RADIO CONTROL COMBAT
Greg Rose — 3429 Elm, Orion, MI 48359
It seems that I overlooked an excellent non-scale combat model in my review of kits that was published a number of months ago. I've been reminded that the Diamond Dust, produced by Gilbert Aircraft Performance Products (GAPP), has a strong combat following.
Diamond Dust (Gilbert Aircraft Performance Products)
The Diamond Dust uses a flying-wing delta design to pack 575 square inches into a tiny 34.5-inch wingspan — that works out to an average chord of more than 16.5 inches. At a typical weight of 2¼ to 2½ pounds (when powered by a .25 to .40 engine) the wing loading on the Diamond Dust is only approximately 9 ounces per square foot.
The impressive thing about the Diamond Dust is its speed range. You would expect it to be fast, but I've also seen the design throttle back and fly at a snail's pace with a very high angle of attack. The kit includes hardware and has a mixed laser-cut construction with carbon spars, balsa, Kevlar composites, and light plywood.
Contact:
- Gilbert Aircraft Performance Products (GAPP): toll-free (800) 325-GAPP
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA)
While I'm correcting omissions, I might as well put in a long-overdue plug for a great modeling organization: the National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA). NASA supports scale interest in radio control, control line, free flight, and even scale RC combat.
It's one of the few organizations that helps us remember the common interest we share with modelers in other events. You can find out more by contacting:
- NASA c/o Burt Dugan, 11090 Phyllis Dr., Clio, MI 48420; Tel.: (810) 686-0655
Progressive Miniature Aircraft
Progressive Miniature Aircraft has recently relocated their operation. The company produces five combat kits for the 704 flier. Their new address is:
- Progressive Miniature Aircraft, 2467 North John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32804; Tel.: (407) 298-8257
Availability of the company's Mustang, Spitfire, Zero, Kingcobra, and Me 109 kits will not be affected by the move.
Northwest Tool and the Kawasaki Ki-61 "Tony"
Northwest Tool, the company that recently picked up the Messerschmitt Me 109G and Macchi MC.202 RC scale combat designs from Custom Cutters, has moved across the country. Their new address is:
- Northwest Tool, 6711 Rabbit Ct., Waldorf, MD 20603; Tel.: (800) 755-5687
Despite the move, Northwest has introduced a brand-new design for 704 combat, the Kawasaki Ki-61 "Tony." Next to the Zero, the Tony is probably the best-known Japanese fighter of WWII, due in part to the misconception that the Tony was a license-built version of the German Me 109.
Northwest's Tony is of conventional balsa construction and uses a large vacuum-formed turtledeck with an integral canopy to keep building time down and scale looks up. Photos of the finished model just missed press time, but Northwest has promised photos for the next column.
Gus Morfis — Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Frank)
Gus Morfis (4709 Green Meadows Ave., Torrance, CA 90505; Tel.: (310) 378-5679) has introduced a new set of plans for the 704 modeler: the Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate, known as the "Frank."
The Frank is a lesser-known design that appeared late in the Pacific war. Looking somewhat like the Zero but packing more than twice the horsepower of the A6M-2, the Frank could hold its own against contemporary US fighters. Like other Morfis designs, the Frank is of conventional balsa and plywood construction.
Great Northern Campaign — 1995
The Great Northern Campaign for 1995 in Minnesota is over, and the second year proved as fun as the first. The 1995 competitions in the round-robin campaign were hosted by five Twin Cities area clubs:
- Sodbusters RC
- St. Paul RC
- Anoka County RC
- Rich Valley RC
- Twin Cities Radio Controllers
The campaign was arranged so anyone could compete in all five events, but only the top three event scores would count toward the campaign totals. The title of "Ace" would only be awarded to pilots who managed five streamer cuts.
Results:
- Steve O'Hearn (Cottage Grove, MN) — 352-point average (from his three best meets); Ace status with six cuts. Steve is only in his fourth year flying R/C.
- Scott Anderson — 272.6 points / 3 cuts
- Rick Smith — 236 points / 2 cuts
- Howard Lee — 184.3 points / 4 cuts
Plans for the 1996 campaign have already begun. The competing clubs hope to involve additional area clubs in hosting 704 scale combat events to make next year even better.
Scratch-built Beauties
The scratch-built beauties award for this issue goes to a trio of Soviet fighters built by Jeff Weiss (14 Shady Lake Ct., Sacramento, CA 95834; Tel.: (916) 425-9933). Jeff built a Yak-9, MiG-3, and La-5 from Gus Morfis plans.
- Powerplants: Yak and MiG powered by RJL .15s; Lavochkin (La-5) powered by an MVVS .21.
- Covering and finish: All models covered with Solartex, then painted with Chevron Perfect paints.
- Equipment: Micro servos were used to keep weight down.
- Weights: Yak — 2 pounds; MiG — 2 pounds 2 ounces; Lavochkin — 2 pounds 6 ounces (a touch overweight; Jeff is replacing the wing to reduce weight and wing loading).
Jeff offers the vacuum-formed canopies for his Soviet trio and a few other Morfis designs.
Contacts (summary)
- GAPP: (800) 325-GAPP
- NASA (Burt Dugan): 11090 Phyllis Dr., Clio, MI 48420; Tel.: (810) 686-0655
- Progressive Miniature Aircraft: 2467 North John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32804; Tel.: (407) 298-8257
- Northwest Tool: 6711 Rabbit Ct., Waldorf, MD 20603; Tel.: (800) 755-5687
- Gus Morfis: 4709 Green Meadows Ave., Torrance, CA 90505; Tel.: (310) 378-5679
- Jeff Weiss (canopies): 14 Shady Lake Ct., Sacramento, CA 95834; Tel.: (916) 425-9933
Remember to build, build, build during the winter, and don't forget to check your six!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
