The Inside Loop - 2008/08

have the benefit of going to trade
conventions on a semiregular basis. I
go for many reasons, including those
that help me find evidence of trends
developing in the hobby. Last fall I was in
Chicago at the iHobby Expo, and what I
saw wasn’t just a trend—put more
accurately, it was a full-blown outbreak. I
never said the word “cool” so many times
in my entire life.
Jets were everywhere, but they weren’t
the traditional high-end large turbine
models; they were smaller foam park flyersize
models that were appealing to me,
because the possibility of owning one that
would fit my budget was much more likely.
The rise in popularity of these models was
certainly due mostly to the popularity of the
brushless motor and Lithium battery
technology.
However, motors and batteries can’t all
make a model fly well. They have to be the
right weight and engineered to fly in a
predictable manner. Building small electric
models from foam appears to be a blessing,
as the construction process, be it molded or
sheet constructed, offers the highest powerto-
weight ratio.
Whether a modeler wants to buy one
from modeled parts or cutout sheet foam,
everything from the Messerschmitt to the
Millennium Falcon can be made to fly as a
jet model. Say it with me: “Cool!”
Over my desk are two jets; both are
electric and came my way because they
were recently released as RTF models.
They’re inexpensive and even though I’ve
had almost no practical exposure to jets, or
the trials and tribulations most jet modelers
fought with in the past, I’m having a
fantastic jet experience.
I wasn’t alone in this discovery. Curtis
Mattikow shared the same experience and
went forward to try out not one, but more
than a half dozen currently available allfoam
jets. Like me, he had nothing but
happy thoughts to share.
In the time it took us to decide what jets
to write about in the article he coined
“Jetification,” the number of jets in the
same class nearly tripled. Obviously the fun
we were having wasn’t a fleeting trend;
others were being “Jetified” as well.
If you’ve been intimidated by the
thought of flying a jet, check out the
“Instant Jetification” article to see what we
found. Getting into jets has never been
easier.
Speaking of easy, not long ago, when
turbines just started coming out, there was
still a whole lot of learning going on.
Today, the turbine power plant is smart and
easier to run than ever. The price point
might still be a big hill to climb for some—
myself included—but now I’m a lot more at
ease with the system after reading
“Turbines Made Easy.”
Editor Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
I
Actually we didn’t make it easy, but
this thorough article explains all the parts
in simple terms that maintain the respect
but take the fear out of this type of power
system. In fact, I’m now even thinking
about a future project.
The JetMach 60 from Laser Design
Services (LDS) is a project that puts the
“can-do” in a first turbine experience.
When we received the kit, the smell of
balsa brought a smile and thoughts of
pleasant evenings creating a highperformance
aircraft. The builder had the
model framed up in no time and has since
logged many flight hours on it.
Better news still is that LDS is coming
out with variations on the successful highwing
model and has not only expanded
the line, but offers custom design services
to customers who are seeking something
different. Do I have to say the word
again?
My father taught me much of what I
know about model building. He could
make a 25-size model do more in the sky
with just a .15 glow engine than many
could with a 40-size model powered by a
SuperTigre .61. His minimalist attitudes
made sense and often led to the discovery
of practical solutions to complex projects.
His practice helped me find my own
way to make learning fun and rewarding.
Apparently his lessons continue, as you’ll
see in these pages, as he teaches us how a
multiton airliner can be made into a 13-
ounce RC experience that’s not only
relaxing, but is totally cool. MA