RC Giants
As one of Model Aviation's newest contributing editors, I'm going to introduce myself. But before I do, I have a few words about John A. de Vries, who wrote this column for the last 14 years.
As John, a retired Air Force colonel, proudly points out, he has submitted a total of 159 monthly columns. During those years, he has covered the topics of Giant Scale from A to Z (Almost Ready to Fly [ARFs] to Ziroli) many times.
In addition to reporting on new products, reference materials, building techniques, plans, etc., John has always found room to include photos and information submitted by members concerning their current projects. I especially enjoyed how John injected humor into his column.
Although John kept busy with the responsibilities of this position, he also found time to be an AMA contest director and a member of the International Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAA), the National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA), the American Aviation Historical Society (AAHS), and Over the Front (the successor of Cross & Cockade).
Thank you, John, for all your years of service. As you move on to other endeavors, I send you off with three cheers and a heartfelt salute. I wish you all the best with your future projects.
Who am I? I was born and raised on Long Island, New York. Long Island has enjoyed a rich aviation history, which started long before the famed Charles Lindbergh flight and lasted through Operation Desert Storm.
With prolific aircraft producers, such as Grumman, Republic, and Fairchild, located here, it is no wonder that in my youth I became interested in airplanes—full-scale and model.
After graduating from high school in the mid-1970s, I joined the Air Force. During my assignment to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, I began building Guillows models of the famous World War I biplanes.
After four years in the service, I accepted a position with the State Department as a foreign service communications officer. During my training with the government in the Washington, D.C., area, I started building and flying remote-control aircraft.
Some very talented members of the Northern Virginia Radio Control club (NVRC) taught me to fly, and my first radio control (RC) models were the Sig Colt and the Sig Scamp. These were small, three-channel foam-wing models that were powered by .15-size engines.
After becoming somewhat proficient with those models, I graduated to the four-channel types.
With an impending tour in West Africa, I purchased and shipped overseas enough RC models and equipment to last me a while.
While serving in Africa, I could only order and ship items that would fit in a diplomatic pouch. I could receive radio systems but not large boxes, such as kits. The other problem I experienced was finding glow fuel.
There were no hobby shops, and subsequently no glow fuel anywhere, so I made my own fuel. I found a pharmaceutical company that sold me some castor oil, then I located a company that used methanol to clean storage tanks.
I mixed 80% methanol and 20% castor oil, and made Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) fuel. I was surprised at how well the mixture worked without that extra kick from nitromethane.
During my next tour, in the Philippines, I began flying Giant Scale. My first Giant Scale kit was the Balsa USA 1/5-scale Fly Baby biplane. Since I had an Army Post Office address, then I could order anything I wanted—no size restrictions.
I powered the Fly Baby with a Zenoah G-38, which cost $99 in 1985.
From that time on, I was hooked on Giant Scale. What a beautiful airplane to fly! I still have my Fly Baby.
Why am I writing this column?
When I was offered the opportunity to write the RC Giants column, I asked myself how I would tackle such a position. I don't consider myself "the" authority on the subject, but I do have 20 years' experience with RC modeling—15 of those with Giant Scale.
I have tackled some difficult projects and have scratch-built unusual types of historically significant military aircraft.
I am definitely an end user of a myriad of Giant Scale products. More importantly, I have been lucky enough to meet and become friends with some very knowledgeable and talented people in our hobby.
My main reason for accepting this position was that I thought I could write the column from a grassroots point of view. I am no different from the majority of other Giant Scale enthusiasts who plod along doing the best they can with the resources at hand.
Now where do I start?
What is a Giant Scale model?
It is important for all of us to have the same definition when discussing these aircraft. Those who fly .15- to .25-size models may consider .60- to .90-size models Giant Scale. To others, Giant Scale means true 1/4-scale—period.
You may be surprised that the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has no specifications for Giant Scale model aircraft other than the 55-pound weight limitation.
The answer is found with the AMA's Giant Scale Special Interest Group (SIG)—the IMAA. Simply stated, rules are 80-inch wingspans for monoplanes, 60-inch wingspans for biplanes, true 1/4-scale, and 140+-inch wingspans for warbirds and turbines.
Unless I receive a rash of complaints, I'll use the IMAA's guidelines as the definition of Giant Scale models.
Why Giant Scale?
For myself and many others there is nothing more satisfying or impressive than the sight, roar, power, feel, and flight of the big models. The flight characteristics of these giant airplanes more closely resemble their full-scale brethren, and they offer the opportunity to be more detailed.
Let's face it: for those of us older than 40, they are also easier to see in the air! Please believe me that Giant Scale can be for everyone. I will expound on this observation in my next column.
Photos: Since I do not have any photos from readers at this point, I've included a picture of my last Giant Scale project.
There is a photo of my five-year-old son Sal holding my 1/5-scale Mitsubishi A5M4 "Claude."
The Claude gave the Japanese air superiority during the war with China in 1937, and was the world's first carrier-borne monoplane fighter.
The model spans 96 inches, and is powered with a Zenoah G-62.
Watch for an upcoming article on this aircraft in Stan Alexander's "Why Not Model ..." series.
Landing Gear
Have you ever tried to fabricate a landing gear for your Giant Scale project using 1/4-inch-diameter music wire?
Whether you need to bend it to shape or are attempting to silver-solder or braze it together, it can be a pain.
Recently I was using a standard propane torch to try to build a landing gear for my 1/4-scale Fokker Dr.I, when my good friend Richie Zwirblis came to the rescue.
After watching me try to heat the music wire enough to bend easily, he told me to switch to MAPP gas.
Technically, MAPP gas is 44% methylacetylene-propadiene and 56% liquefied petroleum. It comes in the same-sized tank that propane is commonly sold in, and it uses the same nozzle attachments.
Propane sells for roughly $2–$3 per tank, and MAPP gas sells for a few dollars more. The benefit is that propane's target temperature is approximately 1,750 degrees Fahrenheit and MAPP gas will max at roughly 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit. Those extra degrees make working with the case-hardened wire easier.
Check it out at your favorite hardware supply or at the ever-popular The Home Depot.
New Plans
Speaking of Fokker Dr.Is, Ron Weiss has added a 1/3-scale version of the airplane to his selection of 1/3-scale plans.
Ron's Dr.I has a 93-inch wingspan, 3,200 square-inch wing area, 80-inch length, and is designed for a 3.7 cubic-inch-displacement engine.
For more information, call Ron Weiss at (631) 427-7312 or write to him at 20 Linda Pl., Huntington, NY 11743.
Jerry Bates has informed me that he is designing plans for a 96-inch-wingspan Curtiss C-46 Commando for two .45- to .60-size engines. The C-46 transport had excellent high-altitude performance and a high load capacity.
After an initial prototype has been completed, Jerry plans to enlarge the drawings to 144 inches for two G-38s. The C-46 will be a welcome addition to his great scale RC aircraft designs.
You can visit Jerry on the Web at www.scaleareo.com/jerrybates.htm.
That's my first column. If you have any questions, requests, suggestions, or a photo of your interesting or unusual Giant Scale project, please send them to me and I will do my very best to include them here.
Please bear in mind that there is at least a three-month lead time for the column.
Good luck this spring with your winter projects!
MM
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
