110 MODEL AVIATION
The first flight for a Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk XIVc
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Giants Sal Calvagna
Also included in this column:
• More Balsa USA 1/4-scale Spad
13 build
• A great-flying S.E.5a by James
Gobetz
Jim Gobetz of Mount Sinai, New York, with his 80-inch-wingspan
Balsa USA 1/4-scale Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a.
Jim powers his S.E.5a with a Zenoah G-38 gas engine and covered
his model with Solartex olive drab material.
Whitney Philbrick of Poughkeepsie, New York, is proud of his 1/5-scale, 88-inchwingspan
Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk XIVc.
Whitney’s Spitfire flew beautifully on its first
mission, landed gently, and lived to fly another
day.
WELCOME TO 2008! The years seem to
fly by. Winter is here—well, for some
parts of the country—and it’s time to
complete your latest RC Giant project and
make those repairs you put off during the
flying season.
Gee, in my younger days winter meant
sledding, snowball fights, and other
outdoor activities. How times have
changed ...
It has been reported that the average
AMA member is roughly 50. According to
this figure I am right in the average. Since
I have enjoyed more than 25 years of
modeling, I believe many of us have taken
pleasure in the same.
One would think that after all those
years, building and flying models would
become “old hat,” as they say. Not for me
and not for the many members I know.
There’s something exciting about
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:01 AM Page 110
January 2008 111
The Balsa USA 1/4-scale Spad 13’s front cowl assembly is
constructed from layers of balsa on a plywood ring.
The RCS 50 VT four-stroke gas engine installed in the Spad was
designed to be used in radio-control applications.
building the next project, and those first
flights are as exciting now as they were in
years gone by. It is one of the great
defining moments in aeromodeling and one
of the many reasons why we keep coming
back for more!
I have included one of those moments
captured by my trusty camera. Perhaps
there’s a Pulitzer Prize in my future. (I
don’t think so!)
Tallyho! Whitney Philbrick of
Poughkeepsie, New York, test-flew his
Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk
XIVc at the Central Connecticut RC
Club’s field in Farmington. Whitney
purchased the model in February 1993 at
the annual Westchester Radio
AeroModelers (WRAM) Show in
Westchester, New York.
The aircraft took second place in post-
World War I Scale at the 2005 WRAM
show. It is powered by a ZDZ 40 gas
engine on ignition and was finished as an
MN-E, which has wartime history. The
model sports a full cockpit with sliding
canopy and is finished with Stits paint.
Whitney installed an Airtronics Stylus
(PCM) radio and freely admits that at the
time of its first flight the model was more
than 14 years old. This sets a record for
“Philbrick procrastination.”
If you look closely at the photo of the
Spitfire, you can see that the engine is
running and Whitney is looking serious.
It’s the “just-before-the-first-flight”
AM Page 111
picture, and he must be wondering if it
will come back in one piece!
The other photo says it all. Tallyho!
The Spitfire is off to look for enemy
aircraft. The model flew beautifully, and
after a few flight patterns to get the gear
down, it landed gently and lived to fly
another day.
Whitney is a member of the Mid
Hudson Radio Control Society and flies at
Hopewell Field in Hopewell Junction,
New York.
The great-looking Spitfire spans 88
inches, has a length of 78 inches, and
weighs 20-24 pounds. It features a onepiece
fiberglass fuselage with firewall and
formers installed, elliptical foam-core
wings with split flaps, a one-piece
molded-fiberglass stabilizer, and many
other elements that make construction fast
and accurate.
The Spitfire is without a doubt the
most famous British fighter of World War
II. It is as highly regarded by the British
as the P-51 Mustang is by Americans.
The Spitfire was first flown in March
1936, and the first Mk Is joined the Royal
Air Force in August 1938. They were not
sent to France at the beginning of
hostilities and remained at home to
provide air defense. The aircraft were
used over Dunkirk in June 1940 when
British and French forces were evacuated
to England.
In the following months the Spitfire
would prove itself to be a match for any
German aircraft. It was adored by the
pilots who flew it. However, although its
speed and handling were superb, the
narrow undercarriage and poor visibility
on the ground led to numerous accidents.
During the famous Battle of Britain,
112 MODEL AVIATION
Send SAE with two stamps for list.
Bob Holman
Box 741, San Bernardino CA 92402
www.bhplans.com • 909-885-3959
Plan $35.00 • Epoxy glass cowl $35.
Laser cut parts $150.00
• Shipping $8.00 • Catalog $8.50 post paid.
The Best In Scale
DIVERSIFIED SOLUTIONS, LLC.
5932 Chicago Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Ph: 1-612-243-1234 Fax: 1-612-243-8950
Email: [email protected] • Web: www.klasskote.com
For Color Chart and Information, Send SASE
Don’t Delay – Order Yours Today!
You Built the Best Model, So Use The Best Paint!
“Superior
Quality”
Epoxy Paint
System
Available in
Colors, Clear
& Primer.
38 Years of Extensive Field
Performance Provides
Outstanding Adhesion & Protection Against Many RC Model Fuels
the Royal Air Force Fighter Command
had 33 squadrons of older Hawker
Hurricane fighters and only 18 squadrons
of the higher-performance Spitfires
available. There are several interesting
facts about this famous conflict and the
Spitfire.
• Hurricanes accounted for more kills
than Spitfires did during the Battle of
Britain—roughly 80% of them.
• Hurricanes totaled 1,715 aircraft during
the battle, which is more than the rest of
the British fighter aircraft combined.
• Spitfires had more losses proportionally
than Hurricanes, which could absorb
more combat damage.
• The fastest wartime Spitfire reached a
speed of 460 mph, and 20,531 were
produced in 40 variations during and after
the war.
• The Spitfire was more costly and more
difficult to construct than the Hurricane.
Although the older-generation Hawker
Hurricane was the mainstay of the British
fighter force during the Battle of Britain,
the Spitfire remains ingrained as the
symbol of victory during those dark days.
Because of its performance and elegance,
the aircraft was perceived as a
thoroughbred when compared to the
Hurricane’s workhorse attributes.
Balsa USA Spad 13: This 1/4-scale
model’s build continues. The forward
cowling has been constructed and fitted to
the fuselage. The cowling is constructed
from layers of balsa on a light-plywood
ring that is sanded to shape. Hardwood
Down-Under Extra in Delaware
My 34% CA Model Extra 330 was built
from a kit and was powered by a Brison 6.4
when this picture was taken. That engine has
since been replaced with a Desert Aircraft DA-
100. The radio is Futaba, and the servos are
Hitec digitals.
The Extra weighs a respectable 26.5
pounds. The color scheme and vinyl graphics
were copied from a full-scale Extra that is
located in Australia.
This photo was taken on the model’s final
approach at the Delaware R/C Club’s field at
Lums Pond State Park during the summer of
2007. The model flies wonderfully, and I’ve
started competing in IMAC [International
Miniature Aerobatic Club] with it. MA
—Mark A. McQuaide
[email protected]
E-mail your high-resolution “Viewfinder”
photo to [email protected] with a
short note containing the airplane or
helicopter story.
Viewfinder
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:04 AM Page 112
crossmembers are installed, as is screen
material to produce the faux-radiator
look.
The fuselage is completed and the
engine has been installed on the firewall.
My engine of choice is an RCS 50 VT
four-stroke gas from RC Showcase. It has
a 50cc displacement and a range of 1,200-
7,000 rpm. It weighs 3 pounds, 7 ounces;
is rated at 3.5 horsepower; and will spin a
two-blade 20 x 10 propeller at
approximately 6,000 rpm.
The 50 VT is the first production
single-cylinder, four-stroke gas engine
not made from weed-whacker parts. It
was designed from the ground up to be
used in radio-control applications and is
perfect for 1/4 scale or larger models.
Jim’s S.E.5a: I have included a couple
photos of a Balsa USA 1/4-scale S.E.5a
built and flown by Jim Gobetz of Mount
Sinai, New York. The model spans 80
inches and weighs roughly 20 pounds.
Jim started flying smaller, glowengine-
powered aircraft before moving
on to the larger models, as did most of us.
He enjoys building airplanes as much as
flying them and prefers to power his with
gasoline two-stroke engines. The S.E.5a
is powered by a Zenoah G-38 and
covered with Solartex.
Jim enjoys flying the S.E.5a,
especially on calm days. Great job, Jim!
That’s all for this month. I wish you all a
happy and healthy modeling year for
2008. Until next month. MA
Sources:
Yellow Aircraft International
(781) 935-9868
www.yellowaircraft.com/index.htm
RC Showcase
(301) 374-2197
www.rcshowcase.com/html/RCS/rcs50vt.
html
Balsa USA
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Homes from the $150’s*
Visit the new Model Home Center with
17 beautifully furnished model homes!
*Prices subject to change. Void where prohibited by law.**At least one guest must be 55 years of age or older to participate in visitation
program. All guests must be at least 18 years of age. A tour (approximately 2 hours) with one of our knowledgeable sales counselors is
required. Accommodations are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitation program subject to sales tax. Offer can
be withdrawn at any time. Daily golf fees apply for those playing golf.
For a complete brochure package including video call 1-800-421-4162
114 MODEL AVIATION
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:05 AM Page 114
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/01
Page Numbers: 110,111,112,114
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/01
Page Numbers: 110,111,112,114
110 MODEL AVIATION
The first flight for a Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk XIVc
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Giants Sal Calvagna
Also included in this column:
• More Balsa USA 1/4-scale Spad
13 build
• A great-flying S.E.5a by James
Gobetz
Jim Gobetz of Mount Sinai, New York, with his 80-inch-wingspan
Balsa USA 1/4-scale Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a.
Jim powers his S.E.5a with a Zenoah G-38 gas engine and covered
his model with Solartex olive drab material.
Whitney Philbrick of Poughkeepsie, New York, is proud of his 1/5-scale, 88-inchwingspan
Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk XIVc.
Whitney’s Spitfire flew beautifully on its first
mission, landed gently, and lived to fly another
day.
WELCOME TO 2008! The years seem to
fly by. Winter is here—well, for some
parts of the country—and it’s time to
complete your latest RC Giant project and
make those repairs you put off during the
flying season.
Gee, in my younger days winter meant
sledding, snowball fights, and other
outdoor activities. How times have
changed ...
It has been reported that the average
AMA member is roughly 50. According to
this figure I am right in the average. Since
I have enjoyed more than 25 years of
modeling, I believe many of us have taken
pleasure in the same.
One would think that after all those
years, building and flying models would
become “old hat,” as they say. Not for me
and not for the many members I know.
There’s something exciting about
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:01 AM Page 110
January 2008 111
The Balsa USA 1/4-scale Spad 13’s front cowl assembly is
constructed from layers of balsa on a plywood ring.
The RCS 50 VT four-stroke gas engine installed in the Spad was
designed to be used in radio-control applications.
building the next project, and those first
flights are as exciting now as they were in
years gone by. It is one of the great
defining moments in aeromodeling and one
of the many reasons why we keep coming
back for more!
I have included one of those moments
captured by my trusty camera. Perhaps
there’s a Pulitzer Prize in my future. (I
don’t think so!)
Tallyho! Whitney Philbrick of
Poughkeepsie, New York, test-flew his
Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk
XIVc at the Central Connecticut RC
Club’s field in Farmington. Whitney
purchased the model in February 1993 at
the annual Westchester Radio
AeroModelers (WRAM) Show in
Westchester, New York.
The aircraft took second place in post-
World War I Scale at the 2005 WRAM
show. It is powered by a ZDZ 40 gas
engine on ignition and was finished as an
MN-E, which has wartime history. The
model sports a full cockpit with sliding
canopy and is finished with Stits paint.
Whitney installed an Airtronics Stylus
(PCM) radio and freely admits that at the
time of its first flight the model was more
than 14 years old. This sets a record for
“Philbrick procrastination.”
If you look closely at the photo of the
Spitfire, you can see that the engine is
running and Whitney is looking serious.
It’s the “just-before-the-first-flight”
AM Page 111
picture, and he must be wondering if it
will come back in one piece!
The other photo says it all. Tallyho!
The Spitfire is off to look for enemy
aircraft. The model flew beautifully, and
after a few flight patterns to get the gear
down, it landed gently and lived to fly
another day.
Whitney is a member of the Mid
Hudson Radio Control Society and flies at
Hopewell Field in Hopewell Junction,
New York.
The great-looking Spitfire spans 88
inches, has a length of 78 inches, and
weighs 20-24 pounds. It features a onepiece
fiberglass fuselage with firewall and
formers installed, elliptical foam-core
wings with split flaps, a one-piece
molded-fiberglass stabilizer, and many
other elements that make construction fast
and accurate.
The Spitfire is without a doubt the
most famous British fighter of World War
II. It is as highly regarded by the British
as the P-51 Mustang is by Americans.
The Spitfire was first flown in March
1936, and the first Mk Is joined the Royal
Air Force in August 1938. They were not
sent to France at the beginning of
hostilities and remained at home to
provide air defense. The aircraft were
used over Dunkirk in June 1940 when
British and French forces were evacuated
to England.
In the following months the Spitfire
would prove itself to be a match for any
German aircraft. It was adored by the
pilots who flew it. However, although its
speed and handling were superb, the
narrow undercarriage and poor visibility
on the ground led to numerous accidents.
During the famous Battle of Britain,
112 MODEL AVIATION
Send SAE with two stamps for list.
Bob Holman
Box 741, San Bernardino CA 92402
www.bhplans.com • 909-885-3959
Plan $35.00 • Epoxy glass cowl $35.
Laser cut parts $150.00
• Shipping $8.00 • Catalog $8.50 post paid.
The Best In Scale
DIVERSIFIED SOLUTIONS, LLC.
5932 Chicago Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Ph: 1-612-243-1234 Fax: 1-612-243-8950
Email: [email protected] • Web: www.klasskote.com
For Color Chart and Information, Send SASE
Don’t Delay – Order Yours Today!
You Built the Best Model, So Use The Best Paint!
“Superior
Quality”
Epoxy Paint
System
Available in
Colors, Clear
& Primer.
38 Years of Extensive Field
Performance Provides
Outstanding Adhesion & Protection Against Many RC Model Fuels
the Royal Air Force Fighter Command
had 33 squadrons of older Hawker
Hurricane fighters and only 18 squadrons
of the higher-performance Spitfires
available. There are several interesting
facts about this famous conflict and the
Spitfire.
• Hurricanes accounted for more kills
than Spitfires did during the Battle of
Britain—roughly 80% of them.
• Hurricanes totaled 1,715 aircraft during
the battle, which is more than the rest of
the British fighter aircraft combined.
• Spitfires had more losses proportionally
than Hurricanes, which could absorb
more combat damage.
• The fastest wartime Spitfire reached a
speed of 460 mph, and 20,531 were
produced in 40 variations during and after
the war.
• The Spitfire was more costly and more
difficult to construct than the Hurricane.
Although the older-generation Hawker
Hurricane was the mainstay of the British
fighter force during the Battle of Britain,
the Spitfire remains ingrained as the
symbol of victory during those dark days.
Because of its performance and elegance,
the aircraft was perceived as a
thoroughbred when compared to the
Hurricane’s workhorse attributes.
Balsa USA Spad 13: This 1/4-scale
model’s build continues. The forward
cowling has been constructed and fitted to
the fuselage. The cowling is constructed
from layers of balsa on a light-plywood
ring that is sanded to shape. Hardwood
Down-Under Extra in Delaware
My 34% CA Model Extra 330 was built
from a kit and was powered by a Brison 6.4
when this picture was taken. That engine has
since been replaced with a Desert Aircraft DA-
100. The radio is Futaba, and the servos are
Hitec digitals.
The Extra weighs a respectable 26.5
pounds. The color scheme and vinyl graphics
were copied from a full-scale Extra that is
located in Australia.
This photo was taken on the model’s final
approach at the Delaware R/C Club’s field at
Lums Pond State Park during the summer of
2007. The model flies wonderfully, and I’ve
started competing in IMAC [International
Miniature Aerobatic Club] with it. MA
—Mark A. McQuaide
[email protected]
E-mail your high-resolution “Viewfinder”
photo to [email protected] with a
short note containing the airplane or
helicopter story.
Viewfinder
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:04 AM Page 112
crossmembers are installed, as is screen
material to produce the faux-radiator
look.
The fuselage is completed and the
engine has been installed on the firewall.
My engine of choice is an RCS 50 VT
four-stroke gas from RC Showcase. It has
a 50cc displacement and a range of 1,200-
7,000 rpm. It weighs 3 pounds, 7 ounces;
is rated at 3.5 horsepower; and will spin a
two-blade 20 x 10 propeller at
approximately 6,000 rpm.
The 50 VT is the first production
single-cylinder, four-stroke gas engine
not made from weed-whacker parts. It
was designed from the ground up to be
used in radio-control applications and is
perfect for 1/4 scale or larger models.
Jim’s S.E.5a: I have included a couple
photos of a Balsa USA 1/4-scale S.E.5a
built and flown by Jim Gobetz of Mount
Sinai, New York. The model spans 80
inches and weighs roughly 20 pounds.
Jim started flying smaller, glowengine-
powered aircraft before moving
on to the larger models, as did most of us.
He enjoys building airplanes as much as
flying them and prefers to power his with
gasoline two-stroke engines. The S.E.5a
is powered by a Zenoah G-38 and
covered with Solartex.
Jim enjoys flying the S.E.5a,
especially on calm days. Great job, Jim!
That’s all for this month. I wish you all a
happy and healthy modeling year for
2008. Until next month. MA
Sources:
Yellow Aircraft International
(781) 935-9868
www.yellowaircraft.com/index.htm
RC Showcase
(301) 374-2197
www.rcshowcase.com/html/RCS/rcs50vt.
html
Balsa USA
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Homes from the $150’s*
Visit the new Model Home Center with
17 beautifully furnished model homes!
*Prices subject to change. Void where prohibited by law.**At least one guest must be 55 years of age or older to participate in visitation
program. All guests must be at least 18 years of age. A tour (approximately 2 hours) with one of our knowledgeable sales counselors is
required. Accommodations are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitation program subject to sales tax. Offer can
be withdrawn at any time. Daily golf fees apply for those playing golf.
For a complete brochure package including video call 1-800-421-4162
114 MODEL AVIATION
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:05 AM Page 114
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/01
Page Numbers: 110,111,112,114
110 MODEL AVIATION
The first flight for a Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk XIVc
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Giants Sal Calvagna
Also included in this column:
• More Balsa USA 1/4-scale Spad
13 build
• A great-flying S.E.5a by James
Gobetz
Jim Gobetz of Mount Sinai, New York, with his 80-inch-wingspan
Balsa USA 1/4-scale Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a.
Jim powers his S.E.5a with a Zenoah G-38 gas engine and covered
his model with Solartex olive drab material.
Whitney Philbrick of Poughkeepsie, New York, is proud of his 1/5-scale, 88-inchwingspan
Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk XIVc.
Whitney’s Spitfire flew beautifully on its first
mission, landed gently, and lived to fly another
day.
WELCOME TO 2008! The years seem to
fly by. Winter is here—well, for some
parts of the country—and it’s time to
complete your latest RC Giant project and
make those repairs you put off during the
flying season.
Gee, in my younger days winter meant
sledding, snowball fights, and other
outdoor activities. How times have
changed ...
It has been reported that the average
AMA member is roughly 50. According to
this figure I am right in the average. Since
I have enjoyed more than 25 years of
modeling, I believe many of us have taken
pleasure in the same.
One would think that after all those
years, building and flying models would
become “old hat,” as they say. Not for me
and not for the many members I know.
There’s something exciting about
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:01 AM Page 110
January 2008 111
The Balsa USA 1/4-scale Spad 13’s front cowl assembly is
constructed from layers of balsa on a plywood ring.
The RCS 50 VT four-stroke gas engine installed in the Spad was
designed to be used in radio-control applications.
building the next project, and those first
flights are as exciting now as they were in
years gone by. It is one of the great
defining moments in aeromodeling and one
of the many reasons why we keep coming
back for more!
I have included one of those moments
captured by my trusty camera. Perhaps
there’s a Pulitzer Prize in my future. (I
don’t think so!)
Tallyho! Whitney Philbrick of
Poughkeepsie, New York, test-flew his
Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk
XIVc at the Central Connecticut RC
Club’s field in Farmington. Whitney
purchased the model in February 1993 at
the annual Westchester Radio
AeroModelers (WRAM) Show in
Westchester, New York.
The aircraft took second place in post-
World War I Scale at the 2005 WRAM
show. It is powered by a ZDZ 40 gas
engine on ignition and was finished as an
MN-E, which has wartime history. The
model sports a full cockpit with sliding
canopy and is finished with Stits paint.
Whitney installed an Airtronics Stylus
(PCM) radio and freely admits that at the
time of its first flight the model was more
than 14 years old. This sets a record for
“Philbrick procrastination.”
If you look closely at the photo of the
Spitfire, you can see that the engine is
running and Whitney is looking serious.
It’s the “just-before-the-first-flight”
AM Page 111
picture, and he must be wondering if it
will come back in one piece!
The other photo says it all. Tallyho!
The Spitfire is off to look for enemy
aircraft. The model flew beautifully, and
after a few flight patterns to get the gear
down, it landed gently and lived to fly
another day.
Whitney is a member of the Mid
Hudson Radio Control Society and flies at
Hopewell Field in Hopewell Junction,
New York.
The great-looking Spitfire spans 88
inches, has a length of 78 inches, and
weighs 20-24 pounds. It features a onepiece
fiberglass fuselage with firewall and
formers installed, elliptical foam-core
wings with split flaps, a one-piece
molded-fiberglass stabilizer, and many
other elements that make construction fast
and accurate.
The Spitfire is without a doubt the
most famous British fighter of World War
II. It is as highly regarded by the British
as the P-51 Mustang is by Americans.
The Spitfire was first flown in March
1936, and the first Mk Is joined the Royal
Air Force in August 1938. They were not
sent to France at the beginning of
hostilities and remained at home to
provide air defense. The aircraft were
used over Dunkirk in June 1940 when
British and French forces were evacuated
to England.
In the following months the Spitfire
would prove itself to be a match for any
German aircraft. It was adored by the
pilots who flew it. However, although its
speed and handling were superb, the
narrow undercarriage and poor visibility
on the ground led to numerous accidents.
During the famous Battle of Britain,
112 MODEL AVIATION
Send SAE with two stamps for list.
Bob Holman
Box 741, San Bernardino CA 92402
www.bhplans.com • 909-885-3959
Plan $35.00 • Epoxy glass cowl $35.
Laser cut parts $150.00
• Shipping $8.00 • Catalog $8.50 post paid.
The Best In Scale
DIVERSIFIED SOLUTIONS, LLC.
5932 Chicago Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Ph: 1-612-243-1234 Fax: 1-612-243-8950
Email: [email protected] • Web: www.klasskote.com
For Color Chart and Information, Send SASE
Don’t Delay – Order Yours Today!
You Built the Best Model, So Use The Best Paint!
“Superior
Quality”
Epoxy Paint
System
Available in
Colors, Clear
& Primer.
38 Years of Extensive Field
Performance Provides
Outstanding Adhesion & Protection Against Many RC Model Fuels
the Royal Air Force Fighter Command
had 33 squadrons of older Hawker
Hurricane fighters and only 18 squadrons
of the higher-performance Spitfires
available. There are several interesting
facts about this famous conflict and the
Spitfire.
• Hurricanes accounted for more kills
than Spitfires did during the Battle of
Britain—roughly 80% of them.
• Hurricanes totaled 1,715 aircraft during
the battle, which is more than the rest of
the British fighter aircraft combined.
• Spitfires had more losses proportionally
than Hurricanes, which could absorb
more combat damage.
• The fastest wartime Spitfire reached a
speed of 460 mph, and 20,531 were
produced in 40 variations during and after
the war.
• The Spitfire was more costly and more
difficult to construct than the Hurricane.
Although the older-generation Hawker
Hurricane was the mainstay of the British
fighter force during the Battle of Britain,
the Spitfire remains ingrained as the
symbol of victory during those dark days.
Because of its performance and elegance,
the aircraft was perceived as a
thoroughbred when compared to the
Hurricane’s workhorse attributes.
Balsa USA Spad 13: This 1/4-scale
model’s build continues. The forward
cowling has been constructed and fitted to
the fuselage. The cowling is constructed
from layers of balsa on a light-plywood
ring that is sanded to shape. Hardwood
Down-Under Extra in Delaware
My 34% CA Model Extra 330 was built
from a kit and was powered by a Brison 6.4
when this picture was taken. That engine has
since been replaced with a Desert Aircraft DA-
100. The radio is Futaba, and the servos are
Hitec digitals.
The Extra weighs a respectable 26.5
pounds. The color scheme and vinyl graphics
were copied from a full-scale Extra that is
located in Australia.
This photo was taken on the model’s final
approach at the Delaware R/C Club’s field at
Lums Pond State Park during the summer of
2007. The model flies wonderfully, and I’ve
started competing in IMAC [International
Miniature Aerobatic Club] with it. MA
—Mark A. McQuaide
[email protected]
E-mail your high-resolution “Viewfinder”
photo to [email protected] with a
short note containing the airplane or
helicopter story.
Viewfinder
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:04 AM Page 112
crossmembers are installed, as is screen
material to produce the faux-radiator
look.
The fuselage is completed and the
engine has been installed on the firewall.
My engine of choice is an RCS 50 VT
four-stroke gas from RC Showcase. It has
a 50cc displacement and a range of 1,200-
7,000 rpm. It weighs 3 pounds, 7 ounces;
is rated at 3.5 horsepower; and will spin a
two-blade 20 x 10 propeller at
approximately 6,000 rpm.
The 50 VT is the first production
single-cylinder, four-stroke gas engine
not made from weed-whacker parts. It
was designed from the ground up to be
used in radio-control applications and is
perfect for 1/4 scale or larger models.
Jim’s S.E.5a: I have included a couple
photos of a Balsa USA 1/4-scale S.E.5a
built and flown by Jim Gobetz of Mount
Sinai, New York. The model spans 80
inches and weighs roughly 20 pounds.
Jim started flying smaller, glowengine-
powered aircraft before moving
on to the larger models, as did most of us.
He enjoys building airplanes as much as
flying them and prefers to power his with
gasoline two-stroke engines. The S.E.5a
is powered by a Zenoah G-38 and
covered with Solartex.
Jim enjoys flying the S.E.5a,
especially on calm days. Great job, Jim!
That’s all for this month. I wish you all a
happy and healthy modeling year for
2008. Until next month. MA
Sources:
Yellow Aircraft International
(781) 935-9868
www.yellowaircraft.com/index.htm
RC Showcase
(301) 374-2197
www.rcshowcase.com/html/RCS/rcs50vt.
html
Balsa USA
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Homes from the $150’s*
Visit the new Model Home Center with
17 beautifully furnished model homes!
*Prices subject to change. Void where prohibited by law.**At least one guest must be 55 years of age or older to participate in visitation
program. All guests must be at least 18 years of age. A tour (approximately 2 hours) with one of our knowledgeable sales counselors is
required. Accommodations are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitation program subject to sales tax. Offer can
be withdrawn at any time. Daily golf fees apply for those playing golf.
For a complete brochure package including video call 1-800-421-4162
114 MODEL AVIATION
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:05 AM Page 114
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/01
Page Numbers: 110,111,112,114
110 MODEL AVIATION
The first flight for a Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk XIVc
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Giants Sal Calvagna
Also included in this column:
• More Balsa USA 1/4-scale Spad
13 build
• A great-flying S.E.5a by James
Gobetz
Jim Gobetz of Mount Sinai, New York, with his 80-inch-wingspan
Balsa USA 1/4-scale Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a.
Jim powers his S.E.5a with a Zenoah G-38 gas engine and covered
his model with Solartex olive drab material.
Whitney Philbrick of Poughkeepsie, New York, is proud of his 1/5-scale, 88-inchwingspan
Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk XIVc.
Whitney’s Spitfire flew beautifully on its first
mission, landed gently, and lived to fly another
day.
WELCOME TO 2008! The years seem to
fly by. Winter is here—well, for some
parts of the country—and it’s time to
complete your latest RC Giant project and
make those repairs you put off during the
flying season.
Gee, in my younger days winter meant
sledding, snowball fights, and other
outdoor activities. How times have
changed ...
It has been reported that the average
AMA member is roughly 50. According to
this figure I am right in the average. Since
I have enjoyed more than 25 years of
modeling, I believe many of us have taken
pleasure in the same.
One would think that after all those
years, building and flying models would
become “old hat,” as they say. Not for me
and not for the many members I know.
There’s something exciting about
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:01 AM Page 110
January 2008 111
The Balsa USA 1/4-scale Spad 13’s front cowl assembly is
constructed from layers of balsa on a plywood ring.
The RCS 50 VT four-stroke gas engine installed in the Spad was
designed to be used in radio-control applications.
building the next project, and those first
flights are as exciting now as they were in
years gone by. It is one of the great
defining moments in aeromodeling and one
of the many reasons why we keep coming
back for more!
I have included one of those moments
captured by my trusty camera. Perhaps
there’s a Pulitzer Prize in my future. (I
don’t think so!)
Tallyho! Whitney Philbrick of
Poughkeepsie, New York, test-flew his
Yellow Aircraft International Spitfire Mk
XIVc at the Central Connecticut RC
Club’s field in Farmington. Whitney
purchased the model in February 1993 at
the annual Westchester Radio
AeroModelers (WRAM) Show in
Westchester, New York.
The aircraft took second place in post-
World War I Scale at the 2005 WRAM
show. It is powered by a ZDZ 40 gas
engine on ignition and was finished as an
MN-E, which has wartime history. The
model sports a full cockpit with sliding
canopy and is finished with Stits paint.
Whitney installed an Airtronics Stylus
(PCM) radio and freely admits that at the
time of its first flight the model was more
than 14 years old. This sets a record for
“Philbrick procrastination.”
If you look closely at the photo of the
Spitfire, you can see that the engine is
running and Whitney is looking serious.
It’s the “just-before-the-first-flight”
AM Page 111
picture, and he must be wondering if it
will come back in one piece!
The other photo says it all. Tallyho!
The Spitfire is off to look for enemy
aircraft. The model flew beautifully, and
after a few flight patterns to get the gear
down, it landed gently and lived to fly
another day.
Whitney is a member of the Mid
Hudson Radio Control Society and flies at
Hopewell Field in Hopewell Junction,
New York.
The great-looking Spitfire spans 88
inches, has a length of 78 inches, and
weighs 20-24 pounds. It features a onepiece
fiberglass fuselage with firewall and
formers installed, elliptical foam-core
wings with split flaps, a one-piece
molded-fiberglass stabilizer, and many
other elements that make construction fast
and accurate.
The Spitfire is without a doubt the
most famous British fighter of World War
II. It is as highly regarded by the British
as the P-51 Mustang is by Americans.
The Spitfire was first flown in March
1936, and the first Mk Is joined the Royal
Air Force in August 1938. They were not
sent to France at the beginning of
hostilities and remained at home to
provide air defense. The aircraft were
used over Dunkirk in June 1940 when
British and French forces were evacuated
to England.
In the following months the Spitfire
would prove itself to be a match for any
German aircraft. It was adored by the
pilots who flew it. However, although its
speed and handling were superb, the
narrow undercarriage and poor visibility
on the ground led to numerous accidents.
During the famous Battle of Britain,
112 MODEL AVIATION
Send SAE with two stamps for list.
Bob Holman
Box 741, San Bernardino CA 92402
www.bhplans.com • 909-885-3959
Plan $35.00 • Epoxy glass cowl $35.
Laser cut parts $150.00
• Shipping $8.00 • Catalog $8.50 post paid.
The Best In Scale
DIVERSIFIED SOLUTIONS, LLC.
5932 Chicago Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Ph: 1-612-243-1234 Fax: 1-612-243-8950
Email: [email protected] • Web: www.klasskote.com
For Color Chart and Information, Send SASE
Don’t Delay – Order Yours Today!
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the Royal Air Force Fighter Command
had 33 squadrons of older Hawker
Hurricane fighters and only 18 squadrons
of the higher-performance Spitfires
available. There are several interesting
facts about this famous conflict and the
Spitfire.
• Hurricanes accounted for more kills
than Spitfires did during the Battle of
Britain—roughly 80% of them.
• Hurricanes totaled 1,715 aircraft during
the battle, which is more than the rest of
the British fighter aircraft combined.
• Spitfires had more losses proportionally
than Hurricanes, which could absorb
more combat damage.
• The fastest wartime Spitfire reached a
speed of 460 mph, and 20,531 were
produced in 40 variations during and after
the war.
• The Spitfire was more costly and more
difficult to construct than the Hurricane.
Although the older-generation Hawker
Hurricane was the mainstay of the British
fighter force during the Battle of Britain,
the Spitfire remains ingrained as the
symbol of victory during those dark days.
Because of its performance and elegance,
the aircraft was perceived as a
thoroughbred when compared to the
Hurricane’s workhorse attributes.
Balsa USA Spad 13: This 1/4-scale
model’s build continues. The forward
cowling has been constructed and fitted to
the fuselage. The cowling is constructed
from layers of balsa on a light-plywood
ring that is sanded to shape. Hardwood
Down-Under Extra in Delaware
My 34% CA Model Extra 330 was built
from a kit and was powered by a Brison 6.4
when this picture was taken. That engine has
since been replaced with a Desert Aircraft DA-
100. The radio is Futaba, and the servos are
Hitec digitals.
The Extra weighs a respectable 26.5
pounds. The color scheme and vinyl graphics
were copied from a full-scale Extra that is
located in Australia.
This photo was taken on the model’s final
approach at the Delaware R/C Club’s field at
Lums Pond State Park during the summer of
2007. The model flies wonderfully, and I’ve
started competing in IMAC [International
Miniature Aerobatic Club] with it. MA
—Mark A. McQuaide
[email protected]
E-mail your high-resolution “Viewfinder”
photo to [email protected] with a
short note containing the airplane or
helicopter story.
Viewfinder
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:04 AM Page 112
crossmembers are installed, as is screen
material to produce the faux-radiator
look.
The fuselage is completed and the
engine has been installed on the firewall.
My engine of choice is an RCS 50 VT
four-stroke gas from RC Showcase. It has
a 50cc displacement and a range of 1,200-
7,000 rpm. It weighs 3 pounds, 7 ounces;
is rated at 3.5 horsepower; and will spin a
two-blade 20 x 10 propeller at
approximately 6,000 rpm.
The 50 VT is the first production
single-cylinder, four-stroke gas engine
not made from weed-whacker parts. It
was designed from the ground up to be
used in radio-control applications and is
perfect for 1/4 scale or larger models.
Jim’s S.E.5a: I have included a couple
photos of a Balsa USA 1/4-scale S.E.5a
built and flown by Jim Gobetz of Mount
Sinai, New York. The model spans 80
inches and weighs roughly 20 pounds.
Jim started flying smaller, glowengine-
powered aircraft before moving
on to the larger models, as did most of us.
He enjoys building airplanes as much as
flying them and prefers to power his with
gasoline two-stroke engines. The S.E.5a
is powered by a Zenoah G-38 and
covered with Solartex.
Jim enjoys flying the S.E.5a,
especially on calm days. Great job, Jim!
That’s all for this month. I wish you all a
happy and healthy modeling year for
2008. Until next month. MA
Sources:
Yellow Aircraft International
(781) 935-9868
www.yellowaircraft.com/index.htm
RC Showcase
(301) 374-2197
www.rcshowcase.com/html/RCS/rcs50vt.
html
Balsa USA
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Homes from the $150’s*
Visit the new Model Home Center with
17 beautifully furnished model homes!
*Prices subject to change. Void where prohibited by law.**At least one guest must be 55 years of age or older to participate in visitation
program. All guests must be at least 18 years of age. A tour (approximately 2 hours) with one of our knowledgeable sales counselors is
required. Accommodations are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitation program subject to sales tax. Offer can
be withdrawn at any time. Daily golf fees apply for those playing golf.
For a complete brochure package including video call 1-800-421-4162
114 MODEL AVIATION
01sig4.QXD 11/20/07 9:05 AM Page 114
