Letters to the Editor
King Kong Two
In the July 77 issue of Model Aviation (Letters to the Editor) under the heading "For King Kong," I see where Ed Fleury, Detroit, has the same problem I used to have. I also scratch built a King Kong (not a kit). I call it King Kong. It has a 6 foot body with a 9½ ft. wing span—23" wide. I originally had an OS Max 80 in King Kong and it just barely took it up using a 13-6 prop.
I have solved my problem by using 2 Enya 45 engines mounted on a single mount with one pushrod for both carbs for synchronization. Now I have plenty of power with some to spare. My King Kong also drops a parachute from the underside and makes a perfect drop every time.
I'm enclosing photos, one showing King Kong with 80 Max and the others showing the two-engine set up.
Sam Valenza Newburgh, NY 12550
His U-2
Reference "Letter to the Editor" in the July 1977 issue of Model Aviation, page 80, "Whose U-2?" The airplane is, or rather was mine. It is a control line model spanning 80" and was built from the first publicly released photos of the U-2 published in Aviation Week, 1959 or '60 I believe. The model was powered by an Enya 19 driving an 8-bladed aluminum fan. The engine was mounted in a 4" dia. can which originally contained beef stew. The can, engine and all, was permanently built into the fuselage. The model weighed only 2½ pounds and, needless to say, could only be flown when the wind was practically calm. The engine/fan combination developed 1½ pounds of thrust. The photo you showed must have been taken at the "Southwest-erns" held each year in the Dallas area. I was stationed in Waco, Texas at the time. The model was one piece so transportation was a problem and for that reason it was left behind, hanging in the local hobby shop when I was reassigned to Okinawa in 1962. I am still very much into ducted fans and even though "I'd rather do it myself," the appearance on the market of ready built units pleases me very much. My sincere thanks to SFC Brown for submitting the photo.
W. A. (Mike) Kulczyk Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.) AMA 93209 Austin, Texas
Penpals: USA/Malaysia
I am a member of your esteemed organization, membership No. 99945; I only joined this year, after a long layoff from modeling.
Will you please publish my name and address in a future issue saying that I would like American modelers to write to me? I am 32 years old, and a freelance designer, and will reply to all letters written by either sex, any age.
Vong Sieu Ming 11 Jalan Yeoh Ah Khoon 1 Poh Garden 1 Poh, Perak Malaysia
Letters to the Editor
balanced for a general interest modeler such as myself. Keep up the good work.
Larry Renger
L. M. Cox Mfg. Co., Inc.
A Better Way?
I read with interest your reply to Mr. Doug Schaefer's letter in the July issue of Model Aviation. Similar letters and similar answers appear at regular intervals through all of the modeling press.
But is that a good or useful answer? I think not; there is yet another possibility and it might be a profitable one.
Couldn't you publish a bibliography of books on model aviation? There are a good many books published but it is difficult to run them down because the publishers are frequently small and little known. A good bibliography that includes titles, authors, publishers and their addresses, prices and any other pertinent information would be godsend to new modelers.
It would be a practical answer to Mr. Schaefer.
Robert A. Lockwood Napa, CA
MA is already researching a bibliography.
How Safe is 27?
I am an avid reader of your magazine and would like to submit a letter to the editor.
I have a radio system on the 27 megahertz frequency and would like to know just exactly how safe it is to use it in an airplane and if it is not safe, what can be done to convert it to a 72 megahertz frequency.
Jouke van Swaay Manhattan, KS
We are certainly aware that 27 MHz for Radio Control is practically unusable in some areas due to interference, while in other areas fliers regularly use it without any trouble. Best info on usability will come from those who are active, and in this connection we were pleased to send Mr.
Letters to the Editor
van Swaay a listing of AMA chartered clubs for Kansas.
Our understanding is that most all current equipment can be converted by the manufacturer from 27 MHz to 72 MHz.
Letters to the Editor
Under the heading "King Kong" (see Ed Fleury): Detroit has the same problem. I used to have and have also scratch-built the King Kong kit called King Kong. It has a 6-foot fuselage and a 9-ft wingspan. Originally it had an OS Max .80. The King Kong just barely took off using a 13x6 prop. I have solved the problem using two Enya .45 engines mounted on a single mount, pushrod to both carbs synchronized. Now I have plenty of power, some to spare. King Kong also drops a parachute from the underside — makes a perfect drop every time. I'm enclosing photos showing King Kong with an .80 Max and others showing the two-engine set-up. Sam Valenza Newburgh, NY 12550
Reference: Letter Editor, July 1977 issue, Model Aviation, page 80 — U-2 airplane. Rather a control-line model spanning 80". The first publicly released photos of the U-2 were published in Aviation Week, 1959–60. I believe the model was powered by an Enya .19 driving an 8-bladed aluminum fan. The engine was mounted in a 4" diameter can (originally a beef-steak can). The engine was permanently built into the fuselage; the model weighed 2 pounds. Needless to say it could be flown only in practically calm wind. The engine/fan combination developed about 1 pound of thrust. The photo shown must have been taken at the Southwest meets held near Dallas. I was stationed in Waco, Texas at the time. Transportation was a problem; for that reason the model was left hanging in a local hobby shop when I was reassigned to Okinawa in 1962. I am still very much into ducted fans, though I'd rather, myself, see market-ready built units appear. This pleases me very much. Sincere thanks to SFC Brown for submitting the photo. Mike Kulczyk Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.) AMA 93209 Austin, Texas
Penpals USA/Malaysia: I am a member of your esteemed organization. Membership No. 99945. I joined a year after a long layoff from modeling. Will you please publish my name and address in a future issue, saying I would like American modelers to write? I am 32 years old, a freelance designer, and will reply to letters written by either sex of any age. Vong Sieu Ming 11 Jalan Yeoh Ah Khoon Ipoh Garden Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Keep up the good work. Larry Renger L. M. Cox Mfg. Co., Inc.
In reply to Mr. Doug Schaefer's letter (July issue): Similar letters and similar answers appear at regular intervals through the modeling press. A useful answer, I think, yet another possibility might be profitable. Could you publish a bibliography of books on model aviation? Good books are published, but it is difficult to run them down because the publishers are frequently small and little known. A good bibliography that includes titles, authors, publishers and their addresses, prices and any other pertinent information would be a godsend to new modelers. It would be a practical answer to Mr. Schaefer. Robert A. Lockwood Napa, CA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
