Control Line: Navy Carrier
F7F TIGERCAT: By the time you read this month's column, John Brodak will have completed work on his newest model, the Grumman F7F Tigercat, and it should be available direct from Brodak Manufacturing and Distribution Co. (100 Park Ave., Carmichaels PA 15320). The model is one that was envisioned by Bob (J. Robert) Smurthwaite when he designed the F4U Corsair, F8F Bearcat, and AD Skyraider kits. (These kits are also being manufactured by Brodak.) The Tigercat kit did not reach production before Bob encountered health problems and sold his Control Line kit production to John Brodak.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
MAY WAS A GOOD MONTH for keeping in touch with other Carrier modelers around the country-making plans for the Sig contest, Celebration of Eagles, Nats, and catching up on spring activities. I heard from Bill Bischoff that the engines manufactured by Willy Wiley are no longer in production. The Dallas contingent had been successfully using them, with left-hand crankshafts, for the last few years. There is a possibility of the design being produced again by another individual. I'll bring you up to date as soon as I get more information.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
WHEN ONE TRIES to find a word to describe the Control Line Navy Carrier competition, "Great!" is an obvious first choice. "Fantastic!" is still reserved for the meet that matches the two-decks-all-day-long 1976 Dayton Nats (if any meet can match Dayton). The competition in Muncie was exciting, and the camaraderie was outstanding. There were more contestants than we have enjoyed in quite a few years, even though some of the East Coast contingent were unable to attend. In all, there were 22 contestants for the three official classes, with some additional modelers participating in the unofficial events on Saturday. The event averaged more than 50 flights per day for three days of intense competition, with close scoring and some "personal best" performances as highlights.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
This month's column will concentrate on relatively new products that are adaptable to our Navy Carrier events. Most of these products are intended for Radio Control, but that never stopped us before. Northeast Aerodynamics (150 Robinson Rd., Hudson NH 03051; Tel.: [603] 881-5899) manufactures kits in their Profile Warbirds series that are intended for RC sport flying. They are profile models with landing gear. All are modeled after World War II aircraft, and about half of them are eligible for bonus points in Profile Carrier. They produce an F6F Hellcat, an A6M Zero, a P-51 Mustang, and a Bf-109.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
I was pleasantly surprised a few months ago when I received Carrier-related E-mail via the Internet. Receiving E-mail isn't unusual, and most of it is about modeling, so that wasn't out of the ordinary, either. The surprise was that the message was from Lieutenant Mike Danford. He was in the Arabian Gulf on the USS Carl Vinson, flying S-3 Vikings and looking forward to returning to San Diego before the end of 1996. By the time this issue reaches print, Mike should be in Southern California flying Carrier with the San Diego CL club. He was planning to build Melvin Schuette's Curtiss XF-13C for the .15 Carrier event.
