Author: Stan Alexander
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/09
Page Numbers: 94,95,96
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Radio Control Scale

Stan Alexander [[email protected]]

The illusion of full scale

Some full-scale aircraft have more detail than others. This can be because of the type of airplane they are, the kinds of jobs they perform, their designers, or the eras in which they were created.

Many aircraft have been modified throughout the years to change the purpose of the original designs. One of the best known of these is the simple Piper J-3 Cub. It has been on floats and skis, had its wings clipped, and has had larger engines installed for air-show performance. The J-3 has also been used by the military as an air ambulance, in addition to many other roles. Having several versions of the same aircraft to choose from makes for some interesting scale modeling.

When you look at the details of a scale model—such as cowling, propeller, propeller hub, exposed hinges, antennas, aluminum or cloth finish—the list of possibilities for how to complete it grows. Adding components for the "wow factor" that will impress the judges at the flightline can reach a new level when you consider including sound, operating canopies, flaps, landing lights, brakes, cargo doors, and more.

Although you won't get additional points for most of these items, any of them can add "punch" that the judges will see. It will prove to them that you went the extra mile to make a marvelous miniature version of the full-scale aircraft.

George Maiorana did that with his Tu-4 Bull, which features a rotating radar dome on top of the airframe. He scratch-built the model, covered it with aluminum to replicate the full-scale finish, and handmade the retract gear and the details to go with it. Even a civilian aircraft such as a Cessna Skylane or a Beechcraft T-34 can have many features.

Before you begin your model, decide how many special touches you want to include. What does that involve? Planning. Developing a strategy for your project and gathering all of the components before you jump into construction is a great idea. In a sense, you want to make a shopping list of parts.

When you're trying to obtain the elements of your aircraft, go not only to the hobby shop but also to places such as Lowe's or your local hardware store. You might be surprised to see how many uses aluminum flashing has in the shop.

Navigation lights, landing lights, and brakes are nice touches. Onboard glow power is recommended for those who have to mount glow engines upside-down, because it can help lower the idle and make it more realistic, as well as increase reliability.

An item that adds to many biplanes' realism in flight is flying wires, or "rigging." When your biplane is in flight, it sounds realistic if the wind whistles through the wires. This feature doesn't garner extra points, but adding to the realism can earn you a better flight score.

Some items you can add after planning include rib tapes, flaps and flap detail, dummy engines, static propellers, airspeed indicators, scale exhausts, machine guns, turnbuckles, shocks, brake lines, hatches, handles, footsteps, struts, venturi, and louvers. Let your imagination go!

You can go nuts detailing a model, no matter the subject; it depends only on how far you're willing to go. A wise modeler once said, "You never finish a scale model; you just quit and start on another."

If you're into building—not just assembling an ARF—now is a terrific time to plan that next build. There is a host of great kits in the marketplace, featuring almost any era in aviation. Your imagination and your wallet will be your only limits.

New Products

I've learned about a company that sells a lighting system that is expandable and has a floodlight that illuminates the night sky. XTEC-Industries, based in Phoenix, Arizona, makes small lighting systems for many types of models. Bruce Nordquist offers wiring harnesses that are capable of lighting the most complicated scale aircraft out there.

The company has 22mm and 16mm floodlights that operate, as do all of the lights, off a 4.8- to 8.0-volt power source. They are extremely bright, and I believe that the rated 3-mile distance is correct—you won't have a problem seeing them from the flightline. There are also navigation and marker light sets for fixed-wing models, helicopters, four-wheel vehicles, and watercraft.

The AIR-4 setup includes 5mm LEDs with 24-inch leads and two-pin male universal plugs, which fit all of the different receivers and battery packs. There is one flashing white light, one flashing red light, and constant navigation green and red lights.

If your model has a retracted landing light, one of XTEC's two floodlights could do the job. It could be activated with a microswitch when the flaps are deployed for landing. For more information, check out the company's website or give them a call.

For models of different sizes, you simply make the wiring harness and plug-in servo extensions the desired lengths. At extended lengths you might want to increase voltage on the systems to ensure that the bulbs receive enough current.

With XTEC-Industries lighting systems, a great deal of the work is done for you. These are the brightest lights I've seen for model applications.

You typically have to add weight to the nose of a scale model anyway, so why not add it to the front in the form of a dummy radial engine? Frank Tiano Enterprises sells these in sizes ranging from 1/8 to 1/4 scale. These cast-resin power plants weigh between 4 ounces (1/8 scale) and 12 ounces (1/4 scale). You have to paint and detail them according to the engine you are endeavoring to replicate. This is another way to add oomph to your project.

On the Internet

Jet Model Products has provided kits and accessories since the 1980s. The company's large Lockheed T-33 for turbine power has a wingspan of 85 inches and a good scale outline. Your ability and imagination are the only limits you have when detailing the T-33 trainer, which was used throughout the free world. Visit Jet Model Products' website for more information.

Century Jet Models has also been around for a while and sells kits for both scale jets and propeller aircraft. The list of prop kits currently includes the F4U Corsair, P-40 Warhawk, P-47, P-51, Hawker Sea Fury, and Supermarine Spitfire. The company's kit line includes 12 jets, including the rarely seen Hawker Hunter and the He 162 Salamander. Century Jet Models also has a full line of retracts for various kits and plans-built models. Check out the company's website.

Upcoming Events

The 31st U.S. Scale Masters Championships will be held near Louisville, Kentucky. The dates are September 16–19, 2010.

The host club—the Ohio River View RC Flyers—will open its pristine flying site for competitors and spectators to enjoy. It features 125 acres along the Ohio River, which has been turned into one of the best flying fields in this region of the country.

Great airplanes, jets, and people make for a great family getaway as well as great scale competition. For more information, see the websites in the "Sources" list.

Sources

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