Radio Control Scale
Stan Alexander [email protected]
Picking that next Scale project: Go for kits or plans!
Many modelers who like scale aircraft will never compete in a contest and just enjoy the history or the era of airplanes they build. But sometimes, after you build that model, you get the urge to enter a competition and really need the documentation. This is why I suggest using at least some documentation while building each model—use the same colors and markings as in the photo(s) you have.
In preparation for another article (the Top Gun event coverage on page 18), I went back 20 years and observed several changes since then. There were fewer kit companies then than there are now. PCM radio systems had just come out; 2.4 GHz spread spectrum was only a dream.
At that time, 1/4-scale models were coming into their own, with belt or gear drives on two-stroke glow engines so they could turn a larger propeller. You could also get the new, large SuperTigre 2000 power plant.
Twenty years ago there were 1/3-scale models of light civil aircraft and a few others, often flying with converted gas chainsaw engines. Composite models existed but were mostly made from plastic, and serious competition would net you a low static score because you didn’t actually build the shape and finish the model.
Kits
If you’re thinking about building your first scale model, consider starting with a commercial kit. There are many to choose from, representing different eras of aviation.
Balsa USA has an entire line of World War I scouts (fighters). The company offers 1/6- to 1/3-scale models and a long list of different types to build—German, French, or British. I would love to see Balsa USA come out with a Curtiss Jenny; that would be a great addition to any World War I line. The company also supplies fabric and most of the bits and pieces you would want to add to detail its kits.
A World War I model flies at a slow pace, but it can be unforgiving on the ground if it isn’t pointed into the wind for takeoff and landing. Don’t forget to coordinate rudder and ailerons for turns, or you’ll find the airplane out of control and wonder why. The Balsa USA models are engineered to fly well; they go slowly with a gas engine up front and can be realistic in flight.
At any scale contest or fly-in, you will probably see military or civil trainers with color schemes that could match only a rainbow. The Army Air Corps, US Navy, and US Marines used a wide assortment of these airplanes. Some of the better trainers to fly include the Fairchild PT-19 and the de Havilland Chipmunk. Why? Because both have long tail moments and widely spaced main gear.
Larry Katona at Precision Cut Kits offers several versions of the Chipmunk and cuts kits for a host of designers. Don Smith recently retired, and Larry has taken on his great line of Giant Scale designs and brought them back to modelers.
A modeling source that has been around since I’ve been in the hobby is Top Flite. Its kits are designed for the beginning and intermediate builder—you actually have to build the model, but that’s half the fun. A good first-time scale model is the Top Flite Cessna 182 Skylane, which has an 81-inch wingspan. It will fly on a strong .60-size engine and will take up to a .120 four-stroke. Tower Hobbies has all the additions you will need if you want to trick out the civil four-seat aircraft.
The Cessna has tricycle (trike) landing gear, similar to an RC trainer. With a heavier wing loading, you may want to try a trike-gear airplane first. If you’re looking for a paint scheme, check the local airport—you might find something you really like. A newer Top Flite model is the Piper Arrow II, also with an 81-inch wingspan and trike gear; however, it is a low-wing civil airplane.
If you’re not interested in civil aviation and want something with a warbird color scheme, Top Flite has you covered. Almost all scale contests I’ve attended include at least one North American T-34B Mentor; this model has an 80-inch wingspan. The Arrow, Skylane, and Mentor have similar wingspans because most local airfields were designed around .40- to .60-size models for sport and aerobatics. Plus, it’s about all the room many RC sites have.
The majority of these kits offer flaps and retracts, which are considered flight options at most contests. That’s an easy way to pick up nine or ten points for your score. It also adds realism to any flight and the "wow factor" for spectators. Many manufacturers also sell cockpit kits and many scale details, including spinners, wheels, retract gear, and navigation lights.
If you want a model that is seldom seen at the local flying field or even at national contests, your sources slim down. The late Jim Meister had a line of large-scale models for IMAA (International Miniature Aircraft Association)-type events. Dino DiGiorgio purchased the company and has added several kits as well as many scale parts.
Meister Scale offers plans, wood kits, and all the fiberglass parts, canopies, etc., needed to complete the kits. They include the Fw 190 A–F versions, the later Fw 190 D-9 "Dora," P-47 Thunderbolt, Corsair, Spitfire, A6M Zero, and a new design by Pat McCurry: the Me 109G–K. Most of these kits have average wingspans around 100 inches.
Plans
There are many plan sources; here are some I’ve found with different aircraft types that interest me or could make good contest airplanes. Many of the available plans produce good first-time scale models.
Building from a set of plans is not scratch building; scratch building is when you draw your own plans and then construct a model from them. Dave Voglund did that a couple of years ago. An accomplished kit builder, Dave wanted to construct a Ki-43 World War II Japanese fighter. He scaled up three-view drawings from Japan so he could make the model 1/4 scale.
The finished product looks great and flies wonderfully after overcoming some teething problems. Dave uses a Laser 240 V-twin four-stroke engine for power and Robart retracts for the main gear; the tailwheel doesn't retract. Some earlier versions had only a tail skid.
You can build many of the 1930s–1950s-era military trainers and light civil aircraft from plans. Many sets of plans are available from "kit cutters." Several of these companies have either gone out of business in the past year or are no longer taking orders, so be sure to check availability before you commit.
Scale Plans and Photo Service was run by the late Jim Pepino, who drew and designed many scale models in the 1980s and continued until he passed away. His wife, Anne, carries on the service, with plans and photo packs available for a wide array of models. Anne is semi-retired, so the best way to get in touch with her is by phone or letter. With family out of state and out of the country, she travels whenever possible. If you don't hear her pleasant voice on the other end of the phone, drop her a line along with $10 for a catalog.
Anne has plans available for an Albatros D.Va, Corben Baby Ace, DHC-1 Chipmunk, PT-19, Gloster Gladiator, Heath Baby Bullet, Lockheed Vega, Miles M.14A Magister, WACO YMF-5, Stinson SR-5, and many other models. Most are at least 1/4 scale. A complete plans list is available online.
Bob Holman Plans has been in business for more than 30 years and has branched out to several different areas of the modeling industry. However, Bob's core business has been scale models. He stocks products from designers in England and the Mammoth Scale Plans series. Bob also sells laser-cut parts, such as wing ribs and formers, for several of his plans sets. He has short kits available, which typically include fiberglass parts, canopies, formers, and a few other goodies, but you have to purchase the rest of the balsa sheets and sticks to finish the kit.
Even with all the ARFs on the market, there are plenty of choices if you want to build a scale model. You won't finish it in a week, but when you do you will have a true sense of accomplishment.
Fair skies and tailwinds. — Stan Alexander
Sources
- Balsa USA
(800) 225-7287 www.balsausa.com
- Bob Holman Plans
(909) 885-3959 http://bhplans.com
- Jerry Bates Plans
(251) 478-6720 www.scaleaero.com/jbp_header.htm
- Meister Scale
(772) 621-9692 www.meister-scale.com
- Precision Cut Kits
(609) 538-1388 www.precisioncutkits.com
- Scale Plans and Photo Service
(336) 292-5239 http://fly-imaa.org/imaa/IMAAads/pepino/index.html
- Top Flite
(217) 398-8970 www.top-flite.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
