The Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb 191 7-1 8 Specified weigh 500 lb empty carry 81000-lb explosive ioad top speed 90 mph have range 50 miies itwas iaunched March 6 1918 foiiowed its fiight program forthe preset 1000 yards As resuit ciaimed be. first entirely auccessfui fiight automatic missiie country world Note ternaily preprogrammed fiight did invoive RC first step aiternative controi fiight US Navy photo #USN651 991 alt Good IJHist5ryofRC Flying Navy N-9 seaplane succeasfullyflown RC September 151924 Dahigren VA Navy Lt JJ Bailentine ofticerdirectiy belowthe propeller hub right Mr C B Mirick designerof radio control system second man Balientines left CC Middiebrook father RCerCarlton Middiebrookof Middiebrook Connection Photo courtesy Naval Surface Weapons Center AMAs 50th anni versary 1986 RC model flying also began about 50 years ago privileged pre sent three-part series authored man him self key participant making RC history start precursors early building blocks later develop ments Part 1 THE POPULARITY Radio Control model aircraft exciting hobby unquestioned today types RC simple Gliders detailed Scale models popular practical daynot too long ago memories still-active RC old-timers RC hobby did exist hadnt yet invented story RC model planes got started USA Topics covered include pioneers what invented happened did coincidence RC hobbyists know began almost same time AMA fact first AMA Model Aviation Volume 1Number 1June 1936 simply stated new contest has arranged radio controlled models No rules mentioned would held 1936 Nationals Detroit Old-time RCers will point out no RC entries actually showed up event thats getting ahead story except mention 50th anniversary AMA RC will occur 1986 story part celebration story will primarily about RC model aircraft contrasted RC mod el boats cars though model boat probably easier rig RC because its weight-carrying ability interest obsessionis involved RC planes Confining story happenings US makes compatible AMAs geographical area interest well its involvement competition radio frequency aspects RC developments broader review including other countries coherer radio receiver eariy 19008 Antenna signai connected thin white giass tube center photo just above magnet coii giass tube lathe co herer contains powdered metal particles change low resistance path radio signal received Resulting tiny current goes through very sensitive relay left under hand contacts sensitive relay energize power relay rightwhich causes center magnet whack coherer reset its particles forthe next signal Only Morse code-type signals couid received bythe coherer AWA plc view shows coherer glass tube magnetic clapper resets metal particles tube after signal received Antique Wireless Asan photograph March 1986 57 Bruce Kelley AWA Antique Wireless Asan adjusts gap synchronous spark transmitter uses 15000 volts has transmitted output 1000 watts also pro duces raucous noise ioud Keiley must wear ear protectors Photo courtesyofAWA Soa~ kle4A1 s D ~I----AN EARLY GAS MODEL 41axwll Basse 1936 DESIGN Fzu 13 Basset 1936 gas model represented status stable Free Flight models its time illustration reprinted Gas Models Engines W Winter W Schroder would interesting additional effort would considerable Such global story might determine US actually flew first RC model worlda point has yet firmly estab lished Later perhaps Now precursors develop ments occurred earlier provided building blocks invention hobby RC First well recall status model airplanes early 1930sjust prior beginning RCand find what de velopments stimulated aircraft portion invention look early control radio both military commercial will show what state-of-the-art prior hobby RCs first faltering steps Probably helpful source information comes amateur radio area blooming wildly early 1930s will reported following issues specifics first RC models builders contests will bring out slow steps would eventually lead successful con trolled flights days RC model landed same field took off considered successful Status model airplanes early 30s Thirties began Great De pression severe unemployment whis pers unrest Europe Candy bars ice cream cones nickel dime could buy balsa model plane kit provided hours fun far night listening Hoagy Carmich aels Star Dust other hits Big Band era TV didnt exist Money scarce can remember dads salary high school science teacher cut half help town Kalamazoo stay debt-free Brother Bill worked part-time Kalamazoo Col lege physics lab rate 304 hour Part income bought few model supplies put bluntly times tough What status model air plane world vastly different today 1930 models either rubberpowered Free Flights Gliders little balsa wood tube Ambroid ce ment some Japanese tissue few feet rubber ready contest contests both local national still being held spite Depression 1934 availability new tiny gas engine made possible first gas-powered Free Flight FF event National Contest Akron story ofBill Browns gas engines Maxwell Bassetts planes well told Dave Ritchie Model Aviation2 have always chuckled about Bassett getting 4th place early gas model classic International Wakefield event held 1932 Atlantic City Although event traditionally rubber-powered models rules never specified form power After Bassetts success British quickly altered rules specif rubber power National Aero nautic Association US rules-maker did nothing update US rules three US outdoor rubber events guessed Bassett took two gas models 1933 Nationals Long Island NY proceeded capture trophies rubber models ex citing gas model come its own US rules changed provide gas model event its own Bassett entered new gas event 1934 Nats Akron won handsome margin What record arrival gas model estab lished would set stage inven tion RC model Another major element needed RC flight small battery-powered radio receiver Fortunately such units al ready being developed amateur radio community radios being built used amateurs also called hanis talk across town 5-meter band 56 60 MHz new phase ham radio much fun bootleggers persons license also found great excite ment hobby Fortunately 5-meter band barren other allocations because time considered useless commercial radio time hams boot leggers interfered other 5-meter band destined become home early pioneers RC early bootleggers later became hams entirely possible some Kettering Bug designed low-cost preprogrammed flying bomb flown experimentally 1917-18 Power 38-hp engine 15-ft wingspan Dihedral 10 Orville Wrights idea eliminated need ailerons project did use RC Drawing USAF Course 3111 Fundamental Principles Guided Missiles 1956 58 Model Aviation 1 IIZiiIII.- 5olenoid Lock Aerial -- fua*r Cowl, K h-I Cekerur 1 eroyad Ste fO 6 Left 1918 circuit diagram tars hobbyist-built RC submarine shows rudder solenoids speed control seiector operated coherer receiverand reiay Right An eight-ton RC houseboat demonstrated BB Miessner 1912 boatwas also test bed fordiffer ent types detectors proved coherer least reliable Photo credit BF Miessner Early History Radio Guidance early RCers bootleggers lucky identical twin brother ham license figured radio inspector would have hard pressed tell us apart hope statute limitations has run out now Military RC projects around early 1920s Next lets take look another piece background information may relevant would-be model RCer military RC projects Although account RC develop ment directed mainly hobby pects several military develop ments inthe 1916-1924 period need telling because show some problems occurred top notch technical engineers sizable budgets involved hobby pioneers may have aware developments intent show state-of-the-art earlier period First military development flying bombs pilotless airplanes automatic preset controls caused plane take off climb preset altitude level out cruise preset direction preset distance dive pre-selected target course flying bombs radio controlled since controlled internal mechanism April 1916 Elmer Sperry Sperry Gyroscope Peter Cooper Hewitt sci entist started development selfcontrolled plane using own funds September working system hydroplane gyro stabilization directional control distance-monitor ing gear demonstrated system Navy Lawrence Sperry pilot Lt Wilkinson official observer passenger After plane airborne pilot released stick switched automatic controls directed plane climb predetermined altitude steer itself set compass heading start dive preset timeat point pilot restored manual control Greatly impressed Sperry/Hewitt project Navy contracted $200000 May 1917 support design machine called Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb Less 10 months later March 6 1918 Curtiss- Sperry Flying Bomb launched successfully performed functions planned test machine climbed steadily flying straight line distance gear cut throttle 1000 yd set plane made March 1986 59 flaia&lfurj An early miniature receiver cover removed Goods adapted circuit RC model replacing headset sensitive relayplus lot cut try slow right spiral water claimed rst entirely suc cessful flight automatic missile country world3 though RC did lead RC demonstration Navy few years later Before though lets go back 1917 story Ketterings Bug also pre-programmed types Flying Bombs Aerial Torpedos called days An Army committee exploring feasibility project similar Navys Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb commit tee majority voted negatively feasi bility project would have died Charles Kettering inventor electric starter cars pro duced minority report positive day before Christmas 1917 Ket tering first meeting team three major sections plan airplane assigned Orville Wright engine DePalma controls Sperry Kettering emphasis high production low cost oneshot expendable machine Within 10 months team designed built several Bugs 15-ft wings 38-hp engine Sperry gyros pneumatic control system based parts player piano biplane wings 10 dihedral angle roll stability andto eliminate ailerons extra dihedral Orvilles ideahe thought like mod eler could carry 200-lb payload 50 miles 42 mph expected production cost $575 per vehicle first test vehicle launched well became erratic crashed second vehicle after some unplanned aerobatics behaved like large Free Flight model leaving airfield large climbing circles reach altitude 10000 feet later found 20 miles Dayton airfield Complete success attained third vehicle October 22 1918 climbed leveled off course dived toward target 500 yards away still within confines field first successful demonstration small low-cost Flying Bomb avoid publicity maintain secrecy remainder 25 Bugs sent Carlstrom Field Arcadia FL large open uninhabited areas suitable such testing Since WW ended additional tests didnt re sume until fall 1919 Out nine launchings Florida tests last completely successful covering 195 miles diving target area planned though Bug internally programmed did involve radio controls certainly qualifies im portant stepping stone Now comes story truly radiocontrolled plane developed military started N9 Navy seaplane gyroequipped automatic flight early 1922 Navy Proving Ground Dahl gren VA took task adding radio control machine under direction CB Muck4 account deals early vacuum tubes transmitter receiver Morkrum eight-point selector switch problems making gear work reliably aircraft environ ment relates further lab t 1 close Navys large-gun test range its incessant earth-shaking booms vibration problems solved lab before equipment installed airplane control system started controls neutral gave left right rudder up down elevator Continued page 123 I Teslas 1998 RC model boat used spark transmitter coherer receiver selector system controlled rudder deflection propulsion speed Drawing MA March1976 60 Model Aviation featherweight receiver shown previous page cover removed used sail plane pilots Elmira paved way hobby RC begin Credit QST September1933 1918 hobby RC submarine reprinisa Trom MOUCI Making book HF Yates pub lished Henley NYC 1919 Can anyone provide author information Prepare epoxy resin Wearing pro tective gloves using accurate scale carefully weigh out predetermined quan tity EPON 815 Dont forget record weight empty container can determine net amount resin amount TETA catalyst should range 15-20% resin weight 17% being about ideal example assume 8-in-dia prop will require 22 grams EPON amount TETA needed will additional 375 grams giving total liquid weight 25 75 grams Mix resin catalyst thoroughly allow settle about 10 min permit bubbles clear Because way mold con structed bottom half natural reser voir ideal trough lay-up prop Start giving trough area heavy coat epoxy resin lay longest rovings arranging straddle center post Always keep strands centered lengthwise mold assist equalizing blade balance Use small stick x smoothed rounded end spread out filaments cover much blade area possible Add resin progress shorter lengths using stick maneuver strands work out bubbles might trapped hub area can filled 1-in shorter clippings keeping whole mass wet resin Keep filaments confined blade area let slide closing faces will notice rovings begin take silver translucent appearance some seeming disappear entirely sign good wetting necessary resin penetration occurring glass place trough filled resin coat top mold face resin slide down onto center post Check make sure mold match marks correspond because mold closed reversed ends will never able reopen mold salvage what have done point Manually bring top mold down within about ing position four clamps shown pictures clamps should very slowly evenly tightened until faces close tightly will some loss glass lot oozing resin between faces normal Too much glass loss indicates either overstuffed mold closed too rapidly Cleaning up can accom plished acetone epoxy thinner Lay mold aside making sure level something underneath catch cascading drips normal room tem perature prop will take five six hours hardenconsiderably less left direct sun warm oven Check stiffness end spears doubt convinced epoxy firm loosen clamps use vice-grip pliers remove center post twisting pull advisable trim away washed-out rovings have formed long sides since will interfere opening mold Leave end spears untouched time five-minute soaking mold very hot water can sometimes wonders getting come apart Insert sharp knife screwdriver several places along parting line two halves should separate free prop again immerse hot water lift flashing flaps loosen grip especially hub area pull up end spears prop should snap free mold point should holding molded prop attached rectangle thin flashing Most flashing can cut away scissorsup within line sharp flat medium-coarse file used remove last ng along cleft line between flash prop Just few strokes will job nicely area around hub can best removed X-Acto knife file end spears cut away scissors after first filing groove across tongue sharp edge file Balancing prop acoomplished file and/or sandpaper progressing No 150 No 300 final polish Restrict balancing work top curved surface otherwise stand good chance altering blade pitch need help locating supplies cannot purchase small lots please contact Bob Dunham 4730 So Yorktown Tulsa OK 74105 starter kit consisting auto body filler PVA EPON 815 TETA vinyl gloves fiberglass rovings can furnished $60 postpaid US kit contains enough filler fiberglass other liquids make couple molds 20 25 medium-size props Material Sources Auto body filler CUZ NAPA Auto motive Stores White Knight K-Mart Wal Mart auto supply parts stores Steel-filled epoxy 1 qt kit EPOCAST #1 iB #9812 hardener EV Roberts & Assoc Box 868 Culver City CA 90232 phone 1-800-421-0824 Epoxy resin Shell Chemical EPON 815 EV Roberts & Assoc Epoxy catalyst TETA EV Roberts & Assoc Polyester resin K&B Manufacturing hobby shops Fiberglass rovings Owens-Corning Product #447-211 #352-211 CertainTeed Product #282-Bi See Yellow Pages under Fiberglass Materials Carbon fiber tows Gougeon Bros Box X908 Bay City MI 48707 NFFS Supplies 12 Cook St Rowayton CT 06853 RC History/Good Continued page 60 throttle offone time Panel lights indicated airborne pilot control signal being transmitted Continued page 126 March 1986 123 Will OPS 000 Sa#uoc4 specialists High Performance Model Airplane Engines stock parts back up will like doing business us See local hoppy shop P arts Peo pie Box 26247 New Orleans LA 70186 242-5967 PRO-CLAMP Tuned Pipe Clamp $250** pipe included ITS SNAP P-Clamp Tuned Pipe Clamp Good 50fl0 Ii $1 49** pipe included Add $175 Add $050 Shipping Handling Dealer-Dist Inquiries Invited Span65Eng.45-60 Area754 sq in4 Channel Send $100 latest price list literature Also Available okee Babe VK MODEL AIRCRAFT CO 5866 Transit Rd. Depew NY 14043 Phone No 716 684-5555 LA PRODUCTS FOR THE DISCEAMNO MODELER Complete Line Exhaust Systems Tuned Pipes led Tuned Pipes * Headers uri Mufflers Expansion Mufflers copter Ball Mufflers ialized Exhaust Systems Unsurpas.d Wakmanzhifl & PGIfOflWAflC6 ground-based pilot Most flight tests used airborne pilot monitor response blinking light signals actually switching RC signals airplane controls maximum signal range two three miles ground-based 50-watt trans mitter few flights RC signals control airborne pilot observer dio con trol rudder took hold such vigor control cables plane torn loose plane fluttered down midst fleet oyster boats pilot steering ailerons After ex perience eight-point selector re placed tuned reeds allowed simultaneous control several controls much better flying Yes tuned reeds well known time Finally September 15 1924 first pilotless RC flight N9 seaplane dubbed Wild Goose took place Dahlgren VA unmanned plane took off circled some 12 minutes altitudes up 500 feet range transmitter two three miles found plane responded inputs Chief Radioman EL Luke followed verbal instructions Aviation Officer Lt JJ Ballentine .at point failure response two three signals right turn CB Mirick shouted sug gestion try left turn greatly delighted Commander Pickens ttle later plane got back over land lost altitude seemed bent dive bombing farm house timely up flipper signal brought up came out over water what seemed smooth successful landing Wild Goose flown radio control immediately known observ em landing cracked pontoon began leak caused plane nose over sink plane gear recovered river severe corrosion rendered parts unusable PO BOX 3957 TORRANCE CA 90610 project terminated point significant first RC plane made oomplete witnessed controlled flight RC profes sional project funded military organi zationa lot effort flight step along way Yet still wasnt hobby RC Theres personal addendum tale call Middlebrook Connec tion5 digging out story name Charles Middlebrook men tioned civilian engineer adjusted gyros just before plane taxied away its historic flight name rang bell since flown RC models Carlton Middlebrook Dahlgren base 1960s turned out Canton Charles son information about Wild Goose came flowing out stabilizing gyros built Carl Norden Norden Bombsight fame Carltons brother also named Charles inherited wooden propeller Wild Goose said N9 also called Navy Jenny built Naval Aircraft Factory Phila delphia Further Carlton recalled visit retired Navy admiral annual RC reoord trials Dahlgren admiral Maynard Hills coaching flew record models several minutes RC flight admiral former Lt JJ Ballentine called signals Navys first RC flight Wild Goose 1924 What appropriate oonnection RC history past RC links origins commercial radio early 1900s Now well step back earlier history early stage RC story classify Commercial Radio involved bril liant experimenters plowing new terntory radio waves applications experiments resulted patents large royalties famealong patent suits tribulations Probably earliest RC experimenter Nicola Tesla 1856-l943 de vised RC gear gave demonstrations 126 Model Aviation FAI RUBBER Sizes 114 3/16 1/8 3/32 1/16 042 thick pound box Price $1300 FREE 4 oz bottle SLICK rubber lube per box Postpaid UPS USA 65 FF kits mci Starduster Coupe Deville 4 Satellites mow availl Dragmaster Zingo FAI Power Tilka Wakefield P-30s 2 pacifier tanks Crocket hooks Slick lube Seelig ft KSB timers Front ends 3 prop kits 2 kinds fuse winders kinds hardware Books much 1985 catalog 75 Cal add 6% tax FAIModel Supply H RC History/Good Continued page 123 CLEANERPolisher Glider Pilots Take Note SUPER SHINE SUPER SLICK 8 oz $4 95* 1898 several radio-controlled model boatsat Madison Square Garden New York City no less story says actual rental building $10000 week paid friend John Hays Hammond Sr Teslas intent attract public attention overall work notiust RC awarded US Patent November 8 1898 Method Apparatus Controlling Mechanisms Moving Vessels Vehicles patent mentions RC examples boats carriages balloons possible vehicles No mention made aircraft however perhaps because Wright broth ers hadnt flown Teslas primary success came alternating current AC generators pio neered sold patents Westing house million dollars inventions ranged far wide electrical radio fields including some first concepts intelligent robots other automatons Tesla sued Marconi patent infringements Marconi intro duced wireless telegraphy 1901 Other early inventors sued Marconi too Mar coni combined good parts contributions others creating working radio system transmitting receiv ing others provided parts US Supreme Court ruled favor Marconi 1915 Some said court did understand complex tech nical aspects Marconi made millions Tesla controversial genius died penni less 1943 mostly because elabo rate experiments Another contributor early Conuner cial Radio American named BF Miessner age 22 top-notch ventor/experimenter demonstrated RC eight-ton houseboat US Army fall 1912 near Goucester MA Distance tests made using 1000watt spark transmitter shore several types detectors houseboat Miessner found catwhisker crys tal detector would operate sensitive relay range half-mile vacuum tube detector range three miles coherer detector dropped earlier because its very short range vibration problems used ironnickel particles small glass tube electrode end radio signal would lock-up particles causing low resistance path allow sensitive relay energized After lock-up coherer unlocked tapping tube flipping over John Hayes Hammond Jr Miessner worked time said two essential things must get reliable sensitive relay stable form detector same require ments pioneering RC modelers would encounter 20 years later Miessner adopted vacuum tube detector converted Weston meter relay adding delicate contact points Miessners experiments suc cessful wrote first RC book called Radio Dynamics 1916 before graduated Purdue University Later involved several patent infringement suits former employ er JH Hammond Jr However went invent superheterodyne re ceiver FM frequency modulation system Both contested other inventors including Major Arm strong difficult determine really first radio ventions Miesner did suffer financially squabbles patents royalties netted him over two million dollars radio broadcasting industry bloomed work pioneers bigname electrical companies General Elec tric Westinghouse RCA others born period should now clear Ive called money portion RC story Com mercial Radio However experi menters did invent basic circuits radio communication hobby RC pioneers would eventually employ Contributions amateur radio spite important contributions commercial military areas RC model airplane invented amateur modelers amateur radio hob byists appropriate take look March 1986 127 CORBEN SUPER ACE GIANT SCALE 8O WINGSPAN 4 CYCLE 90 POWER SEND $200 FOR COMPLETE CATALOG OF FINE KITS RAINBOW RUNNER 25 45 Gm PRECISION PRODUCTS INC 714 592-51 510 E Arrow Highway San Dimas CA 91773 IKON NWST PO Box 566 Auburn WA 98071 206941-8248 CD CD -h 0 z 0 z 0 C, 0 0 m I m 0 Q C 0 H Cl C/ C 0 C, -4 0 C 0 Co 0 0 Lrcrii N 5 x CA x CA x co x x 01 x 0 x 0 x Co Li DGA Designs es D0A DA Designs 0 0 S 10 o o5 0 0 QiiarterMaster T BIPE 0 QUARTER SCALE PLANS QuarterMaster Sport Elpe8 Oadra 35.73Span.E-Z bIdld. $21 Great Flyer.Sew-Kt Anallable.. 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Send check o MO COOs Allow 3 weeks checkto clear S U iiiu ml *1 [e1 us amateur radio prior 1930s radio frequencies available RC pioneers 1930s designated amateur radio use user required have Amateur Radio License obtained exami nation Morse code radio theory can remember brother Bill took exam 1932 still high school government examiner came Kalamazoo Post Office gave exam must have kind person because Bill missed too words first code test examiner said Youre just nervous give another try Bill did passed long written exam took him almost six hours came through W8IFD 1936 20000 active hams amateurs national organization American Radio Relay League ARRL looking background materials status amateur radio technology mid-1930s found book written Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL8 Published 1936 just what needed refresh memory lay background story book 200 Meters Down starts first amateur station 1899 no required licenses real use new world radio communi cation between Navy shipsup maxi mum range 10 miles practical use radio just beginning 1910 amateur sta tions Army Navy stations put together Immediately arose ugly problem ofradio interference between several groups users take look equipment source interference becomes very obvious transmitters using spark gaps tubes werent available produced thou sands watts energy radiated signals approximately 200-meter wave lengths 15 MHz However spark signals impure smeared out 12 20 MHz best cat whisker crystal detector receiver would pick up different signals simul taneously Wow what messnot suit able hobby RC early fre quency band eventually became pres ent AM broadcast band first frequency assignments made 1912 Navy pushed eliminating amateur stations pro viding no frequency gn ments negative action brought vehe ment reaction amateur ranks caused amateurs amateur clubs led Charles Stewart Pennsylvania later vice-president ARRL promote Compromise amateur transmissions would move frequencies above 15 MHz Navy pleased sly way because preferred frequencies below 1 MHz further believed region above 15 MHz useless long ranges Navy felt given away something useless gotten rid amateurs same time wrongthey took almost decade realized Since 15 MHz wavelength 200 meters DeSoto entitled book 200 ters Down Because think better terms frequency would have preferred 15 MHz Up Either way amateurs owned frequen cies above 15 MHz March 1913 saw terrible Midwest storm disable parts Ohio Michigan leaving communication neighboring areas amateurs devastated area immediately started relay ing messages outside world rescue efforts quickly began first time newspapers gave heavy frontpage coverage heroic actions amateurs public service efforts favorable publicity resulted new recognition government levels amateurs vital countrys emergency service should sup ported 1917 US entered World War can guess immediately filled ranks military radio units Yes already-trained amateurs 1929 government adopted new regulations conformity decisions 1927 World Radio Conference taking back some spectrum assigned amateurs earlier leav ing seemingly generous allotment number small bands four-MHz slice starting 56 MHz called 5-meter band Just few percent amateurs maybe thousand nationwide started explore band techniques developing band virtually empty 5-meter band destined become home RC pio neers RC modelers should grateful frequency legacy amateurs ARRL obtained shared RC-ham developers pioneered RC hobby example tiny one-tube receiver used glider pilots Elmira gather information ground later con verted RC use band main used RC models mid-1930s early 1950s AMA secured first frequencies RC applications Whats small group ham-RCers still use same band todaysome 50 years later now called 6-meter band since moved 50-54 MHz after WW H DeSoto made some very astute predic tions 1936 regarding future ama teur communications especially tech nical expectationsbut failed men tion possibility RC models However 1938 just two short years later entered plane RC event AMA Nats Detroit became prolific writer RC topics must have surprised first RC hobby model strange RC project came attention through 128 Model Aviation NFWUCT S WINGEE ALL YOU NEED Mount Swingee like hinge Completely built-in out sight No flexy torque rods ailerons just simple pushrods straight Swingee Use direct servo control-horn linkage away Kwick-links bell-cranks eliminate sloppy control surfaces scale soaring pattern pylon sport flyer built-in Swingee makes clean aerodynamic lines naturally improves both appearance performance Swingee made Delrin totally unaffected change temperature USA Dealer [AE rn/c mcJ PO Box 511 F HIGGINSVILLE MO 64037 816-584-7121 Dealer inquiries invited World distributor G L INTERNATIONAL AB PO Box 3459 5-162 03 VALLINGEY SWEDEN John Brown Santa Ana CA John sent copies 40 pages book called Modelmaking9 book edited Raymond F Yates well-known writer time article Model Submarine Radio Control did list author perhaps Yates himself just cant resist including submarine story though its heavy-weight RC gear wasnt suitable plane subject 8-ft-long 175-lb submarine radio controls steering electric motors propulsion transmitter 2-in spark gap abroad band frequencies receiver coherer detector Maximum range 300 feet highly-detailed drawings pho tos convincing no descrip tion public demonstration However annotation book pub lished time wireless work experimental nature prohibited United States Government wasnt too surprising US involved war time date 1918 during World War I surmise RC submarine project started before WW almost finished wireless prohibi tion prevented actual RC demonstra tions known whether later tests performed believed article published originally Evety day Engineering Magazine 1917 1918 Can anyone help solve mystery submarine model may have first hobby RC project US really dont know know model plane really what story about Summary now know precursors set stage invention hobby RC model planes gas engines gas models Browns Bassetts early 1 930s amateur radio hams knowledge interest hobby level direct application radio techniques military RC projects 1 920s demonstrated technical feas ibility no means offered direct transition hobby RC commercial radio industry pro vided some circuits components no direct help application toward hobby RC up modelers hams blend together results pre cursors working RC model plane next installment well see met challenge recount early stumbling steps first-ever RC compe tition 1937 National Contest Detroit References Zaic Frank Junior Aeronautics Year Book New York Model Aeronautics Publications 1934 2Ritchie Dave Maxwell Bassett First Gas Model Champion ModelAviation Septem ber 1983 Fabrney DS Rear Admiral USN ret Robert Strobell Americas First Pilotless Aircraft Aero Digest FR FLIUNT ROLLED PLANS UT PARTS Y 1 /2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX 4Mirick CB Wild Goose Chase USN Institute Proceedings Vol 72 Whole No 521 July 1946 Middlebrook Carlton Interview February 28 1985 6Sosic GV Tesla Father RC Model Aviation March 1976 7Miessner BF Early History Radio Guidance San Francisco San Francisco Press 1964 9DeSoto Clinton B 200 Meters Down W Hartford ARRL Inc 1936 9Yates Raymond F ed Modelmaking New York Norman W Henley Publishing Co 1919 Safety Preston Continued page 20 Park Authority city county etc pass ordinance would require use permit turn would require surance coverage According Russell Knetzger cheapest way obtaln lia bility insurance join AMA Most letters received subject addressed question deter flier AMA member March 1986 129 An entirely new generation controlhinges now available model builder unique design Swingee will benefit 11 i T II'I ELECTRIC POWER OR GLO-ENGINES PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # 10915 21 size engines electric motor equivalent Weight 85 grams$l5N PROP BLADES FOR HUB # 100 Available 7s 25 7x 3 7s 35 Bs 4 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HU3 ASSEMBLY # 110 049 051 engines electric motor equivalent Weight 5 grams $150 PROP BLADES FOR NUB # 110 lable 6x 3 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # Ill 0 engines electric motor equivalent 20 grams $2000 PROP ULADES FOR HUB # lii lable 9 x 4 10 x 411 s 4 $5N per blade SlON per pair Send SSAE catalog sheet complete line
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/03
Page Numbers: 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 123, 126, 127, 128, 129
The Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb 191 7-1 8 Specified weigh 500 lb empty carry 81000-lb explosive ioad top speed 90 mph have range 50 miies itwas iaunched March 6 1918 foiiowed its fiight program forthe preset 1000 yards As resuit ciaimed be. first entirely auccessfui fiight automatic missiie country world Note ternaily preprogrammed fiight did invoive RC first step aiternative controi fiight US Navy photo #USN651 991 alt Good IJHist5ryofRC Flying Navy N-9 seaplane succeasfullyflown RC September 151924 Dahigren VA Navy Lt JJ Bailentine ofticerdirectiy belowthe propeller hub right Mr C B Mirick designerof radio control system second man Balientines left CC Middiebrook father RCerCarlton Middiebrookof Middiebrook Connection Photo courtesy Naval Surface Weapons Center AMAs 50th anni versary 1986 RC model flying also began about 50 years ago privileged pre sent three-part series authored man him self key participant making RC history start precursors early building blocks later develop ments Part 1 THE POPULARITY Radio Control model aircraft exciting hobby unquestioned today types RC simple Gliders detailed Scale models popular practical daynot too long ago memories still-active RC old-timers RC hobby did exist hadnt yet invented story RC model planes got started USA Topics covered include pioneers what invented happened did coincidence RC hobbyists know began almost same time AMA fact first AMA Model Aviation Volume 1Number 1June 1936 simply stated new contest has arranged radio controlled models No rules mentioned would held 1936 Nationals Detroit Old-time RCers will point out no RC entries actually showed up event thats getting ahead story except mention 50th anniversary AMA RC will occur 1986 story part celebration story will primarily about RC model aircraft contrasted RC mod el boats cars though model boat probably easier rig RC because its weight-carrying ability interest obsessionis involved RC planes Confining story happenings US makes compatible AMAs geographical area interest well its involvement competition radio frequency aspects RC developments broader review including other countries coherer radio receiver eariy 19008 Antenna signai connected thin white giass tube center photo just above magnet coii giass tube lathe co herer contains powdered metal particles change low resistance path radio signal received Resulting tiny current goes through very sensitive relay left under hand contacts sensitive relay energize power relay rightwhich causes center magnet whack coherer reset its particles forthe next signal Only Morse code-type signals couid received bythe coherer AWA plc view shows coherer glass tube magnetic clapper resets metal particles tube after signal received Antique Wireless Asan photograph March 1986 57 Bruce Kelley AWA Antique Wireless Asan adjusts gap synchronous spark transmitter uses 15000 volts has transmitted output 1000 watts also pro duces raucous noise ioud Keiley must wear ear protectors Photo courtesyofAWA Soa~ kle4A1 s D ~I----AN EARLY GAS MODEL 41axwll Basse 1936 DESIGN Fzu 13 Basset 1936 gas model represented status stable Free Flight models its time illustration reprinted Gas Models Engines W Winter W Schroder would interesting additional effort would considerable Such global story might determine US actually flew first RC model worlda point has yet firmly estab lished Later perhaps Now precursors develop ments occurred earlier provided building blocks invention hobby RC First well recall status model airplanes early 1930sjust prior beginning RCand find what de velopments stimulated aircraft portion invention look early control radio both military commercial will show what state-of-the-art prior hobby RCs first faltering steps Probably helpful source information comes amateur radio area blooming wildly early 1930s will reported following issues specifics first RC models builders contests will bring out slow steps would eventually lead successful con trolled flights days RC model landed same field took off considered successful Status model airplanes early 30s Thirties began Great De pression severe unemployment whis pers unrest Europe Candy bars ice cream cones nickel dime could buy balsa model plane kit provided hours fun far night listening Hoagy Carmich aels Star Dust other hits Big Band era TV didnt exist Money scarce can remember dads salary high school science teacher cut half help town Kalamazoo stay debt-free Brother Bill worked part-time Kalamazoo Col lege physics lab rate 304 hour Part income bought few model supplies put bluntly times tough What status model air plane world vastly different today 1930 models either rubberpowered Free Flights Gliders little balsa wood tube Ambroid ce ment some Japanese tissue few feet rubber ready contest contests both local national still being held spite Depression 1934 availability new tiny gas engine made possible first gas-powered Free Flight FF event National Contest Akron story ofBill Browns gas engines Maxwell Bassetts planes well told Dave Ritchie Model Aviation2 have always chuckled about Bassett getting 4th place early gas model classic International Wakefield event held 1932 Atlantic City Although event traditionally rubber-powered models rules never specified form power After Bassetts success British quickly altered rules specif rubber power National Aero nautic Association US rules-maker did nothing update US rules three US outdoor rubber events guessed Bassett took two gas models 1933 Nationals Long Island NY proceeded capture trophies rubber models ex citing gas model come its own US rules changed provide gas model event its own Bassett entered new gas event 1934 Nats Akron won handsome margin What record arrival gas model estab lished would set stage inven tion RC model Another major element needed RC flight small battery-powered radio receiver Fortunately such units al ready being developed amateur radio community radios being built used amateurs also called hanis talk across town 5-meter band 56 60 MHz new phase ham radio much fun bootleggers persons license also found great excite ment hobby Fortunately 5-meter band barren other allocations because time considered useless commercial radio time hams boot leggers interfered other 5-meter band destined become home early pioneers RC early bootleggers later became hams entirely possible some Kettering Bug designed low-cost preprogrammed flying bomb flown experimentally 1917-18 Power 38-hp engine 15-ft wingspan Dihedral 10 Orville Wrights idea eliminated need ailerons project did use RC Drawing USAF Course 3111 Fundamental Principles Guided Missiles 1956 58 Model Aviation 1 IIZiiIII.- 5olenoid Lock Aerial -- fua*r Cowl, K h-I Cekerur 1 eroyad Ste fO 6 Left 1918 circuit diagram tars hobbyist-built RC submarine shows rudder solenoids speed control seiector operated coherer receiverand reiay Right An eight-ton RC houseboat demonstrated BB Miessner 1912 boatwas also test bed fordiffer ent types detectors proved coherer least reliable Photo credit BF Miessner Early History Radio Guidance early RCers bootleggers lucky identical twin brother ham license figured radio inspector would have hard pressed tell us apart hope statute limitations has run out now Military RC projects around early 1920s Next lets take look another piece background information may relevant would-be model RCer military RC projects Although account RC develop ment directed mainly hobby pects several military develop ments inthe 1916-1924 period need telling because show some problems occurred top notch technical engineers sizable budgets involved hobby pioneers may have aware developments intent show state-of-the-art earlier period First military development flying bombs pilotless airplanes automatic preset controls caused plane take off climb preset altitude level out cruise preset direction preset distance dive pre-selected target course flying bombs radio controlled since controlled internal mechanism April 1916 Elmer Sperry Sperry Gyroscope Peter Cooper Hewitt sci entist started development selfcontrolled plane using own funds September working system hydroplane gyro stabilization directional control distance-monitor ing gear demonstrated system Navy Lawrence Sperry pilot Lt Wilkinson official observer passenger After plane airborne pilot released stick switched automatic controls directed plane climb predetermined altitude steer itself set compass heading start dive preset timeat point pilot restored manual control Greatly impressed Sperry/Hewitt project Navy contracted $200000 May 1917 support design machine called Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb Less 10 months later March 6 1918 Curtiss- Sperry Flying Bomb launched successfully performed functions planned test machine climbed steadily flying straight line distance gear cut throttle 1000 yd set plane made March 1986 59 flaia&lfurj An early miniature receiver cover removed Goods adapted circuit RC model replacing headset sensitive relayplus lot cut try slow right spiral water claimed rst entirely suc cessful flight automatic missile country world3 though RC did lead RC demonstration Navy few years later Before though lets go back 1917 story Ketterings Bug also pre-programmed types Flying Bombs Aerial Torpedos called days An Army committee exploring feasibility project similar Navys Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb commit tee majority voted negatively feasi bility project would have died Charles Kettering inventor electric starter cars pro duced minority report positive day before Christmas 1917 Ket tering first meeting team three major sections plan airplane assigned Orville Wright engine DePalma controls Sperry Kettering emphasis high production low cost oneshot expendable machine Within 10 months team designed built several Bugs 15-ft wings 38-hp engine Sperry gyros pneumatic control system based parts player piano biplane wings 10 dihedral angle roll stability andto eliminate ailerons extra dihedral Orvilles ideahe thought like mod eler could carry 200-lb payload 50 miles 42 mph expected production cost $575 per vehicle first test vehicle launched well became erratic crashed second vehicle after some unplanned aerobatics behaved like large Free Flight model leaving airfield large climbing circles reach altitude 10000 feet later found 20 miles Dayton airfield Complete success attained third vehicle October 22 1918 climbed leveled off course dived toward target 500 yards away still within confines field first successful demonstration small low-cost Flying Bomb avoid publicity maintain secrecy remainder 25 Bugs sent Carlstrom Field Arcadia FL large open uninhabited areas suitable such testing Since WW ended additional tests didnt re sume until fall 1919 Out nine launchings Florida tests last completely successful covering 195 miles diving target area planned though Bug internally programmed did involve radio controls certainly qualifies im portant stepping stone Now comes story truly radiocontrolled plane developed military started N9 Navy seaplane gyroequipped automatic flight early 1922 Navy Proving Ground Dahl gren VA took task adding radio control machine under direction CB Muck4 account deals early vacuum tubes transmitter receiver Morkrum eight-point selector switch problems making gear work reliably aircraft environ ment relates further lab t 1 close Navys large-gun test range its incessant earth-shaking booms vibration problems solved lab before equipment installed airplane control system started controls neutral gave left right rudder up down elevator Continued page 123 I Teslas 1998 RC model boat used spark transmitter coherer receiver selector system controlled rudder deflection propulsion speed Drawing MA March1976 60 Model Aviation featherweight receiver shown previous page cover removed used sail plane pilots Elmira paved way hobby RC begin Credit QST September1933 1918 hobby RC submarine reprinisa Trom MOUCI Making book HF Yates pub lished Henley NYC 1919 Can anyone provide author information Prepare epoxy resin Wearing pro tective gloves using accurate scale carefully weigh out predetermined quan tity EPON 815 Dont forget record weight empty container can determine net amount resin amount TETA catalyst should range 15-20% resin weight 17% being about ideal example assume 8-in-dia prop will require 22 grams EPON amount TETA needed will additional 375 grams giving total liquid weight 25 75 grams Mix resin catalyst thoroughly allow settle about 10 min permit bubbles clear Because way mold con structed bottom half natural reser voir ideal trough lay-up prop Start giving trough area heavy coat epoxy resin lay longest rovings arranging straddle center post Always keep strands centered lengthwise mold assist equalizing blade balance Use small stick x smoothed rounded end spread out filaments cover much blade area possible Add resin progress shorter lengths using stick maneuver strands work out bubbles might trapped hub area can filled 1-in shorter clippings keeping whole mass wet resin Keep filaments confined blade area let slide closing faces will notice rovings begin take silver translucent appearance some seeming disappear entirely sign good wetting necessary resin penetration occurring glass place trough filled resin coat top mold face resin slide down onto center post Check make sure mold match marks correspond because mold closed reversed ends will never able reopen mold salvage what have done point Manually bring top mold down within about ing position four clamps shown pictures clamps should very slowly evenly tightened until faces close tightly will some loss glass lot oozing resin between faces normal Too much glass loss indicates either overstuffed mold closed too rapidly Cleaning up can accom plished acetone epoxy thinner Lay mold aside making sure level something underneath catch cascading drips normal room tem perature prop will take five six hours hardenconsiderably less left direct sun warm oven Check stiffness end spears doubt convinced epoxy firm loosen clamps use vice-grip pliers remove center post twisting pull advisable trim away washed-out rovings have formed long sides since will interfere opening mold Leave end spears untouched time five-minute soaking mold very hot water can sometimes wonders getting come apart Insert sharp knife screwdriver several places along parting line two halves should separate free prop again immerse hot water lift flashing flaps loosen grip especially hub area pull up end spears prop should snap free mold point should holding molded prop attached rectangle thin flashing Most flashing can cut away scissorsup within line sharp flat medium-coarse file used remove last ng along cleft line between flash prop Just few strokes will job nicely area around hub can best removed X-Acto knife file end spears cut away scissors after first filing groove across tongue sharp edge file Balancing prop acoomplished file and/or sandpaper progressing No 150 No 300 final polish Restrict balancing work top curved surface otherwise stand good chance altering blade pitch need help locating supplies cannot purchase small lots please contact Bob Dunham 4730 So Yorktown Tulsa OK 74105 starter kit consisting auto body filler PVA EPON 815 TETA vinyl gloves fiberglass rovings can furnished $60 postpaid US kit contains enough filler fiberglass other liquids make couple molds 20 25 medium-size props Material Sources Auto body filler CUZ NAPA Auto motive Stores White Knight K-Mart Wal Mart auto supply parts stores Steel-filled epoxy 1 qt kit EPOCAST #1 iB #9812 hardener EV Roberts & Assoc Box 868 Culver City CA 90232 phone 1-800-421-0824 Epoxy resin Shell Chemical EPON 815 EV Roberts & Assoc Epoxy catalyst TETA EV Roberts & Assoc Polyester resin K&B Manufacturing hobby shops Fiberglass rovings Owens-Corning Product #447-211 #352-211 CertainTeed Product #282-Bi See Yellow Pages under Fiberglass Materials Carbon fiber tows Gougeon Bros Box X908 Bay City MI 48707 NFFS Supplies 12 Cook St Rowayton CT 06853 RC History/Good Continued page 60 throttle offone time Panel lights indicated airborne pilot control signal being transmitted Continued page 126 March 1986 123 Will OPS 000 Sa#uoc4 specialists High Performance Model Airplane Engines stock parts back up will like doing business us See local hoppy shop P arts Peo pie Box 26247 New Orleans LA 70186 242-5967 PRO-CLAMP Tuned Pipe Clamp $250** pipe included ITS SNAP P-Clamp Tuned Pipe Clamp Good 50fl0 Ii $1 49** pipe included Add $175 Add $050 Shipping Handling Dealer-Dist Inquiries Invited Span65Eng.45-60 Area754 sq in4 Channel Send $100 latest price list literature Also Available okee Babe VK MODEL AIRCRAFT CO 5866 Transit Rd. Depew NY 14043 Phone No 716 684-5555 LA PRODUCTS FOR THE DISCEAMNO MODELER Complete Line Exhaust Systems Tuned Pipes led Tuned Pipes * Headers uri Mufflers Expansion Mufflers copter Ball Mufflers ialized Exhaust Systems Unsurpas.d Wakmanzhifl & PGIfOflWAflC6 ground-based pilot Most flight tests used airborne pilot monitor response blinking light signals actually switching RC signals airplane controls maximum signal range two three miles ground-based 50-watt trans mitter few flights RC signals control airborne pilot observer dio con trol rudder took hold such vigor control cables plane torn loose plane fluttered down midst fleet oyster boats pilot steering ailerons After ex perience eight-point selector re placed tuned reeds allowed simultaneous control several controls much better flying Yes tuned reeds well known time Finally September 15 1924 first pilotless RC flight N9 seaplane dubbed Wild Goose took place Dahlgren VA unmanned plane took off circled some 12 minutes altitudes up 500 feet range transmitter two three miles found plane responded inputs Chief Radioman EL Luke followed verbal instructions Aviation Officer Lt JJ Ballentine .at point failure response two three signals right turn CB Mirick shouted sug gestion try left turn greatly delighted Commander Pickens ttle later plane got back over land lost altitude seemed bent dive bombing farm house timely up flipper signal brought up came out over water what seemed smooth successful landing Wild Goose flown radio control immediately known observ em landing cracked pontoon began leak caused plane nose over sink plane gear recovered river severe corrosion rendered parts unusable PO BOX 3957 TORRANCE CA 90610 project terminated point significant first RC plane made oomplete witnessed controlled flight RC profes sional project funded military organi zationa lot effort flight step along way Yet still wasnt hobby RC Theres personal addendum tale call Middlebrook Connec tion5 digging out story name Charles Middlebrook men tioned civilian engineer adjusted gyros just before plane taxied away its historic flight name rang bell since flown RC models Carlton Middlebrook Dahlgren base 1960s turned out Canton Charles son information about Wild Goose came flowing out stabilizing gyros built Carl Norden Norden Bombsight fame Carltons brother also named Charles inherited wooden propeller Wild Goose said N9 also called Navy Jenny built Naval Aircraft Factory Phila delphia Further Carlton recalled visit retired Navy admiral annual RC reoord trials Dahlgren admiral Maynard Hills coaching flew record models several minutes RC flight admiral former Lt JJ Ballentine called signals Navys first RC flight Wild Goose 1924 What appropriate oonnection RC history past RC links origins commercial radio early 1900s Now well step back earlier history early stage RC story classify Commercial Radio involved bril liant experimenters plowing new terntory radio waves applications experiments resulted patents large royalties famealong patent suits tribulations Probably earliest RC experimenter Nicola Tesla 1856-l943 de vised RC gear gave demonstrations 126 Model Aviation FAI RUBBER Sizes 114 3/16 1/8 3/32 1/16 042 thick pound box Price $1300 FREE 4 oz bottle SLICK rubber lube per box Postpaid UPS USA 65 FF kits mci Starduster Coupe Deville 4 Satellites mow availl Dragmaster Zingo FAI Power Tilka Wakefield P-30s 2 pacifier tanks Crocket hooks Slick lube Seelig ft KSB timers Front ends 3 prop kits 2 kinds fuse winders kinds hardware Books much 1985 catalog 75 Cal add 6% tax FAIModel Supply H RC History/Good Continued page 123 CLEANERPolisher Glider Pilots Take Note SUPER SHINE SUPER SLICK 8 oz $4 95* 1898 several radio-controlled model boatsat Madison Square Garden New York City no less story says actual rental building $10000 week paid friend John Hays Hammond Sr Teslas intent attract public attention overall work notiust RC awarded US Patent November 8 1898 Method Apparatus Controlling Mechanisms Moving Vessels Vehicles patent mentions RC examples boats carriages balloons possible vehicles No mention made aircraft however perhaps because Wright broth ers hadnt flown Teslas primary success came alternating current AC generators pio neered sold patents Westing house million dollars inventions ranged far wide electrical radio fields including some first concepts intelligent robots other automatons Tesla sued Marconi patent infringements Marconi intro duced wireless telegraphy 1901 Other early inventors sued Marconi too Mar coni combined good parts contributions others creating working radio system transmitting receiv ing others provided parts US Supreme Court ruled favor Marconi 1915 Some said court did understand complex tech nical aspects Marconi made millions Tesla controversial genius died penni less 1943 mostly because elabo rate experiments Another contributor early Conuner cial Radio American named BF Miessner age 22 top-notch ventor/experimenter demonstrated RC eight-ton houseboat US Army fall 1912 near Goucester MA Distance tests made using 1000watt spark transmitter shore several types detectors houseboat Miessner found catwhisker crys tal detector would operate sensitive relay range half-mile vacuum tube detector range three miles coherer detector dropped earlier because its very short range vibration problems used ironnickel particles small glass tube electrode end radio signal would lock-up particles causing low resistance path allow sensitive relay energized After lock-up coherer unlocked tapping tube flipping over John Hayes Hammond Jr Miessner worked time said two essential things must get reliable sensitive relay stable form detector same require ments pioneering RC modelers would encounter 20 years later Miessner adopted vacuum tube detector converted Weston meter relay adding delicate contact points Miessners experiments suc cessful wrote first RC book called Radio Dynamics 1916 before graduated Purdue University Later involved several patent infringement suits former employ er JH Hammond Jr However went invent superheterodyne re ceiver FM frequency modulation system Both contested other inventors including Major Arm strong difficult determine really first radio ventions Miesner did suffer financially squabbles patents royalties netted him over two million dollars radio broadcasting industry bloomed work pioneers bigname electrical companies General Elec tric Westinghouse RCA others born period should now clear Ive called money portion RC story Com mercial Radio However experi menters did invent basic circuits radio communication hobby RC pioneers would eventually employ Contributions amateur radio spite important contributions commercial military areas RC model airplane invented amateur modelers amateur radio hob byists appropriate take look March 1986 127 CORBEN SUPER ACE GIANT SCALE 8O WINGSPAN 4 CYCLE 90 POWER SEND $200 FOR COMPLETE CATALOG OF FINE KITS RAINBOW RUNNER 25 45 Gm PRECISION PRODUCTS INC 714 592-51 510 E Arrow Highway San Dimas CA 91773 IKON NWST PO Box 566 Auburn WA 98071 206941-8248 CD CD -h 0 z 0 z 0 C, 0 0 m I m 0 Q C 0 H Cl C/ C 0 C, -4 0 C 0 Co 0 0 Lrcrii N 5 x CA x CA x co x x 01 x 0 x 0 x Co Li DGA Designs es D0A DA Designs 0 0 S 10 o o5 0 0 QiiarterMaster T BIPE 0 QUARTER SCALE PLANS QuarterMaster Sport Elpe8 Oadra 35.73Span.E-Z bIdld. $21 Great Flyer.Sew-Kt Anallable.. 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Send check o MO COOs Allow 3 weeks checkto clear S U iiiu ml *1 [e1 us amateur radio prior 1930s radio frequencies available RC pioneers 1930s designated amateur radio use user required have Amateur Radio License obtained exami nation Morse code radio theory can remember brother Bill took exam 1932 still high school government examiner came Kalamazoo Post Office gave exam must have kind person because Bill missed too words first code test examiner said Youre just nervous give another try Bill did passed long written exam took him almost six hours came through W8IFD 1936 20000 active hams amateurs national organization American Radio Relay League ARRL looking background materials status amateur radio technology mid-1930s found book written Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL8 Published 1936 just what needed refresh memory lay background story book 200 Meters Down starts first amateur station 1899 no required licenses real use new world radio communi cation between Navy shipsup maxi mum range 10 miles practical use radio just beginning 1910 amateur sta tions Army Navy stations put together Immediately arose ugly problem ofradio interference between several groups users take look equipment source interference becomes very obvious transmitters using spark gaps tubes werent available produced thou sands watts energy radiated signals approximately 200-meter wave lengths 15 MHz However spark signals impure smeared out 12 20 MHz best cat whisker crystal detector receiver would pick up different signals simul taneously Wow what messnot suit able hobby RC early fre quency band eventually became pres ent AM broadcast band first frequency assignments made 1912 Navy pushed eliminating amateur stations pro viding no frequency gn ments negative action brought vehe ment reaction amateur ranks caused amateurs amateur clubs led Charles Stewart Pennsylvania later vice-president ARRL promote Compromise amateur transmissions would move frequencies above 15 MHz Navy pleased sly way because preferred frequencies below 1 MHz further believed region above 15 MHz useless long ranges Navy felt given away something useless gotten rid amateurs same time wrongthey took almost decade realized Since 15 MHz wavelength 200 meters DeSoto entitled book 200 ters Down Because think better terms frequency would have preferred 15 MHz Up Either way amateurs owned frequen cies above 15 MHz March 1913 saw terrible Midwest storm disable parts Ohio Michigan leaving communication neighboring areas amateurs devastated area immediately started relay ing messages outside world rescue efforts quickly began first time newspapers gave heavy frontpage coverage heroic actions amateurs public service efforts favorable publicity resulted new recognition government levels amateurs vital countrys emergency service should sup ported 1917 US entered World War can guess immediately filled ranks military radio units Yes already-trained amateurs 1929 government adopted new regulations conformity decisions 1927 World Radio Conference taking back some spectrum assigned amateurs earlier leav ing seemingly generous allotment number small bands four-MHz slice starting 56 MHz called 5-meter band Just few percent amateurs maybe thousand nationwide started explore band techniques developing band virtually empty 5-meter band destined become home RC pio neers RC modelers should grateful frequency legacy amateurs ARRL obtained shared RC-ham developers pioneered RC hobby example tiny one-tube receiver used glider pilots Elmira gather information ground later con verted RC use band main used RC models mid-1930s early 1950s AMA secured first frequencies RC applications Whats small group ham-RCers still use same band todaysome 50 years later now called 6-meter band since moved 50-54 MHz after WW H DeSoto made some very astute predic tions 1936 regarding future ama teur communications especially tech nical expectationsbut failed men tion possibility RC models However 1938 just two short years later entered plane RC event AMA Nats Detroit became prolific writer RC topics must have surprised first RC hobby model strange RC project came attention through 128 Model Aviation NFWUCT S WINGEE ALL YOU NEED Mount Swingee like hinge Completely built-in out sight No flexy torque rods ailerons just simple pushrods straight Swingee Use direct servo control-horn linkage away Kwick-links bell-cranks eliminate sloppy control surfaces scale soaring pattern pylon sport flyer built-in Swingee makes clean aerodynamic lines naturally improves both appearance performance Swingee made Delrin totally unaffected change temperature USA Dealer [AE rn/c mcJ PO Box 511 F HIGGINSVILLE MO 64037 816-584-7121 Dealer inquiries invited World distributor G L INTERNATIONAL AB PO Box 3459 5-162 03 VALLINGEY SWEDEN John Brown Santa Ana CA John sent copies 40 pages book called Modelmaking9 book edited Raymond F Yates well-known writer time article Model Submarine Radio Control did list author perhaps Yates himself just cant resist including submarine story though its heavy-weight RC gear wasnt suitable plane subject 8-ft-long 175-lb submarine radio controls steering electric motors propulsion transmitter 2-in spark gap abroad band frequencies receiver coherer detector Maximum range 300 feet highly-detailed drawings pho tos convincing no descrip tion public demonstration However annotation book pub lished time wireless work experimental nature prohibited United States Government wasnt too surprising US involved war time date 1918 during World War I surmise RC submarine project started before WW almost finished wireless prohibi tion prevented actual RC demonstra tions known whether later tests performed believed article published originally Evety day Engineering Magazine 1917 1918 Can anyone help solve mystery submarine model may have first hobby RC project US really dont know know model plane really what story about Summary now know precursors set stage invention hobby RC model planes gas engines gas models Browns Bassetts early 1 930s amateur radio hams knowledge interest hobby level direct application radio techniques military RC projects 1 920s demonstrated technical feas ibility no means offered direct transition hobby RC commercial radio industry pro vided some circuits components no direct help application toward hobby RC up modelers hams blend together results pre cursors working RC model plane next installment well see met challenge recount early stumbling steps first-ever RC compe tition 1937 National Contest Detroit References Zaic Frank Junior Aeronautics Year Book New York Model Aeronautics Publications 1934 2Ritchie Dave Maxwell Bassett First Gas Model Champion ModelAviation Septem ber 1983 Fabrney DS Rear Admiral USN ret Robert Strobell Americas First Pilotless Aircraft Aero Digest FR FLIUNT ROLLED PLANS UT PARTS Y 1 /2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX 4Mirick CB Wild Goose Chase USN Institute Proceedings Vol 72 Whole No 521 July 1946 Middlebrook Carlton Interview February 28 1985 6Sosic GV Tesla Father RC Model Aviation March 1976 7Miessner BF Early History Radio Guidance San Francisco San Francisco Press 1964 9DeSoto Clinton B 200 Meters Down W Hartford ARRL Inc 1936 9Yates Raymond F ed Modelmaking New York Norman W Henley Publishing Co 1919 Safety Preston Continued page 20 Park Authority city county etc pass ordinance would require use permit turn would require surance coverage According Russell Knetzger cheapest way obtaln lia bility insurance join AMA Most letters received subject addressed question deter flier AMA member March 1986 129 An entirely new generation controlhinges now available model builder unique design Swingee will benefit 11 i T II'I ELECTRIC POWER OR GLO-ENGINES PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # 10915 21 size engines electric motor equivalent Weight 85 grams$l5N PROP BLADES FOR HUB # 100 Available 7s 25 7x 3 7s 35 Bs 4 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HU3 ASSEMBLY # 110 049 051 engines electric motor equivalent Weight 5 grams $150 PROP BLADES FOR NUB # 110 lable 6x 3 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # Ill 0 engines electric motor equivalent 20 grams $2000 PROP ULADES FOR HUB # lii lable 9 x 4 10 x 411 s 4 $5N per blade SlON per pair Send SSAE catalog sheet complete line
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/03
Page Numbers: 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 123, 126, 127, 128, 129
The Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb 191 7-1 8 Specified weigh 500 lb empty carry 81000-lb explosive ioad top speed 90 mph have range 50 miies itwas iaunched March 6 1918 foiiowed its fiight program forthe preset 1000 yards As resuit ciaimed be. first entirely auccessfui fiight automatic missiie country world Note ternaily preprogrammed fiight did invoive RC first step aiternative controi fiight US Navy photo #USN651 991 alt Good IJHist5ryofRC Flying Navy N-9 seaplane succeasfullyflown RC September 151924 Dahigren VA Navy Lt JJ Bailentine ofticerdirectiy belowthe propeller hub right Mr C B Mirick designerof radio control system second man Balientines left CC Middiebrook father RCerCarlton Middiebrookof Middiebrook Connection Photo courtesy Naval Surface Weapons Center AMAs 50th anni versary 1986 RC model flying also began about 50 years ago privileged pre sent three-part series authored man him self key participant making RC history start precursors early building blocks later develop ments Part 1 THE POPULARITY Radio Control model aircraft exciting hobby unquestioned today types RC simple Gliders detailed Scale models popular practical daynot too long ago memories still-active RC old-timers RC hobby did exist hadnt yet invented story RC model planes got started USA Topics covered include pioneers what invented happened did coincidence RC hobbyists know began almost same time AMA fact first AMA Model Aviation Volume 1Number 1June 1936 simply stated new contest has arranged radio controlled models No rules mentioned would held 1936 Nationals Detroit Old-time RCers will point out no RC entries actually showed up event thats getting ahead story except mention 50th anniversary AMA RC will occur 1986 story part celebration story will primarily about RC model aircraft contrasted RC mod el boats cars though model boat probably easier rig RC because its weight-carrying ability interest obsessionis involved RC planes Confining story happenings US makes compatible AMAs geographical area interest well its involvement competition radio frequency aspects RC developments broader review including other countries coherer radio receiver eariy 19008 Antenna signai connected thin white giass tube center photo just above magnet coii giass tube lathe co herer contains powdered metal particles change low resistance path radio signal received Resulting tiny current goes through very sensitive relay left under hand contacts sensitive relay energize power relay rightwhich causes center magnet whack coherer reset its particles forthe next signal Only Morse code-type signals couid received bythe coherer AWA plc view shows coherer glass tube magnetic clapper resets metal particles tube after signal received Antique Wireless Asan photograph March 1986 57 Bruce Kelley AWA Antique Wireless Asan adjusts gap synchronous spark transmitter uses 15000 volts has transmitted output 1000 watts also pro duces raucous noise ioud Keiley must wear ear protectors Photo courtesyofAWA Soa~ kle4A1 s D ~I----AN EARLY GAS MODEL 41axwll Basse 1936 DESIGN Fzu 13 Basset 1936 gas model represented status stable Free Flight models its time illustration reprinted Gas Models Engines W Winter W Schroder would interesting additional effort would considerable Such global story might determine US actually flew first RC model worlda point has yet firmly estab lished Later perhaps Now precursors develop ments occurred earlier provided building blocks invention hobby RC First well recall status model airplanes early 1930sjust prior beginning RCand find what de velopments stimulated aircraft portion invention look early control radio both military commercial will show what state-of-the-art prior hobby RCs first faltering steps Probably helpful source information comes amateur radio area blooming wildly early 1930s will reported following issues specifics first RC models builders contests will bring out slow steps would eventually lead successful con trolled flights days RC model landed same field took off considered successful Status model airplanes early 30s Thirties began Great De pression severe unemployment whis pers unrest Europe Candy bars ice cream cones nickel dime could buy balsa model plane kit provided hours fun far night listening Hoagy Carmich aels Star Dust other hits Big Band era TV didnt exist Money scarce can remember dads salary high school science teacher cut half help town Kalamazoo stay debt-free Brother Bill worked part-time Kalamazoo Col lege physics lab rate 304 hour Part income bought few model supplies put bluntly times tough What status model air plane world vastly different today 1930 models either rubberpowered Free Flights Gliders little balsa wood tube Ambroid ce ment some Japanese tissue few feet rubber ready contest contests both local national still being held spite Depression 1934 availability new tiny gas engine made possible first gas-powered Free Flight FF event National Contest Akron story ofBill Browns gas engines Maxwell Bassetts planes well told Dave Ritchie Model Aviation2 have always chuckled about Bassett getting 4th place early gas model classic International Wakefield event held 1932 Atlantic City Although event traditionally rubber-powered models rules never specified form power After Bassetts success British quickly altered rules specif rubber power National Aero nautic Association US rules-maker did nothing update US rules three US outdoor rubber events guessed Bassett took two gas models 1933 Nationals Long Island NY proceeded capture trophies rubber models ex citing gas model come its own US rules changed provide gas model event its own Bassett entered new gas event 1934 Nats Akron won handsome margin What record arrival gas model estab lished would set stage inven tion RC model Another major element needed RC flight small battery-powered radio receiver Fortunately such units al ready being developed amateur radio community radios being built used amateurs also called hanis talk across town 5-meter band 56 60 MHz new phase ham radio much fun bootleggers persons license also found great excite ment hobby Fortunately 5-meter band barren other allocations because time considered useless commercial radio time hams boot leggers interfered other 5-meter band destined become home early pioneers RC early bootleggers later became hams entirely possible some Kettering Bug designed low-cost preprogrammed flying bomb flown experimentally 1917-18 Power 38-hp engine 15-ft wingspan Dihedral 10 Orville Wrights idea eliminated need ailerons project did use RC Drawing USAF Course 3111 Fundamental Principles Guided Missiles 1956 58 Model Aviation 1 IIZiiIII.- 5olenoid Lock Aerial -- fua*r Cowl, K h-I Cekerur 1 eroyad Ste fO 6 Left 1918 circuit diagram tars hobbyist-built RC submarine shows rudder solenoids speed control seiector operated coherer receiverand reiay Right An eight-ton RC houseboat demonstrated BB Miessner 1912 boatwas also test bed fordiffer ent types detectors proved coherer least reliable Photo credit BF Miessner Early History Radio Guidance early RCers bootleggers lucky identical twin brother ham license figured radio inspector would have hard pressed tell us apart hope statute limitations has run out now Military RC projects around early 1920s Next lets take look another piece background information may relevant would-be model RCer military RC projects Although account RC develop ment directed mainly hobby pects several military develop ments inthe 1916-1924 period need telling because show some problems occurred top notch technical engineers sizable budgets involved hobby pioneers may have aware developments intent show state-of-the-art earlier period First military development flying bombs pilotless airplanes automatic preset controls caused plane take off climb preset altitude level out cruise preset direction preset distance dive pre-selected target course flying bombs radio controlled since controlled internal mechanism April 1916 Elmer Sperry Sperry Gyroscope Peter Cooper Hewitt sci entist started development selfcontrolled plane using own funds September working system hydroplane gyro stabilization directional control distance-monitor ing gear demonstrated system Navy Lawrence Sperry pilot Lt Wilkinson official observer passenger After plane airborne pilot released stick switched automatic controls directed plane climb predetermined altitude steer itself set compass heading start dive preset timeat point pilot restored manual control Greatly impressed Sperry/Hewitt project Navy contracted $200000 May 1917 support design machine called Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb Less 10 months later March 6 1918 Curtiss- Sperry Flying Bomb launched successfully performed functions planned test machine climbed steadily flying straight line distance gear cut throttle 1000 yd set plane made March 1986 59 flaia&lfurj An early miniature receiver cover removed Goods adapted circuit RC model replacing headset sensitive relayplus lot cut try slow right spiral water claimed rst entirely suc cessful flight automatic missile country world3 though RC did lead RC demonstration Navy few years later Before though lets go back 1917 story Ketterings Bug also pre-programmed types Flying Bombs Aerial Torpedos called days An Army committee exploring feasibility project similar Navys Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb commit tee majority voted negatively feasi bility project would have died Charles Kettering inventor electric starter cars pro duced minority report positive day before Christmas 1917 Ket tering first meeting team three major sections plan airplane assigned Orville Wright engine DePalma controls Sperry Kettering emphasis high production low cost oneshot expendable machine Within 10 months team designed built several Bugs 15-ft wings 38-hp engine Sperry gyros pneumatic control system based parts player piano biplane wings 10 dihedral angle roll stability andto eliminate ailerons extra dihedral Orvilles ideahe thought like mod eler could carry 200-lb payload 50 miles 42 mph expected production cost $575 per vehicle first test vehicle launched well became erratic crashed second vehicle after some unplanned aerobatics behaved like large Free Flight model leaving airfield large climbing circles reach altitude 10000 feet later found 20 miles Dayton airfield Complete success attained third vehicle October 22 1918 climbed leveled off course dived toward target 500 yards away still within confines field first successful demonstration small low-cost Flying Bomb avoid publicity maintain secrecy remainder 25 Bugs sent Carlstrom Field Arcadia FL large open uninhabited areas suitable such testing Since WW ended additional tests didnt re sume until fall 1919 Out nine launchings Florida tests last completely successful covering 195 miles diving target area planned though Bug internally programmed did involve radio controls certainly qualifies im portant stepping stone Now comes story truly radiocontrolled plane developed military started N9 Navy seaplane gyroequipped automatic flight early 1922 Navy Proving Ground Dahl gren VA took task adding radio control machine under direction CB Muck4 account deals early vacuum tubes transmitter receiver Morkrum eight-point selector switch problems making gear work reliably aircraft environ ment relates further lab t 1 close Navys large-gun test range its incessant earth-shaking booms vibration problems solved lab before equipment installed airplane control system started controls neutral gave left right rudder up down elevator Continued page 123 I Teslas 1998 RC model boat used spark transmitter coherer receiver selector system controlled rudder deflection propulsion speed Drawing MA March1976 60 Model Aviation featherweight receiver shown previous page cover removed used sail plane pilots Elmira paved way hobby RC begin Credit QST September1933 1918 hobby RC submarine reprinisa Trom MOUCI Making book HF Yates pub lished Henley NYC 1919 Can anyone provide author information Prepare epoxy resin Wearing pro tective gloves using accurate scale carefully weigh out predetermined quan tity EPON 815 Dont forget record weight empty container can determine net amount resin amount TETA catalyst should range 15-20% resin weight 17% being about ideal example assume 8-in-dia prop will require 22 grams EPON amount TETA needed will additional 375 grams giving total liquid weight 25 75 grams Mix resin catalyst thoroughly allow settle about 10 min permit bubbles clear Because way mold con structed bottom half natural reser voir ideal trough lay-up prop Start giving trough area heavy coat epoxy resin lay longest rovings arranging straddle center post Always keep strands centered lengthwise mold assist equalizing blade balance Use small stick x smoothed rounded end spread out filaments cover much blade area possible Add resin progress shorter lengths using stick maneuver strands work out bubbles might trapped hub area can filled 1-in shorter clippings keeping whole mass wet resin Keep filaments confined blade area let slide closing faces will notice rovings begin take silver translucent appearance some seeming disappear entirely sign good wetting necessary resin penetration occurring glass place trough filled resin coat top mold face resin slide down onto center post Check make sure mold match marks correspond because mold closed reversed ends will never able reopen mold salvage what have done point Manually bring top mold down within about ing position four clamps shown pictures clamps should very slowly evenly tightened until faces close tightly will some loss glass lot oozing resin between faces normal Too much glass loss indicates either overstuffed mold closed too rapidly Cleaning up can accom plished acetone epoxy thinner Lay mold aside making sure level something underneath catch cascading drips normal room tem perature prop will take five six hours hardenconsiderably less left direct sun warm oven Check stiffness end spears doubt convinced epoxy firm loosen clamps use vice-grip pliers remove center post twisting pull advisable trim away washed-out rovings have formed long sides since will interfere opening mold Leave end spears untouched time five-minute soaking mold very hot water can sometimes wonders getting come apart Insert sharp knife screwdriver several places along parting line two halves should separate free prop again immerse hot water lift flashing flaps loosen grip especially hub area pull up end spears prop should snap free mold point should holding molded prop attached rectangle thin flashing Most flashing can cut away scissorsup within line sharp flat medium-coarse file used remove last ng along cleft line between flash prop Just few strokes will job nicely area around hub can best removed X-Acto knife file end spears cut away scissors after first filing groove across tongue sharp edge file Balancing prop acoomplished file and/or sandpaper progressing No 150 No 300 final polish Restrict balancing work top curved surface otherwise stand good chance altering blade pitch need help locating supplies cannot purchase small lots please contact Bob Dunham 4730 So Yorktown Tulsa OK 74105 starter kit consisting auto body filler PVA EPON 815 TETA vinyl gloves fiberglass rovings can furnished $60 postpaid US kit contains enough filler fiberglass other liquids make couple molds 20 25 medium-size props Material Sources Auto body filler CUZ NAPA Auto motive Stores White Knight K-Mart Wal Mart auto supply parts stores Steel-filled epoxy 1 qt kit EPOCAST #1 iB #9812 hardener EV Roberts & Assoc Box 868 Culver City CA 90232 phone 1-800-421-0824 Epoxy resin Shell Chemical EPON 815 EV Roberts & Assoc Epoxy catalyst TETA EV Roberts & Assoc Polyester resin K&B Manufacturing hobby shops Fiberglass rovings Owens-Corning Product #447-211 #352-211 CertainTeed Product #282-Bi See Yellow Pages under Fiberglass Materials Carbon fiber tows Gougeon Bros Box X908 Bay City MI 48707 NFFS Supplies 12 Cook St Rowayton CT 06853 RC History/Good Continued page 60 throttle offone time Panel lights indicated airborne pilot control signal being transmitted Continued page 126 March 1986 123 Will OPS 000 Sa#uoc4 specialists High Performance Model Airplane Engines stock parts back up will like doing business us See local hoppy shop P arts Peo pie Box 26247 New Orleans LA 70186 242-5967 PRO-CLAMP Tuned Pipe Clamp $250** pipe included ITS SNAP P-Clamp Tuned Pipe Clamp Good 50fl0 Ii $1 49** pipe included Add $175 Add $050 Shipping Handling Dealer-Dist Inquiries Invited Span65Eng.45-60 Area754 sq in4 Channel Send $100 latest price list literature Also Available okee Babe VK MODEL AIRCRAFT CO 5866 Transit Rd. Depew NY 14043 Phone No 716 684-5555 LA PRODUCTS FOR THE DISCEAMNO MODELER Complete Line Exhaust Systems Tuned Pipes led Tuned Pipes * Headers uri Mufflers Expansion Mufflers copter Ball Mufflers ialized Exhaust Systems Unsurpas.d Wakmanzhifl & PGIfOflWAflC6 ground-based pilot Most flight tests used airborne pilot monitor response blinking light signals actually switching RC signals airplane controls maximum signal range two three miles ground-based 50-watt trans mitter few flights RC signals control airborne pilot observer dio con trol rudder took hold such vigor control cables plane torn loose plane fluttered down midst fleet oyster boats pilot steering ailerons After ex perience eight-point selector re placed tuned reeds allowed simultaneous control several controls much better flying Yes tuned reeds well known time Finally September 15 1924 first pilotless RC flight N9 seaplane dubbed Wild Goose took place Dahlgren VA unmanned plane took off circled some 12 minutes altitudes up 500 feet range transmitter two three miles found plane responded inputs Chief Radioman EL Luke followed verbal instructions Aviation Officer Lt JJ Ballentine .at point failure response two three signals right turn CB Mirick shouted sug gestion try left turn greatly delighted Commander Pickens ttle later plane got back over land lost altitude seemed bent dive bombing farm house timely up flipper signal brought up came out over water what seemed smooth successful landing Wild Goose flown radio control immediately known observ em landing cracked pontoon began leak caused plane nose over sink plane gear recovered river severe corrosion rendered parts unusable PO BOX 3957 TORRANCE CA 90610 project terminated point significant first RC plane made oomplete witnessed controlled flight RC profes sional project funded military organi zationa lot effort flight step along way Yet still wasnt hobby RC Theres personal addendum tale call Middlebrook Connec tion5 digging out story name Charles Middlebrook men tioned civilian engineer adjusted gyros just before plane taxied away its historic flight name rang bell since flown RC models Carlton Middlebrook Dahlgren base 1960s turned out Canton Charles son information about Wild Goose came flowing out stabilizing gyros built Carl Norden Norden Bombsight fame Carltons brother also named Charles inherited wooden propeller Wild Goose said N9 also called Navy Jenny built Naval Aircraft Factory Phila delphia Further Carlton recalled visit retired Navy admiral annual RC reoord trials Dahlgren admiral Maynard Hills coaching flew record models several minutes RC flight admiral former Lt JJ Ballentine called signals Navys first RC flight Wild Goose 1924 What appropriate oonnection RC history past RC links origins commercial radio early 1900s Now well step back earlier history early stage RC story classify Commercial Radio involved bril liant experimenters plowing new terntory radio waves applications experiments resulted patents large royalties famealong patent suits tribulations Probably earliest RC experimenter Nicola Tesla 1856-l943 de vised RC gear gave demonstrations 126 Model Aviation FAI RUBBER Sizes 114 3/16 1/8 3/32 1/16 042 thick pound box Price $1300 FREE 4 oz bottle SLICK rubber lube per box Postpaid UPS USA 65 FF kits mci Starduster Coupe Deville 4 Satellites mow availl Dragmaster Zingo FAI Power Tilka Wakefield P-30s 2 pacifier tanks Crocket hooks Slick lube Seelig ft KSB timers Front ends 3 prop kits 2 kinds fuse winders kinds hardware Books much 1985 catalog 75 Cal add 6% tax FAIModel Supply H RC History/Good Continued page 123 CLEANERPolisher Glider Pilots Take Note SUPER SHINE SUPER SLICK 8 oz $4 95* 1898 several radio-controlled model boatsat Madison Square Garden New York City no less story says actual rental building $10000 week paid friend John Hays Hammond Sr Teslas intent attract public attention overall work notiust RC awarded US Patent November 8 1898 Method Apparatus Controlling Mechanisms Moving Vessels Vehicles patent mentions RC examples boats carriages balloons possible vehicles No mention made aircraft however perhaps because Wright broth ers hadnt flown Teslas primary success came alternating current AC generators pio neered sold patents Westing house million dollars inventions ranged far wide electrical radio fields including some first concepts intelligent robots other automatons Tesla sued Marconi patent infringements Marconi intro duced wireless telegraphy 1901 Other early inventors sued Marconi too Mar coni combined good parts contributions others creating working radio system transmitting receiv ing others provided parts US Supreme Court ruled favor Marconi 1915 Some said court did understand complex tech nical aspects Marconi made millions Tesla controversial genius died penni less 1943 mostly because elabo rate experiments Another contributor early Conuner cial Radio American named BF Miessner age 22 top-notch ventor/experimenter demonstrated RC eight-ton houseboat US Army fall 1912 near Goucester MA Distance tests made using 1000watt spark transmitter shore several types detectors houseboat Miessner found catwhisker crys tal detector would operate sensitive relay range half-mile vacuum tube detector range three miles coherer detector dropped earlier because its very short range vibration problems used ironnickel particles small glass tube electrode end radio signal would lock-up particles causing low resistance path allow sensitive relay energized After lock-up coherer unlocked tapping tube flipping over John Hayes Hammond Jr Miessner worked time said two essential things must get reliable sensitive relay stable form detector same require ments pioneering RC modelers would encounter 20 years later Miessner adopted vacuum tube detector converted Weston meter relay adding delicate contact points Miessners experiments suc cessful wrote first RC book called Radio Dynamics 1916 before graduated Purdue University Later involved several patent infringement suits former employ er JH Hammond Jr However went invent superheterodyne re ceiver FM frequency modulation system Both contested other inventors including Major Arm strong difficult determine really first radio ventions Miesner did suffer financially squabbles patents royalties netted him over two million dollars radio broadcasting industry bloomed work pioneers bigname electrical companies General Elec tric Westinghouse RCA others born period should now clear Ive called money portion RC story Com mercial Radio However experi menters did invent basic circuits radio communication hobby RC pioneers would eventually employ Contributions amateur radio spite important contributions commercial military areas RC model airplane invented amateur modelers amateur radio hob byists appropriate take look March 1986 127 CORBEN SUPER ACE GIANT SCALE 8O WINGSPAN 4 CYCLE 90 POWER SEND $200 FOR COMPLETE CATALOG OF FINE KITS RAINBOW RUNNER 25 45 Gm PRECISION PRODUCTS INC 714 592-51 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Send check o MO COOs Allow 3 weeks checkto clear S U iiiu ml *1 [e1 us amateur radio prior 1930s radio frequencies available RC pioneers 1930s designated amateur radio use user required have Amateur Radio License obtained exami nation Morse code radio theory can remember brother Bill took exam 1932 still high school government examiner came Kalamazoo Post Office gave exam must have kind person because Bill missed too words first code test examiner said Youre just nervous give another try Bill did passed long written exam took him almost six hours came through W8IFD 1936 20000 active hams amateurs national organization American Radio Relay League ARRL looking background materials status amateur radio technology mid-1930s found book written Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL8 Published 1936 just what needed refresh memory lay background story book 200 Meters Down starts first amateur station 1899 no required licenses real use new world radio communi cation between Navy shipsup maxi mum range 10 miles practical use radio just beginning 1910 amateur sta tions Army Navy stations put together Immediately arose ugly problem ofradio interference between several groups users take look equipment source interference becomes very obvious transmitters using spark gaps tubes werent available produced thou sands watts energy radiated signals approximately 200-meter wave lengths 15 MHz However spark signals impure smeared out 12 20 MHz best cat whisker crystal detector receiver would pick up different signals simul taneously Wow what messnot suit able hobby RC early fre quency band eventually became pres ent AM broadcast band first frequency assignments made 1912 Navy pushed eliminating amateur stations pro viding no frequency gn ments negative action brought vehe ment reaction amateur ranks caused amateurs amateur clubs led Charles Stewart Pennsylvania later vice-president ARRL promote Compromise amateur transmissions would move frequencies above 15 MHz Navy pleased sly way because preferred frequencies below 1 MHz further believed region above 15 MHz useless long ranges Navy felt given away something useless gotten rid amateurs same time wrongthey took almost decade realized Since 15 MHz wavelength 200 meters DeSoto entitled book 200 ters Down Because think better terms frequency would have preferred 15 MHz Up Either way amateurs owned frequen cies above 15 MHz March 1913 saw terrible Midwest storm disable parts Ohio Michigan leaving communication neighboring areas amateurs devastated area immediately started relay ing messages outside world rescue efforts quickly began first time newspapers gave heavy frontpage coverage heroic actions amateurs public service efforts favorable publicity resulted new recognition government levels amateurs vital countrys emergency service should sup ported 1917 US entered World War can guess immediately filled ranks military radio units Yes already-trained amateurs 1929 government adopted new regulations conformity decisions 1927 World Radio Conference taking back some spectrum assigned amateurs earlier leav ing seemingly generous allotment number small bands four-MHz slice starting 56 MHz called 5-meter band Just few percent amateurs maybe thousand nationwide started explore band techniques developing band virtually empty 5-meter band destined become home RC pio neers RC modelers should grateful frequency legacy amateurs ARRL obtained shared RC-ham developers pioneered RC hobby example tiny one-tube receiver used glider pilots Elmira gather information ground later con verted RC use band main used RC models mid-1930s early 1950s AMA secured first frequencies RC applications Whats small group ham-RCers still use same band todaysome 50 years later now called 6-meter band since moved 50-54 MHz after WW H DeSoto made some very astute predic tions 1936 regarding future ama teur communications especially tech nical expectationsbut failed men tion possibility RC models However 1938 just two short years later entered plane RC event AMA Nats Detroit became prolific writer RC topics must have surprised first RC hobby model strange RC project came attention through 128 Model Aviation NFWUCT S WINGEE ALL YOU NEED Mount Swingee like hinge Completely built-in out sight No flexy torque rods ailerons just simple pushrods straight Swingee Use direct servo control-horn linkage away Kwick-links bell-cranks eliminate sloppy control surfaces scale soaring pattern pylon sport flyer built-in Swingee makes clean aerodynamic lines naturally improves both appearance performance Swingee made Delrin totally unaffected change temperature USA Dealer [AE rn/c mcJ PO Box 511 F HIGGINSVILLE MO 64037 816-584-7121 Dealer inquiries invited World distributor G L INTERNATIONAL AB PO Box 3459 5-162 03 VALLINGEY SWEDEN John Brown Santa Ana CA John sent copies 40 pages book called Modelmaking9 book edited Raymond F Yates well-known writer time article Model Submarine Radio Control did list author perhaps Yates himself just cant resist including submarine story though its heavy-weight RC gear wasnt suitable plane subject 8-ft-long 175-lb submarine radio controls steering electric motors propulsion transmitter 2-in spark gap abroad band frequencies receiver coherer detector Maximum range 300 feet highly-detailed drawings pho tos convincing no descrip tion public demonstration However annotation book pub lished time wireless work experimental nature prohibited United States Government wasnt too surprising US involved war time date 1918 during World War I surmise RC submarine project started before WW almost finished wireless prohibi tion prevented actual RC demonstra tions known whether later tests performed believed article published originally Evety day Engineering Magazine 1917 1918 Can anyone help solve mystery submarine model may have first hobby RC project US really dont know know model plane really what story about Summary now know precursors set stage invention hobby RC model planes gas engines gas models Browns Bassetts early 1 930s amateur radio hams knowledge interest hobby level direct application radio techniques military RC projects 1 920s demonstrated technical feas ibility no means offered direct transition hobby RC commercial radio industry pro vided some circuits components no direct help application toward hobby RC up modelers hams blend together results pre cursors working RC model plane next installment well see met challenge recount early stumbling steps first-ever RC compe tition 1937 National Contest Detroit References Zaic Frank Junior Aeronautics Year Book New York Model Aeronautics Publications 1934 2Ritchie Dave Maxwell Bassett First Gas Model Champion ModelAviation Septem ber 1983 Fabrney DS Rear Admiral USN ret Robert Strobell Americas First Pilotless Aircraft Aero Digest FR FLIUNT ROLLED PLANS UT PARTS Y 1 /2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX 4Mirick CB Wild Goose Chase USN Institute Proceedings Vol 72 Whole No 521 July 1946 Middlebrook Carlton Interview February 28 1985 6Sosic GV Tesla Father RC Model Aviation March 1976 7Miessner BF Early History Radio Guidance San Francisco San Francisco Press 1964 9DeSoto Clinton B 200 Meters Down W Hartford ARRL Inc 1936 9Yates Raymond F ed Modelmaking New York Norman W Henley Publishing Co 1919 Safety Preston Continued page 20 Park Authority city county etc pass ordinance would require use permit turn would require surance coverage According Russell Knetzger cheapest way obtaln lia bility insurance join AMA Most letters received subject addressed question deter flier AMA member March 1986 129 An entirely new generation controlhinges now available model builder unique design Swingee will benefit 11 i T II'I ELECTRIC POWER OR GLO-ENGINES PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # 10915 21 size engines electric motor equivalent Weight 85 grams$l5N PROP BLADES FOR HUB # 100 Available 7s 25 7x 3 7s 35 Bs 4 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HU3 ASSEMBLY # 110 049 051 engines electric motor equivalent Weight 5 grams $150 PROP BLADES FOR NUB # 110 lable 6x 3 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # Ill 0 engines electric motor equivalent 20 grams $2000 PROP ULADES FOR HUB # lii lable 9 x 4 10 x 411 s 4 $5N per blade SlON per pair Send SSAE catalog sheet complete line
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/03
Page Numbers: 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 123, 126, 127, 128, 129
The Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb 191 7-1 8 Specified weigh 500 lb empty carry 81000-lb explosive ioad top speed 90 mph have range 50 miies itwas iaunched March 6 1918 foiiowed its fiight program forthe preset 1000 yards As resuit ciaimed be. first entirely auccessfui fiight automatic missiie country world Note ternaily preprogrammed fiight did invoive RC first step aiternative controi fiight US Navy photo #USN651 991 alt Good IJHist5ryofRC Flying Navy N-9 seaplane succeasfullyflown RC September 151924 Dahigren VA Navy Lt JJ Bailentine ofticerdirectiy belowthe propeller hub right Mr C B Mirick designerof radio control system second man Balientines left CC Middiebrook father RCerCarlton Middiebrookof Middiebrook Connection Photo courtesy Naval Surface Weapons Center AMAs 50th anni versary 1986 RC model flying also began about 50 years ago privileged pre sent three-part series authored man him self key participant making RC history start precursors early building blocks later develop ments Part 1 THE POPULARITY Radio Control model aircraft exciting hobby unquestioned today types RC simple Gliders detailed Scale models popular practical daynot too long ago memories still-active RC old-timers RC hobby did exist hadnt yet invented story RC model planes got started USA Topics covered include pioneers what invented happened did coincidence RC hobbyists know began almost same time AMA fact first AMA Model Aviation Volume 1Number 1June 1936 simply stated new contest has arranged radio controlled models No rules mentioned would held 1936 Nationals Detroit Old-time RCers will point out no RC entries actually showed up event thats getting ahead story except mention 50th anniversary AMA RC will occur 1986 story part celebration story will primarily about RC model aircraft contrasted RC mod el boats cars though model boat probably easier rig RC because its weight-carrying ability interest obsessionis involved RC planes Confining story happenings US makes compatible AMAs geographical area interest well its involvement competition radio frequency aspects RC developments broader review including other countries coherer radio receiver eariy 19008 Antenna signai connected thin white giass tube center photo just above magnet coii giass tube lathe co herer contains powdered metal particles change low resistance path radio signal received Resulting tiny current goes through very sensitive relay left under hand contacts sensitive relay energize power relay rightwhich causes center magnet whack coherer reset its particles forthe next signal Only Morse code-type signals couid received bythe coherer AWA plc view shows coherer glass tube magnetic clapper resets metal particles tube after signal received Antique Wireless Asan photograph March 1986 57 Bruce Kelley AWA Antique Wireless Asan adjusts gap synchronous spark transmitter uses 15000 volts has transmitted output 1000 watts also pro duces raucous noise ioud Keiley must wear ear protectors Photo courtesyofAWA Soa~ kle4A1 s D ~I----AN EARLY GAS MODEL 41axwll Basse 1936 DESIGN Fzu 13 Basset 1936 gas model represented status stable Free Flight models its time illustration reprinted Gas Models Engines W Winter W Schroder would interesting additional effort would considerable Such global story might determine US actually flew first RC model worlda point has yet firmly estab lished Later perhaps Now precursors develop ments occurred earlier provided building blocks invention hobby RC First well recall status model airplanes early 1930sjust prior beginning RCand find what de velopments stimulated aircraft portion invention look early control radio both military commercial will show what state-of-the-art prior hobby RCs first faltering steps Probably helpful source information comes amateur radio area blooming wildly early 1930s will reported following issues specifics first RC models builders contests will bring out slow steps would eventually lead successful con trolled flights days RC model landed same field took off considered successful Status model airplanes early 30s Thirties began Great De pression severe unemployment whis pers unrest Europe Candy bars ice cream cones nickel dime could buy balsa model plane kit provided hours fun far night listening Hoagy Carmich aels Star Dust other hits Big Band era TV didnt exist Money scarce can remember dads salary high school science teacher cut half help town Kalamazoo stay debt-free Brother Bill worked part-time Kalamazoo Col lege physics lab rate 304 hour Part income bought few model supplies put bluntly times tough What status model air plane world vastly different today 1930 models either rubberpowered Free Flights Gliders little balsa wood tube Ambroid ce ment some Japanese tissue few feet rubber ready contest contests both local national still being held spite Depression 1934 availability new tiny gas engine made possible first gas-powered Free Flight FF event National Contest Akron story ofBill Browns gas engines Maxwell Bassetts planes well told Dave Ritchie Model Aviation2 have always chuckled about Bassett getting 4th place early gas model classic International Wakefield event held 1932 Atlantic City Although event traditionally rubber-powered models rules never specified form power After Bassetts success British quickly altered rules specif rubber power National Aero nautic Association US rules-maker did nothing update US rules three US outdoor rubber events guessed Bassett took two gas models 1933 Nationals Long Island NY proceeded capture trophies rubber models ex citing gas model come its own US rules changed provide gas model event its own Bassett entered new gas event 1934 Nats Akron won handsome margin What record arrival gas model estab lished would set stage inven tion RC model Another major element needed RC flight small battery-powered radio receiver Fortunately such units al ready being developed amateur radio community radios being built used amateurs also called hanis talk across town 5-meter band 56 60 MHz new phase ham radio much fun bootleggers persons license also found great excite ment hobby Fortunately 5-meter band barren other allocations because time considered useless commercial radio time hams boot leggers interfered other 5-meter band destined become home early pioneers RC early bootleggers later became hams entirely possible some Kettering Bug designed low-cost preprogrammed flying bomb flown experimentally 1917-18 Power 38-hp engine 15-ft wingspan Dihedral 10 Orville Wrights idea eliminated need ailerons project did use RC Drawing USAF Course 3111 Fundamental Principles Guided Missiles 1956 58 Model Aviation 1 IIZiiIII.- 5olenoid Lock Aerial -- fua*r Cowl, K h-I Cekerur 1 eroyad Ste fO 6 Left 1918 circuit diagram tars hobbyist-built RC submarine shows rudder solenoids speed control seiector operated coherer receiverand reiay Right An eight-ton RC houseboat demonstrated BB Miessner 1912 boatwas also test bed fordiffer ent types detectors proved coherer least reliable Photo credit BF Miessner Early History Radio Guidance early RCers bootleggers lucky identical twin brother ham license figured radio inspector would have hard pressed tell us apart hope statute limitations has run out now Military RC projects around early 1920s Next lets take look another piece background information may relevant would-be model RCer military RC projects Although account RC develop ment directed mainly hobby pects several military develop ments inthe 1916-1924 period need telling because show some problems occurred top notch technical engineers sizable budgets involved hobby pioneers may have aware developments intent show state-of-the-art earlier period First military development flying bombs pilotless airplanes automatic preset controls caused plane take off climb preset altitude level out cruise preset direction preset distance dive pre-selected target course flying bombs radio controlled since controlled internal mechanism April 1916 Elmer Sperry Sperry Gyroscope Peter Cooper Hewitt sci entist started development selfcontrolled plane using own funds September working system hydroplane gyro stabilization directional control distance-monitor ing gear demonstrated system Navy Lawrence Sperry pilot Lt Wilkinson official observer passenger After plane airborne pilot released stick switched automatic controls directed plane climb predetermined altitude steer itself set compass heading start dive preset timeat point pilot restored manual control Greatly impressed Sperry/Hewitt project Navy contracted $200000 May 1917 support design machine called Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb Less 10 months later March 6 1918 Curtiss- Sperry Flying Bomb launched successfully performed functions planned test machine climbed steadily flying straight line distance gear cut throttle 1000 yd set plane made March 1986 59 flaia&lfurj An early miniature receiver cover removed Goods adapted circuit RC model replacing headset sensitive relayplus lot cut try slow right spiral water claimed rst entirely suc cessful flight automatic missile country world3 though RC did lead RC demonstration Navy few years later Before though lets go back 1917 story Ketterings Bug also pre-programmed types Flying Bombs Aerial Torpedos called days An Army committee exploring feasibility project similar Navys Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb commit tee majority voted negatively feasi bility project would have died Charles Kettering inventor electric starter cars pro duced minority report positive day before Christmas 1917 Ket tering first meeting team three major sections plan airplane assigned Orville Wright engine DePalma controls Sperry Kettering emphasis high production low cost oneshot expendable machine Within 10 months team designed built several Bugs 15-ft wings 38-hp engine Sperry gyros pneumatic control system based parts player piano biplane wings 10 dihedral angle roll stability andto eliminate ailerons extra dihedral Orvilles ideahe thought like mod eler could carry 200-lb payload 50 miles 42 mph expected production cost $575 per vehicle first test vehicle launched well became erratic crashed second vehicle after some unplanned aerobatics behaved like large Free Flight model leaving airfield large climbing circles reach altitude 10000 feet later found 20 miles Dayton airfield Complete success attained third vehicle October 22 1918 climbed leveled off course dived toward target 500 yards away still within confines field first successful demonstration small low-cost Flying Bomb avoid publicity maintain secrecy remainder 25 Bugs sent Carlstrom Field Arcadia FL large open uninhabited areas suitable such testing Since WW ended additional tests didnt re sume until fall 1919 Out nine launchings Florida tests last completely successful covering 195 miles diving target area planned though Bug internally programmed did involve radio controls certainly qualifies im portant stepping stone Now comes story truly radiocontrolled plane developed military started N9 Navy seaplane gyroequipped automatic flight early 1922 Navy Proving Ground Dahl gren VA took task adding radio control machine under direction CB Muck4 account deals early vacuum tubes transmitter receiver Morkrum eight-point selector switch problems making gear work reliably aircraft environ ment relates further lab t 1 close Navys large-gun test range its incessant earth-shaking booms vibration problems solved lab before equipment installed airplane control system started controls neutral gave left right rudder up down elevator Continued page 123 I Teslas 1998 RC model boat used spark transmitter coherer receiver selector system controlled rudder deflection propulsion speed Drawing MA March1976 60 Model Aviation featherweight receiver shown previous page cover removed used sail plane pilots Elmira paved way hobby RC begin Credit QST September1933 1918 hobby RC submarine reprinisa Trom MOUCI Making book HF Yates pub lished Henley NYC 1919 Can anyone provide author information Prepare epoxy resin Wearing pro tective gloves using accurate scale carefully weigh out predetermined quan tity EPON 815 Dont forget record weight empty container can determine net amount resin amount TETA catalyst should range 15-20% resin weight 17% being about ideal example assume 8-in-dia prop will require 22 grams EPON amount TETA needed will additional 375 grams giving total liquid weight 25 75 grams Mix resin catalyst thoroughly allow settle about 10 min permit bubbles clear Because way mold con structed bottom half natural reser voir ideal trough lay-up prop Start giving trough area heavy coat epoxy resin lay longest rovings arranging straddle center post Always keep strands centered lengthwise mold assist equalizing blade balance Use small stick x smoothed rounded end spread out filaments cover much blade area possible Add resin progress shorter lengths using stick maneuver strands work out bubbles might trapped hub area can filled 1-in shorter clippings keeping whole mass wet resin Keep filaments confined blade area let slide closing faces will notice rovings begin take silver translucent appearance some seeming disappear entirely sign good wetting necessary resin penetration occurring glass place trough filled resin coat top mold face resin slide down onto center post Check make sure mold match marks correspond because mold closed reversed ends will never able reopen mold salvage what have done point Manually bring top mold down within about ing position four clamps shown pictures clamps should very slowly evenly tightened until faces close tightly will some loss glass lot oozing resin between faces normal Too much glass loss indicates either overstuffed mold closed too rapidly Cleaning up can accom plished acetone epoxy thinner Lay mold aside making sure level something underneath catch cascading drips normal room tem perature prop will take five six hours hardenconsiderably less left direct sun warm oven Check stiffness end spears doubt convinced epoxy firm loosen clamps use vice-grip pliers remove center post twisting pull advisable trim away washed-out rovings have formed long sides since will interfere opening mold Leave end spears untouched time five-minute soaking mold very hot water can sometimes wonders getting come apart Insert sharp knife screwdriver several places along parting line two halves should separate free prop again immerse hot water lift flashing flaps loosen grip especially hub area pull up end spears prop should snap free mold point should holding molded prop attached rectangle thin flashing Most flashing can cut away scissorsup within line sharp flat medium-coarse file used remove last ng along cleft line between flash prop Just few strokes will job nicely area around hub can best removed X-Acto knife file end spears cut away scissors after first filing groove across tongue sharp edge file Balancing prop acoomplished file and/or sandpaper progressing No 150 No 300 final polish Restrict balancing work top curved surface otherwise stand good chance altering blade pitch need help locating supplies cannot purchase small lots please contact Bob Dunham 4730 So Yorktown Tulsa OK 74105 starter kit consisting auto body filler PVA EPON 815 TETA vinyl gloves fiberglass rovings can furnished $60 postpaid US kit contains enough filler fiberglass other liquids make couple molds 20 25 medium-size props Material Sources Auto body filler CUZ NAPA Auto motive Stores White Knight K-Mart Wal Mart auto supply parts stores Steel-filled epoxy 1 qt kit EPOCAST #1 iB #9812 hardener EV Roberts & Assoc Box 868 Culver City CA 90232 phone 1-800-421-0824 Epoxy resin Shell Chemical EPON 815 EV Roberts & Assoc Epoxy catalyst TETA EV Roberts & Assoc Polyester resin K&B Manufacturing hobby shops Fiberglass rovings Owens-Corning Product #447-211 #352-211 CertainTeed Product #282-Bi See Yellow Pages under Fiberglass Materials Carbon fiber tows Gougeon Bros Box X908 Bay City MI 48707 NFFS Supplies 12 Cook St Rowayton CT 06853 RC History/Good Continued page 60 throttle offone time Panel lights indicated airborne pilot control signal being transmitted Continued page 126 March 1986 123 Will OPS 000 Sa#uoc4 specialists High Performance Model Airplane Engines stock parts back up will like doing business us See local hoppy shop P arts Peo pie Box 26247 New Orleans LA 70186 242-5967 PRO-CLAMP Tuned Pipe Clamp $250** pipe included ITS SNAP P-Clamp Tuned Pipe Clamp Good 50fl0 Ii $1 49** pipe included Add $175 Add $050 Shipping Handling Dealer-Dist Inquiries Invited Span65Eng.45-60 Area754 sq in4 Channel Send $100 latest price list literature Also Available okee Babe VK MODEL AIRCRAFT CO 5866 Transit Rd. Depew NY 14043 Phone No 716 684-5555 LA PRODUCTS FOR THE DISCEAMNO MODELER Complete Line Exhaust Systems Tuned Pipes led Tuned Pipes * Headers uri Mufflers Expansion Mufflers copter Ball Mufflers ialized Exhaust Systems Unsurpas.d Wakmanzhifl & PGIfOflWAflC6 ground-based pilot Most flight tests used airborne pilot monitor response blinking light signals actually switching RC signals airplane controls maximum signal range two three miles ground-based 50-watt trans mitter few flights RC signals control airborne pilot observer dio con trol rudder took hold such vigor control cables plane torn loose plane fluttered down midst fleet oyster boats pilot steering ailerons After ex perience eight-point selector re placed tuned reeds allowed simultaneous control several controls much better flying Yes tuned reeds well known time Finally September 15 1924 first pilotless RC flight N9 seaplane dubbed Wild Goose took place Dahlgren VA unmanned plane took off circled some 12 minutes altitudes up 500 feet range transmitter two three miles found plane responded inputs Chief Radioman EL Luke followed verbal instructions Aviation Officer Lt JJ Ballentine .at point failure response two three signals right turn CB Mirick shouted sug gestion try left turn greatly delighted Commander Pickens ttle later plane got back over land lost altitude seemed bent dive bombing farm house timely up flipper signal brought up came out over water what seemed smooth successful landing Wild Goose flown radio control immediately known observ em landing cracked pontoon began leak caused plane nose over sink plane gear recovered river severe corrosion rendered parts unusable PO BOX 3957 TORRANCE CA 90610 project terminated point significant first RC plane made oomplete witnessed controlled flight RC profes sional project funded military organi zationa lot effort flight step along way Yet still wasnt hobby RC Theres personal addendum tale call Middlebrook Connec tion5 digging out story name Charles Middlebrook men tioned civilian engineer adjusted gyros just before plane taxied away its historic flight name rang bell since flown RC models Carlton Middlebrook Dahlgren base 1960s turned out Canton Charles son information about Wild Goose came flowing out stabilizing gyros built Carl Norden Norden Bombsight fame Carltons brother also named Charles inherited wooden propeller Wild Goose said N9 also called Navy Jenny built Naval Aircraft Factory Phila delphia Further Carlton recalled visit retired Navy admiral annual RC reoord trials Dahlgren admiral Maynard Hills coaching flew record models several minutes RC flight admiral former Lt JJ Ballentine called signals Navys first RC flight Wild Goose 1924 What appropriate oonnection RC history past RC links origins commercial radio early 1900s Now well step back earlier history early stage RC story classify Commercial Radio involved bril liant experimenters plowing new terntory radio waves applications experiments resulted patents large royalties famealong patent suits tribulations Probably earliest RC experimenter Nicola Tesla 1856-l943 de vised RC gear gave demonstrations 126 Model Aviation FAI RUBBER Sizes 114 3/16 1/8 3/32 1/16 042 thick pound box Price $1300 FREE 4 oz bottle SLICK rubber lube per box Postpaid UPS USA 65 FF kits mci Starduster Coupe Deville 4 Satellites mow availl Dragmaster Zingo FAI Power Tilka Wakefield P-30s 2 pacifier tanks Crocket hooks Slick lube Seelig ft KSB timers Front ends 3 prop kits 2 kinds fuse winders kinds hardware Books much 1985 catalog 75 Cal add 6% tax FAIModel Supply H RC History/Good Continued page 123 CLEANERPolisher Glider Pilots Take Note SUPER SHINE SUPER SLICK 8 oz $4 95* 1898 several radio-controlled model boatsat Madison Square Garden New York City no less story says actual rental building $10000 week paid friend John Hays Hammond Sr Teslas intent attract public attention overall work notiust RC awarded US Patent November 8 1898 Method Apparatus Controlling Mechanisms Moving Vessels Vehicles patent mentions RC examples boats carriages balloons possible vehicles No mention made aircraft however perhaps because Wright broth ers hadnt flown Teslas primary success came alternating current AC generators pio neered sold patents Westing house million dollars inventions ranged far wide electrical radio fields including some first concepts intelligent robots other automatons Tesla sued Marconi patent infringements Marconi intro duced wireless telegraphy 1901 Other early inventors sued Marconi too Mar coni combined good parts contributions others creating working radio system transmitting receiv ing others provided parts US Supreme Court ruled favor Marconi 1915 Some said court did understand complex tech nical aspects Marconi made millions Tesla controversial genius died penni less 1943 mostly because elabo rate experiments Another contributor early Conuner cial Radio American named BF Miessner age 22 top-notch ventor/experimenter demonstrated RC eight-ton houseboat US Army fall 1912 near Goucester MA Distance tests made using 1000watt spark transmitter shore several types detectors houseboat Miessner found catwhisker crys tal detector would operate sensitive relay range half-mile vacuum tube detector range three miles coherer detector dropped earlier because its very short range vibration problems used ironnickel particles small glass tube electrode end radio signal would lock-up particles causing low resistance path allow sensitive relay energized After lock-up coherer unlocked tapping tube flipping over John Hayes Hammond Jr Miessner worked time said two essential things must get reliable sensitive relay stable form detector same require ments pioneering RC modelers would encounter 20 years later Miessner adopted vacuum tube detector converted Weston meter relay adding delicate contact points Miessners experiments suc cessful wrote first RC book called Radio Dynamics 1916 before graduated Purdue University Later involved several patent infringement suits former employ er JH Hammond Jr However went invent superheterodyne re ceiver FM frequency modulation system Both contested other inventors including Major Arm strong difficult determine really first radio ventions Miesner did suffer financially squabbles patents royalties netted him over two million dollars radio broadcasting industry bloomed work pioneers bigname electrical companies General Elec tric Westinghouse RCA others born period should now clear Ive called money portion RC story Com mercial Radio However experi menters did invent basic circuits radio communication hobby RC pioneers would eventually employ Contributions amateur radio spite important contributions commercial military areas RC model airplane invented amateur modelers amateur radio hob byists appropriate take look March 1986 127 CORBEN SUPER ACE GIANT SCALE 8O WINGSPAN 4 CYCLE 90 POWER SEND $200 FOR COMPLETE CATALOG OF FINE KITS RAINBOW RUNNER 25 45 Gm PRECISION PRODUCTS INC 714 592-51 510 E Arrow Highway San Dimas CA 91773 IKON NWST PO Box 566 Auburn WA 98071 206941-8248 CD CD -h 0 z 0 z 0 C, 0 0 m I m 0 Q C 0 H Cl C/ C 0 C, -4 0 C 0 Co 0 0 Lrcrii N 5 x CA x CA x co x x 01 x 0 x 0 x Co Li DGA Designs es D0A DA Designs 0 0 S 10 o o5 0 0 QiiarterMaster T BIPE 0 QUARTER SCALE PLANS QuarterMaster Sport Elpe8 Oadra 35.73Span.E-Z bIdld. $21 Great Flyer.Sew-Kt Anallable.. 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Send check o MO COOs Allow 3 weeks checkto clear S U iiiu ml *1 [e1 us amateur radio prior 1930s radio frequencies available RC pioneers 1930s designated amateur radio use user required have Amateur Radio License obtained exami nation Morse code radio theory can remember brother Bill took exam 1932 still high school government examiner came Kalamazoo Post Office gave exam must have kind person because Bill missed too words first code test examiner said Youre just nervous give another try Bill did passed long written exam took him almost six hours came through W8IFD 1936 20000 active hams amateurs national organization American Radio Relay League ARRL looking background materials status amateur radio technology mid-1930s found book written Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL8 Published 1936 just what needed refresh memory lay background story book 200 Meters Down starts first amateur station 1899 no required licenses real use new world radio communi cation between Navy shipsup maxi mum range 10 miles practical use radio just beginning 1910 amateur sta tions Army Navy stations put together Immediately arose ugly problem ofradio interference between several groups users take look equipment source interference becomes very obvious transmitters using spark gaps tubes werent available produced thou sands watts energy radiated signals approximately 200-meter wave lengths 15 MHz However spark signals impure smeared out 12 20 MHz best cat whisker crystal detector receiver would pick up different signals simul taneously Wow what messnot suit able hobby RC early fre quency band eventually became pres ent AM broadcast band first frequency assignments made 1912 Navy pushed eliminating amateur stations pro viding no frequency gn ments negative action brought vehe ment reaction amateur ranks caused amateurs amateur clubs led Charles Stewart Pennsylvania later vice-president ARRL promote Compromise amateur transmissions would move frequencies above 15 MHz Navy pleased sly way because preferred frequencies below 1 MHz further believed region above 15 MHz useless long ranges Navy felt given away something useless gotten rid amateurs same time wrongthey took almost decade realized Since 15 MHz wavelength 200 meters DeSoto entitled book 200 ters Down Because think better terms frequency would have preferred 15 MHz Up Either way amateurs owned frequen cies above 15 MHz March 1913 saw terrible Midwest storm disable parts Ohio Michigan leaving communication neighboring areas amateurs devastated area immediately started relay ing messages outside world rescue efforts quickly began first time newspapers gave heavy frontpage coverage heroic actions amateurs public service efforts favorable publicity resulted new recognition government levels amateurs vital countrys emergency service should sup ported 1917 US entered World War can guess immediately filled ranks military radio units Yes already-trained amateurs 1929 government adopted new regulations conformity decisions 1927 World Radio Conference taking back some spectrum assigned amateurs earlier leav ing seemingly generous allotment number small bands four-MHz slice starting 56 MHz called 5-meter band Just few percent amateurs maybe thousand nationwide started explore band techniques developing band virtually empty 5-meter band destined become home RC pio neers RC modelers should grateful frequency legacy amateurs ARRL obtained shared RC-ham developers pioneered RC hobby example tiny one-tube receiver used glider pilots Elmira gather information ground later con verted RC use band main used RC models mid-1930s early 1950s AMA secured first frequencies RC applications Whats small group ham-RCers still use same band todaysome 50 years later now called 6-meter band since moved 50-54 MHz after WW H DeSoto made some very astute predic tions 1936 regarding future ama teur communications especially tech nical expectationsbut failed men tion possibility RC models However 1938 just two short years later entered plane RC event AMA Nats Detroit became prolific writer RC topics must have surprised first RC hobby model strange RC project came attention through 128 Model Aviation NFWUCT S WINGEE ALL YOU NEED Mount Swingee like hinge Completely built-in out sight No flexy torque rods ailerons just simple pushrods straight Swingee Use direct servo control-horn linkage away Kwick-links bell-cranks eliminate sloppy control surfaces scale soaring pattern pylon sport flyer built-in Swingee makes clean aerodynamic lines naturally improves both appearance performance Swingee made Delrin totally unaffected change temperature USA Dealer [AE rn/c mcJ PO Box 511 F HIGGINSVILLE MO 64037 816-584-7121 Dealer inquiries invited World distributor G L INTERNATIONAL AB PO Box 3459 5-162 03 VALLINGEY SWEDEN John Brown Santa Ana CA John sent copies 40 pages book called Modelmaking9 book edited Raymond F Yates well-known writer time article Model Submarine Radio Control did list author perhaps Yates himself just cant resist including submarine story though its heavy-weight RC gear wasnt suitable plane subject 8-ft-long 175-lb submarine radio controls steering electric motors propulsion transmitter 2-in spark gap abroad band frequencies receiver coherer detector Maximum range 300 feet highly-detailed drawings pho tos convincing no descrip tion public demonstration However annotation book pub lished time wireless work experimental nature prohibited United States Government wasnt too surprising US involved war time date 1918 during World War I surmise RC submarine project started before WW almost finished wireless prohibi tion prevented actual RC demonstra tions known whether later tests performed believed article published originally Evety day Engineering Magazine 1917 1918 Can anyone help solve mystery submarine model may have first hobby RC project US really dont know know model plane really what story about Summary now know precursors set stage invention hobby RC model planes gas engines gas models Browns Bassetts early 1 930s amateur radio hams knowledge interest hobby level direct application radio techniques military RC projects 1 920s demonstrated technical feas ibility no means offered direct transition hobby RC commercial radio industry pro vided some circuits components no direct help application toward hobby RC up modelers hams blend together results pre cursors working RC model plane next installment well see met challenge recount early stumbling steps first-ever RC compe tition 1937 National Contest Detroit References Zaic Frank Junior Aeronautics Year Book New York Model Aeronautics Publications 1934 2Ritchie Dave Maxwell Bassett First Gas Model Champion ModelAviation Septem ber 1983 Fabrney DS Rear Admiral USN ret Robert Strobell Americas First Pilotless Aircraft Aero Digest FR FLIUNT ROLLED PLANS UT PARTS Y 1 /2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX 4Mirick CB Wild Goose Chase USN Institute Proceedings Vol 72 Whole No 521 July 1946 Middlebrook Carlton Interview February 28 1985 6Sosic GV Tesla Father RC Model Aviation March 1976 7Miessner BF Early History Radio Guidance San Francisco San Francisco Press 1964 9DeSoto Clinton B 200 Meters Down W Hartford ARRL Inc 1936 9Yates Raymond F ed Modelmaking New York Norman W Henley Publishing Co 1919 Safety Preston Continued page 20 Park Authority city county etc pass ordinance would require use permit turn would require surance coverage According Russell Knetzger cheapest way obtaln lia bility insurance join AMA Most letters received subject addressed question deter flier AMA member March 1986 129 An entirely new generation controlhinges now available model builder unique design Swingee will benefit 11 i T II'I ELECTRIC POWER OR GLO-ENGINES PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # 10915 21 size engines electric motor equivalent Weight 85 grams$l5N PROP BLADES FOR HUB # 100 Available 7s 25 7x 3 7s 35 Bs 4 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HU3 ASSEMBLY # 110 049 051 engines electric motor equivalent Weight 5 grams $150 PROP BLADES FOR NUB # 110 lable 6x 3 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # Ill 0 engines electric motor equivalent 20 grams $2000 PROP ULADES FOR HUB # lii lable 9 x 4 10 x 411 s 4 $5N per blade SlON per pair Send SSAE catalog sheet complete line
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/03
Page Numbers: 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 123, 126, 127, 128, 129
The Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb 191 7-1 8 Specified weigh 500 lb empty carry 81000-lb explosive ioad top speed 90 mph have range 50 miies itwas iaunched March 6 1918 foiiowed its fiight program forthe preset 1000 yards As resuit ciaimed be. first entirely auccessfui fiight automatic missiie country world Note ternaily preprogrammed fiight did invoive RC first step aiternative controi fiight US Navy photo #USN651 991 alt Good IJHist5ryofRC Flying Navy N-9 seaplane succeasfullyflown RC September 151924 Dahigren VA Navy Lt JJ Bailentine ofticerdirectiy belowthe propeller hub right Mr C B Mirick designerof radio control system second man Balientines left CC Middiebrook father RCerCarlton Middiebrookof Middiebrook Connection Photo courtesy Naval Surface Weapons Center AMAs 50th anni versary 1986 RC model flying also began about 50 years ago privileged pre sent three-part series authored man him self key participant making RC history start precursors early building blocks later develop ments Part 1 THE POPULARITY Radio Control model aircraft exciting hobby unquestioned today types RC simple Gliders detailed Scale models popular practical daynot too long ago memories still-active RC old-timers RC hobby did exist hadnt yet invented story RC model planes got started USA Topics covered include pioneers what invented happened did coincidence RC hobbyists know began almost same time AMA fact first AMA Model Aviation Volume 1Number 1June 1936 simply stated new contest has arranged radio controlled models No rules mentioned would held 1936 Nationals Detroit Old-time RCers will point out no RC entries actually showed up event thats getting ahead story except mention 50th anniversary AMA RC will occur 1986 story part celebration story will primarily about RC model aircraft contrasted RC mod el boats cars though model boat probably easier rig RC because its weight-carrying ability interest obsessionis involved RC planes Confining story happenings US makes compatible AMAs geographical area interest well its involvement competition radio frequency aspects RC developments broader review including other countries coherer radio receiver eariy 19008 Antenna signai connected thin white giass tube center photo just above magnet coii giass tube lathe co herer contains powdered metal particles change low resistance path radio signal received Resulting tiny current goes through very sensitive relay left under hand contacts sensitive relay energize power relay rightwhich causes center magnet whack coherer reset its particles forthe next signal Only Morse code-type signals couid received bythe coherer AWA plc view shows coherer glass tube magnetic clapper resets metal particles tube after signal received Antique Wireless Asan photograph March 1986 57 Bruce Kelley AWA Antique Wireless Asan adjusts gap synchronous spark transmitter uses 15000 volts has transmitted output 1000 watts also pro duces raucous noise ioud Keiley must wear ear protectors Photo courtesyofAWA Soa~ kle4A1 s D ~I----AN EARLY GAS MODEL 41axwll Basse 1936 DESIGN Fzu 13 Basset 1936 gas model represented status stable Free Flight models its time illustration reprinted Gas Models Engines W Winter W Schroder would interesting additional effort would considerable Such global story might determine US actually flew first RC model worlda point has yet firmly estab lished Later perhaps Now precursors develop ments occurred earlier provided building blocks invention hobby RC First well recall status model airplanes early 1930sjust prior beginning RCand find what de velopments stimulated aircraft portion invention look early control radio both military commercial will show what state-of-the-art prior hobby RCs first faltering steps Probably helpful source information comes amateur radio area blooming wildly early 1930s will reported following issues specifics first RC models builders contests will bring out slow steps would eventually lead successful con trolled flights days RC model landed same field took off considered successful Status model airplanes early 30s Thirties began Great De pression severe unemployment whis pers unrest Europe Candy bars ice cream cones nickel dime could buy balsa model plane kit provided hours fun far night listening Hoagy Carmich aels Star Dust other hits Big Band era TV didnt exist Money scarce can remember dads salary high school science teacher cut half help town Kalamazoo stay debt-free Brother Bill worked part-time Kalamazoo Col lege physics lab rate 304 hour Part income bought few model supplies put bluntly times tough What status model air plane world vastly different today 1930 models either rubberpowered Free Flights Gliders little balsa wood tube Ambroid ce ment some Japanese tissue few feet rubber ready contest contests both local national still being held spite Depression 1934 availability new tiny gas engine made possible first gas-powered Free Flight FF event National Contest Akron story ofBill Browns gas engines Maxwell Bassetts planes well told Dave Ritchie Model Aviation2 have always chuckled about Bassett getting 4th place early gas model classic International Wakefield event held 1932 Atlantic City Although event traditionally rubber-powered models rules never specified form power After Bassetts success British quickly altered rules specif rubber power National Aero nautic Association US rules-maker did nothing update US rules three US outdoor rubber events guessed Bassett took two gas models 1933 Nationals Long Island NY proceeded capture trophies rubber models ex citing gas model come its own US rules changed provide gas model event its own Bassett entered new gas event 1934 Nats Akron won handsome margin What record arrival gas model estab lished would set stage inven tion RC model Another major element needed RC flight small battery-powered radio receiver Fortunately such units al ready being developed amateur radio community radios being built used amateurs also called hanis talk across town 5-meter band 56 60 MHz new phase ham radio much fun bootleggers persons license also found great excite ment hobby Fortunately 5-meter band barren other allocations because time considered useless commercial radio time hams boot leggers interfered other 5-meter band destined become home early pioneers RC early bootleggers later became hams entirely possible some Kettering Bug designed low-cost preprogrammed flying bomb flown experimentally 1917-18 Power 38-hp engine 15-ft wingspan Dihedral 10 Orville Wrights idea eliminated need ailerons project did use RC Drawing USAF Course 3111 Fundamental Principles Guided Missiles 1956 58 Model Aviation 1 IIZiiIII.- 5olenoid Lock Aerial -- fua*r Cowl, K h-I Cekerur 1 eroyad Ste fO 6 Left 1918 circuit diagram tars hobbyist-built RC submarine shows rudder solenoids speed control seiector operated coherer receiverand reiay Right An eight-ton RC houseboat demonstrated BB Miessner 1912 boatwas also test bed fordiffer ent types detectors proved coherer least reliable Photo credit BF Miessner Early History Radio Guidance early RCers bootleggers lucky identical twin brother ham license figured radio inspector would have hard pressed tell us apart hope statute limitations has run out now Military RC projects around early 1920s Next lets take look another piece background information may relevant would-be model RCer military RC projects Although account RC develop ment directed mainly hobby pects several military develop ments inthe 1916-1924 period need telling because show some problems occurred top notch technical engineers sizable budgets involved hobby pioneers may have aware developments intent show state-of-the-art earlier period First military development flying bombs pilotless airplanes automatic preset controls caused plane take off climb preset altitude level out cruise preset direction preset distance dive pre-selected target course flying bombs radio controlled since controlled internal mechanism April 1916 Elmer Sperry Sperry Gyroscope Peter Cooper Hewitt sci entist started development selfcontrolled plane using own funds September working system hydroplane gyro stabilization directional control distance-monitor ing gear demonstrated system Navy Lawrence Sperry pilot Lt Wilkinson official observer passenger After plane airborne pilot released stick switched automatic controls directed plane climb predetermined altitude steer itself set compass heading start dive preset timeat point pilot restored manual control Greatly impressed Sperry/Hewitt project Navy contracted $200000 May 1917 support design machine called Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb Less 10 months later March 6 1918 Curtiss- Sperry Flying Bomb launched successfully performed functions planned test machine climbed steadily flying straight line distance gear cut throttle 1000 yd set plane made March 1986 59 flaia&lfurj An early miniature receiver cover removed Goods adapted circuit RC model replacing headset sensitive relayplus lot cut try slow right spiral water claimed rst entirely suc cessful flight automatic missile country world3 though RC did lead RC demonstration Navy few years later Before though lets go back 1917 story Ketterings Bug also pre-programmed types Flying Bombs Aerial Torpedos called days An Army committee exploring feasibility project similar Navys Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb commit tee majority voted negatively feasi bility project would have died Charles Kettering inventor electric starter cars pro duced minority report positive day before Christmas 1917 Ket tering first meeting team three major sections plan airplane assigned Orville Wright engine DePalma controls Sperry Kettering emphasis high production low cost oneshot expendable machine Within 10 months team designed built several Bugs 15-ft wings 38-hp engine Sperry gyros pneumatic control system based parts player piano biplane wings 10 dihedral angle roll stability andto eliminate ailerons extra dihedral Orvilles ideahe thought like mod eler could carry 200-lb payload 50 miles 42 mph expected production cost $575 per vehicle first test vehicle launched well became erratic crashed second vehicle after some unplanned aerobatics behaved like large Free Flight model leaving airfield large climbing circles reach altitude 10000 feet later found 20 miles Dayton airfield Complete success attained third vehicle October 22 1918 climbed leveled off course dived toward target 500 yards away still within confines field first successful demonstration small low-cost Flying Bomb avoid publicity maintain secrecy remainder 25 Bugs sent Carlstrom Field Arcadia FL large open uninhabited areas suitable such testing Since WW ended additional tests didnt re sume until fall 1919 Out nine launchings Florida tests last completely successful covering 195 miles diving target area planned though Bug internally programmed did involve radio controls certainly qualifies im portant stepping stone Now comes story truly radiocontrolled plane developed military started N9 Navy seaplane gyroequipped automatic flight early 1922 Navy Proving Ground Dahl gren VA took task adding radio control machine under direction CB Muck4 account deals early vacuum tubes transmitter receiver Morkrum eight-point selector switch problems making gear work reliably aircraft environ ment relates further lab t 1 close Navys large-gun test range its incessant earth-shaking booms vibration problems solved lab before equipment installed airplane control system started controls neutral gave left right rudder up down elevator Continued page 123 I Teslas 1998 RC model boat used spark transmitter coherer receiver selector system controlled rudder deflection propulsion speed Drawing MA March1976 60 Model Aviation featherweight receiver shown previous page cover removed used sail plane pilots Elmira paved way hobby RC begin Credit QST September1933 1918 hobby RC submarine reprinisa Trom MOUCI Making book HF Yates pub lished Henley NYC 1919 Can anyone provide author information Prepare epoxy resin Wearing pro tective gloves using accurate scale carefully weigh out predetermined quan tity EPON 815 Dont forget record weight empty container can determine net amount resin amount TETA catalyst should range 15-20% resin weight 17% being about ideal example assume 8-in-dia prop will require 22 grams EPON amount TETA needed will additional 375 grams giving total liquid weight 25 75 grams Mix resin catalyst thoroughly allow settle about 10 min permit bubbles clear Because way mold con structed bottom half natural reser voir ideal trough lay-up prop Start giving trough area heavy coat epoxy resin lay longest rovings arranging straddle center post Always keep strands centered lengthwise mold assist equalizing blade balance Use small stick x smoothed rounded end spread out filaments cover much blade area possible Add resin progress shorter lengths using stick maneuver strands work out bubbles might trapped hub area can filled 1-in shorter clippings keeping whole mass wet resin Keep filaments confined blade area let slide closing faces will notice rovings begin take silver translucent appearance some seeming disappear entirely sign good wetting necessary resin penetration occurring glass place trough filled resin coat top mold face resin slide down onto center post Check make sure mold match marks correspond because mold closed reversed ends will never able reopen mold salvage what have done point Manually bring top mold down within about ing position four clamps shown pictures clamps should very slowly evenly tightened until faces close tightly will some loss glass lot oozing resin between faces normal Too much glass loss indicates either overstuffed mold closed too rapidly Cleaning up can accom plished acetone epoxy thinner Lay mold aside making sure level something underneath catch cascading drips normal room tem perature prop will take five six hours hardenconsiderably less left direct sun warm oven Check stiffness end spears doubt convinced epoxy firm loosen clamps use vice-grip pliers remove center post twisting pull advisable trim away washed-out rovings have formed long sides since will interfere opening mold Leave end spears untouched time five-minute soaking mold very hot water can sometimes wonders getting come apart Insert sharp knife screwdriver several places along parting line two halves should separate free prop again immerse hot water lift flashing flaps loosen grip especially hub area pull up end spears prop should snap free mold point should holding molded prop attached rectangle thin flashing Most flashing can cut away scissorsup within line sharp flat medium-coarse file used remove last ng along cleft line between flash prop Just few strokes will job nicely area around hub can best removed X-Acto knife file end spears cut away scissors after first filing groove across tongue sharp edge file Balancing prop acoomplished file and/or sandpaper progressing No 150 No 300 final polish Restrict balancing work top curved surface otherwise stand good chance altering blade pitch need help locating supplies cannot purchase small lots please contact Bob Dunham 4730 So Yorktown Tulsa OK 74105 starter kit consisting auto body filler PVA EPON 815 TETA vinyl gloves fiberglass rovings can furnished $60 postpaid US kit contains enough filler fiberglass other liquids make couple molds 20 25 medium-size props Material Sources Auto body filler CUZ NAPA Auto motive Stores White Knight K-Mart Wal Mart auto supply parts stores Steel-filled epoxy 1 qt kit EPOCAST #1 iB #9812 hardener EV Roberts & Assoc Box 868 Culver City CA 90232 phone 1-800-421-0824 Epoxy resin Shell Chemical EPON 815 EV Roberts & Assoc Epoxy catalyst TETA EV Roberts & Assoc Polyester resin K&B Manufacturing hobby shops Fiberglass rovings Owens-Corning Product #447-211 #352-211 CertainTeed Product #282-Bi See Yellow Pages under Fiberglass Materials Carbon fiber tows Gougeon Bros Box X908 Bay City MI 48707 NFFS Supplies 12 Cook St Rowayton CT 06853 RC History/Good Continued page 60 throttle offone time Panel lights indicated airborne pilot control signal being transmitted Continued page 126 March 1986 123 Will OPS 000 Sa#uoc4 specialists High Performance Model Airplane Engines stock parts back up will like doing business us See local hoppy shop P arts Peo pie Box 26247 New Orleans LA 70186 242-5967 PRO-CLAMP Tuned Pipe Clamp $250** pipe included ITS SNAP P-Clamp Tuned Pipe Clamp Good 50fl0 Ii $1 49** pipe included Add $175 Add $050 Shipping Handling Dealer-Dist Inquiries Invited Span65Eng.45-60 Area754 sq in4 Channel Send $100 latest price list literature Also Available okee Babe VK MODEL AIRCRAFT CO 5866 Transit Rd. Depew NY 14043 Phone No 716 684-5555 LA PRODUCTS FOR THE DISCEAMNO MODELER Complete Line Exhaust Systems Tuned Pipes led Tuned Pipes * Headers uri Mufflers Expansion Mufflers copter Ball Mufflers ialized Exhaust Systems Unsurpas.d Wakmanzhifl & PGIfOflWAflC6 ground-based pilot Most flight tests used airborne pilot monitor response blinking light signals actually switching RC signals airplane controls maximum signal range two three miles ground-based 50-watt trans mitter few flights RC signals control airborne pilot observer dio con trol rudder took hold such vigor control cables plane torn loose plane fluttered down midst fleet oyster boats pilot steering ailerons After ex perience eight-point selector re placed tuned reeds allowed simultaneous control several controls much better flying Yes tuned reeds well known time Finally September 15 1924 first pilotless RC flight N9 seaplane dubbed Wild Goose took place Dahlgren VA unmanned plane took off circled some 12 minutes altitudes up 500 feet range transmitter two three miles found plane responded inputs Chief Radioman EL Luke followed verbal instructions Aviation Officer Lt JJ Ballentine .at point failure response two three signals right turn CB Mirick shouted sug gestion try left turn greatly delighted Commander Pickens ttle later plane got back over land lost altitude seemed bent dive bombing farm house timely up flipper signal brought up came out over water what seemed smooth successful landing Wild Goose flown radio control immediately known observ em landing cracked pontoon began leak caused plane nose over sink plane gear recovered river severe corrosion rendered parts unusable PO BOX 3957 TORRANCE CA 90610 project terminated point significant first RC plane made oomplete witnessed controlled flight RC profes sional project funded military organi zationa lot effort flight step along way Yet still wasnt hobby RC Theres personal addendum tale call Middlebrook Connec tion5 digging out story name Charles Middlebrook men tioned civilian engineer adjusted gyros just before plane taxied away its historic flight name rang bell since flown RC models Carlton Middlebrook Dahlgren base 1960s turned out Canton Charles son information about Wild Goose came flowing out stabilizing gyros built Carl Norden Norden Bombsight fame Carltons brother also named Charles inherited wooden propeller Wild Goose said N9 also called Navy Jenny built Naval Aircraft Factory Phila delphia Further Carlton recalled visit retired Navy admiral annual RC reoord trials Dahlgren admiral Maynard Hills coaching flew record models several minutes RC flight admiral former Lt JJ Ballentine called signals Navys first RC flight Wild Goose 1924 What appropriate oonnection RC history past RC links origins commercial radio early 1900s Now well step back earlier history early stage RC story classify Commercial Radio involved bril liant experimenters plowing new terntory radio waves applications experiments resulted patents large royalties famealong patent suits tribulations Probably earliest RC experimenter Nicola Tesla 1856-l943 de vised RC gear gave demonstrations 126 Model Aviation FAI RUBBER Sizes 114 3/16 1/8 3/32 1/16 042 thick pound box Price $1300 FREE 4 oz bottle SLICK rubber lube per box Postpaid UPS USA 65 FF kits mci Starduster Coupe Deville 4 Satellites mow availl Dragmaster Zingo FAI Power Tilka Wakefield P-30s 2 pacifier tanks Crocket hooks Slick lube Seelig ft KSB timers Front ends 3 prop kits 2 kinds fuse winders kinds hardware Books much 1985 catalog 75 Cal add 6% tax FAIModel Supply H RC History/Good Continued page 123 CLEANERPolisher Glider Pilots Take Note SUPER SHINE SUPER SLICK 8 oz $4 95* 1898 several radio-controlled model boatsat Madison Square Garden New York City no less story says actual rental building $10000 week paid friend John Hays Hammond Sr Teslas intent attract public attention overall work notiust RC awarded US Patent November 8 1898 Method Apparatus Controlling Mechanisms Moving Vessels Vehicles patent mentions RC examples boats carriages balloons possible vehicles No mention made aircraft however perhaps because Wright broth ers hadnt flown Teslas primary success came alternating current AC generators pio neered sold patents Westing house million dollars inventions ranged far wide electrical radio fields including some first concepts intelligent robots other automatons Tesla sued Marconi patent infringements Marconi intro duced wireless telegraphy 1901 Other early inventors sued Marconi too Mar coni combined good parts contributions others creating working radio system transmitting receiv ing others provided parts US Supreme Court ruled favor Marconi 1915 Some said court did understand complex tech nical aspects Marconi made millions Tesla controversial genius died penni less 1943 mostly because elabo rate experiments Another contributor early Conuner cial Radio American named BF Miessner age 22 top-notch ventor/experimenter demonstrated RC eight-ton houseboat US Army fall 1912 near Goucester MA Distance tests made using 1000watt spark transmitter shore several types detectors houseboat Miessner found catwhisker crys tal detector would operate sensitive relay range half-mile vacuum tube detector range three miles coherer detector dropped earlier because its very short range vibration problems used ironnickel particles small glass tube electrode end radio signal would lock-up particles causing low resistance path allow sensitive relay energized After lock-up coherer unlocked tapping tube flipping over John Hayes Hammond Jr Miessner worked time said two essential things must get reliable sensitive relay stable form detector same require ments pioneering RC modelers would encounter 20 years later Miessner adopted vacuum tube detector converted Weston meter relay adding delicate contact points Miessners experiments suc cessful wrote first RC book called Radio Dynamics 1916 before graduated Purdue University Later involved several patent infringement suits former employ er JH Hammond Jr However went invent superheterodyne re ceiver FM frequency modulation system Both contested other inventors including Major Arm strong difficult determine really first radio ventions Miesner did suffer financially squabbles patents royalties netted him over two million dollars radio broadcasting industry bloomed work pioneers bigname electrical companies General Elec tric Westinghouse RCA others born period should now clear Ive called money portion RC story Com mercial Radio However experi menters did invent basic circuits radio communication hobby RC pioneers would eventually employ Contributions amateur radio spite important contributions commercial military areas RC model airplane invented amateur modelers amateur radio hob byists appropriate take look March 1986 127 CORBEN SUPER ACE GIANT SCALE 8O WINGSPAN 4 CYCLE 90 POWER SEND $200 FOR COMPLETE CATALOG OF FINE KITS RAINBOW RUNNER 25 45 Gm PRECISION PRODUCTS INC 714 592-51 510 E Arrow Highway San Dimas CA 91773 IKON NWST PO Box 566 Auburn WA 98071 206941-8248 CD CD -h 0 z 0 z 0 C, 0 0 m I m 0 Q C 0 H Cl C/ C 0 C, -4 0 C 0 Co 0 0 Lrcrii N 5 x CA x CA x co x x 01 x 0 x 0 x Co Li DGA Designs es D0A DA Designs 0 0 S 10 o o5 0 0 QiiarterMaster T BIPE 0 QUARTER SCALE PLANS QuarterMaster Sport Elpe8 Oadra 35.73Span.E-Z bIdld. $21 Great Flyer.Sew-Kt Anallable.. 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Send check o MO COOs Allow 3 weeks checkto clear S U iiiu ml *1 [e1 us amateur radio prior 1930s radio frequencies available RC pioneers 1930s designated amateur radio use user required have Amateur Radio License obtained exami nation Morse code radio theory can remember brother Bill took exam 1932 still high school government examiner came Kalamazoo Post Office gave exam must have kind person because Bill missed too words first code test examiner said Youre just nervous give another try Bill did passed long written exam took him almost six hours came through W8IFD 1936 20000 active hams amateurs national organization American Radio Relay League ARRL looking background materials status amateur radio technology mid-1930s found book written Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL8 Published 1936 just what needed refresh memory lay background story book 200 Meters Down starts first amateur station 1899 no required licenses real use new world radio communi cation between Navy shipsup maxi mum range 10 miles practical use radio just beginning 1910 amateur sta tions Army Navy stations put together Immediately arose ugly problem ofradio interference between several groups users take look equipment source interference becomes very obvious transmitters using spark gaps tubes werent available produced thou sands watts energy radiated signals approximately 200-meter wave lengths 15 MHz However spark signals impure smeared out 12 20 MHz best cat whisker crystal detector receiver would pick up different signals simul taneously Wow what messnot suit able hobby RC early fre quency band eventually became pres ent AM broadcast band first frequency assignments made 1912 Navy pushed eliminating amateur stations pro viding no frequency gn ments negative action brought vehe ment reaction amateur ranks caused amateurs amateur clubs led Charles Stewart Pennsylvania later vice-president ARRL promote Compromise amateur transmissions would move frequencies above 15 MHz Navy pleased sly way because preferred frequencies below 1 MHz further believed region above 15 MHz useless long ranges Navy felt given away something useless gotten rid amateurs same time wrongthey took almost decade realized Since 15 MHz wavelength 200 meters DeSoto entitled book 200 ters Down Because think better terms frequency would have preferred 15 MHz Up Either way amateurs owned frequen cies above 15 MHz March 1913 saw terrible Midwest storm disable parts Ohio Michigan leaving communication neighboring areas amateurs devastated area immediately started relay ing messages outside world rescue efforts quickly began first time newspapers gave heavy frontpage coverage heroic actions amateurs public service efforts favorable publicity resulted new recognition government levels amateurs vital countrys emergency service should sup ported 1917 US entered World War can guess immediately filled ranks military radio units Yes already-trained amateurs 1929 government adopted new regulations conformity decisions 1927 World Radio Conference taking back some spectrum assigned amateurs earlier leav ing seemingly generous allotment number small bands four-MHz slice starting 56 MHz called 5-meter band Just few percent amateurs maybe thousand nationwide started explore band techniques developing band virtually empty 5-meter band destined become home RC pio neers RC modelers should grateful frequency legacy amateurs ARRL obtained shared RC-ham developers pioneered RC hobby example tiny one-tube receiver used glider pilots Elmira gather information ground later con verted RC use band main used RC models mid-1930s early 1950s AMA secured first frequencies RC applications Whats small group ham-RCers still use same band todaysome 50 years later now called 6-meter band since moved 50-54 MHz after WW H DeSoto made some very astute predic tions 1936 regarding future ama teur communications especially tech nical expectationsbut failed men tion possibility RC models However 1938 just two short years later entered plane RC event AMA Nats Detroit became prolific writer RC topics must have surprised first RC hobby model strange RC project came attention through 128 Model Aviation NFWUCT S WINGEE ALL YOU NEED Mount Swingee like hinge Completely built-in out sight No flexy torque rods ailerons just simple pushrods straight Swingee Use direct servo control-horn linkage away Kwick-links bell-cranks eliminate sloppy control surfaces scale soaring pattern pylon sport flyer built-in Swingee makes clean aerodynamic lines naturally improves both appearance performance Swingee made Delrin totally unaffected change temperature USA Dealer [AE rn/c mcJ PO Box 511 F HIGGINSVILLE MO 64037 816-584-7121 Dealer inquiries invited World distributor G L INTERNATIONAL AB PO Box 3459 5-162 03 VALLINGEY SWEDEN John Brown Santa Ana CA John sent copies 40 pages book called Modelmaking9 book edited Raymond F Yates well-known writer time article Model Submarine Radio Control did list author perhaps Yates himself just cant resist including submarine story though its heavy-weight RC gear wasnt suitable plane subject 8-ft-long 175-lb submarine radio controls steering electric motors propulsion transmitter 2-in spark gap abroad band frequencies receiver coherer detector Maximum range 300 feet highly-detailed drawings pho tos convincing no descrip tion public demonstration However annotation book pub lished time wireless work experimental nature prohibited United States Government wasnt too surprising US involved war time date 1918 during World War I surmise RC submarine project started before WW almost finished wireless prohibi tion prevented actual RC demonstra tions known whether later tests performed believed article published originally Evety day Engineering Magazine 1917 1918 Can anyone help solve mystery submarine model may have first hobby RC project US really dont know know model plane really what story about Summary now know precursors set stage invention hobby RC model planes gas engines gas models Browns Bassetts early 1 930s amateur radio hams knowledge interest hobby level direct application radio techniques military RC projects 1 920s demonstrated technical feas ibility no means offered direct transition hobby RC commercial radio industry pro vided some circuits components no direct help application toward hobby RC up modelers hams blend together results pre cursors working RC model plane next installment well see met challenge recount early stumbling steps first-ever RC compe tition 1937 National Contest Detroit References Zaic Frank Junior Aeronautics Year Book New York Model Aeronautics Publications 1934 2Ritchie Dave Maxwell Bassett First Gas Model Champion ModelAviation Septem ber 1983 Fabrney DS Rear Admiral USN ret Robert Strobell Americas First Pilotless Aircraft Aero Digest FR FLIUNT ROLLED PLANS UT PARTS Y 1 /2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX 4Mirick CB Wild Goose Chase USN Institute Proceedings Vol 72 Whole No 521 July 1946 Middlebrook Carlton Interview February 28 1985 6Sosic GV Tesla Father RC Model Aviation March 1976 7Miessner BF Early History Radio Guidance San Francisco San Francisco Press 1964 9DeSoto Clinton B 200 Meters Down W Hartford ARRL Inc 1936 9Yates Raymond F ed Modelmaking New York Norman W Henley Publishing Co 1919 Safety Preston Continued page 20 Park Authority city county etc pass ordinance would require use permit turn would require surance coverage According Russell Knetzger cheapest way obtaln lia bility insurance join AMA Most letters received subject addressed question deter flier AMA member March 1986 129 An entirely new generation controlhinges now available model builder unique design Swingee will benefit 11 i T II'I ELECTRIC POWER OR GLO-ENGINES PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # 10915 21 size engines electric motor equivalent Weight 85 grams$l5N PROP BLADES FOR HUB # 100 Available 7s 25 7x 3 7s 35 Bs 4 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HU3 ASSEMBLY # 110 049 051 engines electric motor equivalent Weight 5 grams $150 PROP BLADES FOR NUB # 110 lable 6x 3 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # Ill 0 engines electric motor equivalent 20 grams $2000 PROP ULADES FOR HUB # lii lable 9 x 4 10 x 411 s 4 $5N per blade SlON per pair Send SSAE catalog sheet complete line
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/03
Page Numbers: 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 123, 126, 127, 128, 129
The Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb 191 7-1 8 Specified weigh 500 lb empty carry 81000-lb explosive ioad top speed 90 mph have range 50 miies itwas iaunched March 6 1918 foiiowed its fiight program forthe preset 1000 yards As resuit ciaimed be. first entirely auccessfui fiight automatic missiie country world Note ternaily preprogrammed fiight did invoive RC first step aiternative controi fiight US Navy photo #USN651 991 alt Good IJHist5ryofRC Flying Navy N-9 seaplane succeasfullyflown RC September 151924 Dahigren VA Navy Lt JJ Bailentine ofticerdirectiy belowthe propeller hub right Mr C B Mirick designerof radio control system second man Balientines left CC Middiebrook father RCerCarlton Middiebrookof Middiebrook Connection Photo courtesy Naval Surface Weapons Center AMAs 50th anni versary 1986 RC model flying also began about 50 years ago privileged pre sent three-part series authored man him self key participant making RC history start precursors early building blocks later develop ments Part 1 THE POPULARITY Radio Control model aircraft exciting hobby unquestioned today types RC simple Gliders detailed Scale models popular practical daynot too long ago memories still-active RC old-timers RC hobby did exist hadnt yet invented story RC model planes got started USA Topics covered include pioneers what invented happened did coincidence RC hobbyists know began almost same time AMA fact first AMA Model Aviation Volume 1Number 1June 1936 simply stated new contest has arranged radio controlled models No rules mentioned would held 1936 Nationals Detroit Old-time RCers will point out no RC entries actually showed up event thats getting ahead story except mention 50th anniversary AMA RC will occur 1986 story part celebration story will primarily about RC model aircraft contrasted RC mod el boats cars though model boat probably easier rig RC because its weight-carrying ability interest obsessionis involved RC planes Confining story happenings US makes compatible AMAs geographical area interest well its involvement competition radio frequency aspects RC developments broader review including other countries coherer radio receiver eariy 19008 Antenna signai connected thin white giass tube center photo just above magnet coii giass tube lathe co herer contains powdered metal particles change low resistance path radio signal received Resulting tiny current goes through very sensitive relay left under hand contacts sensitive relay energize power relay rightwhich causes center magnet whack coherer reset its particles forthe next signal Only Morse code-type signals couid received bythe coherer AWA plc view shows coherer glass tube magnetic clapper resets metal particles tube after signal received Antique Wireless Asan photograph March 1986 57 Bruce Kelley AWA Antique Wireless Asan adjusts gap synchronous spark transmitter uses 15000 volts has transmitted output 1000 watts also pro duces raucous noise ioud Keiley must wear ear protectors Photo courtesyofAWA Soa~ kle4A1 s D ~I----AN EARLY GAS MODEL 41axwll Basse 1936 DESIGN Fzu 13 Basset 1936 gas model represented status stable Free Flight models its time illustration reprinted Gas Models Engines W Winter W Schroder would interesting additional effort would considerable Such global story might determine US actually flew first RC model worlda point has yet firmly estab lished Later perhaps Now precursors develop ments occurred earlier provided building blocks invention hobby RC First well recall status model airplanes early 1930sjust prior beginning RCand find what de velopments stimulated aircraft portion invention look early control radio both military commercial will show what state-of-the-art prior hobby RCs first faltering steps Probably helpful source information comes amateur radio area blooming wildly early 1930s will reported following issues specifics first RC models builders contests will bring out slow steps would eventually lead successful con trolled flights days RC model landed same field took off considered successful Status model airplanes early 30s Thirties began Great De pression severe unemployment whis pers unrest Europe Candy bars ice cream cones nickel dime could buy balsa model plane kit provided hours fun far night listening Hoagy Carmich aels Star Dust other hits Big Band era TV didnt exist Money scarce can remember dads salary high school science teacher cut half help town Kalamazoo stay debt-free Brother Bill worked part-time Kalamazoo Col lege physics lab rate 304 hour Part income bought few model supplies put bluntly times tough What status model air plane world vastly different today 1930 models either rubberpowered Free Flights Gliders little balsa wood tube Ambroid ce ment some Japanese tissue few feet rubber ready contest contests both local national still being held spite Depression 1934 availability new tiny gas engine made possible first gas-powered Free Flight FF event National Contest Akron story ofBill Browns gas engines Maxwell Bassetts planes well told Dave Ritchie Model Aviation2 have always chuckled about Bassett getting 4th place early gas model classic International Wakefield event held 1932 Atlantic City Although event traditionally rubber-powered models rules never specified form power After Bassetts success British quickly altered rules specif rubber power National Aero nautic Association US rules-maker did nothing update US rules three US outdoor rubber events guessed Bassett took two gas models 1933 Nationals Long Island NY proceeded capture trophies rubber models ex citing gas model come its own US rules changed provide gas model event its own Bassett entered new gas event 1934 Nats Akron won handsome margin What record arrival gas model estab lished would set stage inven tion RC model Another major element needed RC flight small battery-powered radio receiver Fortunately such units al ready being developed amateur radio community radios being built used amateurs also called hanis talk across town 5-meter band 56 60 MHz new phase ham radio much fun bootleggers persons license also found great excite ment hobby Fortunately 5-meter band barren other allocations because time considered useless commercial radio time hams boot leggers interfered other 5-meter band destined become home early pioneers RC early bootleggers later became hams entirely possible some Kettering Bug designed low-cost preprogrammed flying bomb flown experimentally 1917-18 Power 38-hp engine 15-ft wingspan Dihedral 10 Orville Wrights idea eliminated need ailerons project did use RC Drawing USAF Course 3111 Fundamental Principles Guided Missiles 1956 58 Model Aviation 1 IIZiiIII.- 5olenoid Lock Aerial -- fua*r Cowl, K h-I Cekerur 1 eroyad Ste fO 6 Left 1918 circuit diagram tars hobbyist-built RC submarine shows rudder solenoids speed control seiector operated coherer receiverand reiay Right An eight-ton RC houseboat demonstrated BB Miessner 1912 boatwas also test bed fordiffer ent types detectors proved coherer least reliable Photo credit BF Miessner Early History Radio Guidance early RCers bootleggers lucky identical twin brother ham license figured radio inspector would have hard pressed tell us apart hope statute limitations has run out now Military RC projects around early 1920s Next lets take look another piece background information may relevant would-be model RCer military RC projects Although account RC develop ment directed mainly hobby pects several military develop ments inthe 1916-1924 period need telling because show some problems occurred top notch technical engineers sizable budgets involved hobby pioneers may have aware developments intent show state-of-the-art earlier period First military development flying bombs pilotless airplanes automatic preset controls caused plane take off climb preset altitude level out cruise preset direction preset distance dive pre-selected target course flying bombs radio controlled since controlled internal mechanism April 1916 Elmer Sperry Sperry Gyroscope Peter Cooper Hewitt sci entist started development selfcontrolled plane using own funds September working system hydroplane gyro stabilization directional control distance-monitor ing gear demonstrated system Navy Lawrence Sperry pilot Lt Wilkinson official observer passenger After plane airborne pilot released stick switched automatic controls directed plane climb predetermined altitude steer itself set compass heading start dive preset timeat point pilot restored manual control Greatly impressed Sperry/Hewitt project Navy contracted $200000 May 1917 support design machine called Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb Less 10 months later March 6 1918 Curtiss- Sperry Flying Bomb launched successfully performed functions planned test machine climbed steadily flying straight line distance gear cut throttle 1000 yd set plane made March 1986 59 flaia&lfurj An early miniature receiver cover removed Goods adapted circuit RC model replacing headset sensitive relayplus lot cut try slow right spiral water claimed rst entirely suc cessful flight automatic missile country world3 though RC did lead RC demonstration Navy few years later Before though lets go back 1917 story Ketterings Bug also pre-programmed types Flying Bombs Aerial Torpedos called days An Army committee exploring feasibility project similar Navys Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb commit tee majority voted negatively feasi bility project would have died Charles Kettering inventor electric starter cars pro duced minority report positive day before Christmas 1917 Ket tering first meeting team three major sections plan airplane assigned Orville Wright engine DePalma controls Sperry Kettering emphasis high production low cost oneshot expendable machine Within 10 months team designed built several Bugs 15-ft wings 38-hp engine Sperry gyros pneumatic control system based parts player piano biplane wings 10 dihedral angle roll stability andto eliminate ailerons extra dihedral Orvilles ideahe thought like mod eler could carry 200-lb payload 50 miles 42 mph expected production cost $575 per vehicle first test vehicle launched well became erratic crashed second vehicle after some unplanned aerobatics behaved like large Free Flight model leaving airfield large climbing circles reach altitude 10000 feet later found 20 miles Dayton airfield Complete success attained third vehicle October 22 1918 climbed leveled off course dived toward target 500 yards away still within confines field first successful demonstration small low-cost Flying Bomb avoid publicity maintain secrecy remainder 25 Bugs sent Carlstrom Field Arcadia FL large open uninhabited areas suitable such testing Since WW ended additional tests didnt re sume until fall 1919 Out nine launchings Florida tests last completely successful covering 195 miles diving target area planned though Bug internally programmed did involve radio controls certainly qualifies im portant stepping stone Now comes story truly radiocontrolled plane developed military started N9 Navy seaplane gyroequipped automatic flight early 1922 Navy Proving Ground Dahl gren VA took task adding radio control machine under direction CB Muck4 account deals early vacuum tubes transmitter receiver Morkrum eight-point selector switch problems making gear work reliably aircraft environ ment relates further lab t 1 close Navys large-gun test range its incessant earth-shaking booms vibration problems solved lab before equipment installed airplane control system started controls neutral gave left right rudder up down elevator Continued page 123 I Teslas 1998 RC model boat used spark transmitter coherer receiver selector system controlled rudder deflection propulsion speed Drawing MA March1976 60 Model Aviation featherweight receiver shown previous page cover removed used sail plane pilots Elmira paved way hobby RC begin Credit QST September1933 1918 hobby RC submarine reprinisa Trom MOUCI Making book HF Yates pub lished Henley NYC 1919 Can anyone provide author information Prepare epoxy resin Wearing pro tective gloves using accurate scale carefully weigh out predetermined quan tity EPON 815 Dont forget record weight empty container can determine net amount resin amount TETA catalyst should range 15-20% resin weight 17% being about ideal example assume 8-in-dia prop will require 22 grams EPON amount TETA needed will additional 375 grams giving total liquid weight 25 75 grams Mix resin catalyst thoroughly allow settle about 10 min permit bubbles clear Because way mold con structed bottom half natural reser voir ideal trough lay-up prop Start giving trough area heavy coat epoxy resin lay longest rovings arranging straddle center post Always keep strands centered lengthwise mold assist equalizing blade balance Use small stick x smoothed rounded end spread out filaments cover much blade area possible Add resin progress shorter lengths using stick maneuver strands work out bubbles might trapped hub area can filled 1-in shorter clippings keeping whole mass wet resin Keep filaments confined blade area let slide closing faces will notice rovings begin take silver translucent appearance some seeming disappear entirely sign good wetting necessary resin penetration occurring glass place trough filled resin coat top mold face resin slide down onto center post Check make sure mold match marks correspond because mold closed reversed ends will never able reopen mold salvage what have done point Manually bring top mold down within about ing position four clamps shown pictures clamps should very slowly evenly tightened until faces close tightly will some loss glass lot oozing resin between faces normal Too much glass loss indicates either overstuffed mold closed too rapidly Cleaning up can accom plished acetone epoxy thinner Lay mold aside making sure level something underneath catch cascading drips normal room tem perature prop will take five six hours hardenconsiderably less left direct sun warm oven Check stiffness end spears doubt convinced epoxy firm loosen clamps use vice-grip pliers remove center post twisting pull advisable trim away washed-out rovings have formed long sides since will interfere opening mold Leave end spears untouched time five-minute soaking mold very hot water can sometimes wonders getting come apart Insert sharp knife screwdriver several places along parting line two halves should separate free prop again immerse hot water lift flashing flaps loosen grip especially hub area pull up end spears prop should snap free mold point should holding molded prop attached rectangle thin flashing Most flashing can cut away scissorsup within line sharp flat medium-coarse file used remove last ng along cleft line between flash prop Just few strokes will job nicely area around hub can best removed X-Acto knife file end spears cut away scissors after first filing groove across tongue sharp edge file Balancing prop acoomplished file and/or sandpaper progressing No 150 No 300 final polish Restrict balancing work top curved surface otherwise stand good chance altering blade pitch need help locating supplies cannot purchase small lots please contact Bob Dunham 4730 So Yorktown Tulsa OK 74105 starter kit consisting auto body filler PVA EPON 815 TETA vinyl gloves fiberglass rovings can furnished $60 postpaid US kit contains enough filler fiberglass other liquids make couple molds 20 25 medium-size props Material Sources Auto body filler CUZ NAPA Auto motive Stores White Knight K-Mart Wal Mart auto supply parts stores Steel-filled epoxy 1 qt kit EPOCAST #1 iB #9812 hardener EV Roberts & Assoc Box 868 Culver City CA 90232 phone 1-800-421-0824 Epoxy resin Shell Chemical EPON 815 EV Roberts & Assoc Epoxy catalyst TETA EV Roberts & Assoc Polyester resin K&B Manufacturing hobby shops Fiberglass rovings Owens-Corning Product #447-211 #352-211 CertainTeed Product #282-Bi See Yellow Pages under Fiberglass Materials Carbon fiber tows Gougeon Bros Box X908 Bay City MI 48707 NFFS Supplies 12 Cook St Rowayton CT 06853 RC History/Good Continued page 60 throttle offone time Panel lights indicated airborne pilot control signal being transmitted Continued page 126 March 1986 123 Will OPS 000 Sa#uoc4 specialists High Performance Model Airplane Engines stock parts back up will like doing business us See local hoppy shop P arts Peo pie Box 26247 New Orleans LA 70186 242-5967 PRO-CLAMP Tuned Pipe Clamp $250** pipe included ITS SNAP P-Clamp Tuned Pipe Clamp Good 50fl0 Ii $1 49** pipe included Add $175 Add $050 Shipping Handling Dealer-Dist Inquiries Invited Span65Eng.45-60 Area754 sq in4 Channel Send $100 latest price list literature Also Available okee Babe VK MODEL AIRCRAFT CO 5866 Transit Rd. Depew NY 14043 Phone No 716 684-5555 LA PRODUCTS FOR THE DISCEAMNO MODELER Complete Line Exhaust Systems Tuned Pipes led Tuned Pipes * Headers uri Mufflers Expansion Mufflers copter Ball Mufflers ialized Exhaust Systems Unsurpas.d Wakmanzhifl & PGIfOflWAflC6 ground-based pilot Most flight tests used airborne pilot monitor response blinking light signals actually switching RC signals airplane controls maximum signal range two three miles ground-based 50-watt trans mitter few flights RC signals control airborne pilot observer dio con trol rudder took hold such vigor control cables plane torn loose plane fluttered down midst fleet oyster boats pilot steering ailerons After ex perience eight-point selector re placed tuned reeds allowed simultaneous control several controls much better flying Yes tuned reeds well known time Finally September 15 1924 first pilotless RC flight N9 seaplane dubbed Wild Goose took place Dahlgren VA unmanned plane took off circled some 12 minutes altitudes up 500 feet range transmitter two three miles found plane responded inputs Chief Radioman EL Luke followed verbal instructions Aviation Officer Lt JJ Ballentine .at point failure response two three signals right turn CB Mirick shouted sug gestion try left turn greatly delighted Commander Pickens ttle later plane got back over land lost altitude seemed bent dive bombing farm house timely up flipper signal brought up came out over water what seemed smooth successful landing Wild Goose flown radio control immediately known observ em landing cracked pontoon began leak caused plane nose over sink plane gear recovered river severe corrosion rendered parts unusable PO BOX 3957 TORRANCE CA 90610 project terminated point significant first RC plane made oomplete witnessed controlled flight RC profes sional project funded military organi zationa lot effort flight step along way Yet still wasnt hobby RC Theres personal addendum tale call Middlebrook Connec tion5 digging out story name Charles Middlebrook men tioned civilian engineer adjusted gyros just before plane taxied away its historic flight name rang bell since flown RC models Carlton Middlebrook Dahlgren base 1960s turned out Canton Charles son information about Wild Goose came flowing out stabilizing gyros built Carl Norden Norden Bombsight fame Carltons brother also named Charles inherited wooden propeller Wild Goose said N9 also called Navy Jenny built Naval Aircraft Factory Phila delphia Further Carlton recalled visit retired Navy admiral annual RC reoord trials Dahlgren admiral Maynard Hills coaching flew record models several minutes RC flight admiral former Lt JJ Ballentine called signals Navys first RC flight Wild Goose 1924 What appropriate oonnection RC history past RC links origins commercial radio early 1900s Now well step back earlier history early stage RC story classify Commercial Radio involved bril liant experimenters plowing new terntory radio waves applications experiments resulted patents large royalties famealong patent suits tribulations Probably earliest RC experimenter Nicola Tesla 1856-l943 de vised RC gear gave demonstrations 126 Model Aviation FAI RUBBER Sizes 114 3/16 1/8 3/32 1/16 042 thick pound box Price $1300 FREE 4 oz bottle SLICK rubber lube per box Postpaid UPS USA 65 FF kits mci Starduster Coupe Deville 4 Satellites mow availl Dragmaster Zingo FAI Power Tilka Wakefield P-30s 2 pacifier tanks Crocket hooks Slick lube Seelig ft KSB timers Front ends 3 prop kits 2 kinds fuse winders kinds hardware Books much 1985 catalog 75 Cal add 6% tax FAIModel Supply H RC History/Good Continued page 123 CLEANERPolisher Glider Pilots Take Note SUPER SHINE SUPER SLICK 8 oz $4 95* 1898 several radio-controlled model boatsat Madison Square Garden New York City no less story says actual rental building $10000 week paid friend John Hays Hammond Sr Teslas intent attract public attention overall work notiust RC awarded US Patent November 8 1898 Method Apparatus Controlling Mechanisms Moving Vessels Vehicles patent mentions RC examples boats carriages balloons possible vehicles No mention made aircraft however perhaps because Wright broth ers hadnt flown Teslas primary success came alternating current AC generators pio neered sold patents Westing house million dollars inventions ranged far wide electrical radio fields including some first concepts intelligent robots other automatons Tesla sued Marconi patent infringements Marconi intro duced wireless telegraphy 1901 Other early inventors sued Marconi too Mar coni combined good parts contributions others creating working radio system transmitting receiv ing others provided parts US Supreme Court ruled favor Marconi 1915 Some said court did understand complex tech nical aspects Marconi made millions Tesla controversial genius died penni less 1943 mostly because elabo rate experiments Another contributor early Conuner cial Radio American named BF Miessner age 22 top-notch ventor/experimenter demonstrated RC eight-ton houseboat US Army fall 1912 near Goucester MA Distance tests made using 1000watt spark transmitter shore several types detectors houseboat Miessner found catwhisker crys tal detector would operate sensitive relay range half-mile vacuum tube detector range three miles coherer detector dropped earlier because its very short range vibration problems used ironnickel particles small glass tube electrode end radio signal would lock-up particles causing low resistance path allow sensitive relay energized After lock-up coherer unlocked tapping tube flipping over John Hayes Hammond Jr Miessner worked time said two essential things must get reliable sensitive relay stable form detector same require ments pioneering RC modelers would encounter 20 years later Miessner adopted vacuum tube detector converted Weston meter relay adding delicate contact points Miessners experiments suc cessful wrote first RC book called Radio Dynamics 1916 before graduated Purdue University Later involved several patent infringement suits former employ er JH Hammond Jr However went invent superheterodyne re ceiver FM frequency modulation system Both contested other inventors including Major Arm strong difficult determine really first radio ventions Miesner did suffer financially squabbles patents royalties netted him over two million dollars radio broadcasting industry bloomed work pioneers bigname electrical companies General Elec tric Westinghouse RCA others born period should now clear Ive called money portion RC story Com mercial Radio However experi menters did invent basic circuits radio communication hobby RC pioneers would eventually employ Contributions amateur radio spite important contributions commercial military areas RC model airplane invented amateur modelers amateur radio hob byists appropriate take look March 1986 127 CORBEN SUPER ACE GIANT SCALE 8O WINGSPAN 4 CYCLE 90 POWER SEND $200 FOR COMPLETE CATALOG OF FINE KITS RAINBOW RUNNER 25 45 Gm PRECISION PRODUCTS INC 714 592-51 510 E Arrow Highway San Dimas CA 91773 IKON NWST PO Box 566 Auburn WA 98071 206941-8248 CD CD -h 0 z 0 z 0 C, 0 0 m I m 0 Q C 0 H Cl C/ C 0 C, -4 0 C 0 Co 0 0 Lrcrii N 5 x CA x CA x co x x 01 x 0 x 0 x Co Li DGA Designs es D0A DA Designs 0 0 S 10 o o5 0 0 QiiarterMaster T BIPE 0 QUARTER SCALE PLANS QuarterMaster Sport Elpe8 Oadra 35.73Span.E-Z bIdld. $21 Great Flyer.Sew-Kt Anallable.. PPO 0 DAVIS 01K 905Span. ppo s25e Quadra 35 power similar 01933 KINNER SPORTSTER IllModel K.ll7Span 035 power PPOS S _______________ 0 4-CYCLE PROJECTS0 0 o W AKRON FUNK IS Scale 84 span 80 sizeel 4 cycle. rentastic FlyerPPD ________0 DAVIS 0-1K 603 Spar. si 5 45 4 cycle sinclal-. . pPO lash wale Sixth wale ______________C S 1933 KINNER SPORTSTER44 oMOdel K.78 Span. el-75.4cy PPO10 ** Photo reduced I/S Scale plans. OTwo Inch esale SIxth ecale 0________6 OA Plane cowing Scale Plans PHOTO DOCUMENTATION PACKS aailable ALL PLANS ROLLEDSHIPPED UPS Conpletetnstrcction Booklet Send ciGO catalog10 O New Vol-k Slate Reedents ada 7% ealee tee. Send check o MO COOs Allow 3 weeks checkto clear S U iiiu ml *1 [e1 us amateur radio prior 1930s radio frequencies available RC pioneers 1930s designated amateur radio use user required have Amateur Radio License obtained exami nation Morse code radio theory can remember brother Bill took exam 1932 still high school government examiner came Kalamazoo Post Office gave exam must have kind person because Bill missed too words first code test examiner said Youre just nervous give another try Bill did passed long written exam took him almost six hours came through W8IFD 1936 20000 active hams amateurs national organization American Radio Relay League ARRL looking background materials status amateur radio technology mid-1930s found book written Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL8 Published 1936 just what needed refresh memory lay background story book 200 Meters Down starts first amateur station 1899 no required licenses real use new world radio communi cation between Navy shipsup maxi mum range 10 miles practical use radio just beginning 1910 amateur sta tions Army Navy stations put together Immediately arose ugly problem ofradio interference between several groups users take look equipment source interference becomes very obvious transmitters using spark gaps tubes werent available produced thou sands watts energy radiated signals approximately 200-meter wave lengths 15 MHz However spark signals impure smeared out 12 20 MHz best cat whisker crystal detector receiver would pick up different signals simul taneously Wow what messnot suit able hobby RC early fre quency band eventually became pres ent AM broadcast band first frequency assignments made 1912 Navy pushed eliminating amateur stations pro viding no frequency gn ments negative action brought vehe ment reaction amateur ranks caused amateurs amateur clubs led Charles Stewart Pennsylvania later vice-president ARRL promote Compromise amateur transmissions would move frequencies above 15 MHz Navy pleased sly way because preferred frequencies below 1 MHz further believed region above 15 MHz useless long ranges Navy felt given away something useless gotten rid amateurs same time wrongthey took almost decade realized Since 15 MHz wavelength 200 meters DeSoto entitled book 200 ters Down Because think better terms frequency would have preferred 15 MHz Up Either way amateurs owned frequen cies above 15 MHz March 1913 saw terrible Midwest storm disable parts Ohio Michigan leaving communication neighboring areas amateurs devastated area immediately started relay ing messages outside world rescue efforts quickly began first time newspapers gave heavy frontpage coverage heroic actions amateurs public service efforts favorable publicity resulted new recognition government levels amateurs vital countrys emergency service should sup ported 1917 US entered World War can guess immediately filled ranks military radio units Yes already-trained amateurs 1929 government adopted new regulations conformity decisions 1927 World Radio Conference taking back some spectrum assigned amateurs earlier leav ing seemingly generous allotment number small bands four-MHz slice starting 56 MHz called 5-meter band Just few percent amateurs maybe thousand nationwide started explore band techniques developing band virtually empty 5-meter band destined become home RC pio neers RC modelers should grateful frequency legacy amateurs ARRL obtained shared RC-ham developers pioneered RC hobby example tiny one-tube receiver used glider pilots Elmira gather information ground later con verted RC use band main used RC models mid-1930s early 1950s AMA secured first frequencies RC applications Whats small group ham-RCers still use same band todaysome 50 years later now called 6-meter band since moved 50-54 MHz after WW H DeSoto made some very astute predic tions 1936 regarding future ama teur communications especially tech nical expectationsbut failed men tion possibility RC models However 1938 just two short years later entered plane RC event AMA Nats Detroit became prolific writer RC topics must have surprised first RC hobby model strange RC project came attention through 128 Model Aviation NFWUCT S WINGEE ALL YOU NEED Mount Swingee like hinge Completely built-in out sight No flexy torque rods ailerons just simple pushrods straight Swingee Use direct servo control-horn linkage away Kwick-links bell-cranks eliminate sloppy control surfaces scale soaring pattern pylon sport flyer built-in Swingee makes clean aerodynamic lines naturally improves both appearance performance Swingee made Delrin totally unaffected change temperature USA Dealer [AE rn/c mcJ PO Box 511 F HIGGINSVILLE MO 64037 816-584-7121 Dealer inquiries invited World distributor G L INTERNATIONAL AB PO Box 3459 5-162 03 VALLINGEY SWEDEN John Brown Santa Ana CA John sent copies 40 pages book called Modelmaking9 book edited Raymond F Yates well-known writer time article Model Submarine Radio Control did list author perhaps Yates himself just cant resist including submarine story though its heavy-weight RC gear wasnt suitable plane subject 8-ft-long 175-lb submarine radio controls steering electric motors propulsion transmitter 2-in spark gap abroad band frequencies receiver coherer detector Maximum range 300 feet highly-detailed drawings pho tos convincing no descrip tion public demonstration However annotation book pub lished time wireless work experimental nature prohibited United States Government wasnt too surprising US involved war time date 1918 during World War I surmise RC submarine project started before WW almost finished wireless prohibi tion prevented actual RC demonstra tions known whether later tests performed believed article published originally Evety day Engineering Magazine 1917 1918 Can anyone help solve mystery submarine model may have first hobby RC project US really dont know know model plane really what story about Summary now know precursors set stage invention hobby RC model planes gas engines gas models Browns Bassetts early 1 930s amateur radio hams knowledge interest hobby level direct application radio techniques military RC projects 1 920s demonstrated technical feas ibility no means offered direct transition hobby RC commercial radio industry pro vided some circuits components no direct help application toward hobby RC up modelers hams blend together results pre cursors working RC model plane next installment well see met challenge recount early stumbling steps first-ever RC compe tition 1937 National Contest Detroit References Zaic Frank Junior Aeronautics Year Book New York Model Aeronautics Publications 1934 2Ritchie Dave Maxwell Bassett First Gas Model Champion ModelAviation Septem ber 1983 Fabrney DS Rear Admiral USN ret Robert Strobell Americas First Pilotless Aircraft Aero Digest FR FLIUNT ROLLED PLANS UT PARTS Y 1 /2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX 4Mirick CB Wild Goose Chase USN Institute Proceedings Vol 72 Whole No 521 July 1946 Middlebrook Carlton Interview February 28 1985 6Sosic GV Tesla Father RC Model Aviation March 1976 7Miessner BF Early History Radio Guidance San Francisco San Francisco Press 1964 9DeSoto Clinton B 200 Meters Down W Hartford ARRL Inc 1936 9Yates Raymond F ed Modelmaking New York Norman W Henley Publishing Co 1919 Safety Preston Continued page 20 Park Authority city county etc pass ordinance would require use permit turn would require surance coverage According Russell Knetzger cheapest way obtaln lia bility insurance join AMA Most letters received subject addressed question deter flier AMA member March 1986 129 An entirely new generation controlhinges now available model builder unique design Swingee will benefit 11 i T II'I ELECTRIC POWER OR GLO-ENGINES PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # 10915 21 size engines electric motor equivalent Weight 85 grams$l5N PROP BLADES FOR HUB # 100 Available 7s 25 7x 3 7s 35 Bs 4 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HU3 ASSEMBLY # 110 049 051 engines electric motor equivalent Weight 5 grams $150 PROP BLADES FOR NUB # 110 lable 6x 3 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # Ill 0 engines electric motor equivalent 20 grams $2000 PROP ULADES FOR HUB # lii lable 9 x 4 10 x 411 s 4 $5N per blade SlON per pair Send SSAE catalog sheet complete line
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/03
Page Numbers: 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 123, 126, 127, 128, 129
The Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb 191 7-1 8 Specified weigh 500 lb empty carry 81000-lb explosive ioad top speed 90 mph have range 50 miies itwas iaunched March 6 1918 foiiowed its fiight program forthe preset 1000 yards As resuit ciaimed be. first entirely auccessfui fiight automatic missiie country world Note ternaily preprogrammed fiight did invoive RC first step aiternative controi fiight US Navy photo #USN651 991 alt Good IJHist5ryofRC Flying Navy N-9 seaplane succeasfullyflown RC September 151924 Dahigren VA Navy Lt JJ Bailentine ofticerdirectiy belowthe propeller hub right Mr C B Mirick designerof radio control system second man Balientines left CC Middiebrook father RCerCarlton Middiebrookof Middiebrook Connection Photo courtesy Naval Surface Weapons Center AMAs 50th anni versary 1986 RC model flying also began about 50 years ago privileged pre sent three-part series authored man him self key participant making RC history start precursors early building blocks later develop ments Part 1 THE POPULARITY Radio Control model aircraft exciting hobby unquestioned today types RC simple Gliders detailed Scale models popular practical daynot too long ago memories still-active RC old-timers RC hobby did exist hadnt yet invented story RC model planes got started USA Topics covered include pioneers what invented happened did coincidence RC hobbyists know began almost same time AMA fact first AMA Model Aviation Volume 1Number 1June 1936 simply stated new contest has arranged radio controlled models No rules mentioned would held 1936 Nationals Detroit Old-time RCers will point out no RC entries actually showed up event thats getting ahead story except mention 50th anniversary AMA RC will occur 1986 story part celebration story will primarily about RC model aircraft contrasted RC mod el boats cars though model boat probably easier rig RC because its weight-carrying ability interest obsessionis involved RC planes Confining story happenings US makes compatible AMAs geographical area interest well its involvement competition radio frequency aspects RC developments broader review including other countries coherer radio receiver eariy 19008 Antenna signai connected thin white giass tube center photo just above magnet coii giass tube lathe co herer contains powdered metal particles change low resistance path radio signal received Resulting tiny current goes through very sensitive relay left under hand contacts sensitive relay energize power relay rightwhich causes center magnet whack coherer reset its particles forthe next signal Only Morse code-type signals couid received bythe coherer AWA plc view shows coherer glass tube magnetic clapper resets metal particles tube after signal received Antique Wireless Asan photograph March 1986 57 Bruce Kelley AWA Antique Wireless Asan adjusts gap synchronous spark transmitter uses 15000 volts has transmitted output 1000 watts also pro duces raucous noise ioud Keiley must wear ear protectors Photo courtesyofAWA Soa~ kle4A1 s D ~I----AN EARLY GAS MODEL 41axwll Basse 1936 DESIGN Fzu 13 Basset 1936 gas model represented status stable Free Flight models its time illustration reprinted Gas Models Engines W Winter W Schroder would interesting additional effort would considerable Such global story might determine US actually flew first RC model worlda point has yet firmly estab lished Later perhaps Now precursors develop ments occurred earlier provided building blocks invention hobby RC First well recall status model airplanes early 1930sjust prior beginning RCand find what de velopments stimulated aircraft portion invention look early control radio both military commercial will show what state-of-the-art prior hobby RCs first faltering steps Probably helpful source information comes amateur radio area blooming wildly early 1930s will reported following issues specifics first RC models builders contests will bring out slow steps would eventually lead successful con trolled flights days RC model landed same field took off considered successful Status model airplanes early 30s Thirties began Great De pression severe unemployment whis pers unrest Europe Candy bars ice cream cones nickel dime could buy balsa model plane kit provided hours fun far night listening Hoagy Carmich aels Star Dust other hits Big Band era TV didnt exist Money scarce can remember dads salary high school science teacher cut half help town Kalamazoo stay debt-free Brother Bill worked part-time Kalamazoo Col lege physics lab rate 304 hour Part income bought few model supplies put bluntly times tough What status model air plane world vastly different today 1930 models either rubberpowered Free Flights Gliders little balsa wood tube Ambroid ce ment some Japanese tissue few feet rubber ready contest contests both local national still being held spite Depression 1934 availability new tiny gas engine made possible first gas-powered Free Flight FF event National Contest Akron story ofBill Browns gas engines Maxwell Bassetts planes well told Dave Ritchie Model Aviation2 have always chuckled about Bassett getting 4th place early gas model classic International Wakefield event held 1932 Atlantic City Although event traditionally rubber-powered models rules never specified form power After Bassetts success British quickly altered rules specif rubber power National Aero nautic Association US rules-maker did nothing update US rules three US outdoor rubber events guessed Bassett took two gas models 1933 Nationals Long Island NY proceeded capture trophies rubber models ex citing gas model come its own US rules changed provide gas model event its own Bassett entered new gas event 1934 Nats Akron won handsome margin What record arrival gas model estab lished would set stage inven tion RC model Another major element needed RC flight small battery-powered radio receiver Fortunately such units al ready being developed amateur radio community radios being built used amateurs also called hanis talk across town 5-meter band 56 60 MHz new phase ham radio much fun bootleggers persons license also found great excite ment hobby Fortunately 5-meter band barren other allocations because time considered useless commercial radio time hams boot leggers interfered other 5-meter band destined become home early pioneers RC early bootleggers later became hams entirely possible some Kettering Bug designed low-cost preprogrammed flying bomb flown experimentally 1917-18 Power 38-hp engine 15-ft wingspan Dihedral 10 Orville Wrights idea eliminated need ailerons project did use RC Drawing USAF Course 3111 Fundamental Principles Guided Missiles 1956 58 Model Aviation 1 IIZiiIII.- 5olenoid Lock Aerial -- fua*r Cowl, K h-I Cekerur 1 eroyad Ste fO 6 Left 1918 circuit diagram tars hobbyist-built RC submarine shows rudder solenoids speed control seiector operated coherer receiverand reiay Right An eight-ton RC houseboat demonstrated BB Miessner 1912 boatwas also test bed fordiffer ent types detectors proved coherer least reliable Photo credit BF Miessner Early History Radio Guidance early RCers bootleggers lucky identical twin brother ham license figured radio inspector would have hard pressed tell us apart hope statute limitations has run out now Military RC projects around early 1920s Next lets take look another piece background information may relevant would-be model RCer military RC projects Although account RC develop ment directed mainly hobby pects several military develop ments inthe 1916-1924 period need telling because show some problems occurred top notch technical engineers sizable budgets involved hobby pioneers may have aware developments intent show state-of-the-art earlier period First military development flying bombs pilotless airplanes automatic preset controls caused plane take off climb preset altitude level out cruise preset direction preset distance dive pre-selected target course flying bombs radio controlled since controlled internal mechanism April 1916 Elmer Sperry Sperry Gyroscope Peter Cooper Hewitt sci entist started development selfcontrolled plane using own funds September working system hydroplane gyro stabilization directional control distance-monitor ing gear demonstrated system Navy Lawrence Sperry pilot Lt Wilkinson official observer passenger After plane airborne pilot released stick switched automatic controls directed plane climb predetermined altitude steer itself set compass heading start dive preset timeat point pilot restored manual control Greatly impressed Sperry/Hewitt project Navy contracted $200000 May 1917 support design machine called Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb Less 10 months later March 6 1918 Curtiss- Sperry Flying Bomb launched successfully performed functions planned test machine climbed steadily flying straight line distance gear cut throttle 1000 yd set plane made March 1986 59 flaia&lfurj An early miniature receiver cover removed Goods adapted circuit RC model replacing headset sensitive relayplus lot cut try slow right spiral water claimed rst entirely suc cessful flight automatic missile country world3 though RC did lead RC demonstration Navy few years later Before though lets go back 1917 story Ketterings Bug also pre-programmed types Flying Bombs Aerial Torpedos called days An Army committee exploring feasibility project similar Navys Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb commit tee majority voted negatively feasi bility project would have died Charles Kettering inventor electric starter cars pro duced minority report positive day before Christmas 1917 Ket tering first meeting team three major sections plan airplane assigned Orville Wright engine DePalma controls Sperry Kettering emphasis high production low cost oneshot expendable machine Within 10 months team designed built several Bugs 15-ft wings 38-hp engine Sperry gyros pneumatic control system based parts player piano biplane wings 10 dihedral angle roll stability andto eliminate ailerons extra dihedral Orvilles ideahe thought like mod eler could carry 200-lb payload 50 miles 42 mph expected production cost $575 per vehicle first test vehicle launched well became erratic crashed second vehicle after some unplanned aerobatics behaved like large Free Flight model leaving airfield large climbing circles reach altitude 10000 feet later found 20 miles Dayton airfield Complete success attained third vehicle October 22 1918 climbed leveled off course dived toward target 500 yards away still within confines field first successful demonstration small low-cost Flying Bomb avoid publicity maintain secrecy remainder 25 Bugs sent Carlstrom Field Arcadia FL large open uninhabited areas suitable such testing Since WW ended additional tests didnt re sume until fall 1919 Out nine launchings Florida tests last completely successful covering 195 miles diving target area planned though Bug internally programmed did involve radio controls certainly qualifies im portant stepping stone Now comes story truly radiocontrolled plane developed military started N9 Navy seaplane gyroequipped automatic flight early 1922 Navy Proving Ground Dahl gren VA took task adding radio control machine under direction CB Muck4 account deals early vacuum tubes transmitter receiver Morkrum eight-point selector switch problems making gear work reliably aircraft environ ment relates further lab t 1 close Navys large-gun test range its incessant earth-shaking booms vibration problems solved lab before equipment installed airplane control system started controls neutral gave left right rudder up down elevator Continued page 123 I Teslas 1998 RC model boat used spark transmitter coherer receiver selector system controlled rudder deflection propulsion speed Drawing MA March1976 60 Model Aviation featherweight receiver shown previous page cover removed used sail plane pilots Elmira paved way hobby RC begin Credit QST September1933 1918 hobby RC submarine reprinisa Trom MOUCI Making book HF Yates pub lished Henley NYC 1919 Can anyone provide author information Prepare epoxy resin Wearing pro tective gloves using accurate scale carefully weigh out predetermined quan tity EPON 815 Dont forget record weight empty container can determine net amount resin amount TETA catalyst should range 15-20% resin weight 17% being about ideal example assume 8-in-dia prop will require 22 grams EPON amount TETA needed will additional 375 grams giving total liquid weight 25 75 grams Mix resin catalyst thoroughly allow settle about 10 min permit bubbles clear Because way mold con structed bottom half natural reser voir ideal trough lay-up prop Start giving trough area heavy coat epoxy resin lay longest rovings arranging straddle center post Always keep strands centered lengthwise mold assist equalizing blade balance Use small stick x smoothed rounded end spread out filaments cover much blade area possible Add resin progress shorter lengths using stick maneuver strands work out bubbles might trapped hub area can filled 1-in shorter clippings keeping whole mass wet resin Keep filaments confined blade area let slide closing faces will notice rovings begin take silver translucent appearance some seeming disappear entirely sign good wetting necessary resin penetration occurring glass place trough filled resin coat top mold face resin slide down onto center post Check make sure mold match marks correspond because mold closed reversed ends will never able reopen mold salvage what have done point Manually bring top mold down within about ing position four clamps shown pictures clamps should very slowly evenly tightened until faces close tightly will some loss glass lot oozing resin between faces normal Too much glass loss indicates either overstuffed mold closed too rapidly Cleaning up can accom plished acetone epoxy thinner Lay mold aside making sure level something underneath catch cascading drips normal room tem perature prop will take five six hours hardenconsiderably less left direct sun warm oven Check stiffness end spears doubt convinced epoxy firm loosen clamps use vice-grip pliers remove center post twisting pull advisable trim away washed-out rovings have formed long sides since will interfere opening mold Leave end spears untouched time five-minute soaking mold very hot water can sometimes wonders getting come apart Insert sharp knife screwdriver several places along parting line two halves should separate free prop again immerse hot water lift flashing flaps loosen grip especially hub area pull up end spears prop should snap free mold point should holding molded prop attached rectangle thin flashing Most flashing can cut away scissorsup within line sharp flat medium-coarse file used remove last ng along cleft line between flash prop Just few strokes will job nicely area around hub can best removed X-Acto knife file end spears cut away scissors after first filing groove across tongue sharp edge file Balancing prop acoomplished file and/or sandpaper progressing No 150 No 300 final polish Restrict balancing work top curved surface otherwise stand good chance altering blade pitch need help locating supplies cannot purchase small lots please contact Bob Dunham 4730 So Yorktown Tulsa OK 74105 starter kit consisting auto body filler PVA EPON 815 TETA vinyl gloves fiberglass rovings can furnished $60 postpaid US kit contains enough filler fiberglass other liquids make couple molds 20 25 medium-size props Material Sources Auto body filler CUZ NAPA Auto motive Stores White Knight K-Mart Wal Mart auto supply parts stores Steel-filled epoxy 1 qt kit EPOCAST #1 iB #9812 hardener EV Roberts & Assoc Box 868 Culver City CA 90232 phone 1-800-421-0824 Epoxy resin Shell Chemical EPON 815 EV Roberts & Assoc Epoxy catalyst TETA EV Roberts & Assoc Polyester resin K&B Manufacturing hobby shops Fiberglass rovings Owens-Corning Product #447-211 #352-211 CertainTeed Product #282-Bi See Yellow Pages under Fiberglass Materials Carbon fiber tows Gougeon Bros Box X908 Bay City MI 48707 NFFS Supplies 12 Cook St Rowayton CT 06853 RC History/Good Continued page 60 throttle offone time Panel lights indicated airborne pilot control signal being transmitted Continued page 126 March 1986 123 Will OPS 000 Sa#uoc4 specialists High Performance Model Airplane Engines stock parts back up will like doing business us See local hoppy shop P arts Peo pie Box 26247 New Orleans LA 70186 242-5967 PRO-CLAMP Tuned Pipe Clamp $250** pipe included ITS SNAP P-Clamp Tuned Pipe Clamp Good 50fl0 Ii $1 49** pipe included Add $175 Add $050 Shipping Handling Dealer-Dist Inquiries Invited Span65Eng.45-60 Area754 sq in4 Channel Send $100 latest price list literature Also Available okee Babe VK MODEL AIRCRAFT CO 5866 Transit Rd. Depew NY 14043 Phone No 716 684-5555 LA PRODUCTS FOR THE DISCEAMNO MODELER Complete Line Exhaust Systems Tuned Pipes led Tuned Pipes * Headers uri Mufflers Expansion Mufflers copter Ball Mufflers ialized Exhaust Systems Unsurpas.d Wakmanzhifl & PGIfOflWAflC6 ground-based pilot Most flight tests used airborne pilot monitor response blinking light signals actually switching RC signals airplane controls maximum signal range two three miles ground-based 50-watt trans mitter few flights RC signals control airborne pilot observer dio con trol rudder took hold such vigor control cables plane torn loose plane fluttered down midst fleet oyster boats pilot steering ailerons After ex perience eight-point selector re placed tuned reeds allowed simultaneous control several controls much better flying Yes tuned reeds well known time Finally September 15 1924 first pilotless RC flight N9 seaplane dubbed Wild Goose took place Dahlgren VA unmanned plane took off circled some 12 minutes altitudes up 500 feet range transmitter two three miles found plane responded inputs Chief Radioman EL Luke followed verbal instructions Aviation Officer Lt JJ Ballentine .at point failure response two three signals right turn CB Mirick shouted sug gestion try left turn greatly delighted Commander Pickens ttle later plane got back over land lost altitude seemed bent dive bombing farm house timely up flipper signal brought up came out over water what seemed smooth successful landing Wild Goose flown radio control immediately known observ em landing cracked pontoon began leak caused plane nose over sink plane gear recovered river severe corrosion rendered parts unusable PO BOX 3957 TORRANCE CA 90610 project terminated point significant first RC plane made oomplete witnessed controlled flight RC profes sional project funded military organi zationa lot effort flight step along way Yet still wasnt hobby RC Theres personal addendum tale call Middlebrook Connec tion5 digging out story name Charles Middlebrook men tioned civilian engineer adjusted gyros just before plane taxied away its historic flight name rang bell since flown RC models Carlton Middlebrook Dahlgren base 1960s turned out Canton Charles son information about Wild Goose came flowing out stabilizing gyros built Carl Norden Norden Bombsight fame Carltons brother also named Charles inherited wooden propeller Wild Goose said N9 also called Navy Jenny built Naval Aircraft Factory Phila delphia Further Carlton recalled visit retired Navy admiral annual RC reoord trials Dahlgren admiral Maynard Hills coaching flew record models several minutes RC flight admiral former Lt JJ Ballentine called signals Navys first RC flight Wild Goose 1924 What appropriate oonnection RC history past RC links origins commercial radio early 1900s Now well step back earlier history early stage RC story classify Commercial Radio involved bril liant experimenters plowing new terntory radio waves applications experiments resulted patents large royalties famealong patent suits tribulations Probably earliest RC experimenter Nicola Tesla 1856-l943 de vised RC gear gave demonstrations 126 Model Aviation FAI RUBBER Sizes 114 3/16 1/8 3/32 1/16 042 thick pound box Price $1300 FREE 4 oz bottle SLICK rubber lube per box Postpaid UPS USA 65 FF kits mci Starduster Coupe Deville 4 Satellites mow availl Dragmaster Zingo FAI Power Tilka Wakefield P-30s 2 pacifier tanks Crocket hooks Slick lube Seelig ft KSB timers Front ends 3 prop kits 2 kinds fuse winders kinds hardware Books much 1985 catalog 75 Cal add 6% tax FAIModel Supply H RC History/Good Continued page 123 CLEANERPolisher Glider Pilots Take Note SUPER SHINE SUPER SLICK 8 oz $4 95* 1898 several radio-controlled model boatsat Madison Square Garden New York City no less story says actual rental building $10000 week paid friend John Hays Hammond Sr Teslas intent attract public attention overall work notiust RC awarded US Patent November 8 1898 Method Apparatus Controlling Mechanisms Moving Vessels Vehicles patent mentions RC examples boats carriages balloons possible vehicles No mention made aircraft however perhaps because Wright broth ers hadnt flown Teslas primary success came alternating current AC generators pio neered sold patents Westing house million dollars inventions ranged far wide electrical radio fields including some first concepts intelligent robots other automatons Tesla sued Marconi patent infringements Marconi intro duced wireless telegraphy 1901 Other early inventors sued Marconi too Mar coni combined good parts contributions others creating working radio system transmitting receiv ing others provided parts US Supreme Court ruled favor Marconi 1915 Some said court did understand complex tech nical aspects Marconi made millions Tesla controversial genius died penni less 1943 mostly because elabo rate experiments Another contributor early Conuner cial Radio American named BF Miessner age 22 top-notch ventor/experimenter demonstrated RC eight-ton houseboat US Army fall 1912 near Goucester MA Distance tests made using 1000watt spark transmitter shore several types detectors houseboat Miessner found catwhisker crys tal detector would operate sensitive relay range half-mile vacuum tube detector range three miles coherer detector dropped earlier because its very short range vibration problems used ironnickel particles small glass tube electrode end radio signal would lock-up particles causing low resistance path allow sensitive relay energized After lock-up coherer unlocked tapping tube flipping over John Hayes Hammond Jr Miessner worked time said two essential things must get reliable sensitive relay stable form detector same require ments pioneering RC modelers would encounter 20 years later Miessner adopted vacuum tube detector converted Weston meter relay adding delicate contact points Miessners experiments suc cessful wrote first RC book called Radio Dynamics 1916 before graduated Purdue University Later involved several patent infringement suits former employ er JH Hammond Jr However went invent superheterodyne re ceiver FM frequency modulation system Both contested other inventors including Major Arm strong difficult determine really first radio ventions Miesner did suffer financially squabbles patents royalties netted him over two million dollars radio broadcasting industry bloomed work pioneers bigname electrical companies General Elec tric Westinghouse RCA others born period should now clear Ive called money portion RC story Com mercial Radio However experi menters did invent basic circuits radio communication hobby RC pioneers would eventually employ Contributions amateur radio spite important contributions commercial military areas RC model airplane invented amateur modelers amateur radio hob byists appropriate take look March 1986 127 CORBEN SUPER ACE GIANT SCALE 8O WINGSPAN 4 CYCLE 90 POWER SEND $200 FOR COMPLETE CATALOG OF FINE KITS RAINBOW RUNNER 25 45 Gm PRECISION PRODUCTS INC 714 592-51 510 E Arrow Highway San Dimas CA 91773 IKON NWST PO Box 566 Auburn WA 98071 206941-8248 CD CD -h 0 z 0 z 0 C, 0 0 m I m 0 Q C 0 H Cl C/ C 0 C, -4 0 C 0 Co 0 0 Lrcrii N 5 x CA x CA x co x x 01 x 0 x 0 x Co Li DGA Designs es D0A DA Designs 0 0 S 10 o o5 0 0 QiiarterMaster T BIPE 0 QUARTER SCALE PLANS QuarterMaster Sport Elpe8 Oadra 35.73Span.E-Z bIdld. $21 Great Flyer.Sew-Kt Anallable.. PPO 0 DAVIS 01K 905Span. ppo s25e Quadra 35 power similar 01933 KINNER SPORTSTER IllModel K.ll7Span 035 power PPOS S _______________ 0 4-CYCLE PROJECTS0 0 o W AKRON FUNK IS Scale 84 span 80 sizeel 4 cycle. rentastic FlyerPPD ________0 DAVIS 0-1K 603 Spar. si 5 45 4 cycle sinclal-. . pPO lash wale Sixth wale ______________C S 1933 KINNER SPORTSTER44 oMOdel K.78 Span. el-75.4cy PPO10 ** Photo reduced I/S Scale plans. OTwo Inch esale SIxth ecale 0________6 OA Plane cowing Scale Plans PHOTO DOCUMENTATION PACKS aailable ALL PLANS ROLLEDSHIPPED UPS Conpletetnstrcction Booklet Send ciGO catalog10 O New Vol-k Slate Reedents ada 7% ealee tee. Send check o MO COOs Allow 3 weeks checkto clear S U iiiu ml *1 [e1 us amateur radio prior 1930s radio frequencies available RC pioneers 1930s designated amateur radio use user required have Amateur Radio License obtained exami nation Morse code radio theory can remember brother Bill took exam 1932 still high school government examiner came Kalamazoo Post Office gave exam must have kind person because Bill missed too words first code test examiner said Youre just nervous give another try Bill did passed long written exam took him almost six hours came through W8IFD 1936 20000 active hams amateurs national organization American Radio Relay League ARRL looking background materials status amateur radio technology mid-1930s found book written Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL8 Published 1936 just what needed refresh memory lay background story book 200 Meters Down starts first amateur station 1899 no required licenses real use new world radio communi cation between Navy shipsup maxi mum range 10 miles practical use radio just beginning 1910 amateur sta tions Army Navy stations put together Immediately arose ugly problem ofradio interference between several groups users take look equipment source interference becomes very obvious transmitters using spark gaps tubes werent available produced thou sands watts energy radiated signals approximately 200-meter wave lengths 15 MHz However spark signals impure smeared out 12 20 MHz best cat whisker crystal detector receiver would pick up different signals simul taneously Wow what messnot suit able hobby RC early fre quency band eventually became pres ent AM broadcast band first frequency assignments made 1912 Navy pushed eliminating amateur stations pro viding no frequency gn ments negative action brought vehe ment reaction amateur ranks caused amateurs amateur clubs led Charles Stewart Pennsylvania later vice-president ARRL promote Compromise amateur transmissions would move frequencies above 15 MHz Navy pleased sly way because preferred frequencies below 1 MHz further believed region above 15 MHz useless long ranges Navy felt given away something useless gotten rid amateurs same time wrongthey took almost decade realized Since 15 MHz wavelength 200 meters DeSoto entitled book 200 ters Down Because think better terms frequency would have preferred 15 MHz Up Either way amateurs owned frequen cies above 15 MHz March 1913 saw terrible Midwest storm disable parts Ohio Michigan leaving communication neighboring areas amateurs devastated area immediately started relay ing messages outside world rescue efforts quickly began first time newspapers gave heavy frontpage coverage heroic actions amateurs public service efforts favorable publicity resulted new recognition government levels amateurs vital countrys emergency service should sup ported 1917 US entered World War can guess immediately filled ranks military radio units Yes already-trained amateurs 1929 government adopted new regulations conformity decisions 1927 World Radio Conference taking back some spectrum assigned amateurs earlier leav ing seemingly generous allotment number small bands four-MHz slice starting 56 MHz called 5-meter band Just few percent amateurs maybe thousand nationwide started explore band techniques developing band virtually empty 5-meter band destined become home RC pio neers RC modelers should grateful frequency legacy amateurs ARRL obtained shared RC-ham developers pioneered RC hobby example tiny one-tube receiver used glider pilots Elmira gather information ground later con verted RC use band main used RC models mid-1930s early 1950s AMA secured first frequencies RC applications Whats small group ham-RCers still use same band todaysome 50 years later now called 6-meter band since moved 50-54 MHz after WW H DeSoto made some very astute predic tions 1936 regarding future ama teur communications especially tech nical expectationsbut failed men tion possibility RC models However 1938 just two short years later entered plane RC event AMA Nats Detroit became prolific writer RC topics must have surprised first RC hobby model strange RC project came attention through 128 Model Aviation NFWUCT S WINGEE ALL YOU NEED Mount Swingee like hinge Completely built-in out sight No flexy torque rods ailerons just simple pushrods straight Swingee Use direct servo control-horn linkage away Kwick-links bell-cranks eliminate sloppy control surfaces scale soaring pattern pylon sport flyer built-in Swingee makes clean aerodynamic lines naturally improves both appearance performance Swingee made Delrin totally unaffected change temperature USA Dealer [AE rn/c mcJ PO Box 511 F HIGGINSVILLE MO 64037 816-584-7121 Dealer inquiries invited World distributor G L INTERNATIONAL AB PO Box 3459 5-162 03 VALLINGEY SWEDEN John Brown Santa Ana CA John sent copies 40 pages book called Modelmaking9 book edited Raymond F Yates well-known writer time article Model Submarine Radio Control did list author perhaps Yates himself just cant resist including submarine story though its heavy-weight RC gear wasnt suitable plane subject 8-ft-long 175-lb submarine radio controls steering electric motors propulsion transmitter 2-in spark gap abroad band frequencies receiver coherer detector Maximum range 300 feet highly-detailed drawings pho tos convincing no descrip tion public demonstration However annotation book pub lished time wireless work experimental nature prohibited United States Government wasnt too surprising US involved war time date 1918 during World War I surmise RC submarine project started before WW almost finished wireless prohibi tion prevented actual RC demonstra tions known whether later tests performed believed article published originally Evety day Engineering Magazine 1917 1918 Can anyone help solve mystery submarine model may have first hobby RC project US really dont know know model plane really what story about Summary now know precursors set stage invention hobby RC model planes gas engines gas models Browns Bassetts early 1 930s amateur radio hams knowledge interest hobby level direct application radio techniques military RC projects 1 920s demonstrated technical feas ibility no means offered direct transition hobby RC commercial radio industry pro vided some circuits components no direct help application toward hobby RC up modelers hams blend together results pre cursors working RC model plane next installment well see met challenge recount early stumbling steps first-ever RC compe tition 1937 National Contest Detroit References Zaic Frank Junior Aeronautics Year Book New York Model Aeronautics Publications 1934 2Ritchie Dave Maxwell Bassett First Gas Model Champion ModelAviation Septem ber 1983 Fabrney DS Rear Admiral USN ret Robert Strobell Americas First Pilotless Aircraft Aero Digest FR FLIUNT ROLLED PLANS UT PARTS Y 1 /2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX 4Mirick CB Wild Goose Chase USN Institute Proceedings Vol 72 Whole No 521 July 1946 Middlebrook Carlton Interview February 28 1985 6Sosic GV Tesla Father RC Model Aviation March 1976 7Miessner BF Early History Radio Guidance San Francisco San Francisco Press 1964 9DeSoto Clinton B 200 Meters Down W Hartford ARRL Inc 1936 9Yates Raymond F ed Modelmaking New York Norman W Henley Publishing Co 1919 Safety Preston Continued page 20 Park Authority city county etc pass ordinance would require use permit turn would require surance coverage According Russell Knetzger cheapest way obtaln lia bility insurance join AMA Most letters received subject addressed question deter flier AMA member March 1986 129 An entirely new generation controlhinges now available model builder unique design Swingee will benefit 11 i T II'I ELECTRIC POWER OR GLO-ENGINES PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # 10915 21 size engines electric motor equivalent Weight 85 grams$l5N PROP BLADES FOR HUB # 100 Available 7s 25 7x 3 7s 35 Bs 4 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HU3 ASSEMBLY # 110 049 051 engines electric motor equivalent Weight 5 grams $150 PROP BLADES FOR NUB # 110 lable 6x 3 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # Ill 0 engines electric motor equivalent 20 grams $2000 PROP ULADES FOR HUB # lii lable 9 x 4 10 x 411 s 4 $5N per blade SlON per pair Send SSAE catalog sheet complete line
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/03
Page Numbers: 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 123, 126, 127, 128, 129
The Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb 191 7-1 8 Specified weigh 500 lb empty carry 81000-lb explosive ioad top speed 90 mph have range 50 miies itwas iaunched March 6 1918 foiiowed its fiight program forthe preset 1000 yards As resuit ciaimed be. first entirely auccessfui fiight automatic missiie country world Note ternaily preprogrammed fiight did invoive RC first step aiternative controi fiight US Navy photo #USN651 991 alt Good IJHist5ryofRC Flying Navy N-9 seaplane succeasfullyflown RC September 151924 Dahigren VA Navy Lt JJ Bailentine ofticerdirectiy belowthe propeller hub right Mr C B Mirick designerof radio control system second man Balientines left CC Middiebrook father RCerCarlton Middiebrookof Middiebrook Connection Photo courtesy Naval Surface Weapons Center AMAs 50th anni versary 1986 RC model flying also began about 50 years ago privileged pre sent three-part series authored man him self key participant making RC history start precursors early building blocks later develop ments Part 1 THE POPULARITY Radio Control model aircraft exciting hobby unquestioned today types RC simple Gliders detailed Scale models popular practical daynot too long ago memories still-active RC old-timers RC hobby did exist hadnt yet invented story RC model planes got started USA Topics covered include pioneers what invented happened did coincidence RC hobbyists know began almost same time AMA fact first AMA Model Aviation Volume 1Number 1June 1936 simply stated new contest has arranged radio controlled models No rules mentioned would held 1936 Nationals Detroit Old-time RCers will point out no RC entries actually showed up event thats getting ahead story except mention 50th anniversary AMA RC will occur 1986 story part celebration story will primarily about RC model aircraft contrasted RC mod el boats cars though model boat probably easier rig RC because its weight-carrying ability interest obsessionis involved RC planes Confining story happenings US makes compatible AMAs geographical area interest well its involvement competition radio frequency aspects RC developments broader review including other countries coherer radio receiver eariy 19008 Antenna signai connected thin white giass tube center photo just above magnet coii giass tube lathe co herer contains powdered metal particles change low resistance path radio signal received Resulting tiny current goes through very sensitive relay left under hand contacts sensitive relay energize power relay rightwhich causes center magnet whack coherer reset its particles forthe next signal Only Morse code-type signals couid received bythe coherer AWA plc view shows coherer glass tube magnetic clapper resets metal particles tube after signal received Antique Wireless Asan photograph March 1986 57 Bruce Kelley AWA Antique Wireless Asan adjusts gap synchronous spark transmitter uses 15000 volts has transmitted output 1000 watts also pro duces raucous noise ioud Keiley must wear ear protectors Photo courtesyofAWA Soa~ kle4A1 s D ~I----AN EARLY GAS MODEL 41axwll Basse 1936 DESIGN Fzu 13 Basset 1936 gas model represented status stable Free Flight models its time illustration reprinted Gas Models Engines W Winter W Schroder would interesting additional effort would considerable Such global story might determine US actually flew first RC model worlda point has yet firmly estab lished Later perhaps Now precursors develop ments occurred earlier provided building blocks invention hobby RC First well recall status model airplanes early 1930sjust prior beginning RCand find what de velopments stimulated aircraft portion invention look early control radio both military commercial will show what state-of-the-art prior hobby RCs first faltering steps Probably helpful source information comes amateur radio area blooming wildly early 1930s will reported following issues specifics first RC models builders contests will bring out slow steps would eventually lead successful con trolled flights days RC model landed same field took off considered successful Status model airplanes early 30s Thirties began Great De pression severe unemployment whis pers unrest Europe Candy bars ice cream cones nickel dime could buy balsa model plane kit provided hours fun far night listening Hoagy Carmich aels Star Dust other hits Big Band era TV didnt exist Money scarce can remember dads salary high school science teacher cut half help town Kalamazoo stay debt-free Brother Bill worked part-time Kalamazoo Col lege physics lab rate 304 hour Part income bought few model supplies put bluntly times tough What status model air plane world vastly different today 1930 models either rubberpowered Free Flights Gliders little balsa wood tube Ambroid ce ment some Japanese tissue few feet rubber ready contest contests both local national still being held spite Depression 1934 availability new tiny gas engine made possible first gas-powered Free Flight FF event National Contest Akron story ofBill Browns gas engines Maxwell Bassetts planes well told Dave Ritchie Model Aviation2 have always chuckled about Bassett getting 4th place early gas model classic International Wakefield event held 1932 Atlantic City Although event traditionally rubber-powered models rules never specified form power After Bassetts success British quickly altered rules specif rubber power National Aero nautic Association US rules-maker did nothing update US rules three US outdoor rubber events guessed Bassett took two gas models 1933 Nationals Long Island NY proceeded capture trophies rubber models ex citing gas model come its own US rules changed provide gas model event its own Bassett entered new gas event 1934 Nats Akron won handsome margin What record arrival gas model estab lished would set stage inven tion RC model Another major element needed RC flight small battery-powered radio receiver Fortunately such units al ready being developed amateur radio community radios being built used amateurs also called hanis talk across town 5-meter band 56 60 MHz new phase ham radio much fun bootleggers persons license also found great excite ment hobby Fortunately 5-meter band barren other allocations because time considered useless commercial radio time hams boot leggers interfered other 5-meter band destined become home early pioneers RC early bootleggers later became hams entirely possible some Kettering Bug designed low-cost preprogrammed flying bomb flown experimentally 1917-18 Power 38-hp engine 15-ft wingspan Dihedral 10 Orville Wrights idea eliminated need ailerons project did use RC Drawing USAF Course 3111 Fundamental Principles Guided Missiles 1956 58 Model Aviation 1 IIZiiIII.- 5olenoid Lock Aerial -- fua*r Cowl, K h-I Cekerur 1 eroyad Ste fO 6 Left 1918 circuit diagram tars hobbyist-built RC submarine shows rudder solenoids speed control seiector operated coherer receiverand reiay Right An eight-ton RC houseboat demonstrated BB Miessner 1912 boatwas also test bed fordiffer ent types detectors proved coherer least reliable Photo credit BF Miessner Early History Radio Guidance early RCers bootleggers lucky identical twin brother ham license figured radio inspector would have hard pressed tell us apart hope statute limitations has run out now Military RC projects around early 1920s Next lets take look another piece background information may relevant would-be model RCer military RC projects Although account RC develop ment directed mainly hobby pects several military develop ments inthe 1916-1924 period need telling because show some problems occurred top notch technical engineers sizable budgets involved hobby pioneers may have aware developments intent show state-of-the-art earlier period First military development flying bombs pilotless airplanes automatic preset controls caused plane take off climb preset altitude level out cruise preset direction preset distance dive pre-selected target course flying bombs radio controlled since controlled internal mechanism April 1916 Elmer Sperry Sperry Gyroscope Peter Cooper Hewitt sci entist started development selfcontrolled plane using own funds September working system hydroplane gyro stabilization directional control distance-monitor ing gear demonstrated system Navy Lawrence Sperry pilot Lt Wilkinson official observer passenger After plane airborne pilot released stick switched automatic controls directed plane climb predetermined altitude steer itself set compass heading start dive preset timeat point pilot restored manual control Greatly impressed Sperry/Hewitt project Navy contracted $200000 May 1917 support design machine called Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb Less 10 months later March 6 1918 Curtiss- Sperry Flying Bomb launched successfully performed functions planned test machine climbed steadily flying straight line distance gear cut throttle 1000 yd set plane made March 1986 59 flaia&lfurj An early miniature receiver cover removed Goods adapted circuit RC model replacing headset sensitive relayplus lot cut try slow right spiral water claimed rst entirely suc cessful flight automatic missile country world3 though RC did lead RC demonstration Navy few years later Before though lets go back 1917 story Ketterings Bug also pre-programmed types Flying Bombs Aerial Torpedos called days An Army committee exploring feasibility project similar Navys Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb commit tee majority voted negatively feasi bility project would have died Charles Kettering inventor electric starter cars pro duced minority report positive day before Christmas 1917 Ket tering first meeting team three major sections plan airplane assigned Orville Wright engine DePalma controls Sperry Kettering emphasis high production low cost oneshot expendable machine Within 10 months team designed built several Bugs 15-ft wings 38-hp engine Sperry gyros pneumatic control system based parts player piano biplane wings 10 dihedral angle roll stability andto eliminate ailerons extra dihedral Orvilles ideahe thought like mod eler could carry 200-lb payload 50 miles 42 mph expected production cost $575 per vehicle first test vehicle launched well became erratic crashed second vehicle after some unplanned aerobatics behaved like large Free Flight model leaving airfield large climbing circles reach altitude 10000 feet later found 20 miles Dayton airfield Complete success attained third vehicle October 22 1918 climbed leveled off course dived toward target 500 yards away still within confines field first successful demonstration small low-cost Flying Bomb avoid publicity maintain secrecy remainder 25 Bugs sent Carlstrom Field Arcadia FL large open uninhabited areas suitable such testing Since WW ended additional tests didnt re sume until fall 1919 Out nine launchings Florida tests last completely successful covering 195 miles diving target area planned though Bug internally programmed did involve radio controls certainly qualifies im portant stepping stone Now comes story truly radiocontrolled plane developed military started N9 Navy seaplane gyroequipped automatic flight early 1922 Navy Proving Ground Dahl gren VA took task adding radio control machine under direction CB Muck4 account deals early vacuum tubes transmitter receiver Morkrum eight-point selector switch problems making gear work reliably aircraft environ ment relates further lab t 1 close Navys large-gun test range its incessant earth-shaking booms vibration problems solved lab before equipment installed airplane control system started controls neutral gave left right rudder up down elevator Continued page 123 I Teslas 1998 RC model boat used spark transmitter coherer receiver selector system controlled rudder deflection propulsion speed Drawing MA March1976 60 Model Aviation featherweight receiver shown previous page cover removed used sail plane pilots Elmira paved way hobby RC begin Credit QST September1933 1918 hobby RC submarine reprinisa Trom MOUCI Making book HF Yates pub lished Henley NYC 1919 Can anyone provide author information Prepare epoxy resin Wearing pro tective gloves using accurate scale carefully weigh out predetermined quan tity EPON 815 Dont forget record weight empty container can determine net amount resin amount TETA catalyst should range 15-20% resin weight 17% being about ideal example assume 8-in-dia prop will require 22 grams EPON amount TETA needed will additional 375 grams giving total liquid weight 25 75 grams Mix resin catalyst thoroughly allow settle about 10 min permit bubbles clear Because way mold con structed bottom half natural reser voir ideal trough lay-up prop Start giving trough area heavy coat epoxy resin lay longest rovings arranging straddle center post Always keep strands centered lengthwise mold assist equalizing blade balance Use small stick x smoothed rounded end spread out filaments cover much blade area possible Add resin progress shorter lengths using stick maneuver strands work out bubbles might trapped hub area can filled 1-in shorter clippings keeping whole mass wet resin Keep filaments confined blade area let slide closing faces will notice rovings begin take silver translucent appearance some seeming disappear entirely sign good wetting necessary resin penetration occurring glass place trough filled resin coat top mold face resin slide down onto center post Check make sure mold match marks correspond because mold closed reversed ends will never able reopen mold salvage what have done point Manually bring top mold down within about ing position four clamps shown pictures clamps should very slowly evenly tightened until faces close tightly will some loss glass lot oozing resin between faces normal Too much glass loss indicates either overstuffed mold closed too rapidly Cleaning up can accom plished acetone epoxy thinner Lay mold aside making sure level something underneath catch cascading drips normal room tem perature prop will take five six hours hardenconsiderably less left direct sun warm oven Check stiffness end spears doubt convinced epoxy firm loosen clamps use vice-grip pliers remove center post twisting pull advisable trim away washed-out rovings have formed long sides since will interfere opening mold Leave end spears untouched time five-minute soaking mold very hot water can sometimes wonders getting come apart Insert sharp knife screwdriver several places along parting line two halves should separate free prop again immerse hot water lift flashing flaps loosen grip especially hub area pull up end spears prop should snap free mold point should holding molded prop attached rectangle thin flashing Most flashing can cut away scissorsup within line sharp flat medium-coarse file used remove last ng along cleft line between flash prop Just few strokes will job nicely area around hub can best removed X-Acto knife file end spears cut away scissors after first filing groove across tongue sharp edge file Balancing prop acoomplished file and/or sandpaper progressing No 150 No 300 final polish Restrict balancing work top curved surface otherwise stand good chance altering blade pitch need help locating supplies cannot purchase small lots please contact Bob Dunham 4730 So Yorktown Tulsa OK 74105 starter kit consisting auto body filler PVA EPON 815 TETA vinyl gloves fiberglass rovings can furnished $60 postpaid US kit contains enough filler fiberglass other liquids make couple molds 20 25 medium-size props Material Sources Auto body filler CUZ NAPA Auto motive Stores White Knight K-Mart Wal Mart auto supply parts stores Steel-filled epoxy 1 qt kit EPOCAST #1 iB #9812 hardener EV Roberts & Assoc Box 868 Culver City CA 90232 phone 1-800-421-0824 Epoxy resin Shell Chemical EPON 815 EV Roberts & Assoc Epoxy catalyst TETA EV Roberts & Assoc Polyester resin K&B Manufacturing hobby shops Fiberglass rovings Owens-Corning Product #447-211 #352-211 CertainTeed Product #282-Bi See Yellow Pages under Fiberglass Materials Carbon fiber tows Gougeon Bros Box X908 Bay City MI 48707 NFFS Supplies 12 Cook St Rowayton CT 06853 RC History/Good Continued page 60 throttle offone time Panel lights indicated airborne pilot control signal being transmitted Continued page 126 March 1986 123 Will OPS 000 Sa#uoc4 specialists High Performance Model Airplane Engines stock parts back up will like doing business us See local hoppy shop P arts Peo pie Box 26247 New Orleans LA 70186 242-5967 PRO-CLAMP Tuned Pipe Clamp $250** pipe included ITS SNAP P-Clamp Tuned Pipe Clamp Good 50fl0 Ii $1 49** pipe included Add $175 Add $050 Shipping Handling Dealer-Dist Inquiries Invited Span65Eng.45-60 Area754 sq in4 Channel Send $100 latest price list literature Also Available okee Babe VK MODEL AIRCRAFT CO 5866 Transit Rd. Depew NY 14043 Phone No 716 684-5555 LA PRODUCTS FOR THE DISCEAMNO MODELER Complete Line Exhaust Systems Tuned Pipes led Tuned Pipes * Headers uri Mufflers Expansion Mufflers copter Ball Mufflers ialized Exhaust Systems Unsurpas.d Wakmanzhifl & PGIfOflWAflC6 ground-based pilot Most flight tests used airborne pilot monitor response blinking light signals actually switching RC signals airplane controls maximum signal range two three miles ground-based 50-watt trans mitter few flights RC signals control airborne pilot observer dio con trol rudder took hold such vigor control cables plane torn loose plane fluttered down midst fleet oyster boats pilot steering ailerons After ex perience eight-point selector re placed tuned reeds allowed simultaneous control several controls much better flying Yes tuned reeds well known time Finally September 15 1924 first pilotless RC flight N9 seaplane dubbed Wild Goose took place Dahlgren VA unmanned plane took off circled some 12 minutes altitudes up 500 feet range transmitter two three miles found plane responded inputs Chief Radioman EL Luke followed verbal instructions Aviation Officer Lt JJ Ballentine .at point failure response two three signals right turn CB Mirick shouted sug gestion try left turn greatly delighted Commander Pickens ttle later plane got back over land lost altitude seemed bent dive bombing farm house timely up flipper signal brought up came out over water what seemed smooth successful landing Wild Goose flown radio control immediately known observ em landing cracked pontoon began leak caused plane nose over sink plane gear recovered river severe corrosion rendered parts unusable PO BOX 3957 TORRANCE CA 90610 project terminated point significant first RC plane made oomplete witnessed controlled flight RC profes sional project funded military organi zationa lot effort flight step along way Yet still wasnt hobby RC Theres personal addendum tale call Middlebrook Connec tion5 digging out story name Charles Middlebrook men tioned civilian engineer adjusted gyros just before plane taxied away its historic flight name rang bell since flown RC models Carlton Middlebrook Dahlgren base 1960s turned out Canton Charles son information about Wild Goose came flowing out stabilizing gyros built Carl Norden Norden Bombsight fame Carltons brother also named Charles inherited wooden propeller Wild Goose said N9 also called Navy Jenny built Naval Aircraft Factory Phila delphia Further Carlton recalled visit retired Navy admiral annual RC reoord trials Dahlgren admiral Maynard Hills coaching flew record models several minutes RC flight admiral former Lt JJ Ballentine called signals Navys first RC flight Wild Goose 1924 What appropriate oonnection RC history past RC links origins commercial radio early 1900s Now well step back earlier history early stage RC story classify Commercial Radio involved bril liant experimenters plowing new terntory radio waves applications experiments resulted patents large royalties famealong patent suits tribulations Probably earliest RC experimenter Nicola Tesla 1856-l943 de vised RC gear gave demonstrations 126 Model Aviation FAI RUBBER Sizes 114 3/16 1/8 3/32 1/16 042 thick pound box Price $1300 FREE 4 oz bottle SLICK rubber lube per box Postpaid UPS USA 65 FF kits mci Starduster Coupe Deville 4 Satellites mow availl Dragmaster Zingo FAI Power Tilka Wakefield P-30s 2 pacifier tanks Crocket hooks Slick lube Seelig ft KSB timers Front ends 3 prop kits 2 kinds fuse winders kinds hardware Books much 1985 catalog 75 Cal add 6% tax FAIModel Supply H RC History/Good Continued page 123 CLEANERPolisher Glider Pilots Take Note SUPER SHINE SUPER SLICK 8 oz $4 95* 1898 several radio-controlled model boatsat Madison Square Garden New York City no less story says actual rental building $10000 week paid friend John Hays Hammond Sr Teslas intent attract public attention overall work notiust RC awarded US Patent November 8 1898 Method Apparatus Controlling Mechanisms Moving Vessels Vehicles patent mentions RC examples boats carriages balloons possible vehicles No mention made aircraft however perhaps because Wright broth ers hadnt flown Teslas primary success came alternating current AC generators pio neered sold patents Westing house million dollars inventions ranged far wide electrical radio fields including some first concepts intelligent robots other automatons Tesla sued Marconi patent infringements Marconi intro duced wireless telegraphy 1901 Other early inventors sued Marconi too Mar coni combined good parts contributions others creating working radio system transmitting receiv ing others provided parts US Supreme Court ruled favor Marconi 1915 Some said court did understand complex tech nical aspects Marconi made millions Tesla controversial genius died penni less 1943 mostly because elabo rate experiments Another contributor early Conuner cial Radio American named BF Miessner age 22 top-notch ventor/experimenter demonstrated RC eight-ton houseboat US Army fall 1912 near Goucester MA Distance tests made using 1000watt spark transmitter shore several types detectors houseboat Miessner found catwhisker crys tal detector would operate sensitive relay range half-mile vacuum tube detector range three miles coherer detector dropped earlier because its very short range vibration problems used ironnickel particles small glass tube electrode end radio signal would lock-up particles causing low resistance path allow sensitive relay energized After lock-up coherer unlocked tapping tube flipping over John Hayes Hammond Jr Miessner worked time said two essential things must get reliable sensitive relay stable form detector same require ments pioneering RC modelers would encounter 20 years later Miessner adopted vacuum tube detector converted Weston meter relay adding delicate contact points Miessners experiments suc cessful wrote first RC book called Radio Dynamics 1916 before graduated Purdue University Later involved several patent infringement suits former employ er JH Hammond Jr However went invent superheterodyne re ceiver FM frequency modulation system Both contested other inventors including Major Arm strong difficult determine really first radio ventions Miesner did suffer financially squabbles patents royalties netted him over two million dollars radio broadcasting industry bloomed work pioneers bigname electrical companies General Elec tric Westinghouse RCA others born period should now clear Ive called money portion RC story Com mercial Radio However experi menters did invent basic circuits radio communication hobby RC pioneers would eventually employ Contributions amateur radio spite important contributions commercial military areas RC model airplane invented amateur modelers amateur radio hob byists appropriate take look March 1986 127 CORBEN SUPER ACE GIANT SCALE 8O WINGSPAN 4 CYCLE 90 POWER SEND $200 FOR COMPLETE CATALOG OF FINE KITS RAINBOW RUNNER 25 45 Gm PRECISION PRODUCTS INC 714 592-51 510 E Arrow Highway San Dimas CA 91773 IKON NWST PO Box 566 Auburn WA 98071 206941-8248 CD CD -h 0 z 0 z 0 C, 0 0 m I m 0 Q C 0 H Cl C/ C 0 C, -4 0 C 0 Co 0 0 Lrcrii N 5 x CA x CA x co x x 01 x 0 x 0 x Co Li DGA Designs es D0A DA Designs 0 0 S 10 o o5 0 0 QiiarterMaster T BIPE 0 QUARTER SCALE PLANS QuarterMaster Sport Elpe8 Oadra 35.73Span.E-Z bIdld. $21 Great Flyer.Sew-Kt Anallable.. PPO 0 DAVIS 01K 905Span. ppo s25e Quadra 35 power similar 01933 KINNER SPORTSTER IllModel K.ll7Span 035 power PPOS S _______________ 0 4-CYCLE PROJECTS0 0 o W AKRON FUNK IS Scale 84 span 80 sizeel 4 cycle. rentastic FlyerPPD ________0 DAVIS 0-1K 603 Spar. si 5 45 4 cycle sinclal-. . pPO lash wale Sixth wale ______________C S 1933 KINNER SPORTSTER44 oMOdel K.78 Span. el-75.4cy PPO10 ** Photo reduced I/S Scale plans. OTwo Inch esale SIxth ecale 0________6 OA Plane cowing Scale Plans PHOTO DOCUMENTATION PACKS aailable ALL PLANS ROLLEDSHIPPED UPS Conpletetnstrcction Booklet Send ciGO catalog10 O New Vol-k Slate Reedents ada 7% ealee tee. Send check o MO COOs Allow 3 weeks checkto clear S U iiiu ml *1 [e1 us amateur radio prior 1930s radio frequencies available RC pioneers 1930s designated amateur radio use user required have Amateur Radio License obtained exami nation Morse code radio theory can remember brother Bill took exam 1932 still high school government examiner came Kalamazoo Post Office gave exam must have kind person because Bill missed too words first code test examiner said Youre just nervous give another try Bill did passed long written exam took him almost six hours came through W8IFD 1936 20000 active hams amateurs national organization American Radio Relay League ARRL looking background materials status amateur radio technology mid-1930s found book written Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL8 Published 1936 just what needed refresh memory lay background story book 200 Meters Down starts first amateur station 1899 no required licenses real use new world radio communi cation between Navy shipsup maxi mum range 10 miles practical use radio just beginning 1910 amateur sta tions Army Navy stations put together Immediately arose ugly problem ofradio interference between several groups users take look equipment source interference becomes very obvious transmitters using spark gaps tubes werent available produced thou sands watts energy radiated signals approximately 200-meter wave lengths 15 MHz However spark signals impure smeared out 12 20 MHz best cat whisker crystal detector receiver would pick up different signals simul taneously Wow what messnot suit able hobby RC early fre quency band eventually became pres ent AM broadcast band first frequency assignments made 1912 Navy pushed eliminating amateur stations pro viding no frequency gn ments negative action brought vehe ment reaction amateur ranks caused amateurs amateur clubs led Charles Stewart Pennsylvania later vice-president ARRL promote Compromise amateur transmissions would move frequencies above 15 MHz Navy pleased sly way because preferred frequencies below 1 MHz further believed region above 15 MHz useless long ranges Navy felt given away something useless gotten rid amateurs same time wrongthey took almost decade realized Since 15 MHz wavelength 200 meters DeSoto entitled book 200 ters Down Because think better terms frequency would have preferred 15 MHz Up Either way amateurs owned frequen cies above 15 MHz March 1913 saw terrible Midwest storm disable parts Ohio Michigan leaving communication neighboring areas amateurs devastated area immediately started relay ing messages outside world rescue efforts quickly began first time newspapers gave heavy frontpage coverage heroic actions amateurs public service efforts favorable publicity resulted new recognition government levels amateurs vital countrys emergency service should sup ported 1917 US entered World War can guess immediately filled ranks military radio units Yes already-trained amateurs 1929 government adopted new regulations conformity decisions 1927 World Radio Conference taking back some spectrum assigned amateurs earlier leav ing seemingly generous allotment number small bands four-MHz slice starting 56 MHz called 5-meter band Just few percent amateurs maybe thousand nationwide started explore band techniques developing band virtually empty 5-meter band destined become home RC pio neers RC modelers should grateful frequency legacy amateurs ARRL obtained shared RC-ham developers pioneered RC hobby example tiny one-tube receiver used glider pilots Elmira gather information ground later con verted RC use band main used RC models mid-1930s early 1950s AMA secured first frequencies RC applications Whats small group ham-RCers still use same band todaysome 50 years later now called 6-meter band since moved 50-54 MHz after WW H DeSoto made some very astute predic tions 1936 regarding future ama teur communications especially tech nical expectationsbut failed men tion possibility RC models However 1938 just two short years later entered plane RC event AMA Nats Detroit became prolific writer RC topics must have surprised first RC hobby model strange RC project came attention through 128 Model Aviation NFWUCT S WINGEE ALL YOU NEED Mount Swingee like hinge Completely built-in out sight No flexy torque rods ailerons just simple pushrods straight Swingee Use direct servo control-horn linkage away Kwick-links bell-cranks eliminate sloppy control surfaces scale soaring pattern pylon sport flyer built-in Swingee makes clean aerodynamic lines naturally improves both appearance performance Swingee made Delrin totally unaffected change temperature USA Dealer [AE rn/c mcJ PO Box 511 F HIGGINSVILLE MO 64037 816-584-7121 Dealer inquiries invited World distributor G L INTERNATIONAL AB PO Box 3459 5-162 03 VALLINGEY SWEDEN John Brown Santa Ana CA John sent copies 40 pages book called Modelmaking9 book edited Raymond F Yates well-known writer time article Model Submarine Radio Control did list author perhaps Yates himself just cant resist including submarine story though its heavy-weight RC gear wasnt suitable plane subject 8-ft-long 175-lb submarine radio controls steering electric motors propulsion transmitter 2-in spark gap abroad band frequencies receiver coherer detector Maximum range 300 feet highly-detailed drawings pho tos convincing no descrip tion public demonstration However annotation book pub lished time wireless work experimental nature prohibited United States Government wasnt too surprising US involved war time date 1918 during World War I surmise RC submarine project started before WW almost finished wireless prohibi tion prevented actual RC demonstra tions known whether later tests performed believed article published originally Evety day Engineering Magazine 1917 1918 Can anyone help solve mystery submarine model may have first hobby RC project US really dont know know model plane really what story about Summary now know precursors set stage invention hobby RC model planes gas engines gas models Browns Bassetts early 1 930s amateur radio hams knowledge interest hobby level direct application radio techniques military RC projects 1 920s demonstrated technical feas ibility no means offered direct transition hobby RC commercial radio industry pro vided some circuits components no direct help application toward hobby RC up modelers hams blend together results pre cursors working RC model plane next installment well see met challenge recount early stumbling steps first-ever RC compe tition 1937 National Contest Detroit References Zaic Frank Junior Aeronautics Year Book New York Model Aeronautics Publications 1934 2Ritchie Dave Maxwell Bassett First Gas Model Champion ModelAviation Septem ber 1983 Fabrney DS Rear Admiral USN ret Robert Strobell Americas First Pilotless Aircraft Aero Digest FR FLIUNT ROLLED PLANS UT PARTS Y 1 /2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX 4Mirick CB Wild Goose Chase USN Institute Proceedings Vol 72 Whole No 521 July 1946 Middlebrook Carlton Interview February 28 1985 6Sosic GV Tesla Father RC Model Aviation March 1976 7Miessner BF Early History Radio Guidance San Francisco San Francisco Press 1964 9DeSoto Clinton B 200 Meters Down W Hartford ARRL Inc 1936 9Yates Raymond F ed Modelmaking New York Norman W Henley Publishing Co 1919 Safety Preston Continued page 20 Park Authority city county etc pass ordinance would require use permit turn would require surance coverage According Russell Knetzger cheapest way obtaln lia bility insurance join AMA Most letters received subject addressed question deter flier AMA member March 1986 129 An entirely new generation controlhinges now available model builder unique design Swingee will benefit 11 i T II'I ELECTRIC POWER OR GLO-ENGINES PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # 10915 21 size engines electric motor equivalent Weight 85 grams$l5N PROP BLADES FOR HUB # 100 Available 7s 25 7x 3 7s 35 Bs 4 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HU3 ASSEMBLY # 110 049 051 engines electric motor equivalent Weight 5 grams $150 PROP BLADES FOR NUB # 110 lable 6x 3 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # Ill 0 engines electric motor equivalent 20 grams $2000 PROP ULADES FOR HUB # lii lable 9 x 4 10 x 411 s 4 $5N per blade SlON per pair Send SSAE catalog sheet complete line
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/03
Page Numbers: 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 123, 126, 127, 128, 129
The Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb 191 7-1 8 Specified weigh 500 lb empty carry 81000-lb explosive ioad top speed 90 mph have range 50 miies itwas iaunched March 6 1918 foiiowed its fiight program forthe preset 1000 yards As resuit ciaimed be. first entirely auccessfui fiight automatic missiie country world Note ternaily preprogrammed fiight did invoive RC first step aiternative controi fiight US Navy photo #USN651 991 alt Good IJHist5ryofRC Flying Navy N-9 seaplane succeasfullyflown RC September 151924 Dahigren VA Navy Lt JJ Bailentine ofticerdirectiy belowthe propeller hub right Mr C B Mirick designerof radio control system second man Balientines left CC Middiebrook father RCerCarlton Middiebrookof Middiebrook Connection Photo courtesy Naval Surface Weapons Center AMAs 50th anni versary 1986 RC model flying also began about 50 years ago privileged pre sent three-part series authored man him self key participant making RC history start precursors early building blocks later develop ments Part 1 THE POPULARITY Radio Control model aircraft exciting hobby unquestioned today types RC simple Gliders detailed Scale models popular practical daynot too long ago memories still-active RC old-timers RC hobby did exist hadnt yet invented story RC model planes got started USA Topics covered include pioneers what invented happened did coincidence RC hobbyists know began almost same time AMA fact first AMA Model Aviation Volume 1Number 1June 1936 simply stated new contest has arranged radio controlled models No rules mentioned would held 1936 Nationals Detroit Old-time RCers will point out no RC entries actually showed up event thats getting ahead story except mention 50th anniversary AMA RC will occur 1986 story part celebration story will primarily about RC model aircraft contrasted RC mod el boats cars though model boat probably easier rig RC because its weight-carrying ability interest obsessionis involved RC planes Confining story happenings US makes compatible AMAs geographical area interest well its involvement competition radio frequency aspects RC developments broader review including other countries coherer radio receiver eariy 19008 Antenna signai connected thin white giass tube center photo just above magnet coii giass tube lathe co herer contains powdered metal particles change low resistance path radio signal received Resulting tiny current goes through very sensitive relay left under hand contacts sensitive relay energize power relay rightwhich causes center magnet whack coherer reset its particles forthe next signal Only Morse code-type signals couid received bythe coherer AWA plc view shows coherer glass tube magnetic clapper resets metal particles tube after signal received Antique Wireless Asan photograph March 1986 57 Bruce Kelley AWA Antique Wireless Asan adjusts gap synchronous spark transmitter uses 15000 volts has transmitted output 1000 watts also pro duces raucous noise ioud Keiley must wear ear protectors Photo courtesyofAWA Soa~ kle4A1 s D ~I----AN EARLY GAS MODEL 41axwll Basse 1936 DESIGN Fzu 13 Basset 1936 gas model represented status stable Free Flight models its time illustration reprinted Gas Models Engines W Winter W Schroder would interesting additional effort would considerable Such global story might determine US actually flew first RC model worlda point has yet firmly estab lished Later perhaps Now precursors develop ments occurred earlier provided building blocks invention hobby RC First well recall status model airplanes early 1930sjust prior beginning RCand find what de velopments stimulated aircraft portion invention look early control radio both military commercial will show what state-of-the-art prior hobby RCs first faltering steps Probably helpful source information comes amateur radio area blooming wildly early 1930s will reported following issues specifics first RC models builders contests will bring out slow steps would eventually lead successful con trolled flights days RC model landed same field took off considered successful Status model airplanes early 30s Thirties began Great De pression severe unemployment whis pers unrest Europe Candy bars ice cream cones nickel dime could buy balsa model plane kit provided hours fun far night listening Hoagy Carmich aels Star Dust other hits Big Band era TV didnt exist Money scarce can remember dads salary high school science teacher cut half help town Kalamazoo stay debt-free Brother Bill worked part-time Kalamazoo Col lege physics lab rate 304 hour Part income bought few model supplies put bluntly times tough What status model air plane world vastly different today 1930 models either rubberpowered Free Flights Gliders little balsa wood tube Ambroid ce ment some Japanese tissue few feet rubber ready contest contests both local national still being held spite Depression 1934 availability new tiny gas engine made possible first gas-powered Free Flight FF event National Contest Akron story ofBill Browns gas engines Maxwell Bassetts planes well told Dave Ritchie Model Aviation2 have always chuckled about Bassett getting 4th place early gas model classic International Wakefield event held 1932 Atlantic City Although event traditionally rubber-powered models rules never specified form power After Bassetts success British quickly altered rules specif rubber power National Aero nautic Association US rules-maker did nothing update US rules three US outdoor rubber events guessed Bassett took two gas models 1933 Nationals Long Island NY proceeded capture trophies rubber models ex citing gas model come its own US rules changed provide gas model event its own Bassett entered new gas event 1934 Nats Akron won handsome margin What record arrival gas model estab lished would set stage inven tion RC model Another major element needed RC flight small battery-powered radio receiver Fortunately such units al ready being developed amateur radio community radios being built used amateurs also called hanis talk across town 5-meter band 56 60 MHz new phase ham radio much fun bootleggers persons license also found great excite ment hobby Fortunately 5-meter band barren other allocations because time considered useless commercial radio time hams boot leggers interfered other 5-meter band destined become home early pioneers RC early bootleggers later became hams entirely possible some Kettering Bug designed low-cost preprogrammed flying bomb flown experimentally 1917-18 Power 38-hp engine 15-ft wingspan Dihedral 10 Orville Wrights idea eliminated need ailerons project did use RC Drawing USAF Course 3111 Fundamental Principles Guided Missiles 1956 58 Model Aviation 1 IIZiiIII.- 5olenoid Lock Aerial -- fua*r Cowl, K h-I Cekerur 1 eroyad Ste fO 6 Left 1918 circuit diagram tars hobbyist-built RC submarine shows rudder solenoids speed control seiector operated coherer receiverand reiay Right An eight-ton RC houseboat demonstrated BB Miessner 1912 boatwas also test bed fordiffer ent types detectors proved coherer least reliable Photo credit BF Miessner Early History Radio Guidance early RCers bootleggers lucky identical twin brother ham license figured radio inspector would have hard pressed tell us apart hope statute limitations has run out now Military RC projects around early 1920s Next lets take look another piece background information may relevant would-be model RCer military RC projects Although account RC develop ment directed mainly hobby pects several military develop ments inthe 1916-1924 period need telling because show some problems occurred top notch technical engineers sizable budgets involved hobby pioneers may have aware developments intent show state-of-the-art earlier period First military development flying bombs pilotless airplanes automatic preset controls caused plane take off climb preset altitude level out cruise preset direction preset distance dive pre-selected target course flying bombs radio controlled since controlled internal mechanism April 1916 Elmer Sperry Sperry Gyroscope Peter Cooper Hewitt sci entist started development selfcontrolled plane using own funds September working system hydroplane gyro stabilization directional control distance-monitor ing gear demonstrated system Navy Lawrence Sperry pilot Lt Wilkinson official observer passenger After plane airborne pilot released stick switched automatic controls directed plane climb predetermined altitude steer itself set compass heading start dive preset timeat point pilot restored manual control Greatly impressed Sperry/Hewitt project Navy contracted $200000 May 1917 support design machine called Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb Less 10 months later March 6 1918 Curtiss- Sperry Flying Bomb launched successfully performed functions planned test machine climbed steadily flying straight line distance gear cut throttle 1000 yd set plane made March 1986 59 flaia&lfurj An early miniature receiver cover removed Goods adapted circuit RC model replacing headset sensitive relayplus lot cut try slow right spiral water claimed rst entirely suc cessful flight automatic missile country world3 though RC did lead RC demonstration Navy few years later Before though lets go back 1917 story Ketterings Bug also pre-programmed types Flying Bombs Aerial Torpedos called days An Army committee exploring feasibility project similar Navys Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb commit tee majority voted negatively feasi bility project would have died Charles Kettering inventor electric starter cars pro duced minority report positive day before Christmas 1917 Ket tering first meeting team three major sections plan airplane assigned Orville Wright engine DePalma controls Sperry Kettering emphasis high production low cost oneshot expendable machine Within 10 months team designed built several Bugs 15-ft wings 38-hp engine Sperry gyros pneumatic control system based parts player piano biplane wings 10 dihedral angle roll stability andto eliminate ailerons extra dihedral Orvilles ideahe thought like mod eler could carry 200-lb payload 50 miles 42 mph expected production cost $575 per vehicle first test vehicle launched well became erratic crashed second vehicle after some unplanned aerobatics behaved like large Free Flight model leaving airfield large climbing circles reach altitude 10000 feet later found 20 miles Dayton airfield Complete success attained third vehicle October 22 1918 climbed leveled off course dived toward target 500 yards away still within confines field first successful demonstration small low-cost Flying Bomb avoid publicity maintain secrecy remainder 25 Bugs sent Carlstrom Field Arcadia FL large open uninhabited areas suitable such testing Since WW ended additional tests didnt re sume until fall 1919 Out nine launchings Florida tests last completely successful covering 195 miles diving target area planned though Bug internally programmed did involve radio controls certainly qualifies im portant stepping stone Now comes story truly radiocontrolled plane developed military started N9 Navy seaplane gyroequipped automatic flight early 1922 Navy Proving Ground Dahl gren VA took task adding radio control machine under direction CB Muck4 account deals early vacuum tubes transmitter receiver Morkrum eight-point selector switch problems making gear work reliably aircraft environ ment relates further lab t 1 close Navys large-gun test range its incessant earth-shaking booms vibration problems solved lab before equipment installed airplane control system started controls neutral gave left right rudder up down elevator Continued page 123 I Teslas 1998 RC model boat used spark transmitter coherer receiver selector system controlled rudder deflection propulsion speed Drawing MA March1976 60 Model Aviation featherweight receiver shown previous page cover removed used sail plane pilots Elmira paved way hobby RC begin Credit QST September1933 1918 hobby RC submarine reprinisa Trom MOUCI Making book HF Yates pub lished Henley NYC 1919 Can anyone provide author information Prepare epoxy resin Wearing pro tective gloves using accurate scale carefully weigh out predetermined quan tity EPON 815 Dont forget record weight empty container can determine net amount resin amount TETA catalyst should range 15-20% resin weight 17% being about ideal example assume 8-in-dia prop will require 22 grams EPON amount TETA needed will additional 375 grams giving total liquid weight 25 75 grams Mix resin catalyst thoroughly allow settle about 10 min permit bubbles clear Because way mold con structed bottom half natural reser voir ideal trough lay-up prop Start giving trough area heavy coat epoxy resin lay longest rovings arranging straddle center post Always keep strands centered lengthwise mold assist equalizing blade balance Use small stick x smoothed rounded end spread out filaments cover much blade area possible Add resin progress shorter lengths using stick maneuver strands work out bubbles might trapped hub area can filled 1-in shorter clippings keeping whole mass wet resin Keep filaments confined blade area let slide closing faces will notice rovings begin take silver translucent appearance some seeming disappear entirely sign good wetting necessary resin penetration occurring glass place trough filled resin coat top mold face resin slide down onto center post Check make sure mold match marks correspond because mold closed reversed ends will never able reopen mold salvage what have done point Manually bring top mold down within about ing position four clamps shown pictures clamps should very slowly evenly tightened until faces close tightly will some loss glass lot oozing resin between faces normal Too much glass loss indicates either overstuffed mold closed too rapidly Cleaning up can accom plished acetone epoxy thinner Lay mold aside making sure level something underneath catch cascading drips normal room tem perature prop will take five six hours hardenconsiderably less left direct sun warm oven Check stiffness end spears doubt convinced epoxy firm loosen clamps use vice-grip pliers remove center post twisting pull advisable trim away washed-out rovings have formed long sides since will interfere opening mold Leave end spears untouched time five-minute soaking mold very hot water can sometimes wonders getting come apart Insert sharp knife screwdriver several places along parting line two halves should separate free prop again immerse hot water lift flashing flaps loosen grip especially hub area pull up end spears prop should snap free mold point should holding molded prop attached rectangle thin flashing Most flashing can cut away scissorsup within line sharp flat medium-coarse file used remove last ng along cleft line between flash prop Just few strokes will job nicely area around hub can best removed X-Acto knife file end spears cut away scissors after first filing groove across tongue sharp edge file Balancing prop acoomplished file and/or sandpaper progressing No 150 No 300 final polish Restrict balancing work top curved surface otherwise stand good chance altering blade pitch need help locating supplies cannot purchase small lots please contact Bob Dunham 4730 So Yorktown Tulsa OK 74105 starter kit consisting auto body filler PVA EPON 815 TETA vinyl gloves fiberglass rovings can furnished $60 postpaid US kit contains enough filler fiberglass other liquids make couple molds 20 25 medium-size props Material Sources Auto body filler CUZ NAPA Auto motive Stores White Knight K-Mart Wal Mart auto supply parts stores Steel-filled epoxy 1 qt kit EPOCAST #1 iB #9812 hardener EV Roberts & Assoc Box 868 Culver City CA 90232 phone 1-800-421-0824 Epoxy resin Shell Chemical EPON 815 EV Roberts & Assoc Epoxy catalyst TETA EV Roberts & Assoc Polyester resin K&B Manufacturing hobby shops Fiberglass rovings Owens-Corning Product #447-211 #352-211 CertainTeed Product #282-Bi See Yellow Pages under Fiberglass Materials Carbon fiber tows Gougeon Bros Box X908 Bay City MI 48707 NFFS Supplies 12 Cook St Rowayton CT 06853 RC History/Good Continued page 60 throttle offone time Panel lights indicated airborne pilot control signal being transmitted Continued page 126 March 1986 123 Will OPS 000 Sa#uoc4 specialists High Performance Model Airplane Engines stock parts back up will like doing business us See local hoppy shop P arts Peo pie Box 26247 New Orleans LA 70186 242-5967 PRO-CLAMP Tuned Pipe Clamp $250** pipe included ITS SNAP P-Clamp Tuned Pipe Clamp Good 50fl0 Ii $1 49** pipe included Add $175 Add $050 Shipping Handling Dealer-Dist Inquiries Invited Span65Eng.45-60 Area754 sq in4 Channel Send $100 latest price list literature Also Available okee Babe VK MODEL AIRCRAFT CO 5866 Transit Rd. Depew NY 14043 Phone No 716 684-5555 LA PRODUCTS FOR THE DISCEAMNO MODELER Complete Line Exhaust Systems Tuned Pipes led Tuned Pipes * Headers uri Mufflers Expansion Mufflers copter Ball Mufflers ialized Exhaust Systems Unsurpas.d Wakmanzhifl & PGIfOflWAflC6 ground-based pilot Most flight tests used airborne pilot monitor response blinking light signals actually switching RC signals airplane controls maximum signal range two three miles ground-based 50-watt trans mitter few flights RC signals control airborne pilot observer dio con trol rudder took hold such vigor control cables plane torn loose plane fluttered down midst fleet oyster boats pilot steering ailerons After ex perience eight-point selector re placed tuned reeds allowed simultaneous control several controls much better flying Yes tuned reeds well known time Finally September 15 1924 first pilotless RC flight N9 seaplane dubbed Wild Goose took place Dahlgren VA unmanned plane took off circled some 12 minutes altitudes up 500 feet range transmitter two three miles found plane responded inputs Chief Radioman EL Luke followed verbal instructions Aviation Officer Lt JJ Ballentine .at point failure response two three signals right turn CB Mirick shouted sug gestion try left turn greatly delighted Commander Pickens ttle later plane got back over land lost altitude seemed bent dive bombing farm house timely up flipper signal brought up came out over water what seemed smooth successful landing Wild Goose flown radio control immediately known observ em landing cracked pontoon began leak caused plane nose over sink plane gear recovered river severe corrosion rendered parts unusable PO BOX 3957 TORRANCE CA 90610 project terminated point significant first RC plane made oomplete witnessed controlled flight RC profes sional project funded military organi zationa lot effort flight step along way Yet still wasnt hobby RC Theres personal addendum tale call Middlebrook Connec tion5 digging out story name Charles Middlebrook men tioned civilian engineer adjusted gyros just before plane taxied away its historic flight name rang bell since flown RC models Carlton Middlebrook Dahlgren base 1960s turned out Canton Charles son information about Wild Goose came flowing out stabilizing gyros built Carl Norden Norden Bombsight fame Carltons brother also named Charles inherited wooden propeller Wild Goose said N9 also called Navy Jenny built Naval Aircraft Factory Phila delphia Further Carlton recalled visit retired Navy admiral annual RC reoord trials Dahlgren admiral Maynard Hills coaching flew record models several minutes RC flight admiral former Lt JJ Ballentine called signals Navys first RC flight Wild Goose 1924 What appropriate oonnection RC history past RC links origins commercial radio early 1900s Now well step back earlier history early stage RC story classify Commercial Radio involved bril liant experimenters plowing new terntory radio waves applications experiments resulted patents large royalties famealong patent suits tribulations Probably earliest RC experimenter Nicola Tesla 1856-l943 de vised RC gear gave demonstrations 126 Model Aviation FAI RUBBER Sizes 114 3/16 1/8 3/32 1/16 042 thick pound box Price $1300 FREE 4 oz bottle SLICK rubber lube per box Postpaid UPS USA 65 FF kits mci Starduster Coupe Deville 4 Satellites mow availl Dragmaster Zingo FAI Power Tilka Wakefield P-30s 2 pacifier tanks Crocket hooks Slick lube Seelig ft KSB timers Front ends 3 prop kits 2 kinds fuse winders kinds hardware Books much 1985 catalog 75 Cal add 6% tax FAIModel Supply H RC History/Good Continued page 123 CLEANERPolisher Glider Pilots Take Note SUPER SHINE SUPER SLICK 8 oz $4 95* 1898 several radio-controlled model boatsat Madison Square Garden New York City no less story says actual rental building $10000 week paid friend John Hays Hammond Sr Teslas intent attract public attention overall work notiust RC awarded US Patent November 8 1898 Method Apparatus Controlling Mechanisms Moving Vessels Vehicles patent mentions RC examples boats carriages balloons possible vehicles No mention made aircraft however perhaps because Wright broth ers hadnt flown Teslas primary success came alternating current AC generators pio neered sold patents Westing house million dollars inventions ranged far wide electrical radio fields including some first concepts intelligent robots other automatons Tesla sued Marconi patent infringements Marconi intro duced wireless telegraphy 1901 Other early inventors sued Marconi too Mar coni combined good parts contributions others creating working radio system transmitting receiv ing others provided parts US Supreme Court ruled favor Marconi 1915 Some said court did understand complex tech nical aspects Marconi made millions Tesla controversial genius died penni less 1943 mostly because elabo rate experiments Another contributor early Conuner cial Radio American named BF Miessner age 22 top-notch ventor/experimenter demonstrated RC eight-ton houseboat US Army fall 1912 near Goucester MA Distance tests made using 1000watt spark transmitter shore several types detectors houseboat Miessner found catwhisker crys tal detector would operate sensitive relay range half-mile vacuum tube detector range three miles coherer detector dropped earlier because its very short range vibration problems used ironnickel particles small glass tube electrode end radio signal would lock-up particles causing low resistance path allow sensitive relay energized After lock-up coherer unlocked tapping tube flipping over John Hayes Hammond Jr Miessner worked time said two essential things must get reliable sensitive relay stable form detector same require ments pioneering RC modelers would encounter 20 years later Miessner adopted vacuum tube detector converted Weston meter relay adding delicate contact points Miessners experiments suc cessful wrote first RC book called Radio Dynamics 1916 before graduated Purdue University Later involved several patent infringement suits former employ er JH Hammond Jr However went invent superheterodyne re ceiver FM frequency modulation system Both contested other inventors including Major Arm strong difficult determine really first radio ventions Miesner did suffer financially squabbles patents royalties netted him over two million dollars radio broadcasting industry bloomed work pioneers bigname electrical companies General Elec tric Westinghouse RCA others born period should now clear Ive called money portion RC story Com mercial Radio However experi menters did invent basic circuits radio communication hobby RC pioneers would eventually employ Contributions amateur radio spite important contributions commercial military areas RC model airplane invented amateur modelers amateur radio hob byists appropriate take look March 1986 127 CORBEN SUPER ACE GIANT SCALE 8O WINGSPAN 4 CYCLE 90 POWER SEND $200 FOR COMPLETE CATALOG OF FINE KITS RAINBOW RUNNER 25 45 Gm PRECISION PRODUCTS INC 714 592-51 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Send check o MO COOs Allow 3 weeks checkto clear S U iiiu ml *1 [e1 us amateur radio prior 1930s radio frequencies available RC pioneers 1930s designated amateur radio use user required have Amateur Radio License obtained exami nation Morse code radio theory can remember brother Bill took exam 1932 still high school government examiner came Kalamazoo Post Office gave exam must have kind person because Bill missed too words first code test examiner said Youre just nervous give another try Bill did passed long written exam took him almost six hours came through W8IFD 1936 20000 active hams amateurs national organization American Radio Relay League ARRL looking background materials status amateur radio technology mid-1930s found book written Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL8 Published 1936 just what needed refresh memory lay background story book 200 Meters Down starts first amateur station 1899 no required licenses real use new world radio communi cation between Navy shipsup maxi mum range 10 miles practical use radio just beginning 1910 amateur sta tions Army Navy stations put together Immediately arose ugly problem ofradio interference between several groups users take look equipment source interference becomes very obvious transmitters using spark gaps tubes werent available produced thou sands watts energy radiated signals approximately 200-meter wave lengths 15 MHz However spark signals impure smeared out 12 20 MHz best cat whisker crystal detector receiver would pick up different signals simul taneously Wow what messnot suit able hobby RC early fre quency band eventually became pres ent AM broadcast band first frequency assignments made 1912 Navy pushed eliminating amateur stations pro viding no frequency gn ments negative action brought vehe ment reaction amateur ranks caused amateurs amateur clubs led Charles Stewart Pennsylvania later vice-president ARRL promote Compromise amateur transmissions would move frequencies above 15 MHz Navy pleased sly way because preferred frequencies below 1 MHz further believed region above 15 MHz useless long ranges Navy felt given away something useless gotten rid amateurs same time wrongthey took almost decade realized Since 15 MHz wavelength 200 meters DeSoto entitled book 200 ters Down Because think better terms frequency would have preferred 15 MHz Up Either way amateurs owned frequen cies above 15 MHz March 1913 saw terrible Midwest storm disable parts Ohio Michigan leaving communication neighboring areas amateurs devastated area immediately started relay ing messages outside world rescue efforts quickly began first time newspapers gave heavy frontpage coverage heroic actions amateurs public service efforts favorable publicity resulted new recognition government levels amateurs vital countrys emergency service should sup ported 1917 US entered World War can guess immediately filled ranks military radio units Yes already-trained amateurs 1929 government adopted new regulations conformity decisions 1927 World Radio Conference taking back some spectrum assigned amateurs earlier leav ing seemingly generous allotment number small bands four-MHz slice starting 56 MHz called 5-meter band Just few percent amateurs maybe thousand nationwide started explore band techniques developing band virtually empty 5-meter band destined become home RC pio neers RC modelers should grateful frequency legacy amateurs ARRL obtained shared RC-ham developers pioneered RC hobby example tiny one-tube receiver used glider pilots Elmira gather information ground later con verted RC use band main used RC models mid-1930s early 1950s AMA secured first frequencies RC applications Whats small group ham-RCers still use same band todaysome 50 years later now called 6-meter band since moved 50-54 MHz after WW H DeSoto made some very astute predic tions 1936 regarding future ama teur communications especially tech nical expectationsbut failed men tion possibility RC models However 1938 just two short years later entered plane RC event AMA Nats Detroit became prolific writer RC topics must have surprised first RC hobby model strange RC project came attention through 128 Model Aviation NFWUCT S WINGEE ALL YOU NEED Mount Swingee like hinge Completely built-in out sight No flexy torque rods ailerons just simple pushrods straight Swingee Use direct servo control-horn linkage away Kwick-links bell-cranks eliminate sloppy control surfaces scale soaring pattern pylon sport flyer built-in Swingee makes clean aerodynamic lines naturally improves both appearance performance Swingee made Delrin totally unaffected change temperature USA Dealer [AE rn/c mcJ PO Box 511 F HIGGINSVILLE MO 64037 816-584-7121 Dealer inquiries invited World distributor G L INTERNATIONAL AB PO Box 3459 5-162 03 VALLINGEY SWEDEN John Brown Santa Ana CA John sent copies 40 pages book called Modelmaking9 book edited Raymond F Yates well-known writer time article Model Submarine Radio Control did list author perhaps Yates himself just cant resist including submarine story though its heavy-weight RC gear wasnt suitable plane subject 8-ft-long 175-lb submarine radio controls steering electric motors propulsion transmitter 2-in spark gap abroad band frequencies receiver coherer detector Maximum range 300 feet highly-detailed drawings pho tos convincing no descrip tion public demonstration However annotation book pub lished time wireless work experimental nature prohibited United States Government wasnt too surprising US involved war time date 1918 during World War I surmise RC submarine project started before WW almost finished wireless prohibi tion prevented actual RC demonstra tions known whether later tests performed believed article published originally Evety day Engineering Magazine 1917 1918 Can anyone help solve mystery submarine model may have first hobby RC project US really dont know know model plane really what story about Summary now know precursors set stage invention hobby RC model planes gas engines gas models Browns Bassetts early 1 930s amateur radio hams knowledge interest hobby level direct application radio techniques military RC projects 1 920s demonstrated technical feas ibility no means offered direct transition hobby RC commercial radio industry pro vided some circuits components no direct help application toward hobby RC up modelers hams blend together results pre cursors working RC model plane next installment well see met challenge recount early stumbling steps first-ever RC compe tition 1937 National Contest Detroit References Zaic Frank Junior Aeronautics Year Book New York Model Aeronautics Publications 1934 2Ritchie Dave Maxwell Bassett First Gas Model Champion ModelAviation Septem ber 1983 Fabrney DS Rear Admiral USN ret Robert Strobell Americas First Pilotless Aircraft Aero Digest FR FLIUNT ROLLED PLANS UT PARTS Y 1 /2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX 4Mirick CB Wild Goose Chase USN Institute Proceedings Vol 72 Whole No 521 July 1946 Middlebrook Carlton Interview February 28 1985 6Sosic GV Tesla Father RC Model Aviation March 1976 7Miessner BF Early History Radio Guidance San Francisco San Francisco Press 1964 9DeSoto Clinton B 200 Meters Down W Hartford ARRL Inc 1936 9Yates Raymond F ed Modelmaking New York Norman W Henley Publishing Co 1919 Safety Preston Continued page 20 Park Authority city county etc pass ordinance would require use permit turn would require surance coverage According Russell Knetzger cheapest way obtaln lia bility insurance join AMA Most letters received subject addressed question deter flier AMA member March 1986 129 An entirely new generation controlhinges now available model builder unique design Swingee will benefit 11 i T II'I ELECTRIC POWER OR GLO-ENGINES PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # 10915 21 size engines electric motor equivalent Weight 85 grams$l5N PROP BLADES FOR HUB # 100 Available 7s 25 7x 3 7s 35 Bs 4 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HU3 ASSEMBLY # 110 049 051 engines electric motor equivalent Weight 5 grams $150 PROP BLADES FOR NUB # 110 lable 6x 3 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # Ill 0 engines electric motor equivalent 20 grams $2000 PROP ULADES FOR HUB # lii lable 9 x 4 10 x 411 s 4 $5N per blade SlON per pair Send SSAE catalog sheet complete line
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/03
Page Numbers: 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 123, 126, 127, 128, 129
The Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb 191 7-1 8 Specified weigh 500 lb empty carry 81000-lb explosive ioad top speed 90 mph have range 50 miies itwas iaunched March 6 1918 foiiowed its fiight program forthe preset 1000 yards As resuit ciaimed be. first entirely auccessfui fiight automatic missiie country world Note ternaily preprogrammed fiight did invoive RC first step aiternative controi fiight US Navy photo #USN651 991 alt Good IJHist5ryofRC Flying Navy N-9 seaplane succeasfullyflown RC September 151924 Dahigren VA Navy Lt JJ Bailentine ofticerdirectiy belowthe propeller hub right Mr C B Mirick designerof radio control system second man Balientines left CC Middiebrook father RCerCarlton Middiebrookof Middiebrook Connection Photo courtesy Naval Surface Weapons Center AMAs 50th anni versary 1986 RC model flying also began about 50 years ago privileged pre sent three-part series authored man him self key participant making RC history start precursors early building blocks later develop ments Part 1 THE POPULARITY Radio Control model aircraft exciting hobby unquestioned today types RC simple Gliders detailed Scale models popular practical daynot too long ago memories still-active RC old-timers RC hobby did exist hadnt yet invented story RC model planes got started USA Topics covered include pioneers what invented happened did coincidence RC hobbyists know began almost same time AMA fact first AMA Model Aviation Volume 1Number 1June 1936 simply stated new contest has arranged radio controlled models No rules mentioned would held 1936 Nationals Detroit Old-time RCers will point out no RC entries actually showed up event thats getting ahead story except mention 50th anniversary AMA RC will occur 1986 story part celebration story will primarily about RC model aircraft contrasted RC mod el boats cars though model boat probably easier rig RC because its weight-carrying ability interest obsessionis involved RC planes Confining story happenings US makes compatible AMAs geographical area interest well its involvement competition radio frequency aspects RC developments broader review including other countries coherer radio receiver eariy 19008 Antenna signai connected thin white giass tube center photo just above magnet coii giass tube lathe co herer contains powdered metal particles change low resistance path radio signal received Resulting tiny current goes through very sensitive relay left under hand contacts sensitive relay energize power relay rightwhich causes center magnet whack coherer reset its particles forthe next signal Only Morse code-type signals couid received bythe coherer AWA plc view shows coherer glass tube magnetic clapper resets metal particles tube after signal received Antique Wireless Asan photograph March 1986 57 Bruce Kelley AWA Antique Wireless Asan adjusts gap synchronous spark transmitter uses 15000 volts has transmitted output 1000 watts also pro duces raucous noise ioud Keiley must wear ear protectors Photo courtesyofAWA Soa~ kle4A1 s D ~I----AN EARLY GAS MODEL 41axwll Basse 1936 DESIGN Fzu 13 Basset 1936 gas model represented status stable Free Flight models its time illustration reprinted Gas Models Engines W Winter W Schroder would interesting additional effort would considerable Such global story might determine US actually flew first RC model worlda point has yet firmly estab lished Later perhaps Now precursors develop ments occurred earlier provided building blocks invention hobby RC First well recall status model airplanes early 1930sjust prior beginning RCand find what de velopments stimulated aircraft portion invention look early control radio both military commercial will show what state-of-the-art prior hobby RCs first faltering steps Probably helpful source information comes amateur radio area blooming wildly early 1930s will reported following issues specifics first RC models builders contests will bring out slow steps would eventually lead successful con trolled flights days RC model landed same field took off considered successful Status model airplanes early 30s Thirties began Great De pression severe unemployment whis pers unrest Europe Candy bars ice cream cones nickel dime could buy balsa model plane kit provided hours fun far night listening Hoagy Carmich aels Star Dust other hits Big Band era TV didnt exist Money scarce can remember dads salary high school science teacher cut half help town Kalamazoo stay debt-free Brother Bill worked part-time Kalamazoo Col lege physics lab rate 304 hour Part income bought few model supplies put bluntly times tough What status model air plane world vastly different today 1930 models either rubberpowered Free Flights Gliders little balsa wood tube Ambroid ce ment some Japanese tissue few feet rubber ready contest contests both local national still being held spite Depression 1934 availability new tiny gas engine made possible first gas-powered Free Flight FF event National Contest Akron story ofBill Browns gas engines Maxwell Bassetts planes well told Dave Ritchie Model Aviation2 have always chuckled about Bassett getting 4th place early gas model classic International Wakefield event held 1932 Atlantic City Although event traditionally rubber-powered models rules never specified form power After Bassetts success British quickly altered rules specif rubber power National Aero nautic Association US rules-maker did nothing update US rules three US outdoor rubber events guessed Bassett took two gas models 1933 Nationals Long Island NY proceeded capture trophies rubber models ex citing gas model come its own US rules changed provide gas model event its own Bassett entered new gas event 1934 Nats Akron won handsome margin What record arrival gas model estab lished would set stage inven tion RC model Another major element needed RC flight small battery-powered radio receiver Fortunately such units al ready being developed amateur radio community radios being built used amateurs also called hanis talk across town 5-meter band 56 60 MHz new phase ham radio much fun bootleggers persons license also found great excite ment hobby Fortunately 5-meter band barren other allocations because time considered useless commercial radio time hams boot leggers interfered other 5-meter band destined become home early pioneers RC early bootleggers later became hams entirely possible some Kettering Bug designed low-cost preprogrammed flying bomb flown experimentally 1917-18 Power 38-hp engine 15-ft wingspan Dihedral 10 Orville Wrights idea eliminated need ailerons project did use RC Drawing USAF Course 3111 Fundamental Principles Guided Missiles 1956 58 Model Aviation 1 IIZiiIII.- 5olenoid Lock Aerial -- fua*r Cowl, K h-I Cekerur 1 eroyad Ste fO 6 Left 1918 circuit diagram tars hobbyist-built RC submarine shows rudder solenoids speed control seiector operated coherer receiverand reiay Right An eight-ton RC houseboat demonstrated BB Miessner 1912 boatwas also test bed fordiffer ent types detectors proved coherer least reliable Photo credit BF Miessner Early History Radio Guidance early RCers bootleggers lucky identical twin brother ham license figured radio inspector would have hard pressed tell us apart hope statute limitations has run out now Military RC projects around early 1920s Next lets take look another piece background information may relevant would-be model RCer military RC projects Although account RC develop ment directed mainly hobby pects several military develop ments inthe 1916-1924 period need telling because show some problems occurred top notch technical engineers sizable budgets involved hobby pioneers may have aware developments intent show state-of-the-art earlier period First military development flying bombs pilotless airplanes automatic preset controls caused plane take off climb preset altitude level out cruise preset direction preset distance dive pre-selected target course flying bombs radio controlled since controlled internal mechanism April 1916 Elmer Sperry Sperry Gyroscope Peter Cooper Hewitt sci entist started development selfcontrolled plane using own funds September working system hydroplane gyro stabilization directional control distance-monitor ing gear demonstrated system Navy Lawrence Sperry pilot Lt Wilkinson official observer passenger After plane airborne pilot released stick switched automatic controls directed plane climb predetermined altitude steer itself set compass heading start dive preset timeat point pilot restored manual control Greatly impressed Sperry/Hewitt project Navy contracted $200000 May 1917 support design machine called Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb Less 10 months later March 6 1918 Curtiss- Sperry Flying Bomb launched successfully performed functions planned test machine climbed steadily flying straight line distance gear cut throttle 1000 yd set plane made March 1986 59 flaia&lfurj An early miniature receiver cover removed Goods adapted circuit RC model replacing headset sensitive relayplus lot cut try slow right spiral water claimed rst entirely suc cessful flight automatic missile country world3 though RC did lead RC demonstration Navy few years later Before though lets go back 1917 story Ketterings Bug also pre-programmed types Flying Bombs Aerial Torpedos called days An Army committee exploring feasibility project similar Navys Curtiss/Sperry Flying Bomb commit tee majority voted negatively feasi bility project would have died Charles Kettering inventor electric starter cars pro duced minority report positive day before Christmas 1917 Ket tering first meeting team three major sections plan airplane assigned Orville Wright engine DePalma controls Sperry Kettering emphasis high production low cost oneshot expendable machine Within 10 months team designed built several Bugs 15-ft wings 38-hp engine Sperry gyros pneumatic control system based parts player piano biplane wings 10 dihedral angle roll stability andto eliminate ailerons extra dihedral Orvilles ideahe thought like mod eler could carry 200-lb payload 50 miles 42 mph expected production cost $575 per vehicle first test vehicle launched well became erratic crashed second vehicle after some unplanned aerobatics behaved like large Free Flight model leaving airfield large climbing circles reach altitude 10000 feet later found 20 miles Dayton airfield Complete success attained third vehicle October 22 1918 climbed leveled off course dived toward target 500 yards away still within confines field first successful demonstration small low-cost Flying Bomb avoid publicity maintain secrecy remainder 25 Bugs sent Carlstrom Field Arcadia FL large open uninhabited areas suitable such testing Since WW ended additional tests didnt re sume until fall 1919 Out nine launchings Florida tests last completely successful covering 195 miles diving target area planned though Bug internally programmed did involve radio controls certainly qualifies im portant stepping stone Now comes story truly radiocontrolled plane developed military started N9 Navy seaplane gyroequipped automatic flight early 1922 Navy Proving Ground Dahl gren VA took task adding radio control machine under direction CB Muck4 account deals early vacuum tubes transmitter receiver Morkrum eight-point selector switch problems making gear work reliably aircraft environ ment relates further lab t 1 close Navys large-gun test range its incessant earth-shaking booms vibration problems solved lab before equipment installed airplane control system started controls neutral gave left right rudder up down elevator Continued page 123 I Teslas 1998 RC model boat used spark transmitter coherer receiver selector system controlled rudder deflection propulsion speed Drawing MA March1976 60 Model Aviation featherweight receiver shown previous page cover removed used sail plane pilots Elmira paved way hobby RC begin Credit QST September1933 1918 hobby RC submarine reprinisa Trom MOUCI Making book HF Yates pub lished Henley NYC 1919 Can anyone provide author information Prepare epoxy resin Wearing pro tective gloves using accurate scale carefully weigh out predetermined quan tity EPON 815 Dont forget record weight empty container can determine net amount resin amount TETA catalyst should range 15-20% resin weight 17% being about ideal example assume 8-in-dia prop will require 22 grams EPON amount TETA needed will additional 375 grams giving total liquid weight 25 75 grams Mix resin catalyst thoroughly allow settle about 10 min permit bubbles clear Because way mold con structed bottom half natural reser voir ideal trough lay-up prop Start giving trough area heavy coat epoxy resin lay longest rovings arranging straddle center post Always keep strands centered lengthwise mold assist equalizing blade balance Use small stick x smoothed rounded end spread out filaments cover much blade area possible Add resin progress shorter lengths using stick maneuver strands work out bubbles might trapped hub area can filled 1-in shorter clippings keeping whole mass wet resin Keep filaments confined blade area let slide closing faces will notice rovings begin take silver translucent appearance some seeming disappear entirely sign good wetting necessary resin penetration occurring glass place trough filled resin coat top mold face resin slide down onto center post Check make sure mold match marks correspond because mold closed reversed ends will never able reopen mold salvage what have done point Manually bring top mold down within about ing position four clamps shown pictures clamps should very slowly evenly tightened until faces close tightly will some loss glass lot oozing resin between faces normal Too much glass loss indicates either overstuffed mold closed too rapidly Cleaning up can accom plished acetone epoxy thinner Lay mold aside making sure level something underneath catch cascading drips normal room tem perature prop will take five six hours hardenconsiderably less left direct sun warm oven Check stiffness end spears doubt convinced epoxy firm loosen clamps use vice-grip pliers remove center post twisting pull advisable trim away washed-out rovings have formed long sides since will interfere opening mold Leave end spears untouched time five-minute soaking mold very hot water can sometimes wonders getting come apart Insert sharp knife screwdriver several places along parting line two halves should separate free prop again immerse hot water lift flashing flaps loosen grip especially hub area pull up end spears prop should snap free mold point should holding molded prop attached rectangle thin flashing Most flashing can cut away scissorsup within line sharp flat medium-coarse file used remove last ng along cleft line between flash prop Just few strokes will job nicely area around hub can best removed X-Acto knife file end spears cut away scissors after first filing groove across tongue sharp edge file Balancing prop acoomplished file and/or sandpaper progressing No 150 No 300 final polish Restrict balancing work top curved surface otherwise stand good chance altering blade pitch need help locating supplies cannot purchase small lots please contact Bob Dunham 4730 So Yorktown Tulsa OK 74105 starter kit consisting auto body filler PVA EPON 815 TETA vinyl gloves fiberglass rovings can furnished $60 postpaid US kit contains enough filler fiberglass other liquids make couple molds 20 25 medium-size props Material Sources Auto body filler CUZ NAPA Auto motive Stores White Knight K-Mart Wal Mart auto supply parts stores Steel-filled epoxy 1 qt kit EPOCAST #1 iB #9812 hardener EV Roberts & Assoc Box 868 Culver City CA 90232 phone 1-800-421-0824 Epoxy resin Shell Chemical EPON 815 EV Roberts & Assoc Epoxy catalyst TETA EV Roberts & Assoc Polyester resin K&B Manufacturing hobby shops Fiberglass rovings Owens-Corning Product #447-211 #352-211 CertainTeed Product #282-Bi See Yellow Pages under Fiberglass Materials Carbon fiber tows Gougeon Bros Box X908 Bay City MI 48707 NFFS Supplies 12 Cook St Rowayton CT 06853 RC History/Good Continued page 60 throttle offone time Panel lights indicated airborne pilot control signal being transmitted Continued page 126 March 1986 123 Will OPS 000 Sa#uoc4 specialists High Performance Model Airplane Engines stock parts back up will like doing business us See local hoppy shop P arts Peo pie Box 26247 New Orleans LA 70186 242-5967 PRO-CLAMP Tuned Pipe Clamp $250** pipe included ITS SNAP P-Clamp Tuned Pipe Clamp Good 50fl0 Ii $1 49** pipe included Add $175 Add $050 Shipping Handling Dealer-Dist Inquiries Invited Span65Eng.45-60 Area754 sq in4 Channel Send $100 latest price list literature Also Available okee Babe VK MODEL AIRCRAFT CO 5866 Transit Rd. Depew NY 14043 Phone No 716 684-5555 LA PRODUCTS FOR THE DISCEAMNO MODELER Complete Line Exhaust Systems Tuned Pipes led Tuned Pipes * Headers uri Mufflers Expansion Mufflers copter Ball Mufflers ialized Exhaust Systems Unsurpas.d Wakmanzhifl & PGIfOflWAflC6 ground-based pilot Most flight tests used airborne pilot monitor response blinking light signals actually switching RC signals airplane controls maximum signal range two three miles ground-based 50-watt trans mitter few flights RC signals control airborne pilot observer dio con trol rudder took hold such vigor control cables plane torn loose plane fluttered down midst fleet oyster boats pilot steering ailerons After ex perience eight-point selector re placed tuned reeds allowed simultaneous control several controls much better flying Yes tuned reeds well known time Finally September 15 1924 first pilotless RC flight N9 seaplane dubbed Wild Goose took place Dahlgren VA unmanned plane took off circled some 12 minutes altitudes up 500 feet range transmitter two three miles found plane responded inputs Chief Radioman EL Luke followed verbal instructions Aviation Officer Lt JJ Ballentine .at point failure response two three signals right turn CB Mirick shouted sug gestion try left turn greatly delighted Commander Pickens ttle later plane got back over land lost altitude seemed bent dive bombing farm house timely up flipper signal brought up came out over water what seemed smooth successful landing Wild Goose flown radio control immediately known observ em landing cracked pontoon began leak caused plane nose over sink plane gear recovered river severe corrosion rendered parts unusable PO BOX 3957 TORRANCE CA 90610 project terminated point significant first RC plane made oomplete witnessed controlled flight RC profes sional project funded military organi zationa lot effort flight step along way Yet still wasnt hobby RC Theres personal addendum tale call Middlebrook Connec tion5 digging out story name Charles Middlebrook men tioned civilian engineer adjusted gyros just before plane taxied away its historic flight name rang bell since flown RC models Carlton Middlebrook Dahlgren base 1960s turned out Canton Charles son information about Wild Goose came flowing out stabilizing gyros built Carl Norden Norden Bombsight fame Carltons brother also named Charles inherited wooden propeller Wild Goose said N9 also called Navy Jenny built Naval Aircraft Factory Phila delphia Further Carlton recalled visit retired Navy admiral annual RC reoord trials Dahlgren admiral Maynard Hills coaching flew record models several minutes RC flight admiral former Lt JJ Ballentine called signals Navys first RC flight Wild Goose 1924 What appropriate oonnection RC history past RC links origins commercial radio early 1900s Now well step back earlier history early stage RC story classify Commercial Radio involved bril liant experimenters plowing new terntory radio waves applications experiments resulted patents large royalties famealong patent suits tribulations Probably earliest RC experimenter Nicola Tesla 1856-l943 de vised RC gear gave demonstrations 126 Model Aviation FAI RUBBER Sizes 114 3/16 1/8 3/32 1/16 042 thick pound box Price $1300 FREE 4 oz bottle SLICK rubber lube per box Postpaid UPS USA 65 FF kits mci Starduster Coupe Deville 4 Satellites mow availl Dragmaster Zingo FAI Power Tilka Wakefield P-30s 2 pacifier tanks Crocket hooks Slick lube Seelig ft KSB timers Front ends 3 prop kits 2 kinds fuse winders kinds hardware Books much 1985 catalog 75 Cal add 6% tax FAIModel Supply H RC History/Good Continued page 123 CLEANERPolisher Glider Pilots Take Note SUPER SHINE SUPER SLICK 8 oz $4 95* 1898 several radio-controlled model boatsat Madison Square Garden New York City no less story says actual rental building $10000 week paid friend John Hays Hammond Sr Teslas intent attract public attention overall work notiust RC awarded US Patent November 8 1898 Method Apparatus Controlling Mechanisms Moving Vessels Vehicles patent mentions RC examples boats carriages balloons possible vehicles No mention made aircraft however perhaps because Wright broth ers hadnt flown Teslas primary success came alternating current AC generators pio neered sold patents Westing house million dollars inventions ranged far wide electrical radio fields including some first concepts intelligent robots other automatons Tesla sued Marconi patent infringements Marconi intro duced wireless telegraphy 1901 Other early inventors sued Marconi too Mar coni combined good parts contributions others creating working radio system transmitting receiv ing others provided parts US Supreme Court ruled favor Marconi 1915 Some said court did understand complex tech nical aspects Marconi made millions Tesla controversial genius died penni less 1943 mostly because elabo rate experiments Another contributor early Conuner cial Radio American named BF Miessner age 22 top-notch ventor/experimenter demonstrated RC eight-ton houseboat US Army fall 1912 near Goucester MA Distance tests made using 1000watt spark transmitter shore several types detectors houseboat Miessner found catwhisker crys tal detector would operate sensitive relay range half-mile vacuum tube detector range three miles coherer detector dropped earlier because its very short range vibration problems used ironnickel particles small glass tube electrode end radio signal would lock-up particles causing low resistance path allow sensitive relay energized After lock-up coherer unlocked tapping tube flipping over John Hayes Hammond Jr Miessner worked time said two essential things must get reliable sensitive relay stable form detector same require ments pioneering RC modelers would encounter 20 years later Miessner adopted vacuum tube detector converted Weston meter relay adding delicate contact points Miessners experiments suc cessful wrote first RC book called Radio Dynamics 1916 before graduated Purdue University Later involved several patent infringement suits former employ er JH Hammond Jr However went invent superheterodyne re ceiver FM frequency modulation system Both contested other inventors including Major Arm strong difficult determine really first radio ventions Miesner did suffer financially squabbles patents royalties netted him over two million dollars radio broadcasting industry bloomed work pioneers bigname electrical companies General Elec tric Westinghouse RCA others born period should now clear Ive called money portion RC story Com mercial Radio However experi menters did invent basic circuits radio communication hobby RC pioneers would eventually employ Contributions amateur radio spite important contributions commercial military areas RC model airplane invented amateur modelers amateur radio hob byists appropriate take look March 1986 127 CORBEN SUPER ACE GIANT SCALE 8O WINGSPAN 4 CYCLE 90 POWER SEND $200 FOR COMPLETE CATALOG OF FINE KITS RAINBOW RUNNER 25 45 Gm PRECISION PRODUCTS INC 714 592-51 510 E Arrow Highway San Dimas CA 91773 IKON NWST PO Box 566 Auburn WA 98071 206941-8248 CD CD -h 0 z 0 z 0 C, 0 0 m I m 0 Q C 0 H Cl C/ C 0 C, -4 0 C 0 Co 0 0 Lrcrii N 5 x CA x CA x co x x 01 x 0 x 0 x Co Li DGA Designs es D0A DA Designs 0 0 S 10 o o5 0 0 QiiarterMaster T BIPE 0 QUARTER SCALE PLANS QuarterMaster Sport Elpe8 Oadra 35.73Span.E-Z bIdld. $21 Great Flyer.Sew-Kt Anallable.. 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Send check o MO COOs Allow 3 weeks checkto clear S U iiiu ml *1 [e1 us amateur radio prior 1930s radio frequencies available RC pioneers 1930s designated amateur radio use user required have Amateur Radio License obtained exami nation Morse code radio theory can remember brother Bill took exam 1932 still high school government examiner came Kalamazoo Post Office gave exam must have kind person because Bill missed too words first code test examiner said Youre just nervous give another try Bill did passed long written exam took him almost six hours came through W8IFD 1936 20000 active hams amateurs national organization American Radio Relay League ARRL looking background materials status amateur radio technology mid-1930s found book written Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL8 Published 1936 just what needed refresh memory lay background story book 200 Meters Down starts first amateur station 1899 no required licenses real use new world radio communi cation between Navy shipsup maxi mum range 10 miles practical use radio just beginning 1910 amateur sta tions Army Navy stations put together Immediately arose ugly problem ofradio interference between several groups users take look equipment source interference becomes very obvious transmitters using spark gaps tubes werent available produced thou sands watts energy radiated signals approximately 200-meter wave lengths 15 MHz However spark signals impure smeared out 12 20 MHz best cat whisker crystal detector receiver would pick up different signals simul taneously Wow what messnot suit able hobby RC early fre quency band eventually became pres ent AM broadcast band first frequency assignments made 1912 Navy pushed eliminating amateur stations pro viding no frequency gn ments negative action brought vehe ment reaction amateur ranks caused amateurs amateur clubs led Charles Stewart Pennsylvania later vice-president ARRL promote Compromise amateur transmissions would move frequencies above 15 MHz Navy pleased sly way because preferred frequencies below 1 MHz further believed region above 15 MHz useless long ranges Navy felt given away something useless gotten rid amateurs same time wrongthey took almost decade realized Since 15 MHz wavelength 200 meters DeSoto entitled book 200 ters Down Because think better terms frequency would have preferred 15 MHz Up Either way amateurs owned frequen cies above 15 MHz March 1913 saw terrible Midwest storm disable parts Ohio Michigan leaving communication neighboring areas amateurs devastated area immediately started relay ing messages outside world rescue efforts quickly began first time newspapers gave heavy frontpage coverage heroic actions amateurs public service efforts favorable publicity resulted new recognition government levels amateurs vital countrys emergency service should sup ported 1917 US entered World War can guess immediately filled ranks military radio units Yes already-trained amateurs 1929 government adopted new regulations conformity decisions 1927 World Radio Conference taking back some spectrum assigned amateurs earlier leav ing seemingly generous allotment number small bands four-MHz slice starting 56 MHz called 5-meter band Just few percent amateurs maybe thousand nationwide started explore band techniques developing band virtually empty 5-meter band destined become home RC pio neers RC modelers should grateful frequency legacy amateurs ARRL obtained shared RC-ham developers pioneered RC hobby example tiny one-tube receiver used glider pilots Elmira gather information ground later con verted RC use band main used RC models mid-1930s early 1950s AMA secured first frequencies RC applications Whats small group ham-RCers still use same band todaysome 50 years later now called 6-meter band since moved 50-54 MHz after WW H DeSoto made some very astute predic tions 1936 regarding future ama teur communications especially tech nical expectationsbut failed men tion possibility RC models However 1938 just two short years later entered plane RC event AMA Nats Detroit became prolific writer RC topics must have surprised first RC hobby model strange RC project came attention through 128 Model Aviation NFWUCT S WINGEE ALL YOU NEED Mount Swingee like hinge Completely built-in out sight No flexy torque rods ailerons just simple pushrods straight Swingee Use direct servo control-horn linkage away Kwick-links bell-cranks eliminate sloppy control surfaces scale soaring pattern pylon sport flyer built-in Swingee makes clean aerodynamic lines naturally improves both appearance performance Swingee made Delrin totally unaffected change temperature USA Dealer [AE rn/c mcJ PO Box 511 F HIGGINSVILLE MO 64037 816-584-7121 Dealer inquiries invited World distributor G L INTERNATIONAL AB PO Box 3459 5-162 03 VALLINGEY SWEDEN John Brown Santa Ana CA John sent copies 40 pages book called Modelmaking9 book edited Raymond F Yates well-known writer time article Model Submarine Radio Control did list author perhaps Yates himself just cant resist including submarine story though its heavy-weight RC gear wasnt suitable plane subject 8-ft-long 175-lb submarine radio controls steering electric motors propulsion transmitter 2-in spark gap abroad band frequencies receiver coherer detector Maximum range 300 feet highly-detailed drawings pho tos convincing no descrip tion public demonstration However annotation book pub lished time wireless work experimental nature prohibited United States Government wasnt too surprising US involved war time date 1918 during World War I surmise RC submarine project started before WW almost finished wireless prohibi tion prevented actual RC demonstra tions known whether later tests performed believed article published originally Evety day Engineering Magazine 1917 1918 Can anyone help solve mystery submarine model may have first hobby RC project US really dont know know model plane really what story about Summary now know precursors set stage invention hobby RC model planes gas engines gas models Browns Bassetts early 1 930s amateur radio hams knowledge interest hobby level direct application radio techniques military RC projects 1 920s demonstrated technical feas ibility no means offered direct transition hobby RC commercial radio industry pro vided some circuits components no direct help application toward hobby RC up modelers hams blend together results pre cursors working RC model plane next installment well see met challenge recount early stumbling steps first-ever RC compe tition 1937 National Contest Detroit References Zaic Frank Junior Aeronautics Year Book New York Model Aeronautics Publications 1934 2Ritchie Dave Maxwell Bassett First Gas Model Champion ModelAviation Septem ber 1983 Fabrney DS Rear Admiral USN ret Robert Strobell Americas First Pilotless Aircraft Aero Digest FR FLIUNT ROLLED PLANS UT PARTS Y 1 /2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX 4Mirick CB Wild Goose Chase USN Institute Proceedings Vol 72 Whole No 521 July 1946 Middlebrook Carlton Interview February 28 1985 6Sosic GV Tesla Father RC Model Aviation March 1976 7Miessner BF Early History Radio Guidance San Francisco San Francisco Press 1964 9DeSoto Clinton B 200 Meters Down W Hartford ARRL Inc 1936 9Yates Raymond F ed Modelmaking New York Norman W Henley Publishing Co 1919 Safety Preston Continued page 20 Park Authority city county etc pass ordinance would require use permit turn would require surance coverage According Russell Knetzger cheapest way obtaln lia bility insurance join AMA Most letters received subject addressed question deter flier AMA member March 1986 129 An entirely new generation controlhinges now available model builder unique design Swingee will benefit 11 i T II'I ELECTRIC POWER OR GLO-ENGINES PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # 10915 21 size engines electric motor equivalent Weight 85 grams$l5N PROP BLADES FOR HUB # 100 Available 7s 25 7x 3 7s 35 Bs 4 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HU3 ASSEMBLY # 110 049 051 engines electric motor equivalent Weight 5 grams $150 PROP BLADES FOR NUB # 110 lable 6x 3 $400 per blade $600 per pair PROP HUB ASSEMBLY # Ill 0 engines electric motor equivalent 20 grams $2000 PROP ULADES FOR HUB # lii lable 9 x 4 10 x 411 s 4 $5N per blade SlON per pair Send SSAE catalog sheet complete line