RADIO CONTROL GIANTS
Sal Calvagna, 1335 Broadway Ave., Holbrook NY 11741; E-mail: ncalvagn@suffolk.lib.ny.us
I am frustrated by the long, cold, and miserable winter of 2004. The Northeast weather has again delayed the first flight of the Kangke (SuperKraft) 96-inch Rearwin Speedster ARF. Keep in mind that this column is being written in late February or early March. A phrase from the movie The Outlaw Josey Wales comes to mind: "Endeavor to persevere." So, I will hang in there and hope for more favorable conditions in the coming month.
The Rearwin builds quickly and easily. Because the model is light for its size, it could be flown with a 35cc gas engine or equivalent. I decided to power this model with a Zenoah G-45 gas engine to provide extra power for those demanding maneuvers. Stay tuned for upcoming flight-testing results. For more information on the Rearwin, please visit the Kangke Web site at www.kangkeusa.com or call Kangke at (877) 203-2377.
Warbirds Over Delaware 2004
The 13th annual Warbirds Over Delaware event will take place July 8–11, 2004. The Delaware R/C Club knows how to host an event; they have been doing a magnificent job for the past 13 years.
Approximately 150 pilots and more than 200 IMAA-legal military aircraft typically attend this popular East Coast event. The models range from World War I aircraft through the jet age. There are great people, fantastic airplanes, and it's a lot of fun! If you're interested in attending this year's event, please visit the Delaware R/C Club Web site for all of the pertinent information: www.delawarerc.org/warbirds.htm. See you there!
EDR-111 Pow'R Bus Pro
As our models grow in size and complexity, one of the issues that RC Giant modelers are concerned about is providing ample current to power the receiver and servos. The receiver alone has only a small current draw; it is the servos that are greedy for battery power. Some of today's modern digital servos can provide more than 200 ounces of torque and they are the same physical size as a standard servo. However, these new servos draw approximately 30% more current than their nondigital brethren.
When installing a larger number of these digital servos in a 30–50% model (some using two or more servos on a single movable surface), you can run into a situation where the battery's voltage level can drop momentarily under extreme current load, causing unpredictable receiver operation. In some cases a PCM receiver can go into a fail-safe mode because of a momentary dip in voltage caused by an elevated current draw by the servos.
The EDR-111 Pow'R Bus Pro reduces or eliminates this problem by optically isolating the receiver power from the flight-control (servo) power. When using this system, separate battery sources are used to power the receiver and servos. Even in the largest models, a relatively small 600–800 mAh battery source can be used to power the receiver while a much larger Sub C- or C-cell battery pack (1700–3000 mAh) would be used to power the servos. The EDR-111 can isolate as many as six control channels. If more channels are needed, an EDR-111X expansion cable and a second EDR-111 unit may be installed.
In addition to the Pow'R Bus Pro, if you are building and flying larger models, you should consider using a heavy-duty switch harness. The larger current draws and increased vibration in Giant Scale applications make using a heavy-duty switch a smart move. The Ultra Switch incorporates several useful features:
- a charge jack and charge jack sliding cover
- a switch guard to prevent accidental operation
- a molded rear nut plate that retains the mounting screws (no fumbling to install miniature nuts)
Both products from ElectroDynamics are designed to make Giant Scale operation safe and fun. For more information on these and other products, please contact ElectroDynamics at (734) 422-5420 or write to the company at 31091 Schoolcraft, Livonia MI 48150. Online, visit the ElectroDynamics Web site at www.electrodynam.com.
Harold's Laird Turner LTR-14
Harold sent a photo of his 90-inch-wingspan, scratch-built Laird Turner LTR-14. Piloted by Golden Age racer Roscoe Turner, the airplane won the 1938 Thompson Trophy race with an average speed of 238.4 mph.
The model was designed using Paul Matt three-view drawings and various photos. It was constructed using balsa and plywood. The fuselage was covered in Sig Koverall, and the wings were sheeted and fiberglassed. Sig dope provided the finish.
Four layers of heavy fiberglass cloth were used over a Styrofoam plug to make the cowl. Harold also made the canopy/windscreen. He wrote that it took him seven attempts using a plug in the oven before pulling a canopy that was acceptable.
Designed and flown by Roscoe Turner and modified by Matty Laird, the LTR-14 Meteor—later named Miss Champion—won the Thompson Trophy in 1938 and 1939. This made Turner the only three-time winner of the event since he had previously won in 1934.
It looks as though Harold did a great job designing and building this famous racer. Best to you on your first flight!
Harold is a member of the Valley Forge Signal Seekers club.
Vernon's Giant
Vernon Coop of Joliet, Illinois, builds them big. Shown is one of his latest projects: a 1/4-scale Grumman F2F-6 Duck that he built from three-views. It spans 120 inches and has a fuselage length of 120 inches.
The model is powered by a 3W-150 twin-cylinder gas engine and weighs 54 pounds. The wings are covered in 21st Century cloth. The fuselage is covered in fiberglass cloth and finished in MonoKote spray paint.
Vernon uses a JR radio system and dual JR receivers with 8411 servos for control. He says that the Duck is a great and easy airplane to fly.
Grumman's first amphibian design was offered to the US Navy on paper only. The Navy agreed to fund the prototype. As the first flying boat of the newly founded Grumman Corporation, the XFJ-1 made its maiden flight on May 4, 1933. It had an initial production run of 27 aircraft, with the first delivery made in late 1934.
The aircraft became known as the Duck or Duckling and was crewed by a pilot, an observer, and an optional radio operator. It served as a utility transport onboard aircraft carriers and provided a ship-to-shore link for the Navy.
Production continued until 1941, with the Coast Guard and Marine Corps also deploying the aircraft. Afterward, another 330 J2F-6 models were built by the Columbia Aircraft Corporation. At the end of World War II, a total of 632 Ducks in different variations were built.
Hank Loves the Early Giants
Hank Iltzsch of Seekonk, Massachusetts, has been building early-era RC Giants for more than 25 years. You might say that he is one of the pioneers of 1/4-scale modeling. Throughout the years Hank has built more than 25 1/4- to 1/3-scale models and is currently working on a 1/5-scale de Havilland D.H.6.
Shown is one of his latest projects: an 88-inch-span de Havilland Tiger Moth. The model was built from an M&H balsa kit that he purchased more than 15 years ago at the WRAM (Westchester Radio Aero Modelers) Show in New York.
The model weighs 22.5 pounds and is powered by a Zenoah G-38 gas engine. It has a wing area of 2,150 square inches that gives it a nice 24.1-ounce-per-square-foot wing loading.
All of Hank's models are meticulously built and finished. They have graced the pages of many modeling magazines, and Hank has authored feature construction articles in R/C Model Builder. Keep up the great work, Hank!
So ends another RC Giants column. If you have a subject that you would like me to write about, drop me a line and I'll do my best to accommodate your request.
In the interim, have a great modeling month.
Sal Calvagna
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
