Radio Control Giants
Sal Calvagna [[email protected]]
Also included in this column:
- Alex Davis: 3-D pilot extraordinaire
- Bob Allen’s de Havilland Chipmunk
- 1/3-scale S.E.5a
Giant-model safety restraint
Happy New Year to all. I hope that with the presidential elections behind us, we can focus our attention back on building and flying RC Giants.
Safety concerns are magnified when building and flying the larger, heavier models. This month I’ll include information about a great tool that you can use when starting and running your engine.
Unless you are fortunate enough to have someone assist you when starting your giant RC model, you should use some sort of safety device that will keep it from lurching forward during start-up.
Many members in my club favor the method of using two spikes driven into the ground with a heavy-duty, soft rope strung loosely between them. The rope is wrapped over and around the tail feathers so that the model is restrained from rolling forward.
Another method incorporates two upright supports that rest against the horizontal stabilizer. One such device is called the RC restraint stand, and it’s available from the Jack Knife Machine Shop. (See the Sources list for the Web site.) Take a look and see which size would be appropriate for your RC Giant. When building and flying large models, think safety.
Alex Davis: 3-D pilot extraordinaire
Twelve-year-old Alex Davis of Sayville, New York, was introduced to RC modeling at the ripe old age of 4 by his father, Chuck. Fast forward eight years, and Alex is flying one of the finest aerobatic models available today. A picture shows Alex with a 39% Krill Katana that has been flown in competition by well-known aerobatic competitor Yuri Higuchi and is owned by John Sabini.
In recent years, Alex’s RC interests have leaned toward 3-D aerobatics. At a recent event, Alex amazed all present with his flying ability. He performed torque rolls, rolling circles, waterfalls, harriers, and other 3-D aerobatic maneuvers with the poise and confidence of expert pilots many years his senior. It was a true joy to watch young Alex on the flightline, putting the model through its paces.
Unlike some who enjoy basking in the limelight, Alex was humble about his accomplishments and credits his dad, Eddie Meyer, John Sabini, and others who selflessly shared their time and equipment with him along the way. Thank you, gentlemen, and way to go, Alex.
Bob Allen’s de Havilland Chipmunk
Bob Allen of Poughkeepsie, New York, had the opportunity to fly a friend’s Dynaflite de Havilland Chipmunk at a modeling event some years ago. He was immediately enamored with the model’s flying characteristics and had to have one of his own. Unfortunately, Dynaflite had discontinued the kit and Bob was unable to locate one at any dealer. Some time had passed when he spotted the Chipmunk kit at a swap shop. He purchased it and the rest is history—well, not quite.
Using scale documentation from the full-scale aircraft, Bob improved the model’s outline by modifying the tail’s control surfaces and doubling the number of exposed wing ribs. Bob added scoops and an exhaust pipe to the cowl, wing-root fillets, landing-gear-strut fairings, cockpit instruments, a canopy slide track, landing lights, and wing leading-edge (LE) spoilers.
The fuselage is sheeted and fiberglassed. The entire wing and movable surfaces are covered in Solartex material. Automotive primer is used over the fiberglass and the "metal" forward portion of the wing skin and wingtips.
The model and all the markings except the flag are painted in WarbirdColors water-based polyurethane. The Canadian flag is a color laser-printed copy that is available on the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) official Web site. It was sized to fit, glued on, and clear coated. Bob says the paint is easy to use, has no odor, and cleans up nicely with water.
The landing-gear struts are from Robart, and the Chipmunk is powered by a U.S. Engines 35 cc gas two-stroke power plant. Pinking tape was applied to the wing ribs, and the stitching and rivets were made using white glue.
Bob reports that with a finished weight of approximately 19 pounds, the model is a joy to fly. Very nice work, Bob.
The de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk is a two-seat, tandem primary trainer used by the Royal Air Force and the RCAF, among others. It was the first postwar aviation project of de Havilland Canada and was designed by Polish engineer Wieslaw Jakimiuk. It was intended to replace the aging Tiger Moth biplane.
Roughly 1,300 Chipmunks were produced in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Portugal. Today, more than 500 airframes remain airworthy. The type is popularly used for civilian aerobatics and crop spraying.
1/3-scale Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a
Check out the 1/3-scale Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a that Mitch Epstein of Leominster, Massachusetts, built and flies. The model spans 106 inches, weighs slightly more than 40 pounds, and is powered by a Zenoah G-62 engine swinging a 24x6 propeller.
The plans-built S.E.5a is covered with curtain-lining fabric that was adhered and shrunk with nitrate dope. It is painted with latex paint and sports 9-inch Du-Bro wheels. Mitch belongs to the Wachusett Barnstormers club.
In 1916, the Royal Flying Corps required the aircraft industry to produce a fighter that was superior in all aspects to the best enemy fighters. Among the results were two outstanding designs: the Sopwith Camel and the Royal Aircraft Factory’s Scout Experimental 5, later designated the S.E.5a.
The S.E.5a was inherently stable, maneuverable, and one of the fastest aircraft of the war, with a top speed of approximately 140 mph. This was as fast as the Spad XIII and faster than any German airplanes of the period.
Other than speed, the S.E.5a’s greatest advantage over the Camel was superior performance at higher altitude. It was also easier and safer to fly, especially for new pilots. At lower altitudes the Camel reigned supreme.
Although superior to the Camel in some respects, fewer S.E.5a aircraft were produced because of manufacturing problems with the Hispano-Suiza water-cooled engine. Compared to 5,490 Camels built, 5,265 S.E.5s were manufactured. It was one of the rare Allied aircraft that was not outclassed by the famed Fokker D.VII near the end of the war.
WWI dogfights and formation flying
What’s more fun than flying your World War I RC Giant? Flying two in a mock dogfight.
The ever-popular 1/4-scale World War I models are a joy to fly. They have a lower wing loading than the heavy-metal warbirds of later vintage. They can be flown low and slow, close in to the field; however, at times, flying a single such fighter can become—dare I write—boring.
Why not put two in the air and relive the excitement of the dogfight at your local field? All it takes is a little communication and practice between pilots, and soon you can follow each other into loops, stall turns, Immelmanns, and more.
Add a smoke system or bomb drop to your model and double your fun. Before you know it, all eyes are turned to the air and you’re not only entertaining yourself but also everyone else at the field.
While you’re at it, try formation flying. Flying with another pilot in formation or a dogfight gives a whole new dimension to RC flying. It’s a blast.
That’s all for now. I’ll be back in February.
Sources
- Jack Knife Machine Shop
(301) 643-0227 www.jackknifemachineshop.com
- WarbirdColors
1521 N. Jantzen #112 Portland OR 97217 www.warbirdcolors.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
