RADIO CONTROL COMBAT
Greg Rose
3429 Elmy, Orion MI 48359
A few months ago, as I sat through what was one of the most miserable winters in recent memory, I began to wonder about the possibility of getting some "virtual" stick time.
Using the Dave Brown RC Flight Simulator (4560 Layhigh Rd., Hamilton OH 45013; Tel.: [513] 738-1576) I fiddled with the Setup menu to create a model that handled like a typical "inline" (.15 c.i.d.) Scale RC Combat airplane.
The resultant "Virtual Airacobra" flies very close to "real" Scale RC Combat models, at least at my computer's clock speed. (You supercomputing speed demons might have to make some adjustments.) By using this program it at least felt like I was getting some decent stick time, even though it was 20° below outside.
Virtual Airacobra setup
From the Setup menu, use the following settings to make your own Virtual Airacobra:
- Stall speed: 30
- Roll stability: 1
- Pitch stability: 39
- Aileron sensitivity: 39
- Elevator sensitivity: 39
- Rudder sensitivity: 1
- Drag: 40
- P/W ratio: 0.9
- Snap/spin threshold: 3
- Snap/spin rate: 9
- Weathervane: 6
- Roll damping: 25
- Aileron low rate: 60
- Elevator low rate: 60
- Fuel supply: 7
- Induced drag: 50
- All remaining settings: 0
You can "calibrate" the clock speed of your computer by timing how long it takes to complete a "full up" (at high rate) loop from level flight at full throttle; such a loop should take about six seconds.
Now that you have something that flies like a .15 fighter, you can turn it into a passable Airacobra with markings for the 362nd Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group by hitting F3, F6, F7, and F11 until you get the wings, fuselage, and wing trim colors all in olive drab; then hit F4 and F5 until both the tail and the stabilizer are white.
It doesn't matter what it's doing outside; you can always get some stick time with your Virtual Airacobra. The only unfortunate part is that you can't tie a streamer on it and duke it out in cyberspace.
If anyone else out there has built a cyberfighter for the Dave Brown or any other flight simulator, drop me a line and we'll share it with other virtual fighter pilots.
New Open-class Combat models
For those who would like to try RC Combat in a more "real" reality fashion, Lew's Hobbies (24640 Clark Rd., Belleville MI 48111; Tel.: [313] 654-0067) has introduced two brand-new Open-class Combat models—each smaller and lighter than their earlier Cim-Lou .25 Combat kit.
- Zip-Lou .15
- Wingspan: 39 inches
- Wing: foam, 380 sq. in.
- Power: sport .15
- Weight: 2.0–2.3 lb
- Speed: up to 65 mph while pulling a streamer
- Zip-Lou .25
- Wingspan: 48 inches
- Wing: foam, 468 sq. in.
- Power: sport .25
- Weight: 2.5–2.8 lb
- Speed: about 10 mph faster than the .15
Compared to the earlier Cim-Lou .25, which it replaced, the Zip-Lou .25 has only a slightly smaller wing but a much smaller and simplified fuselage, making the new design's total weight about 25% lighter than the earlier model.
Both Zip-Lou designs have a floating stabilizer "a la VooDoo" that improves elevator response, and a new tapered wing design to improve tracking.
AirKill Products — short kits for scale combat
For Scale Combat fliers, Jeff Weiss — who had three Soviet scratch-built beauties pictured in this column a couple of months ago — has formed AirKill Products (14 Shady Lake Ct., Sacramento CA 95834; Tel.: [916] 425-9933) to offer "short kits" for modelers building some of the plans offered by Gus Morfis.
Jeff describes a "short kit" as machine-cut ribs and formers, vac-formed canopy and cowl, and other preformed parts; no plans are supplied with the short kits. Gus Morfis Plans: 4709 Green Meadows Ave., Torrance CA 90505; Tel.: [310] 378-5679.
AirKill currently offers short kits for the F4U Corsair, F6F Bearcat, Curtiss P-36, Hawker Sea Fury, La-5, MiG-3, and Yak-9. Call or write AirKill for details.
Scratch-built Bearcat — Leo Spychalla
This month's scratch-built beauty goes to an F8F Bearcat built by Leo Spychalla of Watertown, WI. Leo achieved accurate Bearcat contours by stacking twenty-two one-inch-wide foam blocks and hot-wire cutting accurate cross sections using plywood templates. After assembling the blocks he sanded the shape, covered it with nylon pantyhose coated with epoxy, and painted the entire model with PPG Delstar Acrylic Enamel. Leo says it is very fuel-proof. He also made plugs and vac-formed the cowl and canopy.
Leo chose the Barnes MB2535 airfoil to improve stall characteristics on the small wing. After test flying, the plane was very fast, yet did not fall like a rock on landing. The particular model was built as a Christmas present for his son, who does not plan on using it for Combat, so it was built with a .25 engine and weighs 2.9 pounds. With a .20 engine, Leo says the 2.2-lb legal weight is within reach for the next Bearcat he has under construction. I liked the plane so much I've got to build one for myself.
Leo should have his "Cat" ready in time to join this year's "Great Northern Campaign" in Minnesota. For details on this round-robin campaign, contact Scott Anderson at 6765 Vernar Terrace, Eden Prairie MN 55346; Tel.: (612) 934-1471.
Events and reminders
Now that the flying season is upon us, be sure to check the "Contest Calendar" in this magazine every month for news on who's holding R/C Combat events in your area. Remember to fly safely and have a great time, but never, ever forget to check your six!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
