RADIO CONTROL SCALE
Jeff Troy, 200 S. Spring Street, Ambler PA 19002
THE WRAM SHOW in White Plains, New York is always a kick. Good people, good stuff. Several items of interest to scale modelers were displayed in White Plains this past February, both in the 100-plus professional manufacturers' exhibits and on the crowded (but well organized) static tables.
I sneaked away from our company exhibit (Coverite) long enough to shoot a few rolls of film and meet with a great bunch of scale modelers who had displayed their airplanes for the static competition.
Static Display at the WRAM Show
- George Rose (Lakewood, New Jersey) — Fokker D.VII
George is always good for a first-class WW I effort. His Fokker D.VII this year is a scratch-built model that spans 58 inches and is powered by a husky Enya .90 four-stroke. At an even 10 pounds and 864 square inches of area, the model has a comfortable wing loading for a WW I aircraft. Airtronics provides the radio guidance for this fabric-and-Hobbypoxy fighter.
- Dick DeBernardinis — Billy Mitchell B-25 (North American B-25)
When you build one as mean and nasty as Dick DeBernardinis', you don't have to classify it — you just put it on the flightline and let it speak for itself. Dick's massive B-25 follows Nick Zirolis' 101-inch plan and is powered by two Zenoah G-23 engines. The fully sheeted and glassed model, "Executive Sweet," weighs 32 pounds and features cockpit and bombardier-compartment detail that will impress the judges.
- Martin and David Succentes (Honeoye, New York) — 1941 Grumman J2F-4 Duck
This father-son team presented an extravagantly detailed Duck spanning 65 inches with full engine and cockpit detail. Weighing just over 13 pounds and finished in polyurethane, the model uses Futaba radio gear and is powered by a .61 engine. The gear floats are retractable; Succentes crafted a highly detailed set of interchangeable handling gear for water or land operations.
- Dick Parshall — de Havilland D.H.2 (circa 1916)
Attention to detail is evident throughout Parshall's D.H.2. The model takes up 84-1/4 inches on the static table and is jam-packed with scale detail, including a hand-laminated prop. It is guided by a Futaba PCM and weighs 20 pounds 4 ounces. Finish is latex paint over Dacron fabric, and all cockpit controls are functional. The model displays scalelike lacing hooks, proper undercarriage fairings on the wings, and a .303-caliber Lewis gun mounted on an exceptionally realistic-looking Scarff ring. The landing gear and tailskid are of the shock-absorbing type, just like the full-scale version. Parshall came to WRAM from Honeoye, New York.
- John Goodrich (South Burlington, Vermont) — Bristol F2B Fighter
John, 72 years old, brought a terrific Bristol F2B Fighter that spans 78-1/2 inches and is powered by an Enya .90 four-stroke. Finished in Sig dope over Sig Koverall and built from Wylam drawings, the model shows extraordinary craftsmanship. John spent four months on research and development before starting construction and six more months to complete it. Controls are operated by cables and pulleys with turnbuckles as per the full-scale F2B Fighter. Sixty-four Proctor turnbuckles and 900 sequin pins were used in construction. I didn't hear how the final awards went, but I'd be surprised if his airplane wasn't on or very near the top.
- Homer J. Hudson (Sarasota, Florida) — P-51D Mustang
Homer drove solo from Sarasota to make the show and brought a fabulous little Mustang that began as a Royal Senior kit but ended up as much more. His P-51D features a sliding canopy, navigation lighting, gun bays, complete cockpit appointments, and is covered in .006 lithoplate. At 13-3/4 pounds and 777 square inches, the SuperTigre .90-powered model flies like a real Mustang: lean and mean with little margin for error. Paint work is Hobbypoxy; the invasion stripes were handled with black and white MonoKote Trim Sheets. The retracts are a mash-up of Spring Air mechanisms, Robart struts, and custom "Homer" yokes. Homer spent almost nine years, on and off, completing the airplane. Futaba provides the guidance.
Several other first-class scale models were on display, but I didn't get acceptable photos of them. Among those I missed are Dick DeBernardinis' .40-powered Byron P-51, Bob Mandell's Fw 190 D-9, and a nicely weathered P-47.
One and all, thanks to the craftspersons who displayed this year. Thanks, too, for having useful information on display next to your airplanes — it made my job more comfortable and provided Model Aviation's readers with much more literary substance than "Fred Jones built this Piper Cub."
Manufacturers' News at the WRAM Show
Regular readers of this column have become familiar with Rich Uravitch's just-for-fun Fokker D.VII, which I promise to complete as soon as my workload thins down a bit.
One of the models that caught my eye at WRAM was Rich's newest D.VII, scaled down from his 1/3-scale model to produce a 51-inch version suitable for a .35–.45 two-stroke or .45–.61 four-stroke. A tight little Royal Aircraft S.E.5a is also available in the smaller version. Unlike the 1/3-scale versions, these smaller models are full kits (not plan-and-plastic sets) and include die-cut balsa and plywood parts, formed wire parts, vacuum-formed cowls, illustrated construction manuals, and full-size plans. For more information, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Rich Uravitch, Leading Edge Models, 15 Newcomb Trail, Ridge, NY 11961.
Papa Nick has done it again. Is there anyone who wouldn't be enthralled with a first-class, enormous Lockheed P-38 Lightning? Nick Zirolis's awesome P-38 knocked me out. The airplane is huge, correct in outline, and documentable. As of the WRAM Show, plans were still in progress; Nick told me plans might be ready for publication soon. A dollar and SASE might get you more information now. Send it to Nick Zirolis Plans, 29 Edgar Drive, Smithtown, NY 11787.
Chuck Gill's Aeroplane Works has just released a kit of Nick Zirolis's Grumman F6F Hellcat. This is one of the most expertly cut kits I've seen; Chuck's workmanship and personal attention are without equal. At first glance, the fuselage portion where the wing is fitted might lead you to believe you're looking at a giant Guillow's 1/4-inch-scale stick-and-tissue model gone berserk, but the sheer weight of the Aeroplane Works box and the size and quality of the individually hand-cut parts will quickly calm you down.
A buck to Chuck will get you a useful package of available airplane kit information from Aeroplane Works: 2134 Gilbride Road, Martinsville, NJ 08836.
Docu-Search and Requests
- Pietenpol Air Camper: The Pietenpol was popular years ago, powered by a Ford Model A engine, as published in Modern Machines and Inventions (possibly 1932). L. Curtis Renner needs a set of plans for a .40-size model. If you know of a House of Balsa .40-size Air Camper kit or other .40-size Pietenpol, please write to Mr. Renner at 286 Bryn Mawr Ave., Auburn, MA 01501.
- B-26 Martin Marauder: John Gottschall is looking for plan sets for the B-26 Martin Marauder about 100–140 inches to suit a pair of Saito 80 four-strokes. If you have or know of anything like this, please write to John at 2910 Forest Ridge Court South, Puyallup, WA 98374.
- Ryan Navion: Richard Browning would like to construct a Navion but is having trouble sourcing plans, cowls, canopies, three-views, photos, or history. Send information to Richard Browning, 8719 East San Victor Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85258.
Well, my friends, time once again to ride off into the cloud of balsa dust. Until next month, build straight and fly safely. I'll talk with you again.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
