Radio Control: Giants
John A. de Vries 4610 Moffat Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80915
Building season
Building season is in full swing — at least where winter grips the outdoors. If your new Giant Scale project isn't under way yet, here are several leads, tips and sources that might help get you started.
Featured plans
Curtiss P-36 / Hawk 75 (1/5.5 scale)
Jerry Bates has drawn a meticulous set of plans for the Curtiss P-36 / Hawk 75 in 1:5.5 scale. The plans produce an 82-inch-span Giant and form the basis for several prototypes. The set includes five pages plus a pattern sheet, a construction manual, scale three-views and several scale references. The model is intended for large SuperTiger engines (2500–3000) or for smaller Quadra or Zenoah powerplants. Retracts are available and a fiberglass cowl is planned. The plans are a revision of Jerry’s good-flying P-40 design and should produce an exemplary flier.
Contact: Jerry Bates 102 Glenwood St., Mobile, AL 36606
Douglas SBD / A-24 (Giant Scale)
Jerry also offers a spectacular set of Giant Scale drawings for the Douglas SBD / A-24 — Top Gun quality. Send an SASE to Jerry for further details on both models.
Plan enlargement and reproduction
One major frustration for Giant Scalers is finding usable drawings for obscure subjects. Often the only available three-views are too small; copying or successive enlargements thickens lines and obscures true outlines. The ideal method is to scan originals and use a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) program to produce working plans, but CAD requires investment in hardware, software and skill.
R. W. Friestad, a professional engineer and model builder from Cameron, Illinois, has optimized the enlargement and reproduction process. His technique controls line thickness and produces high-quality plan blow-ups that are easy to adapt to model structure.
If you need plan enlargement at a reasonable cost, send a #10 SASE for an order form to: R. W. Friestad R.R. 1, Box 163, Cameron, IL 61423
Pioneer-era and World War I subjects
Giant Scale modelers seem fascinated with Pioneer Age airplanes (bamboo-and-muslin types from about 1910 to the start of World War I). With few construction drawings available beyond Royal Products’ Bleriot kits and a handful drafted years ago for Flying Models, sources are scarce.
By coincidence, Bill Hannan has published Volume Six of his Peanuts & Pistachios International series. It features two enlargeable versions: Santos-Dumont’s Demoiselle monoplane and an early Nieuport. These are fragile and somewhat difficult to balance, but of great interest to Early Birds.
Contact: Bill Hannan’s Runway P.O. Box 210, Magalia, CA 95954
Vickers Vimy and WWI models
Bob Holman has fascinating Vickers Vimy World War I bomber drawings by British designer Dave Boddington. The 1/5-scale Vimy spans 104 inches and is designed for two four-stroke .90 engines. Bob also offers other scale kits and Clerget rotary-engine references that are excellent for WWI English pursuit aircraft.
Contact: Bob Holman P.O. Box 741, San Bernardino, CA 92402
Golden Age racing — Thompson Trophy
There has been interest in a racing class for Golden Age air racers. H-I-G Promotions (Houston, TX) developed a comprehensive set of racing rules for big models of pre–World War II speedsters and conducted the first Thompson Trophy race series during the 1994 Texas Unlimited R/C Air Races & Show (May 10–15, 1994). Michael Wise provided the rules used and a comprehensive listing of available model drawings appropriate to the class. Another "Texas Thompson" was scheduled for 1995.
Contact: Michael Wise / H-I-G Promotions P.O. Box 219181, Houston, TX 77218-9181 Tel/FAX: (800) 741-7985 or (713) 469-3388
Materials and hardware
Honeycomb core material
Expanded honeycomb core material, originally a weight-saving device in full-scale aircraft, is now available for models. A 3/16" paper honeycomb can be faced with fiberglass or carbon fiber to produce an extremely strong but light structural material. It can replace plywood in many model applications (including firewalls if carbon fiber is used as a facing). The bare honeycomb can be cut with scissors; faced material can be cut with a jigsaw. Typical weight savings of around 10% are possible for a Giant.
Source: Aeroplane, Inc. 14850 N.W. 44th Ct., Suite #252, Hangar 102, Opa‑Locka Airport, Opa‑Locka, FL 33054 Tel.: (305) 687‑0556; Fax: (305) 687‑4438
Machined aluminum servo arms
High-torque Giant Scale servos can flex stock servo arms, reducing control precision. Hangar 9 offers machined aluminum servo arms that fit JR, Airtronics and Futaba servos. At 2 mm thickness these arms resist flex and improve control response. Available at hobby shops.
Closing
Build ’em scale, build ’em safe, and build ’em Giant! Have a great 1995!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
