RC Jets
Jim Hiller, 6090 Downs Rd., Champion OH 44481
I just got back from the 2001 Toledo, Ohio RC Expo, and it was exciting. The products available to a person as he or she progresses through the jet-modeling experience are incredible. Let's take a look at some of what is out there.
Jet Hangar Hobbies
Jet Hangar Hobbies is a great starting point. The product line features a wide variety of scale and semiscale models designed for its Turbax I fan unit.
The company currently offers the choice of a K&B .48 or an O.S. .46 VX-DF engine for the Turbax I. Larry Wolfe reports that both engines are available, so pick your screamer.
A package consisting of the K&B .48, a Turbax I fan, and a Mac's 8.5 tuned pipe is available at special pricing. This makes for an affordable ducted-fan system.
Don't underestimate this package; I sport-fly with some pilots who are using the Turbax I fan systems, and their jets run with the best.
Larry Wolfe had his latest Mirage 5 on display. The model was shown with the scale wing—a mere 36 inches in span. It looks fast, and probably is with the power available.
The Mirage is available with three wings to suit your taste: a scale 36-inch span wing, a 42-inch foam wing, and a sport 45-inch built-up wing.
Although this model isn't active in scale contests today, it has a stellar record in scale competition. Larry's model was done in white-and-blue show colors—a scheme that is difficult to duplicate.
Also available from Jet Hangar Hobbies are classic model kits for the A-4 Skyhawk, the F-4 Phantom II, the F9F-4/5 Panther, the A-7D/E Corsair II, and the popular F-86F Sabre.
Many of these kits have scale competition history, including an F-86 Sabre that placed high at the 2000 Nationals scale competition. These models are also popular with the sport flier.
The F-86 Sabre has proven to be an exceptional entry-level jet, with excellent flight characteristics. The K&B .48 has turned this model into a hotrod.
Coming soon will be an Almost Ready-to-Fly (ARF) model of the BAE Hawk displayed during the show. This jet will come completely covered in a stunning red paint scheme, ready for final assembly.
Final testing is complete, and the model should be shipping by the time this is printed.
The BAE Hawk is designed for the Turbax I fan system. It looks like a sharp addition to the Jet Hangar Hobbies kit line. The cost of this complex jet is $695—quite a model for the money.
Check out Jet Hangar Hobbies at www.jethangar.com.
Top Gun Aircraft
Stepping up to some slightly larger models, Top Gun Aircraft showed up at Toledo with its line of F-15 Eagle models for Byron fan units or Dynamax fan units.
The Eagle designs have been around for a long time, and they are solid sport ducted-fan models. The Byron fan-powered Eagles have proven to be good at grass-field operations.
Byron fans are available direct from Top Gun Aircraft.
Also available for sport modeling is the MiG-29 Fulcrum kit, available for the Byron or Dynamax fan.
For those searching for a little more speed, Top Gun offers the Interceptor—a 150+ mph sport jet. All these models are intended for .65 to .91 engines.
Top Gun Aircraft also offers turbine-powered model kits. The F-16C is an all-composite kit for the purist. This model is designed for large turbines with more than 25 pounds of thrust.
The F-16C is a complex, high-performance scale model. I have seen it perform, and it's a true F-16 in appearance and in performance.
Another offering is the new Top Cat sport model that is designed around the smaller turbines. The display model wasn't finished when I saw it at Toledo, but it appears to be coming along well.
The Top Cat has a length of 72 inches, a wingspan of 66 inches, and is expected to be in the 13.5- to 15.5-pound range.
More information is available on Top Gun Aircraft's website at www.tgajets.com.
Iron Bay Model Company
I have good news for those who love the old Byron designs: the Iron Bay Model Company has acquired the rights and tooling for the Byron kit line, including the original Byron ducted fan unit.
This means that the powerful sport-fan unit that has proven so successful for grass-field flying will continue to be available.
The company's plans include reintroducing some of the classic Byron kits, such as the F-16 Falcon, the F-15, and possibly the F-20.
Watch www.ironbaymodelcompany.com for information and availability.
Electric Jet Factory
Toledo afforded me the opportunity to see firsthand the offerings of the Electric Jet Factory—a firm specializing in electric ducted-fan models. This company offers many electric ducted-fan systems and airframes.
The performance of these models is incredible; it's a true testimony to how far electric power has progressed. If electrics are your bag, this is the place for more power.
The website, www.electricjetfactory.com, is packed with combinations of models and power systems that will knock your socks off.
Century Jet Models
Century Jet Models always shows up with a great display of jet models and landing-gear systems. If you can't find the retracts and landing gear to fit your needs, talk to Bruce and he will solve your problem.
On display was the prototype landing gear for a huge A-6 Intruder. This gear has the longest set of oleo struts I have ever seen for a model airplane. It must be an awesome project.
Century Jet Models' ducted-fan kit line includes everything from a nice F-104 Starfighter to a screaming F-4 Phantom twin—all designed around Dynamax or Ramtec fans with .91-size engines.
The F-104 has proven to be a good-flying model. It is 1/3 scale, with an overall length of 76 inches, but a wingspan of only 44 inches. Don't let that figure deceive you; this wing can make some lift.
The inlet-duct design is set up to get maximum thrust performance, allowing the F-104 to perform well. Landing-gear packages are available to handle the unusual arrangement of the F-104 main-gear retract system.
Century Jet Models offers two turbine kits: a MiG-15 and an F9F-8 Cougar. Examples of these models were on display in the booth, and both have had many flights. They are not show models; they are proven fliers the company brings out to many jet meets to fly.
The MiG-15 and F9F-8 kits are reasonably priced, with packages available that include the kit, turbine tailpipes, and retract landing gears with struts.
Additional information is available at www.centuryjet.com/webstore.
Planes Plus and FiberClassics Kangaroo
Planes Plus distributes many European kits and turbines, and the R/C City line and Killer Cockpits. At Toledo, the most exciting news from the company centered around the popular FiberClassics Kangaroo model.
The Kangaroo is a sport flying-wing model designed as an introductory jet for the turbine modeler. The turbine is located above the wing, and is fully exposed to ease the installation, starting, and general maintenance of the turbine.
This simple design does not require ducting, stainless-steel tailpipes, or heat-shield protection of the airframe, greatly easing the concerns of the new turbine modeler.
Now the Kangaroo is offered as a kit form and as a ready-built composite model, complete with one of those prepainted schemes that FiberClassics has become so famous for on its giant-scale aerobatics models.
The really good news comes in the form of combination packages that Planes Plus offers for the Kangaroo, with a Spring Air #701 gear and choice of a variety of turbine engines.
The lowest-priced package combines the kit and landing gear with the Sim Jet F2J 1700 17-pound-thrust turbine, for $2,495.
Check out this and all the other products at www.planesplus.com.
Bob Violett Models (BVM)
I can't leave Toledo without a visit to Bob Violett Models. Bob has to be the busiest man in this hobby; he develops new products faster than most of us can dream up new ideas.
I want to discuss his new header tank—or the solution to the problems of air bubbles in the turbine fuel lines and the ability to fully drain the fuel tanks of usable fuel—the Ultimate Air Trap, or UAT.
The UAT is a special fuel tank feeding the fuel pump that will eliminate air-bubble problems. It does not use a clunk; instead, it uses a special membrane pickup designed to provide only liquid to the fuel-feed line.
I've never seen this idea before, but those who have used it say it works great. They will not be going back to a conventional clunk in the header tank.
Bob did it again: a new year and a new model. The BobCat is a sport model designed for the new RAM 500 turbine.
This model follows the trend to simplify the introductory turbine model with a fully exposed turbine. This simplifies systems related to the turbine installation; neither internal ductwork nor stainless-steel tailpipe is required.
The BobCat is a conventional model, with twin tailboom fuselages and a high-mounted horizontal stabilizer.
You have to look close to see the BobCat's trick features. The elevator is actually split in half, with one servo in each tailboom moving its respective elevator—redundancy in its most basic form.
The model breaks down into two versions. For one, you remove the outer wing panels and you have a convenient-to-transport model.
If you need to travel by airline, the model can be broken down farther by removing the stabilizer, the twin tailbooms, the center fuselage pod, and the wing center section. These individual components are quite small; the shipping box will amaze you with its compact size.
The BobCat's construction is similar to the methods developed with the MiG-15 and the Balsa Bandit.
The wing is built up of balsa, plywood, and carbon fiber. All wood is laser-cut, and includes highlights such as precut holes for the hinges in the wing trailing edge and the aileron leading edge. Hinge alignment is done for you.
Bob even provides a fixture to align the aileron control horns as you epoxy them in place.
The wing-assembly process is straightforward, and is designed to provide you with a strong, light wing. As you build this model, you will be amazed by all the trick ideas incorporated into the wing and stabilizer design.
Check it out at www.bvmjets.com.
Request to Readers
I have a request. Would those of you who are flying smaller-than-.50-size ducted-fan models send me some information about who you are flying? I know many modelers are sport-flying these smaller-size jets, but most don't show up at the meets.
Till next time, see you at the field or at the next jet meet.
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
