Free Flight: Old-Timer
MANY of us can remember when the mention of "dope" didn't raise any eyebrows. Maybe a held nose by the knowing and unappreciative-but no bad connotations. Today, judging from some of the inquiries I receive, modelers aren't so well-versed on this traditional aircraft finish. In fact, some newcomers to Old-Timer activity have only experienced iron-on plastic coverings! These modern one-application finishes certainly fill a need, but somehow just don't look right on an Old-Timer. Tissue or fabric covering finished with aircraft dope is the "proper" thing.
Free Flight: Old-Timer
NEW OLD-TIMERS: By name and definition, Old-Timer enthusiasts are not concerned with advancing the state of the art but rather are content in savoring the flavor of Free Flight as it started. This observation is further supported by the lack of popularity of the SAM special event entitled Old Ruler, which permits the builder to design a new model under the 1941 rules to be flown, in this special event, in the spirit of Old-Timer Free Flight. Today, we all tend to think in terms of established lists of familiar designs which have diminished down to a relatively few good-performing models. We tend to forget that, just as today in modern Free Flight, there are those curious modelers that rarely build from published plans or kits who must design their own. For that matter, where did all those well-established models come from? Obviously, they were the emerging victors of the contest circuit or the result of a fortunate encounter with a strong thermal. For all the surviving designs, there had to be a multitude of designs-good, bad or indifferent-that were never noticed by the right people.
Free Flight: Old-Timer
WHY? Some time ago, after a prolonged period of futile engine-cranking, spurred on by an occasional single firing, I sat back on my heels and asked myself: "Why am I doing this? Why Old-Timers? I have a shop full of models of virtually all other categories." I vividly recall my first glow plug: an Arden ordered by mail, along with one pint of strong-smelling glow fuel which necessitated shipment by rail-a process requiring nearly a month. (The nearest hobby shop was 40 miles away, and I was lucky to get there twice a year.) After installing the plug and fueling up, I was nearly afraid to hook up the battery-fearing the engine would burst into life on its own. All that happened was that the fuel tank dissolved!
Free Flight: Old-Timer
BALSA. Time was when I built a new model, I simply went to the hobby shop and filled my shopping list with the needed wood sizes right out of the rack. Of course, balsa was better (lighter) then, as only the better grades were imported. Time went on, and I began to notice louder "clunks" when I put my model on the scales at a contest. They also went up more slowly and came down more quickly than some of my earlier efforts. It began to dawn on me that wood selection was an important part of model building. I guess I should have suspected something when longeron sizes for a Miss America dropped from 3/8-in. sq. to 1/4-in. sq. on later plans to allow for stronger (but heavier) wood.
Covering with Silk
Silk is the original high-strength covering material, and it is still cherished by modelers who have learned the few simple techniques for producing the desired results. Following the author's tips will almost guarantee success on your first try.
