Radio Control Giants - 2004/04

114 MODEL AVIATION
IN THE NORTHEAST we are rapidly approaching the 2004 flying
season, as are other cold-weather-prone parts of this great land. I hope
that many AMA members have Giant models and can’t wait for
warmer temperatures and calmer skies to perform that first test flight.
I am happy to report that I have had the opportunity to test-fly the
Balsa USA 1⁄4-scale S.E.5a World War I fighter, and I have been
working on completing the Kangke Industrial (Super Kraft) 1⁄4-scale
Rearwin Speedster Almost Ready to Fly (ARF). I have some member
projects to feature and a great story about an AMA member who flew
in the full-scale counterpart of one of his projects. Enjoy the column.
Sal Calvagna, 1335 Broadway Ave., Holbrook NY 11741; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL GIANTS
Shown in flight, the author’s Balsa USA 1⁄4-scale S.E.5a spans 80
inches and is covered with Solartex.
Joe Caruso with his Aviomodelli CANT Z.1007—a 90-inchwingspan
model of a three-engine Italian bomber.
Louis Marcon, in roughly 1942, served as a radio operator aboard
CANT Z bombers in the Regia Aeronautica.
Taken in Italy, this photograph shows Louis Marcon with his Free
Flight model in approximately 1938.
116 MODEL AVIATION
S.E.5a Takes to the Air: The day finally arrived—a cold day, I might
add—for the first test flight of the 1⁄4-scale S.E.5a from Balsa USA.
The model was finished in Billy Bishop’s Squadron 60 color scheme,
and it is powered by the ubiquitous Zenoah G-38 gas engine.
As reported in previous columns, the 80-inch biplane is constructed
using tried-and-true, stick-built methods. One of this kit’s major
design attractions is the movable engine-mount box. It is designed to
slide forward or backward during construction to accommodate nearly
any engine choice the builder might make.
The engine-hatch cover allows for easy access to the engine
compartment. There is also a removable simulated radiator and a
lower exhaust cover that allows even better access to the engine area.
Overall, the building process was quite enjoyable. My friend Ed
Hirschfeld of Selden, New York, framed up the model and said that
the parts were a good fit and the construction manual detailed each
step with ample photos.
All of the accessories needed to complete the model can be
purchased directly from Balsa USA. These include William Bros. 65⁄8-
inch-diameter wheels, a 1⁄4-scale Vickers machine gun, Solartex
covering material, and a markings-and-insignia package.
The test flight took place at the Model Airplane Facility supplied
by the Town of Brookhaven at 9 a.m. Winds were light and the
temperature hovered at 30°.
As I pushed the throttle up, the S.E.5a started to roll and
almost immediately lifted its tail. The model tracked straight and
lifted off after approximately 40 feet of travel at full throttle.
After a click or two of right aileron trim, the aircraft flew handsoff.
As do other flat-bottom-airfoil models, the S.E.5a climbs
The CANT Z bomber in which Louis Marcon flew during World
War II at rest at Bari airfield in Italy.
The 1⁄4-scale Rearwin Speedster ARF from Kangke Industrial
spans 96 inches and is covered with UltraCote.
120 MODEL AVIATION
with increasing throttle response.
After a number of racetrack patterns it was
time for the slow photo passes. I had no
problem controlling the model in slow flight
and enjoyed the low passes. This airplane has
a distinctive color scheme that shows up well,
as evidenced in the photo. One of the most
visible attributes is the Lewis machine gun on
the upper wing. The S.E.5a is attractive.
When my hands started to get numb from
the cold, I knew it was time to land. I turned
onto final, pulled the throttle back, and
pointed the nose toward the ground. At
roughly 20 feet of altitude it started to flare.
The big biplane slowed down, settled in, and
touched down beautifully. I couldn’t have
asked for a better first flight.
For more information concerning the 1⁄4-
scale S.E.5a or any of Balsa USA’s other
great products, visit its Web site at
www.balsausa.com or call the customer
service number at (906) 863-6421. To place
an order, call (800) 225-7287. The address is
Box 164, Marinette WI 54143.
CANT Z.1007bis: Several months ago I
wrote in consecutive columns about building
an Aviomodelli CANT Z—a three-engine
Italian World War II bomber that is
distributed by Internet RC. Not a popular
World War II subject to model, I was
surprised by the interest generated by the
columns and the number of E-mails that I
received on the subject.
Joe Caruso of Atlantic City, New Jersey,
E-mailed a picture of himself with his CANT
Z model. It spans 90 inches and is powered
by three O.S. .46 FX glow engines. It is
finished in Coverite and Cheveron Perfect
Paint.
Joe’s model has a McDaniel onboard
glow-driver system installed. With a flip of a
switch, all three glow plugs are ignited, so
there is no need to move batteries and glowplug
connectors around those moving
propellers.
Joe has owned his CANT Z for years and
enjoys flying it. He says that right rudder is
needed during takeoff to counter the torque of
the three engines, and coordinated rudder
turns make the model look better during
flight.
Joe enjoyed building the model because
the laser-cut parts fit together nicely. As I did
with my CANT Z, Joe replaced the wheels
that came with the kit for softer ones to absorb
shock during landing. He made a set of bombbay
doors from the servo-access hatch to drop
bombs, and he wrote that the safest place to
stand is where he is aiming the aircraft!
Joe belongs to the Atlantic County Sky
Blazers, the Jersey Sky Devils, and the Salem
County Radio Control (RC) clubs. In addition
to fixed-wing models, he flies helicopters and
is a retired full-scale flight instructor. He has
been flying models and full-scale aircraft for
nearly 40 years. Joe’s model looks great, and
it is refreshing to see something new and
exciting at the model field.
The most amazing letter I received on this
subject was from Louis Marcon of
Farmington, Michigan. Louis is a construction
worker who joined AMA after he retired in
1991. He is now a member of the Midwest
RC Society of Canton, Michigan, and the
Ribcrackers Model Airplane Club of Wixon,
Michigan.
Louis flew seven missions as a
marconista—a radio operator/navigator—in
the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) in
the CANT Z.1007bis during World War II.
Louis wrote that the CANT Z was a beautiful
airplane that brought him back safely even
after US P-47 fighter attacks.
On a humorous note, Louis wrote that
while on a training mission with other radio
operators, they were practicing using a highfrequency
antenna wound on a reel. During
flight the reel was turned and the antenna was
let out much in the manner of a garden hose
on a reel. At the end of the antenna was a lead
ball roughly the size of a baseball that kept the
antenna straight out behind the aircraft. The
antenna extended roughly 60 feet behind the
aircraft to optimize power output on high
frequencies.
Since Louis was the last operator to use the
radio system during one particular flight, it
was his job to reel in the antenna prior to
landing, but he forgot! When the bomber was
making its final approach over the hangars to
the airfield, the aircraft was slightly low and
slow. The lead ball at the end of the antenna
was being dragged through the air, and it went
through one of the hangar roofs and did some
damage to the hangar. The base commander
was not amused and ordered the whole crew
punished—the Italian version of KP.
In another story, Louis wrote that the
bombers at his airbase in Bari, Italy, were
parked (hidden) under some trees while mockups
made from plywood and fabric that were
painted in camouflage were parked near the
hangars. One day the Americans attacked the
base with aircraft, destroyed all of the
bombers hidden under the trees, and left all of
the decoys intact. Louis thought that the
Partisans must have had something to do with
it!
You can’t make this stuff up! It is certainly
amazing to learn these types of stories from
fellow AMA members.
For more information about the
Aviomodelli CANT Z.1007 model, contact
Internet RC at (602) 347-1600 or write to the
company at Box 31189, Phoenix AZ 85046.
The E-mail address is Webmaster@Internet-
RC.com.
Rearwin Speedster ARF: Kangke Industrial
has released its second Golden Age ARF
model: the 1⁄4-scale Rearwin Speedster. It
spans 96 inches and is designed for a 2.3 or
larger gas engine. Four channels operate the
aircraft, and it requires six servos.
My Rearwin Speedster is nearly
completed. All of the surfaces are prehinged
with an easy hinge-type material. With a small
amount of thin cyanoacrylate glue, the
surfaces are complete.
All of the servo mounts are ready to accept
servos. The tail feathers are installed with
epoxy, and the support wires/brackets are
installed with the supplied hardware. All of
the hardware is good quality, and the painted
parts—cowling, wheel pants, and landing
gear—are superbly painted and match the
UltraCote covering on the model.
The model goes together quickly and will
be test flown at the soonest opportunity. Stay
tuned!
To find out more about the Rearwin
Speedster, visit the Kangke Web site at
www.kangkeusa.com or call the order line at
(877) 203-2377. For technical information call
(631) 274-3058.
Come back next month to learn how to make
great-looking decals and insignia. In the
meantime, fly safely and be happy! MA