Radio Control Giants-2011/11

106 MODEL AVIATION
Radio Control Giants Sal Calvagna
Warbirds Over Delaware 2011
WELCOME BACK! I attended the 20th
Anniversary of Warbirds Over Delaware,
held July 13-17, 2011. For the past 20 years,
the Delaware R/C Club has hosted the largest
Giant Scale Warbird event on the East Coast.
This year was no exception. More than
200 registered pilots and roughly 300 Giant
Scale models were present. There were many
fine examples of military aircraft, with the
vast majority representing World War I and
World War II aircraft.
The Delaware R/C Club did a stellar job
of planning, coordinating, and conducting
this fantastic modeling event as it has for the
last 19 years. Thanks to Pete and Dave
Malchione, who have been CDing this event
for many years.
This year, the US flag flown at the event
was a gift to the club from one of the
members serving in Afghanistan. This flag
was flown in combat over hostile territory
onboard a B-1B Bomber of the 37th
Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom.
There were so many outstanding models
and pilots. A few of the highlights were the
mass World War I and World War II flights,
Mac Hodges and his ever-popular B-29
aerobatic display, Paul LeTourneau and his
amazing B-26, Dave Malchione Jr. with his
BVM KingCat, and Adam Lilley’s student
pilot comedy flying routine.
Although I wish that I could include all of
the highlights and photos and list all the
pilots, there just isn’t enough space, so here’s
a selection from this year’s event. I hope you
like them.
Dave and Ralph Perrone of Pittsfield,
Massachusetts, brought a beautifully built
Glenn Torrance Models (GTM) 1/3-scale
Fokker D.VI. An AXI 5360/20 supplies
ample power for this RC Giant. The model
has a span of slightly more than 100 inches,
fuselage length of roughly 76 inches, and an
all-up weight of approximately 32 pounds.
The model is covered with GTM lozenge
pattern material and Krylon paint was used
for the markings. The AXI motor uses two
six-cell LiPo battery packs and the model is
controlled with a Futaba 2.4 GHz radio
system. The only thing missing is the noise in
flight! Nice work!
The following is from the GTM website:
“The Fokker D.VI biplane is one of the
best-kept Fokker secrets around as it is a
seldom-seen model that is a hybrid of the
Fokker D.VII and Dr.1 triplane. In that, the
fuselage is very similar to the Dr.1 and the
wings are of a D.VII but shortened. This
combination makes this model a real gem to
fly and handle.
“The CG is low to the ground and the
thick airfoil gives this plane the lift and
stability a pilot looks for. This model is rich
in detail and scale fidelity; from the
spruce/balsa spars to the scale hinges, this kit
will offer the builder a lot of enjoyment and
satisfaction. Over 1,100 parts are marked and
carefully packed to ensure easy identification
and safe shipping.
“The CAD drawings call out each part
number and include details showing how
parts assemble. The kit contains a building set
and a reference set of plans. The D.VI is not a
complicated build. The photo instructions
ensure easy understanding and related
information for builders at different levels.
The firewall can
slide a little forward
and backward to
accommodate
several different
engines.”
For more
information about
the D.VI build or other GTM products, please
visit the company’s site listed in “Sources.”
This year, Jerry McCollum of Owings
Mills, Maryland, brought along a 44%
scratch-built Sopwith Pup. Jerry likes to
build them big! The Pup has a 144-inch
wingspan and is powered by a Moki 250
radial four-stroke gas engine. Jerry says it
took him roughly 16 months to complete,
including the fiberglass cowl, a wind-driven
fuel pump, and a custom-machined Vickers
machine gun.
The Pup is covered with Stits material
and painted with Stits paint system after the
wood structure was stained with Minwax
wood stain. The Pup weighs in at 69 pounds
and features a Skywriter smoke system.
With the flight characteristics of the fullscale
aircraft, Jerry reports that the Pup is a
joy to fly. It sure looked great in the air.
Jerry, great job! How about adding a nice
pilot figure?
Composite ARF (CARF) representative
Andy Kane attended the event with the
CARF turboprop-powered Embraer T-27
Tucano. The model spans 110 inches, has an
89-inch fuselage, and weighs approximately
40 pounds.
CARF is well known for higher-end Giant
Scale models. The Tucano is no exception. It
was designed to accept the JetCat SPT5,
Wren MW54, or the JetCentral JF-50
turboprops. The model includes a specially
Left: These
beautifully made
accessories were
available from
IFlyTailies.
Dave and Ralph Perrone of Pittsfield MA, with their GTM 1/3-scale,
AXI 5360/20-powered Fokker D.VI.
Above: Jerry
M c C o l l u m
displays his 44%
s c r a t c h - b u i l t
Sopwith Pup.
[[email protected] ]
November 2011 107
designed engine mount box made from carbon
fiber that makes engine installation easy and
accurate.
The CARF webpage states that the kit
offers a high level of prefabrication and
outstanding instructions that make for troublefree
building. It also notes that the Tucano has
a large wing and a strong and stable landing
gear. Control surface size and the right tail
moment promise great flying characteristics,
wide speed range, slow landings, and
precise aerobatics. Eight high-power digital
servos are required for this model.
Andy deftly displayed its flying
characteristics at the event. For more
information about this model, please visit
the CARF website.
There were many vendors at Warbirds
Over Delaware. One of them, IFlyTailies,
displayed beautifully made accessories for
Giant Scale models. Although the website’s
title is “Accessories for RC Sailplanes,”
there are many parts available for Giant
Scale warbirds and civilian aircraft.
The parts range in scale from ½ to 1/5
scale. Items such as scale rudder pedals,
instrument panels, yokes, control sticks,
harnesses, seats, and more for German,
American, and British aircraft are available in
different scales.
IFlyTailies items are a work of art. Don’t
take my word for it; visit the website listed in
“Sources.”
Last but not least—well it was the least in
size—Patrick Hickey of Brooklyn, New
York, flew the smallest and most unusual
RC Giant at this year’s event. At 100%
scale, the RQ-11 Raven spans 55 inches
with a 36-inch fuselage, and all-up weight of
4.2 pounds.
Left: The smallest model at the meet was
the 100% scale RQ-11 Raven displayed by
owner Patrick Hickey. More than 13,000
full-scale Ravens have been built.
Above: Andy Kane displays his Composite-ARF
turboprop-powered Tucano. At the right, the Tucano
makes a photo pass.
Left: Members of the East Coast Swamp Flyers of
Northford CT attended the event en masse with an
impressive array of Giant Scale aircraft. (L-R) “Ickie,”
Ricky King, Chris Petriccione, Matt Castiglione, Mark
Castiglione, Steve “Luds” Ludwig, and Steve Ludwig Jr.
Below: An incredible collection of Giant
Scale models are arrayed under the large
tent provided by the Delaware R/C Club
for overnight storage. This was a
wonderful gesture by the host club.
The Raven, designed by AeroVironment
is a small, electric-powered, hand-launched
remote-controlled Unmanned Aerial System
(sUAS). It was developed for the US
military. It can be remotely controlled from
the ground or fly autonomous missions
using GPS navigation. The Raven can
provide surveillance, reconnaissance, and
perform target acquisition, day or night.
More than 13,000 units have been
manufactured and the Raven is in service
with the military forces of many countries.
The full-scale Raven is priced at
approximately $35,000. I hope that Patrick
didn’t pay that much for his model!
Patrick is a member of the Radio
Control Society of Marine Park.
That’s all for this month. Show us your RC
Giant. Send me a couple of photos with a
write-up about your model and I’ll be happy
to include your project in an upcoming
column. MA
Sources:
Delaware R/C Club
www.delawarerc.org/index.htm
Glen Torrance Models
(919) 562-0403
www.flygtm.com
Composite-ARF Models
[email protected]
www.carf-models.com
IflyTailies
(717) 203-0590
www.iflytailies.com
AeroVironment, Inc.
(626) 357 9983
www.avinc.com
International Miniature Aircraft Association
www.fly-imaa.org