Radio Control Combat
Don Grissom [[email protected]]
Brian "The Kid" Gilkey looks to the future
In RC Combat, when you talk about "The Kid," you are probably talking about Brian Gilkey. He received a 2007 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship and the Sig Memorial Scholarship from AMA.
Brian has been one of the top Combat pilots for the past few years. Last year at the Nats he competed in all five classes, placing first in each of them. He finished 2007 with a third-place finish in Slow Survivable Combat (SSC) and Open class, as well as a second-place finish in Scale.
We in RC Combat wish him the best and hope to see him flying this year.
This past winter, when I knew I was going to start writing this column, I decided that I would take a look at types of RC Combat other than SSC. Most of the Combat flown in my area for many years has been SSC. I have watched some of the contests and thought that Scale would be a nice change of pace and give some people in this region a chance to see other types of Combat.
One issue with Scale Combat has always been the building time it takes. The airplanes tend not to be as durable because they are more scale in design. When looking into Scale aircraft, the most popular one flown is Mike Fredricks' Hat Trick Zero.
Hat Trick Zero (2548)
I had the opportunity to take a look at the Hat Trick 2548 Zero. The model comes with most of the parts needed to complete it. It is made from CNC-cut foam for both the wing and the fuselage. The wing comes in two parts that are connected using fiberglass rods and polyurethane glue.
Some modifications were recommended to me to help the Hat Trick Zero fly better. Instead of putting a block at the trailing edge, I was told to go with a 2-inch aileron that must be purchased separately.
The fuselage comes already shaped on the outside but requires assembly of the four parts. Most people use 2.2-mil tape to cover the wing and fuselage. The tape can be purchased from an office-supply store. You can get it in many colors to complete your design.
Overall, the Zero is a simple-to-build airplane that you can finish in a few nights once you have built several models. The instructions are generally complete, although there are no pictures to help you with the assembly.
It is a good idea to talk with someone who has built the Hat Trick Zero before you begin, so you do not make any mistakes and can benefit from suggestions concerning any changes you might want to make.
Mike makes two Combat models — the Zero and a P-51D — that are sold on his site. If you are considering getting into Scale Combat, this would be a great way to get started.
I hope to get a flight on my 2548 Zero this next month so I will be ready for the next contest. I am planning to get some assistance from Bob Loescher before the first flight.
December final contest — Delray Beach, FL
As we begin a new Combat season, let's take a look at last year's final contest held in December. Chris Handegard offered a report:
"Twelve competitors came to Delray Beach, Florida, from as far away as Texas, for the last event of the season: an Open B Class AMA-sanctioned Combat contest held on December 8, to vie for top honors and improve their standings in the National Points System. The NPS is maintained by the RC Combat Association (RCCA), and gives pilots a ranking based on best average scores for the year.
"Hosted by the Palm Beach Radio Control Association (PBRCA), and taking place for the first time in the club's new location in the West Delray Regional Park, the event was well attended by spectators who enjoyed an action-packed day of outstanding RC Combat and streamer cutting complemented by typical sunny Florida weather. The halftime entertainment featured an interesting and unusual (for this type of event) karate demonstration for the crowd and pilots as they ate lunch.
"PBRCA club volunteers were joined by members of a sister club, the RC Bush Pilots, that is also a very active Combat group. This made for a smoothly run and trouble-free event.
"Local hobby shops, including the Craft House, Southeast Hobbies, and RC Revolution, donated merchandise, which was given away to pilots and volunteers. Volunteering to help at events such as this is a great way for those not actually competing to get involved and have fun.
"While most pilots still use nitro-fueled glow power in this class, which specifies a .30-size engine limit, there are efforts around the country to run electric systems for propulsion. Two of the leading proponents for electric power attended the event and, owing to their good piloting skills and Combat experience, they placed quite well in the standings.
"The contest also featured several first-time Combat pilots with a background in Pylon Racing; a sport with similar, exciting head-to-head competition.
"The 12 pilots, in order of finish from first to last, were:
- Lee 'The Knife' Liddle
- Chris 'Grasshopper' Handegard
- Daniel 'Preemie' Warner
- Andrew 'Drewjet' Stanley
- Craig 'Bigdog' Buttery
- Bob 'Longhaul' Loescher
- Jonathan Perdue
- Jeff 'Swampthing' Benko
- Eric 'Termite' Laukien
- Curtis Switzer
- Mathew Fehling
- Don Fourson.
"Like the fighter pilots they emulate, these guys (and girls) often receive a 'call sign' or nickname based on a remarkable incident or notable characteristic, which adds a bit of color to the flightline conversation and friendly 'smack talk' going on during the day."
RC Combat appears to be alive and well in South Florida and shows encouraging signs of continued growth for next season's activity. Several new clubs have indicated their desire to get in on the fun by hosting their own annual contests.
For those who have yet to witness this exciting form of model-aircraft flying, I recommend that you make it a must-see for the coming year. Until then, may you have blue sky with a tailwind, and don't forget to check your 6 o'clock frequently! MJ
Sources
- Hat Trick Enterprises — (920) 887-3225 — www.hattrickrc.com
- Palm Beach RC Association — www.palmbeachrc.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
