Flying season and RC Giants projects
by Sal Calvagna [email protected]
Welcome back. Because this is the August issue of MA, I can safely say that our members in all 50 states should be enjoying the flying season. Take advantage and participate in a local flying event. Renew some old friendships and make some new ones.
I'm featuring a new product from Williams Brothers Model Products, and I'll share a few interesting RC Giants projects.
Williams Brothers Wheels
Williams Brothers Model Products has some exciting news for 1/3-scale British World War I aircraft builders. The company's newest offering is WW I Palmer-style wheels, or as the English would say, "tyres."
These wheels are 9.2 inches (233mm) in diameter, have a 2.3-inch (58mm) axle width, and weigh 1 pound, 2 ounces per wheel. The tire comes with oilite-lubricated bushings with 3/8-inch ID. The 1/2-inch ID bushings can be purchased separately. The price is $99.95 per pair.
The rubber is a grayish color to replicate the original color. Water-slide Palmer decals are included. For more information, visit the Williams Brothers Model Products website listed in "Sources."
L-39 Albatros
Shailesh Patel of Eureka, California, is pictured with his son, Nil, and his large Tomahawk Design L-39 Albatros. Shailesh belongs to the Humboldt Aero Modelers.
The Albatros is 1:3.5 scale. It is 136 inches long with a 105-inch wingspan. Weighing in at 50 pounds, the model is powered by a JetCat P-200 turbine engine and is controlled by a Futaba 14MZ radio. The Albatros features speed brakes, wingtip and landing lights, and is painted with Spies Hecker paint in the scale color scheme of a privately owned, full-scale L-39.
The full-scale L-39 first flew in 1969. Its rugged, simple design is suited for all climate conditions. It is easy to maintain and reliable.
Its turbofan engine with low fuel consumption made it an ideal aircraft to operate from unimproved fields. The L-39's excellent handling qualities made it one of the best training jets in the world.
For more information about the L-39, visit the Tomahawk Design website listed in "Sources."
CARF-Models P-47
One of the pictures features Tom Czikk, John Muzio (owner/builder), and Gary West, with John's CARF-Models P-47 Razorback. The model spans 110 inches, weighs 51 pounds, and is powered by a Desert Aircraft DA-120 twin-cylinder gas engine. The engine swings a Mejzlik 28 x 12 propeller.
The P-47 includes Sierra Giant scale retracts. It's painted with Rust-Oleum paint. The graphics were made by Cajun R/C and John weathered it with an airbrush using various colors.
The Razorback is finished as Little Demon, flown by Captain Walter C. Beckham of the 351st Fighter Squadron, 353 Fighter Group, based at Metfield, England, in October 1943.
For more information about the CARF P-47, please visit the company's website at the link listed in "Sources."
Me 163 Komet
The last photo is of my Me 163 1:4.5-scale Komet, built from Jim Kiehl plans. It has a Joe Saitta fiberglass fuselage, cowling, and canopy.
The Komet spans 82 inches and was originally powered by a Super Tigre .90 swinging an 11 x 11 APC propeller.
After a glow-to-electric conversion this past winter, the Komet is now powered by a Hacker A50-10L Turnado motor using a Castle Creations HV 120 controller and two 4S 500 mAh Turnigy nano-tech LiPo packs. The motor powers an APC 12 x 12 Pattern propeller that offers nearly unlimited vertical performance.
The full-scale Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, designed by Alexander Lippisch, still holds the record as the only operational, rocket-powered interceptor. It was small, lightweight, had an incredible rate of climb, and was extremely maneuverable.
It was also the fastest aircraft during World War II. It was designed to take off from and then drop a dolly, climb to an altitude of 30,000 feet in approximately three minutes, and attack the Allied bombers, exhausting its fuel and then gliding back to the airfield and landing on a skid.
For more information about the Komet kit, send Joe Saitta an email at the address listed in "Sources."
That's all for this month. See you in October.
SOURCES:
- Williams Brothers Model Products
(512) 846-1243 www.williamsbrothersmodelproducts.com/index.htm
- Tomahawk Design
[email protected] www.tomahawk-design.de
- CARF-Models
[email protected] www.carf-models.com
- Joe Saitta
- International Miniature Aircraft Association
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
