In memory of Scale scratch-builder Steve Sauger
by Stan Alexander
onawing4602@att.net
I’m starting my column in the building issue with this brief piece about Steve Sauger, courtesy of Cliff Tacie.
We lost Steve on March 19, 2017. He was widely known to be an outstanding Scale model builder. In one online discussion group, it was asked, “Who is the best Scale modeler?” The answer given to that was “… some of the older Scale planes from the 1980s seem to be more meticulous in details and finish than most of today. Steve Sauger, Bob Underwood, Hal Parenti, and others of that time had to put up with rulers measuring all of the parts, not just looking at them. The airplanes were about half the size; engine size was regulated and there was a much lower weight restriction.”
An accomplished full-scale pilot, flying instructor, world-class RC Scale model builder, and former Scale columnist for Model Airplane News, Steve had a knack for picking out ordinary subjects with particularly striking color schemes. One of his early Scale masterpieces was a ⅙-scale Lockheed Orion Early Bird in the brilliant red with silver trim scheme of the Detroit News aircraft. I believe this model is now in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Other award-winning models include his Stinson Station wagon and his yellow Fairchild Ranger 24 that was featured in the March 1978 issue of Model Aviation. There were several more models that Steve built and competed with, including his Stinson trimotor, which he flew in the 1986 FAI Scale World Championships in Oslo, Norway.
Steve’s models were all scratch-built from plans that he drew and wood that he cut, right down to the markings, which he painted himself. He competed regularly at the AMA Nats, U.S. Scale Masters, and Top Gun, and represented the United States as an FAI Scale team member.
Steve moved from Michigan to the On Top of the World (OTOW) community in Ocala, Florida, where he enjoyed his golden years with his loving wife, Joanne, and was a member of the OTOW RC Flyers. He was also a longtime member of the Radio Control Club of Detroit and the Skymasters R/C of Michigan.
We’ll miss his smiling face and insightful conversations. Goodbye to a wonderful friend to Scale modelers worldwide.
Steve Sauger will be missed by many in the RC Scale community.
Scale Dummy Radial Engine
Finding the correct dummy radial engine is sometimes a problem if you have a seven-cylinder engine instead of the usual nine-cylinder one. Frank Tiano Enterprises has several sizes of a nine-cylinder radial engine, but not the seven-cylinder one. The engine fronts are cast resin and will add some weight to your model’s nose (additional weight is usually needed anyway).
The nose bowl and the cylinders are there, so it’s time to cut off the cylinders
and reattach them to make a seven-pot engine. You can do this with different tools. Make sure to wear a full-face shield and dust mask when attempting something like this. Safety first!
Cut the cylinders off from the back of the dummy engine. I marked where I wanted to make the cuts and then used a Dremel tool with a cutoff wheel to remove each cylinder. I used a fan set up behind the cutting area to blow the dust out of the garage.
Using a disk sander, take the nose bowl and sand down the spots where the cylinders were attached. Also sand the spots where the cylinders would be reattached to the nose bowl of the engine.
Next, make a ⅛-inch plywood back for the dummy engine. Cut this out, including the center hole for the propeller shaft. I first made a rough cutout then added the cylinders and nose bowl to the plywood—drawing and outlining each piece.
Remove all of this and sand down the plywood back, fitting it into the cowling. Add the nose bowl and cylinders back to the plywood using 30-minute epoxy. Let this set until it’s thoroughly dry. When the epoxy is dry, drill the spark plug holes in the cylinders. You will later add the “spark plugs” and wiring to the engine.
Use black silicone caulking to fill in the gaps with a small knife or with a cut plastic tube as I did. Let this dry for approximately 12 hours, spray off the dust, then go to your paint booth (outside) and apply three to four coats of paint for the engine color. (In my case, it’s black with a gray center.) Now add the 2-56 threaded wire with a nut on each short length for the spark plug. These will
look the part and mostly be covered. I used plastic tubes for model truck antennas for the plug wires, which I found at my local hobby shop. After adding these details, I plan to add some bolts, etc., and finish the engine. I also cut out an entrance for cooling air for the engine cylinder head.
Helpful Websites
In my August column, I mentioned several companies and websites that are helpful to Scale modelers. Here are a couple more that you might want to take a look at:
- Minnesota Scale and Giant Scale R/C features David Andersen designs. A good group of how-to articles is included on the website for Scale model subjects, as well as workshops.
- If you’ve ever had any interest in Scale gliders or troop glider sailplanes, Scale Soaring is the place to go for information. Kits, events, and what’s new are all on the website.
Fair skies and tailwinds.
SOURCES:
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA)
www.nasascale.org
Minnesota Scale and Giant Scale R/C
www.mnbigbirds.com
Scale Soaring
www.scalesoaring.com
On Top of the World
(866) 228-5878
http://ontopoftheworldcommunities.com
Frank Tiano Enterprises
(863) 607-6611
www.franktiano.com
