Free Flight: Duration
Harry Murphy 3824 Oakwood Blvd. Anderson, IN 46011
NFFS News
The National Free Flight Society has announced five inductees for 1990 into its Free Flight Hall of Fame. The formal ceremony will be held at the NFFS Symposium banquet during the combined AMA FF Nats and U.S. Outdoor Championships on October 19, 1990, in Vincennes, IN. NFFS President Tony Italiano listed the following inductees:
- Woody Blanchard — Five-time AMA National Champion; produced numerous model designs featured in commercial model magazines and several kitted designs.
- Emmanuel Fillon (France) — Winner of the 1937 Wakefield Cup; active in rubber-powered Free Flight for over 50 years.
- Robert Meuser — Longtime leader in the NFFS; served as editor of the NFFS Digest and as a respected magazine columnist.
- Bud Romak — Champion in both indoor and outdoor rubber events; World F1D Champion in 1976; active in promoting U.S. and international model relations.
- John Worth — Executive Director of the AMA for 25 years; instrumental in establishing and maintaining comprehensive organizational leadership.
NFFS Ten Best Models of the Year
Additional information and three-views will appear in the NFFS Symposium manual (available late summer). The 1990 recipients are:
- F1A (Nordic Towline Glider) — RI-14 by Robert Isaacson
- F1B (Wakefield Rubber) — C-17 by Eugeniusz Cofalik (Poland)
- F1C (Power) — No. 10 by Randy Archer
- Large AMA Power — A/B Motorvator by Robert Dunham II
- Small AMA Power — 1/4 A Matchsticks by Gilbert Morris
- Small Rubber — Unlimited 83 by Guenther Nowak
- Hand-Launched Glider — Zenith by Stan Buddenbohm
- Indoor Rubber Stick — Poly Princess by Stan Chilton
- Special Award — Electric power for FF to Don Hughes
Congratulations to all the contributors.
Winning Indoor Designs
Fred Terzian has announced a new 130-page volume titled Winning Indoor Designs, edited by Jerry Nolin and Ed Knight. It features winning indoor models from 1987–1989, ranging from scale to soap-bubble-covered endurance models and other indoor types. Price: $16 postpaid to NFFS members in good standing; $18 postpaid to nonmembers.
Membership (Nat Comfort)
Nat Comfort is the new NFFS membership chairman and has aggressively grown membership. Send $15 to:
Nat Comfort 12324 Perceval St. Chester, VA 23831
NFFS Model Plans Service
For a list of model plans and full-size plans, contact Bob Klipp:
Bob Klipp 10115 Newbold Dr. St. Louis, MO 63137
Send an SASE to receive a listing and plans.
Marysville Zeek Squadron
Lyman Armstrong sent a photo of Marysville, CA Zeek fliers from the 1950s. Lyman stands in the middle with a Veco 31-powered .57 B/C Zeek, flanked by Wayne Conner (left) and Chester Wicker (right) with a McCoy .19-powered A/B kit Zeek. John Brownlee is in front with a Zeek powered by what appears to be an Atwood .049. The Zeek was a popular Free Flight design in the early glow-powered (Nostalgia Gas) era. I have published six chapters of the Zeek chronicles to date; the seventh and final episode is delayed pending completion of the three-view.
Slip‑It Lubricant
Hank Nystrom, the "Mad Ball Timer King," recommended a product called Slip‑It, a lubricant from Micro Research, Inc. It is useful for plastic gears in Mad Ball and Tomy toy timers and is reportedly used on RC servos. The manufacturer claims Slip‑It penetrates and leaves an invisible, durable, super-slippery two‑micron coating. A quick application fixed a sticking Tomy timer for me.
For information, write: Micro Research, Inc. P.O. Box 2777 Danbury, CT 06813
APC Propellers (Advanced Precision Composites)
APC (Advanced Precision Composites) props from Landing Products (Knights Landing, CA) are showing up on Free Flight sites. Sizes observed include:
- 5.7 x 3 (for 1/4A / 'A')
- 7 x 3, 8 x 4, 9 x 4 (for larger engines)
The company claims to make many diameter/pitch combinations and the props feature scimitar-shaped tips for claimed higher thrust efficiency and sound suppression.
A testimonial from Bob Beecroft (El Toro newsletter) noted improved takeoff and different in‑air engine loading with APC props. Example: a .051 (Cox TD) ran an APC at 22,500 rpm; the model needed retrimming but showed quicker vertical takeoff and a wider altitude envelope.
Purchase notes:
- Nat Comfort sells 1/4A S.T. 7 x 3 props along with Max‑Hog kits and supplies.
- Al's (Fresno) offers a socket-head screw and collar adapter for Cox 1/2A engines (cost about $1.25) to fit APC props whose shaft hole may be oversized.
- See Landing Products' advertising for available sizes and prices.
Al's address: Al's (A/J's Free Flight Service / Max‑Hog dealer) 48440 E. Leisure Fresno, CA 93727
Fresno Model Airplane Co. — Under New Management
Marion Crowder has sold Fresno Model Airplane Co. to Steve Gunther. New address:
Fresno Model Airplane Co. 2512 E. Menlo Fresno, CA 93710
FMAC continues to repro‑recondition vintage rubber endurance models (Miss World's Fair, Flying Cloud Jr., etc.). Steve announces a new Super Snooper kit (Modelcraft's answer to the Korda Cabin), complete with Japanese tissue, wheels, rolled plans, etc. Price: $21.95 plus $2.50 shipping. Send a SASE for a complete brochure.
Balloon Fuel Tanks (Penny Balloon)
Pressurized pen bladder/pacifier fuel systems can be messy and exert high line pressure that challenges pinch‑off timer mechanisms, especially plastic-geared toy timers. Suction systems have tuning drawbacks and may cause engines to quit after launch. Closed crankcase-pressurized systems are reliable but require heavy tanks and lots of tubing, making them impractical for ultralight models.
A lightweight alternative is the "penny balloon" fuel tank. Background and construction notes:
- The balloon tank concept is not new; Jim Walker used it post‑WWII in Fireball CL planes.
- Lee Campbell introduced me to balloon tanks with rocket fittings intended for pacifiers; reed‑valved engines ran smoother on lower line pressure with balloons.
- I fabricated fittings from short lengths of aluminum tubing and about 1/8‑in. rubber auto windshield wiper hose, coating the outside of the balloon tubing with epoxy and inserting it into the rubber hose. Make several at once — they're handy to give away.
Balloon selection and installation:
- Use the smallest balloons available (water‑bomb balloons sold in packs of 50 are economical). Stretch before inflating to reduce eventual line pressure.
- Pull the balloon to about 3/8 in. maximum and tie a knot; trim the knot and seal with a small drop of epoxy. Slip the end over the fitting and cement in place.
- Install the balloon as far forward as possible between the engine and the CG to provide more constant pressure and minimize CG shift as the balloon empties.
Free Flight Model Reward for Return
Marvin R. Mace uses seven-line address stickers that have helped recover many lost models. Contact Marvin for labels:
Marvin R. Mace 107 County Lane Seguin, TX 78155 Phone: (512) 379-0036
If you don't want to order many stickers, paste them on model boxes, tents, lawn chairs, motorcycles, or other frequently misplaced items. I sometimes type a "Finder Please Notify" label directly on tissue or silkspan that becomes part of the model finish. My motto: "Finder Please Notify ... $$ Reward $$."
Walter Drake & Sons can produce custom labels: Walter Drake & Sons 50 Drake Bldg. Colorado Springs, CO 80940
Tell them Marvin sent you.
Newsletter Spotlight
I discontinued regular newsletter spotlights because I've covered the list of newsletters I receive. If your club newsletter isn't reaching me, please send a copy or add my address (above) to your mailing list.
I continue to enjoy "Corky's Corner" in Fresno Model News (edited by Bill Booth of the Fresno Gas Model Club). It provides a human interest viewpoint — details of crashes, cookouts, who is ill or well, and other social notes that are an important part of the hobby. To subscribe to Fresno Model News:
Fresno Model News 4215 E. Clay Fresno, CA 93702 Subscription: $12 for 12 issues
Closing
I enjoy keeping track of what modelers across the country are doing and appreciate the contributions of club newsletters and individual correspondents. Go fix your model and have some fun — "Have a nice transition today."
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
