TOM NELSON’S ALBATROS D.VA
By Stan Alexander | onawing4602@att.net
A GROUP OF MODELERS meets to fly indoors in the gym at the Charlie Daniels Park in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, where it is always a great time on nearly any Monday during the year. New models are shown off, and indoor aircraft are flown for a few hours. The staff, including the events coordinator, Erin Farmer, is always a big help. Erin was quite interested in one of the models presented to the rest of us that was built by Tom Nelson.
It’s always inspiring to see a new Scale model that is ready to go to the flying field. Tom has worked hard on his Albatros D.Va for the past two years. His passion and determination to build and finish an intricate Scale model that displays much of the full-scale construction is always impressive. Tom’s Albatros started as a Proctor Enterprises Museum kit. The 1/4-scale model spans 89 inches, with a length of 73 inches. The construction of the model, as well as much of its design, is nearly that of the full-scale aircraft.
Tom first built a jig on which to construct the fuselage. He used 1/64-inch plywood to cover the fuselage. Sig Koverall was used on all of the flying surfaces. The finish was two coats each of Sig clear dope and Dupli-Color automotive paint primer/filler sanded with 320-grit sandpaper. Tamiya color spray paint was used to add color, and because Tom used electric power, he didn’t have to fuelproof it.
Power comes from an AXi 5445/16HD electric motor with a JETI 90-amp ESC. Tom’s scratch-built static propeller features bass, mahogany, and cherry wood and is 27-3/4 inches in size. He installed a sound system made by Model Sounds Inc. that has both engine and machine-gun sound effects. Other items either came with the kit or were ordered from Proctor.
The Proctor kits are made after they are ordered. Proctor is a one-man operation, so it might take a few months to receive your kit. The models that the company produces are truly the most accurate kits on the planet.
Proctor’s Museum collection includes the Albatros D.Va, a Fokker D.VII, a Curtiss JN-4D2 Jenny, an Eindecker E-III, a Nieuport 11, and a Nieuport 28, as well as VK model kits and the Proctor Antic line of kits.
2022 Scale Nats Update
In an effort to get out the best information ahead of the RC Scale Nats at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana, I am including the following schedule and information from RC Scale Event Director John Boyko.
Greetings! Those of us who live in the colder parts of the US are currently in the throes of our building and maintenance season. Although its cold and nasty outside, plans are well underway for this summer’s Scale Nats. This year’s official dates are Friday, July 15, through Sunday, July 17. If you’ve been a contestant in the past, please be aware that there are changes to the schedule this year.
Traditionally, we had set a noon deadline for contestants to be registered at Site 4. That will continue for 2022. However, we will be flying one round on Friday afternoon after Static judging is completed and the flight order is set.
Thursday, July 14, is the (unofficial) setup, practice, and registration day. F3D/F3E RC Pylon Racing World Championships are occurring during the first part of the week. Thursday is an alternate day for them. The World Championships contestants might need to use Site 4 for practice.
Friday morning, July 15, at 8:30 during the pilots’ welcome meeting, we will discuss procedures and answer any questions. At 9 a.m., Static judging will begin and continue until it has been completed in the early afternoon. Registration will also be open. At approximately 2 p.m., following the conclusion of Static judging, the flight order will be set and we will fly round one. The exact time of when that happens depends on when Static judging is complete.
At 6 p.m., the annual pizza party will take place under the big tent, and at 8 p.m., there will be an FAI symposium in the National Model Aviation Museum’s Claude McCullough Education Facility for anyone who is interested in the FAI F4 Scale team. The FAI committee members and former team members will be there to answer any questions.
The pilots’ meeting on Saturday morning, July 16, will take place at 8:30, with wheels up at 9. We will fly rounds two and three. There will be a lunch break around noon. At the conclusion of the rounds, the field will be open to flying. Saturday evening will be the banquet and special awards presentation. The menu will be the same as last year. The time and location will be announced at the pilots’ meetings.
Sunday morning, July 17, the pilots’ meeting will be at 8:30. Round three will immediately follow. Final standings and awards will be handed out following the conclusion of the round.
If you have any questions, contact John at his email, listed in “Sources.” Thank you, John, for these updates.
Fair skies and tailwinds.
SOURCES:
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA)
www.nasascale.org
John Boyko
jboykotb@gmail.com
AMA Nats
https://amablog.modelaircraft.org/nats
Proctor Enterprises
(503) 668-8612
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Model Sounds Inc.
(613) 882-4649
www.modelsoundsinc.com
Sig Mfg. Co., Inc.
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
