FREE FLIGHT SPORT and SCALE
Bill Warner, 1370 Monache Avenue, Porterville, CA 93257
Stringers omitted for clarity department
Continuing my quest for gems of modeling wisdom, I'd like to present:
- "Work out any minor bugs in your particular model by common sense application of your adjusting skills." (American Modeler, October 1959)
- "Cover wings on top side only. If covered on both sides too much lift will be created and the model will stall." (from a 15-inch WW I S.E.5 kit by the Super Model Aircraft Co., Cicero, IL)
Thanks to Peter Williams of Glamorgan, Wales for sending the former and Paul McIlrath of Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the latter.
While looking at a 1930 plan for an Aeronca C-3, Paul's son Scott composed this imaginary conversation between the President of Comet and the draughtsman:
"We want to make a 16-inch ten-cent kit of the Aeronca C-3." "OK. Good idea. You got a three-view?" "Three-view!? Everybody knows what a C-3 looks like!"
A modeler friend in need
Ron Hoag recently lost his house to fire that took his balsa, tissue, plans, engines, props, rubber ... everything. Anyone who'd like to help Ron get re-established can send assistance to:
- Ron Hoag
95520 E. Five Rivers Rd. Tidewater, OR 97390
World's smallest CO2
Ranier Gaggl of Graz, Austria turned up at a recent meet in Europe flying a homemade CO2-engine-powered indoor model with a mere 0.75 cubic millimeter displacement! This mini marvel beats the previous world's smallest by 0.25 cu. mm. Including tank and prop, the engine unit weighs only half a gram — it would take five of them to weigh as much as a penny. Ranier is successfully flying a 1.3-gram indoor model for six-minute flights with it. I remember when we thought a Tee Dee .010 was small!
Multicylinder CO2 engines
Four new twin-cylinder engines from Gasparin are simply superb:
- "120": 240 cu. mm., 17.7 grams — $75
- "G-6": 12.5 cu. mm., 4.1 grams — $225
Sandy Peck of Peck-Polymers stocks all these twins and is eagerly awaiting the promised 9-cylinder (all-working) engine. She also still has their 3 cu. mm. single (you can wear it as a lapel pin when not flying indoor models with it). The old favorite Brown B200 twin and tiny singles are also in stock.
- CO2 Hotline: (800) 392-5520
Help with FF Scale models
Having trouble getting that FF Scale model to fly? Bill McCombs will send his listing of the various problems that plague this type of model and references to detailed discussions of each. I suspect his book on getting Scale models to fly may be one of them, but that's okay — it's an excellent source of help. A SASE for the free list will get you started.
- Bill McCombs
2106 Siesta Dr. Dallas, TX 75224
Avoiding the old epoxy-cap exchange
In a weak moment most of us have screwed the red cap back on the black tube of epoxy. Bob Lopshire uses a black Sharpie pen (or black paint) to mark the top of the tube that has the black cap. I suspect the act of marking it will make you more aware every time you re-cap, but it certainly looks promising. Thanks, Bob!
Flying Aces Nats
Put July 8, 9, and 10 on your calendars. This is the big family reunion for FF Scalers everywhere.
- Place: National Warplane Museum, Geneseo, NY
- For more information send a SASE to: FAC GHQ, 3301 Cindy Lane, Erie, PA 16506
If you've never been to one, be prepared for a sensational weekend!
Lung-powered sprayer
The October issue of Airflow, the newsletter of the Glastonbury Modelers (80 Harvest Lane, Glastonbury, CT 06033), mentioned a "fixative sprayer" available at a good art supply store for applying paint to models. Thin your paint to "coffee consistency," put the thin end of the sprayer into the paint and the fat tube into your mouth, and blow hard. The best part is the cost — only a couple of bucks. I saw one used on a plastic model back in the 1940s, and it seemed to work pretty well on a small model.
Silkspan wing fillets
The same issue of Airflow also mentions making wing fillets of heavy silkspan. Make a plain paper fillet pattern, then cut the silkspan 1/8" bigger all around (with the grain direction side-to-side, long way). Dip it in 50/50 white glue and water, apply, and wait for it to dry to the compound curve. I suggest trying it on an old model to gain experience; it may not be as easy as it sounds.
Paper engines and instrument panels
A nifty engine-front drawing included with this issue can be photocopied larger or smaller to fit the front of round-engined models. Paul McIlrath's pattern, printed in the December 1993 Flying Aces Club News, is reminiscent of engine cutouts on many old-time plans — it dresses up a model nicely.
When anyone looks at your model, they always look inside as well. Don't disappoint them by leaving out the instrument panel. I have cut dial faces from aircraft magazines or taken photos of the real thing and printed them the size I wanted. A dummy panel with instrument-sized holes cut in it (using sharpened brass tubing) was then prepared; the faces were centered on the backside and glued in place. A quicker method is to use a ready-printed panel such as used on many old plans and in magazines.
Paul McIlrath suggests a set of six or eight generic panels printed in the magazine and photocopied to the needed size. Anyone who has copies of the old artwork, or who would be willing to do some originals, let me know — this is a worthy project.
Build locally, fly internationally
We are a band of brothers (and sisters) that transcend national boundaries. Show up with a FF Scale model at Liège, Brno, Shonai, or Nottingham, and you will be at home with friends and family.
If you can't afford the trip, reading about what's going on "over there" may be next best. Indoor News, published "...at least four times a year," can be had for $20 (good for six issues) from:
- Theo de Meij
Meijhorst 35-43 NL-6537JD Nijmegen The Netherlands
Plans, news, and photos by Europe's best. The November issue contains drawings of Emmanuel Fillon's Tomy gear twin-engined Peanut drive.
The Superior free-wheeling collar
Now available in three sizes, the Superior Props aluminum free-wheeler requires only a filed flat on the prop shaft for its grub screw to contact — then you're in business. Makes changing props a snap. I have found their performance flawless, and I sure wouldn't make one for $2!
Superior, famous for their "almost finished" line of balsa and hardwood props for rubber and small electric models, also makes a ball-thrust bearing and huge folders. Send a large SASE for a catalog or call for more info.
- Superior Props: (904) 944-1972
Cottage wings list
My daily-updated annotated list of sources (suppliers, clubs, data sources, etc.) of special interest to FF Scale modelers has nearly 250 entries, and now includes contact addresses for 41 Flying Aces Squadrons. Send a dollar and a large SASE with two stamps to:
- Bill Warner
1370 Monache Ave. Porterville, CA 93257
Parting note
Until next time, gang, remember the slogan inscribed on the sign hanging above Bobby Haight's workplace: "A clean workbench is a sign of a sick mind." Laminate that for your wallet.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
