CrossFiles O
ver the past few years, Brian Ma- lin, of BMJR models, and Mike Parker, of the U.K., have had an interesting correspondence. Brian
supplies new kits, Mike builds, flies and comments on the kits, helping Brian to iron out any flaws that might appear. This has been a very successful collaboration as the BMJR kits are easily among the best avail- able conversions of Old Time Gas models to modern electric or gas R/C. I am working on Brian’s Super Sniffer and so far, it’s one of the best kits I have ever had. Here is Mike’s version of Brian’s Dakota
built for 2-channel R/C and diesel power. Mike says, “I’ve re-engined my own F/F Dakota with the superb Schlosser 0.25cc diesel. It suits the model very well and has the advantage of running inverted with no problems. Now I can just fill the external tank, choke, flick maybe twice and throw it in the air—perfect.” We really need to get somebody to show us
how those Brits get diesels to run so well and dependably. BMJR Model Products, P.O. Box 1210, Sharpes, FL 32959-1210, 321-537-1159,
www.bmjrmodels.com. Another very fine kit manufacturer is
Dave Niedzielski of Easy Built Models. Dave’s kits are laser cut, very well engi- neered and fly very competitively (as I have found at Geneseo). Here’s Dave with his own Gloster Gladiator at Muncie for an F.A.C. contest. I have found that there is often a considerable difference between the “engi- neering” of a kit or plan and the “design”. As an old time mechanical engineer I can testi- fy that it isn’t so easy to engineer something for easy assembly and, at the same time end up with something very light that will still take punishment. Some of my “lead sleds” look pretty good
in the hangar but float like a rock when the thermals come out. I compliment both Dave and Brian for all the thought they put into their kits, Dave in rubber F/F and Brian in R/C. Dave’s Easy Built Models is at P.O. Box 681744, Prattville, AL 36068-1744, 334-358- 5184,
www.easybuiltmodels.com. Now here’s a guy who just doesn’t believe in kits. He finds an obscure picture of some PHOTO: DAVE NIEDZIELSKI
PHOTO: MIKE PARKER
Here’s the old Dakotain a new kit from BMJR, a new, 2-channel R/C system and a diesel engine from Mike Parker in England. Mike says it’s a great flyer.
old airplane that nobody else has tried, draws his own plans, builds the model with his own unique methods and ends up with a great looking, fine flyer that works well in- doors and out. With some guys you just can’t win for losing. Actually George Odenwaller is one of our most accurate and prolific builders and I always look forward to his newest effort. This time George has come up with a
Dodo, an Auk or a Penguin, a bird that was never intended to fly but somehow George will get it into the air and wow the folks at Teaneck. George’s Ground Trainer was used sometime in 1916/1918. George’s plan was drawn by Florent Baecke in 2000. I assume the real one was used to train budding aces to taxi around the airport before taking off. In 1966 I started to taxi a full sized Piper Cherokee and found when I added power the airplane insisted on turning left very fast. Maybe everybody needs a Ground Trainer.
I’ll just list some of George’s building ideas. Control horns: 1 skids 1
⁄32 ⁄16 ⁄8
covered with soft 1 and 1
× 1⁄16 wing L.E. 1 × 5⁄32
diameter Styrene, fuselage nose ⁄32
balsa sheet, 1 medium balsa with 1
, T.E. 1 ⁄16
⁄8 × 1⁄16
frames fuselage and tail outlines, ⁄8
, ribs are 1
square ⁄32
ribs at stress points. No rule says all wing ribs should be the
same thickness. We got used to that because kit makers used the same thickness sheet for all. You can build lighter and stronger by carefully choosing the thickness, weight and springiness of every stick in the model. George’s model has a 6-inch Peck prop, spans 183
⁄4 power will be one 14-inch loop of ¼ or 3
inches, weighs 46 grams and its ⁄16
rubber. In previous columns I’ve shown you some
of the huge output of Curtiss Moss who sent me a load of pictures of his models. Each pic is carefully annotated describing the model and its construction. This time we have the
ply, under side wing ⁄16
by don ross You can reach Don Rossat 817 Ames Hill Drive, Tewksbury, MA 01876, or via e-mail at
flywords@comcast.net
PHOTO: VIC BOCK
PHOTO: CURTISS MOSS
Dave Niedzielski builds and flies his own kits so he can be sure they work as advertised. Here he is at Muncie with his Gloster Gladiator (at left) for rubber power. Leave it to George Odenwaller to find a subject so rare it never flew at all. This is George’s version of something called a Ground Trainerfrom WWI made as an indoor flyer (above). Curtiss Moss wanted us to see his own brand of construction method for warp resistance and lightness. Note the interesting rib structure on his Daphne(above right).
46 DECEMBER 2011
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