FREE FLIGHT OLD-TIMERS
Bill Baker
1902 Peter Pan, Norman, OK 73072
Here is my latest discovery, of interest to anyone who uses iron-on coverings.
Several paint manufacturers now make water-based acrylic sanding sealer. I am using Behr brand, purchased at Home Depot, and I also found a similar product at Ace Hardware with their house-brand label.
The stuff is milky white in color, dries clear, has no odor, and you clean your brush with water. Sand lightly after the first coat, apply a second, and when dry you will get much-improved adhesion of iron-on coverings including over fiberglassed areas. The wood is now sealed from oil, which can spread rapidly by capillary action wherever it can get to unsealed wood. The cost is about $8–$9 a quart.
Instructional videotape — Japanese tissue
You can now buy an excellent instructional videotape, 117 minutes long, in which Larry Kruse demonstrates three methods of covering models with Japanese tissue. This is a professional-quality tape, and Larry is a superb modeler, many times a Nationals scale winner. Price is $19.95 plus $3 priority mail; phone and fax orders are welcome, Visa and MasterCard accepted.
Robin's View Productions, L.L.C., Box 68, Stockertown, PA 18083; Tel.: (610) 746-0106; Fax: (610) 746-9638. PAL-code copies are available for overseas orders for $2 more plus overseas postage.
SAM Speaks and classifieds
One of the great things about the SAM Speaks newsletter these days is the ads. People who live in places where there are lots of modelers of similar interest and Free Flight activity cannot appreciate how hard it is for those of us who live where no one else shares a similar interest.
Examples from recent ads:
- Larry Davidson — instructional video on the use of Polyspan for $20 plus $3 postage. He also can supply Super Cyclone engines, spark plugs, other ignition supplies, B, Y & O propellers, Texas timers, etc.
Larry Davidson, 1 Salisbury Drive N, East Northport, NY 11731; Tel.: (516) 261-1265.
- SuperCyclone engines — manufactured and repaired by Apollo Motors.
Apollo Motors, 665 Chaparro Road, Covina, CA 91724; Tel.: (818) 332-0023.
- Repair and rebuild service for Brown Juniors — Jack Van Dusen.
Jack Van Dusen, 189 Centenary Lane, Warminster, PA 18974; Tel.: (215) 672-0608.
- P&W partial kits for Old-Timers — available from Aerodyne.
Aerodyne, 1924 E. Edinger, Santa Ana, CA 92705; Tel.: (714) 258-0805.
SAM Speaks will cost you $18 a year in the U.S. and Canada; $30 airmail anywhere else; and is included in your membership in SAM (Society of Antique Modelers).
Larry Clark, Box 528, Lucerne Valley, CA 92356.
Books, reference works and clubs
You have probably seen ads for Anderson's Blue Book of Model Airplane Engine Collector's Listings. This book is of great interest and use to the collector of antique engines or the historian. With the data provided, you can determine approximately where in the production history the engine you have fits, as well as see photos and drawings, metal type, bearings, etc. A unique feature is an approximate dollar value derived from a study of ads in the MECA (Model Engine Collectors Association) Swap Sheet and other sources. It does not have operational instructions or performance data. Cost by Priority Mail is $29.95 plus $4, direct from:
Frank Anderson, 1200 Eagle Trail, Longwood, FL 32750-3002.
He has another series started on the history of model airplanes, in three volumes. Volume I covers 1914–1935; Volume II (1936–1940) will be especially interesting to me. The price of Volume I is $27.95 plus $4 S&H for U.S.; $8 S&H Europe and Canada; $10 Pacific Rim.
I mentioned the MECA Swap Sheet. I recently rejoined the Model Engine Collectors Association after dropping out for a few years (because I was not really a collector). I still am not a collector, but in the first issue I was able to get a 1946 book I have been wanting, and I just missed a couple of out-of-production kits I have been looking for. Members advertise free in the monthly Swap Sheet, and they sell and trade current and antique modeling items. The annual cost is $25.
Membership contact: Bob McClelland, 3007 Travis Street, West Lake, LA 70669.
I mentioned operational instructions and performance data for old engines: Robert Eierman has quality reprints of 29 different antique engine instructions available for a nominal cost. He also has copies of Model Engine Reviews. Arthur G. Suhr (213 pages) gives reprints of model magazine reviews 1935–1955, well worth it for ignition engines or diesel and glow engines. Cost $33 plus $4 P&H. Send another $3 and ask for list.
Modeling Items comes out four times a year with engines, kits and all sorts of modeling items.
Robert Eierman, 504 Las Posas, Ridgecrest, CA 93555; Tel./Fax: (619) 375-5537.
Good grief! This concludes ten years of doing this column. Who would have thunk it possible?
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
