Radio Control: Combat
Greg Rose, 1312 NW 196th St., Edmond OK 73003
Wild Weekend (Palm Beach Aero Club)
THE SUPER BOWL™ of non-Scale Open Radio Control (RC) Combat has to be the "Wild Weekend" event put on each year by the Palm Beach Aero Club of West Palm Beach, Florida.
If the name of the club sounds familiar, perhaps it's because you've heard of another of its premier events—Top Gun. However, many Combat lovers watch for the Wild Weekend, now in its fourth year.
Wild Weekend is a big-money contest; the purse of several thousand dollars in cash and merchandise attracts a large number of aggressive Combat fliers, and an even larger number of spectators. For two days in March (21–22 this year), 42 pilots fly the skies with their models to vie for bragging rights and the $1,000 first-place prize.
Event Rules
The rules for the event are well thought out to offer a balanced, challenging, and safe event. Each model is allowed only a single, non-bearing engine with a maximum displacement of 0.15 cubic inches. Wingspan is 32–40 inches, and no wing "protrusions" are allowed. The fuselage is 22–30 inches long. Total weight must fall between 1.5 and 3 pounds, and all engines must have safety spinners and be capable of being shut down by remote control.
As an open-design event, several kits are available (including the Wild Thing, on which the event was based) that fit the dimensional requirements for the models.
Scoring
Scoring is simple, with a zero for midair collisions and a four for flying the full heat. An interesting graduated scoring system awards:
- 10 points for each pilot's first cut during the four-minute heat,
- 15 points for each pilot's second cut during the heat,
- 20 points for each pilot's third cut of the heat.
As can be seen from last year's group photo, many pilots and many airplanes participate in the Wild Weekend.
Industry News and New Kits
When you look at the business end of modeling, you typically see a small number of big companies and a big number of small companies, or "cottage industries" as they are sometimes called, serving the needs of modelers. In an area where interest is growing fast, such as in RC Combat, the number of cottage industries can be staggering. There are quite a few new ones, plus a few changes to report this month.
#### WarZone Models WarZone Models has discontinued production of its cut-foam designs because it was unable to keep up with demand. However, there is some good news: a new owner has picked up the line. Those interested in the cut-foam P-47D Thunderbolt, Nakajima Ki-84 Frank, or the Grumman F8F Bearcat formerly offered by WarZone can contact the new (and as yet unnamed) company at 17 Essla Dr., Rochester NY 14612; Tel: (716) 227-0592 for details on kit availability and pricing.
#### Air Kill Air Kill (14 Shady Lane Court, Sacramento CA 95834; Tel: (916) 425-9933) has introduced two new designs for 1/4-scale Combat:
- Macchi MC.200 Saetta (Arrow) — Italian-designed
- Commonwealth Boomerang — Australian-designed
The Boomerang is a little-known and seldom-modeled WWII fighter that was designed during the early, precarious days of the Pacific war. Using components from existing aircraft being built under license in Australia, the "emergency" fighter was to be built in case Australia was cut off from the rest of the Allied countries. Using outer wing panels and the tail of a Wirraway (an AT-6 Texan) mated to the largest engine available in a new forward fuselage, the Boomerang was ordered into production without the luxury of a prototype. Only 115 days passed between inception of the design and first flight of a production aircraft. Hundreds were built, and although Australia never was cut off from supply of American and British fighter designs, the Boomerang was still used in frontline service, where its pilots obtained a good deal of fame and respect.
As with all other Air Kill designs, the MC.200 and Boomerang are of balsa-and-plywood construction with optional foam wing cores available, vacuum-formed canopies, and all of the scoops, bumps, and blisters that make them look good.
Air Kill currently offers the F8F Bearcat, the P-51B, and the Hawker Hurricane and Sea Fury as laser-cut kits, and the Boomerang, MC.200, P-39, F4U, and a trio of Focke-Wulfs (Ta 152, Fw 190D-9, and Fw 190A-8) as machine-cut kits for 1/4 or sport flying.
#### Al Culver Al Culver (Box 469, Potlatch ID 83855; Tel: (208) 875-1347) is kitting a Nakajima Ki-84 Frank, a cut-foam design which is then sheeted with 1/16" balsa. The model features a high-impact PETE cowl (PETE is the plastic that pop bottles are made out of, and can take more impact than ABS parts) and a vacuum-formed canopy. Right now only the Frank is available, but more designs are planned for the future.
#### JDB AeroTec JDB AeroTec (2202 Beck Ln., Lafayette IN 47905; Tel: (765) 474-1738) offers four new kits:
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
- Grumman F4F Wildcat
- P-51D Mustang (bubble canopy)
- P-51B Mustang (razorback)
Kits are cut-foam and balsa, and each features custom vacuum-formed canopies and fiberglassed wing and belly sections for added protection during belly landings. More releases are expected, including the SBD Dauntless.
#### Hangar Bay Aircraft and Check Six Plans Hangar Bay Aircraft and Check Six Plans are working jointly to supply kits and plans for the 1/4 flier.
Hangar Bay (3673 Foxhall Pl., White Plains MD 20695; Tel: (301) 932-7018) offers kits of:
- P-51 Mustang
- P-39 Airacobra
Both kits are built-up balsa-and-plywood construction; Sig canopies are included along with a rolled set of plans and building instructions.
Check Six Plans (29686 Birch Cir., Mechanicsville MD 20659; Tel: (301) 884-2526) offers plans for:
- Mustang
- Airacobra
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
- Dewoitine D-520
- Yak-9
Watch these two companies for more plans and kits.
#### McClain Wing Cores McClain Wing Cores (4616 E. 7th St., Spokane WA 99212; Tel: (509) 536-9454) has a joint agreement with Gus Morris Plans to supply cut-foam wing cores for any of the more than three dozen Morris designs for 1/4-scale Combat. McClain can also do custom designs for other foam core needs. Call or write the company for details.
That's all the room I have. Until next time, build straight (one of the kits mentioned above would make a good building project), remember to fly safely, and, as always, be sure to check your six!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
