Small-Field Flying - 2010/04 | Model Aviation Library

Author: Paul Bradley

Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/04
Page Numbers: 88,89,91

The SMALL fly-in is getting longer

IT'S TIME to make plans. The cover date of this issue indicates that it is almost time to head to the flying field for some 2010 outdoor flying enjoyment. At least that is true for those of us who live in colder climates, where that white stuff keeps falling out of the sky during the winter months.

As I write this, I am watching snow falling outside and dreaming of this year's scheduled flying events. One that is high on my priority list is the annual Small Model Airplane Lovers' League event. It is held in the Little Rock, Arkansas, area during the first weekend of June each year. That translates to June 3–6 in 2010. That's right; there will be four days of activity.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the SMALL fly-in. To help make this a special event, one of the original founders, Steve Staples, will help organize and run the festivities.

The site where the SMALL event takes place is terrific. There is ample room for FF, CL, and RC models of all varieties. The only limitation is that power for aircraft cannot exceed the equivalent of a .26 glow engine.

I hope to run into many of you at this excellent gathering. Please see the source listing for Steve Staples' contact information if you want to learn more about the SMALL fly-in.

Sukhoi Biplane

What do you get when you have a full-scale biplane pilot who owns a ParkZone Sukhoi? A biplane Sukhoi, of course. Well, at least when the pilot is Karl Blanding of Fulton, Ohio.

When faced with limited choices for a small biplane that was suitable for indoor venues, Karl was left scratching his head. This thought process resulted in a project that I never would have considered. The ParkZone Sukhoi reminded Karl of a modern-day Pitts, so he completed the look by adding a wing.

What makes Karl’s effort especially noteworthy is the material he used for the top wing: basic typing paper. Following is how he described the process.

“I used the box as the fixture for locating the upper wing and establishing the strut lengths. I traced the lower wing onto a piece of typing paper and folded the paper over on top of the Sukhoi wing. I made two copies and extended the wing tracings so they would meet in the middle of the plane.

“I took a sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper and rolled it around a wooden pencil. So now I have a spar 11 inches long. I made a second 11-inch spar using a quarter of a sheet for the leading edge spar.

“The top wing leading-edge curvature is about the same as the lower wing. The mid-span spar is approximately 20% thicker than the lower wing maximum thickness.

“I made the struts of rolled paper (rolled around coat-hanger wire). The spars, struts, and ribs are taped with clear packaging tape so they will not unroll. I taped the spars onto the lower inside wing skin. I maintained the spar separation distance with, you guessed it, rolled paper.

“Now the wing is folded over the spars and taped at the trailing edge. The lower and upper wing skin is sewn to the spars in four places using waxed dental floss. This is similar to the way the full-scale biplane wings are sewn to the ribs.

“The dental floss is passed through the middle of the struts by letting the needle and thread fall through the center of the strut. Struts and dental floss are fixed to the plane fuselage and lower wing with clear packaging tape.

“So, how does it fly? Takeoffs and landings look and feel like flying a full-scale biplane. And like a full-scale biplane, you have to fly it. The Sukhoi was already underpowered. The added wing made it worse.

“I changed the propeller to the GWS 5043 from BSD Micro RC that was written up in the November 2009 MA Micro Flying column. That was a big improvement.”

Thanks, Karl, for sharing information about this interesting project. See the source listing for BSD Micro RC’s contact information.

A Guillow’s Conversion—Sort Of

John Kunte of Rome, Pennsylvania, sent me several photos of his nice 14-ounce, 52-inch-span Aeronca Champ. A model with those specifications sounds like Pat Tritle’s handiwork.

As it turns out, John did not build his airplane from Pat’s great Aeronca Champ kit. John scaled up the venerable Guillow’s Aeronca Champ 85 plans to build his model.

John reported that he used a Suppo B2208/17 brushless motor from RC Hot Deals to power the model. See the “Sources” listing for contact information. The covering is Coverite Microlite film. With all that wing area and light weight, John’s Champ is a great small-field flyer.

The Ever-Elusive Light Wheel

How many times have you started a project, only to discover that you couldn’t find a nice, light wheel that was the correct size? I have had that issue, and so has John Pakiz of Omaha, Nebraska. He sent me his solution to this vexing problem.

John uses a simple method to manufacture custom wheels of almost any diameter that are strong and, most important, lightweight. The key to his technique is to use O-rings for the tires. They come in so many diameters that you will probably find one that will meet your needs.

Once the proper O-ring set has been secured, John cuts three balsa disks. One serves as the center of the wheel, and its diameter is the same as the inside diameter of the O-ring. The other two balsa parts are cut to a diameter that is slightly larger than the center disk.

John makes the disks by turning them with his Dremel tool. The balsa is fixed in a mandrel that he fabricated from a bicycle spoke. (Dremel sells a mandrel that can be used for this.)

Once the three balsa disks are fabricated, John assembles the wheel. The O-ring is placed on the center disk. Glue is unnecessary.

The two remaining disks are glued to the outside faces of the center disk. The slightly larger diameter captures the O-ring and holds it in place.

Very slick, John. Now I can't use the excuse of not having a proper set of wheels to delay starting a project.

Small-Field Flying - 2010/04

Keith Sparks and the Multiplex Twin Star

Keith Sparks is the guiding force behind the plastic parts that are used in many of the kits we small-field fliers like to build. Most notable of those are the kits that Pat Tritle offers. In recent years, many of his beautiful models have been featured in the modeling press as construction articles.

Doing business as Park Flyer Plastics, Keith sells many parts directly to the aeromodeling public. His items include lightweight pilot figures. He also does occasional modification kits for a variety of ARFs.

Keith recently developed a wonderful modification kit for the Multiplex Twin Star. The equipment converts the model to a nice-looking seaplane. If you are interested in acquiring one of Keith's Twin Star modification kits, or his other neat products, his contact information is provided in the source listing.

On the topic of floatplanes, I have news about a recent release from the Model Aero company. While I was at the JR Indoor Electric Festival in November, I saw an eye-catching model called the "Aqua Cat." It had a sheet-foam-based airframe with beautiful graphics.

Sporting a wingspan of 36 inches and a flying weight of 17 ounces, this model is perfect for flying in small-field venues. If you have access to a site with water, so much the better.

Recommended power comes from a Spin Max 2212-6 brushless motor, or equivalent, driven by a three-cell, 1300–2200 mAh Li-Poly battery pack. You can order an Aqua Cat kit directly from Model Aero. Please see the source listing for contact information.

A Look Inside the Pat Tritle Skunk Works

Pat Tritle let me know that he has built a BMJR Model Products Goldberg Ranger 28 reproduction kit. Since I had a hand in developing the kit, he wanted me to know that it converts nicely from its intended rubber-powered FF configuration to electric-powered small-field RC.

The photo Pat sent of the converted Ranger 28 provided a nice peek inside his workshop. After looking at the picture, I began to imagine what a treat a visit to his shop would be. Oh yeah, back to the Ranger.

Pat uses a Turnigy 1811 brushless motor from HobbyKing, powered by a two-cell, 350 mAh Li-Poly battery pack. Guidance comes from a Spektrum AR6100 receiver. The model is covered with Japanese tissue and clear dope, and its total flying weight is 7.4 ounces.

On the subject of Pat's digs, he has recently released a really fantastic rendition of the Piper Tri-Pacer. The model has a 50-inch wingspan and a flying weight of 25 ounces.

The wing halves plug into the fuselage, making the model easier to transport. Controls include throttle, ailerons, rudder, steerable nose wheel, elevator, and flaps. The recommended power setup is an E-flite Park 400 920 Kv brushless motor and a two-cell, 2500 mAh Li-Poly battery pack.

Pat is selling kits directly, so check the source listing for his contact information.

This brings me to the close of this column. As always, let me know what you are up to so I can share your work with the rest of the small-field-flying community.