RC Giant Scale at Toledo '82
THIS MAKES the third year in a row that I have reported on Giant Scale interests at the annual Weak Signals Radio Control Exposition. It is a fantastic panorama, from the clown-without-greasepaint in one corner, with his Jim Walkerlike glider stunts, to the fabulous, frantic, frenetic frenzy of the Swap Shop in the far corner of the annex building. There is something for everyone, with the only overriding theme being Radio Control-and even that slips a bit from time to time.
Radio Control: Giant Scale
IT'S PLAN REVIEW TIME. This month I'm going to look at a couple of plans by Jerry Behrens. The first is an interesting (although non-Scale) design called the JB Special Convertaplane. This is a Quadra-powered aircraft that can be built and flown as a monoplane or a biplane, or both. (No, Mortimer-not at the same time!) The biplane version is very reminiscent of the Aeromaster, and in the flying instructions Jerry says that it flies much like one. The monoplane version does away with the top wing and the cabane struts and substitutes a larger surface for the lower wing. You can, of course, set it up permanently in either configuration. The overall length is 69.5 in., the monoplane span is 84 in., biplane span 78 in. upper and 72 in. lower, and the weight is approximately 18 lb.
Big Bangers for Big Birds
THIS INSTALLMENT of Big Bangers is notable for several reasons. First, three of the test runs were made on a day almost exactly one year after the first run that started this series. The weather, understandably, was very similar to what we had that first time around; cold and cloudy, but no rain. The atmosphere at the club flying field was quite different, however. Last year we couldn't take a deep breath without someone asking either, "What are you doing?" or "Are those model engines?" This time, everyone knew what we were doing, and about the only comment we heard was, "I didn't know there were so many Giant Scale engines."
Radio Control: Giant Scale
ISOLATED SERVO BATTERIES. Anyone getting into Giant Scale soon learns of the need for heavy duty servos that have the power to move large control surfaces. You never get anything for nothing, and that power gets to the servo in the form of high current flow from the battery. This in turn leads to the need for batteries with higher capacity. The 500mAh battery that can power the servos in a "standard" RC model for several flights might not make it through the first flight on a Giant Scale aircraft. Big 1200mAh (1.2Ah) batteries are what you usually see in the big birds, and the wise modeler keeps a close eye on their condition.
Why Be Ugly
IT WASN'T long ago that arguments for and against the use of mufflers were heard throughout the land. Now, with flying sites getting scarcer, noise pollution legislation looming, and more and more evidence of hearing damage, mufflers are an accepted part of our sport. For most sport or pattern fliers, the usual muffler or tuned pipe is not objectionable, but if you want to build and fly scale or scale-like airplanes, they're like warts on a Grecian Urn. And I'm referring now to all of us Sunday Scale Fliers, not just the allout competition scale buffs. At worst, we want to have the muffler hidden under the cowl; at best, an exhaust system with functional, scale outlets. Several mufflers are available that can even fit the "best" category for some types and sizes of scale subjects, but the chances are that mounting a stock muffler to your latest dream ship results in another wart. One solution is to custom-make a muffler similar to those in the accompanying photographs.
