SCALE SPORT
Bill Warner
THOUGHT for the month: He wanted to win at all cost So a coin in the air he did toss. Shall I build Fike or Cub? Ay, there is the rub For his dime thermalled out and was lost!
If I seem to sound a bit commercial this go-round, you can chalk it up to a desire to share what's best in modeling. How many of the people doing really great things can't afford the monthly full-page ad and are, therefore, only known to a few lucky modelers?
Lacey M-10 kit (Peck Polymers)
A beginner's scale model kit being touted is not usually news, as every hobby-kit producer has one. The new Butch Hadland–designed Lacey M-10 kit from Peck Polymers is different. Originally seen as a beginner's Scale subject—due to its slab-sided construction with the no-dihedral constant-chord wing in the best of all positions, perched right on top—the plane became the favorite of competition-minded modelers until the Fike "E" diverted their attention. It's still the best high-performance Peanut for the amount of work involved that I know of, and the new Peck kit has a lot going for it:
- Good design
- Good wood
- Good 3-view and marking documentation
- Affordable: you can get the kit along with their 5-1 winder and a tube of glue for under $10
A few building tips:
- Separate the 1/20-in. sq. sticks from the 1/16-in. squares before you start.
- Set aside the thin basswood for laminating the windshield side formers. Make a curved former from scrap balsa matching the inside (lower) curve of the windshield side, cover it with Saran Wrap to keep the basswood from sticking, then bend a double thickness of bass with white glue in between over the form and allow to dry.
- If presenting the kit to a Junior, pre-making these parts or replacing 1/20 sticks with 1/16 throughout will make modeling easier for most kids. An adult beginner will find the kit an absolute joy as it is.
Here's your chance, Dad! Buy a pair and build them together. My wife's first model was an M-10, with which she bettered a minute during testing.
Plan Packet — Paul Plecan
Just down the runway from the new Lacey kit is the Plan Packet service just started by the old master, Paul Plecan. Does the thought of getting a surprise package in the mail every three months appeal to you? After you see Paul's fine work on Packet #1, it will.
Packet #1 includes a beautifully drawn Pilatus Turbo-Porter (30-in. span) that will make you competitive at almost any Rubber Scale meet. Even the accompanying 3-view is large enough to build a Peanut on. Paul also includes his Tornado II, one of the classiest Old-Timers for an .049.
The packet came with a large sample of a 3/32-in. styrofoam sheet Paul is selling, and profuse notes and sketches to help build plan subjects. Four dollars will bring a postpaid introductory packet.
Send to: Paul Plecan 3023 Sarasota St. Riverside, CA 92503
Paul also carries Paul Matt Historical Aviation books, a great collection of profiles, pilots, small rubber ships, charts, history-making FF models, and a few other goodies. If your local hobby dealer doesn't carry these, Paul might send an SASE for a large plan 3-view list.
Mike Mulligan's Old Timer Models
No, Josephine, hinoki wood is not a forest near Tokyo! It's a great 1/20-in. sq. strip which, when soaked in water, will bend to even the tiniest radius. Great stuff! Mike Mulligan's Old Timer Models carries hinoki. In addition, Mike carries:
- Balsa prop‑blanks from 4 in. to 18 in.
- Balsa wheels
- Nieto 3/8-in. – 1-ft. superscale drawings
- FAI and Pirelli rubber
- Tissue and lube
- Plans for twin-pushers and famous old-time rubber models
- Small bottles of colored nitrate dope
- Scale plans from Peanuts on up
Mike, who has just taken over Old Timer Models from the legendary Jim Noonan, is also one of the top Rubber Scale modelers in the country and the present holder of the unofficial World Peanut Record of 22 min 00 s (Nesmith Cougar at the U.S. FF Champs, Taft).
Send a buck for his new catalog to: Mike Mulligan's Old Timer Models PO Box 913 Westminster, CA 92683
Flying Aces Club News (FAC)
The most famous of the FF Scale newsletters, Flying Aces Club News, is going public for the first time. You can now join and get this great collection of plans, 3-views, hysterical history, nostalgia, and other good stuff for $9/yr. Six installments of the FAC saga, which in the past has included work from Pres Bruning, Bob Rogers, Sir Lionel Cheetwell (Jerry Bockius), Frank Scott, Dave Stott, and many other top modelers, would be worth twice the price.
New contact: Lin Reichel (CO) 3301 Cindy Lane Erie, PA 16506
Don't miss out!
American Air Racing Society (AARS)
Raceplane freaks! The American Air Racing Society has a magnificent line of 3/4-in. scale drawings by Prof. W.F. Kerka, a bimonthly newsletter, nostalgia packets, and official air race photos from the great 1929–39 era. If the names Goon, Smoothie, Jackrabbit, or Bonzo set your blood coursing, getting in touch with the AARS will be the most worthwhile thing you do this week.
Send $5 to join, or a large SASE for particulars. Their "Weddell‑Williams‑Wee Wil Jr." is going to make somebody a winner at the next FAC Nats!
AARS PO Box 121 South Euclid, OH 44121
FF Sport-Scale/Warner
Previous kit purchasers have been informed of these changes (talk about personalized customer service!), but we mention it here just in case.
George S. Wakefield kit and Champion Model Prod.
The George S. Wakefield kit is still a few months off, it seems, but the necessary tooling is coming along. Despite its flat-bottom airfoil, Wakefield's Wake isn't a mediocre-performance "beginner's" affair, but should stack up only a few percent below even the most sophisticated designs, despite simple construction. The prototype has yet to fail to make a first-round max.
George also sells uncommon items like 5/32-in. sheet and 5/32-in. sq. strip balsa, Pirelli rubber, Japanese tissue, orthodontic rubber bands for fuse DTs (39¢ per package of 75), prop kits, fiberglass cloth, teflon washers, and perhaps other stuff you can't find locally.
Check with him at: Champion Model Prod. 880 Carmen Ct. La Verne, CA 91750
Send a buck for a catalog (refunded upon receipt of order).
1980 Heart of Dixie (HOD) FF Championships
The 1980 HOD FF Championships were held October 4–5, 1980. Results highlights:
- High-point winner: Bill Jenkins (his first HOD high-point trophy)
- Close runner-up: Jim McNeill (AMA secretary‑treasurer)
- George (Mulvihill) Perryman: firsts in Coupe, OT Rubber, and P-30
- Jim Lewis: first in A-1, second in Mulvihill, fourths in A-2 and OT Rubber
- Jim Davidson: first in Peanut, seconds in Rubber Scale and Gas Scale
- Junior high-point winner: David Brown (first in P-30, second in Rubber (Supple), fifth in Rubber Scale)
Trophies were awarded to each first, second, or third place winner. All contestants received a merchandise prize.
Contact: Bob Meser 4200 Gregory St. Oakland, CA 94619
Aeroplane Monthly (recommendation)
If I had only enough money left to subscribe to one magazine dealing with full-size aircraft, it would be Aeroplane Monthly (U.K.). It covers recent developments and history, often includes three-view drawings of unusual types, color photos, and occasional slip-in blueprints from Flight magazine. I particularly like their material on pre-war British lightplanes.
Yearly subscription rate: $36.40 (includes air freight delivery). Send subscriptions to: Aeroplane Monthly I.P.C. Business Press, Ltd. 205 E. 42nd St. New York, NY 10017
Correction
In the December 1980 issue of MA, we incorrectly attributed the design of Jack McGillivray's missile-thrust rubber scale ship to Bill Noonan. Jack's is his own design, not a different scale than Bill's. Thanks to Terry Jenkins for calling this slip to our attention.
Tapered spars gadget
We hear Jim Jones, who has been selling excellent balsa and rubber strippers and prop molds for several years, has introduced a gadget for cutting tapered balsa strips. There are at least three ways to taper a strip: crosswise, thickness, and width. Jim's stripper will handle two of the three. For details, check with:
Jim Jones 36631 Ledgestone Mt. Clemens, MI 48043
Engine specialties and metalwork
Want your cylinder liner chrome plated and honed? Or a crankshaft plated? Or parts for a Cox .049, including left-handed cranks for pushers? Or a blank cylinder so you can whittle out a unique Schnuerle .049? Try:
P & G Metal Shop 301 North Yale Dr. Garland, TX 75042 (214) 272-5210
Ask for Gene Hempel and tell him Bob sent you.
Keep 'em flying.
Bill Warner 432‑C San Vicente Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90402
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
