New heavy-duty Multi Fuel Stopper Kit
Radio Control Giants
Sal Calvagna
Welcome back. Spring is right around the corner, and those of us who live in colder climates are looking forward to a change in the weather so that we can resume flying models and other outdoor activities. At least those are the thoughts I should have as I put the finishing touches on this column.
The reality is that I am writing this in early January. It’s roughly 30° outside and we have just experienced our second snowfall, so it’s difficult to be enthusiastic about flowers blooming, birds flying, and piloting giant-scale models!
We contributing editors (columnists) submit our columns three months in advance. So here I am, trying to button up this submission during a frigid January evening in the Northeast.
Nevertheless, I have some new-product information and a great 1/3-scale project to share with you. Hang in there; better weather is on its way!
The newest release from Sullivan Products is a heavy-duty Multi Fuel Stopper Kit (part S469). It features a new stopper material that is resistant to all fuel types, including gasoline, glow, and smoke oil. The machined-aluminum blue cap and washer are threaded for 4-40 for extra tightening torque. The kit includes two sets of 1/8- and 1/32-inch-diameter brass tubes, clunk, and 4-40 screw. The kit fits all sizes of Sullivan tanks.
Sullivan Products is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and has been in business since 1940. Matthew Sullivan started the company, and its first products were lines, handles, and connectors for CL flying. Sullivan still makes many of those items.
For more information about the Multi Fuel Stopper Kit and the myriad other offerings from the company, visit the Web site.
Also included in this column:
- Andy Marone’s Sopwith Triplane under construction
- New 1/3-scale World War I wheels from Williams Brothers
Andy Marone’s 1/3-scale Sopwith Triplane
Andy Marone of Manorville, New York, sent photos of his own-design 1/3-scale Sopwith Triplane. He designed the model using Replicraft drawings as a reference. It spans 106 inches and is 76 inches long.
Andy used scale-type construction throughout, along with scale cable controls. The horizontal stabilizer is adjustable in incidence, and the airframe has more than 1,000 screws and bolts. Power is provided by a two-cylinder, four-stroke Roto 85cc engine. The landing gear is made from streamline steel tubing, which almost exactly replicates the full-scale aircraft.
One unusual fact is that little balsa is used to construct the Triplane. All ribs are made from 1/16-inch aircraft-grade plywood, laser-cut from AutoCAD files. Andy says he will cover the model with Sig Koverall and include fuselage stitching so that he can access the fuselage to install turnbuckles in the scale location.
Sopwith Triplane — brief history
In 1916 the Sopwith Aviation Company sought a new fighter design. The experimental division, under chief engineer Herbert Smith, designed an aircraft sporting three narrow-chord wings to provide the pilot with a greatly improved field of view. The wings were to be fitted to a fuselage and tailplane that closely resembled those of the Sopwith Pup. All three wings were fitted with ailerons, and the tailplane incidence could be trimmed for hands-off flight.
The prototype first flew in May 1916, with Harry Hawker as the test pilot. After the first few minutes of flight, to the amazement of onlookers, Hawker looped the Triplane three times in succession. The aircraft became an instant success when evaluated in combat later in 1916.
By early 1917, the Sopwith Triplane outclassed the extremely successful Albatros D.I. The "Tripehound," as it was called, could outclimb and out-turn the Albatros, and it was 15 mph faster. Anthony Fokker was so impressed with the Sopwith that he went to extraordinary measures to secure a downed Triplane for evaluation. The result was the Fokker Dr.I triplane, designed by Reinhold Platz, although it was vastly different from the Sopwith version.
Sopwith Camels replaced Sopwith Triplanes during the summer of 1917. Although the Triplane enjoyed a short career, with only approximately 150 built, it was the first of its kind and influenced a host of triplane and quadruplane designs by German manufacturers attempting to match its performance.
Williams Brothers 1/3-scale World War I wheels
Williams Brothers Model Products of Round Rock, Texas, is designing molds for a 1/3-scale World War I wheel. Its overall diameter will be 9.2 inches, with a tire cross-section of 1.3 inches.
The wheels will come in two styles: Allied and German. The German axle width will be 2.1 inches, while the Allied wheel will be 2.3 inches at the hub. Each wheel will have an axle diameter of 1/4 inch and can be drilled out to a maximum size of 3/8 inch.
For more information about the 1/3-scale wheels and other Williams Brothers products, contact the company. Following are words from company president Daniel J. Brett regarding Williams Brothers Model Products and what's in the pipeline for giant-scale modelers:
"We are entering our sixth year under new ownership, and after a lot of work putting everything back into production, we are now going to pick up where the original brothers left off and continue to work to fill the needs of modelers for specialized products to support their scale aircraft.
"We have heard the cry of the 1/4- and 1/3-scale modelers for support of World War I aircraft, and we are pushing forward to break through and deliver—ready or not!
"Our move to the new, larger location has been a bit of a strain, and I thought we'd have to push off another year, at least, before we could have the cash flow to support such an undertaking. But my wonderful employee Lisa (a real blessing to have) took it upon herself to see if we could raise the cash for the new molds by promoting a pre-buy of 1/3-scale wheels. If a guy ever had a George Bailey moment, that was it.
"The response from the Dawn Patrol community was really great, and I am humbled by the amount of customer support we have during these tough economic days. Another reason I really enjoy, as many do, the WWI era of flight—there is a bond between us all that desires to maintain the honor and chivalry of the time. That is the kind of thing that really drives me to continue moving forward and striving to build this company up.
"This initial plan is to build molds to support a 700mm x 100mm wheel as was used by Palmer for the Allies and Fokker for the Central Powers. That works out to approximately 9.2 inches in diameter. Being fairly large molds, this allows us to make one tire mold to start, and the two hub molds needed. We were very blessed to acquire the larger machine needed and that made possible what wasn't before, and opened the door for such a project.
"The big hope is that this wheel will help advance the company and deliver the support we need to push into other projects, such as larger aero guns, cylinders, and pistons—and maybe a few other new ideas. We actually have a fellow working on CAD drawings for a new Lewis gun in 1/4, 1/5, and 1/3 scale for the next project to get us into developing a process for our first plastic model molds.
"We constantly are looking at new technologies to update and speed up the process from concept to product, and eventually become a mold-making shop ourselves, as the original brothers used to be, and be much more free to create.
"We intend to keep everything Made in USA, as I well know that capability has much more power than money, and that is what will make this company strong in the long run and survive. So, we are committed to stay in the trenches and go 'over the top' for our customers!"
I'll be back here next month. MA
Sources
- Sullivan Products
(410) 732-3500 www.sullivanproducts.com
- Williams Brothers Model Products
(512) 846-1243 www.williamsbrothersmodelproducts.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
