Radio Control: Pylon Racing
GREETINGS TO ALL you fellow modelers out there in the modeling world. This is a first for this (writer?) modeler as a contributing writer to a monthly magazine, so please bear with me. Probably a lot of you modelers are wondering-who is this nut Dave Lane? Well, I will try to give you a short resume of my activities. I have been involved with models since 1941. Between '41 and '60 most of my experience was in free flight and FF scale. In 1961 RC discovered me and I have been hooked ever since. I became involved with Pylon in 1965 and have either competed or called regularly up to the present time. I also judge pattern competition as a USPJA member.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
LAST MONTH I stated that we would talk about "Quickie 500" racing. I would like to regress just a bit to 1/2A racing to mention that Dick Russ of Allied Models is bringing out a new 1/2A racer called "1/2A Streaker." I was able to look at one of the prototypes of this little speedster and was impressed with its appearance. Dick mentioned that they had flown three prototypes before being satisfied with the performance. The plane is very clean with a semi-cowled engine and spinner, uses the Ace foam wing an all-balsa tail and fuselage. The 1/2A Streaker will sell for under $20.00 which is a very reasonable price considering the cost of balsa these days.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
THIS MONTH'S article will be devoted to 1/4 Midget Racing. The intent of 1/4 Midget was to provide an inexpensive form of Pylon Racing for the serious racing competitor that could not afford Formula 1. In the beginning, this probably was true, but as the pilots, planes and equipment became more sophisticated, the price of racing increased. The past two years have seen a considerable increase in the cost associated with 1/4 Midgets, primarily in the engine and accessory departments. The big controversy going on at this time is whether to limit the price of the engine to $60.00. This obviously eliminates the Rossi .15 that dominates the races when it is allowed.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
THIS MONTH'S article will be devoted to Formula One type racing aircraft. Hopefully, I can interest the non-Formula One people to try it. If you do, you'll like it!! Jerry Nelson fathered the idea of racing miniature aircraft that resembled the full-scale midget racing planes using the Continental "0-200" 100-hp engines. When Jerry started this "insane" event, the only .40's available were the O.S. Max, Fox, Supertigre and K&B. All of these engines were front rotors. The times then turned were usually 3 minutes plus.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
THIS MONTH I would like to talk about construction techniques for the individual that has not tried Pylon racing because he thinks it is too difficult. (I was corrected on my article about Q-500 aircraft in that the wing thickness is 12% instead of 15% as I stated. Thanks to Greg Doe for the correction.) Now, for the construction of foam wings. It seems that a lot of the modelers around the country either do not like foam, or are afraid to try them. Foam wings are not difficult to build if you follow some rather simple, but important procedures. There are probably many different ways to build foam wings but I will only attempt to discuss the method that has been successful for me.
