Radio Control: Giants
THE LOCKHEED VEGA first flew in July 1927. At that time, it was powered by a 220hp J-5 engine, carried five passengers, cruised at 118 mph, and topped out at 138 mph. Later versions were equipped with more powerful engines (up to 450 hp) and cruised at 180 mph. In its day, it was the fastest transport aircraft available. The Vega was designed by Jack Northrop. Its fuselage was molded in a concrete tub in two halves. The monocoque structure was joined over spruce formers and longerons. The pilot sat up front in his own compartment, just forward of the wing's leading edge. Passengers were treated to leather seats in a pigskin-lined interior. Early versions didn't have engine cowlings; later versions did.
Radio Control: Giants
THE MAN WHO SAYS "I'll give you a dollar for every Giant Scale model that comes out nose heavy if you'll give me a nickel for every one that comes out tail heavy" would make a fortune. Despite the fact that the engines in our models are proportionately heavier than those in the little ones, there's much battery pack shifting and firewall tire weight bolting to get the CG in the desired range for our big RC models. Many solid brass prop spinners are sold for the express purpose of adding nose weight to Giant Scale models.
Radio Control: Giants
"RESEARCH" IS THE MAGIC word for this month's column. Practically every Giant Scale modeler has a "dream model" that he or she wants to build and fly. Modelers are often frustrated by a lack of appropriate drawings. After an exhaustive search for plans in model magazine ads and writing to the experts who might know of appropriate drawings, modelers end up against a wall. Given a burning desire to produce a scale model of an obscure prototype, the only alternative is to design it yourself. That decision will lead you into the wilds of research where nothing is as it seems!
Radio Control: Giants
YOU MUST ADMIT that building and flying Giant Scale models can run into money. There are, however, tricks of the trade that can keep the cost of a gorgeous model within limits. While the price of big-ticket items such as the radio, the engine, and maybe a set of retracts can't be avoided, there are some downright inexpensive items that can save you a buck or two. I'll start with the covering applied to wing foam cores. Sheet balsa or 1/64 plywood are the preferred materials. Coated poster board, however, is much cheaper, and it's even available in discount drug stores. Used shiny side out, it accepts paint well and adds considerable strength to wing cores. It does take a gentle hand and very fine sandpaper to thin it at trailing edges, but the usual glues used for balsa and plywood work just fine with poster board. It is a tad heavy, but not onerously so.
Radio Control: Giants
PAUL D. CRABTREE OF NORMAN, Oklahoma is some kind of Giant Scale modeler. When he received a set of Nick Ziroli's 1/5-scale drawings for the North American AT-6 as a 1987 Christmas present, he started on a mission to duplicate the Advanced Trainer that he'd flown for Uncle Sam. But he wasn't satisfied with just the externals; he also wanted to model the 6's internal scale details. And he did-to perfection! It took a massive research effort. Fortunately, he'd saved the AT-6 flight manuals that he'd acquired back in WW II. He also purchased several history books on the North American trainer, as well as its maintenance and erection "tech orders."
