RC Combat
Greg Rose, 1312 NW 196th St., Edmond OK 73003
A FEW ISSUES ago I mentioned how well tethering Combat models' wings and fuselages had worked at the Nationals.
In a midair in which the wing separates from the fuselage, models without tethers split into two distinct aerodynamic parts: a familiar rotating wing that often lands without further damage and the powered lawn dart bent on a rapid descent, ending in self-destruction.
Tethering the wing to the fuselage allows the drag of the gyrating wing to slow the descent of the fuselage to the point where the impact with the ground is much less damaging.
Tethering increases the safety of Radio Control (RC) Combat with virtually no weight penalty, and I recommend that all Combat fliers consider tethering their models in Open and Scale classes.
To find an inexpensive (you can also read that as "cheap"), simple way to effectively tether, I talked with Colin O'Neill at SPAD.
Colin was the pilot at the Nats who had graciously volunteered to give multiple demonstrations of tethered descent after a midair, although I suspect it wasn't really all that voluntary.
A champion of simplicity, Colin had used flat, waxed twine tied to a strong point in the fuselage, ending in a small metal clip like those used in fishing tackle.
On the Coroplast™ wings, he had threaded the twine through the flutes in the Coroplast™ in order to distribute the stress, but it would be easy to attach the twine to the spar near the wing center in a model that has foam or built-up wings.
Only roughly a foot or two of space seems necessary to tie the two parts together enough to break up the smooth aerodynamics of a wingless fuselage. I learned that the thick, flat, waxed dental floss found at most drug stores works perfectly as the tether material.
Not only did I tether my model's wing and fuselage, but I have added a small spool of dental floss to my fuel-soaked flight box, figuring that the minty-fresh aroma can't hurt the way it smells!
If you have thought of a good way to tether your model or have any other safety or technical tip, be sure to send in your idea, and I'll pass it along to other modelers.
On the manufacturing scene, another kit-maker has begun production kits for Scale RC Combat. TurnKey RC (128 Grandview Rd., Boyertown PA 19512; Tel.: (610) 495-9289; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.turnkeyrc.com) has introduced eight models.
RC Combat
Contact TurnKey RC for more details about any of its kits.
In Scale RC Combat in the United States and Canada, twins have never quite gained the popularity and success they have achieved on the European Combat scene. At the Nats, only three fliers brought twins, and only one of them flew twins in Combat.
Chris Handegard, who flew his Twin Mustangs in Combat, did very well; he placed eighth in a very competitive event.
The twins' demo flight at the Nats was a showstopper, riveting everyone's attention to the sight and sound of several twins in the air at once.
Perhaps the demo flight and Chris's fine performance in the event were enough to generate some interest in twin-engine Combat models for next season ...
Actually, quite a few twins are available as kits and plans if you are interested in trying your hand at one. Kits include the Pica F-82 Twin Mustang, and JDB Aerotech offers three designs: the P-38 Lightning, the Arado Ar.240, and the push-pull Do 335 "Anteater."
Warbirds Ltd. offers a Focke-Wulf Fw 189 "Owl" of mixed construction. The TurnKey RC twin-engined Mosquito short kit mentioned previously is also an option.
Several other twins are available as plans for the scratch-builder, including Gus Morfís's plans for the Mosquito, the P-38 Lightning, the Henschel Hs 129 tank-buster, and the famed German jet, the Messerschmitt Me 262.
Check Six offers a set of European plans for the Hs 129, and Radio Control Modeler magazine has plans available for the de Havilland Hornet.
Always the champion of the unique, Jack Bale Plans offers plans and vacuum-formed parts for the Westland Whirlwind, the P-38 Lightning, the Grumman F5F Skyrocket, the Focke Wulf Fw 189, and the de Havilland Mosquito.
Speaking of all the Scale kits produced for RC Combat, I have seen an interesting phenomenon developing.
Scale RC Combat has generated enough interest for several kit manufacturers to become involved, and many nice 1/12-scale kits are available for modelers. More and more kits are finding their way into the hands of non-Combat-flying modelers.
The Control Line (CL) Navy Carrier Scale modelers seem very interested in this kit size, and it was nice to see several models from Pica, JDB, and other kit manufacturers converted to CL in the recent Model Aviation Nationals issue.
I've known for a long time that modeling builds camaraderie, and it's great to see that RC and CL modelers find these models fun to fly.
That's all for now. Until next time, build straight, fly Combat, and be sure to check your six! MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
