RADIO CONTROL SCALE
Author
Stan Alexander 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville TN 37211 E-mail: [email protected]
TOLEDO EXPO 2003
To many of us, the words “springtime” and “Toledo” go hand in hand. Just don’t always expect spring weather in Toledo, Ohio, when you arrive in early April! The weather sort of seems like it’s Christmastime, and we’re all turned loose under the Christmas tree when the gates open at the Weak Signals Toledo Show.
At this Radio Control (RC) trade show there is a smorgasbord of goodies: kits, airplanes, engines, radios, static competition, blimps, videos, and booths for magazines, the AMA, Special Interest Groups, and companies of every description.
Arriving at the show early has its good points, one of which is that you usually get to park close. It can take a good two days to see everything. There is a swap shop upstairs with everything you could imagine and some things you couldn’t imagine. Models already built and some used are for sale, but the main action is on the ground floor where all of the companies set up. The upstairs is usually for private sellers and overflow from the main floor. The oddest thing I saw this year was a 1/2-scale model of a tank destroyer.
This year there were several new items and kits for scale modelers, whatever your scale preference. From electric indoor/park flyer models to giant-scale warbirds, scale modelers were in for a treat.
Industry changes and returning companies
Changes continue in the volatile hobby industry. On the positive side, a couple of companies are back in production or have been brought back; one is Goldberg Models and the other is Wing Manufacturing. I also saw continued additions to the kit line from Iron Bay Model Company, which bought the kit line from Byron Originals and is producing selected kits.
Several new kits and Almost Ready to Flys (ARFs) were shown, and some of the aerobatic aircraft are truly huge. Among the ARFs was the new Great Planes Gee Bee R-1/R-2 ARF kit.
There was a kit company at the show I hadn’t seen before: Skyshark R/C has a kit line of World War II combat aircraft—what the company calls YBMs (You Build Models). In other words, you have to do the sanding too. Skyshark displayed a TBM Avenger aimed at the sport-scale modeler.
Sig Manufacturing
Sig Manufacturing Inc. came with a new line of ARF park flyers including the Curtiss Jenny and the Bristol Scout. The models are similar in size and have the same power requirements. We saw these models fly indoors at the Bowling Green State University sports center on Saturday night. There was a good turnout for the RC indoor event, and the new Jenny was right at home inside the dome.
Mike Gretz modified one of the Jennys by adding larger wheels, decals, flying wires, and other small details that made the model stand out from the stock kit. Mike used water-based paint (available from Wal‑Mart for roughly 50¢ a bottle) on the model’s struts and forward areas to improve the scale appearance. Some of the flying wires on the wings were functional using fishing line; others toward the tail surfaces were elastic for appearance.
Wing Manufacturing
Wing Manufacturing continues its kit line with short kits that include plans, molded parts, canopies, and instructions. The company has added a Pro Series, which includes all of the wood parts, hardware, and decal sheets to finish building your kit.
Wing Manufacturing’s kits are designed around foam wings, which can really speed up building time. Its kits are generally in the .40- to .60-size range—good-size models for the local field and for beginning scale competition. They are nice sport-scale aircraft for most modelers.
The kit line includes:
- B-25
- F6F Hellcat
- P-38
- A-26
- P-82
- P-51
- A6M2 Zero
- C.202 Folgore
- P-40B
- P-39
You can also purchase generic wing cores from Wing Manufacturing for your own design. For more information call (309) 342-3009 or visit www.wingmfg.com.
Balsa USA
Getting every detail of that World War I model correct is important to scale modelers. Balsa USA came to Toledo with its new 1/4-scale S.E.5a and a simulated World War I propeller hub for 1/4-scale models. These hubs look realistic and are available in several sizes. They are produced by Ralph Vannaman.
Transmitter trays — A&Z Mfg. Co.
Last month I mentioned the transmitter tray as a means of additional control for your scale model or jet. A new company, A&Z Mfg. Co., has fully adjustable transmitter trays. They are slightly more expensive than the basic models, but they are fully adjustable to fit anyone from a young teenager to a tall adult.
The tray is adjustable for most radios; if your radio has a hump in the back, there is a tray model to fit it for approximately $15 extra. The trays list for $110 and up. Contact www.rctable.com or call (847) 520-4462.
Precision Cut Kits
If you've ever looked at a designer's RC scale plans and wanted a kit of those plans, you aren't alone. Some kit-cutter companies provide the kits, but you may wait several weeks before receiving the wood kit of your to-be-built scale model. Precision Cut Kits has an interesting idea: carry inventory of the more popular kits so you can order and usually receive them within seven days.
Precision Cut Kits had a booth loaded with 1/4- and 1/5-scale kits. Larry Katona has a full line of cut-wood kits for Nick Ziroli plans, Don Smith plans, Jerry Bates plans, Wendell Hostetler plans, and many others. Larry also cuts kits for Vailly Aviation, Dan Palmer plans, and other designers.
What comes in a kit-cutter's kit? You usually receive all of the wood parts for the model. There is no hardware, covering, plans, or formed parts such as the cowling. You have to buy the plans and those extra parts separately. For more information call Precision Cut Kits at (609) 538-1388, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.precisioncutkits.com.
Fiberglass suppliers — Stan's Fiber Tech
Fiberglass companies that supply cowls and wheel pants are seemingly harder to find, but Stan's Fiber Tech (no relation to me) had a huge line of cowls and wheel pants at the show.
One good thing about many hobby suppliers is that they have online catalogs; you can see what is available without having to wait. If you don't have the Internet, call Stan's Fiber Tech for a catalog. The price list is available online and is approximately 16 pages. For more information call (909) 352-4758 or visit www.stansfibertech.com.
Bookshelf
Condor: The Luftwaffe in Spain 1936–1939 (ISBN 1902109104) was written by Patrick Laureau and first published in 2000 by Hikoki Publications. This comprehensive history of the Spanish Civil War in the air includes 240 pages. Laureau gleaned photos from his collection and other sources, including individuals. Many aircraft featured are difficult to document and most no longer exist.
Some of the airplanes covered include the Dornier Do 17; the Heinkel He 45, He 46, He 51, He 59, He 60, He 70, and He 126; the Arado Ar 68; the Junkers Ju 86; and the Henschel Hs 123.
The Spanish Civil War was the proving ground for German, Russian, and other air forces' equipment before World War II. This book contains 16 pages of color side plates and the rest are black-and-white photos. There are no scale drawings, but there is a good history of the units involved.
If you are looking for documentation photos for one or more of these aircraft, it might be worth the $45 investment. It's interesting reading if you're into history. Check bookstores or book catalogs, including Zenith Books and Historic Aviation.
Upcoming Events
- Island Indoor RC Scale Championships — August 15–17
Neville Island Sports Center golf dome (off I-79, ~20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, PA). A full-service restaurant is on-site. Indoor scale RC is growing; there will be many classes and activities during the three days. The venue airspace is large (300 ft length × 150 ft width × almost 100 ft height). For information about scale classes, weight limits, and other details, contact Jim Rediske at [email protected] or (724) 457-1730.
- One Eighth Air Force Scale Fly-In — October 18–19, 2003
Superstition Airpark, Arizona. If you live in the Southwest, stop by and check out this event. October is great weather in that area. Consider bringing your spouse and taking a drive up to the Grand Canyon.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
