Bryan O’Meara’s Flak Bait B-26 is extremely weathered, which is correct for this aircra . The B-26
reportedly flew more World War II missions than any other Allied aircra .
This view of the B-17 shows where panels have
been replaced or patched. Aluminum duct tape
from Lowe’s Home Improvement store can work
well.
Damage was created on this B-17G to show
where a burst of flak hit the lower wing. The
blast blew holes through the top of the wing
panel.
This beautifully nished Spit re MK9 has all of the
panel lines showing and weathered.
Whether or not to weather
by Stan Alexander
[email protected]
There are many options for
weathering Scale models. Some
modelers choose to add hangar
rash to an airplane for a contest, which
doesn’t appear on their documentation.
This makes it incorrect in the eyes of a
Static judge.
Others take a different approach
when they fi nd a model they want
to build and choose a “hangar queen”
or a museum aircraft to model. It’s
rare to fi nd a museum airplane with a
weathered look. Most look factory fresh,
which is correct for that aircraft for
Static judging.
I saw several models that featured
battle damage and weathering at
Warbirds Over the Rockies. I’m not sure
who the builder was, but the B-17G I
saw was heavily weathered and showed
fl ak damage on different parts of the
aircraft.
Flat paint, rubbing dirt, dust, or
chalk on the model, making panels of
the airplane that will be damaged on
purpose, creating fl ak damage, massive
paint chipping, and using fi ne-grade steel
wool to rub panels where normal paint
wear-off would occur, are weathering
techniques.
Using colored panels and starting a
paint job with a silver base, then painting
the model and rubbing off the amount
of paint you want, is another method.
You have to fi nd what works well for
you.
Many civil aircraft don’t look
weathered. They are taken care of like
your mom’s 1957 Ford Thunderbird.
The Pietenpol I’m fi nishing is an
example of an aircraft that is kept
in a hangar and lovingly cared for.
Pietenpol Air Camper Update
The Pietenpol Air Camper
has been coming along and I’m
nearly ready to cover it. The O.S.
72 four-stroke has been added to
the fuselage with a Du-Bro beam
motor mount. Because I changed
the mount for the engine, I added
triangle stock behind the fi rewall
to ensure there is enough space
to hold things in place. A coat of
thinned epoxy will keep fuel out of the
wood.
There are barn-door-type ailerons on
the wing and I’ve upgraded the servos to
Hitec units with metal gears. A standard
servo will function as the throttle servo.
I fiddled with the uprights for the
center wing section. They didn’t match
my homebuilt aircraft and were in the
wrong place for a scale appearance. They
should be directly over the main gear
legs at the points where they mount
to the fuselage, not off to the front and
back. This is part of the strength of the
Pietenpol’s design and simplicity.
Crossbraces between the uprights
are also not shown on the plans, but it
needs them. The forces, and even the
hardwood used, tend to warp, which
makes the wings incorrectly fit on the
fuselage.
Going to Major Events
While traveling across the country to
attend events, you likely will see many
of the new products introduced for
the upcoming flying season. The new
items could include those for Scale
competition, radio gear, or something
that makes Scale modeling more fun.
Adding scale details to a model—
especially when you take that warbird or
new model to the flying field—can help
make flying more fun for you and for
those who are watching your aircraft.
Balsa USA
Balsa USA has long been active
in promoting kit building, as well as
supplying balsa and hardwood for
scratch builders. The company recently
began offering bits and pieces for Balsa
USA models and others.
There are few items I’ve seen (other
than smoke on a flying model) that get
more attention than a bomb or tank
drop. Balsa USA has come up with a
unit that will work on World War I and
World War II vintage aircraft.
With a little work, connect the servo
to the receiver and you are ready to
drop dummy bombs on your local flying
field.
If you are interested in competition, a
bomb drop is a good way to score a 10
on a maneuver. Drop it in front of the
judges, not on them!
Balsa USA’s new bomb and bomb release cost $41.95.
The servo is not included.
This shows where paint has been “worn off,”
baring steel-wool rivets.
Fair skies and tailwinds.
SOURCES:
Balsa USA
(800) 225-7287
www.balsausa.com
Lowe’s Home Improvement
www.lowes.com
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
www.nasascale.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2013/04
Page Numbers: 105,106,107
Edition: Model Aviation - 2013/04
Page Numbers: 105,106,107
Bryan O’Meara’s Flak Bait B-26 is extremely weathered, which is correct for this aircra . The B-26
reportedly flew more World War II missions than any other Allied aircra .
This view of the B-17 shows where panels have
been replaced or patched. Aluminum duct tape
from Lowe’s Home Improvement store can work
well.
Damage was created on this B-17G to show
where a burst of flak hit the lower wing. The
blast blew holes through the top of the wing
panel.
This beautifully nished Spit re MK9 has all of the
panel lines showing and weathered.
Whether or not to weather
by Stan Alexander
[email protected]
There are many options for
weathering Scale models. Some
modelers choose to add hangar
rash to an airplane for a contest, which
doesn’t appear on their documentation.
This makes it incorrect in the eyes of a
Static judge.
Others take a different approach
when they fi nd a model they want
to build and choose a “hangar queen”
or a museum aircraft to model. It’s
rare to fi nd a museum airplane with a
weathered look. Most look factory fresh,
which is correct for that aircraft for
Static judging.
I saw several models that featured
battle damage and weathering at
Warbirds Over the Rockies. I’m not sure
who the builder was, but the B-17G I
saw was heavily weathered and showed
fl ak damage on different parts of the
aircraft.
Flat paint, rubbing dirt, dust, or
chalk on the model, making panels of
the airplane that will be damaged on
purpose, creating fl ak damage, massive
paint chipping, and using fi ne-grade steel
wool to rub panels where normal paint
wear-off would occur, are weathering
techniques.
Using colored panels and starting a
paint job with a silver base, then painting
the model and rubbing off the amount
of paint you want, is another method.
You have to fi nd what works well for
you.
Many civil aircraft don’t look
weathered. They are taken care of like
your mom’s 1957 Ford Thunderbird.
The Pietenpol I’m fi nishing is an
example of an aircraft that is kept
in a hangar and lovingly cared for.
Pietenpol Air Camper Update
The Pietenpol Air Camper
has been coming along and I’m
nearly ready to cover it. The O.S.
72 four-stroke has been added to
the fuselage with a Du-Bro beam
motor mount. Because I changed
the mount for the engine, I added
triangle stock behind the fi rewall
to ensure there is enough space
to hold things in place. A coat of
thinned epoxy will keep fuel out of the
wood.
There are barn-door-type ailerons on
the wing and I’ve upgraded the servos to
Hitec units with metal gears. A standard
servo will function as the throttle servo.
I fiddled with the uprights for the
center wing section. They didn’t match
my homebuilt aircraft and were in the
wrong place for a scale appearance. They
should be directly over the main gear
legs at the points where they mount
to the fuselage, not off to the front and
back. This is part of the strength of the
Pietenpol’s design and simplicity.
Crossbraces between the uprights
are also not shown on the plans, but it
needs them. The forces, and even the
hardwood used, tend to warp, which
makes the wings incorrectly fit on the
fuselage.
Going to Major Events
While traveling across the country to
attend events, you likely will see many
of the new products introduced for
the upcoming flying season. The new
items could include those for Scale
competition, radio gear, or something
that makes Scale modeling more fun.
Adding scale details to a model—
especially when you take that warbird or
new model to the flying field—can help
make flying more fun for you and for
those who are watching your aircraft.
Balsa USA
Balsa USA has long been active
in promoting kit building, as well as
supplying balsa and hardwood for
scratch builders. The company recently
began offering bits and pieces for Balsa
USA models and others.
There are few items I’ve seen (other
than smoke on a flying model) that get
more attention than a bomb or tank
drop. Balsa USA has come up with a
unit that will work on World War I and
World War II vintage aircraft.
With a little work, connect the servo
to the receiver and you are ready to
drop dummy bombs on your local flying
field.
If you are interested in competition, a
bomb drop is a good way to score a 10
on a maneuver. Drop it in front of the
judges, not on them!
Balsa USA’s new bomb and bomb release cost $41.95.
The servo is not included.
This shows where paint has been “worn off,”
baring steel-wool rivets.
Fair skies and tailwinds.
SOURCES:
Balsa USA
(800) 225-7287
www.balsausa.com
Lowe’s Home Improvement
www.lowes.com
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
www.nasascale.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2013/04
Page Numbers: 105,106,107
Bryan O’Meara’s Flak Bait B-26 is extremely weathered, which is correct for this aircra . The B-26
reportedly flew more World War II missions than any other Allied aircra .
This view of the B-17 shows where panels have
been replaced or patched. Aluminum duct tape
from Lowe’s Home Improvement store can work
well.
Damage was created on this B-17G to show
where a burst of flak hit the lower wing. The
blast blew holes through the top of the wing
panel.
This beautifully nished Spit re MK9 has all of the
panel lines showing and weathered.
Whether or not to weather
by Stan Alexander
[email protected]
There are many options for
weathering Scale models. Some
modelers choose to add hangar
rash to an airplane for a contest, which
doesn’t appear on their documentation.
This makes it incorrect in the eyes of a
Static judge.
Others take a different approach
when they fi nd a model they want
to build and choose a “hangar queen”
or a museum aircraft to model. It’s
rare to fi nd a museum airplane with a
weathered look. Most look factory fresh,
which is correct for that aircraft for
Static judging.
I saw several models that featured
battle damage and weathering at
Warbirds Over the Rockies. I’m not sure
who the builder was, but the B-17G I
saw was heavily weathered and showed
fl ak damage on different parts of the
aircraft.
Flat paint, rubbing dirt, dust, or
chalk on the model, making panels of
the airplane that will be damaged on
purpose, creating fl ak damage, massive
paint chipping, and using fi ne-grade steel
wool to rub panels where normal paint
wear-off would occur, are weathering
techniques.
Using colored panels and starting a
paint job with a silver base, then painting
the model and rubbing off the amount
of paint you want, is another method.
You have to fi nd what works well for
you.
Many civil aircraft don’t look
weathered. They are taken care of like
your mom’s 1957 Ford Thunderbird.
The Pietenpol I’m fi nishing is an
example of an aircraft that is kept
in a hangar and lovingly cared for.
Pietenpol Air Camper Update
The Pietenpol Air Camper
has been coming along and I’m
nearly ready to cover it. The O.S.
72 four-stroke has been added to
the fuselage with a Du-Bro beam
motor mount. Because I changed
the mount for the engine, I added
triangle stock behind the fi rewall
to ensure there is enough space
to hold things in place. A coat of
thinned epoxy will keep fuel out of the
wood.
There are barn-door-type ailerons on
the wing and I’ve upgraded the servos to
Hitec units with metal gears. A standard
servo will function as the throttle servo.
I fiddled with the uprights for the
center wing section. They didn’t match
my homebuilt aircraft and were in the
wrong place for a scale appearance. They
should be directly over the main gear
legs at the points where they mount
to the fuselage, not off to the front and
back. This is part of the strength of the
Pietenpol’s design and simplicity.
Crossbraces between the uprights
are also not shown on the plans, but it
needs them. The forces, and even the
hardwood used, tend to warp, which
makes the wings incorrectly fit on the
fuselage.
Going to Major Events
While traveling across the country to
attend events, you likely will see many
of the new products introduced for
the upcoming flying season. The new
items could include those for Scale
competition, radio gear, or something
that makes Scale modeling more fun.
Adding scale details to a model—
especially when you take that warbird or
new model to the flying field—can help
make flying more fun for you and for
those who are watching your aircraft.
Balsa USA
Balsa USA has long been active
in promoting kit building, as well as
supplying balsa and hardwood for
scratch builders. The company recently
began offering bits and pieces for Balsa
USA models and others.
There are few items I’ve seen (other
than smoke on a flying model) that get
more attention than a bomb or tank
drop. Balsa USA has come up with a
unit that will work on World War I and
World War II vintage aircraft.
With a little work, connect the servo
to the receiver and you are ready to
drop dummy bombs on your local flying
field.
If you are interested in competition, a
bomb drop is a good way to score a 10
on a maneuver. Drop it in front of the
judges, not on them!
Balsa USA’s new bomb and bomb release cost $41.95.
The servo is not included.
This shows where paint has been “worn off,”
baring steel-wool rivets.
Fair skies and tailwinds.
SOURCES:
Balsa USA
(800) 225-7287
www.balsausa.com
Lowe’s Home Improvement
www.lowes.com
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
www.nasascale.org
