ENGINES
FOR SCALE
MODELS
By Stan Alexander | onawing4602@att.net
FOR MANY SPORT OR 3D-STYLE model aircraft, a large gas engine works well. The length of that engine doesn’t seem to matter that much, depending on the cowling and airframe. But for Scale models, where the engine length matters, a shorter, heavier engine can help with the center of gravity on what I call the “no-nose” designs. These models include the Sopwith, Nieuport, other aircraft from World War I, and nearly any radial Golden Age aircraft, which is, in general, anything from 1919 to 1939. This also includes many of the 1930s air racers.
This brings me to today’s engines. Zenoah hobby engines have been around for a long time, and the company’s products are still available to modelers. There are great reasons why Scale modelers like the reliability of Zenoah engines even more than a bit of extra power. They are physically shorter than other engines of the same size. I know this because at the last Toledo Show: R/C Model Expo that I attended, I took a tape measure and checked. A Zenoah engine typically weighs slightly more.
Denny at B & B Specialties distributes Zenoah engines and has the G26, G45 (as well as a version with an electric starter), and the G62 available. If you call, he can still get the GT80, but it must be ordered. The company also offers fuel plugs, fuel dots, throttle linkages, propellers, and smoke oil. Check out the B & B Specialties website that is listed in “Sources.”
New Project
I’ve been gathering items for my next project, which will be the Jerry Bates Plans Mitsubishi A5M Claude with a 108-inch wingspan. The short kit, fiberglass parts, and canopy are all available, as well as the landing gear struts. I’m going to stuff the GT80 into the nose of the Claude because it needs all of the nose weight that I can give it.
If you’ve never entered a contest, it’s always a good place to start to see how everyone else does it, while learning and having a great time.
The FAI F4C class is sometimes called Museum Scale, and FAI F4H is sometimes called International Sport Scale. F4C-class aircraft are normally either scratch-built or plan-built models. Most of these models take a few years to build and finish, and they are some of the best model aircraft that I’ve ever judged. One modeler showed me how he molded his tires and made his own wire wheels, as well as the copper he used on his dummy Mercedes engine.
The F4H-class models are often built from kits, plans, and short kits, and you face other competitors with comparable building skills. This class is sort of a steppingstone to the F4C class.
Both classes are flown around the world in countries that compete in Scale. The flight program for these FAI classes is the same and similar to our Sport Scale class in the US. The main difference is that the flyby maneuver is deleted and the descending 360° turn is in its place.
NASA Scale Classic
One of the few Scale competitions that still travels to different areas of the country is the upcoming National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA) Scale Classic, to be held September 16-19 at the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana! It will include all of the AMA Scale classes, as well as two FAI classes: F4C and F4H.
The NASA Scale Classic is open to anyone with an AMA membership this year because of COVID-19. Some states are open and others not so much, so for all of the AMA Fun Scale classes, anyone can enter.
The Japanese team only entered the FAI F4H class at the 2018 Scale World Championships. This modified Top Flite T-34B was one of the team’s models. It flew well, as do all Top Flite models.
The 1/5-scale P-47 F4H model featured here is built from a Top Flite kit. The contestant highly modified it, with the position of the main gear, cowling, and canopy all being changed or scratch-built. His pit area featured a booklet showing many of the changes he made, as well as how he added rivets to the aluminum-covered fuselage.
Fair skies and tailwinds.
SOURCES:
Zenoah
www.zenoah.com/int/products/hobby-engines
B & B Specialties
(574) 277-0499
www.bennettbuilt.com
FAI
www.fai.org
Jerry Bates Plans
(251) 478-6720
www.jbplans.com
