality that can be obtained
even from “ancient” plans.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force will host the Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous September 23-26. This World War I classic is a must for
all FFS builders. National Museum of the USAF photo.
The author’s Salmson 2A.2 will the covered in-depth in an upcoming
Cleveland Free Flight Society FFS Crosswinds newsletter. The club
often looks closely at a Scale subject and presents fresh plans with
scale documentation for the modeler’s consideration. Klein photo.
Shorty’s Basement has produced another
Flying Aces Club (FAC) gem called the
“Born Loser.” Al Backstrom designed the
model and had it published in the October
2000 Flying Models magazine.
This jaunty little biplane has a 15-inch
wingspan and is a fun flier that meets the
FAC Embryo rules. The comprehensive
kit contains fine-quality laser-cut balsa
parts. Also included is strip wood, Esaki
Japanese tissue, contest rubber, a plastic
propeller, wheels, block stock for the
nose, etc.
Al’s plans are clear, and the kit
includes a reproduction of the Flying
Models article. This design does not
mention a DT, and that might, in part,
explain its poignant name.
This is a high-quality, relatively quick
build, and the kit price is $24.95 plus
shipping and handling. It is well worth it!
See “Sources” for Shorty’s Basement
contact information.
CB Model Designs is about to release
a new rubber-powered Scale kit of the
Curtiss XP-40Q, which was the last of the
P-40 series. Drawn to 1/16 scale, it has a
wingspan of 26 inches and an overall
length of nearly 27 inches.
Dihedral appears to be a bit excessive
and should be reduced to give the model a
more scale appearance. The XP-40Q will
be marketed as a short kit for $35, which
includes three CAD construction
drawings, laser-cut parts, a four-blade
propeller, spinner, formed canopy, and
construction notes.
Distribution will be either directly
from Clint Brooks or through his CB
Model Designs website. See “Sources”
for contact information.
Air Ace Models is introducing a new line
of 16-inch-span Scale models inspired by the
explosive popularity of the movement that
Mike Nassise started. Mike is editor of the
Tailspin newsletter of FAC Squadron 24, and
Air Ace Models supports his efforts to return
to the joy of simplified FFS.
The company’s first 16-inch-span effort is
the popular Grumman F6F Hellcat. Based on
plans that Air Ace Models published 20 years
ago, the construction is similar to that of the
old Comet models and features traditional
former/longeron/stringer fuselage design and
minimalist structure for the wing and tail.
The prototype F6F is finished in
colorful Royal Navy markings that were
used in mid-1944. Each semikit includes
well-drawn plans with a parts sheet,
building and covering instructions,
colorful covering on Esaki tissue, and a
vacuum-formed canopy.
The price of the semikit will be in the
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:45 PM Page 123
$15 to $20 range. Similar efforts are
planned and will include such subjects as
the P-47 Thunderbolt, Fw 190, and others.
See “Sources” for Air Ace Models contact
information.
Wakefields are not Scale models; they are
high-performance endurance types that
usually weigh 4 ounces and often have
wingspans of nearly 4 feet. However, their
resurgence has taken the form of 1/2-scale
designs.
These types of aircraft have long been
enjoyed abroad, but thanks to the efforts of
England-born Gordon Roberts (the FAC
“Ace of Aces”) and well-known Cleveland
FFer Dave Pishnery, they are bursting onto
the US FF scene.
“Half-scale versions of Wakefield types
are technically scale models!” commented
Gordon with his dry wit.
With names such as “North Star,” “Oh
So Long,” “Jaguar,” “Ellila,” “Red Swan,”
and “Yankee Four,” the list of models looks
impressive. Flying Aces Club News Editor
Rich Weber jokingly says that there are
“thousands” of Wakefield subjects to be
found.
I have suggested that 1/2-scale Wakefield
types be called “Super Embryos,” in modern
FAC speak. The best news is that the FAC
has decided to let 1/2-scale Embryos fly in an
“unofficial” event at the FAC Non-Nats in
Geneseo, New York, this year. (Can
Kanones be far away?)
The Scale Staffel Free Flight Model
Airplane Club of San Diego, California, has
gone online with the latest version of its
outstanding newsletter. The club’s website
is colorful, well presented, and free.
Earlier hard-copy versions of Scale
Staffel Newsletter are among the prized
items in my modeling library. The most
recent effort promises to see this group rise
to even greater heights.
Such legends as Walt Mooney,
Clarence Mather, Bob Peck, and John
Hutchison founded the original Scale
Staffel (FAC Squadron 41) in the 1970s.
Several members have traveled to the FAC
Nats in Geneseo, New York, throughout
the years and have placed high in that
competition.
Most recently the club has sponsored
the WESTFAC I (in California) and
WESTFAC II (in Texas) contests.
WESTFAC III will be held this year in
Denver, Colorado, from June 23 to 25, and
it promises to be the best-attended edition
of this contest to date.
For further details, contact Scale Staffel
Newsletter Editor George Mansfield. His
information is in the “Sources” listing.
Aviation museums are important to the
preservation of full-scale aircraft and the rich
part they have played in history. As it has
done in previous years, the National Museum
of the United States Air Force in Dayton,
Ohio, will host the impressive WW I Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous September 23-25.
This stellar event features not only
full-scale replicas of WW I types, but
also radio-controlled models, re-enactors,
a vintage auto show, and dozens of
vendors selling a variety of collectables.
Admission is free.
The gathering is held adjacent to the
museum, which is also free and provides
visitors with its own delights. There is also
the opportunity for attendees to attend a
delightful buffet in the museum on evening
of September 24.
Tickets are available and should be
purchased in advance. Past buffets have
included entertainment by the outstanding
United States Air Force Band. This is a
perfect event for FF Scale enthusiasts.
If you travel to England, be sure to visit
the American Air Museum at Duxford. It
was founded in 1998 as a tribute to the
efforts of the US Army Air Force during
WW II in helping to defeat tyranny and
preserve freedom.
Museum funding has been adversely
affected by the international financial crisis
of the last few years. Even so, this facility is
highly successful, which draws hundreds of
thousands of visitors annually.
American help is still needed to
continue the operation of this fine
museum and its mission. All contributions
will be sincerely appreciated. See
“Sources” for contact information.
Keep ’em flying! MA
Sources:
Wings Hobby Shop
(216) 221-5383
Cleveland Model & Supply
(317) 257-7878
www.clevelandairline.com
Shorty’s Basement
(740) 225-8671
www.shortysbasement.com
CB Model Designs
Box 50018
Long Beach CA 90815
www.cbmodeldesigns.com
Air Ace Models
(216) 631-7774
www.airacemodels.com
Scale Staffel San Diego
www.scalestaffel.org
George Mansfield
5543 Barkla St.
San Diego CA 92122
[email protected]
WESTFAC III
www.westernfac.com/westfac3eventpage.html
National Museum of the US Air Force
(937) 255-3286
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
The American Air Museum
+44 (0) 1223 499 305
http://aam.iwm.org.uk
Flying Aces Club
www.flyingacesclub.com
Crosswinds newsletter:
Russ Brown
4909 N. Sedgewick
Lyndhurst OH 44124
124 MODEL AVIATION
Pat's Hobbys
• Align Helicopters
(Electric and Gas)
• ThunderPower Batt.
Learn-To-Fly Hobby
Supplies
609-584-1032
www.patshobbys.com
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/20/11 4:46 PM Page 124
