RC Soaring at Toledo
By J. Byron Blakeslee
THE 33RD ANNUAL Toledo Radio Control Exposition was held April 10–12. Hosted by the Weak Signals RC Club, this expo is the oldest and largest RC trade show and modeler get‑together in the U.S. This was the first Toledo show I've had the opportunity to attend, and these are my impressions from the standpoint of a sailplane enthusiast — and an all‑around airplane nut.
Overview
The first impression is the tremendous amount to see: 217 exhibitors showing everything connected with the RC industry. Powered airplanes constituted the largest segment, but there were also boats, cars, helicopters, electric planes, sailplanes/gliders, radios, engines, tools, accessories, magazines, and other paraphernalia. A great thing about shows like this is the face‑to‑face contact with manufacturers and importers — excellent for both customer feedback and industry insight. Judging by the displays and eager crowds, the radio control hobby industry appears to be thriving.
In addition to the commercial side, 19 trophies were awarded for categories such as Sport Sailplane, Pattern Plane, Sport Plane, Best Finish, etc. Many models are built specifically as "show stoppers." I talked to the builder of a gorgeous 10‑ft span B‑17 who said he had put in 8,000 hours of work on it — and that his friends were trying to talk him out of flying it!
Highlights
- Winning Sailplane: An impressive 16.7‑ft span flying‑wing designed and built by Mark Kummerow of Chicago. Mark credits inspiration to the Icarosaur design by Gene Dees. Specs:
- Span: 200 inches (16.7 ft)
- Weight: 12 lb
- Sweep: 20°
- Average chord: 11 1/8 in.
- Area: 2,500 sq. in.
- Airfoils: Eppler 174 at root, transitioning to 10% Quabeck tips; NACA 0009 winglets
- Washout: 5°
- Dihedral: 6°
- Winglets: high, 14 in. span × 5 3/4 in. average chord (70 sq. in. each)
- Controls: elevons, flaps, spoilers
- Construction: balsa, spruce, ply, carbon fiber
- Breaks down into three pieces; covered with MonoKote (Mark says about $70 worth)
- Trend: Tremendous upswing in popularity of RC hand‑launched gliders. Most new kits on display were hand‑launchers, usually about 50–60 in. span. The availability of small, lightweight receivers, servos, and Ni‑Cd packs has made these practical. Advantages: low cost, quick builds, easy transport, minimal flying space. RC hand‑launch contests are usually head‑to‑head and very exciting. Some contests allow short high‑starts for launches up to about 60 ft for participants with less arm strength.
Exhibitors
Aerospace Composite Products Co.
George Sparr (recently moved to Los Angeles from Connecticut) supplies high‑tech materials: carbon‑fiber laminates and tape, Kevlar cloth and tape, various fiberglass tapes, carbon rods, and Safe‑T‑Pox laminating resin (the resin Burt Rutan uses). For George's flyer: P.O. Box 16621, Irvine, CA 92714.
Airtronics
Primarily radios. No airplanes shown, but staff (including longtime sailplaners Warren Tihart and Gordon Pearson) demonstrated an extensive line of radios and a forthcoming PCM radio. Sailplane news: Sagitta 900 will be brought back, Andante phased out, Cumic offered only in the "Plus" (118‑in span) version. Olympic 650, Olympic II, and Sagitta 600 kits remain. The Sagitta 900 fills a Standard Class (100‑in span) niche between the Oly II and Cumic Plus.
Al‑Tec Products and Su‑Pr‑Line Products
Both produced by Gary Hutchison, Sidney, OH.
- Su‑Pr‑Line: lightweight plastic pushrods and accessories originally started by Dan Pruss. Plastic pushrods are said to be temperature‑stable.
- Al‑Tec: two useful items for sailplane builders:
- A 6‑in plastic spoiler with vertical blades that deploy above and below the wing; fits wings with depth behind the spar from 1.0 in to 1.56 in. Units can be ganged for more braking.
- Polystyrene gussets called Joint Points to reinforce joints between balsa wing ribs and leading/trailing edges. Made in five sizes for rib thicknesses 1/16 to 1/4 in. Procedure: CyA glue gussets to L.E./T.E., insert ribs, then fillet with epoxy. Joints are stronger and easier to sand.
Aztec Models
A new kit producer offering the Mistral: a 120‑in all‑wood polyhedral thermal plane designed by Alex Reinhardt (Winnipeg) with Bruce Taylor. Features Eppler 391 airfoil, 1,100 sq. in. wing area, dry wing loading ~7.3 oz/sq ft; kit expected around $100. Address: Aztec Models, 6521 Betsworth Ave., Winnipeg, Man., Canada R3R 0K2.
Bridi Aircraft Designs
Joe Bridi (former pattern flier) now offers three RC hand‑launch kits:
- Kastaway: 59‑in span, 380 sq. in., ~15 oz ready to fly.
- Tercel and Flipper: 50‑in span, 270 sq. in., ~11.5 oz; require medium‑to‑small servos and 225–250 mAh battery packs.
Also offers EZ‑1/E‑2 and Windsurfer/Windsurfer 100 (slash indicates Two‑Meter and 100‑in versions). Address: 23625 Pine Forest Ln., Harbor City, CA 90710.
Craft Air
Line includes Freedom Slope Plane, Stepp Two, Drifter II Two‑Meter gliders, and the Windsurfer 100‑in ultralight motor glider. Windsurfer kit listed at $67.95.
Davey Systems
Ted Davey showed the Ariel (new hand‑launch), plus Two‑Meter and 100‑in Prophet kits. The Ariel is a 59‑in hand‑launch type.
Carl Goldberg Models
Gentle Lady remains Goldberg's primary glider and continues to sell well. Goldberg is currently selling more Electra electric kits than Gentle Lady kits, indicating growth in electrics. New product: Ultracote polyester covering film (applies with higher temperature, resists sagging in sun, adhesive doesn't gas, won't bubble during application). Demonstrations were impressive — good for open‑bay glider wings and for trim work without bubbling.
Hobby Horn
Bob Sliff produces Midway and Electric Model Design kits, is president of the Electric Aeromodelling Association, serves on the AMA Contest Board (Electrics), and writes the Electrics column for RC Modeler. His sailplane Gnome is growing in popularity, available in Hand‑Launch and Two‑Meter versions — a Three‑Meter version is planned. Check Hobby Aeromod for ads and prices.
Hobby Shack (HSH)
Large importer/distributor known for Japanese ARFs and Cirrus radios (Futaba‑made). ARF glider: Elite 1.8 SI (Student Instructor) from RPM of Japan. Construction uses thin foam sheeting, paper, and plastic film over balsa/hardwood rib/spar structure. Quick to assemble, durable, stable; available for $86.99. Span 72 3/4 in., Eppler 201 airfoil.
House of Balsa (H.O.B.)
Back in the glider business, producing Two Tee and 2 × 4 Two‑Meter gliders. Expected availability in July or August.
JMGlasscraft
John Fotiou offers the Penetrator (48‑in span P‑51‑like slope ship) with fiberglass fuselage and foam wings; available in Slope or powered versions, Basic ($45) or Deluxe ($64) kits. Also Song Bird (Two‑Meter and 97‑in span versions) and other kits convertible to slope ships. Address: 30820 Mayflower, Roseville, MI 48066.
Bob Martin RC Models
Talon: 50‑in span HL glider with ailerons and full‑flying stab. Wing area 312 sq. in., loading 6.5 oz/sq ft. Fiberglass/balsa molded fuselage, finished fuselage weighs ~1.5 oz before covering. Two‑Meter poly‑winged Pussycat: 630 sq. in., loading 6.1 oz/sq ft. Bob plans to resume production of Duralene‑fuselaged slope ships (Coyote, Katie II).
M.E.N. (Model Engineering of Newark)
Gerry Jarvis offers glow‑engine kits and one sailplane kit: Dwight Holley's 1981 World‑Class winning Gobbler — all‑wood with a laminated wing joiner system. M.E.N. also sells high‑quality high‑start rubber in four sizes. Address: P.O. Box 47, Chestnut Hill, Norwalk, CT 06851.
Hobby Lobby International
Importer of Graupner models (Germany). Popular sailplanes: four‑meter Discus ($349 plus freight), three‑meter LS4 ($227), three‑meter LS6 ($269). Intertec catalog useful for beginners.
Pelican Enterprises
Terry Surma sells a variety of items. Notable products:
- CYA (cyanoacrylate) glue mask — helps users sensitive to fumes.
- Optic Servo Driver (OSD): uses fiber‑optic light pipes (about 3/32" O.D.) to carry signals from receiver to servos in wings, with conversion units translating electrical signals to IR pulses and back. Requires separate 4.8‑V Ni‑Cd pack for wing electronics. Two‑servo unit $39.95 + $3.50 P&H. Address: 265 Oxford Ln., Bloomingdale, IL 60108.
Robbe Modellsport
Large German manufacturer with broad glider line: Plura fuselages and balsa‑covered foam wings. Featured the four‑meter ASW 17 Royal — an impressive ship that has even flown with electric motor in Germany. Direct price $369.95 plus shipping. Complete Robbe catalog $4.00. U.S. address: 180 Township Line Rd., Belle Mead, NJ 08502; phone (201) 359‑2115.
Sailplanes International (Canada / Wales)
Importer of kits made in Wales (successor to Sloane Sailplanes). Line ranges from ARF slope Ridge‑Recruit (~$82.50 plus postage) to a three‑meter ASW 20 ($195 plus postage) and the Sitar Special 83‑in span (copy of the Dassel that won the 1979 F3B World Championship). Address: 15 Ravenhill Rd., Winnipeg, Man., Canada R2K 3K4.
Scale Model Research
Bob Banka sells Foto Pakos to scale enthusiasts and is expanding sailplane/motor glider offerings as demand grows. Address: 2334 Ticonderoga Way, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
Bob Sealy
Produces high‑quality fiberglass fuselages and kits. Offers four generic fiberglass fuselage sizes and nine fuselages for specific designs (from Oly 650 to Merlyn XC ship). Example: Dyna‑Soar XC fuselage (70 in long, molded in two parts) for $75; Sealy 460/1 foam cores $30 (both plus shipping). Also displayed Javelin 56‑in span flying wing — foam‑core, balsa‑sheeted kit for $39 with no vertical surfaces. Address: 521 76th Lane N.E., Blaine, MN 55434.
Sig Manufacturing Co.
Two‑Meter Riser is Sig's glider entry. Comparable to Gentle Lady in price and performance. Sig primarily focuses on power flying.
Mark Smith Models / Dyna Flight
Mark Smith (noted Southern California soaring designer) showed the 118‑in span Ceptor: same wing as the Sensor with an all‑wood fuselage and polyhedral tail. Kit (~$95) includes instructions for polyhedral or straight tips (with ailerons). Mark has combined with Craft Air to form Dyna Flight; both firms will continue selling kits under their names.
SR Batteries
Larry Sribnick offers high‑capacity nickel‑cadmium battery packs in many sizes and shapes — useful for electrics and transmitters. Address: Box 287, Bellport, NY 11713.
Top Flite Models
Scott Christensen showed the Wristocrat (RC hand‑launch with flaps) — reported to fly well and sell briskly. Top Flite also continues Antares straight‑wing sailplane and Two‑Meter Metric. New dark red MonoKote color shown, useful for wing undersides.
Magazines and British Publishers
U.S. magazines were present. Notable British magazines and publishers at the show:
- Argus Specialist Publications, Ltd. (Ron Moulton): Radio Control Models and Electronics (RCM&E) and Radio Modeller. Both have dedicated Thermal and Slope Soaring columns.
- Traplet Publications, Ltd. (Tony Stephenson): RC Model World (two years old), featuring "Silent Flight" correspondent Sean Walbank and Ray Jones' "Power Scale Slope" column. Traplet offers Toledo Show subscription deals; contact Traplet Distribution, 1635 Wade Dr., Paso Robles, CA 93446.
Closing
Toledo was a very busy three days. Apologies if I've missed any sailplane offerings in this coverage. Overall: great displays, interesting new products (notably hand‑launchers and electrics), and a thriving hobby industry.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
