Modeler's Mall
Manufacturers who wish to have their products considered for inclusion in this department should send information and a photo, if possible, to the editorial office of Model Aviation. These reviews are composed from such information, and do not imply an endorsement of the products.
Hobby & Craft Square @ $4.99 from Midwest Products Co., Inc., Box 564, Hobart IN 46342; Tel.: (219) 942-1134; Fax: (219) 942-5703; Web site: www.midwestproducts.com.
Midwest's new Hobby & Craft Square (stock #1123) is a tool that works as a ruler, a square, a protractor, and more, providing a variety of measuring functions all in one convenient tool. It's perfect for any type of model-building or crafting that requires you to measure/identify sizes of raw materials, and it features English and metric measurements.
The Hobby & Craft Square features rugged plastic construction. Visit your favorite hobby or craft retailer and purchase one today, or visit the Web site for more information.
Large Capacity Stopper Kit @ $4.26 from Sullivan Products, 1 North Haven St., Baltimore MD 21224; Web site: www.sullivanproducts.com.
The Large Capacity Stopper Kit (product S489) fits all standard Sullivan fuel tanks as well as many other brand tanks. The black Nitrile stopper replaces the white neoprene stopper that comes standard in the tanks. This black stopper is compatible with gasoline, diesel, and smoke oil. Included in the kit are two large-capacity 3/16-inch brass tubes to allow the easy use of large gasoline tubing from the tank to the engine.
Weller Portasol® cordless glue guns from CooperTools, Box 728, Apex NC 27502; Tel.: (919) 362-1670; Web site: www.coopertools.com.
Weller, a CooperTools® brand, has introduced two Weller Portasol® cordless, butane, gas-powered glue guns for the industrial and do-it-yourself markets. Both guns offer cordless convenience by eliminating the need for an electrical connection and the bother of a cord interfering with access to the work area.
The Weller G200K Portasol Professional Cordless Glue Gun Kit is directed at the industrial market, and the Weller G150 Portasol Universal Glue Gun is targeted at the crafts, hobby, and do-it-yourself/homeowner markets.
The new guns can be filled quickly and easily with standard butane lighter fuel. Both guns feature a patented, fuel-saving, automatic magnetic thermostat through which gas flow is regulated so the guns are on only when the heat to the glue-melt chamber drops below the working temperature.
Both units are self-igniting with a built-in piezo ignition system. The G200K operates for up to five hours between refills, and the G150 operates for up to three hours. Refilling requires approximately 30 seconds. There is an indicator window on the guns which allows users to confirm that the guns are operating. Both models employ ergonomic designs to minimize operator tension and fatigue.
The G200K performs at a melt rate of 3.5 pounds of glue per hour and provides the equivalent of 225 watts of electrical power. The 175-watt G150 will melt a four-inch glue stick in 35 seconds. Both guns use standard 1/2-inch-diameter glue sticks.
The G200K is available through industrial distributors, and the G150 model is available through industrial distributors, hardware stores, home centers, craft stores, and other retail outlets.
The G200K is approximately $159 in the US and $219 in Canada. The G150 is approximately $42 in the US and $59 in Canada.
The G200K is packaged in a heavy-duty carrying case with 12 glue sticks and four interchangeable glue nozzles. The G150 is packaged in a four-color printed cardboard box.
Laser 200 ARF from LanierRC, Box 458, Oakwood GA 30566; Tel.: (770) 532-6401; E-mail: lanierrc@aol.com; Web site: www.lanierrc.com.
LanierRC introduces an addition to its 21st Century line of Almost Ready to Fly (ARF) airplanes. The Laser 200 kit airplane is being offered as an ARF (part #21256).
The 1/3-Scale Laser 200 is built from precision-cut interlocking plywood and balsa. This is an all-wood airplane with built-up wings and spruce and balsa tails. The wings are supported by an aluminum spar and are removable for transport. A glass-fabriced, vacuum-formed canopy and cowl are included. The Laser 200 is finished in blue with gold stars and stripes.
Specifications: wingspan, 96 inches; wing area, 1,596 square inches; fuselage length, 79 inches; power, 3.2-4.2 two-stroke or 2.4-3.0 four-stroke engine; flying weight, 17-22 pounds; channels required, four; all hardware and servos included; covering material not included. MSRP, $999.95; IMAC and IMAA legal; street price, $749.99.
The 21st Century line is an offering of ARFs. Each model requires the appropriate engine, radio equipment, and assembly time (no construction).
SOPWITH B.1 & T.1 CUCKOO
By J M Bruce
WINDSOCK DATAFILE 90
Sopwith B.1 & T.1 Cuckoo from Wise Owl Worldwide Publications, 1926 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Redondo Beach CA 90277-6145; Tel.: (310) 944-5033; Fax: (310) 944-9903; E-mail: wiseowl@sprinmail.com; Web site: www.wiseowlmagazines.com.
Two contemporary aircraft—the Sopwith B.1, designed as a bomber to supersede the 1½ Strutter (see Windsock Datafile 80), and the T.1, a torpedo-carrying aeroplane which was eventually named the Cuckoo—are covered in Windsock Datafile 90, published by Albatros Productions (UK).
The B.1 and T.1 were similar in appearance, and since the 200-horsepower Hispano-Suiza engines powered both, it makes good sense to cover them in one Datafile.
The histories of these aircraft are covered in depth by author J.M. Bruce, with numerous archive photos and sketches throughout. Scale drawings and color profiles, as well as in-detail drawings and sketches of wing-to-fuselage frame junction and torpedo-release mechanism for the Cuckoo are included.
Also included is a reproduction of an original Sopwith drawing for a two-seat aeroplane designed around the Hispano-Suiza engine. Appendices cover aircraft specifications, with tables providing performance and production information.
For delivery in the US, Datafile 90 is $21 postpaid ($22.73 for California residents).
Six Windsock Datafiles scheduled for publication in 2002 will cover the following topics: the Albatros B.II, the Caudron G.3, the Caudron G.4, the Fokker E.III, the Hanriot H.D.1, and the Staaken R.IV.
LanierRC introduces a warbird addition to its 21st Century line of Almost Ready to Fly (ARF) airplanes (part #21254).
The F-86 Sabre comes with a prebuilt and painted fiberglass fuselage. The fuselage is reinforced with light plywood formers and support framework. The wings are built-up balsa and spruce. The model features separable heat-shrink covering. Control mechanisms and linkages are included with the airplane.
Specifications: wingspan, 52 inches; wing area, 531 square inches; fuselage length, 48 inches; power, .40-.47 two-stroke engine; flying weight, five to six pounds; channels required, four; all hardware included; servos required, four.
FiberClassics P-51 Mustang from Planes Plus, Inc., 10233 Clow Creek Rd., Plainfield IL 60455; Tel.: (630) 904-9983; Fax: (630) 904-5077; Web site: www.planesplus.com or www.fiberclassics.com.
Don Kanak at Planes Plus, Inc. and FiberClassics present the detailed 100-inch-wingspan P-51 Mustang as part of their growing series of Giant Scale warbirds.
When you open the box you will find completely prefabricated fiberglass parts reinforced with carbon fiber and Kevlar. The components are silvered finished with hundreds of panel lines and thousands of rivets with Phillips and slotted screws already molded in.
An internal structure of composite spars, ribs, and formers make these parts durable and strong, and all are incredibly lightweight. All hardware is included and rounded out by a detailed instruction book with many drawings and photos.
This airplane is designed for a 60cc single-cylinder engine, such as a Zenoah G62 or 3W-60. An engine installation kit with headers, hydro mounts, and much more is available.
Planes Plus, Inc. and FiberClassics offer a building service for your P-51 Mustang or any other FiberClassics aircraft, and they stock a complete line of accessories, engines, and necessary accessories.
Contact Don Kanak at Planes Plus, Inc. for more information about the P-51 Mustang and other FiberClassics aircraft.
The Golden Age of Aviation Series from Wind Canyon Books, Inc., Box 511, Brawley CA 92227; Toll-free tel.: (800) 952-7007; Toll-free fax: (888) 289-7086; E-mail: books@windcanyon.com; Web site: www.windcanyon.com.
The Golden Age of Aviation Series is being published to commemorate next year's 100th Anniversary of Flight. The series presents an historical look at aviation's Golden Years through text, numerous original photos, many of which have never been published before now, archival materials, original magazine advertisements of the era, and three-view scale drawings.
This new series will highlight a number of airplane manufacturers during the 1900s through 1950. Future books will include Bellanca, WACO, Laird, and several others. Titles will be announced upon publication.
Piper's Golden Age is the latest book in the series to be published. It details the formation, struggles, and successes of the Piper Aircraft Corporation during aviation's golden years.
This softbound book emphasizes the many different Taylor and Piper models built during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. It includes 10.8 x 11-inch pages, 130 photos, factory photos, 11 pages of three-view drawings of various Piper models by Paul Matt. The price is $22.95.
Cessna's Golden Age looks at Clyde Cessna and his nephew Dwane Wallace—longtime Cessna president. The book details the family, people, and manufacturing operations of the Cessna Aircraft Company from the early 1900s through World War II. There is also an extensively illustrated tour through the Cessna plant during the Golden Years. Emphasis is placed on several Cessna models.
This 96-page book includes 180 photos, many factory photos, and 10 pages of three-view drawings of various Cessna models by Paul Matt. The price is $22.95.
Aeronica's Golden Age details the events leading to the Aeronautical Corporation of America, from the early 1920s through the Great Depression, the disastrous flood of 1937, World War II, and beyond. The book includes biographical information about the company's founders and details the people, facilities, and manufacturing operations of Aeronica during the Golden Years. All Aeronica models are discussed. Factory photos are included.
This book includes 152 pages, 240 photos, many factory photos, and 18 pages of three-view drawings of various Aeronica models by Paul Matt. The price is $24.95.
Each of the preceding titles may be ordered directly from the publisher via mail order, telephone, fax, E-mail, or on the Web site. Please include appropriate price plus $4 per order for shipping/handling.
There is, however, an entirely different type of newcomer. I've referred to them before in this column as transient hobbyists. These are the ones who will try a number of different hobbies or sports in a short span of time. They may be coming from golf and their way to go-karting or whatever. For whatever reason, they will not stick with anything for too long. This is not necessarily a bad thing; it's just a fact.
Again, using the instant-info philosophy, they can pick up the gist of almost anything in a few hours of computer time, know what buzzwords to use to sound knowledgeable, and know where to go to get the best deals on "stuff." Heck, I'm a bit jealous because I can't even do that on a regular basis!
So they buy good stuff; in some cases they purchase the very best that money can buy. They find a club and a field to fly on, and generally quickly learn to circle the field and land safely every time. They are good and courteous pilots by and large, and they have an annoying habit of being able to cite chapter and verse of all of their equipment owner's manuals, the club rules, and AMA rules. These are from all outward appearances excellent candidates for lifelong modeling status.
And then, after a year or so of seemingly textbook involvement, they are gone. Sometimes they stop by the field to say hi, and when asked where they've been they reply something like, "I'm deep and heavy into street rods now."
Please note that when they left archery for model airplanes a couple of years back, they told their archery buddies, "I'm deep and heavy into model airplanes now."
Deep and heavy apparently ain't what it used to be.
I've been informed that there is a significant turnover rate for AMA members. Each year we gain a large group of new members, but we also lose an almost equal amount. In the margin of differential to gains and losses lies the slow and steady growth we have been experiencing. No matter what we do, we will not keep all those who join. I believe, however, that through understanding of the nature and thought pattern of some of these transients, we can affect that number to a great degree.
We must find a way to challenge them in a positive way to stay the course and push their own personal envelope of effort past their current comfort zone. Too convoluted? Okay, how's this? We need to make them want to try harder!
In the 1960s, I was one of the few in my circle of friends who was not a big Bob Dylan fan. Oh, I liked his music and even kind of liked his voice (it is an acquired taste). What I didn't like was the fact that his lyrics seemed to point out myriad social problems but didn't offer any constructive solutions. It's easy to sit on the outside of something and lob shots into the fray. It's a bit more dicey to actually wade in and try to restore order.
What can all of us do to help these transient types? Well the fact is, many of them don't want or need help. Some of them really and truly like dabbling in a variety of pastimes. We need to acknowledge and respect that. There is so much available to us these days as recreational diversions and so little time to spend diverting! To those who feel this way I say, Thanks for trying our hobby/sport. Hope you had a good time and enjoyed yourself, and please feel free to stop by anytime!
To those who are truly searching for one hobby/sport that they can sink their teeth into, I say, Okay, you've made a great start in a wonderful hobby/sport. Now look at the options you have to pursue to get to the next level of knowledge and involvement, and pick one and get going.
The next thing you need to do is keep on learning in the same manner as you have been. The information is out there and so is the one-on-one help through club involvement. If you are still bored at this point, perhaps you should examine your resolve to complete a journey. Some people just don't like traveling!
As I'm prone to do when I'm drafting a potentially controversial editorial or article, I read the above to my close friend Larry Sinbrick. I really trust Larry because in the many years that I've known him, I found him to be upfront and honest with me about things. If he doesn't agree with me on something, he'll most certainly tell me.
In the case of my editorial, Larry simply said that I had a valid point of view and that it would be fine to submit the piece for publication as is. But he went on to offer up a viewpoint of his own that I felt was important to pass on, because it may be the one thing that really makes the difference for the bored modeler.
Larry feels that our hobby/sport is made up of 40% equipment and 60% people. He feels that being with the right group of people makes the difference. He mentioned to me that he sometimes goes to the field on a rainy or windy day, when he has no intention of flying, and has just as much fun sitting and talking with his friends.
Perhaps if you are bored, you simply need to find the right chemistry in terms of flying buddies to make it all exciting again. You can learn all you want from the Internet and magazines, but in the end it's the people who make this all worthwhile.
You can reach me in cyberspace at robinhunt@earthlink.net. Or if you're a traditionalist, you can call me at (610) 614-1747. And if you're really not in a hurry, write to me at Box 68, Stockertown PA 18083. I promise I won't bore you. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
