RADIO CONTROL GIANTS
Sal Calvagna 1335 Broadway Ave., Holbrook NY 11741 E-mail: [email protected]
Transporting Giants
How do you get your RC Giant model to the airfield? In the fall 2004 issue of High Flight, Chris Spangenberg wrote about replacing his old Toyota truck with a Ford E350 15-passenger van to solve his model-transporting needs. I can’t agree with him more — towing is a last resort and I don’t want the hassles.
I have been carting my larger models in the same type of van for the past four years. I purchased a 1993 Ford 15-passenger Club Wagon from Nick Ziroli Jr., who had used it to haul his RC Giants to a number of events. Nick said the van was special because it had accommodated so many Top Gun–quality models and pilots, and, furthermore, owning it would undoubtedly have a positive effect on my building and flying skills. How could I refuse?
During the past four years the van has done it all: hauling models, packing in family and friends for road trips — a useful and reliable vehicle. The downside is that there has been no improvement in my building and flying skills. Nick, isn’t that false advertising?
Chris wrote an excellent piece describing the benefits of using this type of van and how he used PVC pipe to make fixtures for wings and fuselages. I agree with everything Chris wrote; since I recently replaced my aging van with a 2004 E350, I’ll add a few more comments on the how, what, and where of finding a great value.
Features to look for
Most E350 extended-length, 15-passenger vans are the XLT version and include many creature comforts. Look for:
- Power door locks and power windows
- Power remote mirrors and power steering
- Tilt wheel and reclining front seats
- Front and rear heat and air-conditioning
- Complete stereo system and tinted windows
Added accessories you should look for:
- Tow package
- Full running boards (make it much easier to enter and exit the van)
- Power driver’s seat (some vans have this)
Where to find one and buying tips
Many of these vans are sold as fleet vehicles to large corporations or go to rental agencies. The best place I’ve found to locate one is www.autos.yahoo.com. Plug in the model and type of vehicle under the used or new auto selections, then refine your search by year, model, and miles from your ZIP code. You’ll find listings (many with photos) within a given distance from your home. Most vans I found were at dealerships, not private sales.
I found more than 700 2004 E350 vans nationwide that had been purchased at auction after coming off leases. These 2004 vans had from 1,500 miles to more than 30,000 miles; prices varied accordingly. All were still under factory warranty.
I found my 2004 van in Berlin, Connecticut, at a Ford dealership about 100 miles from my home. It had a full tow package, full factory running boards, and 18,900 miles on the odometer. A CARFAX check showed it was less than a year old and had been used as a rental vehicle in North Carolina.
Brand new, the van listed for more than $30,000; I purchased it for $19,100. It was in like-new condition, came with a 60-day dealership warranty, and still had two years left on the factory warranty. In effect, I let someone else pay for the depreciation.
The van was listed for sale at $19,895. Don’t be afraid to make an offer — prices are negotiable.
Model Spotlight: Gene’s model
Power comes from four Thunder Tiger .25 glow engines installed inverted, each with its own onboard ignition system. The ignition systems make for easy starting and greatly improve reliability—especially at idle. The wings are Fome-Cor, sheeted with balsa, fiberglassed, and finished with a base-coat/clear-coat system that gives them a high-gloss shine. The model sports split flaps and is an extremely smooth flier with plenty of power to haul the 18.5-pound airplane around.
Gene is considering adding a braking system to reduce rollout on finished surfaces when landing. Beautiful model, Gene! I hope you enjoy it for many years.
Gunny Bumburs — Hangar 9 Cessna 182 Skylane ARF
Gunny Bumburs of Babylon, New York, refinished his Hangar 9 Cessna 182 Skylane ARF with great results. He removed the vinyl graphics that came with the model and prepared, masked, and painted his own design using Krylon Fusion spray paint straight from the can. In preparation for the new paint job, Gunny used 000 steel wool to scuff the area to be painted.
When the paint was dry, he added automotive-type pinstriping to accent the new paint scheme. A coat of Krylon Crystal Clear was added to protect the newly painted and pinstriped areas.
The model is powered by an RCS 180 (30cc) gas engine from RC Showcase that fits nicely under the cowling and turns a Menz 18 x 10 propeller. Gunny made a custom exhaust pipe using copper plumbing elbows. The model uses a Tru-Turn spinner, has a Robart nose-gear RoboStrut, and weighs 20 pounds. Nice job, Gunny!
Ed Testa — Fleet biplane
Ed Testa of Manorville, New York, built his Fleet biplane from a Concept Models kit. The aircraft spans 84 inches and is powered by a Zenoah G-38 gas engine. The covering is Solartex material, and Ed painted it with HobbyPoxy paint. The simulated radial was made using Williams Bros. engine cylinders. The engine spins a Zinger 20 x 8 propeller and the model has Du-Bro balloon-type wheels.
Ed painted his model in a color scheme found on a full-scale Fleet that was based at an airfield on nearby Shelter Island.
Tony — 1/4-scale Nieuport
The 1/4-scale Nieuport spans 80 inches and is covered using Nelson LiteFAB and painted with automotive lacquer paint. The model is finished in Swiss markings and is powered by a Zenoah G-26 gas engine.
A brief bit of history: the last of the Nieuport sesquiplane series of fighters in World War I was the Nieuport 27. When it finally reached fighting units, it had already been outclassed by the Spad VII. To remain a contender, Nieuport made fundamental changes to its fighter design and produced the Nieuport 28. After several revisions the new fighter was accepted as the Nieuport 28 C-1 and ordered into production.
According to history, the order was quickly canceled. Although the Nieuport 28 was an improvement over older Nieuport fighters, it was deemed inferior to the widely equipped French Air Service Spad XIII. Ironically, since the Nieuport 28 was rejected by the French, it became the first operational fighter with the American Expeditionary Force simply because it was available.
Great job on those biplanes, gentlemen. "Real" airplanes have two wings and round engines!
This wraps up another column. Spring is here and another flying season is in bloom. Remember to give your models and radio-control systems a good looking-over if they have been in storage all winter.
Please take the time to cycle-test your battery packs.
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
