RC Giants
Sal Calvagna [email protected]
Sal highlights some models flown at Warbirds Over Delaware
WELCOME BACK. The flying season is far from over, and now that my photo submissions are being printed in color I will make sure the readers will have many great-looking RC Giants to show you in the coming months.
Featured in this column are a few more photographs I took at Warbirds Over Delaware, a large 1/5-scale F-84F from the West Coast, and a solution to a problem that my friend Lou Cetrangelo would like to share with all RC Giant model builders.
Although the name Ziroli is synonymous with giant-scale models, Nick Sr. has been designing and building models of all sizes since way back when. When you attend a Giant Scale or International Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAA) event—especially those limited to warbirds—you're likely to see a number of Ziroli designs. Such was the case at Warbirds Over Delaware 2005.
In one photo there are three Ziroli A-1 Skyraiders getting ready for their sorties. The aircraft's wingspan is 100 inches, the length is 78 inches, and it has 1,620 square inches of wing area. The model's weight is in the 30- to 35-pound range. Nick's model is powered by a Quadra 75 gas engine. It is rock stable in the air and a joy to fly.
For many of us the Skyraider is remembered for its later roles in Vietnam. It was able to carry more than its own weight in ordnance and was highly regarded by those in need for its ground-support role. That's especially true of downed pilots and aircrews in hostile territory who were protected by low-flying Skyraiders that were able to loiter for long periods.
The history of the Skyraider began approximately 20 years earlier, late in World War II. Douglas submitted a design for the replacement of the well-known TBD dive bomber. The result was designated the AD, but first flew on March 18, 1945.
At that time it was the heaviest single-seat aircraft in the world. The airplane spanned slightly more than 50 feet and had a maximum speed of 325 mph. It was very strong and could remain in the air for as many as 10 hours.
The Skyraider was successful as a ground-attack aircraft during the Korean War. Production ended in 1957, after more than 3,000 aircraft had been built.
The Air Force modified the Skyraider in 1963 and redesignated it the A-1E.
Nick Bowman, 15, of Huntington Station, New York, is doing his part to keep modeling
Also included in this column:
- Details of David Reifer's 1/5-scale F-84F Thunderstreak
- Lou Cetrangelo's rotating-fuselage building fixture
RC Giants
Sal Calvagna
The Pfalz A.I was actually a French Morane-Saulnier Type L monoplane that was built under license by the Bavarian company Pfalz. When World War I broke out, approximately 60 of these Pfalz parasol aircraft were under construction. These A.Is were used to bomb Italian Alpine positions in July 1915—before Germany was formally at war with Italy.
The model is finished in Pfalz Parasol (A.I) P.40 colors of Lt. Ferdinand März/Lt. Wissel of Toblach Aerodrome.
The last of the Warbirds Over Delaware photos shows a Ziroli Zero heading for the clear, blue skies under the command of Brad Hensley of Santa Barbara, California. It spans 91 inches, has Robart retracts, and is powered by a Zenoah G-62 gas engine. The model is a solid performer and has just the right look, speed, and sound in the air.
The Mitsubishi Zero A6M was the first shipboard fighter to surpass the performance of land-based fighter aircraft. It became famous for outmaneuvering its opponents in aerial dogfights. This was because of its extremely light weight. At weights between 5,500 and 6,500 pounds fully loaded, the Zero could out-turn all of its contemporaries.
It possessed great range and performance on relatively small radial engine; however, light weight had its price since the aluminum skin on the Zero was thin and easily stressed. The fighter also lacked armor plate, bulletproof glass, and self-sealing fuel tanks, which made it easy to flame.
Maneuverability was the key to the Zero's survival in combat. Throughout the war in the Pacific it bore the brunt of aerial action. In the end, the Zero was used in thousands of kamikaze attacks before the Japanese surrender. It will remain one of the greatest and best-known shipboard fighters of World War II.
David Reifer of Davis, California, sent in a great photo of a Phantasy in Blue-kit Republic F-84F Thunderstreak in 1/5 scale. This model was finished in a Swiss version of the F-84F. The airplane first flew with an Olympus turbine by Leonce Bemanning of Switzerland but now has a Merlin turbine installed.
David belongs to the Woodland Davis Aero Modelers, which has a beautiful 60 x 680-foot asphalt runway and adjacent grass strip. It also has a 20-acre lake for float-flying and three C/L circles. David wrote that the club is fortunate to have such a great field, which was only possible with the support of the city of Woodland and the city council.
The swept-wing version evolved from the straight-wing F-84. The prototype was first flown in June of 1950, and deliveries to the US Air Force began in 1954. The aircraft's main mission was as a ground-support fighter bomber. Republic built slightly more than 2,000 F models and General Motors built another 599.
The F-84F was gradually replaced by supersonic F-100s but had the distinction of being the US Air Force's first postwar fighter and the first that could carry a tactical atomic weapon.
Lou Cetrangelo of Saint James, New York, likes to build RC models. As of late, his interest in Giant Scale has grown significantly; however, his latest project, a Balsa USA 1/3-scale Stearman, finally pushed him over the edge.
Lou's problem involved working on the massive fuselage of these large models—especially the Stearman. It's large and cumbersome, and such fuselages are generally rounded, so they don't like to remain in one position on a building board. Since necessity is the mother of invention, Lou designed a fixture that will hold the fuselage in any attitude while he works on it.
The accompanying photo shows the Stearman fuselage in suspension. The fixture is constructed from common hardware-store materials, and Lou was kind enough to make detailed drawings so anyone can fabricate the same device.
Not only does it work well for construction, but it is great to support the fuselage while painting and finishing. For those who can work with AutoCAD, a 3-D file can be downloaded at http://liarsrc.com/images/Aircraft%20Frame.dwg.
Thanks, Lou, for sharing your great idea!
This concludes another RC Giants column. I hope that you enjoyed the great color shots of our latest RC Giants. Drop me a note and let me know what your favorite Giant model is. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
