Radio Control Giants - 2008/02

124 MODEL AVIATION
Gunny Bumburs’ highly detailed Top Flite P-51 Mustang
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Giants Sal Calvagna
Also included in this column:
• Spad build—time to cover
• Carl Diehl’s Spad
• Hodges Hobbies High
Torque Starter
Gunny Bumburs’ Top Flite Giant Scale P-51 ARF is scaled out
in Bud Anderson’s Old Crow scheme. The Revolution gas
engine is completely enclosed.
The faux aluminum finish is Chrome MonoKote brushed with a
220-grit, sponge-type sanding block.
The Spad’s vertical fin and rudder show how well the Solartex
shrinks around compound curves.
The lower wing of Lou Cetrangelo’s Spad 13 is covered with
Solartex Natural. Notice the beautiful workmanship.
WELCOME BACK to another RC Giants
column. My previous pieces about P-51
Mustangs and the Balsa USA Spad build
have generated a fair amount of interest
among readers. In this month’s issue I’m
happy to feature another P-51—this one
by Gunny Bumburs of Babylon, New
York.
Although this model represents yet
another Top Flite ARF, the sheer amount
of detail, accessories, and extra effort put
it in a class of its own. I think you’ll
agree.
02sig4.QXD 12/20/07 11:12 AM Page 124February 2008 125
Carl Diehl’s 1/4-scale Balsa USA Spad 13 placed second in the
military sport class at the 2007 Toledo Show.
Hodges Hobbies of Andersonville, Georgia, offers this high-torque,
heavy-duty starter for larger engines.
Carl made this complex scale aileron bellcrank assembly for his
Spad 13 using brass tubes and solder.
Not one to leave well enough alone, Gunny spent the last five
months detailing a Top Flite Giant Scale P-51 ARF. The model
spans 84.5 inches, weighs 24 pounds, and is powered by a
Revolution 50 ignition gas engine.
The model came precovered with MonoKote film; however,
Gunny removed the covering to prepare the bare wood with a
coat of Sig Stix-It. Stix-It is a great wood sealer for any
prefinished iron-on coverings—film or fabric. It helps eliminate
troublesome pull-ups, lifting seams, and wrinkles, and it
contains a super-strong, heat-activated adhesive that keeps
covering material stuck down tight.
Once re-covered with MonoKote, Gunny used a 220-grit,
sponge-type sanding block to give it a brushed-aluminum finish.
The finish was scratched in working in one direction. Panel lines
were added later using a piece of folded sandpaper, again
scratching lightly to scribe each one.
The P-51 was finished as Bud Anderson’s Old Crow. The
decals were made by Wildmann Graphics and the painted
portions were done using Top Flite LusterKote and Krylon spray
paint. In addition to the beautiful finish, Gunny added many
aftermarket items such as Aerotech’s exhaust stacks, drop tanks,
wheels, and bombs.
The cowl and air scoop were purchased from Fiberglass
Specialties. Gunny used Robart landing gear; however, he
fabricated fully functional inner and outer gear doors. For
proper operation, he used a Mini Hobby ATL gear-door
sequencer.
Finally Gunny installed a lighting system he purchased from
ElectroDynamics. This system includes a wingtip light, tail
light, and his own-design landing light that swivels up and down
from the landing-gear wheel well when the gear is lowered. The
wing drop tanks and bombs are releasable in flight.
The 52cc gas engine has a slim profile, rear intake, rear
exhaust, and a long crankshaft that places the engine head
farther back in the cowl. This engine is ideal for models that
have narrow, longer cowls such as the P-51, P-40, Me 109, etc.
An optional cooling fan and shroud are available to alleviate
heat problems.
See the source list for some of the products used on the P-51.
Gunny reports that the Mustang is rock solid in the air. Great
modeling, Gunny!
Balsa USA Spad Build Continues: The Spad 13 is now in the
02sig4.QXD 12/20/07 11:12 AM Page 125covering stage. The photos show the lower
wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder
completed. The builder has used Solartex
Natural.
Solartex is a heat-shrink fabric with an
adhesive backing that makes it ready to use
on your favorite model. Since it has a
fabric weave, it is an excellent choice for
World War I models. It is strong and has a
superb ability to shrink around compound
curves.
Solartex will accept a wide assortment
of paints. The natural color has little
pigment, which makes the material slightly
lighter in weight. The builder has done a
magnificent job of constructing and
framing the model.
The previous columns gave an
indication that I was building the Spad;
this is not the case. My friend Lou
Cetrangelo is constructing the model. He’s
much neater than I am. Keep up the good
work, Lou.
Carl Diehl’s Spad 13: The last few
columns’ information about and photos of
Lou’s Balsa USA Spad 13 have generated
a good amount of interest among readers.
Carl S. Diehl of Mattawan, Michigan, built
his Balsa USA 1/4-scale Spad 13. He
claims that this was the first Spad kit Balsa
USA released.
Carl received the kit in February 2007,
and the aircraft won second place in
military sport at the Toledo Show in April
2007. He used a Laser 200 twin-cylinder
engine and a Spektrum radio. The Spad’s
all-up weight is a remarkable 15 pounds.
Carl referenced hundreds of photos from
the full-scale aircraft to replicate its detail.
One of the interesting changes made
during construction was adding 1/4 inch of
dihedral to the upper wing panel. The
Spad’s wings contained no dihedral, but a
long, straight wing without dihedral tends
to look as though it is drooping or that it
has anhedral. The addition of a small
amount of dihedral actually makes the
wing look straight.
One of the photos shows the scale
aileron bellcrank assembly Carl made by
using brass tubes and solder. Nice work,
Carl!
Hodges Hobbies High-Torque Starter: If
you’re in the market for a high-torque,
heavy-duty starter for your larger engines,
look no further. Hodges Hobbies of
Andersonville, Georgia, has what you
need.
This heavy-duty starter uses a
reduction-gear assembly, a 12- to 24-volt
Sullivan Dynatron motor, and two 12-volt
sealed batteries. This unit will easily
handle large, high-compression gas
engines. To obtain pricing and more
information, see the source listing.
So ends another RC Giants column. Don’t
be shy. Send me some photos of your
current project. We would love to see what
you’re working on.
In the meantime, have a great time at
the field. Safe flying! MA
Sources:
Kangke Industrial USA
(631) 274-3058
www.kangkeusa.com
ElectroDynamics
(734) 422-5420
http://electrodynam.com/rc
Sig Manufacturing Inc.
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Wildmann Graphics
(406) 892-1911
http://stores.wildmanngraphics.com/StoreF
ront.bok
Mini Hobby ATL, Inc.
(954) 214-5829
www.minihobby.com
Fiberglass Specialties
(479) 359-2429
www.fiberglassspecialtiesinc.com
Hodges Hobbies
(866) 924-9505
www.hodgeshobbies.com/home.html
126 MODEL AVIATION
www.modelaircraft.org www.masportaviator.com
ClickOn!
What Is a Park Flyer?
Today’s electricpowered
models are great
and they can be flown
almost anywhere. Not
only is it easy for the
seasoned RC pilot to take
a five-minute break and
sneak in a flight, but a
beginner can get into the hobby
more quickly and become
successful sooner.
AMA’s new Park Pilot
Program is designed specifically
for new members who fly limited
RC aircraft. If you think the
program is right for you, check
out all the details and the detailed
definition of a “park flyer” at
www.parkflyer.org.
“The Storch and Me”:
The Whole Story
The creation of a Scale Masters competition model is not
a project to take on lightly. The subject has to be thought out
carefully and, more often than not, has to relate to the
builder on a personal level.
Doug Crumley’s Fieseler Storch project is based on
pride, passion, and craftsmanship. If you like the article
“The Storch and Me” in this issue, see the full story,
including Doug’s hints, tips, and special modifications; all
the photos; the special video; and the battle with the
butterflies during those first flights. Visit the MA home page
at www.modelaircraft.org/mag/index.htm and click on
“Exclusive Online Features.” ®
02sig4.QXD 12/20/07 11:12 AM Page 126