Radio Control Giants
ONE OF THE MORE exacting tasks facing a Scale builder comes when the aircraft is almost completed. The model has been covered and painted or has a smooth plastic covering in place with its basic color scheme. Now's the time to add the appropriate markings that identify the airplane as a miniature of a specific prototype. There are four primary techniques that may be used to add scale markings. They include the old standbys: decals, paint, and covering film cutouts. The fourth marking method uses the relatively new dry rub-on markings. Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each marking type.
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."
Radio Control: Giants
IT WORKS BOTH WAYS! While most of us Giant Scalers are interested in going from large to small, there are many aircraft manufacturers who swear by going from small to large. Take, for instance, the folks at Lockheed. About 20 years ago they wanted to investigate whether their C-130 Hercules could be redesigned as flying boat. What did they do? They had their design produced as a large-sized RC model. Where computers and wind tunnels couldn't provide the necessary operational data, their big model could and did. The model information thus generated helped dissuade them from building a big, wet Hercules.
Radio Control: Giants
BUILDING SEASON is in full swing-at least where winter grips the outdoors. I assume that your new Giant Scale project is well underway. If it isn't, I have a suggestion: Jerry Bates (102 Glenwood St., Mobile AL 36606) has drawn a set of plans for the Curtiss P-36/Hawk 75 in 1:5.5 scale that will knock your socks off. The meticulously drafted plans produce an 82-inch-span Giant that forms the basis for a host of prototypes. The plan set has five pages, one of which is a pattern sheet. The US Air Corps flew three versions of the P-36, and the basic airframe was used by France, Britain (Mohawk), Finland, Thailand, Norway, and several South American countries.
Radio Control: Giants
WHAT A QUANDARY! If you've ever attended a gathering of Giant Scale enthusiasts, you must have noticed that most of the RC pilots are-to be candid about it-mature. To be more specific, Giant Scalers are, for the most part, rather old compared to the usual run of RCers. They're usually rather well-to-do, because their beautiful Scale models represent a substantial investment of both time and money. If you consider the cost of the engine, the radio with its dual airborne batteries and hefty servos, the expensive kit and accessories, a $1,000-plus Giant Scale model airplane is at the low end of the investment scale. So, how can I recommend that the beginning modeler start out with a big aircraft? Assuming that the neophyte wants to build and fly RC models and has disabused himself or herself of the "Flying Fortress Syndrome" (you'd be surprised at how many folks envision a Boeing B-17 four-engined bomber as their first RC model!) there are valid reasons to begin with a larger-than-usual model airplane.
