FREE FLIGHT SPORT and SCALE — 2001/01
Trip to the UK — overview
I just arrived home from an outstanding trip to the UK. I didn't go just to see the lovely countryside, but to visit great friends and live and breathe airplanes—models and full‑scale. Along the way, I received valuable history lessons.
My good friend Charlie Newman picked me up from Heathrow Airport. Charlie is a professional model‑maker, and the quality of his models has to be seen to be appreciated. (I have included photos of his magnificent S.E.5 in this column.)
Woburn — Tiger Moth Club fly‑in
My first full day there, Charlie and I headed out for Woburn—the site of the Tiger Moth Club annual fly‑in. The setting is out of a picture book; it is a scant 3,000 acres, with an abundance of grass, pines, and ponds. In the middle of it all is a beautiful grass strip where the airplanes land.
I saw 40 or 50 Tiger Moths and Fox Moths, Puss Moths, Hornet Moths, a Leopard Moth, a Moth Minor, and an assortment of other fabric‑covered aircraft. Charlie brought a picnic lunch, and we sat on a slope and watched all the flying activity. Then we meandered among the rare airplanes—my mouth was agape. What a picture!
Old Warden — Shuttleworth collection and Prom Night
After a full day at Woburn, we headed for Old Warden—the site of the famous Shuttleworth collection of historic flying aircraft. There I witnessed something I'll never forget; they call it Prom Night, but it is nothing like any prom I ever attended.
Charlie brought out food, a table, and chairs. We staked out a spot and waited for the rest of our friends to arrive. When they did, more good food and drink were laid out on the tables, and we all gorged ourselves.
At one end of the property, there is a large stage with a canopy, reminiscent of the Hollywood Bowl. A symphony orchestra started playing at 7 p.m. At the same time, a genuine S.E.5 took off and flew overhead, seemingly in time with the music. Flying continued with a Lysander, an Avro Tutor, and a few others, then ended with chief pilot Andy Sephton wringing out a Spitfire!
When it got dark there was an excellent fireworks show—equal to or better than the one at Disneyland™.
I went home with Derek and Marilyn Knight, and spent a most enjoyable week with them. I got a real taste of the history of Portsmouth.
Time with Derek and Marilyn; Rolls‑Royce visit and restorations
Derek is with Knight and Pridum Co., which manufactures neat items for Free Flighters. The company is best known for its electric motors and accessories, clever propellers for electric motors, and a terrific electric ducted‑fan unit. (I will share more of this in a later column.)
I stayed in Derek's model room, surrounded by more magazines and books than you can imagine. Derek is clever; he showed me tricks and ideas that I will pass along. He would go up to his attic and bring down one model after the other—each with a different innovation!
Lindsey and I were guests at the Rolls‑Royce engine factory, courtesy of Andy Sephton. He is a test pilot and flies each aircraft that is powered by a Rolls‑Royce engine. Andy is also an avid FF Scale modeler.
Charlie and I got to see the evolution of Bristol engines and Rolls‑Royce jet engines. We were very lucky.
From there, Andy took us to a grass strip where he keeps his two‑place Jodel; he uses it to commute to Old Warden. A Miles Sparrowhawk and an Aeronca C‑3 were being restored there, and I learned how costly it is to refurbish airplanes in the UK—the price of materials is staggering, let alone the cost of fuel.
Duxford, Middle Wallop and SAM 35
Each day was filled with adventures, including a trip to the Duxford Museum.
Friday, Marilyn graciously drove me to Middle Wallop, where SAM (Society of Antique Modellers) 35 was holding a four‑day contest, and we met Charlie there. I was hoping to fly my commercial Rubber model, but it was not to be. The winds were blowing like crazy, so we spent much of the time talking to friends and making new ones.
The contest at Middle Wallop and the British Nationals were on the same weekend, because the military needed the field the weekend that the Nationals was originally scheduled.
RAF Barkston Heath — British Nationals (Free Flight Scale)
Charlie and I headed for RAF Barkston Heath—the site of the British Nationals, the major contest in which I was hoping to compete.
Free Flight (FF) Scale was to be flown in two rounds, with three rounds Saturday and three Sunday. However, the weather was cold, drizzly, and windy on Saturday.
While the Radio Control (RC) Scale fliers flew a bang‑up job in the wind, the Scale FF models were judged in a large tent with limited light. The judging method was different from what I have ever seen:
Free Flight Scale judging
- The model is placed on a table and a couple of judges sit roughly six feet from it with the documentation in hand.
- A third person moves the model to whatever angle the judges require.
- They spend an average of 20 minutes per model, dissecting it for fidelity to scale.
The judges really knock you down if your model is not completely opaque in color. Because of the poor light, dark‑colored models suffered because details were not detectable.
Power Scale is divided into two groups:
- Gas (all power models entered were diesel)
- Electric and CO2
R/C turbine models
This was the first time I had seen a genuine turbine‑powered model. They have a great sound—just like full‑scale.
Flying conditions, runway, and ROG requirement
Now comes the hard part: your model has to rise‑off‑ground (ROG). If it doesn't—even if you have the best Scale score—you can't win. At Barkston Heath you also fly over a runway—not over the abundance of grass. The spectators were behind a rope, and they cheered whenever a model took off successfully.
I made my first attempt at hand launch so I could at least get a qualifying flight.
On my last flight, I fired up the .015 Mills diesel and set the model on the tarmac. It took off like it knew what it was doing. It was gratifying to see this happen; not every model ROGs successfully.
These models are also judged on how the transition from power to glide, and from glide to landing, resembles the full‑scale aircraft. I was proud of my Bristol M1.D; my overall flight score was up with the best of them.
Rubber Scale and memorable moments
Rubber Scale was a bit disappointing; there were only five entries.
The most humorous part of the event was when Derek learned he had forgotten the documentation for his lovely Fairchild 24. He submitted a Flying Aces T‑shirt with the same‑colored airplane on it, and he received the lowest static score.
Derek had the best flight times, but eventually lost his model in a thermal.
The RAF air base was very large and filled with modelling activity each day, in spite of the weather. It was reminiscent of the good old US Nationals when it was sponsored by the Navy.
At the end of the day we headed back to the George in the village of Leadenham for another wonderful evening of food, drink, and much talk. Many of the Free Fliers stayed at the same pub. What a great experience—the keys to the rooms were the old skeleton‑type. When was the last time you saw one of those?
I went to the last day of competition with Charlie, and I left there with Lindsey and Jane Smith. Lindsey is a tough Rubber Scale competitor. I had a great week with them, which included a trip to the Millennium Dome in Greenwich.
Pageant of Flight at Old Warden
Charlie and I headed for Old Warden on Sunday and arrived there for the Pageant of Flight. Almost all the Shuttleworth collection was out on the line, and most of them were flown. The pre‑World War I aircraft can only be flown if there is no wind at the end of the flying day.
What I saw was indescribable—the setting, the aircraft, and to see them in flight. All airplane nuts need to experience this at least once.
Get to the UK sometime, and savor all that this country has to offer—not only the airplanes, but the history, the scenery, and above all, the warmth of the people. I am fortunate to have so many friends there. They made my stay memorable. I hope I can repay them if they ever get to California.
MA
Glue addenda — followups to the September 2000 column
I have a couple of addenda to my September 2000 column on glues.
- I received a tube of G‑S Hypo Cement from the Blacksheep Squadron (http://blacksheepsquadron.com/)—a large, active model club in Los Angeles, CA. There is a list of uses for this cement, but its principal applications are watch crystals, hobby/craft, and industrial/optical. It is also good for attaching windshields onto models. The tube comes with a needlelike tip, so application is easy. G‑S Hypo Cement is available through Micro‑Mark® (each modeler should get this company's catalog).
- John Leach sent remarks regarding epoxies. He mentioned that West Systems epoxies have proven themselves in boat‑building and can withstand exposure to saltwater. Also: any time you buy epoxy (expensive), be sure it's from a source where turnover is steady—you don't want an adhesive that won't set up after you apply it. And any time you blend a two‑part epoxy, mix it for at least 60 seconds.
- Jon Reep shared his method for using JB Weld. He applies a coat, carefully adds a layer of fiberglass cloth, then follows with another coat of the Weld. This eliminates any chance of cracking.
Thanks to those who shared these hints.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
