RADIO CONTROL GIANTS 2003/01
By Sal Calvagna
Contact: 1335 Broadway Ave., Holbrook, NY 11741; E-mail: ncalvagn@suffolk.lib.ny.us
Since I prepared this column for the January 2003 issue of Model Aviation, I want to wish all our readers a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!
I know that this issue will hit the streets in late November, so it’s just in time for the holiday season. If you have not arranged with Santa for your well-deserved RC Giant gift, it ain’t too late!
If you’re looking for an appropriate stocking stuffer for that special friend or loved one, following are a few ideas that any Radio Control (RC) Giant flier could use. Best of luck to you!
- A heavy-duty switch assembly
- An 1800–2400 receiver battery pack
- An expanded-scale voltmeter with built-in load (or one with a separate load button)
- A tachometer
Bob Holman Plans
Bob Holman Plans started in 1961 as a service to scale modelers. Bob is the U.S. distributor for plans and accessories from designers such as Brian Taylor, Dennis Bryant, and Mick Reeves. He also carries a complete line of scale drawings from England and Fred Spring scale drawings from Australia. In addition, Bob offers laser-cut parts for many of the plans he sells, fiberglass parts, and other accessories.
Two of his newest RC Giant offerings from Brian Taylor are a 94.5-inch North American Harvard and an 83-inch Supermarine Spitfire (Mk VIII and Mk IX). The Harvard requires six channels and calls for a 120–150 four-stroke engine. The Spitfire was designed for a 1.5-cubic-inch four-stroke engine. Accessories for both are available.
Bob also makes beautiful awards and plaques with his laser equipment. For more information:
- Phone: (909) 885-3959
- Web: www.bhplans.com
- Mail: Bob Holman Plans, Box 741, San Bernardino, CA 92404
3 Sea Bees Models Inc.
3 Sea Bees Models Inc., of Lake Stevens, Washington, is the exclusive North American distributor of K&W Model Airplanes Inc. The company offers a limited production of high-quality, custom-built RC and display aircraft in 1/5 stand-off scale and museum-quality models.
The models are available already built, covered, and painted (Almost Ready-to-Fly), complete with all hardware except the engine. They are also available in Almost Ready-to-Cover (ARC) versions. All of the company's aircraft are handmade in the Philippines. Having spent a couple of years in the Philippines, I can attest to the high level of woodworking craftsmanship found there.
Many designs are unique and do not fall into the “me too” category, such as the Thomas-Morse Scout, the Thulin Type K, a Blackburn Type D, and a Bristol F.2B. Besides model aircraft, the company offers hardware kits, pilot figures, detail kits, and many other accessories.
For more information:
- Web: www.3seabees.com
- Phone: (425) 334-6089
- Mail: 3 Sea Bees Models Inc., Box 747, Lake Stevens, WA 98258
Jim McGee — Aurora, Colorado
Jim McGee is pictured with two of his great-looking RC Giants. One is a Midwest SNJ featuring an 83-inch wingspan, powered by an O.S. 1.60, equipped with Robart retracts, and covered in UltraCote. The all-up weight is 12 pounds.
Jim has a great technique using UltraCote to add panel lines: he cuts the UltraCote into 3/64-inch strips to imitate the panel seams. He has done an excellent job building and finishing this model, which has already won three trophies including Pilots' Choice, People's Choice, and first place in Best WWII Aircraft.
The color scheme replicates a full-scale Reno racer that was forced to make an emergency landing on Colorado Boulevard in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, while en route to the Reno National Championship Air Races a few years ago. The aircraft's radial engine was repaired on-site and remarkably flew out again!
The other model is a 29% Edge from an Aeroworks kit. The model has an 84-inch wingspan, UltraCote covering, weighs 14 pounds, and is powered by a Brison 3.2 gas engine. According to Jim, the model has unlimited vertical performance and is the best model airplane he has flown to date!
Jim is celebrating 50 years of model building. He began at the age of 7 with a 10-cent Comet kit and has been building ever since. Jim is a licensed A&P mechanic, a licensed commercial pilot, and a flight instructor—credentials he attributes to his model building and flying.
A celebrity himself, Jim is documented as the first pilot to land at the newly constructed Denver International Airport in October 1992, although the airport didn't open until 1996. He was flying his Mooney M-20 when the engine seized abruptly with the propeller in the vertical position. He declared an emergency and landed safely on runway 26 among construction vehicles. We congratulate Jim on his 50 years of model building. Jim, we look forward to many more!
Central California Model Club
Jim Laird of Merced, California, sent a photo of himself and two other Central California Model Club members. Shown are:
- Jim Laird with his 1/4-scale Cub
- Nick Aniasco with his Sukhoi Su-26X
- Bob Towner with his PT-19 military trainer
I guess those are some of the lucky AMA members who get to fly models all year! I'm definitely jealous!
Letter from John Braun (excerpts)
I received a wonderful letter from John Braun of Manalapan, New Jersey. I will not print it in its entirety, but I thought you would enjoy these excerpts.
More than 25 years ago, my father (John Braun Sr.) introduced me to this wonderful sport of model aviation. I was only 6 or 7 years old when he pulled out an old Tri-Squire from the attic he had built years before. It snowballed from there and in a few short years I soloed at the age of 11. I'm now 31 years old and this father-and-son team is still going strong!
Over the years, Dad has taken a back seat to the flying and focused his attention on his master building skills. Occasionally he'll take the transmitter for some stick time, but otherwise I do 100% of the flying. Because of this, I always seem to get all the credit. I'm not embarrassed to say that my flying ability is due to all the time he spent with me and the dozens and dozens of airplanes he produced that flew perfectly right off the board!
In the last few years, our interest in the hobby has evolved into what else? Obviously, Giant Scale, and that is why I write to you today. Dad's latest creation was an SNJ-5 built from a Yellow Aircraft kit. The airplane was done up in white-and-red Marine markings and was affectionately named The Purple Fox due to its close affiliation with the Purple Fox Helicopter Squadron in Vietnam.
We used a Zenoah G-62 for power, Robart retracts, and it weighed just under 30 pounds using automotive and Krylon paint. Custom graphics were made on a computer to replicate the full-scale aircraft, and the airplane featured a highly detailed cockpit and working landing lights. Just like all the others, the SNJ-5 flew right off the board.
Unfortunately, the day came to an end when we lost the wing in straight-and-level flight while approaching the field at high altitude. Needless to say, the airplane was destroyed to the extent that the engine and radio gear were also damaged.
Only a modeler knows the pain you feel when you have to load a pile of debris into the back of your truck for a long ride home. Although Dad and I were extremely disappointed, we realize that this is just a part of the hobby.
My father and I would really enjoy seeing the old SNJ-5 in the pages of Model Aviation and for once I'll make sure he gets the credit!
John, your wish is my command! John Sr., you did a beautiful job building and painting that SNJ! It's great to see a father and son who share and enjoy this hobby as much as the two of you do. I hope that one day my 7-year-old son will do the same and share this great hobby/sport with his dad. The very best to both of you!
That's it for this month. My New Year's resolution is to finish all those models I have started. Anyone doing odds?
As always, send me photos and descriptions of your best RC Giant. I would be happy to include them in a future column.
mcg
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
