Radio Control: Scale
A FUNNY THING happened at the contest the other day! It seems Stand-off Scale is attracting many types of aircraft-which is good. We want all flying machines to be able to compete, and that's what it's all about! Now, at a contest this summer a serious modeler asked if he could enter a helicopter in Stand-off Scale. He, or anyone else, should not be denied to enter anything, be it a helicopter or an ornithopter (that's a wing-flapper, son!) and everything in between. The problem is that our rules, as they stand, are more or less for a conventional-type aircraft. I think we need to expand on Stand-off, and on AMA Scale rules, to somehow allow the more or less unorthodox aircraft, maybe, a set of side rules, so to speak. Helicopters can't and don't, as a rule, loop or roll. I know it's been done by Mike Bosh of Germany. I saw it performed at last years Nats, but generally speaking, full-size 'copters don't and can't do maneuvers like these. Here, also, is a point to bring up on standard fixed-wing aircraft; some reasonable proof should be given for maneuvers performed by the full-size aircraft. I'm sure a C-47 didn't do rolls or a J-3 Cub do out-side loops-but back to the unorthodox aircraft.
Radio Control: Scale
THIS MONTH I want to talk about a subject I have had requests and questions about for some time. I don't remember seeing too much written about flaps, and how to install and operate them properly. There have been some misgivings and doubts about the proper use of flaps. Have no fear, there is no mystery or secrets about flaps. You must understand them and use them as intended, just the same as ailerons or elevator. I can remember way back when, before ailerons, in the old Smog Hog days, when flaps were thought to be a no-no on an RC model. Flaps fall into three categories. First, there are full flaps, where a portion of the trailing edge section, say about 1/3, is hinged and commonly used on US WW II airplanes, and most light planes. This is where only the lower section of the trailing edge is hinged; the upper part of the flap area is stationary. The British use the split flap on the Spitfires, Hurricanes, and others.
Radio Control: Scale
THERE SEEMS to be something about a war bird that stirs the imagination. This is true regardless of what insignia it carries, be it 1918 or 1961. The war birds were built for a specified purpose-to oppose their adversary and hopefully out-fly, out-bomb and out-guess the opponent. Rhinebeck, the Confederate Air Force, and the many other air shows around the world demonstrate this love for and curiosity about the fighting air machine. The point I am aiming at is first-hand inspection of the detail color and markings of these past birds. You WW II buffs have missed the great opportunity of a life time, if you haven't seen the Confederate Air Force fly and be able to inspect and even touch these wonderful birds. I'm sure many an inspired scale modeler has seen a WW I or WW II airplane, and marched home to build his favorite war bird. I'm sure this is the case with many of the manufacturers of Scale and Stand-off Scale, because we have such a fine selection of these subjects.
Radio Control: Scale
The contest season is in full swing by now, and according to the news letters and AMA competition News Letter there are plenty scale contests to attend-mostly Stand-off Scale. I should say solely Stand-off Scale! I would like to say a word on the passing of American Aircraft Modeler magazine. The scale enthusiast owes a lot to AAM through the years as they have done a lot in presenting good scale coverage with some excellent three-views and hard-to-come-by color drawings and pictures, so hang on to all those past AAM magazines as I'm sure many will become collectors items in the future. Talking with scale people around the Midwest this winter indicates a lot of new scale jobs being built. Glad to hear it. In the previous column I mentioned the FR-1 Fireball and how to build a round or egg-shaped fuse, so will give a run down on how I've found the easiest way to do this. First, to maintain a true and straight fuse I use the keel method.
