Control Line: Combat
Charlie Johnson
3716 Ingraham St. San Diego, CA 92109
I just returned from a month-long vacation in South Africa that included a side trip to visit Dave Clarkson in England. You might wonder why I'd leave mild San Diego weather during the season when tourists generally come here. Keep in mind South Africa is south of the equator — it was summertime down there. In my opinion, 80° is better than 65°. Unfortunately, my week-long stay in Britain coincided with the worst weather they'd had in four years: snow and freezing temperatures. The warm-weather plan wasn't working well, but it was good to meet up with Dave Clarkson, whom many of you know from his racing and writing exploits.
Engines From Russia (Dave Clarkson)
Dave runs a company known as Engines From Russia. He is the worldwide distributor for STELS combat engines, CYCLON speed and team-race engines, and many other Soviet-produced items.
- Engines From Russia
12 Heathland Terrace, Stockport, Cheshire, England SK3 8DU
For very technical details on these engines you can read past AeroModeler coverage or the MACA Newsletter; you may have seen Dave Clarkson's article "Russian Toys Fly Well."
STELS vs. Nelson .15
The STELS has a weight advantage: about 3.5 ounces versus 4.7 ounces for a titanium short-shaft Nelson .15. The Nelson probably makes more power, but the STELS is the better choice if you're building a Belaiev model because you don't have to notch the leading edge spar to get the engine back for balance. Photos can be misleading — the Soviet engine often looks more like an .09 than a .15.
Both engines cost around $200. You'll have to make your own muffler.
Soviet Engine Availability and Market Conditions
The state of the Soviet economy and general instability make obtaining engines unpredictable. There are a number of engine manufacturers in the USSR, including a couple in Leningrad. It was an eye-opener learning what business people have to go through to get something out of the Soviets.
Currency quirks to be aware of:
- Commercial market: 1 USD ≈ 2 rubles
- Tourists: 1 USD ≈ 6 rubles
- Black market: 1 USD ≈ 15–20 rubles
If someone in Leningrad could buy engines cheaply (and avoid the KGB), they could potentially resell them in the West for hard currency. Let's hope someone has success acquiring these neat engines.
Engine Mounts and Connecting Rods (Dave Cam)
For engine mounts and rods, check out the items Dave Cam makes. The rod shown is double-bushed for a Fox (bushings both ends), but Dave can make a special rod for any engine. Mounts feature about an inch of adjustability and extra offset to clear the center block if the engine is moved way back (as on the Arrowplane).
- Dave Cam
7921 Alhambra No. 4, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 Phone: 714-841-4216
Mounts are slotted for adjustability and offset so the engine can be moved back into the wing. Mounts are $15 a set and can be drilled and tapped for any engine. Using his adjustable jig, Dave can make rods for special applications.
South African Contacts
One of the photos features South African fliers Peter Lott and Conrad Cloete. They could use help obtaining decent engines.
- Peter Lott
P.O. Box 1174, Halfway House 1685, Republic of South Africa
- Conrad Cloete
13 Tinschout Crescent S.E. 3, Vanderbijl Park 1900, Republic of South Africa
If you have good combat engines you're not using and would like to part with them at a reasonable price, consider contacting these fliers.
80 mph Combat and Propellers
80 mph Combat continues to grow. The last Southern California meet drew 20 entries. Most people are using Fast Combat models with a suction restrictor.
Regarding props:
- A 10-4 prop can be efficient, but many available 10-4s began life as 11-4s and are not ideal for our purposes.
- Fiberglass props in the 9-4 range (such as those by Al Kelly) should allow engines to run without a venturi restrictor, producing more power while staying under the 80 mph limit.
Belaiev Model Notes and Tips
Dave points out several characteristics of Soviet designs that affect trimming:
- Soviet models use very little line rake and tip weight.
- Models tend to fly wing-high outboard, either upright or inverted. If your model shows that tendency, quickly add some tip weight.
- Thanks to Dan Rutherford's fine article on the Belaiev model, many fliers are trying the design; be mindful of these trimming quirks.
Doc Passon and House Fire
Some of you who ordered from Doc Passon (Doc's Generic Kits) may not have heard that Doc's house burned down. Luckily the family made it out, but they suffered broken bones when jumping from the second floor. I understand Doc is still in the hospital recovering from burns. I haven't talked to him since I've been back, but I hope my letters are getting through. Besides the loss of personal possessions, hundreds of engines and models were lost in the fire.
Upcoming Events
There was good news about the Vacaville, California site for the next FAI Team Trials — a wonderful boost for West Coast flying. For out-of-staters, there will be the $1,000 Half-A meet the following weekend at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in Los Angeles. It could be a great modeling vacation.
Final Notes
- For detailed technical information, consult past AeroModeler issues and the MACA Newsletter.
- If you need engine mounts or rods, contact Dave Cam.
- If you can help international fliers (Peter Lott, Conrad Cloete) with spare engines, consider reaching out.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
