Control Line Aerobatics
WHEN I STARTED modeling in the late 1940s, we builders didn't think too much about what to paint our airplanes with; it was nitrate-based dope with butyrate dope over it for fuel-proofing. The early brands were Testors, Speed-o-Laq, AeroGloss, and other locally produced or packaged materials. Most brands worked reasonably well as long as you kept the butyrate over the nitrate; they worked well enough so that the process was just "there," working. The advent of many high-performance automotive materials made them the "in" finishes; they were self-leveling, highly fuel-resistant, and beautiful. However, they did not come without potential problems-most were multipart and highly toxic. They required that the user wear protective garments and a special mask with an outside air source.
Stanzel Museum
There's a small farming community just off of Interstate 10 in Southeast Texas. Most of you have probably never heard its name: Schulenburg. For more than 50 years, Schulenberg has been the home and strength to Victor and Joe Stanzel, unique engineers and entrepreneurs. Although some of us know their contributions to aeromodeling, few are aware of the variety of their lives' work. Joe and Victor have passed away, but as a tribute to their spirit, their family established the Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum and the Stanzel Family Foundation. The family hosted the Museum's grand opening this year on March 28, and it is open to the public. It provides a grand tour through the highlights of two interesting lives. Victor Stanzel was fascinated with aviation from childhood. He would often stop plowing on the family farm to watch private airplanes and military aircraft that flew over Schulenburg in the early 1900s.
Control Line: Aerobatics
This will be the last on the Brodak dope finishing projects. It's finally finished. This has been fun, but it consumes considerable time and energy. I wanted to carry this experience through because I really like the Brodak dope, and I highly recommend it. When I last discussed this, I was about to work the final finish with clear dope, ink, and the dry transfers. Every time I go through adding details, I marvel at how much time I put in, and how the details seem to blend away into the overall effect. The application of the clear dope is what I want to discuss. I'd used clear dope to build up the initial substrate, but I didn't know how much to use in the final overcoat application. I was looking for the minimum application that would cover all of the trim, ink, etc., and permit sanding to a flat surface. Then the intent was to recoat with more clear, sand with ultrafine paper, such as 2000 grit, and buff. My experience thus far was that it would take at least two application sets, so that's the way I started.
Control Line: Aerobatics
I haven't written about trimming in a while, so I thought I'd get into a very narrow subject that can seriously affect many other trim adjustments: the vertical center of gravity (CG). When I think CG, I usually focus on the fore-and-aft CG, which does have a big impact on flight characteristics. Having an airplane with the vertical CG not located in line with the leadout exit will prevent you from achieving the usual first step in the trim process; the leveling of the wings. Before I get too far, I'll explain what I'm considering. Your airplane is suspended by the leadouts. If there is a displacement of the vertical CG from the line where the extension of the leadout exit intersects the fuselage, there will be a force created that will pull on the fuselage. That pull will attempt to force the vertical CG into line with the leadouts when the model is flying. The force working on the fuselage naturally affects the wings so that if the displacement is just a little off, the wing cannot be leveled properly.
Control Line: Aerobatics
While I was participating in the annual contest lunch at the Memorial Day Houston contest, I was asked to put more in the column for the up-and-coming flier. In the past, I have run the gamut of topics, from flying to building-many subjects prompted by personal "adventures." My orientation has been to share technologies, sometimes in a series of columns, with the thought that readers could use what applied to them. Meanwhile, they were exposed to other information. Reflecting on that discussion in Houston, I've decided to periodically focus columns on the new fliers to help them get off to a good start. Suggestions for topics are welcome, as are pictures. The best place for beginners to start is to read everything available. It sounds elementary, but there has been an explosion of published information during the last 10-15 years.
