Author: Stan Alexander

Edition: Model Aviation - 2024/11
Page Numbers: 78, 79, 80
Blue L-39 Albatros RC scale jet flying over a grass field

RC SCALE

Blue L-39 Albatros RC scale jet flying over a grass field
Dan Landis’ L-39 Albatros won first place in the Pro-Am Pro Division II class for high-performance aircraft at the 2024 AMA RC Scale Nats.

NEW PROJECTS AND BUILDS

By Stan Alexander | onawing4602@att.net

CHRISTMAS IS COMING UP. Will new projects, plans, transmitters, or engines be under the tree this year? You might also be like me, finishing up older projects and dreaming about that next model.

We’ve had a few blows this year, with Robart Manufacturing stopping the production of landing gear and retracts. While they are very much still in business, this part of it is now closed.

Sullivan has also closed up shop, although I understand that the company might be back—time will tell. I hate to see this, but as a lot of small business owners retire or their businesses are no longer profitable, they are gone unless their product lines are picked up by another company.

Westland Whirlwind

The full-scale Westland Whirlwind was a late-1930s design as a multiengine “heavy fighter.” For its time, the Whirlwind was fast, armed with four 20mm cannons, and very maneuverable. During that period, Rolls-Royce was building two different engines, the Peregrine and the Merlin. Rolls-Royce pushed for the Peregrine to be installed in the Whirlwind, which pretty much killed the fighter because the manufacturer was stuck with that engine. Only 114 Whirlwinds were produced.

This model is from John Forehand. It’s built from AeroModeler magazine plans that came out in the mid-1960s. It originally had two 40-size glow engines and fixed gear. John modified it for electric motors and installed electric retracts.

The finished airplane has a wingspan of 65 inches and weighs a little more than 8 pounds. He used two Cobra 3520/10 980 Kv motors, two Cobra 80-amp ESCs, and two 4,000 mAh 4S LiPo batteries installed in the engine nacelles. The propellers are two-blade 11 x 7 Master Airscrews. Electronics include four Hitec HS225MG servos and a Spektrum seven-channel sport receiver. John adapted a set of E-flite 25-46 retracts.

John selected the color scheme from the magazine and said that if he builds another one, it will be in a lighter color scheme. The dark green or olive colors are easy to lose in the trees.

Thanks, John, and keep building!

Balsa USA Eindecker EIII

My Balsa USA Eindecker EIII is coming along. I’ve selected the hinges and most of the internal hardware. The wing has been bolted to the fuselage. I made sure that the measurements were square and equal with the wingtips on each side. The wingtips are finished, sanded, and ready to be covered with the rest of the wing.

When assembling any model for the first time, you want to make sure that everything is square and equal on both sides (the balancing comes later). If you don’t take the time, measure twice, and then drill the pilot holes for the wing mounts, however, you can end up with a model that will never fly well. It won’t track well in the air—some Scale models don’t track well anyway.

Dark green Westland Whirlwind model aircraft on a runway
John Forehand’s Westland Whirlwind on takeoff at Cane Ridge Park Field in Nashville TN.

When a model doesn’t track well in flight, it could be because of several

Art Sheldon’s 1/3-scale Sopwith Pup model aircraft on grass
Art Sheldon’s 1/3-scale Sopwith Pup at the 2024 AMA RC Scale Nats. Look at that cowling!
Man and child beside a red Savage Cruiser model aircraft
Jeff Pike’s Savage Cruiser is static judged at this year’s AMA RC Scale Nats, while his grandson, Jackson Lee Thibadeaux, looks on. Get those kids involved!
Bare-bones Balsa USA Eindecker EIII model airframe on a stool outdoors
The Balsa USA Eindecker EIII in the bare bones during its first assembly.

factors, including whether the model is balanced, if it’s square with the other parts, or if the scale control surfaces are too small.

Now is also a good time to make sure of the amount of details you want to add to the model, such as more scale landing gear or other small details.

RC Scale Nats

The RC and Control Line Scale Nats came off in grand fashion this year. The field at the International Aeromodeling Center was in the best shape that I’ve seen in the last three years. There wasn’t anyone who had a problem taking off or landing because of tall grass, holes, or low spots.

John Boyko served as the event director this year, and between the static judging and flights, the Friday night pizza party, and the National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA) banquet on Saturday night, everyone seemed to have a great time there.

The pavilions at Site 4 are almost finished, and only one out of the three still needs to be built. There is plenty of room for administrative needs and a good pit area as well. Our thanks go out to Mike Barbee and Barbee Concrete, as well as AMA, for all of the work they’ve put in on the site throughout the last few years.

I’ll have more on the Scale Nats next time, but I’m looking forward to next year’s event!

Fair skies and tailwinds.

Twin-engine Westland Whirlwind model aircraft flying against a blue sky
The 65-inch wingspan electric, twin-engine Westland Whirlwind makes a flyby on its first flight. The full-scale aircraft was hamstrung by the engine choices.

SOURCES:

NASA
www.nasascale.org

E-flite
www.e-fliterc.com

Innov8tive Designs
(442) 515-0745
www.innov8tivedesigns.com

Balsa USA
(800) 225-7287
https://balsausa.com