Radio Control Giants
Sal Calvagna [[email protected]]
Meister-Scale Spitfire built by Lou Cetrangelo
It's early January 2007 as I put the final changes on this column. The weather in the Northeast has been unseasonably mild for this time of year. It's been so warm that all-time temperature records were surpassed and we experienced the warmest December and January on record.
Weather experts have explained that the oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific, El Niño, and long-term climate trends have contributed to the balmy conditions. Others attribute it to global warming. Whatever the reason, I know many hardworking people who are thrilled that they don't have to shovel, plow, or commute in snow.
The point I was trying to make before I drifted off was that I don't remember the last time I saw so many modelers at the field during this time of year! It's unheard of. Usually by the end of October or early November, the flying stops and building begins in this region.
Supermarine Spitfire: Lou Cetrangelo of Saint James, New York, is pictured with his newly completed Supermarine Spitfire from Meister-Scale plans. The model spans 96 inches, making it slightly larger than 1/5 scale. It has a wing area of more than 1,500 square inches and a low wing loading of approximately 24 ounces per square foot. Powered by a DA-50 two-stroke gasoline ignition engine, Lou's Spitfire weighs 20 pounds. It was built from a short kit available at Meister-Scale; the spinner, Robart retracts, plans, ABS exhaust, and canopy were purchased from the company as well.
The model is all built up using the tried-and-true stick-built method. The wing and tail surfaces are covered with Solartex material. The wing is an open-bay structure that makes it lightweight. Although the plans called for wood structure all the way up to the spinner, Lou modified the firewall assembly to accept the DA-50. Instead of building a wood structure to surround the engine, Lou made a fiberglass cowling using blue foam to make a one-off mold.
The DA-50 powers a three-blade 20 x 12 carbon-fiber propeller from Bolly. The Spitfire was finished with Klass Kote epoxy paint. It is modeled after a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) No. 457 Squadron Spitfire called the Grey Nurse.
The Supermarine Spitfire was the defining British single-seat fighter of World War II. R.J. Mitchell, who designed racing aircraft and won several Schneider Cup races in the 1920s and early 1930s, was the designer. The Spitfire was identified by its elliptical wing planform. The wing shape gave the aircraft superior performance and a higher top speed than the Hawker Hurricane. Mitchell died of cancer in 1937 and never realized the full importance of his design. More than 20,000 Spitfires were produced during and after the war.
The Royal Australian Air Force No. 457 Squadron was based near Coventry, England, where the young pilots participated in defensive patrols and fighter sweeps above the English Channel and Europe. The squadron was transferred to Australia in June 1942 because the Japanese had taken Bali in February and Java in March. They were bombing Darwin by air and preparing to invade Australia.
The men of No. 457 Squadron saw heavy action for more than a year as they fought the superior Japanese air forces. By December 1943 the Japanese had suffered enough damage and withdrew from their attack on Darwin. The Grey Nurse is the only Supermarine Spitfire flying in Australia and commemorates the heroic days when RAAF pilots rose to do battle with the Japanese.
If you want to experience your own battle with the imperial Japanese forces—in 1/5 scale, that is—check out the Meister-Scale website at www.meister-scale.com. You can write the company at 313 US Hwy. 206 N, Chester, NJ 07930, or call (973) 584-4905.
Foam Friendly
The common words used to describe the plethora of smaller models being produced these days are "foam" and "foamies." This lightweight material is used extensively in smaller models, most notably in electric-powered airplanes.
Foam can be in block or card form or extruded. Although it is identified more often with little flying models, foam can and is used in large models.
The two types of foam used in larger models are white and blue. In the picture I have the two types next to each other so you can see their different cell structures. The white foam is made from expanded polystyrene beads. This type is lighter in weight and easy to cut using a nichrome wire. It is used primarily to make wing and stabilizer cores.
The process of making a wing core involves using a root rib template, a wingtip template, and a foam cutter or bow. The bow holds the nichrome wire taut. An electric charge passes through the wire, making the wire burn through the foam. I have included a photo of a wing core that was cut using the FeatherCut foam-cutting system.
Cutting a foam core speeds up the process of building a wing. Once the wing is sheeted, the structure is strong and light.
Blue foam is good to use when you need to make sculptural forms or models that need to be solid. The material is easy to cut and shape with hand tools and is inexpensive. Dow Chemical Company invented the material more than 50 years ago, and it's identified by the distinctive blue color.
This type of foam is widely used in insulation today. It has a closed cell structure that resists moisture and is recognized for its superior insulating properties. For modelers, blue foam is great for making one-off molds for cowlings, fairings, and any other molded parts.
Blue foam is easy to sand and can be contoured to any shape. For cowl construction, once the mold is contoured to the finished shape, a couple of coats of fiberglass cloth with an epoxy resin will finish the job.
For more information about where to buy foam and foam-cutting tools, please visit www.tekoa.com and http://rockfordpulley.com/index.asp.
Dave's Dr.I
Dave Von Frank of East Hampton, New York, has a new 1/4-scale Balsa USA Fokker Dr.I. Powered by an O.S. 1.60 twin four-stroke glow engine, the model is covered with Solartex material.
Dave painted the aircraft with acrylic paint and used Klass Kote clear to provide a fuel-proof finish. The Fokker sports 7-inch Du-Bro Vintage wheels, and Dave designed his own shock-absorbing gear system.
He reports that the model is a superb flier. Great job, Dave!
That's a wrap for this month. Send me some photos of your project and I will be happy to include them in a future column. Clear skies and light winds! Sal
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
