Radio Control: Old Timers
THE PRIDE of Philadelphia: As most modelers interested in old-timers are aware. Dick Mathis (M&P Models) of Lone Oak, Texas is producing kits of the "Flying Quaker" in the original 84-in. span, and in a scaled-down 54-in. version. The Quaker Flash is a 67-in. development from the original large Quaker, but is not a scale-down. Originally, it was developed to fit the then new and exceedingly popular Baby Cyclone engine. The kit drawings also show a Brown Jr., presumably as an attempt to broaden the appeal, but any throttle setting above 1/2-open with a Brown would certainly have overpowered the model. Construction was fairly standard for 1937, utilizing 1/4" sq. balsa fuselage members pinned at the joints (no Aliphatic resins in those days, just plain old glue). The fuselage contours were developed with 1/8 stringers and only a few bulkheads. The four-exterior-spar wing construction was comparatively novel for the era, lending itself perfectly to modern sheer web techniques mentioned in earlier columns. Wing tip and tail outlines were bent from 3/16 reed. Needless to say, I would strongly recommend the use of laminated basswood or sheet outlines for the tips.
Radio Control: Old Timers
I HAVE in my collection an old book titled "Models for Flying," by L. H. Sparey and C. A. Rippon, of England. This and several other delightful collectors items were given to me by Mr. Roy Hull, a senior engineer on the Hawker-Siddley "Harrier" project. He wished to place his collection with someone who would cherish it as he had for over 40 years. He said, "I fear that upon my demise the wife will put them out for the dustman." Models for Flying contains an extraordinary article (for 1938), on the "Premier Lion." Let me quote. "The machine under construction is one of the most stable and consistent fliers that has been seen on our model-flying fields, and was the winner of the "Sir John Shelley Cup" for petrol-driven model aeroplanes. Since its advent the machine has made some hundreds of flights without mishap-a fact that is sufficient to guarantee that a replica built with reasonable care and faithfulness will repay the builder."
Radio Control: Old Timers
THIS MONTH'S oldtimer feature comes from the work bench of Woodrow Wilson. Not the League of Nations Wilson, our Woodrow works on the Space Shuttle and builds pretty model airplanes. The plane in the photo is Woody's second Magnet. His first was built about 1937 from a $3.95 kit by Bay Ridge of Brooklyn, NY, long since out of business. Powered with a Mighty Midget, Woody's original was a beautiful fun flier free flight, that he spent many memorable hours chasing across Oklahoma on foot. The current Thermal Magnet uses a Futaba radio for rudder, elevator, and motor controls, is covered with Silkspan and butyrate dope. He says, "my model flies very slowly, is underpowered with an O.S. 30, climbs poorly, but glides like a feather in cold molasses. A real Thermal Magnet; any idiot can fly it."
The Super Duper Zilch
ZILCH! What an odd name for a famous model for a series of highly successful kits. Not really, when we recall that a company named S.N.A.F.U. and another P.D.Q. were contemporaries of the Berkeley Zilch series in the immediate post WW II era. Other names were becoming famous in control-line stunt in that era. J.C. "Madman" Yates, Bob Tucker, Davey Slagle, Lou Andrews-and Jim Saftig. These men, and others, were adding dimensions to stunt with their designs and flying skills that seemed incredible. U-Control (a name and mechanism patented and licensed by Jim Walker) stunt had advanced from Ralph Roof's 1946 Nats winning T-Craft, to nearly all the maneuvers flown in the event nearly 30 years later.
Radio Control: Old Timers
IS IT permissible to finish a Red Zephyr in yellow and black? Why select a Red Zephyr as the model of the month when it is so well known? Most anyone who has observed the flight of Herb Greenburg's classic recognizes it as a superb thermal hanger, thanks to its very long tail-moment and high-aspect-ratio wing. But it has an undeservedly bad reputation for a glaring structural weakness. Its construction is light, simple, and economical. Sadly, in any contact with something more solid than "tall grass" the nose is inclined to separate in front of the wing leading edge. I have observed this mishap at least three times, and John Pond claims it is a 100% probability. A little ingenuity will correct the problem.
