Author: B. Hager
Edition: Model Aviation - 1996/07
Page Numbers: 121, 122
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RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING

Bill Hager 4 Holly Springs Dr., Conroe, TX 77302

The racing season is just getting started here in the South. Those of you up North will have a little more building time because of the weather. Our first Formula I race is in Phoenix. I will let you know what happened in my next column.

It has been quite a while since we have published a list of those who supply you with racing gear. Some of these people operate out of their homes on a small scale, and word-of-mouth is how they get their business. People who are not in the racing circles do not have access to this information, so maybe this will help them find some people with experience and knowledge about competitive racing and flying for sport or hobby.

KITS — FORMULA ONE

  • Lil' Toni: Prather Products (Terry Prather), 1660 Revenna, Wilmington, CA 90744; Tel.: (213) 835-4764
  • Denight Spec., Cosmic Wind: Paul's Flying Stuff (Paul Stenberg), Box 121, Escondido, CA 92025; Tel.: (619) 743-5458
  • Denight Spec., Shark, Estralitta, Cosmic Wind, Long LA-1 Midget Mustang: Calif. Speed Pros, 26612 Las Tunas, Mission Viejo, CA 92692; Tel.: (714) 365-1155
  • Pole Cat: Ritch's Hobbies (Dick Ritch), 4104 Lark, Houston, TX 77025; Tel.: (713) 661-5458
  • Shoestring: Don Rice, 12055 206th, Issaquah, WA 98027; Tel.: (206) 228-4170
  • Shoestring, Lil Toni: Tom Strom, 1420 SW 160th, Seattle, WA 98166; Tel.: (206) 246-4258
  • Estralitta, FAI Midget Mustang, Kaze Killer: Jerry Small, 3204 Johnson Rd, Southlake, TX 76092; Tel.: (817) 379-6468
  • Shoestring, Ole Tiger, Deja Vu: J.P. Hanway, 4932 Brandenburg, The Colony, TX 75056; Tel.: (214) 625-2705
  • Kaze, Stiletto: Gary Hover, 16016 Ave. 288, Visalia, CA 93292; Tel.: (209) 747-0701

ENGINES AND RELATED PARTS

  • Nelson Engines (Formula I, Quarter Midget, Q-500): Henry Nelson, 121 Pebble Creek Ln, Zelienople, PA 16063; Tel.: (412) 538-5282
  • Nelson Engines (Formula I, Quarter Midget, Q-500) Performance Spec (Dave Shadel), Box 3146, Gardnerville, NV 89410; Tel.: (702) 265-7523
  • K&B .40: K&B Mfg. (J & J Brodbeck), 12152 S. Woodruff, Downey, CA 90241; Tel.: (213) 803-1423
  • Jett Engines: Jett Engineering (Dub Jett), 6110 Milwee #J, Houston, TX 77092; Tel.: (713) 680-8113
  • Q-40, QM Engines: Edmonds Engineering; Tel.: (219) 429-6244

MODIFIED — READY TO RACE

  • Tiger Jett: Jett Engineering (Dub Jett), 6110 Milwee #J, Houston, TX 77092; Tel.: (713) 680-8113
  • K&B .40: Lee Custom Engines (Clarence Lee), 10112 Woodward Ave., Sunland, CA 91040; Tel.: (818) 352-3766

ACCESSORIES

  • Bar Stock Engine Mounts: Paul's Flying Stuff (Paul Stenberg), Box 121, Escondido, CA 92025; Tel.: (619) 698-9307
  • Custom-Built Models: Drew Jerina; Tel.: (214) 240-7725
  • Custom-Built Models: Kristopher Wilson; Tel.: (714) 731-5602
  • Painted Pilots: K. A. McDaniels, 14601 Alkosh, Jamul, CA 92035; Tel.: (619) 698-9307
  • Custom-Built FIs: Calif. Speed Pros, 26612 Las Tunas, Mission Viejo, CA 92692; Tel.: (714) 365-1155

If I have missed someone, please let me know and I will try to get you into a future column.

There seem to be a lot of people racing the Four Star 40. Here is something that I found in the Jetero RC Club of Houston:

Four Star 40 "Speed Tricks"

  • Build light — minimum weight 4½ lb. Must use a four-ounce fuel tank.
  • Sand leading edges on fin and stab to a razor edge.
  • Delete section of turtledeck under the canopy.
  • Build extra strength at former #3.
  • Reduce aileron size to save weight.
  • Seal all hinge gaps with MonoKote or tape.
  • Use tail skid instead of tail wheel.
  • Install 2¼-inch racing wheels.
  • Recess landing gear even with the fuselage.
  • Grind leading edge of landing gear.
  • Cut off one cowl cheek and side-mount the engine or streamline/enclose the cowling.
  • Make firewall 0° offset.
  • Use mini servo on the throttle and rudder.
  • Use ballast instead of Lite Ply on fuselage sides.
  • Recess wing saddle and the wing bolt.
  • Use only 250 mAh battery pack.
  • Build an optional foam wing for a spare.
  • Use little or no dihedral in the wing.
  • Strengthen front of spar on built-up wing with x-bracing or sheeting.
  • Use MC-39 glow plugs.
  • Use 9 x 6 or 9 x 7 APC prop.
  • Use older-style adjustable muffler.
  • Break in your engine with a goal of at least 15,000 rpm.
  • Practice, practice, practice flying fast, low, and smooth!

Hope to start getting contest results soon. If your club puts on a race, send me some pictures and a small writeup. I am sure the guys involved would like to read about themselves.

DAYTON, OHIO — FIELD UPDATE

The pictures were sent to me from Phil Walters of Dayton, Ohio. In the early '70s we got the city of Dayton to put in a flying field. Phil wanted to see how things were going. For those of you who sit around and just say how hard it is to find a good field, this is proof of what a little work can get. This field is in the middle of Dayton, Ohio. Phil writes:

"Our relationship with the City Parks Dept. is still very good. In fact, about five years ago, we signed a 25-year lease for the flying field area, and one year ago we built a shelter house at the field. We supplied the material and the city supplied the manpower.

"The asphalt pad near the shelter was for helicopter practice but is now obsolete because of the shelter. We installed a 40 x 45 Pylon Racing takeoff pad north of the east end of the runway, which was necessitated because of the placement of the shelter. Ben Martin still heads up the Pylon Racing agenda."

Thanks for the update, Phil.

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