Radio Control Giants-2007/04

116 MODEL AVIATION
wing loading of approximately 24 ounces per square foot.
Powered by a DA-50 two-stroke gasoline-powered ignition
engine, Lou’s Spitfire weighs 20 pounds. It was built from a short kit
available at Meister-Scale, and 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 making 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
Meister-Scale Spitfire built by Lou Cetrangelo
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Giants Sal Calvagna
Also included in this column:
• The use of foam in Giant
Scale models
• 1/4-scale Balsa USA Fokker
Dr.I by Dave Von Frank
Lou Cetrangelo of Saint James, New York, displays his newly
finished Meister-Scale 1/5-scale Spitfire.
The DA-50 engine is more than ample power for the lightweight
Spitfire, caught here making its first landing.
Dave Von Frank with his O.S. 1.60 twin-powered Balsa USA 1/4-
scale Fokker Dr.I covered with Solartex material.
White and blue foam pictured side by side show the difference in
the cell structure of each material.
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 that 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
A wing core is cut from white foam, which is lightweight and used
for wing, stabilizer, or vertical fin cores.
Dow Styrofoam blue foam is great for making one-off molds. It
sands well and is easy with which to work.
several Schneider Cup races in the 1920s and early 1930s, designed
the aircraft.
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 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 beat back the superior Japanese Air Force. By December
1943 the Japanese had received 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
Web site at www.meister-scale.com. You can write the company at
313 US Hwy. 206N, 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.
The foam can be in stock or card form or extruded. Although it is
identified more often with little flying models, foam can be 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 Styrofoam is widely used in insulation today. It has a
closed cell that resists moisture and is recognized for its superior
insulating properties. For us 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 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://rochfordsupply.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 fourstroke
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!