RADIO CONTROL SCALE
Jeff Troy 19 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave., Ambler PA 19002
Docu-Search
If you're new to AMA, new to Radio Control (RC) Scale modeling, or new to this column, you may not be aware of its Docu-Search feature.
Docu-Search is a no-charge benefit that helps readers track down hard-to-find documentation. It's the tool for those rare instances when the commercial documentation services that advertise in MA don't have what you're looking for.
Look at a model in mind, but no plans, photos, or color-and-markings information? Want to build a B-25, but you're only interested in modeling the one your father flew as waistgunner during the Doolittle raid, and all you have is the nose art and the pilot's name?
Send a short letter or postcard to my home address (at the head of the column) with a brief description of the aircraft and what you're looking for—plan, photos, color-and-markings, etc.; I don't need or want a history of the airplane. Include your address on the note.
I will include suitable requests in the next available space in this column, where they will be available to approximately 150,000 Model Aviation readers. If one or more fellow modelers has what you need, you will be contacted.
Docu-Search isn't about saving money on documentation photos or three-views of a generic P-38, Fokker D.VII, or J-3 Cub. Common subjects—and many obscure ones—are available from commercial services, such as Bob Barka's Scale Model Research, Ann Pepino's Scale Plans & Photo Service, and others. The National Association of Scale Aeromodlers (NASA) also has a large collection of documentation available.
Docu-Search is for the extraordinary request, and has worked wonders for modelers in need.
Although its subject is common, this installment's Docu-Search calls for a specific aircraft that seems unavailable through the RC hobby's regular channels.
Thomas Ailes has been working on a P-39 project that has special meaning for him.
"...a P-39 that was used by the 339th Fighter Squadron in the South Pacific. It was #13 in the squadron and was called 'Hells Bells.' It had a picture of a chicken in boxing gloves with red, white and blue bells behind it, located on a right side door.
"I have a picture out of the Charleston Tribute of my uncle, Paul Richard Tavernier, and a few others lined up in front of the airplane. I also have an oil painting that my uncle did of this airplane, but the details of the chicken and bells are not complete.
“My uncle passed away last year, and I would like to complete this model, based on the one he worked on in the Army Air Corps.”
Thomas needs photos, drawings, or any other material that will allow him to duplicate the markings of his uncle’s airplane—especially the chicken-and-bells side art. If anyone is familiar with this P-39, please contact Thomas at 630 Old Forge Rd., Valparaiso IN 46385.
If something is stopping your special project cold, drop me a note. This service may be your project’s salvation.
The National Model & Hobby Show
Each year in October in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont IL, the hobby industry gathers to conduct its largest trade show.
This is not primarily an airplane event, as are the Weak Signals R/C Expo (Toledo OH), WRAM (Westchester Radio Aero Modelers) Show (New York), or AMA Convention (Pasadena CA), but rather a complete hobby-industry affair.
There are airplanes in Rosemont, but there is also an incredible number of railroading exhibitors, plastic model companies, die-cast producers, collectibles distributors, rocketry providers, tool and accessory manufacturers, and every other imaginable hobby category and niche.
With two full days of trade-only traffic, the show’s primary focus is on industry rather than consumers. There is a strong consumer showing on the show’s two weekend days, exposing tens of thousands to model hobbies.
There is also an excellent representation of RC Scale modeling.
#### Global Hobby Distributors
Global Hobby Distributors offers a line of Almost Ready to Fly (ARF), Almost Ready to Cover (ARC), and full kit subjects through its Hobby Shack stores and other retail outlets.
The focal point of Global’s Rosemont exhibit was a massive 1/3-scale J-3 Cub, spanning approximately 111 inches. Due out in the summer, this airplane will be offered in ARF form, completely covered, with finished wing struts and a factory-painted fiberglass cowl.
This J-3 is a terrific airplane, although it’s sparse in scale-like surface details, as are most ARFs. There is no fabric tape or rib stitching, prototypical surface hinging, or finished cabin interior.
However, you get a gigantic airplane at a fair price, more accurate in outline than not, and all of the gruntwork is finished by the time you open the box.
If you wanted a Big Cub with all of the scale accoutrements, you could get one of Global’s at your favorite hobby shop, remove and refit the control surfaces with more appropriate hinges, experiment with the landing gear, and add a full interior with tandem seating and instruments.
As the coup, you could strip the polyester film covering, re-cover the model with F&M Stits, Sig Koverall, Super Coverite, or some other popular fabric, and add stitching and tape details before painting the J-3 yellow.
More information about the J-3 is available from Global Hobby Distributors, 18480 Bandidier Cir., Fountain Valley CA 92728-8610.
#### Carl Goldberg Models
Carl Goldberg Models is a pioneer in the model-airplane kit business. Mr. Goldberg was responsible for many of the hobby industry’s longest-lived trainer designs—the Senior Falcon and Falcon 56, the Eaglet 50, the .40-.52-size Eagle 63 and Eagle II, and the Gentle Lady sailplane.
Later, with Canadian Aerobatics champion Dave Patrick at the design helm, CGM produced several notable models, including one of the most popular biplanes of all time—the Ultimate 10-300.
At Rosemont, Dan Lieberman and Larry King unveiled the latest version of the CGM Ultimate 10-300 in ARF form.
The Ultimate ARF is virtually identical to the all-wood model that CGM offered in kit form, but is factory-assembled and covered in Carl Goldberg Models UltraCote. A high-quality painted fiberglass cowl and wheel pants are included, as are all necessary CGM and Klett brand top-shelf hardware and accessories, from the spinner to the tailwheel.
For detailed information about the Ultimate ARF and other kits and accessories, contact Carl Goldberg Models, 4734 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago IL 60651.
#### Sig Manufacturing
Sig Manufacturing showed its newest Scale kit at Rosemont: a 73-inch CAP 231 EX, designed for .12-.15 two-stroke or four-stroke engines, and four-channel RC systems with six servos and a pair of Y-harnesses on board.
New Sig owner David Arendt is proud of the design.
The CAP 231 EX is a primarily wooden model with a painted fiberglass cowl and wheel pants. The airframe components are factory-covered in Carl Goldberg Models’ UltraCote, and the ABS plastic tail fairing and removable canopy base are factory-painted to match the covering.
Quality hardware is included, as are wheels, steel axles, a 16-ounce fuel tank, a scale tail wheel assembly, and a large set of accurate Breitling markings.
Contact Sig Mfg. Co., Inc., 401-7 South Front St., Montezuma IA 50171.
#### Dave Brown Products
Dave Brown Products showed off a meaty selection of machined Vortech spinners at Rosemont. The AMA president and his wife/partner Sally know what aeromodelers want and need.
Dave Brown Products also markets fiberglass arrowshaft pushrod kits, lightweight treated and non-treated foam wheels, a wide selection of conventional engine mounts and specialty soft-mounts, and one of the best-flying RC flight simulators in the industry.
#### Midwest Products
Midwest Products has a reputation for quality balsa, Lite Ply, and plywood, and has bolstered that reputation with the unique Success Series instruction manuals.
Midwest also offers the finest in wood airplane kits, and the Extra 300 XS may be the best. The original Extra 300 was designed by Mike McConville, and was introduced to the modeling public in the mid-1990s. Midwest introduced the latest version of this stunning airplane in Rosemont.
The Extra 300 XS includes Mike’s improvements to his original design. The highly agile performer now includes fully airfoiled tail surfaces and a revised Success Series manual. A scale-like instrument panel is available separately, as an option.
The Extra 300 XS spans 80 inches, which makes it eligible to participate in IMAA (International Miniature Aircraft Association) gatherings. It’s designed to accept the Moki 2.1 and similar engines.
Midwest’s manual walks builders through the Extra’s rugged construction, with parts callouts, detailed isometric drawings, and check-boxes for each step. This is one of the nicest full-kit projects I have seen; I can’t wait to begin work on mine. When the Dynaflite Spitfire build-along is finished and flying, the Extra will be one of my build-along projects.
More information on the Extra 300 XS is available from Midwest Products, Co., Inc., 400 S. Indiana St., Box 564, Hobart IN 46342.
The National Model & Hobby Show had plenty to offer modelers of every hobby interest. If you are in the Chicagoland area in October, put this show on your list of must-do events. It will show you plenty of new Scale projects, and will open your eyes to many other hobby interests that can spill over into your own.
Personal Note — Gasoline Engine and Project Choices
In 1997, I acquired a nice Zenoh G-45 that was hand-lapped by Jimmy Goad and his pre-Horizon crew at Indy R/C. This is the first gasoline model engine I’ve owned since the Kioritz 2.4—a pioneer in Giant Scale power plants that powered my 108-inch V-twin scale S.E.5a in 1983.
It’s been so long since I’ve flown an engine with gasoline, I’ve been taking my time searching for the right Aerobatic Scale airplane to chase this lovely Japanese G-45 engine through the sky.
I’ve finally settled on two ideal models, and have obtained both kits. Perhaps recommendations from some of you who are experienced with gasoline power will help me decide which model to fly.
One is Midwest’s Extra 300 XS. The power recommendation is 2.1, although at 2.7, the G-45 shouldn't be too far above the curve. The other is Lanier R/C’s CAP 232. Power is 1.5 through 3.2 for gasoline, which ideally places the G-45 at the higher side of center.
Information about Zenoh gasoline engines is available through Horizon Hobby Distributors, 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign IL 61822.
#### Lanier R/C
Bubba Spivey at Lanier R/C has been a friend for years. I flew several of his unique ABS plastic ARF models in the 1960s when I was learning to fly RC, and have acquired a few of his new wood kits.
If you haven’t seen a Lanier kit since the Jester, Comet, and Dart, don’t expect to understand what comes in one of today’s Lanier R/C kit boxes. These models are not ARFs. They feature ABS plastic cowl and wheel pants—some include plastic turtledecks and canopy bases—but they are full-wood kits with built-up tail feathers, and sheet- or capstriped foam wing cores.
Lanier’s CAP 232 spans 81 inches, and builds in record time. Laser-cut parts and interlocking construction assure accuracy of alignment during assembly. The foam-core wing panels are fully sheeted with 1/32 balsa, and fit onto the model over an aluminum tube that runs through the fuselage. ABS components are included for the cowl and wheels, although optional fiberglass parts are available at reasonable prices.
Information about the 81-inch CAP 232 and other Lanier kits and ARFs is available through Lanier R/C, Inc., Box 458, Oakwood GA 30566.
Closing
In the next installment, the Spitfire build-along continues, and I’ll bring you a look at the Scale items at AMA Convention 2000 in Pasadena, California.
In the meantime, build straight and fly safely. We’ll do this again.
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
