98 M ODEL AVIATION
When you decide to “import” a new kit, radio, or engine into
the home, you might expect to be berated by your husband or wife.
“You spent that much—on a model airplane?” might be the
usual reaction.
However, things will (usually) be all hearts and flowers if you
bring a new tool into the mansion. And there are many tools
required to build your new Giant Scale model. Let’s take a look at
which tools will help create the new airplane.
The first purchase should be a pair of safety glasses or a plastic
safety hood. The former will fit over your reading glasses (if you
have to wear them), and the latter protects your whole face from
errant bits of wood or metal.
You probably already own a set of X-Acto™ knives, so you
don’t have to purchase them. But it’s nice to have a small box of
new #11 blades, so you can keep things sharp.
The next item in relative importance is a Dremel™ rotary hand
grinder—particularly if you also purchase a sanding mandrel.
There are actually three versions of the rotary grinder, and
each has multiple uses. There’s the standard multispeed hand tool,
the miniature battery-powered twirler, and the hand piece with a
flexible drive shaft. The last one works great when you have to
work on something inside your model. A 90° attachment will help
if you have to grind around a corner.
If you’re a skilled woodworker or metalworker, and you have
the wherewithal, a Taig or Unimate lathe will provide all the
neat cylindrical wood or metal bits and pieces for your model. If
you have the dollars, the milling attachment for your lathe will
be more than useful.
There is a host of small-size power tools that can make your
building tasks easier. They include band saws, jigsaws, and power
sanders. Most only take up a little room on your workbench, and
they save you a lot of work.
These powered helpers often combine functions. Small band
saws and jigsaws provide circular sanders as part of the tool.
Adhesive-backed sanding disks can be acquired, and they provide
a variety of grits for shaping and smoothing.
There are some jim-dandy small drill presses available, and
they’re just the thing to assure that drilled holes are dead-on
straight and properly located. It’s nice to have a “press” with
variable speeds, since drilling plastic has to be done slowly (to
keep things from melting) and drilling wood and metal has to
be done quickly.
Your toolbox probably holds a variety of screwdrivers
(including a set of small watchmakers’ drivers) and “razor saws.”
These stiff-backed steel saws are great when they’re used with a
miniature miter box—particularly if you’re trimming 1⁄4-inch
square spruce for fuselage longerons or thick spruce wing spars.
You probably noticed that I haven’t mentioned hammers. They
aren’t necessary, but having a small one handy will help firm up
the pins you might use in the construction process or make sure
that blind nuts are firmly into the plywood firewall.
A small (25-/30-watt) soldering iron may be necessary—
particularly if you’re adept at making long aileron servo leads.
And there are times when a small soldering torch (one that takes
fuel and oxygen cylinders) is required, such as when you silversolder
music wire landing-gear struts.
Many tools are needed in your flight box, but I won’t list them
all at this time. However, one item should absolutely be in the
field box: a portable fire extinguisher. It’s mandatory if you’re
operating a gas-burner in your Giant Scale model.
Keep the extinguisher handy in your workshop as well—you
can never tell if your torch or soldering iron will ignite the
building materials or adhesives you keep on the workbench.
Given the geometric increase of Almost Ready to Flys
(ARFs), particularly in larger sizes, this discussion of tools may
be academic. With the possible exception of a power drill press
or a Dremel™ tool, most ARFs can be completed with the
simplest hand tools.
A steel ruler might be of use to check wing and stabilizer
alignment if you’re going “ARFing.”
I don’t know if you’ve noticed it, but almost all of the Radio
Control (RC) magazines are running reviews of ARFs. US and
British magazines have welcomed them with open arms, as have
a host of modelers.
i got an interesting letter from William D. Schierman, who
lives in Creve Coeur MO. At the tender age of 74, he noted
that he built a Denny Condor rubber-powered Free Flight
model for his granddaughter. (I mentioned the Condor in the
October 2000 column.)
William is a devoted Giant Scaler who uses the “old technique” of
covering his models with fabric and dope.
However, he has a problem with his radio. He has an Ace singlestick
transmitter, and is having difficulties upgrading his RC system
to current standards.
John A. de Vries, 4610 Moffat Ln., Colorado Springs CO 80915
RADIO CONTROL GIANTS
Bob Banka’s 2001 documentation catalog is eight bucks well-spent.
ol’ buddy Bob Banka has changed the name
of his company. It used to be Scale Model
Research; now it’s Bob Banka’s Aircraft
Documentation—and he has a lot of it!
Bob has more than a half-million prints in
stock! They’re part of his 8,000 “Foto Paaks.”
His documentation photographs are true works
of art, and they are designed for the Scale
model builder. Many of the Paaks include
cockpit shots and detailed external coverage.
Probably the greatest value in Scale
documentation is Bob’s latest (#18)
catalog. It’s only eight bucks postpaid,
and includes definitive articles on Scale
modeling and a listing of all the photos
and scale drawings in his inventory.
Now Bob’s catalog and his other
documentation can be paid for by credit
card (MasterCard® and Visa™). Bob
Banka’s Aircraft Documentation is at
3114 Yukon Ave., Costa Mesa CA 92626.
The telephone number is (714) 979-8058.
Parting Shot: I wonder who the first Giant
Scale modeler will be to adapt the colorful
plastic wheels from one of the new aluminum
scooters. And will he or she choose the green
ones, the yellow ones, or the red ones?
I guess it will depend on the model’s
color scheme.
i sure hope the April showers won’t
affect the first test flights of your winter’s
Giant Scale project. Happy landings! MA
April 2001 99
