RC Scale
Stan Alexander, 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville TN 37211; E-mail: [email protected]
FOR THE NORTHERN hemisphere, summer is a time for swimming, playing golf, baseball, and Little League, soccer, water skiing, camping, and doing 100 other activities, including—oh yes, flying models.
There are so many activities, or hobbies if you will, to take up what little spare time we have during the summer, that modelers might need to schedule time just to fly!
Many adults with children are often at baseball games and other sports, and most of these activities center on the family. You might include a family picnic next time at the flying field.
You need a little time for the modeler or modelers in the family. It may only be one day a week that you can schedule time to go to the field, or you might be able to stop on the way home from work for a couple of flights.
Let me know your ideas for finding time to spend at the local field.
Remember, you can always cut grass on a windy day.
PT-19 Update
Changing the details of the wing has been interesting, but the framework is finally completed; it's time to add the sheet balsa to complete the scale illusion of plywood covering.
Nobody actually thought these little trainers would still be flying more than 60 years after they were first produced.
The wings on the full-scale PT-19 trainer were covered with plywood, then fabric was added. We will use balsa, and cover with fabric—much the same as the full-scale.
The more I look at the landing gear (mains), the more I believe that the Robart struts can be used, but they will have to be "enhanced" to make the scale appearance complete.
Ailerons were built per the plans, with a plywood insert for the control horns. After adding the horn on each aileron, they will be ready to cover.
The next item on the ailerons will be hinging to the trailing edge, as per the full-scale aircraft. This will require using a homemade fixture for drilling, then adding the Robart scale hinges.
Paul Burke has some great ideas, which were not included in the kit, about adding flaps to the wing.
To modify the kit for flaps, map it out before you start the wing construction (see the May 2000 issue).
I used 1/16 plywood, checking my three-views against the wing. Use a sand saw to cut out the flap material to the proper length.
In the measurements I came up with, the leading edge of the flap was 1/2 inch, and the trailing edge of the flap was 1 5/8 inches. I followed Paul's suggestion, using the 1/4" square balsa stock for the leading edge, which needed to be rounded off.
I wanted to increase the rigidity of the trailing edge, so I added a strip of .007" carbon fiber from Bob Violet Models, which carries a full line of hobby products.
The information for the flaps came from one of the three-views I've used for construction. Some three-views show flap detail, and others do not.
Next time around, we'll hinge the flaps and ailerons, and hook up the servos to see if everything works. I had hoped to do the hinging for this column, but I didn't make it.
The basic airframe is assembled.
I don't know about anyone else, but it usually helps me to start assembling the components to get an idea of what things are going to look like when I am finished.
At this point, it also helps to check the dimensions—not to see if you've made any mistakes, but where you have made mistakes. Hopefully you can correct them at this point.
There is still a great deal of work to be done, but it is coming along. Major portions of this kit have been "reengineered," which has taken an incredible amount of time.
One photo gives you an overhead view of the basic airframe, while another gives a view with the stock wire landing gear that comes with the kit, which have been plugged in.
I'm looking forward to beginning a plan-built model next.
Plan-built models and projects
Speaking of plan-built models, Arvids Jaur of Sweden built a Do 24 flying boat with an 88-inch wingspan, shown in photos.
The model incorporates the scale trimotor configuration, and was built from plans by Gene Fiala.
Gene operates Sea-Clusion Aeronautics, 22W070 Byron Ave., Addison IL 60101. His plans include some aircraft you don't often see modeled, including many of the German World War II flying boats. His latest project is the CAMS 53 French flying boat.
For a Sea-Clusion catalog, send an SASE with two 33¢ stamps.
Letters
Paul Burke — PT-19
"My PT-19 is a pussycat! Flies extremely well. Started with a Saito .91. Probably as close as scale power as it's possible to get. Then I tried an O.S. 1.08—serious overpower! The O.S. 1.20 is just right. Enough power to fly out of problems, and it flies at partial power nicely."
Paul has a Web site, www.networkone.net/~pbburke/pt19.htm, that has photos of his model and a drawing that you can download, detailing adding flaps to this WWII trainer.
Great job, Paul!
Terry R. Thorpe
"I'm building a Dynaflite PT-19 at this time. Can you tell me the Robart shocks part number that you used for the main gear, and what did you use for the tail wheel? I think I will take your suggestion to sheet the entire wing. I would like to get some information regarding the slit flaps you talked about; can you point me in the right direction? Enjoyed your article.
"One of the things I've found in this hobby is that people are really helpful. I got a second-hand Lazy Ace for my birthday last year, and little did I know that the designer of that airplane was Chuck Cunningham—a Fort Worth Thunderbird member, same as I am. He was very kind in answering questions and making suggestions. I think the highlight was when I got him to autograph my Lazy Ace wing. Again, you guys are really nice to help out."
Documentation Source
Aviation Usk has a combination of hard-to-find plastic kits, parts, books, and documentation.
The company produces its own plastic kits, parts, and decal sheets, and publishes several historical aviation books, such as the Aces and Wingmen II series.
Scale modelers love to find the Manu Mechanic series on "heavy metal" WWII aircraft; Aviation Usk has #5, #10, #13, and #15 in stock for $44.95 each, plus the normal shipping.
The company also has the AvioLibri Italian books, with the following titles: Macchi MC 205, Reggiane Re 2005, Fiat G.55, and Hughes 500. Titles from Poland are available on rare subjects, including the Fokker D.XXI.
For a catalog, contact Aviation Usk, Box 97, Usk WA 99180; Tel.: (509) 445-1236; Web site: www.povn.com/avusk.
Books
Several years ago, Mike Welshons gave me the name and address of Aeroplane Books—a great source for new and used aviation-related books.
Mike said that Aeroplane is very good about following up on requests for used books it doesn't have on-hand, such as the one on the Messerschmitt 109. It's not in stock, but my name is on the list of customers who would like to obtain it.
Aeroplane Books has new volumes, such as The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide—Vol. 2 (1940-1949). It also has Vol. 4 of this series in stock.
From the books to the packaging, Aeroplane Books takes special care to make sure you're satisfied.
For out-of-print and hard-to-find books, contact Aeroplane Books, 114 Deer Path Rd., Williamsburg VA 23188-2208; Order line: (800) 447-8890, questions: (757) 253-4814; E-mail: [email protected]; Web Site: www.aeroplanebooks.com
Events and Competitions
A new, unofficial event is receiving a trial run at this year's Mint Julep Scale Meet; Scale Aerobatics will be flown, according to most of the rules governing the Fun Scale event.
- The static score is 0–5 points—the same as in Fun Scale.
- In flight, there are five optional maneuvers and five mandatory maneuvers.
- No mechanical options are scored.
- The realism score is based on the scale prototype and aerobatic maneuvers chosen.
This event might be a new rule proposal in the near future. Mint Julep officials hope that contestants who usually enter Open Fun Scale will try this event for a change.
There are so many aerobatic purpose-built aircraft entered in Fun Scale, this event seemed natural. Good luck, guys!
The US Scale Masters Championships will be held at Dayton, Ohio, at the US Air Force Museum October 11–15.
This national Scale championships for Expert and Team Scale classes is the culmination of a series of qualifying contests, including Top Gun and the AMA Scale Nationals. Static and flight competition will be held at the facility.
The Championships banquet is planned for inside the US Air Force Museum, under the massive wing of a B-29 bomber. There is "Open cockpit night" for all of the guests, where the barriers are removed and they are allowed to get up-close and personal with many of the historic aircraft.
For more information, E-mail Earl Auner at [email protected].
Closing
Those winter building days are over now, so send in some photos and show everyone what you've been working on. Please add dimensions, engine and size, etc. Thanks!
Well, that's about it this time around. Remember, keep 'em flying and check those batteries!
Fair skies and tail winds. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
