Author: Sal Calvagna
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/08
Page Numbers: 99,100,101
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Radio Control Giants

Sal Calvagna [[email protected]]

Painting a canopy frame

I needed to replace the canopy on my 1/5-scale Nick Ziroli Plans Zero and thought it was a good time to document the process I use to paint the frame. The canopy, available from Nick Ziroli Plans, features a raised frame that is vacuum-formed into the clear plastic.

Materials

  • Canopy (vacuum-formed with raised frame)
  • Sharp, heavy-duty scissors
  • 3M 471 Vinyl Tape (1/4-inch), available from auto-paint supply houses
  • X-Acto knife with #11 blade
  • Plain masking tape
  • Spray paint of choice (Krylon, Rust-Oleum, etc.)
  • Optional: primer
  • Fuelproof paint if the model uses glow-fuel-burning engine

Preparation and masking

  1. Cut off excess plastic around the canopy using sharp, heavy-duty scissors. Trial-fit the canopy to ensure it sits properly.
  2. Mask off the raised rails using 1/4-inch 3M 471 Vinyl Tape. It produces a sharp paint line, is superior to regular masking tape, and is flexible enough to go around tight curves.
  3. Use an X-Acto knife with a #11 blade to cut the 3M tape. Be careful not to apply too much pressure when slicing; you could score the canopy. Practice with the 3M tape on excess plastic cut from the canopy.
  4. Take your time applying the 3M tape. How well you align it determines the quality of the finished painted canopy.
  5. Once all of the 3M tape has been laid, use plain masking tape to cover the fiberglass panels (or other areas you want protected). Blue tape can be used to outline the entire framework while plain masking tape protects the interior panels.

Painting and finishing

  • Now paint the canopy. Use your favorite type of paint and apply primer first if desired. Different types of spray paint from hardware stores work well. If the model is powered by a glow-fuel-burning engine, use fuelproof paint.
  • Once the paint is dry, remove the masked-off areas using a #11 blade. Pick at a corner of the tape with the blade tip just enough to raise the tape a bit, then grab it and pull off the rest. Repeat for each panel until all the tape is removed.
  • The results should be a sharp, well-defined painted canopy frame.

If you know a better way to finish a canopy or have suggestions, drop me a line so I can share them with readers.

Piper J-3 Cub — "Flitfire" (Ted Galbraith)

The Piper Cub is probably the single most copied aircraft in modeling history. It comes in sizes ranging from Peanut to larger than 1/2 scale, with every type of power from rubber to large gasoline engines. This model is most commonly seen in the all-yellow paint scheme with the black lightning bolt and less frequently seen as the military Army Air Corps L-4 and Navy NE-1. However, when was the last time you saw one in Royal Air Force (RAF) colors? Good friend and lifelong modeler Ted Galbraith of North Weald, Essex, England, recently completed a "Flitfire." Following is his story.

"Working for Horizon Hobby UK has many benefits, not the least of which is they're a great company to work for. You see, I get to build and fly the many fine models we distribute.

"Recently, the opportunity arose for me to acquire a damaged-in-transit 1/4-scale Hangar 9 J-3 Cub. With the model safely in my workshop and a thorough check completed, luckily most of the damage was confined to the rear fuselage and fin. This proved to be a relatively simple repair, grafting in a new sternpost and building a new fin assembly — taking just a few hours' work.

"Once repaired, I was faced with the challenge of choosing a colour scheme. I could either stay with Cub Yellow and just recover the tail area or I could go for the popular Olive Drab with invasion stripes scheme, neither of which excited me. So I decided to search for a different colour scheme.

"Thanks to that wonderful invention called the Internet, I spent a good many hours searching for examples that caught my imagination and quite by chance came across some images of a 'Flitfire,' complete with Royal Air Force roundels. My search was over, so it was off with the remaining yellow Ultracote.

"The model was prepared for its new silver Oratex iron-on fabric. The cowl and other hard parts were then sprayed silver to match. The final scheme was based on a recently restored J-3 Flitfire that was restored by the good folk at the Port Townsend Aero Museum in Washington.

"Good friend and work colleague Richard Delves cut the vinyl graphics. This proved to be slightly more complicated as we only had web photos and oblique views, so some artistic licence was required when scaling the graphics. We tried several sizes and positions before finalizing the layout. The vinyl was cut and applied, and the finished model looked very convincing. After a bit of trial and error the final results were most satisfactory. Besides, I don't think I am liable to park my model next to a full-size Flitfire, at least not this side of the pond."

Power, radio and details

  • Engine: compact 20cc electronic-ignition petrol engine from Zenoah (chosen for small size and reliable, "fit-and-forget" nature). The model flew very well with the Zenoah G-20 up front.
  • Radio: Spektrum 2.4 GHz
  • Servos: Spektrum digital servos
  • Power: batteries with a high-capacity battery for the ignition
  • Cabin: full-body pilot and scale dashboard instruments (included in the kit). As an added touch, Ted made a couple of 1/4-scale Life magazines for the rear parcel shelf.

The model flew very well at North Weald Airfield and attracted attention with its unique colour scheme. It is a tribute to the brave men and women of an earlier time. Ted adds that the project would not have been possible without the help, support and enthusiasm of close friend and work colleague George Land.

Historical background — the Flitfire fundraising campaign

The US remained officially neutral, following a policy of isolationism, as World War II raged before December 7, 1941. However, numerous fundraising programs were established by private citizens who supported the British.

William T. Piper of Piper Cub fame and Franklin Motors donated a J-3 to be raffled off to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund, which was established to honour and help disabled RAF pilots.

To expand the fundraising program, Piper distributors nationwide were encouraged to provide one Piper J-3 for each of the 48 states. All were painted silver with RAF insignia and designated the "Flitfire," a play on the famous Supermarine Spitfire.

Each of the Flitfire J-3s was named after a state, and all of the aircraft were gathered at LaGuardia Field in New York in April 1941. They were called the "Flitfire Brigade."

The fund was a great success. Although the Flitfire never saw active duty in the RAF, it served as a reminder of the strong ties between the people of the US and Great Britain. Thirteen of the original Flitfires still exist, and the first one, NC1776, is the only one in its original configuration, including engine, propeller, and three-piece windshield. Orville Wright flew it in 1943.

That's all for this month. I thank my good friend Ted Galbraith for his submission of a wonderful and unique version of the Piper J-3 Cub.

Sources

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.