RADIO CONTROL SCALE
Stan Alexander 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville, TN 37211 E-mail: [email protected]
Last month I covered some of the manufacturers' kits and ARFs at the Toledo R/C Expo in Toledo, Ohio, in April. There are always so many great Scale models at Toledo in static competition, and this month I'll take a look at those. Many designers and Sport Scale competitors bring their new aircraft to Toledo for static competition. What better way to show off a new design or a new project than to bring it to a trade show and compete with it?
One of several jets at this year's show belonged to longtime competitor Terry Nitsch of Grove City, Ohio. He built a model of a restored and currently flying full-scale North American F-100F Super Sabre, which Dean Cutshall of Fort Wayne, Indiana, owns. Terry bought the kit from Bob Violett Models. It was powered with an AMT AT-450 turbine and controlled by a JR 10X radio system.
Some of the added details included an opening canopy, retractable landing lights, and a tail skid. Terry added more than 50,000 simulated rivets and screw heads to the model's surface. He covered the F-100F with Coverite Presto, Flite-Metal, and paint. It included brakes, a pneumatic speed brake, and a machined exhaust nozzle with simulated hydraulics.
Terry went on to win the title of "Mr. Top Gun"—again—at the Top Gun Invitational Tournament later in the month, after he won Best Jet at Toledo.
Wayne Ulery of Springfield, Ohio, entered the 1905 Wright Flyer III shown in Non-Military Sport Scale. He designed and constructed the model as the "first practical airplane." This aircraft is different from the 1903 and 1904 Flyers in several ways. The canard elevator section was moved forward 4-1/2 feet and enlarged. This helped solve the pitching problems with the earlier full-scale aircraft. Wayne's Flyer III spanned 48.5 inches, weighed 32.6 ounces, and was powered by two Hacker B20-31S brushless motors geared 4:1. Battery power was Li-Poly. Control of the model was by wing warping with rudder and elevator control.
Tom Pierce of Newark, Ohio, came to compete at his first Scale competition with a new model that he built from Jerry Bates plans. Tom has experience with plastic models, but this was his first venture into RC Scale. He picked a popular aircraft that has been seen in many different color schemes and guises in the past few years. His Douglas SBD Dauntless was built to a wingspan of 85 inches. Power was provided by an FPE 3.2 cu. in. gas engine, and a Futaba receiver controlled eight channels with Hitec servos. Tom completed the interior and added many details to the model. He scratch-built the guns and ammo belts, which he added to the rear of the cockpit. Weathering was one of the apparent aspects of Tom's and several other models at Toledo this year. The Dauntless's exterior, canopy framework, seat, pedals, guns, engine, cowling, and the crew and their uniforms were weathered realistically. Tom's experience with plastic models obviously came into use on this World War II veteran's finish. He won a well-deserved Best of Show with his model.
Rick Boyer of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, constructed the Red Devils Pitts S-1S shown in one of the photos. He built it to replicate one of the three Pitts Specials that the precision aerobatic team flew during the 1970s. The model is of Charlie Hillard's aircraft, and it was built from Sheber plans in a two-year period. Rick's model was powered by a Brison 4.8 cu. in. twin engine and finished with aircraft epoxy paint. It spanned 68 inches, was 62 inches long, and weighed 19 pounds. It also went on to compete at Top Gun in April. It looked like a true aerobatic show airplane—especially with the gloss finish and not a speck of dirt on it. I’ve never seen an aerobatic pilot who would let his mount stay dirty.
Another model at Toledo this year that I must mention was a stunning joint project. Robert Cooper and Paul Knapp’s Sopwith Snipe was a treasure to behold. It was extremely realistic and included full-scale construction as well as detailing throughout.
This project started with Lew Blackmore, who built the 1/4-scale Bentley BR2 rotary engine in approximately 1981. Paul used a how-to book about building the BR2 to construct several improved versions of the engine. Paul learned about Robert’s interest in building models from their mutual friend Dick Hansen. When Robert was approached, he was excited about building a model around one of these realistic radials.
The plan was to build a Snipe to fly, but since so many problems remain unsolved, Paul and Robert decided that it was impractical to run the engine in the model—much less fly it. This model will be on static display while another is built to fly the BR2.
At Toledo, the Snipe was displayed unfinished, with the fabric covering over the framework. Access panels were left open to allow everyone to view the full-scale construction techniques used on the model. The details were too many to list here, but the more you looked at the aircraft and its construction—much less the engine—the more details oozed out at you. It was beautiful.
Bookshelf
Canadian Warplane Heritage: Canada’s Flying Museum
- Author: Patrick T. Keenen
- ISBN: 0-9688936-0-0
- Publisher: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
This booklet describes the aircraft that are currently on display at the museum as well as some of the aircraft that have been part of the collection in the past. It is well illustrated and is a handy guide for the visitor.
Aircraft on display at the time this booklet was published included:
- Avro Lancaster Mk X
- Bristol Bolingbroke Mk IV W
- Consolidated PBV-5A Canso
- Grumman CS2F-2 Tracker
- North American B-25J III
- Fairey Firefly AS-5
- Hawker Hurricane Mk XIIB
- Sopwith Pup
- Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVI
- Sikorsky H-5
- Avro Canada CF-100 Mk V/D
- de Havilland Vampire D.H.100
- Hawker Hunter F.6
- Lockheed CT-33 Anson
Also listed were:
- Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter
- North American F-86 Sabre Mk VI
- Northrop CF-5
- Avro Anson Mk V
- Boeing Stearman PT-17
- Cessna Crane Mk I
- de Havilland DH.82C Tiger Moth
- Fairchild PT-26 Cornell
- Fleet Finch Mk II
- North American Harvard (T-6/Texan)
- North American Yale
- Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
- Douglas DC-3 Dakota
- Fairchild F-24 Argus III
- Auster AOP-VI
- Fleet Model 21K
- Grumman G-44 Widgeon
- Westland Lysander Mk III
Some of the aircraft in the museum are common, but many are rare, such as the Anson Mk V twin-engine advanced trainer, which has the basic layout of the Cessna T-50. It’s also a low-wing twin with a single rudder, and the gear partially retracts into the cowling.
The Cessna Crane Mk I is the designation for the Canadian version of the Cessna T-50 Bobcat. In its various designations the Canadian version of the de Havilland DH.82C Tiger Moth, with its full sliding canopy, was used for primary training, like the US Stearman PT-17.
Another interesting aircraft depicted in the book is the Bristol Bolingbroke Mk IV W. It looks much like a Bristol Blenheim Mk IV. It was being rebuilt from eight different aircraft at the time of publication.
The book would be perfect if it included color photos, but it does give you an idea of what you can see while at the museum and can serve as your guide. If you’re at Niagara Falls on vacation, take a day and drive to the museum; it’s only 47 miles west of there. Take many rolls of film or disks and enjoy the day. Thanks, Jim!
For further information, contact:
- Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
9280 Airport Rd., Hamilton International Airport, Mount Hope, Ontario, L0R 1W0
- Tel.: (905) 679-4183
- Fax: (905) 679-4186
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Web site: www.warplane.com
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
