Newcomers
32 Hollandbush Ct., St. Charles MO 63376
LET'S START this month with a different approach and consider the individual beyond the term "newcomer." Each of us probably has a different thought on where the "newcomer" tag ends.
Is it after the first few flights? Is it until you solo or fly your second airplane? Where does it end?
I don't have a definite answer for that question, but for the most part it's probably a composite of the thoughts of the instructor, the pilot, and other intangibles.
For a minute or two, consider the types of models available to us. Not all disciplines (Free Flight, Control Line, Radio Control) fit neatly into these categories with copious models available. But to a degree, each has some.
- Ready to Fly (RTF): This implies that you can unseal the box, shake out the contents, throw them in your vehicle, and head for the field.
That's probably a little simplistic, but the skills, tools, time, etc. required are minimal. If it's a Radio Control (RC) model, hopefully you will read the instructions and charge the batteries.
- Almost Ready to Fly (ARF): There is a range in the "almost" part of that title. The majority of the models take a few hours each evening for a week or two to bring them to their pristine glory and to the remainder of the title.
- Ready to Cover (RTC): It should be a snap to figure out what this means. Isn't it interesting that ARF doesn't read ARTF? The "to" is not included, but it is on the others. That helps you from confusing "RF" and "RC" with other letter designations.
The RTC allows the modeler to customize his or her model with various colors and decorations. It also allows the possibility of checking the construction.
- Kit-Built: This is a box of assorted "stuff" that, when cut, glued, screwed, and more, becomes a "thing" — a finished model.
This is a greater consumer of time and requires more understanding of various techniques. It does provide a higher level of satisfaction than the first three types of models, since there is more of you in the end product.
- Kit-"Bashing": This is an interesting concept because it involves starting with a kit, and through adroit manipulation and addition of parts, as well as innovative covering and decoration, the kit becomes reminiscent of a type of full-scale aircraft.
It's a morphing technique that allows you, when it's finished, to say, "If you squint you'll notice it looks like a ..." (Fill in the blank with whatever type of airplane: PT-17, PT-19, F-16, 747, etc.)
Imagination is a prime ingredient ...
The process of doing this is not as difficult as many think. Imagination is a prime ingredient, as is the importance of not profoundly altering the basic aerodynamics of the model. A turtledeck behind the cockpit, a rounded this or that, or military markings — there are many possibilities.
In some cases, you'll find articles that detail how the "bashing" was accomplished. It's fun to do! When you take the airplane to the field, your fellow modelers will point to it and say (with a pause, finger to the lips, and cocked head), "Oh, that's a ..." You get to finish the statement.
Are there advantages? Certainly. You get not only enter the second level of "proud," but you get to generate a snappy name to call it!
- Plan-Built: There are many sets of plans available from many different sources. Perhaps the greatest number of these were originally published in magazines or preserved from kits that are no longer in production.
There is a bit more work involved in this.
You have to translate such things as ribs, bulkheads, etc. into outlines on balsa and plywood, etc., and cut them out. There probably will not be a manual that will lead you through the various steps. As a result, there's bound to be an "oops" or two along the way.
These may come in the form of the order of the building steps or the inability to accurately translate shapes and lines and reproduce a three-dimensional object from a two-dimensional drawing.
Plans will sometimes include an isometric cutaway drawing, which really helps. With some of the more popular plans, you may find that the designer provides certain components of the model for you.
These often include items such as engine cowls, wheel pants, canopies, etc. This helps greatly, especially since these are the types of parts that are hardest to translate from the flat plan views.
In a few cases, the designer will take it all the way and will supply what is sort of a "short kit." This will usually include ribs, bulkheads, etc. There are also companies that specialize in providing parts for you on a custom basis.
- Scratch-Built: In this case — at least for Scale models — the builder starts with an outline drawing and pictures of the airplane. These are translated into drawings from which the model is developed.
Creating the outline in model size is no longer a difficult task. It can be done on a computer, at print places such as Kinko's®, or even with the use of overhead or opaque projectors. If you possess drafting skills, they can be created the old-fashioned way.
One of the more difficult tasks here is creating the placement of various internal components in the model. The internal parts of a model don't usually match up in scale with the full-scale aircraft.
There are problems with maintaining service points for fuel tanks, servos, and linkages. Spars don't always logically place themselves. There are many of these concerns.
My scratch-building time is divided into three segments. Trying to figure out how to build the model takes 25% of my time. Building it takes 50%. The remaining 25% is used to re-do what I didn't plan correctly for in the first 25%!
There are many more concerns with this item than I have covered. Such things as what airfoil to use, or even the size to build the model, are just two.
By carefully studying whatever kits you may have built, or even the construction of an ARF, you can quickly gain valuable insights into how to accomplish a scratch-built model.
I should probably list a type of scratch-building I'll designate as "A." If you are producing a model of a full-scale aircraft, you will have photos and probably the three-view or outline drawing. But how about producing your own original aircraft? Is that a viable option?
Yes, it is. In this case, all the factors in designing and building the model are yours. While the prospect may seem staggering, it need not be. My second Control Line (C/L) model as a kid was my design. My third RC model later was, also.
Did they fly? Yes. Did they really well? Enough to provide a great sense of satisfaction. Unfortunately, the RC model bit the dust very early in its career because of overconfidence on my part as far as my flying skills were concerned.
When designing a model from scratch, there are skill levels or at least information that must be possessed. These include such items as determining airfoils, overall moments such as the distance from wing to tail, nose length, ratio of wing chord to span (aspect ratio), and many others.
These need not be daunting. There are many books on aerodynamics for full-scale and models.
By studying other models, a pattern will emerge and reveal the other standard proportions that lead to satisfactory flight. Someone might suggest that this is akin to the world-famous school of design called TLAR — "That Looks About Right."
Don't dismiss that method! It's been used by many successful aircraft designers throughout the years who ultimately committed their bodies to leaving the ground in the creation.
We've recently witnessed the addition of models carrying various names such as park flyer, micro-indoor Radio Control, slow flyer, etc. Although these models fit into all of the categories we have mentioned earlier, they do represent a departure from earlier years.
These have been made possible by the very small radio and power systems. Their weight, lack of high sound levels, and lower cost have opened up new horizons concerning where they can be flown.
The simplicity of most of these models also allows greater levels of experimentation.
With this comes a heightened sense of concern regarding where they can be flown. The possibility of frequency interference is the primary concern.
A series of steps have been taken by AMA, manufacturers, distributors, hobby shop dealers, and clubs. The most recent meeting involved discussions by the Radio Control Manufacturers Association (RCMA), held during the Radio Control Hobby Trade Association (RCHTA) show in Chicago.
At the time of this writing, AMA has begun shipping large quantities of a special brochure explaining — in simple terms — the potential problems if units are operated too close to one another. These brochures are being placed in products as well as in hobby shops.
A special set of recommendations has been prepared for AMA chartered clubs as well, and plans are underway to gather more valuable information through equipment trials.
You may also obtain information from three Web sites: www.modelaircraft.org, www.parkflyer.org, and www.hobbystores.org.
It is important that everyone become as well-informed as possible concerning this subject. Although the potential for interference has been the primary fear, large numbers of these models are now on the 72 MHz (megahertz) frequency commonly used by model aircraft. There are operating on the six frequencies available in the 27 MHz band (CB).
That is not to say they do not exist on 2.4 MHz. Most certainly, equipment suitable for use in this type of model is readily available. Education and awareness are important concerns.
Finishing this column was extremely difficult. My heart was not in it. It was reaching out to all Americans as we attempt to understand and recover from the tragic events of September 11.
Recover, we shall! Strength, unity, and resolve will prevail! God bless America! rc
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
