RC Giants
Sal Calvagna, 1335 Broadway Ave., Holbrook NY 11741; E-mail: [email protected]
WELCOME to the November segment of Radio Control (RC) Giants. By this time, most, if not all, of the modeling events in the North are memories as we look forward to a productive winter of building or rebuilding our Giant Scale projects.
Those who live in Florida are just now beginning their events season. I wish our Southern friends the very best.
If you live somewhere in between or in the West, you are lucky enough to fly all year.
Does this mean those who can fly all year have no building season? That sounds like Almost Ready-to-Fly territory to me!
This month I have some text and photos from the World Miniature Warbirds Association (WMWA) Annual Scale Classic, held in Drums PA June 22-24 this year.
The WMWA was formed approximately five years ago. According to its constitution, the organization's purpose is:
"... fostering and advancing the construction and operation of radio controlled Warbird Aircraft of all sizes in a setting where informality and safety of operations prevail.
"Additionally, it is formed to create an atmosphere where pleasure, recreation, fellowship, and co-mingling can be fostered and found to exist among its individuals enjoying the sport of building and flying miniature radio controlled Warbird Aircraft."
The organization currently has 50 Wings—20 of which are located in foreign countries.
Although the weather report for the Drums PA area was ominous for the weekend, 18 of us hardcore modelers, along with a pair of bona fide World War II aviators (one Allied and one Axis), traveled from Long Island through New Jersey and into Pennsylvania Friday afternoon.
Wouldn't you know that as soon as we arrived at the flying field, set up the tents, and started to unload the models, the rain made its appearance?
Although a few flights were made between the raindrops, most of us sat tight, hoping that Saturday would turn out better.
However, Saturday turned out to be equally frustrating. After the opening ceremonies by WMWA founder Dino DiGiorgio and a brief pilots' meeting, the day's flying began as the dark clouds drew closer.
As if on cue, the rain hit as soon as I fueled up the triplane to brave a flight. We all huddled under the tents while it poured, and we kept close eyes on our aircraft as they were grouped together under plastic tarps.
When the rain did stop, we all hurried to uncover, fuel up, and grab a quick flight as another dark cloud made its approach from the distance. The rain started up again, and it was back under the tents and tarps for pilots and models.
This must have occurred a half-dozen times throughout the day. The rain did stop long enough to hold Saturday night's banquet at the airfield's open pavilion. During the banquet Dino presented the perpetual award to Rick Rogers' daughter Susan Balboni, who attended the event in place of her father who died recently.
Rick was instrumental in forming the Australian Wing of the WMWA, and he was planning to attend this event when he passed away unexpectedly.
Dino presented plaques to thank our guests—airmen who served during wartimes—and plaques for best WWI, WWII, Best Jet, and Best of Show to deserving modelers.
The weather finally cleared Sunday, and we took full advantage of the opportunity to get airborne. There were WWI duels between a Dr.I, a Bristol Scout, and an Italian Nieuport 17.
Nick Ziroli Sr. was ringing out his great-flying AD-1 Skyraider, and Daniel Douglas of Staten Island NY did some smooth flying with his Top Flite® Giant Scale P-51D in Tuskegee Airmen (Red Tail) colors.
Dano was present at a previous WMWA Classic and was fortunate enough to fly his red-tailed P-51 for some Tuskegee Airmen who attended the event.
One of the most impressive models was a 1/4-scale Gipsy Moth that Ray Williams of Utica, New York built using Bill Northrop plans.
As if the model was not impressive enough, Ray powers this beauty with a homemade inline four-cylinder four-stroke Merritt Zimmer-designed engine. It's a real work of art!
Ray says that it took him a half year to build the engine and another half year to make it run properly. The engine turns a 22 x 14 propeller at 5,500 rpm. The aircraft sports a real gravity fuel tank and has an oil sump pressure gauge in the cockpit.
In this hobby it is common to find great examples of Scale modeling in aircraft such as Ray's Gipsy Moth at most meets or events. However, it is rare to find examples of homemade engines, such as the one Ray built to power his model.
It is extremely rare to find such a power plant installed on an airframe and to see it not only run, but expertly flown for all to enjoy!
Thanks for the privilege of seeing your aircraft and engine perform magnificently, Ray.
One of the most unusual models was a Messerschmitt Me P.1101. This was a special project at the end of WW II that combined jet-engine technology with variable swept wings.
The wings were made to sweep from approximately 30° to 45° in three positions that were set on the ground. The wings were not designed to sweep in the air, as were those of the Grumman F-14 fighter.
Only one P.1101 was made, and it was captured at the end of the war and shipped back to the United States for testing and evaluation. Eventually the Bell X-5 was built from this German design.
Ernst Prestin of Huntington, New York built the P.1101 model from Jim Kiehl plans and powered it with an O.S. .90 engine turning a Dynamax fan.
During a taxi out, the retractable nose gear broke, and the model was grounded for the event. Such are the trials and tribulations of experimental aircraft design!
Notwithstanding the poor weather, one of the event's shining attributes was not an aircraft—it was Ted Galbraith of North Weald, Essex, England. Ted has traveled across the Atlantic to attend the WMWA Classic for a number of years, and he does a masterful job as show announcer.
Ted is actually much more than an announcer; he is sort of a master of ceremonies! Full of humor and quick of wit, he does a wonderful job of keeping the event in the proper perspective: fun!
Ted is quite a character; he is sort of a mixture of Monty Python and Benny Hill, with the ruggedness of General Bernard Law Montgomery. Although he kept referring to the US as one of the colonies, he was admired by those present.
Ted was given a plaque for the farthest distance traveled to attend the event. He says he uses these plaques to cover the holes in the walls back home and added that he will have to come back next year because he's got one more hole! If there are any more like Ted back in England, God save the queen!
Even with such poor weather, more than 62 pilots registered, more than 85 model aircraft were present, and roughly 140 sorties were flown.
Although all sizes of warbirds are permitted, more than 90% were Giant Scale. There were many WW I models and other types that spanned the decades into the Desert Storm era.
There was a special surprise Sunday when Bill Stevick, owner of Bob Dively Models and the Top Gun 2001 Team Scale winner, flew in and landed his 1946 415D Percoupe painted in Navy colors.
Although Bill's approach and landing were picture-perfect, his takeoff was a real nail-biter for us modelers. We watched as he used every bit of that runway to get his aircraft off the ground.
Bill, how about a nitrous-oxide boost or even a large hi-start for that Percoupe?
Those of us who attended enjoyed ourselves in spite of the weather. It goes to show you that modeling is much more than heading to an airfield and flying your model. It's all about people who share a common interest and enjoy each other's company as well as drilling holes in the sky.
If you are interested in the WMWA, check it out on the Internet at www.aero-sports.com/warbirds or call Dino DiGiorgio at (973) 584-6096.
Hope to see you at next year's event.
That's all for now. Remember to send in those photos, suggestions, and comments. Fly safe and stay well! MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
