Author: Jeff Troy
Edition: Model Aviation - 2001/02
Page Numbers: 106,107
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RADIO CONTROL SCALE

Jeff Troy 19 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave., Ambler, PA 19002

Model Aviation now has an Aeromodeling Editor, and I think you'll see subtle changes and improvements in the magazine in the years to come. Robin "Bob" Hunt is the new man, and he brings a wealth of valuable aeromodeling experience to MA's pages. Bob gave modelers reliable information as the editor of Flying Models for more than 17 years. He was inducted into the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame in August.

Bob is a World Champion (1978) in control-line precision aerobatics—"stunt" to the layperson—and he has several brilliant model designs to his credit.

Years ago I built one of Bob's Super Tigre .46–powered World Champion Genesis stunt models. Because of his unique ability to impart hands-on knowledge by way of the written word, the model turned out a few clicks better than it might have otherwise. As a result, my Hunt Genesis has been on display in the AMA Museum since 1987.

Bob has aeromodeling experience across the board; he is an experienced radio-control, control-line, and free-flight flier, a dedicated modeler, and a consummate craftsman in each aeromodeling category.

I think we're about to enter a new era of informative publishing in Model Aviation's feature articles. Please join me in welcoming Bob Hunt to Model Aviation. I grew up reading this guy's work, and I learned a lot about modeling from him—so will you. He's a friend, and is definitely one of the good guys.

Back up, Jack! Ignorance may be bliss, but it's more fun to get a good enlightening every now and then.

Letter from Paul M. Bergstrand (South Carolina)

Last August I received a very informative letter from South Carolina modeler Paul M. Bergstrand. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I did.

A Readers' Projects paragraph in the October Radio Control Scale column mentions that "Texan Carl Hock built a colorful pair of good-guy/bad-guy Buffalos." This sounds like the good guy is the USA and the bad guy is a Nazi. The problem is that the other Buffalo is actually representing a Finnish fighter.

Confusing the Finnish hakaristi with the Nazi swastika is a common mistake. The Finns adopted the light-blue hakaristi on their aircraft during WWI. The black Nazi swastika is at a 45-degree angle from the hakaristi and was adopted years later.

Adding to this misidentification problem is that Finland was a co-belligerent against the Soviet Union. Finland was attacked by the Soviet Union in 1939 and stood their ground alone. Several western countries—USA, Great Britain, Italy—provided some material support with the shipment of second-hand aircraft, such as the Buffalo, to be used for the defense of Finland.

Finland, however, was eventually forced to cede some of their land to the Soviets. When Nazi Germany later attacked the Soviets, the Finns took this as an opportunity to regain their territory, and became a co-belligerent against the Soviet Union. To my knowledge, the Finnish military only engaged in action against the Soviets, and that action stopped once their territory was regained.

I am pointing this out because it is a common mistake, and many of your loyal readers (and I count myself as one of them) will end up confusing the light-blue hakaristi of Finland with the black Nazi swastika. Who is wearing the white hat can be another discussion.

I have included several web sites that can provide more and better historical detail:

Thank you, Paul. I really appreciate this kind of correspondence. It's constructive, informative, and it does a good job of helping us toward a better understanding of this very difficult time in world history. Paul also recommends Finnish Aces of WWII, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces #23, published in 1998 by Osprey Publishing Ltd., 443 Park Ave. S., Suite 801, New York, NY 10016.

Docu-Search

Is this "National Buffalo Month" or have I missed something?

  • Rodney Abrahams is looking for three-views and plans for the Brewster Buffalo in 1.20 size. He describes the aircraft as "an early WWII fighter that provided the turkey for the Japanese Zero's turkey shoot in the Battle for Wake Island." If you have anything that fits the bill, please contact Rodney Abrahams, 170 Rock Run Rd., Port Deposit, MD 21904.
  • Robert Hixson has three-views of the Dalotel DM-165 Viking but is seeking photographs of the full-scale aircraft and anecdotal and factual information. How many of these aircraft still survive? Where are they? Robert claims that "experts" have advised him to abandon his quest; despite that, he hopes you can provide information. Contact Robert Hixson, 1242 36th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122.
  • Joe Gratzer would like to locate plans and a good three-view for the Northrop YC-125 Raider. Joe writes: "The commercial version was known as the N-23 Pioneer. I have seen the full-scale aircraft at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, but I have not been able to locate any plans. I would like to build the model as an electric, using three Speed 400 motors and a wingspan between 50 and 60 inches. Any help would be appreciated." Contact Joe Gratzer, 886 Hwy. 85 Connector, Brooks, GA 30205.
  • Charlie Gay needs plans, photos, three-views, drawings, and anything else he can accumulate to document the Folkerts SK-2 racer. He is particularly concerned with photos of the cockpit and retractable gear. According to Charlie, this aircraft is also known as "Toots" or "The Foo." Can you help? Contact Charlie Gay, 15 Runway Rd., Tunkhannock, PA 18657.
  • Tim Cassidy seeks specific color verification on the "white" Fieseler Storch. "This particular variation was used by the Germans in Poland about 1939," wrote Tim. "The model I am building is 1/6 scale. Any help will be appreciated." If you have ever tried to match film coverings or have owned a General Motors car from the 1980s, you've probably already learned that white isn't always white. If you can come up with specific color documentation, please contact Tim Cassidy, 395 E. Market St., Stockton, CA 95202.
  • Jim Fullaro needs a copy of Squadron/Signal Publications' F7F Tigercat in Action. This title may be out of print, but it should be readily available from almost any hobby shop or bookstore in the U.S. if it is still in circulation. If you strike out locally, try Squadron/Signal Publications, 1115 Chew Dr., Carrollton, TX 75011. If the book is a memory and you have a copy you no longer need, please contact Jim Fullaro, 122 Candee Ave., Sayville, NY 11782.

Build straight and fly safe, my friends. We'll do this again.

MA

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