SMALL-FIELD FLYING
FOND MEMORIES FROM THE EARLY DAYS
By Pat Tritle | patscustommodels@gmail.com
FOR MANY, if not all of us, catching a glimpse of a special, old model in some form or fashion can bring back fond memories of our early days in modeling. For some, it might be running across an old Berkeley or Sterling kit, or even just a peek at that old Control Line (CL) or Free Flight (FF) model that you built in high school that somehow survived throughout the years—probably because you never had the courage to fly it.
That’s usually how I made mine last; however, there are still a couple of 1960s vintage CL aircraft hanging in the shed that were flown often. They’re no longer flyable, but they still look pretty fair for their age.
What brought this up was a note from Paul Weissbrod after he saw Terry Dean’s Thermic 50 restoration in the February “Small-Field Flying” column. Following is what Paul had to say:
“Thumbing through my February Model Aviation, I stopped dead when I saw the picture of a Thermic 50 in your column.
“I’ve heard many folks talk about their first ‘real’ build, the plane that cemented their interest and passion for model aviation. For me, that model was the Thermic 50. I think that model has some of the sweetest lines ever formed with sticks of balsa wood.
“Seeing the plane in your article, I was immediately transported to 1968 in my bedroom/workshop, in the attic of our home in Cleveland Heights, Ohio—I was 12 again. The memory of the fumes from midnight-blue nitrate dope on tissue made my eyes water again.
“I didn’t have access to a community like AMA, so I never really got the kind of flights I had imagined during the build, but I had a lot of fun tossing it around at the local football fields at the city park. There was an elevation change between the two fields, with a 5- to 6-foot steppe, and when the breeze was blowing just right, it would ride a long way on the lift.
“I loved that plane. It hung on display in my bedroom through high school and college, until long-term hangar rash and a broken hanging mount ended its life.
“I might have to order plans and materials and try that build again. Thanks for the memory.”
I know we all have a story like that, and I also know that sharing them has a way of putting a smile on someone’s face from time to time, so just for fun, drop me a line with your story. You never know; it might just open the door to some forgotten memory of good times that have long passed.
Slipping Back to the Present
I have a bit of diversity to share this time around, beginning with one from our old friend Michael Myers. Michael is more often than not building beautiful Scale models, but this time, a nonscale sport model is the order of the day.
Michael’s latest is the Ryan’s Daughter, designed by Peter Rake. The model, built from a Manzano Laser Works short kit, is really an offshoot of the Ryan STA—“stand way off and dream” scale, you might say.
The model has a 52-inch wingspan and is set up for four-channel RC. The color scheme was taken from the old Sig Mfg. Ryan STA kit. Power is provided by a Cobra 2820/10 outrunner motor and a 3S 3,300 mAh LiPo battery. The all-up weight is 40 ounces.
The maiden flight was done in less-than-desirable wind, and after just a
couple of minor tweaks, the model proved to be a worthy flyer. I’m not surprised though; after all, with a model designed by the likes of Peter Rake and a modeler with Michael’s skills, it couldn’t help but turn out well.
For those who like aircraft to be slightly smaller, Jeff Fozard built his 20-inch wingspan Airco DH.2. The model was built from foam, balsa, bamboo, and other things, where a variety of materials were well suited.
A 180-class outrunner motor fed by a 2S LiPo battery provides power for the model. The system is comparable to the one found in the E-flite UMX Beast. The little model is also loaded with lots of rigging and scale-like details, with the scale dummy engine being the centerpiece of the model. The flying weight is 2.6 ounces plus the battery.
Moving forward in the chronology of aviation advancement, Lauren Rezac built his 30-inch wingspan Howard DGA-5 Ike from the Manzano Laser Works short kit.
The model was built basically stock but also incorporates a 3D-printed nose cowling, exhaust stacks, a cockpit hatch, and a battery tray.
A Suppo 2208/14 outrunner motor, HOBBYWING Skywalker 12-amp ESC, an 8 x 6SF propeller, and a Roaring Top 1,300 mAh 2S battery deliver the power. The model was covered with UltraCote ParkLite. All-up and ready to fly, the Ike tips the scales at approximately 14 ounces.
Finally, we’ll head down a road less traveled. Tom Schaefer has become a big fan of profile FF and has built some very interesting models throughout the years. His latest—and admittedly, my favorite of all he’s done thus far—is the DC-6. The best part is that the little 24-inch wingspan airliner flew pretty much straight off the drawing board.
Knowing that it would require a lot of propeller downthrust, the motor stick was angled 3° down, with the remainder cut into the front of the stick. The 6-inch
Guillow’s propeller is turned by a double loop of 1/8-inch rubber that has delivered flights up to 50 seconds so far. That’s not bad, considering the minute size of the park, which is completely surrounded by trees.
I’m going to have to wrap this up. Once again, the variety of models and modeling subjects was a treat to see and be able to share. Speaking of sharing, drop me a line with an old memory or two about what got you into (and kept you in) aeromodeling throughout the years. Thanks again to Paul, Michael, Jeff, and Tom for some great stuff.
SOURCES:
Manzano Laser Works
www.manzanolaser.com
Sig Mfg. Co., Inc.
mail@sigmfg.com
www.sigmfg.com
Altitude Hobbies
support@altitudehobbies.com
www.altitudehobbies.com
