Author: Bob Aberle

Edition: Model Aviation - 2017/06
Page Numbers: 74, 75
A detailed, partly open model of a Boeing 777 airliner.

Boeing 777 static scale model

Q643: I’m starting this column without a question. It is actually a reference item that I wanted to bring to my readers’ attention. I’ve corresponded for many years with Frank Korman, a friend in Dallas. Frank regularly sends me items of interest, many of which I have used in “Frequently Asked Questions” columns. This one you are not going to believe.

Frank learned about a student in his mid-20s by the name of Luca Iaconi-Stewart, from San Francisco. Luca spent seven years and more than 10,000 hours constructing a detailed ¹/₆₀-scale replica of an Air India Boeing 777 airliner. He built this model entirely out of manila folders (more than 400 of them) and glue.

A detailed, partly open model of a Boeing 777 airliner.
This incredible 1/60-scale Boeing 777 was built throughout a seven-year period by San Francisco modeler Luca Iaconi-Stewart. The static display model was constructed entirely of manila file folders and glue.

The model, which is nearing completion, is 4 feet long and 3½ feet from wingtip to wingtip. The airplane is complete down to details such as bolts, hydraulic pipes, and hinges. Everything on the aircraft is fully functional.

A video and photos of the nearly finished display model can be found on YouTube and Flickr. I urge you to use internet search engines to obtain even more photos and detailed information from other sources. Unfortunately, my column space is limited.

I might add that Luca plans to put his Boeing 777 model on permanent display at a major aviation museum.

Close-up of the detailed interior and landing gear of the model airliner.
Every cable, tube, valve, and pivot joint was faithfully duplicated in the Boeing 777 model. Everything functions as it does on the full-scale aircraft. See the referenced website in “Sources” for more photos.

Simulated Windows

Q644: I know you have covered this before, but I was wondering if you might have any new information. You originally mentioned a 3M product that was something like black self-stick contact shelf paper. A hobby manufacturer repackaged this material in small pieces. It worked fine, but was very expensive. Have you found something better?

A roll of Magic Cover self-adhesive shelf liner.
Inset: The author found a better source for simulated aircraft windows—self-adhesive contact shelf paper. The best part is that a 24-foot roll costs approximately $15.

A644: Yes, I did, and only recently. The product is called Magic Cover Self-Adhesive Shelf Liner. I purchased it from Amazon. It comes in 18-inch-wide rolls and is—get this—24 feet in length. That’s a lifetime supply! The color is solid black and the cost per roll is approximately $15, plus shipping.

It is easy to cut with scissors or an X-Acto knife. The protective backing is easily removed and the adhesive truly sticks. Keep in mind that this material cannot tolerate model fuels, but it is great for electric-powered aircraft, as well as sailplanes.

Yellow model aircraft fuselage with black simulated windows.
Above: This is typically what simulated windows look like on a model aircraft fuselage when using self-adhesive contact shelf paper. Pictured is the author’s Next Step design.

Ping-Pong Ball Tail Skid

Q645: I’ve heard of modelers using a common ping-pong ball as a tail skid on small aircraft such as park flyers. Is this real?

Ping-pong ball fitted as a tail skid on a model airplane.
Look what you can do with an ordinary ping-pong ball. You guessed it—it has been installed as a tail skid and it works fine.

Q645: My fellow Silent Electric Flyers of Long Island club member, Casey Brandsema, showed up at the field recently with a ping-pong ball that was inserted into the tail of his small electric 3-D flier. This ball acts as a tail skid. It obviously is not steerable, but it still acts as though it is. I couldn’t believe it, so I tried installing a ball on my airplane’s tail the next time I was at my field. Believe me—it works.

You can find ping-pong balls at most sporting goods stores. Keep in mind that they are relatively thin. As such, you don’t want to use one on a 4-pound model aircraft. Let me know if you try it and how it worked for you.

Small model airplane showing a ping-pong ball tail skid at the rear.
You can see the ping-pong ball tail skid installed at the lower rear of the fuselage. Keep in mind that this is for small, relatively lightweight models.

A Farewell Message

Now for the sad part! I started writing this “Frequently Asked Questions” column back in 2004, with the encouragement of my boss at that time, former editor of Model Aviation, Bob Hunt. I was given a free hand and eventually developed the column format as you have been used to seeing for the past 12 years.

During that time, I published 127 “Frequently Asked Questions” columns, including this one. In those columns, I answered more than 640 questions.

In recent times, though, things have changed. Internet search engines, such as Google and Yahoo, can now answer your questions in a matter of minutes. That would never be possible with my “Frequently Asked Questions” column.

I’ve suggested to Model Aviation Editor-in-Chief Jay Smith that my column be retired. There is a lot of new technology available that would make for interesting new columns, such as FPV activities, but I will leave that to Jay—it’s his call. So this is it, my last “Frequently Asked Questions” column. It’s been fun!

Sources:

Luca Iaconi-Stewart’s Boeing 777 Flickr photos
www.flickr.com/photos/90927490@N06/sets/72157632208677161/?ytcheck=1

Luca Iaconi-Stewart’s YouTube video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QpJmi2NHcY

Amazon
www.amazon.com