Author: Sal Calvagna
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/05
Page Numbers: 99,100,103
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RADIO CONTROL GIANTS

Sal Calvagna 1335 Broadway Ave., Holbrook, NY 11741 E-mail: [email protected]

I am always looking for new and innovative products or services that make a trip to the flying field for the Radio Control (RC) Giants modeler a more pleasant experience.

In this month's issue I am happy to write about two additions to the ever-growing list of products specifically designed for those who "like 'em big." The first is a press release from Ikon N'wst for its L-19E Bird Dog. The second is a great new fuel pump designed for gasoline, distributed by Sonic-Tronics.

Ikon N'wst — 85-inch L-19E Bird Dog

Ikon N'wst is happy to announce the availability of a new 85-inch L-19E Bird Dog. This beautiful airplane is 1/5 scale and is ready for shipment today.

The kit includes:

  • Fiberglass cowl and aluminum landing gear
  • Removable wings for ease of transportation
  • All parts hand-cut from selected balsa wood

Price: $283.50, plus $13.50 for shipping. As with all Ikon N'wst kits, the L-19 is made in the United States.

#### Background: The Cessna L-19 "Bird Dog"

  • In the late 1940s the US Army sought a replacement for the Piper L-4 and Stinson L-5 observation aircraft. The newly formed US Air Force and the Army issued a joint specification for a new aircraft.
  • Cessna used components from its models 170 and 195 to create a new design, built the prototype in 90 days, and won the competition.
  • In May 1950 a contract for 418 aircraft under the designation L-19A was issued. The L-19A could take off and land over a 50-foot obstacle in as little as 167 yards.
  • In June 1950 the Korean War began and L-19 production was increased. General Mark Clark named the L-19 "Bird Dog" because one of its primary missions was "hunting." It was also affectionately called "the Jeep with wings."
  • The L-19 series served many roles, including forward air control in Vietnam. It could be fitted with four underwing pylons for mixed stores such as smoke canisters and "Willie Pete" white phosphorus rockets.
  • As a testament to its durability, in February 1952 an L-19 was hit by antiaircraft fire at 6,000 feet; twelve feet of the right wing panel was shot off, yet the crew regained control and landed at an Air Force base. (Please don't try this with your model!)

#### About Emil Neely and Ikon N'wst

Emil Neely has had a lifelong passion for model aircraft. He retired from Boeing in Seattle, where his job was to build models and prototypes. Emil started Ikon N'wst in the late 1960s and continues to design all of the company's kits.

According to his wife Iris, who runs the office and handles bookkeeping, the standing joke at Ikon is: "For Emil, if it has wings, we need to kit it!" Although serious illness has slowed him down a bit, Emil remains active and we look forward to his next design.

Ikon N'wst contact information:

Sonic-Tronics — Electronic Nifty Gasoline Pump

Sonic-Tronics Inc. presents its new Electronic Nifty Gasoline Pump. The Nifty pump is designed to supply gasoline (and glow fuel, kerosene, or smoke fluid) to RC model aircraft, boats, or car fuel tanks.

Key features:

  • Solid-state design with no electric motor or spark-generating parts
  • No diaphragms or bearings to wear out, making it safe for use with gasoline
  • Self-priming and designed for long service life
  • Produces a constant pressure of 6 psi
  • Requires a 12-volt DC source at roughly 1 amp (easily supplied from a field starter battery)
  • UL listed

The Nifty is a one-way pump that cannot be reversed by reversing polarity. Currently, to empty a model's fuel tank the fuel lines must be reversed; a reversing valve was announced to be included with the pump.

Sonic-Tronics contact information:

Jerry Smartt's RC Giants

Jerry Smartt of Warsaw, Missouri, shares a couple of large and interesting RC Giants this month.

#### 200% Miss Philadelphia

  • Size: 200% of the original
  • Wingspan: 15 feet
  • Wing chord: 28 inches
  • Horizontal stabilizer span: 7 feet
  • Weight: 20 pounds
  • Power: Astro geared 90 electric motor, 18 x 8 propeller, powered by 35 cells
  • Covering: Oracover (Jerry used 20 rolls)
  • Wheels: 9-inch inner tubes (go-kart type) replicating 1933 Trexlers
  • Construction notes: Jerry had the original plans enlarged to 200% and uses two receivers (one in the tail and one in the nose) to avoid long wiring runs. He designed a three-piece wing for easier transportation.

Background: In 1933 Maxwell Bassett and Bill Brown collaborated to produce the first gas-powered free-flight model called Miss Philadelphia. Maxwell designed the model and Bill designed the Brown Jr. engine. The original spanned 7½ feet. In 1997 a commemorative meet in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, encouraged builders to create versions of Maxwell's Miss Philly.

This 200% Miss Philadelphia is Jerry's first RC Giant.

#### 52% Sopwith Tabloid (under construction)

  • Scale: 52% (enlarged from a 30% plan)
  • Wingspan: 13 feet
  • Wing chord: 32 inches
  • Power: Dino motor by Plettenburg with a custom belt-driven gearbox by Martin Lauer (Germany)
  • Propellers: Jerry plans four props for fine-tuning; the first is a 36 x 22 laminated prop that came with the engine
  • Batteries: One configuration uses sixty-four 3000 mAh cells
  • Covering: Oratex (Jerry has 65 meters on hand)
  • Wheels: 14-inch wheels of Jerry's own design — foam and light plywood with balsa rib spokes, bicycle-type inner tube, doped and painted covering

Background: The Sopwith Tabloid was introduced toward the end of 1913 and won the Schneider Trophy at Monaco in 1914. An unarmed single-seater, it was among the first British biplanes used in combat. On October 9, 1914, two Tabloids were sent to attack Zeppelin sheds at Düsseldorf and Cologne; one reached its target and Zeppelin LZ 9 was destroyed when two 20-pound bombs were released from roughly 600 feet.

Jerry sums it up by saying he enjoys RC Giants because they fly better and they present a challenge. Nice work, Jerry — remember to send photos of the finished Tabloid.

That wraps it up for this month. If you know of any new products or services designed for RC Giants, please let me know so I can share them with readers.

As always, keep your photos and e-mails coming. Thanks.

MA

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.