100 MODEL AVIATION
WELCOME BACK
to the RC Giants
column. The use of
radio-control systems
in flying models began
in earnest in the 1950s.
Yes, I know that there
were systems before,
but that was when
single-channel systems
became increasingly popular with modelers. Consequently, we
have the birth of the onboard receiver battery pack.
While radio systems have evolved in the past 70 years into
multifunction, multichannel, extremely reliable wonders of
technology, only in the last 10 years have we begun to see a
variety of battery technologies on the RC scene. Modelers now
have a choice of Ni-Cd, NiMH, Li-Poly, Li-Ion Nanophosphate
(A123), etc.
Each technology has its strengths and weaknesses, but all
require care, maintenance, and charging. Many chargers on the
market today are compatible with one or more of these
technologies, and one charger can accommodate almost all of
them.
FMA Direct of Frederick, Maryland, is selling the Cellpro
Multi4 Charger. It is approved for use with Li-Poly, Li-Ion,
A123, Ni-Cd, NiMH, and Lead-Acid battery packs.
The Multi4 has automatic and manual charge rates up to 4
amps, with overcharge protection and cell balancing where
required. For NiMH and Ni-Cd batteries, the unit can charge oneto
12-cell packs. In addition to fast charging, the Multi4 can
trickle at 5 mA to 300 mA.
The Cellpro Multi4 Charger will
operate from any 10- to 16-volt DC power
source. For more information about this
unit and other FMA Direct products,
please see the source list for contact
information.
Nick Ziroli Sr. has been busy designing a
22.5% Supermarine Spitfire Mk I-Mk V:
the latest release from Nick Ziroli Plans.
The model spans 100 inches, has a length
of 82 inches, and will have an all-up
weight of 30-35 pounds.
The Spitfire features tried-and-true
building techniques and is constructed
with balsa and plywood. In addition to
plans, the usual accessories will be offered, such as cowl, canopy,
spinner, gear doors, landing gear, and other scale items. Expect to
see this addition to the Ziroli line circa summer 2010.
The Spitfire was undoubtedly the most famous British fighter
of World War II. Born from racing thoroughbreds, it was the
culmination of earlier designs by R.J. Mitchell: an aeronautical
engineer and prolific aircraft designer.
The aircraft’s famous elliptical wing was designed to reduce
drag (thinnest wing) but deep enough to fit the landing gear. As a
result, the wing was not too rigid and early models experienced
reduced aileron effectiveness because of wing twist at high
speeds.
The Spitfire was powered by the equally famous Rolls-Royce
Merlin engine. However, unlike the engine in its counterpart, the
Bf 109, the Spitfire’s Merlin was carbureted, meaning that it
would starve for fuel in negative-G maneuvers.
The Bf 109 was fuel injected, thus it could dive at will and
The Cellpro Multi4 Charger
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Giants Sal Calvagna
Also included in this column:
• Ziroli Plans Spitfire Mk IMk
V
• Andy Marone’s S.E.5a
FMA Direct’s Cellpro Multi4 Charger can be used for a myriad of
battery technologies. It features automatic and manual charge
settings.
Below: Nick Ziroli Sr. with his Supermarine
Spitfire. One of the most beautiful fighter
d esig n s of WW II, it will b e ava ilable in
mid-2010.
Left: Close-up of the cowl and spinner on
the new Nick Ziroli Plans 22.5% Spitfire
Mk I-Mk V. Other accessories will also be
available for this model.
pull away from the fuel-starved Spitfires. British Royal Air Force
pilots flying Spitfires and Hurricanes learned to perform a half
roll before they dived, to keep fuel flowing to the engines.
The Spitfire Mk I became operational in July 1938. By the
start of WW II in September 1939, there were nine squadrons of
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:39 AM Page 100
the model. This required him to install 36 pulleys and six inspection
windows.
Unlike many WW I aircraft of the day, the S.E.5a elevator control
cables did not exit the fuselage and continued to the elevator horns. The
model’s cable is routed internally in the fuselage and the horizontal
stabilizer using a number of pulleys. The cable exits the stabilizer and
connects to the elevator horn. The same process is used above and
below the stabilizer, to complete the pull-pull arrangement.
The wings have a similar setup. Because they have control cables
running through them, Andy transports the S.E.5a completely
assembled.
For more information
about Dennis Bryant plans or
any of the other great Giant
Scale offerings, please visit
Bob Holman Plans. Contact
information is included in the
source listing.
The full-scale S.E.5a was
an exceptionally strong
airplane that could be dived at
extremely high speeds.
However, the first two
prototypes were destroyed in
accidents caused by a
weakness in the wing design.
This aircraft was one of the
fastest fighters of the war, at
138 mph, and faster than any
German types of the time.
Unlike the Sopwith
Camel, the S.E.5a was
inherently stable but
maneuverable. This made it
easier and safer to fly,
especially for new pilots.
Although the Camel was more agile, the S.E.5a enjoyed superior
performance at altitude. It is one of the few Allied aircraft that was not
outclassed by the dreaded Fokker D.VII.
I’ll be back next month! MA
April 2010 101
Andy Marone’s 1/4-scale S.E.5a sports scale
control cables, and the control stick and rudder
pedals move with the rudder and elevator.
Left: As was on the full-scale S.E.5a, Andy
installed an inspection window for the elevatorcontrol
linkage system. He installed 36 pulleys
to replicate the scale control system.
Above: Cockpit view of the S.E.5a. You can
see the control yoke with elevator and
aileron cables connected.
Spitfires. It was the only fighter aircraft that was in production
before, during, and after the war.
More than 24 marks were produced in more than a 10-year
period, to end in 1948. An excess of 22,750 Spitfires and
Seafires were produced, and some served well into the 1960s.
Andy Marone of Mastic, New York, built a wonderful 1/4-scale
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a. It is a Dennis Bryant design, with
plans available from Bob Holman Plans in San Bernardino,
California. The S.E.5a spans 80 inches and is powered by a
Moki .50 four-stroke gas engine.
The airplane is covered with Sig Koverall. Andy coated the
airframe with Balsarite so that the Koverall would adhere, and
then he shrunk the material, doped it, and painted it with exterior
latex. All roundels are hand-painted.
One of the more interesting and time-consuming aspects of
the build is that Andy installed scale control cables throughout
Sources:
FMA Direct
(800) 343-2934
www.fmadirect.com
Cellpro Multi4 review:
www.swm1.com/flying/
FMA/Multi4/Multi4_rev
iew.html
Nick Ziroli Plans
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman plans
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
International Miniature Aircraft
Association
www.fly-imaa.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/04
Page Numbers: 100,101
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/04
Page Numbers: 100,101
100 MODEL AVIATION
WELCOME BACK
to the RC Giants
column. The use of
radio-control systems
in flying models began
in earnest in the 1950s.
Yes, I know that there
were systems before,
but that was when
single-channel systems
became increasingly popular with modelers. Consequently, we
have the birth of the onboard receiver battery pack.
While radio systems have evolved in the past 70 years into
multifunction, multichannel, extremely reliable wonders of
technology, only in the last 10 years have we begun to see a
variety of battery technologies on the RC scene. Modelers now
have a choice of Ni-Cd, NiMH, Li-Poly, Li-Ion Nanophosphate
(A123), etc.
Each technology has its strengths and weaknesses, but all
require care, maintenance, and charging. Many chargers on the
market today are compatible with one or more of these
technologies, and one charger can accommodate almost all of
them.
FMA Direct of Frederick, Maryland, is selling the Cellpro
Multi4 Charger. It is approved for use with Li-Poly, Li-Ion,
A123, Ni-Cd, NiMH, and Lead-Acid battery packs.
The Multi4 has automatic and manual charge rates up to 4
amps, with overcharge protection and cell balancing where
required. For NiMH and Ni-Cd batteries, the unit can charge oneto
12-cell packs. In addition to fast charging, the Multi4 can
trickle at 5 mA to 300 mA.
The Cellpro Multi4 Charger will
operate from any 10- to 16-volt DC power
source. For more information about this
unit and other FMA Direct products,
please see the source list for contact
information.
Nick Ziroli Sr. has been busy designing a
22.5% Supermarine Spitfire Mk I-Mk V:
the latest release from Nick Ziroli Plans.
The model spans 100 inches, has a length
of 82 inches, and will have an all-up
weight of 30-35 pounds.
The Spitfire features tried-and-true
building techniques and is constructed
with balsa and plywood. In addition to
plans, the usual accessories will be offered, such as cowl, canopy,
spinner, gear doors, landing gear, and other scale items. Expect to
see this addition to the Ziroli line circa summer 2010.
The Spitfire was undoubtedly the most famous British fighter
of World War II. Born from racing thoroughbreds, it was the
culmination of earlier designs by R.J. Mitchell: an aeronautical
engineer and prolific aircraft designer.
The aircraft’s famous elliptical wing was designed to reduce
drag (thinnest wing) but deep enough to fit the landing gear. As a
result, the wing was not too rigid and early models experienced
reduced aileron effectiveness because of wing twist at high
speeds.
The Spitfire was powered by the equally famous Rolls-Royce
Merlin engine. However, unlike the engine in its counterpart, the
Bf 109, the Spitfire’s Merlin was carbureted, meaning that it
would starve for fuel in negative-G maneuvers.
The Bf 109 was fuel injected, thus it could dive at will and
The Cellpro Multi4 Charger
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Giants Sal Calvagna
Also included in this column:
• Ziroli Plans Spitfire Mk IMk
V
• Andy Marone’s S.E.5a
FMA Direct’s Cellpro Multi4 Charger can be used for a myriad of
battery technologies. It features automatic and manual charge
settings.
Below: Nick Ziroli Sr. with his Supermarine
Spitfire. One of the most beautiful fighter
d esig n s of WW II, it will b e ava ilable in
mid-2010.
Left: Close-up of the cowl and spinner on
the new Nick Ziroli Plans 22.5% Spitfire
Mk I-Mk V. Other accessories will also be
available for this model.
pull away from the fuel-starved Spitfires. British Royal Air Force
pilots flying Spitfires and Hurricanes learned to perform a half
roll before they dived, to keep fuel flowing to the engines.
The Spitfire Mk I became operational in July 1938. By the
start of WW II in September 1939, there were nine squadrons of
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:39 AM Page 100
the model. This required him to install 36 pulleys and six inspection
windows.
Unlike many WW I aircraft of the day, the S.E.5a elevator control
cables did not exit the fuselage and continued to the elevator horns. The
model’s cable is routed internally in the fuselage and the horizontal
stabilizer using a number of pulleys. The cable exits the stabilizer and
connects to the elevator horn. The same process is used above and
below the stabilizer, to complete the pull-pull arrangement.
The wings have a similar setup. Because they have control cables
running through them, Andy transports the S.E.5a completely
assembled.
For more information
about Dennis Bryant plans or
any of the other great Giant
Scale offerings, please visit
Bob Holman Plans. Contact
information is included in the
source listing.
The full-scale S.E.5a was
an exceptionally strong
airplane that could be dived at
extremely high speeds.
However, the first two
prototypes were destroyed in
accidents caused by a
weakness in the wing design.
This aircraft was one of the
fastest fighters of the war, at
138 mph, and faster than any
German types of the time.
Unlike the Sopwith
Camel, the S.E.5a was
inherently stable but
maneuverable. This made it
easier and safer to fly,
especially for new pilots.
Although the Camel was more agile, the S.E.5a enjoyed superior
performance at altitude. It is one of the few Allied aircraft that was not
outclassed by the dreaded Fokker D.VII.
I’ll be back next month! MA
April 2010 101
Andy Marone’s 1/4-scale S.E.5a sports scale
control cables, and the control stick and rudder
pedals move with the rudder and elevator.
Left: As was on the full-scale S.E.5a, Andy
installed an inspection window for the elevatorcontrol
linkage system. He installed 36 pulleys
to replicate the scale control system.
Above: Cockpit view of the S.E.5a. You can
see the control yoke with elevator and
aileron cables connected.
Spitfires. It was the only fighter aircraft that was in production
before, during, and after the war.
More than 24 marks were produced in more than a 10-year
period, to end in 1948. An excess of 22,750 Spitfires and
Seafires were produced, and some served well into the 1960s.
Andy Marone of Mastic, New York, built a wonderful 1/4-scale
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a. It is a Dennis Bryant design, with
plans available from Bob Holman Plans in San Bernardino,
California. The S.E.5a spans 80 inches and is powered by a
Moki .50 four-stroke gas engine.
The airplane is covered with Sig Koverall. Andy coated the
airframe with Balsarite so that the Koverall would adhere, and
then he shrunk the material, doped it, and painted it with exterior
latex. All roundels are hand-painted.
One of the more interesting and time-consuming aspects of
the build is that Andy installed scale control cables throughout
Sources:
FMA Direct
(800) 343-2934
www.fmadirect.com
Cellpro Multi4 review:
www.swm1.com/flying/
FMA/Multi4/Multi4_rev
iew.html
Nick Ziroli Plans
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman plans
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
International Miniature Aircraft
Association
www.fly-imaa.org