Radio Control: Scale
VACUUM FORMING Plastic Parts: While the Mattel Vacu-Form is useful for producing small plastic parts, their size is limited to approximately a 3-in. length. Larger parts, such as a canopy, require an apparatus of greater dimensions and an unlimited source of vacuum. In the past, anyone wishing to mold larger pieces had to construct a vacuum frame from scratch materials. A kit of prefabricated parts for such a frame is now available, which will vacuum mold 8 1/2 × 17" plastic sheets of various materials. The kit consists of wood and metal parts to build a vacuum box with a perforated aluminum sheet top, and the frame needed to tightly grip the edges of the plastic. A three- or four-hour assembly job results in a ruggedly structured tool to vacuum form parts as large as 6 × 12 × 3" high. Included are detailed instructions for assembly as well as the forming process, with many hints on materials and handling.
Radio Control: Scale
WE RECENTLY received a letter indicating that someone is trying to breathe new life into the AMA Precision Scale event. This from Larry D'Attilio, contest director for the Milwaukee Flying Electrons Seventh Annual Pattern-Scale Contest. In addition to his duties as CD, Larry is highly qualified to speak on the subject of RC Scale, as he is a top grade scale modeler. The first portion of his letter is an announcement of the coming contest. Following that are some probing questions, with enlightening answers, concerning our hobby and sport, from the view-point of a contest oriented person. "The Milwaukee Flying Electrons, one of America's largest R/C clubs is hosting its Seventh Annual Pattern-Scale Contest on August 19 and 20, 1978 in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin (a suburb of Milwaukee).
Radio Control: Scale
INFORMATION SOURCES: The book "Veteran and Vintage Aircraft" by Leslie Hunt (The Garnstone Press Limited, 59 Brompton Road, London SW3 1DS) contains a listing of the world's aeronautical museums and collections of civil and military, as well as individual display and privately owned aircraft. The era covered includes the two World Wars and the period between. Nine thousand fascinating and rare machines are described and listed according to location with a cross index to plane names. The book contains a list of useful addresses and the locations of the world's major aviation collections, a large percentage of which are here in the U.S. Knowing where to gather information on the plane of your choice is a long step in the direction of accurate documentation and construction.
Radio Control: Scale
GLOW HEAT for Older Engines: The Ross twin .60 engines were always a favorite of scale modelers because they were easily fitted into the cowl of any plane that used a flat four- or six-cylinder engine. The appearance of two cylinders through the open cowl front offered very desirable scale authenticity. The Ross carburetor was good for its day, but modern carbs afford a much greater reliability at idle. The tendency for one glow plug to cool off and quite while idling was always a possibility and the firing cylinder could not overcome the drag of the dead piston and rod while maintaining level flight in a heavy ship. The addition of airborne batteries for supplying glow heat meant adding more weight but was good insurance against an unwanted landing with only half an engine.
Nats RC: Scale
THE EXPECTED large entry at the California Nats did not materialize. Some 48 planes were judged in Sport Scale, with only 10 in the AMA Scale class. The quality however, was generally better than any previous Nats, with individual standout examples of the very best. The emphasis on high quality was especially noticeable in AMA Scale, where a place on the team to represent the U.S. next year in England was at stake. The first three places at the Nats will constitute our team. Officiating was capably administered by Monty and Patricia Groves.
