Letters to the Editor
All letters will be carefully considered; those of general interest will be used. Send to Model Aviation, 815 15th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.
Author's Additional Advice — Santos‑Dumont 14‑bis
After rereading the "Santos‑Dumont 14‑bis" article in the December issue, I thought a few additional comments could be helpful to readers intending to build the model.
- The neutral canard (forward stabilizer) surface incidence should be set at about +14 degrees — this means the canard leading edge is raised about 1 1/4 in. from the horizontal. Since the wing is set at +4 degrees, this provides about a 10-degree angular difference, which is close to the correct setting for level flight with the CG as shown on the plans.
- With the pusher engine arrangement of the 14‑bis, the muffler on most engines can simply be turned around to exhaust rearward through the propeller. If this is done, a lot of oil collects on the prop and is flung onto the rear portions of both wings, making quite a mess. To avoid this, the exhaust should be ducted down along the rear landing-gear strut outside the propeller arc. Two simple ways to do this:
- Use a Tatone exhaust manifold/muffler (the type with three optional exhaust tubes). Use the downward-pointed tube and add a length of neoprene tubing to carry the exhaust clear of the prop.
- If using an O.S. .15 engine (as on the prototype), the standard O.S. muffler can be modified to exhaust downward:
- Remove the rear section of the muffler body.
- Plug the normal exhaust exit hole with a short piece of dowel, jammed in and hot-stuffed.
- Drill a 5/16‑in. hole in the bottom of the rear muffler section and force in a 1‑in. length of 5/16‑in. O.D. brass tubing.
- Seal the tubing in place with a bead of silicone cement.
- Reassemble the muffler, mount the engine and muffler on the model, and add a length of neoprene tubing to extend the new exhaust exit below the propeller arc.
Don Srull McLean, VA
Thanks, Don, for bringing this helpful information to the attention of our readers.
Scale Model "Flight Realism"
Model Aviation is the official publication of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. As such, articles expounding particular competitive judging criteria should not be accepted as official policy unless adopted by the AMA Contest Boards. Since the current rule book carries no quantitative definition of "Flight Realism," Mr. Palumbo's definition of scale flight speed and maneuvers (from his three-part series "True Dynamic Scaling — The Flyable RC Model," August–October 1981) should not be taken as the accepted criteria for judging Flight Realism in scale model competitions.
I am certain a number of modelers agree this leaves many scale modelers in a quandary; an official AMA definition of Scale Realism apparently differs from Mr. Palumbo's interpretation.
Joe Tschirgi Santa Ana, CA
As we wrote to Mr. Tschirgi, the referenced articles should have no influence on how scale models are judged in competitions. Competition rules and their interpretations are established by the AMA Contest Boards, based upon proposals made by AMA members. Announcements of new rules or interpretations are printed in the Competition News section.
It's Our Pleasure
Recently the Academy of Model Aeronautics joined with the National Easter Seal Society to sanction club-sponsored fund-raising events for local Easter Seal Societies.
On behalf of the Hartford Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center and the Connecticut Easter Seal Society, I would like to thank and commend the members of the Simsbury Model Airplane Club, Wintonbury Flyers, and the Northern Connecticut Radio Control Club for their dedication and the superb job they did on the Fund Fly sponsored for Easter Seals in November.
We work with many people and organizations in fund-raising and rarely have the opportunity to interact so positively with such a tremendous group of individuals. Their enthusiasm, spirit, and hard work raised close to $300 for the thousands of disabled persons served by Easter Seals in an all-day event that had only three weeks' lead time.
We are proud to be associated with such a fine group of people and would welcome any chance to work with model airplane enthusiasts again.
Susan Peters Gutner Hartford Easter Seal Rehabilitation Ctr. Hartford, CT
Model clubs and individual fliers can feel justifiably proud of their public service when they participate with any of the various charities.
Continued Notes
A bunch of clubs and hundreds of AMA members recently participated in the Trans‑Am Relay Race (East Coast to West Coast), organized by AMA in cooperation with the National Easter Seal Society. A full report by Bob and Doris Rich is planned for the March issue.
Hi Johnson Remembered
As the modeling community mourns the tragic loss of Hi Johnson, a group of us have discussed how best to perpetuate his name and achievements. We decided the best way is to form an organization dedicated to the remembrance of Hi's engines, to be called the Johnson Engine Preservation Society (JEPS).
Any modeler wishing to receive a preliminary newsletter about the society and its aims can send a SASE to:
Peter Feldman Box 591 Times Square Station New York, NY 10036
We are asking the magazines for assistance and coverage so we can gauge interest among modelers.
Keep on Truckin!
This is a model of a Chevy 4x4 off-road truck that I made to fly — and it flies very nicely. Each time I take it to the flying field it steals the show — kids and grown-ups alike.
The air vehicle has a four-channel radio and an O.S. .15 engine. The truck bed acts as the platform for the radio, servos, batteries, etc. The 50‑in. wing attaches to the bottom of the truck bed. As a point of interest, the cost of the plastic truck was $4.88 at a toy store.
Bob Manoli Huntington Beach, CA
We love the different ways people have fun with their modeling. More power to 'em!
Delightful Bipes
Here are two photos of last winter's projects.
- The first is a highly modified Honker Bipe, revamped to make a way‑far‑away stand-off S.E.5. It's powered by an O.S. .15, uses a Kraft four-channel radio with Futaba servos, and weighs 3 lb. After 10 controlled mishaps (resulting in only a broken engine mount) and many thrust and incidence changes, it finally is flying nicely.
- The second photo shows a Dreamer Bipe (kitted by GB Co.). My daughter, Priscilla, is shown with it. The model weighs 5 lb., and it has flown successfully since the very first flight.
Enjoy Model Aviation magazine. Keep your models flying and your miscalculations few and far between.
Earl Smith Bath, PA
Not Yet Flown
The pictured model is a modified Miser (kit by Blaine's Planes). Power is a K&B 3.5 with dual homemade mufflers (very quiet) and manifold. It uses a Futaba radio with three S26 servos (one on Teflon-coated rails for flaperons), and an EMS Bantam handles the throttle.
Finish: K&B Super Poxy sprayed over primer — 15 drops of red in a half-pint of white, using satin catalyst. I haven't found a suitable method for putting on my AMA number; the pink finish is lustrous, and I want the numbers to match.
I'd like to tell you how it flies, but I won't be able to answer that until I gain more experience on my trainers.
David L. Williams Yorba Linda, CA
Simitar XIX
As you can see from the picture, my Simitar XIX (April 1980 MA, plan No. 295) built up nicely. It's powered by two O.S. Max .20s and handles at least as well as my Kavalier trainer! I modified the nacelles so each top can be removed completely for access to engines and fuel tanks and installed quick-fuelers to expedite fueling. I've had many flights — several with dead-stick or one-engine-out landings — and I'm enjoying the plane greatly. Wife Carol, in the picture, is also glad I'm out of the workshop.
Robert G. L. Miller, Jr. Reading, PA
Enjoys 4‑H Work
In the April issue of Model Aviation I saw the article on 4‑H and would like to tell you about my involvement. This past February I received my Five-Year Plaque and pin.
When I first joined 4‑H there were no rules or guidelines for model aviation projects, and no one knew much about building or flying. I had previous experience teaching kids and thought it would be easy — ha!
The first year I let the kids pick planes and start working. One boy showed up with an RC kit at age 11; we switched to an .049 control-line plane. On the Saturday we started building, one boy cut his thumb with an X-Acto — a Band-Aid fixed it. I had four boys, each building a different plane, and it was hard to keep them all working; when they weren't working, they were playing.
In the second year I chose kits that were easy to build and fly: a hand-launch glider and a Sig Cub. I would build one with the boys watching, then they would make one. Two boys are now in their fourth year, building Scale P-40s and P-47s. I also teach model rocketry and plastic modeling.
Being a 4‑H leader is very rewarding. I feel I'm working with one of our nation's most valuable resources. To me, 4‑H and Scouting give kids experiences that help them become future leaders.
If any readers are interested in 4‑H, I hope they'll try it. If I can help by providing guidelines and rules that have worked for our group, write to me.
Jeff Hitchcock 22 West "F" Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
