Author: Sal Calvagna
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/09
Page Numbers: 88,89,90
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Radio Control Giants

By Sal Calvagna [ncalvagn@suffolk.lib.ny.us]

WELCOME BACK! I have shown you many great models in this column, but every once in a while I have the opportunity to feature truly outstanding aircraft. This month I’m fortunate to be able to show you two such “works of art,” so let’s not waste any more time and get to them!

Ed Newman’s Macchi MC.200

Ed Newman of Fort Worth, Texas, used a set of enlarged plans by Giuliano Raimondi to build a 1/4-scale version of the Italian Macchi MC.200 “Saetta” (Lightning). It spans 104 inches and weighs 44 pounds.

Construction and equipment

The fuselage is planked balsa covered with 3/4-ounce fiberglass cloth using Zap finishing resin. Sierra Precision fabricated the landing gear and wheels specifically for this project. The gear is made so that the trunnion shaft sticks forward through the spar, placing the strut in front of the spar while the cylinder remains hidden behind it.

Ed’s MC.200 is powered by a Fuji .86 twin-cylinder ignition gas engine that has more than enough power to swing the Xoar 24 x 10 propeller. The paint is Klass Kote and the color scheme is based on the Macchi MC.200 that resides at the Air Force museum in Dayton, Ohio. Lee Rice flew this model to a third-place finish at the 2010 Top Gun Scale Invitational.

Background and credits

Ed is no stranger to outstanding aeromodeling. A self-confessed Fieseler Storch addict, he designed and drew plans for that aircraft in 1/4, 1/5, and 1/6 scale and offers them via his website. He has also designed and drawn plans for a number of Proctor Enterprises models. Ed has worked as a draftsman for 37 years and is a member of the Greater Southwest Aero Modelers RC club of Fort Worth. Congratulations on such a beautiful model!

Full-scale MC.200 — design and service

Mario Castoldi was the lead designer of the full-scale MC.200 and was instrumental in creating several racing aircraft that competed for the Schneider Trophy in the years before World War II. In designing a modern fighter, Mario proposed an all-metal, cantilever low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear. The distinctive hump was designed to elevate the cockpit so the pilot would have an unobstructed view over the engine cowling.

The MC.200 wing incorporated an advanced system in which the hydraulically actuated flaps were connected to the ailerons; when the flaps were deployed, the ailerons drooped. Unusual features included a sharp leading edge and the left wing panel built longer than the right wing panel to help counter the rotational torque of the engine.

Early in the war, the MC.200 fought over Greece, North Africa, Yugoslavia, the Mediterranean, and Russia. It was exceptionally strong, had an excellent kill ratio, and could outclimb many Allied fighters except the Supermarine Spitfire. The radial air-cooled engine made it an excellent choice for ground attack, and several units used it as a fighter-bomber. The first 240 MC.200s delivered had fully enclosed cockpits; however, pilots rejected this feature and requested open cockpits, which were common for the time.

Although one of the better Italian fighters, the MC.200 lacked firepower—carrying only two Breda 12.7mm guns—and was produced in too-small numbers. Only approximately 1,150 were manufactured because of antiquated production techniques.

Les Mason’s Clark Industries Hawker Hurricane

Les Mason of Santa Ynez, California, constructed a magnificent Clark Industries 1/4-scale Hawker Hurricane. It spans 120 inches, weighs 60 pounds, and is powered by a Clark 104cc in-line twin gas engine.

Construction and equipment

  • Fuselage and wing center section: fiberglass
  • Outer wing panels and empennage: built up using light plywood and balsa
  • Landing gear: scale appearance and operation; fabricated by John Rowlings of England
  • Covering and paint: Nelson Hobby Specialties
  • Radio: Futaba FASST (Futaba Advanced Spread Spectrum Technology)
  • Features: sliding canopy; control stick moves with elevator operation

Les took eight years to complete this masterpiece. Brad Hensley of Seattle, Washington, did the test flights and reported that the Hurricane is extremely stable, has lots of lift with the thick wing airfoil, and rolls slowly, much like the full-scale aircraft.

Full-scale Hurricane — design and service

Sydney Camm designed the legendary Hawker Hurricane in the mid-1930s. Initially a private venture using existing production tooling and methods, it was essentially a monoplane version of the Hawker Fury. A high priority was pilot visibility; like the Macchi MC.200, the cockpit was mounted high in the fuselage, creating the humpback profile. The Hurricane’s thick wing airfoil made it a stable gun platform.

The Hurricane’s wings were initially produced with fabric covering; later models used fully aluminum-covered wings, which increased diving speed by about 80 mph. Even though the wings had different covering materials, they were interchangeable. This and other construction techniques made the airplane easy to build and repair and helped lead to production. The first production model, with the Merlin II engine, flew in 1937. During the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes were responsible for 70% of German losses. More than 14,500 were built.

Top Flite P-47 Thunderbolt (new Giant Scale offering)

One of the newest Giant Scale offerings from Top Flite is its 85-inch-wingspan, International Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAA)-legal P-47 Thunderbolt. It is between 1/5 and 1/6 scale, constructed using balsa and plywood, has a one-piece wing with wing joiner, and sports a painted fiberglass cowling.

Kit features and recommendations

The model comes standard with fixed prebent landing gear wire but is designed to accept:

  • Robart retractable main gear (item 622P47)
  • Robart retractable tail wheel assembly (item 160LWC)

The P-47 kit includes prebuilt fuselage, wing halves, tail assemblies, landing gear, wheels, hardware, spinner hub, hardware package, fuel tank, replica radial engine, cockpit kit, decals, and a photo-illustrated instruction manual.

This P-47 requires a five- to seven-channel radio—four channels for the standard control functions plus flaps and optional retractable landing gear. Top Flite recommends using an engine ranging from 2.6 to 4.0 cu. in.

I have seen two of these Thunderbolts completed: one had a Desert Aircraft DA-50 engine and the other a Zenoah G-62 gas engine. Both sported Robart retractable landing gear and flew exceptionally well with more than ample power. With a wing loading of 34–37 ounces, the Top Flite P-47 is an excellent performer from takeoff to landing. Nice job, Top Flite.

That’s all for now. Enjoy the flying season, and start thinking about that winter project.

Sources

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.