Signs of the Times
By Duke Iden
Are you trying to squeeze some final credit from your card so you can get a new kit everyone else will have by the time you're finished? Tired of researching how that P-51 of the Fourth Fighter Group at Debden Field looked on the morning of June 8, 1944? Or really tired of putting up with all those construction signs on the way to work?
Take heart—Glen Stucker of Cincinnati, Ohio has a cheap outlet that takes care of all those frustrations. He makes strange things from Styrofoam, such as flying saucers, flying irons, shirts—and now flying traffic signs. He's still on the loose and still at it.
Materials & power
- Power
- Typically uses .40–.50-size glow engines with mechanical servo linkages—no computer gear.
- Has also flown electric versions using small motors and batteries.
- Construction materials
- Foam (Styrofoam) sourced at the local hardware store.
- White or yellow Elmer's glue for general assembly.
- Epoxy at stress points.
- Cyanoacrylate (superglue) for quick bonds and small repairs.
Building tips
- Weight
- Don't worry about weight—Styrofoam is very light and large wings help; weight is rarely a problem.
- Electric
- Electric setups work fine—just avoid impractical choices (for example, don't sculpt a pilot out of brick).
- Aerodynamics — what makes them fly
- Set the center of gravity about 20–25% back from the leading edge (20–25% of the chord).
- Add 5–7° of downthrust.
- Set the elevator 2–4° up.
- The setup should be a little tail‑heavy; this arrangement works almost every time.
- Size
- Typical models are about 48 inches long and about 30 inches wide.
Clubs & shows
The Academy of Model Aeronautics Show Team Hurricanes (Cincinnati) and the Greater Cincinnati R/C Club (GCRCC) use these different, entertaining aircraft to delight children and spectators at airshows. They are cheap, easy to build, and can be repaired quickly. If you have a pet peeve and would like to make it fly away, follow the guidelines above and start building.
Contact
Duke Iden 1845 Reed Rd. Lima, OH 45804
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
