January 2010 107
HAPPY NEW YEAR! This year has gone more quickly than I
expected. It’s almost 2010, and Scale modelers who live in colder
areas of the country
are probably either
building airplanes or
flying indoors.
One of the recent
plans sets I
purchased from
AMA was for an FF
Pietenpol Air
Camper. It spans
only 36 inches and is
an excellent
candidate for indoor
electric-powered
Scale. I’m looking
forward to this one.
If you have indoor electric Scale models, I want to see them.
Winter is also a good time to get those foamies from the hobby
shops and try them for some electric-powered RC Scale fun
inside.
Sig Manufacturing has a line of electric indoor models that are
great if you like to build your airplanes. These include the pre-
World War I Antoinette, 1909 Demoiselle, and 1910 Deperdussin.
Also included in this column:
• Sig’s “Shangri-La”
• Upcoming Scale Events
• Bruce Ream’s P-47
• Book about the Douglas SBD
Dauntless
Indoor RC Scale; it’s that time!
[onawing4602@att.net]
Radio Control Scale Stan Alexander
Jim Rediske, George Maiorana, and Tom Poole examine a scratchbuilt,
electric-powered “Flying Flea.”
The late Scott Christensen’s 1909 Antoinette. This 50-inch-span
model features an incredible level of detail.
Mike Gretz added many details to this foam Curtiss Jenny,
including changes in the color scheme, decals, and logo.
The pit area at a national indoor Scale event can get crowded at
times. When that happens, it’s time to go fly!
They span 44-50 inches and can fly at the speed of a slow walk in
windless conditions. Sig also sells the small-scale Herr models,
which include an AT-6 spanning 36 inches and a 35.5-inch-span
J-3 Cub, which should fly slowly.
Other companies have kits and ARFs for indoor RC Scale,
such as Hobbico. It carries a version of the Pietenpol Air Camper,
which spans 36 inches and is from a Dumas kit line.
The Dumas kits include an L-19, a WACO, and many others.
But if I remember correctly, you have to cut the printed balsa
sheets for them.
There are many aircraft out there for almost any size or weight
of Scale model you would like to build.
I purchased a P-51B ARF from Sig. The model is rated for a .90-
1.00 two- or four-stroke engine. With a wingspan of 66.9 inches,
it looks to be a good fit for my Saito .80 that is in the engine
drawer, waiting for a home.
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Bruce Ream’s P-47 waits on the tarmac for its next mission. This
nice-looking model was built from a Top Flite kit.
Right: Bruce Ream’s
P-47 in flight, after
dropping its bomb
load and pulling out.
The Mustang comes with all of the decals to replicate Don
Gentile’s legendary “Shangri-La.” However, a great friend sent
photos of “Hun Hunter” from Texas with all of the invasion
stripes, etc. on it.
Being able to apply the additional covering and insignia will
make the conversion easier. Stay tuned.
Upcoming Events: The Top Gun Invitational is scheduled for
April 28-May 2, 2010. This international Scale contest has been
moved back to its traditional week, at the end of April.
Frank Tiano and his sponsors and crew put together a great
show and competition in the spring in Florida. It’s also a good
place to take the family to enjoy some of the nearby parks and
attractions; Disney World and other Orlando sites come to mind.
The Scale National Championships will be held July 9-11 at
AMA Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana. There will be some
changes at this year’s event, including the date!
Static judging will be held at RC stage center for radio-control
entrants—not at the armory, as it has been. That is a good move in
many ways. For more information about this year’s Scale
Nationals, check out the National Association of Scale
Aeromodelers Web site.
Around Scale: This is a great time to be a Scale modeler, with so
much documentation online as well as photo discs, photo packs—
and let’s not forget the full-scale fly-ins.
I didn’t mention full-scale air shows. Why? Because most gate
guards at those events won’t let you get close enough to do walkaround
photo shoot.
There are Web sites on which aviation photographers put some
of their best work, but these aren’t intended for Scale modelers.
They might have only one photo of whatever subject you want to
model.
Bruce Ream has another way to obtain documentation, but this
source is becoming scarce. A couple years ago, through a fellow
modeler, he met and became friends with Lt. Col. Richard (Dick)
Hewitt: a highly decorated WW II ace who flew P-47s and P-51s.
Dick lives in Lawrence, Kansas.
He wrote a book about his WW II experiences, titled Target of
Opportunity. Last year, he attended the Warbirds Over Denver RC
fly-in that was hosted by Bruce’s club, the Jefco Aeromod’lers, and
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