RADIO CONTROL: SCALE
Jeff Troy 19 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Ambler, PA 19002
RCHTA Show
The Radio Control Hobby Trade Association's National Model & Hobby Show was recently held in Rosemont, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). The show was packed with innovative new products across the hobby industry. I promise to have photos and descriptions of many of the best items for you next month.
Industry News
A long list of new products has been recently released. Here are a few highlights:
- Arizona Model Aircrafters — Their big news is the release of their first kit effort: a striking de Havilland D.H.-1a designed by John Cole and based on the Wylam drawings. Extensive flight testing has produced a model with docile, predictable handling qualities. The Arizona kit includes scale construction throughout, CNC- and laser-cut accuracy, all hardware and special fittings, turnbuckles, cockpit instruments, and more. Wire wheels and dummy-engine kits are included. Contact: Gary Meldrum, Arizona Model Aircrafters, 9050 E. Gray Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
- Bob Holman Plans — Bob Holman has added a laser cutter to his workshop and will soon be providing laser-cut parts in many of his kits. He also plans to engrave plaques for contest awards. With the help of Mike Laible doing the computer/CAD work, Bob has cut a scale vintage glider kit and the wing ribs for a 76-inch Albatros C.III. Mike is slated to do the CAD work for the Brian Taylor F4U-1 next. Contact: Bob Holman Plans, Box 741, San Bernardino, CA 92402.
- Robin's View — Announced the first in a series of instructional videos, "How to Paint Pilot Figures," conducted by master modeler Don Typond. The video walks modelers through the detailing process from start to finish, including installation of the finished pilot into an airplane. Subjects include a leather-helmeted Williams Bros. Standard pilot, a DGA Latex civilian pilot, and a Hangar 9 USAAF fighter pilot in full battle gear. Contact: Robin's View Productions LLC, 205 E. Center St., Box 68, Stockertown, PA 18083.
Modelers' Projects
- Bleriot XI-2 (Jeff Davis) — Jeff Davis of Southampton, New Jersey, built a 109-inch Bleriot XI-2 from an old Lockheed Model Airplane Company kit. It is Solartex-covered and powered by a Quadra 40. The Lockheed kit uses pivoting wings (a slope-soaring technique) rather than true wing warping, but Jeff used the rigging and fittings needed to convert the pivot to an actual warp. This is a challenging subject: unstable in full scale and notoriously difficult, but utterly charming when tamed. Persistence, careful CG setup, and low-speed flying skills make it flyable — not much more difficult than a mid-size Telemaster once properly trimmed.
- C-124 projects — A recent column photo showed a C-124 built by Mr. Briggs; however, printing order confusion led some readers to mistake his project for a Docu-Search item. I could not locate Mr. Briggs' address from the mail-in, so Mr. Briggs, please write me with your address and telephone.
The Briggs C-124 inspired several others:
- R. Murray Gransback, Montrose, PA — built a C-124 from a Kyosho kit as a control-line (CL) scale effort; it earned him fourth place at the 1976 Dayton Nats.
- Ben Abrams, Rumsey, KY — built an RC C-124 powered by four O.S. .20s, with fixed landing gear and no flaps. Ben's first C-124 (built in 1985) was damaged on its maiden flight after hitting weeds; the replacement pictured was completed in 1995.
- Loening OL-8 (Charles F. Smith Jr.) — Charles Smith Jr. of Loveland, CO built a 70-inch scratch-built Loening OL-8 from balsa, plywood, and spruce, powered by a well-used Enya .60. The model is covered with silk and painted with Pactra dope. The project was based on a plan in Repli-tec #BKG1-A and a February 1970 American Aircraft Modeler cover photo credited to Margaret Smith. Charles is a member of the Pikes Peak and Loveland RC clubs.
Docu-Search
Readers seeking information or photos, and those who can help, please note the following requests:
- Jeff Longar — Has plans for Dennis Bryant's 77-inch Henschel 126 but needs full-scale photos. He is also looking for plans (not just photos) for the pre‑WWII Douglas O-46A observation plane. Contact: Jeff Longar, 10101 Hart Rd. SE, Olympia, WA 98501.
- Farley M. Palmer — Needs accurate information on the Boeing 747-400. SP, -100, -200, and -300 version data are not pertinent. Contact: Farley M. Palmer, 30562 Knighton Dr., Farmington, MI 48331-5929.
- Que Quigley — Seeks contact-color photos of the full-scale replica Ford Flivver N3128 as built by the Florida Aviation Historical Society. He already has the Scale Model Research photo-pack but wants additional and more recent shots, especially those taken before the airplane was high and hard to photograph at the Lakeland, Florida museum. Contact: Que Quigley, 8730 Oakmont Dr., Boise, ID 83704.
- Jim Deutsch — Wants photos and color-and-markings documentation for the YAT-28 (the turbo version of the T-28). Contact: Jim Deutsch, 4749 Carrie Ann Ln., Abilene, TX 79606.
Docu-Search is a free service. A friendly reminder: many modelers generously help others out of goodwill; a simple thank-you in return is appreciated by everyone.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
