Radio Control: Giant Scale
TEMPUS FIDGETS. My, how time flies when you're having fun! This issue marks the start of my fifth year writing this column. I wasn't in on the very beginning of the Big Bird movement, but I've certainly been in the thick of it during the explosive growth and development of the last few years. I've been modeling for over 50 years now, and nothing in all that time can compare to this thing we call Giant Scale. And, I'm not the only long-time modeler who feels that way. Time and time again I run into people who, even though they had gotten bored and given up on modeling, are bitten by the Big Bird Bug and bound back boisterously.
Radio Control: Giant Scale
NEW QUADRAS? Yes, there are some new things from Quadra, and some of them may be surprising. First, all new Quadras coming out of the factory are now equipped with Quadra's version of the spring starter that has become so popular in the last year. I still consider this starter to be the single most useful accessory ever developed for Giant Scale engines. I don't know all the details, but as I understand it, Quadra will install the starter on all new engines being manufactured; however, they will not provide starters for older engines. PK Products (P.O. Box 6226, Hayward, CA 94540) is the source of the H&K SuperStarter for earlier Quadras, and several other engines.
Radio Control: Giant Scale
IMAA'S FOURTH ANNUAL. The International Miniature Aircraft Association's Fourth Annual Fun Fly Festival is moving to the West Coast this year. Location is the Sepulveda Basin in Los Angeles, and the dates are Thursday August 16 through Sunday August 19. While Giant Scalers in the Midwest, and especially in the East, may be disappointed at the location, it is only fair to give the Western big-birders a chance.
Radio Control: Giant Scale
TIMELY NEWS. Last year, Ray Hinds wrote to tell me about the Giant Scale Fly-in his group was planning for some time in June. He got the info to me in time to get a note into my column. Then it rained giant-sized cats and dogs on their date, and they had to reschedule. They set a new date in October, and Ray got that dope to me in time to get that into the column. Now Ray has followed up with pictures of the event and the schedule for this year. According to Ray's note, they had 42 participants from five states, and 55 aircraft. That's a pretty good turnout for a first-time affair. The Fly-in was at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, with enough runway and sky room for four flight lines-and to make up for the busted June date, the weather was warm and sunny.
Radio Control: Giant Scale
BIIIG FOKKER FOLLOW-UP. In my August 1983 column, I had a picture of Keith Davis' 1/3-scale Fokker DR-1. John Dyal, who sent the original information, recently sent me some photos of the Triplane's first flights. Unfortunately, the pictures are not usable for the magazine, but test pilot Ken Bryant's comments are interesting. He says, "It flies the same as full-sized real ones I've read about: short takeoff run must be directly into the wind, landings cannot be crosswind, ailerons are very effective, and rudder is extremely effective." Keith is to be congratulated on the successful completion of an ambitious project.
