106 MODEL AVIATION
Stan Alexander, 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville TN 37211; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL SCALE
LAST MONTH Model Aviation published my coverage of the 2002
US Scale Masters Championships, held in Mesa, Arizona, in the
fall. There was a good turnout from across the United States and
several AMA foreign-member entries. Having enough room in an
article or a column to cover all the major aspects of the event is
always a challenge to me.
Even more important is getting the information in that article
correct, such as the goof I made in the caption in the December
Nationals coverage with Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan. I had it
listed as a Stinson, which isn’t even close other than they are in the
same category of aircraft! If you ever get a chance to see this model
up close, take a good look at all the details; Steve did a fantastic job
on the model.
I wanted to add a piece about the One Eighth Air Force with the
Masters coverage but there wasn’t room, so I’ll put it in here and
hope everyone enjoys the focus on a Scale
model club that has been around for many
years. Thanks to Al Casey, Bob Frey, and
Mike Peck for the following information and
help.
If you’ve never been to one of the One
Eighth Air Force’s events, you are missing a
treat. They are well run, and the idea of
having a good time flying Scale models is at
the top of the list. Following is some history
on this group of dedicated Scale modelers.
Around 1976 many Scale contests were
held with Pattern in the Phoenix, Arizona,
area (as they were around the country). This
was because of the lack of modelers
interested in Scale competition at the time in
that area or a lack of knowledge about the
competition itself.
A group of Scale Radio Control (RC)
enthusiasts met to see if they could think of
someway to encourage more modelers to
build and fly Scale model aircraft. After
much discussion, Dave Linne threw out a
novel idea that was deceptively simple in
Ikon N’Wst’s 1⁄5-scale Cessna L-19 Bird Dog spans 981⁄2 inches.
This book contains civil-aviation history and three-views.
Members of the One Eighth Air Force at the 2002 Scale Masters Championships.
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 106
April 2003 109
concept. He proposed holding a low- or nopressure
fly-in that would take the stress
off of modelers who weren’t sure of
themselves yet. It was thought that this
might be the way to promote Scale RC by
example and encourage other modelers
within the area to build their own Scale
models.
The first event was planned for October
at the old Luke Air Force Base—a World
War II auxiliary training field with a paved
runway. This was the Arizona Radio
Control Society’s flying site. For operating
expenses, the group asked a few other local
clubs for $100 contributions. Each club
asked graciously gave. The group decided
that there would be no entry fee for the
pilots and no parking fee for spectators; the
group thought this would help encourage
modelers and spectators to attend. Raffle
tickets and a small cut from the caterer
would be all of the income for the club.
The first RC Scale fly-in was a huge
success. The most often repeated question
that busy weekend was “When and where
will the next one be?” Those people who
showed interest and were enthusiastic
about joining the group were contacted and
a meeting was scheduled, which became
the founding meeting of the One Eighth
Air Force.
The name was chosen as a tribute to the
“mighty” 8th Air Force of WW II, and the
“One” was added to represent the fraction
“one-eighth,” which was the average size
of most models at that time. This
modification also served to ensure the
public that the modelers were not
attempting to impersonate the legendary
8th Air Force in any way. The group drew
up a mission statement, drafted a
constitution, and obtained an AMA club
charter. Plans were then set in motion for
the second annual fly-in.
After that second fly-in, which became
a regional event and another huge success,
the One Eighth Air Force began accepting
members from out of state. The club was
pleased with the acceptance of its format
and the way modelers seemed to enjoy
the Scale fly-ins. To this day, the club’s
out-of-state membership rivals its local
participation.
Plywood rib blanks and uncut balsa ribs are for the Corben Baby Ace’s wing.
The 1⁄8-inch balsa ribs are shown still in the guides after cutting.
TIRED OF PAYING
$1.29 FOR 6 SCREWS?
Our 4-40x1/2 socket
caps sell for $4.35/100
for alloy steel, or
$6.65/100 stainless, or $7.50/50 aluminum.
For fair prices on sensible quantities of the fasteners
you need for model building, call, write or
fax for our free catalog!
Micro Fasteners 800-892-6917
24 Cokesbury Rd., Suite 2 908-236-8120
Lebanon, NJ 08833 fax 908-236-8721
e-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://microfasteners.com
The One Eighth Air Force continues to
rotate the location of its events in the local
area, with different clubs hosting. In 2003
the One Eighth Air Force’s March fly-in
will be held at the Sun Valley Fliers field, at
the intersection of Cave Creek and Jomax
roads, north of Phoenix, March 22-23.
It’s funny how ideas such as the ones I
just wrote about come full circle. As I
stated in the Masters article, “in a sea of
gray hair” we need to take a step back to the
basics and encourage modelers from other
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 109
April 2003 111
disciplines to join us in the fun with Scale
models. Fly-ins such as the One Eighth Air
Force’s are a great starting point for many.
These events can sew the seeds for
more modelers to build and fly Scale
models, some of whom will eventually join
in the fun of competition. Others will find
some of the many other facets of Scale
modeling to enjoy, such as fly-ins,
competition, documentation research,
judging, etc.
Bookshelf: One of my many favorite
aircraft is the Cessna T-50, or Bobcat. The
WW II-era twin was a unique aircraft and
served in civil and military roles. This
aircraft, along with the Airmaster series,
the 120/140 series, WACO CG-4A gliders,
and Cessna’s early racing history, are
covered in Cessna’s Golden Age by Alan
Abel, Drina Welch Abel, and the late Paul
Matt.
The 96-page book has eight pages of
three-views and 180 photos. It is available
for $22.95 plus shipping from Wind
Canyon Books, Inc. at (800) 952-7007 or
www.windcanyonbooks.com.
Scale Sources: Many civil aircraft have
been used as military aircraft, and others
have designs modified for the military. The
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog has been used
around the world, and it is a new kit from
Ikon N’wst. The 1⁄5-scale model spans 85
inches and will accept a variety of power
plants. Fiberglass cowling and aluminum
landing gear are included, along with
removable wing panels for ease of
transportation. All the parts are hand-cut
balsa and plywood, ready to assemble.
Ikon N’wst has a full line of balsa-andplywood
kits, including the following
unique aircraft: the WACO Taper Wing,
the WACO Model 10, the Gee Bee Model
E, the Gee Bee Model Y Super Sportster,
the Corben Super Ace, and the Fairchild
Model 22, just to name a few. Most of
these aircraft have wingspans of 72 inches
or longer. The Fairchild Model 22 spans
981⁄2 inches.
For more information about the new
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog or any of the other
kits, contact Ikon N’wst at 3806 Chase Rd.,
Post Falls ID 83854,
[email protected], or (208) 773-
9001. A photo-illustrated catalog is $5.
Baby Ace Update: After building the
Baby Ace’s basic structure for all of the
tail surfaces and making modifications for
the more squared-off tail surfaces (later,
more modern version), it’s time to start the
wing.
Check the structure to make sure it’s
scale and conforms to the aircraft we are
building. If no changes are needed, make
wing-rib blanks from sheets of 1⁄4 five-ply
plywood. With tracing paper, trace the
outline onto the wood. This works great
and will save you some time. Make two
blanks for the two different wing ribs used
in construction on this flat-bottom-airfoil,
www.modelaircraft.org
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 111
straight-taper wing. It couldn’t get any
simpler than that. The center-section where
the wing joins the pylon to the struts on the
fuselage is the only place where plywood
ribs are used in this wing.
After cutting out two identical plywood
rib blanks for guides, sand them down and
check the shape against the plans. I usually
mark the outside edge of the plywood rib
blanks with a felt-tip marker so I don’t cut
into this later. Rough-cut your balsa rib
blanks for the ribs, giving yourself enough
room around the edges to have some scrap
left over later.
With a drill press, drill two holes into
the plywood rib blanks—the same diameter
as a wooden dowel—that you will put
through the rib blanks and the plywood
guides. Make sure you have some balsa left
over around the outside edges for each of
the 12 ribs you will be cutting.
Set the depth gauge on your band saw to
allow the 12 ribs and the plywood rib
blanks to be sawed at the same time. Take
your time and let the saw do the work. By
not rushing this portion of the construction,
you will be set up to finish the wing panel
in a few hours. After cutting the 12 ribs
together, while they are still compressed
together, sand them at the same time. This
will give you a much smoother surface to
work with later.
That’s all this time around. Fair skies and
tailwinds. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/04
Page Numbers: 106,109,111,113
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/04
Page Numbers: 106,109,111,113
106 MODEL AVIATION
Stan Alexander, 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville TN 37211; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL SCALE
LAST MONTH Model Aviation published my coverage of the 2002
US Scale Masters Championships, held in Mesa, Arizona, in the
fall. There was a good turnout from across the United States and
several AMA foreign-member entries. Having enough room in an
article or a column to cover all the major aspects of the event is
always a challenge to me.
Even more important is getting the information in that article
correct, such as the goof I made in the caption in the December
Nationals coverage with Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan. I had it
listed as a Stinson, which isn’t even close other than they are in the
same category of aircraft! If you ever get a chance to see this model
up close, take a good look at all the details; Steve did a fantastic job
on the model.
I wanted to add a piece about the One Eighth Air Force with the
Masters coverage but there wasn’t room, so I’ll put it in here and
hope everyone enjoys the focus on a Scale
model club that has been around for many
years. Thanks to Al Casey, Bob Frey, and
Mike Peck for the following information and
help.
If you’ve never been to one of the One
Eighth Air Force’s events, you are missing a
treat. They are well run, and the idea of
having a good time flying Scale models is at
the top of the list. Following is some history
on this group of dedicated Scale modelers.
Around 1976 many Scale contests were
held with Pattern in the Phoenix, Arizona,
area (as they were around the country). This
was because of the lack of modelers
interested in Scale competition at the time in
that area or a lack of knowledge about the
competition itself.
A group of Scale Radio Control (RC)
enthusiasts met to see if they could think of
someway to encourage more modelers to
build and fly Scale model aircraft. After
much discussion, Dave Linne threw out a
novel idea that was deceptively simple in
Ikon N’Wst’s 1⁄5-scale Cessna L-19 Bird Dog spans 981⁄2 inches.
This book contains civil-aviation history and three-views.
Members of the One Eighth Air Force at the 2002 Scale Masters Championships.
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 106
April 2003 109
concept. He proposed holding a low- or nopressure
fly-in that would take the stress
off of modelers who weren’t sure of
themselves yet. It was thought that this
might be the way to promote Scale RC by
example and encourage other modelers
within the area to build their own Scale
models.
The first event was planned for October
at the old Luke Air Force Base—a World
War II auxiliary training field with a paved
runway. This was the Arizona Radio
Control Society’s flying site. For operating
expenses, the group asked a few other local
clubs for $100 contributions. Each club
asked graciously gave. The group decided
that there would be no entry fee for the
pilots and no parking fee for spectators; the
group thought this would help encourage
modelers and spectators to attend. Raffle
tickets and a small cut from the caterer
would be all of the income for the club.
The first RC Scale fly-in was a huge
success. The most often repeated question
that busy weekend was “When and where
will the next one be?” Those people who
showed interest and were enthusiastic
about joining the group were contacted and
a meeting was scheduled, which became
the founding meeting of the One Eighth
Air Force.
The name was chosen as a tribute to the
“mighty” 8th Air Force of WW II, and the
“One” was added to represent the fraction
“one-eighth,” which was the average size
of most models at that time. This
modification also served to ensure the
public that the modelers were not
attempting to impersonate the legendary
8th Air Force in any way. The group drew
up a mission statement, drafted a
constitution, and obtained an AMA club
charter. Plans were then set in motion for
the second annual fly-in.
After that second fly-in, which became
a regional event and another huge success,
the One Eighth Air Force began accepting
members from out of state. The club was
pleased with the acceptance of its format
and the way modelers seemed to enjoy
the Scale fly-ins. To this day, the club’s
out-of-state membership rivals its local
participation.
Plywood rib blanks and uncut balsa ribs are for the Corben Baby Ace’s wing.
The 1⁄8-inch balsa ribs are shown still in the guides after cutting.
TIRED OF PAYING
$1.29 FOR 6 SCREWS?
Our 4-40x1/2 socket
caps sell for $4.35/100
for alloy steel, or
$6.65/100 stainless, or $7.50/50 aluminum.
For fair prices on sensible quantities of the fasteners
you need for model building, call, write or
fax for our free catalog!
Micro Fasteners 800-892-6917
24 Cokesbury Rd., Suite 2 908-236-8120
Lebanon, NJ 08833 fax 908-236-8721
e-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://microfasteners.com
The One Eighth Air Force continues to
rotate the location of its events in the local
area, with different clubs hosting. In 2003
the One Eighth Air Force’s March fly-in
will be held at the Sun Valley Fliers field, at
the intersection of Cave Creek and Jomax
roads, north of Phoenix, March 22-23.
It’s funny how ideas such as the ones I
just wrote about come full circle. As I
stated in the Masters article, “in a sea of
gray hair” we need to take a step back to the
basics and encourage modelers from other
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 109
April 2003 111
disciplines to join us in the fun with Scale
models. Fly-ins such as the One Eighth Air
Force’s are a great starting point for many.
These events can sew the seeds for
more modelers to build and fly Scale
models, some of whom will eventually join
in the fun of competition. Others will find
some of the many other facets of Scale
modeling to enjoy, such as fly-ins,
competition, documentation research,
judging, etc.
Bookshelf: One of my many favorite
aircraft is the Cessna T-50, or Bobcat. The
WW II-era twin was a unique aircraft and
served in civil and military roles. This
aircraft, along with the Airmaster series,
the 120/140 series, WACO CG-4A gliders,
and Cessna’s early racing history, are
covered in Cessna’s Golden Age by Alan
Abel, Drina Welch Abel, and the late Paul
Matt.
The 96-page book has eight pages of
three-views and 180 photos. It is available
for $22.95 plus shipping from Wind
Canyon Books, Inc. at (800) 952-7007 or
www.windcanyonbooks.com.
Scale Sources: Many civil aircraft have
been used as military aircraft, and others
have designs modified for the military. The
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog has been used
around the world, and it is a new kit from
Ikon N’wst. The 1⁄5-scale model spans 85
inches and will accept a variety of power
plants. Fiberglass cowling and aluminum
landing gear are included, along with
removable wing panels for ease of
transportation. All the parts are hand-cut
balsa and plywood, ready to assemble.
Ikon N’wst has a full line of balsa-andplywood
kits, including the following
unique aircraft: the WACO Taper Wing,
the WACO Model 10, the Gee Bee Model
E, the Gee Bee Model Y Super Sportster,
the Corben Super Ace, and the Fairchild
Model 22, just to name a few. Most of
these aircraft have wingspans of 72 inches
or longer. The Fairchild Model 22 spans
981⁄2 inches.
For more information about the new
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog or any of the other
kits, contact Ikon N’wst at 3806 Chase Rd.,
Post Falls ID 83854,
[email protected], or (208) 773-
9001. A photo-illustrated catalog is $5.
Baby Ace Update: After building the
Baby Ace’s basic structure for all of the
tail surfaces and making modifications for
the more squared-off tail surfaces (later,
more modern version), it’s time to start the
wing.
Check the structure to make sure it’s
scale and conforms to the aircraft we are
building. If no changes are needed, make
wing-rib blanks from sheets of 1⁄4 five-ply
plywood. With tracing paper, trace the
outline onto the wood. This works great
and will save you some time. Make two
blanks for the two different wing ribs used
in construction on this flat-bottom-airfoil,
www.modelaircraft.org
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 111
straight-taper wing. It couldn’t get any
simpler than that. The center-section where
the wing joins the pylon to the struts on the
fuselage is the only place where plywood
ribs are used in this wing.
After cutting out two identical plywood
rib blanks for guides, sand them down and
check the shape against the plans. I usually
mark the outside edge of the plywood rib
blanks with a felt-tip marker so I don’t cut
into this later. Rough-cut your balsa rib
blanks for the ribs, giving yourself enough
room around the edges to have some scrap
left over later.
With a drill press, drill two holes into
the plywood rib blanks—the same diameter
as a wooden dowel—that you will put
through the rib blanks and the plywood
guides. Make sure you have some balsa left
over around the outside edges for each of
the 12 ribs you will be cutting.
Set the depth gauge on your band saw to
allow the 12 ribs and the plywood rib
blanks to be sawed at the same time. Take
your time and let the saw do the work. By
not rushing this portion of the construction,
you will be set up to finish the wing panel
in a few hours. After cutting the 12 ribs
together, while they are still compressed
together, sand them at the same time. This
will give you a much smoother surface to
work with later.
That’s all this time around. Fair skies and
tailwinds. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/04
Page Numbers: 106,109,111,113
106 MODEL AVIATION
Stan Alexander, 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville TN 37211; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL SCALE
LAST MONTH Model Aviation published my coverage of the 2002
US Scale Masters Championships, held in Mesa, Arizona, in the
fall. There was a good turnout from across the United States and
several AMA foreign-member entries. Having enough room in an
article or a column to cover all the major aspects of the event is
always a challenge to me.
Even more important is getting the information in that article
correct, such as the goof I made in the caption in the December
Nationals coverage with Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan. I had it
listed as a Stinson, which isn’t even close other than they are in the
same category of aircraft! If you ever get a chance to see this model
up close, take a good look at all the details; Steve did a fantastic job
on the model.
I wanted to add a piece about the One Eighth Air Force with the
Masters coverage but there wasn’t room, so I’ll put it in here and
hope everyone enjoys the focus on a Scale
model club that has been around for many
years. Thanks to Al Casey, Bob Frey, and
Mike Peck for the following information and
help.
If you’ve never been to one of the One
Eighth Air Force’s events, you are missing a
treat. They are well run, and the idea of
having a good time flying Scale models is at
the top of the list. Following is some history
on this group of dedicated Scale modelers.
Around 1976 many Scale contests were
held with Pattern in the Phoenix, Arizona,
area (as they were around the country). This
was because of the lack of modelers
interested in Scale competition at the time in
that area or a lack of knowledge about the
competition itself.
A group of Scale Radio Control (RC)
enthusiasts met to see if they could think of
someway to encourage more modelers to
build and fly Scale model aircraft. After
much discussion, Dave Linne threw out a
novel idea that was deceptively simple in
Ikon N’Wst’s 1⁄5-scale Cessna L-19 Bird Dog spans 981⁄2 inches.
This book contains civil-aviation history and three-views.
Members of the One Eighth Air Force at the 2002 Scale Masters Championships.
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 106
April 2003 109
concept. He proposed holding a low- or nopressure
fly-in that would take the stress
off of modelers who weren’t sure of
themselves yet. It was thought that this
might be the way to promote Scale RC by
example and encourage other modelers
within the area to build their own Scale
models.
The first event was planned for October
at the old Luke Air Force Base—a World
War II auxiliary training field with a paved
runway. This was the Arizona Radio
Control Society’s flying site. For operating
expenses, the group asked a few other local
clubs for $100 contributions. Each club
asked graciously gave. The group decided
that there would be no entry fee for the
pilots and no parking fee for spectators; the
group thought this would help encourage
modelers and spectators to attend. Raffle
tickets and a small cut from the caterer
would be all of the income for the club.
The first RC Scale fly-in was a huge
success. The most often repeated question
that busy weekend was “When and where
will the next one be?” Those people who
showed interest and were enthusiastic
about joining the group were contacted and
a meeting was scheduled, which became
the founding meeting of the One Eighth
Air Force.
The name was chosen as a tribute to the
“mighty” 8th Air Force of WW II, and the
“One” was added to represent the fraction
“one-eighth,” which was the average size
of most models at that time. This
modification also served to ensure the
public that the modelers were not
attempting to impersonate the legendary
8th Air Force in any way. The group drew
up a mission statement, drafted a
constitution, and obtained an AMA club
charter. Plans were then set in motion for
the second annual fly-in.
After that second fly-in, which became
a regional event and another huge success,
the One Eighth Air Force began accepting
members from out of state. The club was
pleased with the acceptance of its format
and the way modelers seemed to enjoy
the Scale fly-ins. To this day, the club’s
out-of-state membership rivals its local
participation.
Plywood rib blanks and uncut balsa ribs are for the Corben Baby Ace’s wing.
The 1⁄8-inch balsa ribs are shown still in the guides after cutting.
TIRED OF PAYING
$1.29 FOR 6 SCREWS?
Our 4-40x1/2 socket
caps sell for $4.35/100
for alloy steel, or
$6.65/100 stainless, or $7.50/50 aluminum.
For fair prices on sensible quantities of the fasteners
you need for model building, call, write or
fax for our free catalog!
Micro Fasteners 800-892-6917
24 Cokesbury Rd., Suite 2 908-236-8120
Lebanon, NJ 08833 fax 908-236-8721
e-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://microfasteners.com
The One Eighth Air Force continues to
rotate the location of its events in the local
area, with different clubs hosting. In 2003
the One Eighth Air Force’s March fly-in
will be held at the Sun Valley Fliers field, at
the intersection of Cave Creek and Jomax
roads, north of Phoenix, March 22-23.
It’s funny how ideas such as the ones I
just wrote about come full circle. As I
stated in the Masters article, “in a sea of
gray hair” we need to take a step back to the
basics and encourage modelers from other
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 109
April 2003 111
disciplines to join us in the fun with Scale
models. Fly-ins such as the One Eighth Air
Force’s are a great starting point for many.
These events can sew the seeds for
more modelers to build and fly Scale
models, some of whom will eventually join
in the fun of competition. Others will find
some of the many other facets of Scale
modeling to enjoy, such as fly-ins,
competition, documentation research,
judging, etc.
Bookshelf: One of my many favorite
aircraft is the Cessna T-50, or Bobcat. The
WW II-era twin was a unique aircraft and
served in civil and military roles. This
aircraft, along with the Airmaster series,
the 120/140 series, WACO CG-4A gliders,
and Cessna’s early racing history, are
covered in Cessna’s Golden Age by Alan
Abel, Drina Welch Abel, and the late Paul
Matt.
The 96-page book has eight pages of
three-views and 180 photos. It is available
for $22.95 plus shipping from Wind
Canyon Books, Inc. at (800) 952-7007 or
www.windcanyonbooks.com.
Scale Sources: Many civil aircraft have
been used as military aircraft, and others
have designs modified for the military. The
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog has been used
around the world, and it is a new kit from
Ikon N’wst. The 1⁄5-scale model spans 85
inches and will accept a variety of power
plants. Fiberglass cowling and aluminum
landing gear are included, along with
removable wing panels for ease of
transportation. All the parts are hand-cut
balsa and plywood, ready to assemble.
Ikon N’wst has a full line of balsa-andplywood
kits, including the following
unique aircraft: the WACO Taper Wing,
the WACO Model 10, the Gee Bee Model
E, the Gee Bee Model Y Super Sportster,
the Corben Super Ace, and the Fairchild
Model 22, just to name a few. Most of
these aircraft have wingspans of 72 inches
or longer. The Fairchild Model 22 spans
981⁄2 inches.
For more information about the new
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog or any of the other
kits, contact Ikon N’wst at 3806 Chase Rd.,
Post Falls ID 83854,
[email protected], or (208) 773-
9001. A photo-illustrated catalog is $5.
Baby Ace Update: After building the
Baby Ace’s basic structure for all of the
tail surfaces and making modifications for
the more squared-off tail surfaces (later,
more modern version), it’s time to start the
wing.
Check the structure to make sure it’s
scale and conforms to the aircraft we are
building. If no changes are needed, make
wing-rib blanks from sheets of 1⁄4 five-ply
plywood. With tracing paper, trace the
outline onto the wood. This works great
and will save you some time. Make two
blanks for the two different wing ribs used
in construction on this flat-bottom-airfoil,
www.modelaircraft.org
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 111
straight-taper wing. It couldn’t get any
simpler than that. The center-section where
the wing joins the pylon to the struts on the
fuselage is the only place where plywood
ribs are used in this wing.
After cutting out two identical plywood
rib blanks for guides, sand them down and
check the shape against the plans. I usually
mark the outside edge of the plywood rib
blanks with a felt-tip marker so I don’t cut
into this later. Rough-cut your balsa rib
blanks for the ribs, giving yourself enough
room around the edges to have some scrap
left over later.
With a drill press, drill two holes into
the plywood rib blanks—the same diameter
as a wooden dowel—that you will put
through the rib blanks and the plywood
guides. Make sure you have some balsa left
over around the outside edges for each of
the 12 ribs you will be cutting.
Set the depth gauge on your band saw to
allow the 12 ribs and the plywood rib
blanks to be sawed at the same time. Take
your time and let the saw do the work. By
not rushing this portion of the construction,
you will be set up to finish the wing panel
in a few hours. After cutting the 12 ribs
together, while they are still compressed
together, sand them at the same time. This
will give you a much smoother surface to
work with later.
That’s all this time around. Fair skies and
tailwinds. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/04
Page Numbers: 106,109,111,113
106 MODEL AVIATION
Stan Alexander, 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville TN 37211; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL SCALE
LAST MONTH Model Aviation published my coverage of the 2002
US Scale Masters Championships, held in Mesa, Arizona, in the
fall. There was a good turnout from across the United States and
several AMA foreign-member entries. Having enough room in an
article or a column to cover all the major aspects of the event is
always a challenge to me.
Even more important is getting the information in that article
correct, such as the goof I made in the caption in the December
Nationals coverage with Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan. I had it
listed as a Stinson, which isn’t even close other than they are in the
same category of aircraft! If you ever get a chance to see this model
up close, take a good look at all the details; Steve did a fantastic job
on the model.
I wanted to add a piece about the One Eighth Air Force with the
Masters coverage but there wasn’t room, so I’ll put it in here and
hope everyone enjoys the focus on a Scale
model club that has been around for many
years. Thanks to Al Casey, Bob Frey, and
Mike Peck for the following information and
help.
If you’ve never been to one of the One
Eighth Air Force’s events, you are missing a
treat. They are well run, and the idea of
having a good time flying Scale models is at
the top of the list. Following is some history
on this group of dedicated Scale modelers.
Around 1976 many Scale contests were
held with Pattern in the Phoenix, Arizona,
area (as they were around the country). This
was because of the lack of modelers
interested in Scale competition at the time in
that area or a lack of knowledge about the
competition itself.
A group of Scale Radio Control (RC)
enthusiasts met to see if they could think of
someway to encourage more modelers to
build and fly Scale model aircraft. After
much discussion, Dave Linne threw out a
novel idea that was deceptively simple in
Ikon N’Wst’s 1⁄5-scale Cessna L-19 Bird Dog spans 981⁄2 inches.
This book contains civil-aviation history and three-views.
Members of the One Eighth Air Force at the 2002 Scale Masters Championships.
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 106
April 2003 109
concept. He proposed holding a low- or nopressure
fly-in that would take the stress
off of modelers who weren’t sure of
themselves yet. It was thought that this
might be the way to promote Scale RC by
example and encourage other modelers
within the area to build their own Scale
models.
The first event was planned for October
at the old Luke Air Force Base—a World
War II auxiliary training field with a paved
runway. This was the Arizona Radio
Control Society’s flying site. For operating
expenses, the group asked a few other local
clubs for $100 contributions. Each club
asked graciously gave. The group decided
that there would be no entry fee for the
pilots and no parking fee for spectators; the
group thought this would help encourage
modelers and spectators to attend. Raffle
tickets and a small cut from the caterer
would be all of the income for the club.
The first RC Scale fly-in was a huge
success. The most often repeated question
that busy weekend was “When and where
will the next one be?” Those people who
showed interest and were enthusiastic
about joining the group were contacted and
a meeting was scheduled, which became
the founding meeting of the One Eighth
Air Force.
The name was chosen as a tribute to the
“mighty” 8th Air Force of WW II, and the
“One” was added to represent the fraction
“one-eighth,” which was the average size
of most models at that time. This
modification also served to ensure the
public that the modelers were not
attempting to impersonate the legendary
8th Air Force in any way. The group drew
up a mission statement, drafted a
constitution, and obtained an AMA club
charter. Plans were then set in motion for
the second annual fly-in.
After that second fly-in, which became
a regional event and another huge success,
the One Eighth Air Force began accepting
members from out of state. The club was
pleased with the acceptance of its format
and the way modelers seemed to enjoy
the Scale fly-ins. To this day, the club’s
out-of-state membership rivals its local
participation.
Plywood rib blanks and uncut balsa ribs are for the Corben Baby Ace’s wing.
The 1⁄8-inch balsa ribs are shown still in the guides after cutting.
TIRED OF PAYING
$1.29 FOR 6 SCREWS?
Our 4-40x1/2 socket
caps sell for $4.35/100
for alloy steel, or
$6.65/100 stainless, or $7.50/50 aluminum.
For fair prices on sensible quantities of the fasteners
you need for model building, call, write or
fax for our free catalog!
Micro Fasteners 800-892-6917
24 Cokesbury Rd., Suite 2 908-236-8120
Lebanon, NJ 08833 fax 908-236-8721
e-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://microfasteners.com
The One Eighth Air Force continues to
rotate the location of its events in the local
area, with different clubs hosting. In 2003
the One Eighth Air Force’s March fly-in
will be held at the Sun Valley Fliers field, at
the intersection of Cave Creek and Jomax
roads, north of Phoenix, March 22-23.
It’s funny how ideas such as the ones I
just wrote about come full circle. As I
stated in the Masters article, “in a sea of
gray hair” we need to take a step back to the
basics and encourage modelers from other
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 109
April 2003 111
disciplines to join us in the fun with Scale
models. Fly-ins such as the One Eighth Air
Force’s are a great starting point for many.
These events can sew the seeds for
more modelers to build and fly Scale
models, some of whom will eventually join
in the fun of competition. Others will find
some of the many other facets of Scale
modeling to enjoy, such as fly-ins,
competition, documentation research,
judging, etc.
Bookshelf: One of my many favorite
aircraft is the Cessna T-50, or Bobcat. The
WW II-era twin was a unique aircraft and
served in civil and military roles. This
aircraft, along with the Airmaster series,
the 120/140 series, WACO CG-4A gliders,
and Cessna’s early racing history, are
covered in Cessna’s Golden Age by Alan
Abel, Drina Welch Abel, and the late Paul
Matt.
The 96-page book has eight pages of
three-views and 180 photos. It is available
for $22.95 plus shipping from Wind
Canyon Books, Inc. at (800) 952-7007 or
www.windcanyonbooks.com.
Scale Sources: Many civil aircraft have
been used as military aircraft, and others
have designs modified for the military. The
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog has been used
around the world, and it is a new kit from
Ikon N’wst. The 1⁄5-scale model spans 85
inches and will accept a variety of power
plants. Fiberglass cowling and aluminum
landing gear are included, along with
removable wing panels for ease of
transportation. All the parts are hand-cut
balsa and plywood, ready to assemble.
Ikon N’wst has a full line of balsa-andplywood
kits, including the following
unique aircraft: the WACO Taper Wing,
the WACO Model 10, the Gee Bee Model
E, the Gee Bee Model Y Super Sportster,
the Corben Super Ace, and the Fairchild
Model 22, just to name a few. Most of
these aircraft have wingspans of 72 inches
or longer. The Fairchild Model 22 spans
981⁄2 inches.
For more information about the new
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog or any of the other
kits, contact Ikon N’wst at 3806 Chase Rd.,
Post Falls ID 83854,
[email protected], or (208) 773-
9001. A photo-illustrated catalog is $5.
Baby Ace Update: After building the
Baby Ace’s basic structure for all of the
tail surfaces and making modifications for
the more squared-off tail surfaces (later,
more modern version), it’s time to start the
wing.
Check the structure to make sure it’s
scale and conforms to the aircraft we are
building. If no changes are needed, make
wing-rib blanks from sheets of 1⁄4 five-ply
plywood. With tracing paper, trace the
outline onto the wood. This works great
and will save you some time. Make two
blanks for the two different wing ribs used
in construction on this flat-bottom-airfoil,
www.modelaircraft.org
04sig4.QXD 1.24.03 10:12 am Page 111
straight-taper wing. It couldn’t get any
simpler than that. The center-section where
the wing joins the pylon to the struts on the
fuselage is the only place where plywood
ribs are used in this wing.
After cutting out two identical plywood
rib blanks for guides, sand them down and
check the shape against the plans. I usually
mark the outside edge of the plywood rib
blanks with a felt-tip marker so I don’t cut
into this later. Rough-cut your balsa rib
blanks for the ribs, giving yourself enough
room around the edges to have some scrap
left over later.
With a drill press, drill two holes into
the plywood rib blanks—the same diameter
as a wooden dowel—that you will put
through the rib blanks and the plywood
guides. Make sure you have some balsa left
over around the outside edges for each of
the 12 ribs you will be cutting.
Set the depth gauge on your band saw to
allow the 12 ribs and the plywood rib
blanks to be sawed at the same time. Take
your time and let the saw do the work. By
not rushing this portion of the construction,
you will be set up to finish the wing panel
in a few hours. After cutting the 12 ribs
together, while they are still compressed
together, sand them at the same time. This
will give you a much smoother surface to
work with later.
That’s all this time around. Fair skies and
tailwinds. MA
