RADIO CONTROL SCALE
Jeff Troy, 19 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Ambler, PA 19002
Congratulations to the Academy of Model Aeronautics on its purchase of the IMS (International Modelers Show) in Pasadena, California. IMS has been a solid event for more than 20 years, and I'm certain the purchase will help to somewhat ease the massive burden on AMA's ongoing educational and flying site efforts.
Congratulations also on AMA's Grand Event that took place June 12–14. It's good to see the Academy open its arms to car, boat, and railroad modelers, sharing in their pleasures and allowing them to share in ours. Camaraderie like this can never hurt; it can only improve relations between modelers with varied hobby interests. The second Grand Event was a smashing good time—no pun intended.
Thanks go to AMA Programs Director Jay Mealy, who treated a large number of EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Young Eagles—and at least one overweight and balding modeling eagle—to a scenic ride in either of two full-scale aircraft based at the nearby airfield. Jay has done a remarkable job of helping bring modeling to the attention of the general populace. Rarely, if ever, does a trade show run without his presence, spreading the word and making a positive impression on behalf of model aviation and the Academy.
Modelers' Projects
One of the pleasures of this column is getting a close look at the terrific scale models that so many of you have built. Left to my own devices, I wouldn't have nearly so much exposure to models without wing warp and flying wire. Thanks to you, however, I get to see it all; the models, regardless of type, are an inspiration. The better you do, and the more quality I see, the more it makes me want to build something new and improve my own work.
I've seen enough to know that one day I am actually going to build that Platt Fw 190 kit that I bought in Toledo more than 10 years ago; it's just hard to say when that's going to be. So much for my own musings. Here's what I've received recently.
- Don Myers' scratch-built 1/2A Morane-Saulnier Parasol flies on two channels and is powered by a Mills .75 diesel engine. This 1/2A model is covered with English antique Litespan. It carries French roundels on the wing and British roundels on the fuselage, as indicated in Windsock Publication No. 3253. Don's model's vertical stabilizer is all-moving and increased slightly in area, as was the horizontal flying tail. Both surfaces are cable-operated using braided control-line wire.
- Two model reports came in from Ben Abrams in Kentucky. Ben is into multiple engines, as evidenced by his Boeing C-97 and Douglas C-133B. Both airplanes have 90-inch wings and are powered by four O.S. .25 engines. Ben is a strong believer in simplicity, except for the multi feature. Neither model is equipped with flaps or retracts.
- Construction: all-balsa-and-plywood.
- Covering/finish: Super Coverite, painted with a combination of Chevron Perfect Paint and Hobbypoxy color.
- Weights: the Douglas weighs 18 pounds and the Boeing weighs 185 pounds.
- Both aircraft are extremely light for their size.
Docu-Search
There's just one request this month, but it's a good one.
Following the Second World War, several aircraft manufacturing companies looked into product diversification. Convair tested several automobile prototypes, including its ConvairCar, a sort of combination airplane and car.
The 1947 ConvairCar carried the Convair model number 118. Its lower portion was a small automobile powered by a 26-horsepower water-cooled Crosley engine. If ever released, this car—minus the upper airplane section—would have been sold to the public for $1,500, based on a production run of 160,000 units. The upper section was an all-metal, nearly complete airframe attached to the automobile via three fittings and control hookups. Power in the air section was from a 180-hp Lycoming O-435 airplane engine. The intent was to make the upper section available for rent at airports so owners of the lower section could drive to an airfield, rent and attach the "airplane," fly to an airport, drop off the air section, and drive away. Practical idea? Not at all. That's why the project was dropped, but the ConvairCar would certainly make a cool model airplane.
E. E. "Bud" Wolfe has been able to locate only a single black-and-white photograph of the ConvairCar. He is going to build his model no matter what, but he says he could do a more accurate job if one or more of you could share some hard-to-find documentation with him. Bud could use:
- plans
- three- (or more) view drawings
- line drawings
- color information
- any other documentation you may have
If you can help, please contact Bud at 8724 E. Weldon Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251.
Spitfire Build-Along
How many of you thought that the Dynaflite Spitfire build-along project had been abandoned? Well, it is not, and never was. Between the IMS, the East Coast Hobby Show, the WRAM (Westchester Radio Aero Modelers) show, Toledo, the NHRSA Convention in Las Vegas, the AMA's Grand Event, and a few Sundays at Valley Forge, trade show season is a very busy time for me. Now that I'm off the hook until October's National Model & Hobby Show in Illinois, I can resume this project with all the fury of any respectable second wind.
So far, the fuselage and empennage have been brought to a nearly completed frame-up stage. The next chance I get, the project will get back on the bench and construction of the wing will begin, complete with flaps and Robart retracts.
Until then, my friends, build straight and fly safely. We'll do this again.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
