SMALL-FIELD FLYING 2012/06

The Small Model Aircraft Lover’s
League (SMALL) is here again,
as is summer flying fun. The
cover date of this issue represents the
midpoint of calendar year 2012.
This time of year is significant for
small-field flying on several fronts.
We are well established in the warmweather
flying
season. Second—and
foremost for yours
truly—it is time for
the annual SMALL
gathering near Little
Rock, Arkansas.
SMALL started
more than 20 years
ago and has been a
favorite of people
who like small flying
things that employ
nearly any imaginable
power source. The
name of the game is
fun and the people
who attend take that
seriously. I don’t think there is such a
thing as too much fun, but SMALL
pushes the envelope.
SMALL 2012 is set for May 31
through June 3. As has been the case for
the past several years, the event will be
hosted by the Fraternal Association of
Radio Control Modelers (F.A.R.M.). The
F.A.R.M.’s field is a nice one. It’s located
in Wrightsville, Arkansas, a suburb of
Little Rock, and is not far from the Little
Rock airport. This year’s CD is Bobby
Moran. See the “Sources” listing for
contact information. I hope to see you
there.
Pat Tritle’s New Offerings
SMALL would not be the same
without Pat Tritle and his vehicle of nice,
small-field models—especially when he
brings new additions to his fleet.
This year will be no exception. Pat
has completed two new offerings in his
kit lineup. The first is a 53-inch span
Luscombe Silvaire. With a flying weight
of 13.5 ounces, he has delivered another
larger model that is well-suited for flying
in small venues.
Power is an E-flite 370 brushless
outrunner motor that turns a 9 x 5
propeller. A two-cell 1320 mAh LiPo
battery drives the motor and electronics.
Controls include ailerons, rudder,
elevator, and throttle.
Pat reports that the Luscombe is a
great flyer that slows down nicely to
scalelike flying speeds. He notes that the
model also performs Scale Aerobatics
and has excellent ground handling.
Along with the Luscombe, Pat has
released a kit for the Grumman Ag-Cat
crop duster biplane. This model has a
slightly smaller span than the Luscombe,
with the top wing slightly more than 42
inches.
The Ag-Cat has a 20-ounce flying
weight, which includes a 2100 mAh
two-cell battery pack driving a Suppo
2212 outrunner brushless motor with
a GWS 10 x 6 direct-drive propeller.
Controls include ailerons, rudder,
elevator, and throttle. The kit includes the
vacuum-formed radial engine you see in
the photos.
Its flying qualities are reported to be
smooth and docile with positive, but not
twitchy, controls. The slow landing speed
makes touch-and-gos fun.
Great offerings, Pat. I am looking
forward to seeing both models at
SMALL 2012. See the “Sources” listing
for Pat’s contact information.
Spektrum AR6400 Series Receivers
In my February column, I discussed the
use of the Spektrum AR6400 receiver
for our smaller, outdoor small-field
models. My intent was to make sure
we considered that receiver not only
for indoor models, but also for  ying
outdoors on a calm day.
Reader Mark Miller sent a note
reminding me that there is a version of
the receiver that is suited for smaller
outdoor models: the AR6400LBL. This
receiver has a built-in brushless ESC
and is set up for two-cell operation as
opposed to the single-cell AR6400.
Mark is correct to bring up this receiver,
because it is ideal for a range of small-
 eld models.
Rubber-powered FF designs, as well
as the smaller 1/4A and 1/2A enginepowered
models, are perfect candidates.
Mark has two small- eld models built
speci cally for the AR6400LBL receiver
system. In the photos you can see his
converted Guillow’s Lancer and a
scratch-built 24-inch Viking. The latter
is a vintage-power model design.
Both are great models for the
Spektrum AR6400LBL receiver and a
small brushless motor. Thanks, Mark,
for the reminder that a full range of
Spektrum AR6400 receivers is available
for our small- eld needs.
Ron Sims’ X-Ray Vision
In case you don’t remember the name,
Ron has shared several models he crafted
from some of the small RTF aircraft
available on the market. You may recall
his Hughes Racer that he built from a
ParkZone Sukhoi, and the P-39 that he
found hidden inside a ParkZone P-51.
I view Ron as sculptor of foam who
sees different airplanes hidden inside
commercially developed products. This
time he found a concept airplane called
the Raptor A.S. inside the E- ite Beast.
The Beast is based on the Pitts Model 12
and the Raptor is a monoplane version
of the Pitts Model 12. The full-scale
Beast and Pitts Model 12 are built by Jim
Kimball Enterprises located in Zellwood,
Florida.
Ron used a ParkZone Sukhoi wing for
this conversion. He reworked the Beast’s
fuselage and cockpit to come up with the
Raptor. Ron added some nice detail in
the cockpit area to help give his  nished
Raptor a  ne look. Ron says the model
 ies well. Great work, as usual, Mr. Sims.
New from Park Scale Models
As the name suggests, Park Scale
Models (PSM) has been producing a
series of balsa-based kits for models
intended for  ying in smaller spaces.
With the growing popularity of the
smaller RTF models that use Spektrum
micro gear, the man behind PSM, Zeke
Brubaker, decided to introduce a new
line of models using that gear.
The  rst model in the line is the
Monocoupe 90a. I had the opportunity
to build a beta kit of this airplane and
can report that the 19.25-inch span
aircraft is a keeper. It is built from lasercut
1/32-inch balsa parts and goes together
quickly.
One feature of the new line is a slideout
equipment tray similar to the one
I developed for my converted Comet
25-inch Stinson SR-7. Zeke enhanced
the concept and it works great in the
Monocoupe. I have included a photo of
the model I built from the kit.
I used ink-jet-printed tissue to  nish
the Monocoupe. Its motor is a ParkZone
Micro P-51 unit and the electronics are
supplied by an AR6400L receiver brick.
With a 160 mAh LiPo cell onboard, the
 ying weight is 42 grams.
The Monocoupe’s  ying performance
is great, with plenty of throttle overhead
for flying in a little wind. The model will
fly slowly or can be punched if that is
your desire. See the “Sources” listing for
contact information.
The Man Who Kicks Rocks
I’m referring to my friend and regular
contributor, John Krouse. Just when you
might think he has found all of the gems
under the rocks in the field, he turns up
another one.
In this case, it is a modest-performance
RTF FF Catapult Glider, called the
Airglider 40, from High Quality Design.
The model has carbon-fiber outlines
covered with a lightweight fabric. It’s
durable, but slightly on the heavy side if
gliding duration is your goal.
Not unlike Ron Sims, John is a
modeler who can see the gem of another
airplane lurking inside a stock RTF
model. You may recall that John has
shared with us several models where he
uses only throttle control. That method
of control is perfect for the Airglider 40.
Install a motor on the nose and a
micro receiver for throttle control in
the ballast box, and you have a durable
climb-and-glide model with no building
required.
To power the Airglider, John used
a ParkZone Micro P-51 motor and
gearbox. To provide throttle control, he
added a Plantraco 900 MHz receiver,
along with a 130 mAh LiPo cell.
Glue two cardstock manual trim tabs
to the stabilizer and the result is a 16-
inch span model that will climb with
authority, followed by nice cruising
glides. You hit the throttle and do it
again until your battery runs out, or you
get tired. Not bad, John.
This is a wrap for now. I hope your
flying season is going well. Why not
share a few photos for us to enjoy? My
contact information is in the “Sources”
listing.
SOURCES:
SMALL 2012
Bobby Moran
[email protected]
Pat’s Custom Models
(505) 296-4511
www.patscustom-models.com
Zeke’s Park Scale Models
[email protected]
www.parkscalemodels.com/shop
Paul Bradley
10201 Scarletoak Dr.
Independence KY 41051
[email protected]
www.parmodels.com