Radio Control: GIANT SCALE
Bob Beckman
Air Show Team operations
The following isn't really about Giant Scale, but I think it needs to be said.
For over a year now, I've been a member of our club's Air Show Team, the Virginia Air Show Squadron. When I was first asked to join the team, I hesitated and thought long and hard about it. At the time I was getting heavily involved in Giant Scale and was about ready to start this monthly column. Adding another responsibility, especially one that would commit many of my weekends, didn't look like too smart a move. In the end, obviously, I decided to go ahead with it, and that has turned out to be one of the better decisions of my life.
Not that it hasn't been a lot of work! In fact, if I had really appreciated what was involved before I started, I probably would have opted out. Now I know both the effort required and the rewards, and the bottom line is positive — and the gains show up in several different areas.
First, of course, there is the camaraderie that comes from participation in any group effort. I've come to know and appreciate my fellow team members far beyond the casual greetings at the field that used to prevail.
Then there is the satisfaction that comes from entertaining people; not just demonstrating model airplanes, but using our aircraft and our expertise to entertain. This is particularly rewarding when the audience consists of handicapped children, as several have been this year.
Finally, there is the very real improvement in my own skills brought about by the discipline required for air show flying. I've been flying RC for most of the last 35 years. During that time, my skill level has fluctuated, depending on how active I had been and what kind of flying I was doing. For 10 years or more, I've been a sport flier, reasonably competent but not really pushing myself. Being pushed by teamwork has done me a lot of good.
Early in the year a situation came up that really brought the point home. We were scheduled for a show for a group of handicapped children at a location — a local high school football field. It hadn't sounded too bad when we talked about it, but on Saturday morning I had second thoughts. What I hadn't realized was the approaches to the field. Takeoffs had to be short and steep to avoid a power line; landing approaches were around goal posts at the end, and we would be overflying an adjacent baseball field — a real short-field operation. I just wasn't up to it. No doubt the plane, SIG Kavalier, could hack it, but I decided I'd better be a helper-only that day. The next week I went out after work and practiced short takeoffs and landings. Now I know what an airplane can do in very small field operations and what I can and won't attempt. I won't sit out shows like that in the future — I'm a better flier in general, too.
Before I leave the subject I want to talk about show team managers. The general manager, Chuck Thomas in particular, has one of the most demanding jobs that has ever come down the pike. It's like being a Contest Director — spending one weekend a whole flying season and the rest of the time lining up next season's shows. Chuck is the guy who has to make sure everyone and everything is ready should someone or something come up short. Chuck dips into his own resources — physical, mental, emotional and financial — to plug gaps for us. I know the job Chuck does; without him we wouldn't have a team. I'll bet it's the same with other show teams. Hey guys, have you hugged your manager lately? I don't think you ought to wait.
New Quadras coming
At the IMAA Eastern Regional Fly-in at Napoleon, Ohio over the Labor Day weekend, I met Bob Cooper, the new Quadra marketing manager at Trail Manufacturing. Bob had some interesting comments on Trail and their interest in the Giant Scale market. He followed up with a letter, part of which reads:
"Starting with this month's (Sept. '80) production run, all Quadra engines will incorporate our new cylinder block.
External changes:
- Elimination of peak cooling fins above the spark plug boss.
- Elimination of cooling fin flashing along the mold separation line.
- All mounting screw lands have gusset supports for increased strength.
- Exhaust port and carburetor mounting faces have been increased in size to add strength.
Overall, the cylinder block has a much cleaner general appearance, but more importantly, all areas considered weak have now been corrected.
Internal changes:
- Bypass ports have been increased in size, and deflection angles changed.
- A new connecting rod is being used.
- A new crankshaft is being incorporated.
All of the internal changes add up to as much as a 10% increase in peak horsepower and performance."
Bob went on to say that, in order to reduce customs problems and delays, all U.S. orders will be filled from their Port Huron, MI facility, and that Dario Brisighella will be doing Quadra repair and all factory warranty service in the U.S.
Christen Eagle kit coming
Another new acquaintance from Napoleon is Darrell Higgins. Higgins Aero Composites, Inc. is producing a Giant Scale CAP 20L using fiberglass and urethane foam (which, incidentally, is impervious to gasoline), and production techniques used in both R/C and full-scale aircraft. Don't confuse this with fiberglass fuselage—foam core wing construction. It's much more sophisticated than that, and I'll have more to say about it in a future column.
The point is that they are already tooling up for their second offering, the Christen Eagle, in a size slightly larger than 1/4-scale. Darrell says the kit will include ultrathin peel-and-stick decals in full color for duplicating the Eagle's fantastic color scheme.
Fiberglass cowls
It seems that every place I go, I run into Tom Keeling, and yes, there he was at Napoleon. Since I first met him at Las Vegas in '79, I've been hinting to him that I'm going to need a cowl for my Sparrowhawk. Tom's T & D Fiberglass Specialties puts out numerous items for kits and plans available in Giant Scale. If you're interested in what's available, send an SASE to T & D Fiberglass Specialties, 30925 Block, Garden City, MI 48135.
Fleet Finch fan
I got a letter from Harold Lake asking for a source of plans for the 1942 Fleet Finch. He wants to build a 3/8-scale version of the old trainer. If you can help, send any drawings or other information to R.D. Finch, Route 3, Mexico, NY 13114.
Fly-in notices
This is a plea to all of you who will be organizing Giant Scale activities in 1981. Please let me know the details as soon as possible, so I have a chance to let other people know. This past season, there were a lot of Big Bird Bashes that I didn't hear about until too late. Remember, I need three to four months' lead time to get something into my column. Since many of our fly-ins aren't included in the AMA calendar, the various big bird columnists are the best bet for getting the word out.
Plan reviews
In my last column, I gave you a list of the plans on hand waiting to be reviewed. There are a couple more to add to the list. Nick Ziroli sent me a set of his Corsair plans, and "Doc" Godfrey came through with his Super Stearman plans. Don says he has put out more than 800 sets so far.
Next month I'll review Wendell Hostetler's Liberty Sport and Bucker Jungmeister. Each month I'll try to do one or two plans, in the order I received them.
Flash!
In the November issue (which just got out at this writing), I mentioned the need for larger, stronger, better hardware. I just got off the phone with Darrell Higgins, who informs me that his company is starting production on a line of turnbuckles, clevises, and ball joints. Screw size is 4-40, and the material is aluminum and steel. He promised samples and literature ASAP, and with luck I'll be able to tell you about them next month.
Bob Beckman 8248 Holly Grove Court Manassas, VA 22110 Phone: (703) 369-2432
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
