Free Flight: Old-Timers
A COUPLE OF MODELERS recently asked me for help in locating an Old-Timer plan. When I suggested that John Pond surely must have the one they were seeking, I was surprised to find they were not aware of his plans service. I then realized that I have not given John's address for a few years, and I shouldn't assume that everyone has been with me since the flood receded. Without a doubt, the most comprehensive collection of Old-Timer plans is that of John Pond's Old Time Plan Service, P.O. Box 90310, San Jose CA 95109-3310; Tel.: (408) 292-3382. (The telephone is answered from 10-3 on Tuesdays and Fridays only.)
Free Flight: Old-Timers
THIS COLUMN and the next several will primarily be concerned with gas engines, especially ignition engines used in Old-Timer aircraft. I will, however, continue to provide space for rubber, Electrics, and other topics. Walt Leonhardt of Lawrence, Massachusetts wrote recently, saying he is flying free flight with electric power "mainly because here in the East, noise is a real problem." He sent a photo of a Frank Ehling design, the G.E. Cabinette from June 1942 Model Airplane News. He flies this with a HiLine Imp motor and three cells. Walt limits motor run by the timed-charge method, but has also used an old Austin timer to cut the current in other models.
Free Flight: Old-Timers
I WRITE THIS shortly before New Year's Day, and my resolution is to do more on engines, in response to your requests. My original assumption was confirmed, however: nearly all who wrote have operated ignition engines in the past, and most want mainly where to get stuff like oil, spark plugs, and ignition components. Well, that's easy: see Joe Klause's Kustom Kraftsmanship ad in this issue, and get his catalog. He has Klotz oil (which I recommend) and all the other stuff you need, including things to suppress the interference that an ignition system column might cause your radio.
Free Flight: Old-Timers
I THINK I have made the point that winding by torque is better than winding rubber by counting turns. So, how to measure torque? When I was flying in competition (I last did that in 1988) I used Bob Wilder's fine torque meters. These are well made and accurate; not cheap, and not always available-sometimes there is a waiting list. An SASE should get you more data from Wilder's Model Machine Works, 2010 Boston, Irving Texas; Tel.: (214) 253-8404.
Free Flight: Old-Timers
THIS TIME I'm going to catch up on a lot of little things I haven't had space for lately. First, I want to deal with a couple of errors that I have made that may be a cause of some confusion. In the July column there is a statement that could be confusing, referring to the 35-inch motor for the Dietrich Convertable, as described in the Peck-Polymers kit instructions. The instructions tell how to make two different motors: A 12-strand motor 22.5 inches long with very little slack, and a 35-inch motor braided to 22.5 inches so there will be no excess slack, despite a longer motor.
