Radio Control Scale - 2010/10 | Model Aviation Library

Author: Stan Alexander

Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/10
Page Numbers: 107,108,109

Eras of aviation: the Golden Age

Author

This year I have covered World War I (the Great War) aircraft. There have been jets and other types of scale models, but we see less information about civil aircraft than about any other type. There are more civil subjects out there than any other type of aircraft, yet many Cessnas and Pipers seem to be overlooked for modeling for different reasons. Aeromodelers often say, “I want a warbird” or “I want a model with more options.” That usually refers to flight options such as retractable landing gear, flaps, or bomb drops. When they work properly, those features can add a significant number of points to a flight score.

A recent kit by Top Flite (now out of production) is the Piper Arrow II. The full-scale Arrow II is a four-place, low-wing, all-metal monoplane with retracts and flaps. It has many details you can add to a scale model airframe, including a light system, gear doors, and cockpit interior—all the stuff the warbirds have. On a model such as the Arrow II, you could fly the five mandatory maneuvers as well as Straight Flight Out, Procedure Turn, Straight Flight Back, plus retracts and flaps, and your flight would be complete. This is a quick and simple routine for many civil aircraft with flaps and retracts.

There are several kits out there for this type of aircraft, including the Top Flite Cessna Skylane and ARF versions of similar models. As for other kits of single‑engine light aircraft, there aren’t many with both flaps and retracts; the Skylane, for example, has only flaps. If you see other civil‑aviation kits featuring multiple mechanical options, let me know.

The Golden Age of Aviation is generally referenced as the period from post–World War I to before World War II. Many technical advances were put into use during that time. Airplanes of every shape and type of construction were built then. Those were the days of heroes such as Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, Roscoe Turner, the Granville Brothers, and the many racers who flew in the Cleveland and other air races across the country. Those events were melting pots for improvements in aerodynamics as well as power plants, airfoils, materials, propellers, and fuel types.

Names synonymous with the Golden Age—Stinson, Beechcraft, Chester, Howard, Gee Bee, Cessna, Wedell‑Williams, Taylorcraft, Boeing, Fairchild, WACO, and many more—were innovators in aeronautics. Their designs were race winners, civil aircraft, and military adaptations. The Cessna T‑50 Bobcat was a mostly wood‑and‑fabric large twin trainer with one big vertical fin and rudder and two big radial engines. It was capable of fast speeds and served widely: it was the Sky King’s mount during the first year of that TV show and the versatile twin that served most Allied nations during World War II in trainer and liaison roles.

Kits for the Cessna T‑50 are available in many sizes. Precision Cut Kits offers Don Smith plans that produce a model with a 100‑inch wingspan. Full wood kits are available (at the time of writing) at about $405, with a short kit available for about $325; that does not include landing gear, engines, or fiberglass parts. That is one of the largest T‑50 kits available, though many smaller versions and plans could make for a fantastic and affordable model.

Howard aircraft were used as light business transports and, with increased horsepower and shorter wingspans, they went on to win air races at Cleveland, Ohio. Some Golden Age builders and innovators went on to commercial success; others faded into the dust of the Great Depression of the mid‑1930s. As the 1930s wore on, companies that received military contracts survived and sometimes prospered, while those that stayed involved only in civil aviation or racing often folded.

Many Golden Age aircraft have been popular with aeromodelers for years. Most are available through plans services and are offered in various sizes. One of the best sources for plans is the AMA Plans Service, which lists many Golden Age models and multiple versions to choose from. There are 75 sets available for Howard aircraft in just one of the AMA catalogs.

Another excellent source of Golden Age aircraft plans is Wendell Hostetler’s Plans. He sells sets for models including the Gee Bee Model Z, Gee Bee Model R‑2, Stinson SR‑10, Lindbergh’s Lockheed Sirius, Curtiss Hawk P‑6E, Art Chester’s Jeep, Turner Special, Wedell‑Williams Gilmore Red Lion, Fairchild PT‑19, and several others. Wendell’s airplanes are generally 1/4 scale and larger; even the diminutive Art Chester Jeep spans 84 inches. Several services offer kit cutting for these models, and fiberglass parts, landing gear, and other components are available as well.

Many of the plans services mentioned throughout the year sell at least a few Golden Age aircraft. Check those out and have fun with these classic airplanes.

Around Scale

Full‑scale service aircraft can be unique in appearance, such as the de Havilland Caribou. Heyward Macdonald built his model to 1/15 scale, with a wingspan of 73 inches. He selected a covering scheme that would show up easily in the sky—hence the UN colors.

Heyward wrote: "That fulfills my desire to build a big Boo, since I loved the way they could get into our firebase's back in Vietnam. My son and his wife live in Adelaide, Australia, thus the RAAF [Royal Australian Air Force] connection."

Heyward chose one of the most popular power sources for multiengine models today: electric. He installed two 450‑watt outrunners and two FMA Direct Revolectrix 3300 mAh, 4‑cell Li‑Po batteries. The Caribou has counter‑rotating propellers, so it tracks nicely with no nose‑high torque.

He said that he used the BECs on both ESCs to power the radio system. It has too many servos for a single BEC. "I usually use a separate UBEC and Blade Fuse Safety Arming System. This time I separated the servo/radio gear into two circuits with a common ground and powered half the system with each BEC.

"I used a Y‑connector to hook up the throttle lead to the radio through an FMA Signal Substitution Safety Arming Switch. It works very well."

Heyward equipped the model with Fultz landing gear, and it lands like a dream. He has video of the Caribou in flight. See the "Sources" list for the website address.

Upcoming Events

One Eighth Air Force (OEAF) Fall Fly‑In
Date: October 23–24
Location: Adobe Mountain Park field, just south of 43rd Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona
Notes: Attend Friday for the unofficial "open house"—the group generally serves dinner and beverages. Saturday night’s dinner at the OEAF field features raffles, auctions, awards, and prizes.

Southern Dawn Patrol
Date: December 3–4
Host: Chipola R/C Aviators
Location: Hodges Hobbies field, Andersonville, Georgia (approximately 60 miles southwest of Macon)
Notes: The event is open to any World War I model of an airplane that was in service by the end of 1918. Subsequent mail‑service aircraft and barnstormer conversions of WW I airplanes are allowed. There are no restrictions on paint schemes, and all model sizes are welcome. Check out photos from last year’s event on the Chipola club’s website.