BUILDING SCALE models is somewhat of a scavenger hunt at
times. You stumble across some of the best stuff in the oddest places,
some of which have nothing to do with a traditional hobby shop.
Finding books and documentation can in itself become a hobby—
especially for that
one particular World
War II or World War
I fighter that may not
have lasted for more
than a few months in
operation. An
airplane that is
associated with a
particular pilot, a
family member, or
one of the more
famous aces can
provide you with a
great hunt for proper documentation.
There are many common sources for
documentation, and a few advertise in this
magazine. But there are little things, such as
lead drapery weights, cloth, and vinyl, that
you can find at the local fabric shop.
Hardware and office-supply stores, Hobby
Lobby chains, arts-and-craft shops, and even
your local Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop
can carry scale details in the rough.
A look around your basement can reveal
many items to use for scale features. Thin
aluminum siding can be cut with scissors and
made into different parts, including throttle
quadrants in the interior of the model and
water rudders. You can use sheet plastic to
make access panels, control levers, and other
components.
I didn’t see the right size of hardwood
dowel in the shop for two joysticks that my
Piper PA-11 needed. While I was walking in
the back yard, it occurred to me to see if any
twigs from the old sycamore tree (which
aren’t good for anything else) might work.
With all the “stuff” that the tree drops in the yard, it was easy to find a
branch that was close to the right size.
My model also needed round handles to go on top of the sticks.
Those can be found in many places. I looked at a local craft shop for
pins with round heads and found some, but they were too small.
Then I stopped at one of the office-supply stores. It also had
round-head pins, but those were too large for my model. This search
was starting to sound like the story of Goldilocks and the Three
Bears.
I went to Ace Hardware (which is similar to your local farmer’s
supply) and found sweet pea seeds. They were exactly the right size!
You should have seen the store clerk’s face when I told him I wanted
only 10 seeds.
“You’re kidding, right?” he asked.
I told him no and that four of the lucky seeds would go in my new
Scale model! The final cost for this important item was 7¢. We
probably burned a quarter tank of gas finding the seeds, but that was
half the fun.
You would be surprised by how many
corporate airplanes from the ’30s are still
flying or, in many cases, flying again.
Airplane types that are already committed to
attend the get-together include Lockheed,
WACO, Ryan, Howard, Cessna, and
Stinson. Howard aircraft will be there in
great numbers.
This fly-in isn’t like AirVenture Oshkosh
in Wisconsin; it’s much more personal. To
attend, you have to be an Antique Airplane
Association member, for insurance
purposes.
There is a museum, library, and several
other interesting things to see close by,
including Sig Manufacturing in Montezuma,
Iowa. There will be food on-site for all three
meals, and primitive camping is available.
Rides in antique airplanes are something of
a standard at the event. The Web site has all
of the information you might need before
going.
Scale Tech: When plumbing a new fuel
system for a gas engine, make a two-line
arrangement with a T-fitting in the line that
goes to the carburetor. The additional line is
used to fill the tank.
The Walbro carburetor will not allow
fuel to flow into the carburetor—only into
the fuel tank. Close off the fuel-fill line with
a good plug when you are ready. A wood
plug will work, but don’t use a screw;
fuel/air will follow the threads and leak.
There are also manufactured fuel-line plugs.
After installing the lines and T-fitting, be
sure to use small zip ties and secure all lines in
place. After plugging the fill line and priming
the engine, you’re ready for some fun.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Sources:
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
www.nasascale.org
Antique Airplane Association
(641) 938-2773
www.antiqueairfield.com
LaserCut U.S.A.
(772) 460-6436
[email protected]
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 107,108,109
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 107,108,109
BUILDING SCALE models is somewhat of a scavenger hunt at
times. You stumble across some of the best stuff in the oddest places,
some of which have nothing to do with a traditional hobby shop.
Finding books and documentation can in itself become a hobby—
especially for that
one particular World
War II or World War
I fighter that may not
have lasted for more
than a few months in
operation. An
airplane that is
associated with a
particular pilot, a
family member, or
one of the more
famous aces can
provide you with a
great hunt for proper documentation.
There are many common sources for
documentation, and a few advertise in this
magazine. But there are little things, such as
lead drapery weights, cloth, and vinyl, that
you can find at the local fabric shop.
Hardware and office-supply stores, Hobby
Lobby chains, arts-and-craft shops, and even
your local Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop
can carry scale details in the rough.
A look around your basement can reveal
many items to use for scale features. Thin
aluminum siding can be cut with scissors and
made into different parts, including throttle
quadrants in the interior of the model and
water rudders. You can use sheet plastic to
make access panels, control levers, and other
components.
I didn’t see the right size of hardwood
dowel in the shop for two joysticks that my
Piper PA-11 needed. While I was walking in
the back yard, it occurred to me to see if any
twigs from the old sycamore tree (which
aren’t good for anything else) might work.
With all the “stuff” that the tree drops in the yard, it was easy to find a
branch that was close to the right size.
My model also needed round handles to go on top of the sticks.
Those can be found in many places. I looked at a local craft shop for
pins with round heads and found some, but they were too small.
Then I stopped at one of the office-supply stores. It also had
round-head pins, but those were too large for my model. This search
was starting to sound like the story of Goldilocks and the Three
Bears.
I went to Ace Hardware (which is similar to your local farmer’s
supply) and found sweet pea seeds. They were exactly the right size!
You should have seen the store clerk’s face when I told him I wanted
only 10 seeds.
“You’re kidding, right?” he asked.
I told him no and that four of the lucky seeds would go in my new
Scale model! The final cost for this important item was 7¢. We
probably burned a quarter tank of gas finding the seeds, but that was
half the fun.
You would be surprised by how many
corporate airplanes from the ’30s are still
flying or, in many cases, flying again.
Airplane types that are already committed to
attend the get-together include Lockheed,
WACO, Ryan, Howard, Cessna, and
Stinson. Howard aircraft will be there in
great numbers.
This fly-in isn’t like AirVenture Oshkosh
in Wisconsin; it’s much more personal. To
attend, you have to be an Antique Airplane
Association member, for insurance
purposes.
There is a museum, library, and several
other interesting things to see close by,
including Sig Manufacturing in Montezuma,
Iowa. There will be food on-site for all three
meals, and primitive camping is available.
Rides in antique airplanes are something of
a standard at the event. The Web site has all
of the information you might need before
going.
Scale Tech: When plumbing a new fuel
system for a gas engine, make a two-line
arrangement with a T-fitting in the line that
goes to the carburetor. The additional line is
used to fill the tank.
The Walbro carburetor will not allow
fuel to flow into the carburetor—only into
the fuel tank. Close off the fuel-fill line with
a good plug when you are ready. A wood
plug will work, but don’t use a screw;
fuel/air will follow the threads and leak.
There are also manufactured fuel-line plugs.
After installing the lines and T-fitting, be
sure to use small zip ties and secure all lines in
place. After plugging the fill line and priming
the engine, you’re ready for some fun.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Sources:
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
www.nasascale.org
Antique Airplane Association
(641) 938-2773
www.antiqueairfield.com
LaserCut U.S.A.
(772) 460-6436
[email protected]
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 107,108,109
BUILDING SCALE models is somewhat of a scavenger hunt at
times. You stumble across some of the best stuff in the oddest places,
some of which have nothing to do with a traditional hobby shop.
Finding books and documentation can in itself become a hobby—
especially for that
one particular World
War II or World War
I fighter that may not
have lasted for more
than a few months in
operation. An
airplane that is
associated with a
particular pilot, a
family member, or
one of the more
famous aces can
provide you with a
great hunt for proper documentation.
There are many common sources for
documentation, and a few advertise in this
magazine. But there are little things, such as
lead drapery weights, cloth, and vinyl, that
you can find at the local fabric shop.
Hardware and office-supply stores, Hobby
Lobby chains, arts-and-craft shops, and even
your local Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop
can carry scale details in the rough.
A look around your basement can reveal
many items to use for scale features. Thin
aluminum siding can be cut with scissors and
made into different parts, including throttle
quadrants in the interior of the model and
water rudders. You can use sheet plastic to
make access panels, control levers, and other
components.
I didn’t see the right size of hardwood
dowel in the shop for two joysticks that my
Piper PA-11 needed. While I was walking in
the back yard, it occurred to me to see if any
twigs from the old sycamore tree (which
aren’t good for anything else) might work.
With all the “stuff” that the tree drops in the yard, it was easy to find a
branch that was close to the right size.
My model also needed round handles to go on top of the sticks.
Those can be found in many places. I looked at a local craft shop for
pins with round heads and found some, but they were too small.
Then I stopped at one of the office-supply stores. It also had
round-head pins, but those were too large for my model. This search
was starting to sound like the story of Goldilocks and the Three
Bears.
I went to Ace Hardware (which is similar to your local farmer’s
supply) and found sweet pea seeds. They were exactly the right size!
You should have seen the store clerk’s face when I told him I wanted
only 10 seeds.
“You’re kidding, right?” he asked.
I told him no and that four of the lucky seeds would go in my new
Scale model! The final cost for this important item was 7¢. We
probably burned a quarter tank of gas finding the seeds, but that was
half the fun.
You would be surprised by how many
corporate airplanes from the ’30s are still
flying or, in many cases, flying again.
Airplane types that are already committed to
attend the get-together include Lockheed,
WACO, Ryan, Howard, Cessna, and
Stinson. Howard aircraft will be there in
great numbers.
This fly-in isn’t like AirVenture Oshkosh
in Wisconsin; it’s much more personal. To
attend, you have to be an Antique Airplane
Association member, for insurance
purposes.
There is a museum, library, and several
other interesting things to see close by,
including Sig Manufacturing in Montezuma,
Iowa. There will be food on-site for all three
meals, and primitive camping is available.
Rides in antique airplanes are something of
a standard at the event. The Web site has all
of the information you might need before
going.
Scale Tech: When plumbing a new fuel
system for a gas engine, make a two-line
arrangement with a T-fitting in the line that
goes to the carburetor. The additional line is
used to fill the tank.
The Walbro carburetor will not allow
fuel to flow into the carburetor—only into
the fuel tank. Close off the fuel-fill line with
a good plug when you are ready. A wood
plug will work, but don’t use a screw;
fuel/air will follow the threads and leak.
There are also manufactured fuel-line plugs.
After installing the lines and T-fitting, be
sure to use small zip ties and secure all lines in
place. After plugging the fill line and priming
the engine, you’re ready for some fun.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Sources:
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
www.nasascale.org
Antique Airplane Association
(641) 938-2773
www.antiqueairfield.com
LaserCut U.S.A.
(772) 460-6436
[email protected]