Author: Stan Alexander
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/02
Page Numbers: 122,123,124
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Radio Control Scale

Stan Alexander [[email protected]]

The love for things that fly stays the same

Also included in this column:

  • The PA-11 gets its tail
  • The new Old Crow
  • Worth a visit virtually or in person
  • The Tophatters story
  • Upcoming event news

Memories from Air Trails (February 1939)

I recently saw an Air Trails magazine from February 1939—almost 70 years ago—and it cost 15¢. The cover read, “You, Too, Can Be an Army Aviator!” Although this magazine was published before I was born, it still brings back childhood memories of our local Berry Field Airport here in Nashville, Tennessee. A multitude of different aircraft have flown in and out of there between the 1950s and today.

Memories are one of many reasons I keep old magazines year after year. The Air Trails cover shows a Lockheed Connie flying over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, with what looks to be the USS United States passing under the bridge at the same time. It signals a change in transportation throughout the country—and around the world.

One of the magazine's features, “News of the Aero-nautical World Presented in Pictures,” highlights the Vickers bomber, the new XP-40, and the DC-3. The “Air Student” feature stresses that training in construction, rigging, and aerodynamics was part of basic flight training back then. Wow—I wish every AMA club had such in-depth programs now.

The article I particularly enjoyed was “Air Hostess.” It revealed many changes in flight attendants’ jobs through the years. Each young lady of the time reportedly carried 1,177 items for passengers’ comfort and pleasure on each flight.

Modeling in Air Trails

Another feature covers the NAA (National Aeronautic Association), which includes full-scale and model pilots; it even shows a full-scale Stinson Reliant alongside a scale model. We still take those kinds of pictures today.

The back of the magazine includes modeling articles, including plans and text for the Lackey Zenith, three-views of the Fokker T-V Dutch bomber and Boeing XBFB-1 biplane, and a photo section called “Model Matters.” It shows what we now call “old-timers” and scale models with a great deal of dihedral in the wings. Things have changed, but we still enjoy building many of the same types of models.

According to one advertisement, you could purchase a Model D Brown Jr. engine for only $10. On the inside of the back cover, a one-page ad promotes solid scale models of the Martin bomber, Lockheed Electra, Bell Airacuda fighter, and others, including the winner of the 1938 Nationals: the Zenith.

Gliding and Soaring

A column titled “Gliding and Soaring” features the Schweizer and Pegasus and gives an account of a student's first glider flight. We don’t see many scale glider meets in the U.S. today; they seem more popular in Europe. Perhaps scale glider flying will rise again here. Is anyone out there building scale gliders?

Early radio systems and the modeling scene

Radio systems were primitive in the 1950s and early 1960s. Even when I grew up in the 1960s, CL (control-line) models were predominant in the local scene here in Nashville. We were lucky to have both Hobby Lobby and Bob Ruther’s RC World for supplies. The import of Japanese radios made it possible for many to try radio control.

Piper PA-11

I’ve received several e-mails about the PA-11; there is a lot of interest in Piper products beyond the tried-and-true J-3 Cub. Bill Linke wrote that he has been interested in the PA-11 for years and has modified several model Cubs to that scheme. There are several subtle differences between the J-3 and the PA-11 besides the cowling and the nose bowl. The airplane was equipped with a tank in the left wing. The fuel gauge was a glass “finger” that stuck down below the wing with a wire float in it.

With the full cowl and wing tank, there was no need for a nose fuel tank, so the whole bottom cowl is changed, allowing the windscreen to slope more than the J-3 series airplanes. In the real airplane, the front seat is higher and the airplane solos from the front seat instead of the rear as in all the J-3 airplanes. With the heavier engine in the PA-11 and PA-18 Super Cubs, the forward pilot seating became standard.

My PA-11 is progressing more slowly as we get into the holiday season; I can't get into the shop as much as I would like. I have started the covering and finished the fillets on the vertical fin.

#### Building tips for fillets When making fillets on the model:

  1. Do not glue the fin to the stabilizer before you make the fillets from the triangle stock provided in the kit.
  2. Before you glue the fillets to the fin, do as much carving and sanding as possible.
  3. Use a regular X-Acto knife with a new blade. Make a pencil outline to show where you will be cutting on the triangle stock to make the part fit.
  4. Sand the parts down, checking the fit often.
  5. When satisfied, set the vertical fin on the stabilizer and put the fillets in place. Stand back and look at them; ensure they are equal in shape and length and will produce a scale outline when covered.

Old Crow and Col. Bud Anderson

Retired Colonel Bud Anderson's website is a great source of WWII music, photos, and the history of the 357th Fighter Group. There are free screensavers of the P-51B "Old Crow" and many other photos. The pictures will interest many scale modelers, and the music is a nice touch. The site also contains a great article and photos of Jack Roush's P-51B "Old Crow" that were published in the October 2008 Flight Journal magazine.

If you really like the Old Crow, Airborne Media has a photo pack that includes information about the aircraft and three-views for scale modelers. Check out the set of photos from this past summer's EAA AirVenture event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin—more than 80 prints for $15.95 plus shipping.

National Naval Aviation Museum (Pensacola, FL)

If you take a trip to Florida's Gulf Coast, visit the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. You can easily spend a day—or three—there. The museum is one of my top three aviation museums.

The website gives you an idea of what is available to photograph before you go. Most of the airplanes are fully accessible to the public, and tours of the restoration facility are available if you ask in advance. The site includes the museum's airplane roster, program details, café and gift shop information, and IMAX theater details.

The research facility is open to the public and is staffed by retired naval personnel. The museum is well lit and very clean compared to others, such as the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. I have no problem crawling on the floor to take detail shots for projects. Check out the website and the museum.

Squadron Signal Publications — Tophatters

Squadron Signal Publications produces books covering many military subjects, including armor, ships, and military aviation. Fighter Squadron Fourteen "Tophatters" by Thomas F. Gates is an 80-page, card-stock-cover volume that includes history from the beginning of naval aviation in 1919 through 1991.

The Tophatters transitioned from biplanes to the F-14 Tomcat during their history. The book has great shots of vintage biplanes such as the Curtiss F8C-4 Helldiver, the Curtiss F11 Goshawk, and the Vought Vindicator (nicknamed the "Wind Indicator"). It also features black-and-white photos of other naval fighters and bombers. I enjoyed the book and found a good bit of useful information in it.

Events — Scale fly-ins and contests

Scale fly-ins and contests are great places to meet others who share the same passion for building models. One group that consistently puts together a good event is the One Eighth Air Force.

  • One Eighth Air Force Scale Fly-In: Traditionally held the next-to-last weekend in March. The 2009 event will be held March 21–22 in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. Last year it was at the AMPS field. For details, see the club's events calendar on their website.
  • U.S. Scale Masters Championships: Will be held in Wenatchee, Washington (the "Apple Capital of the World") September 10–13. Wenatchee is north of Yakima in central Washington. Check the Scale Masters website or call for more details.

Sources

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.