Radio Control: Giants
EVERY ONCE in a while you come up smelling like a rose! That's how it was, about a month ago. Readers of this column will recall that I've had the "hots" for the Bell Airacuda-particularly the tricycle-gear version of the pre-WW II twin-engined pusher "fighter." Lots of you kind folks provided a wealth of documentation on the airplane. The local file was busting its seams, but I was totally unprepared for the contribution by Bob Winchell! It seems that Bob was so far ahead of me in the design department that I was left in the dust! Not only had he drawn construction plans for the Airacuda, but he did it in Giant Scale.
Radio Control: Giants
In the January 1989 Model Aviation this column featured the outstanding design work of Charles Fowler of Annapolis, Maryland. Charles devised a clever system for operating Fowler flaps on Scale model aircraft. The mechanism was designed to be used on a Giant Scale Lockheed P-38. Although Charles is not related to the Fowler who invented the flap system for full-sized aircraft. Charles solved the problems associated with applying them to models. Fowler flaps are particularly effective - in addition to slowing an aircraft on its landing approach, they provide an increased wing area. They provide additional lift as well as drag for lowered angles of up to 40°. They are more aerodynamically efficient than simple or split flaps.
Radio Control: Giants
There are literally thousands of Giant Scale modelers who are never recognized. Their names don't appear on the rolls of Top Gun, the Masters, or as winners of regional or national contests, yet their skill in designing, building, and flying Giants equals that of the great names that appear in the model airplane magazines. Their hobby satisfaction comes from Giant Scale fly-ins and rallies. Their Special Interest Group (SIG) is the International Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAA) - an organization whose fundamental tenet is to bring Giant Scale modelers together for the fun and camaraderie that participating in the hobby provides.
Radio Control: Giants
Most modelers are faced with major model reconstruction from time to time because it's common (unfortunately) for RC fliers to be afflicted with the well-known "pilot's disease"- running a model into the ground too hard. The "disease" is often the result of the infamous RC maneuver The Figure Nine. Depending on the construction skills of the "victim," the glue supply, and the state of the wreckage, the rekitted model may or may not be a subject for rebuilding. My old friend "Mr. Gee Bee," Henry Haffke, surprised me when he wrote about his current rehabilitation project. Henry built an RC model of the Ryan PT-20 (the military trainer version of the Menasco-powered Ryan STA) 26 years ago, and he flew it with success in many contests.
Radio Control: Giants
ALTHOUGH I DON'T like to admit it, I knew little about twin-Electric-powered RC airplanes until recently-thanks to a letter from Tyler West of Hadley MA, I got smart real fast. He read that I intended to electrically power my Giant Scale Bell Airacuda, and there is a host of Giant Scale model builders who will be "going Electric:" "As an Electric modeler, I'm delighted to see that you plan to power your next Giant project with an Electric power system. While the largest plane I've built has only been a 7.5-lb. Sport Aerobatic ship, I have seen many Giant Scale planes fly at various Electric meets. I would like to offer some basic information about large Electrics and twins because I'd like for everybody who tries Electric to be successful.
