RADIO CONTROL SCALE
Jeff Troy, 759 New Holland Ave., Lancaster PA 17602
GREAT PLANES Model Manufacturing Company has released a very nice 1/4-scale de Havilland Tiger Moth in the Almost Ready-to-Fly (ARF) format. Following in the footsteps of Great Planes' classic Ryan STA, the Tiger Moth flies best on .60-size two-stroke or .90-size four-stroke engines. A simple four-channel radio system with five standard-size servos is all that's required to guide this large but well-behaved model.
ARF airplanes are surely not the stuff of Scale purists or competition-oriented pilots, but if an ARF can draw another sport modeler — just one more — into the Scale fold, I will always enthusiastically applaud that model. The Tiger Moth is just such a model, and Great Planes just keeps getting better with each new ARF it releases.
I put my Tiger Moth together in approximately 60 hours, despite the fact that most modelers could easily accomplish the task in 30. I chose to spend a little extra time under the cowl, in the cockpits, and in making sure that each step in the model's assembly was appropriately enjoyed. The airplane is a pleasure to assemble, and please note that since it is an ARF it can only be assembled by the modeler—never built.
I powered my Tiger Moth with an O.S. 91 II-P four-stroke, which is the ideal displacement for this airplane. The manual suggests a .120 four-stroke as the top end of the power range, but the real recommendation is the .91. When powered by the O.S. 91 II-P, the Tiger Moth flies slowly and deliberately, with plenty of power in reserve, and you'll rarely want to fly the model at higher than half throttle; it's most realistic between one-quarter and one-third throttle.
The Tiger Moth is mildly aerobatic—just about right for the typical full-scale biplane trainer of the era. Inside loops, stall turns, and gentle wingovers are convincing, and wide barrel rolls are just within the model's scale-like repertoire. Slow-flight characteristics are pleasant, and the airplane is as close to stallproof as anything you'll find.
Regardless of how slow you think, you'll probably find it easy to stay one step ahead of this model; it flies almost as easily as any basic trainer, and its slow and steady landing approaches would leave most trainer pilots wide-eyed with envy.
If you can't find one of these big, yellow airplanes to look at on your home field, plenty of information is available from Great Planes Model Manufacturing Co., Box 9021, Champaign IL 61826-9021.
I also completed Great Planes' new 1/3-scale Pitts Special. It's powered by the O.S. BGX engine, with a Slimline Pitts-style muffler, and it's guided with the new Futaba 9C radio system. Soon this Pitts will be the subject for my first Model Aviation product review. Yes, you read correctly: a product review in Model Aviation.
Dave Brown Products has a couple of new releases that should interest you. Ultimate-style aluminum spinners ranging from 3½ to 6 inches are available in the Vortech line. Sized in half-inch increments, these spinners are machined from solid bar stock and include aluminum backplates and plastic spacer rings. Propeller shaft adapters are available to mount the spinners onto most engines.
Dave Brown also introduced his new RCFS2001 Aircraft Library 1 (Aerobatics). This CD-ROM adds 10 new models to his popular Radio Control flight-simulator system, including the Pitts S-2B, the Decathlon, the Giles 202, the Ultimate, the Sukhoi Su-26, and the One Design DR-109. Dave should have the One Design's numbers down‑pat—especially since he is so far along on the construction of his own full‑scale One Design.
The Airplane Library 1 CD brings the original 14 models included with the RCFS2001 system up to 24. For more information, contact Dave Brown Products, 4560 Layhigh Rd., Hamilton OH 45013.
Dave Platt has released the fifth and final volume in his latest video series, The Jet Set. This presentation addresses the finishing details of his Hawker Hunter. Fiberglass-cloth and resin application, surface detail, and an accurate paint scheme and application are shown and explained in great detail. This videotape is also an ideal introduction to gas turbine engines.
Dave Platt is one of the world's most talented and creative Scale modelers. He introduced US audiences to weathering techniques; before him, it wasn't unusual to see kill‑film painted over factory‑fresh, glistening paint jobs.
Dave's P‑59 Airacobra, P‑51B Mustang, and P‑40 Warhawk designs for TopFlite® models' Stand‑Off Scale warbird series are perhaps the best Stand‑Off Scale kits in the early 1970s. Dave is also the originator of the Stand‑Off Scale concept. The term is still in wide use today, although it has been absent from the official RC Scale scene for many years.
The five‑installment Jet Series is just one of several volumes available in Dave Platt's Black Art videotape library. All are entertaining and packed with valuable information and sound Scale‑modeling expertise.
For more information, contact Dave Platt Models, 1306 Haven NW., Palm Bay FL 32907.
I received a short kit and plans for Brian Taylor's S.E.5a; the short kit was from Bob Holman Plans here in the United States. Bob has a variety of foreign and domestic plans, and he has short kits and unique hardware packages available for many of them.
Brian's S.E.5a spans 80 inches and will accept gas or glow power. Recommendations are for .50‑size two-stroke or .180‑size four-stroke glow engines, or for the Zenoah G‑38 or similar‑displacement gasoline engines.
Bob Holman's short kit is neatly laser cut, and includes ribs, bulkheads, and almost all the wood parts that aren't lengths of strip or sheet. Parts are polybagged in groups and carefully packed to protect them from shipping damage.
For more information about Brian Taylor's S.E.5a and the many other plans and kits available from Bob Holman, write to Bob Holman Plans at Box 741, San Bernardino CA 92402.
I receive the best laid plans, the mislaid plans.
After flying from Grand Island, Nebraska to the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) meet in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in a friend's Cessna 170, Gary Sandsted became very interested in building a Scale model of the airplane. He's done some investigating and has finally decided on Bill Eninger's airframe from W.E. Technical Services.
However, this set of plans does not seem to be commercially available any longer. Does someone out there have a plan or a copy to spare? If so, please contact Gary Sandsted, 3127 Bertwood Ave., Grand Island NE 68801.
There's M.P. Whaley, who would like to build his 58‑inch Sterling Fokker D.VII (kit FS‑21), but he has run into a snag: his kit is short the second two‑sided plan leaf, marked pages three and four. Can anyone help? If so, please write to M.P. Whaley at 884 Maplecrest Dr., Troy OH 45875.
AMA Convention 2002 Static Tables: AMA held its 2002 Convention in Pasadena, California in January. Turnout was up compared to previous years, and the event is now a westward trade show for "Left Coast" modelers and US‑based industry.
Radio Control Scale was very capably represented on the static judging tables. T.J. Augustine put out a beautiful 1/5‑scale Bucker BU‑133 Jungmeister. The 50‑pound model spans 86 inches and is constructed entirely from a spruce, balsa, and plywood box‑style structure covered with Silkspan and painted with red and silver dope.
Jim Markham of Hemet, California brought two Scale airplanes to Pasadena. Jim's Globe Swift is powered by a Zenoah G‑38 gasoline engine. It spans 92 inches and weighs 28 pounds. Painting is Skeller Automotive base‑coat/clear coat, and the model features an electric retract.
Jim's North American B‑25D Mitchell bomber was also impressive. The 101‑inch wingspan airplane was built from Nick Ziroli plans. It's powered with Robart retracts and landing gear. At 30 pounds, the Mitchell is powered by a pair of Zenoah G‑28 engines from Horizon Hobby.
Bob Sheer spent two years constructing his 1/6‑scale Ryan PT‑22 Recruit, and a good part of that was probably used duplicating the Ryan's more than 2,500 rivets. The model is covered with a combination of Windex fabric, yellow dope, and chrome Ultracoat™, and Major Declue decals were used for many of the model's markings.
The Ryan features a NOS 1.60 FX engine with a modified muffler, functioning home‑brew landing gear, and Williams Bros. Wright Cyclone cylinder kits that were modified to emulate the full‑scale PT‑22's Kinner engine.
Vic Catalano built his Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX from a set of Brian Taylor plans. The 88‑inch model weighs approximately 20 pounds and is powered by a Saito 50 four‑stroke engine. Spring Air retracts are featured with Gene Barton struts, and a JR 783 radio system handles the guidance. This legendary Spitfire is modeled after the mount flown by James "Johnny" Johnson, with 3 victories.
Well, my friends, the last 10 years or so of this Radio Control Scale column have been a very good time for me, and I hope you've enjoyed them as much as I have. Beginning with the next issue, Stan Alexander will be handling this column full time.
Stan is an excellent and knowledgeable Scale builder, flier, and enthusiast. He is currently the president of the NASA (National Association of Scale Aeromodellers) Special Interest Group for the Academy, and he is far more involved in Radio Control Scale's crucial issues than I have been in the past few years.
I've enjoyed writing for you, communicating with you, learning from you, and sharing the little spot in the magazine with Stan, but surely it's time for me to take over and give the column the undivided attention it deserves.
I will continue to write for R/C Modeler in a different capacity, with occasional product reviews and how‑to tutorials as needed. So until my next appearance, build straight and fly safely.
We'll do this again. SP
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
