Radio Control: Old-Timers
By Dr. D. B. Mathews
909 N. Maize Rd., Townhouse 734 Wichita, KS 67212
CALLING all SAM (Society of Antique Modelers) members: I had intended to write a little notice reminding all of you to renew your SAM membership — or to join if you haven't already done so. After reading the current issue of SAM Speaks and discovering that nearly 300 members have yet to send in their 1990 dues, I decided to feature the accompanying photo of the SAM Jeffery Standby instead.
Jeffery Standby
This is the second of Bob Jeffery's designs to be featured as an Old-Timer of the Month in this column. The April 1980 "RC Old-Timers" column highlighted Jeffery's Streamlined Cyclone, which, like the present subject, was taken from the 1938 Frank Zaic Yearbook.
An earlier column mentioned Jeffery's feats in Rubber Speed events as well as his incredible output of hand-carved gas model props — over 15,000 between 1935 and 1939 — sold by several hobby shops in the Findley, OH, area for a quarter each. Bob Jeffery also qualified for both the Wakefield and Moffett teams in 1936, an equally impressive accomplishment.
After World War II, Jeffery became involved in the manufacture and development of industrial diesel engines, which led to his eventual ownership of Hancock Diesel in Findley. The original Standby was no lightweight; it is a sturdy and attractive design. If trophies are important to you, build a Bomber or a Playboy. But for the sheer joy of sport thermaling an out-of-the-rut Old-Timer, the Standby will serve you well. It's available as plan #4E4 from Old Time Plan Service, Box 90310, San Jose, CA 95109.
Eldon Breazier of Kingman, KS, wrote about the Standby in a letter that accompanied photos: "For pretty, it has Bomber beat — hell (I also needed something to put my 1947 McCoy .60 redhead in)." Eldon also points out several errors in the Pond plans and says that he followed the Zaic drawings whenever a discrepancy arose. Eldon used an engine he's owned since 1948 and balsa left over from a hobby shop he operated from 1946 to 1948 while a student at Emporia State University — forty-year-old balsa, hmmm!
SAM news / library
Great ideas department: In a recent letter, SAM president Jim Adams mentions that a library is being set up by Gene Wenlock to provide members with reprints of articles and other material from pre‑WWII model publications. Additionally, the long‑awaited list of SAM officially approved model designs, both Gas and Scale, will be available to members. That makes two new reasons to join the society.
Jim also has drawings available for two early deBolt R/Cs — the 1954 Over and Under, a rudder‑only design with a symmetrical‑section airfoil, and the kit version deBolt called the Sonic Cruiser. The Over and Under is intended for .19 power; the Sonic Cruiser for .29 engines. The drawings for both show elevators "for the brave of heart." Each set of drawings is priced at $5 and is available from Jim Adams, 2538 Spurgeon St., Santa Ana, CA 92706.
Tools of the trade
I'm fortunate in having a long‑standing source of worn‑out Iris scissors, Kelly hemostats, and #25 Bard‑Parker handles (my own). For those not so lucky, I recommend Hobby Craft Instruments as a source of new but reasonably priced surgical instruments:
- Hobby Craft Instruments
2979 Cody, Overland Park, KS 66214 Tel. 913/492-1898
You haven't used a good knife until you've used a #25 blade on a No. 4 handle.
RC Scale Duration — additions
Bob Lonsenth has discovered additions to the list of eligible designs for Unlimited Scale Duration originally published in the Aeronews newsletter and recently printed in this column. They are:
- 4‑in. span Eurocopter, published in Model Airplane News, March 1943.
- 48‑in. span Monocoupe 90A, from Air Trails, October 1942.
- 42‑in. span Curtiss O‑52, published in Model Airplane News, September 1942.
Miscellaneous notes and reader contributions
- The Pacemaker — ailerons: Bob Lane, Lake Jackson, TX (15 years old), reports using a K&B green‑head .35 with an aftermarket throttle. He says he reduced dihedral by half; it still has adverse yaw and won't turn without adding rudder.
- Shortly after I sent copy of last month's column, Dr. J. H. Wormley of Midway, GA, sent photos of the Tenton Terror and an Avro. He covered the models with MonoKote and used Hannah Rubber plans. Contact: 110065 E. Gledon Cir., Santee, CA 92071.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
