Small-Field Flying - 2011/04

86 MODEL AVIATION
just less than an
hour!
Control functions
include throttle,
rudder, elevator,
ailerons, and flaps.
The flaps combined
with the low wing
loading allow for a
slow landing speed—
perfect for touch-andgo
fun. Pat has short
kits for the Pilatus
Porter available
through Pat’s Custom
Models.
When Model
Builder magazine
came onto the scene
in the early 1970s, it
quickly became one
of the must-have
aeromodeling
publications. During
its run the magazine produced a huge number of construction articles,
plans sets, and how-to references. Many longtime modelers consider a
collection of old Model Builders akin to gold.
I am thrilled to report that you can now own the complete set of
these magazines, thanks to Roland Friestad’s efforts. He has digitized
all of the issues and placed them on two DVDs. This means that you
can have access to this wonderful library of modeling knowledge
without having to commit a large amount of storage space.
To find out how you can acquire Roland’s set of Model Builder
magazines, send him an e-mail.
In the world of vintage RC model designs, few are more recognizable
than the Rudderbug. In the early days of RC, it opened the door for
many who wanted to venture into radio control. The design combined
Paul Bradley | bradleyp@Small-Field Flying ix.netcom.com
Also included in this column:
• Model Builder magazines in
digital format
• Bob Aberle’s reduced-scale
vintage Rudderbug
• Another look at small-field
combat
• Upgrading the eBay foamie
B-29
• Having a pilot in the “office”
A 60-inch-span Pilatus Porter from Pat Tritle
Thanks to Roland Friestad’s efforts, you
can purchase a complete set of Model
Builder magazines on two DVDs.
Bob Aberle has developed a nice 200-square-inch version of the
vintage Good brothers Rudderbug.
Spanning 60 inches and weighing 25 ounces, Pat Tritle’s Pilatus Porter is a perfect smallfield
flyer.
BIG IS BEAUTIFUL. In the world of small-field models, large and
light can be a terrific combination. Bigger airplanes are easier to build
and much easier to see in flight. Throw in light, and you have an
aircraft that will maneuver inside a smaller flying space.
If you have read this column in recent times, you probably know
that Pat Tritle is an undisputed master of designing larger, lightweight
models for small-field venues. His latest addition is a Pilatus Porter.
The full-scale aircraft is nearly perfect for the Scale model builder.
It has nice moments, rectangular flying surfaces, and a mostly square
fuselage cross-section. It’s just the ticket for keeping the structure fairly
simple, while yielding a great-flying subject.
As you can see in the photo that Pat supplied, straight lines and
relatively square do not mean unattractive. The Pilatus Porter is nicelooking,
and Pat’s version shows that.
It has a wingspan of 60 inches that results in an area of 451 square
inches. With a flying weight of only 24.9 ounces, the wing loading is a
modest 7.9 ounces per square foot. That translates to a comfortable
flying speed that is suitable for small fields.
For power Pat uses the Suppo 2217 outrunner brushless motor
from LightFlight RC, driven by a two-cell, 2650 mAh Li-Poly
battery pack. Pat reports that the power setup gives flight duration of
04sig3x.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/22/11 11:36 AM Page 86
April 2011 87
Above: Randy Meathrell and
friends are having some smallfield
combat fun using a simple
design called the “Mach One.”
Left: A twin-motor version of the
Mach One helps stir the small-field
combat pot.
Rick Rizza applied some experienced-modeler magic to an eBayacquired
“toy” B-29.
The author’s 42-inch Spacewalker illustrates the charisma
associated with adding a pilot figure to a Scale model.
the lessons learned from flying FF airplanes with the RC gear of the
day, to produce a successful aircraft that could be controlled from the
ground.
Bob Aberle has been rendering the foundation models of early RC
in reduced-scale versions suitable for small-field flying. His
Rudderbug has a wing area of 200 square inches and a flying weight
of 7 ounces.
You can see from the photo that Bob provided that the model’s
construction follows the original layout, using balsa and plywood.
Control functions include throttle, rudder, and elevator.
Power is supplied by a Stevens AeroModel SA Sport BL-300 1400
kV brushless outrunner motor and a two-cell, 800 mAh Li-Poly
battery pack. Bob reports that the design flies great.
Plans and a construction article for Bob’s Rudderbug can be found
online at RC Micro World.
In the December 2010 column I shared with you the efforts of
Jerry Hagood and his friends in small-field, fullcontact
combat. When considering combat
flying, we are more likely to think of the style
that involves cutting streamers that trail
behind models. Cutting an opponent’s
streamer is a challenge—especially when we
shrink the aircraft and the available flying
space.
Thanks to Randy Meathrell and the Chino
Valley Arizona Model Aviators, we get another look
at small-field combat. Randy submitted photos of
airplanes his group is using for streamer and full-contact
matches. The design is called the “Mach One,” and plans
and an assembly tutorial are available online.
As drawn, plans are for a single-motor, tractor-delta-wing
design. One of Randy’s enterprising friends morphed the
model into a twin-motor hot rod.
The Mach One is made from fan-fold-foam sheets, has an 18-inch
wingspan, and is 24 inches in length. It uses the low-cost Suppo
B2208-17 outrunner brushless motor and a two-cell Li-Poly battery
pack of at least 1000 mAh capacity. Two servos provide elevon
control.
Thanks, Randy, for giving us a peek at your combat action using
the Mach One.
I have been known to frequent the halls of eBay, looking for modelairplane
items. Well, maybe not the halls in a literal sense, but I have
spent my fair share of time connected to eBay via my computer and
the Internet.
During many of my eBay visits I have seen a foam-based, readyto-
fly, 42-inch-span B-29. The listing calls it an “RC B-29/B-52
WWII bomber.” I assume that the source for this offering is not too
airplane savvy and is probably located in Asia.
As delivered, the model uses differential throttle for steering and
throttle alone for altitude control. The attractive feature of this aircraft
is the price.
I reported in the October 2009 column about a reader who had a
similar B-17; it was given new electronics and transformed from a toy
into a nice-flying small-field airplane. Having read that report, Rick
Rizza of the Mid Hudson Radio Control Society thought that
something similar could be done with the eBay B-29.
Rick performed his magic on two models; the first was to confirm
that his approach was sound, and the second was a more polished
effort. He wrote:
“ ... as delivered you get a complete foam and plastic model with 4
brushed motors, battery and controller. I removed the supplied
electronics and installed a GWS mini receiver and a small speed
control.
“The tail surfaces (foam) are modified by cutting away the
elevator and rudder and I hinge them with CA type hinges and foam
safe glue. The elevator halves have to be connected with a piece of
stiff wire bent to a horseshoe shape across the fuselage that is held in
place with epoxy. Rather than separating the fuse halves and
struggling with interior mounted servos I simply cut the foam fuse
04sig3x.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/22/11 11:37 AM Page 87
along the back and installed them there with
a touch of soft glue.
“The first one I built left the wheels
off and was hand launched. For the
second model I decided to install the
wheels, including the non-steerable nose
wheel as I planned to mainly fly it off a
paved school parking lot and I enjoy
ROG. I found that if you taxi moderately
fast the rudder effectively turns the model
on the ground.
“In flight, the model is quite
controllable. I had to add 2 ounces of lead
to the nose to get a balance point around
one-third back on the wings. Because it
originated as a 2 channel model there is a
fair amount of dihedral built in, and in
flight the dihedral is enhanced so it is
well suited to rudder only yaw control.
“Four motors turning and burning is a
lot of fun and it sounds great at the field.”
Nice work, Rick. Having a goodflying
B-29 in your stable must be fun.
Occupying the “Office” With a Pilot:
Scale models are often built and flown
without pilot figures in their cockpits.
The main reason for this is the lack of
lightweight figures in the proper sizes. It
might not be a big deal to some, but, for
me, having a pilot in a Scale model adds
much charisma.
Fortunately the small-field community
has a great resource for pilot figures: Keith
88 MODEL AVIATION
YS Parts and Service
www.YSengines.net
1370 Porter Drive • Minden, Nevada 89423
Tel 775-267-9252 • Fax 775-267-9690
• Bigger cylinder head for better cooling
• Three needle carburetor
• Same mounting pattern as the YS50ST
• New regulator design for ease of operation and reliability
• Proven fuel injection system for a consistent run & power
• Same mounting pattern as the FZ63S
• NEW steel lined backplate to minimize drag resulting in
better performance and increased horsepower
• NEW piston/sleeve design increases effi ciency
• Proven regulated fuel system for positive fuel fl ow
boost for more power
• Same mounting pattern as the FZ110S
!"#$%
& %'$()*
+,"#$%
!-'
./01
213/4567'
869/04:./4
;6</'41:4
='>3/%?
!-'!-'
./01./01
+,"#$%+,"#$%+,"#$%+,"#$%
• NEW larger cylinder head for better cooling
& %'$()*& %'$()*& %'$()*& %'$()*
• New regulator design for ease of operation and reliability
• Ring sealed crankshaft to increase crankcase
!"#$% !"#$% !"#$% !"#$%
Bore: 30.4 mm
Stroke: 25.8 mm
Displacement: 18.73 cc
Weight: 730 grams
Bore: 27.7 mm
Stroke: 19.0 mm
Displacement: 11.33 cc
Weight: 463 grams
Bore: 27 mm
Stroke: 26 mm
Displacement: 14.89 cc
Weight: 553 grams
Bore: 23.0 mm
Stroke: 22.0 mm
Displacement: 9.14 cc
Weight: 406 grams
Sparks of Park Flyer Plastics. He has a huge
variety of figures made from vacuum-formed
plastic. They are light, look great, and come
in so many sizes that one must be suitable for
your model.
I have provided a photo of a 42-inchwingspan
Spacewalker that I completed. The
pilot figure from Keith helps create the feel
of a full-scale airplane.
As always, let me know what you are up
to in the wonderful world of small-field
flying. MA
Sources:
Pat’s Custom Models
(505) 296-4511
www.patscustom-models.com
LightFlight RC
www.lightflightrc.com
RC Micro World plans:
www.co-op-plans.info
Roland Friestad
[email protected]
Stevens AeroModel
(719) 387-4187
www.stevensaero.com
Mach One
http://bit.ly/hhX9Pj
Park Flyer Plastics
(817) 233-1215
http://parkflyerplastics.com
Paul Bradley
10201 Scarletoak Dr.
Independence KY 41051
www.parmodels.com
Original
Zurich Sunglasses
Fashion Pilot Style
2-For-1 Sale
Purchase 2 Original or 2
Pilot Style sunglasses at
an additional 15% off
these sale prices!
$2000 OFF with this ad only.
$2000 OFF with this ad only.
15% OFF with this ad only.
Also available, send
us your completed
Rx (already made
and assembled by
your eye specialist)
in clear,
CR39 and we will
add our Zurich
Technology for
$99.00 plus S&H.
Can be
worn with
or without
Rx
glasses.
Prescription Glasses
using Zurich “Swiss” Technology
the same time and receive
$3500 OFF your entire order of
lenses + frames
purchased from us
together
with this ad only. Above special prices are available with this coupon only and expires April 15, 2011.
Special Prices are NOT available online. Call 800-533-5665 or contact us at:
Zurich International, 9418 Snow Lake Place, Elk Grove, CA 95758
www.extremeglaresunglasses.com • Extreme Glare sunglasses on www.amazon.com
GET READY FOR SPRING SALE
04sig3x.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/22/11 11:38 AM Page 88