F/FSport
“Everything old is new again.” —PETER ALLEN LYRICS
I
n the lyrics to a song of the same name, songwriter Peter Allen echoes a cultur- al truism that most of us have experi- enced in one way or another in our lives.
Of course, if you have a closet full of 6-inch- wide flamboyantly colored neckties from the Seventies, you may have to wait a bit longer to see Peter’s words come true. As far as top- ics for this column are concerned, however, this past month’s e-mail and letters from readers have convinced me that as we begin the new year of 2012, a new modeling cycle has begun. Information that those of us with extensive experience have gathered, and modeling techniques we have been practicing for decades, will be new to many of those just entering or re-entering the hobby.
Tightening that tissue In the early ’90s, former FMeditor, Bob
Hunt, and I produced a video entitled, “How to Cover Models with Japanese Tissue”, which as I understand it, is now being of- fered in DVD format through
www.air
bornemedia.com. In that video I explained and demonstrated the qualities of Japanese tissue that made it unique; several methods of attaching it, including working it around compound curve surfaces; and methods of controlling the shrinking characteristics to avoid warps. In particular, I demonstrated the use of isopropyl alcohol (more common- ly known as “rubbing alcohol”) sprayed
CAD DRAWING: DON DELOACH
Don DeLoach has brought Bill Chenault’s classic Pearldesign into the high tech world in the form of a new ship for the new NFFS E-36 Electric class, complete with an outrunner motor, lithium-polymer battery, and electronic timer. Details in the text.
across the tissue to provide a taut surface with a reduced risk of warps. Reader Rod Persons sent me an e-mail a
short time ago that spoke to the opening paragraph of this column. Rod relayed, “Thanks for the years of enjoyable columns. I have kept all Flying Models and have one grandson, 13, who loves to leaf through them. He is becoming active in our local meets and is planning to attend the SAM Champs with my wife and me.” Rod goes on to say that he is teaching his grandson some of the techniques of model- ing, including shrinking tissue. He says, “I have found that if you want a lot of shrink- age you use water, but on light airframes one might want to consider rubbing alco- hol…Alcohol comes in various concentra- tions. Our own drugstore carries 99%, 90% and 70%. I use the 99% if I want minimum shrinkage, and in most cases 70% for typical large rubber models…” Your information is good, Rod, and the only thing I would add to it is that you can exercise even more control by putting the alcohol in a small atomizer held above the surface you want to shrink and spraying across that surface, letting only the mist that falls out hit the tissue.
A Pearl redux Back in the 1970s, Bill Chenault changed
PHOTO: COURTESY OF DAVID GREVE
The great Jim Walker’s activities with American Junior Aircraft Company in support of the military during WWII are documented in this old magazine page that highlights several ways that AJ Aircraft was involved in the Defense effort.
44
the way we thought about and flew AMA Gas airplanes with the introduction of his Pearl series of models, including the Mini- Pearl, the Midi-Pearl, the Maxi-Pearl, and the biggie Mother of Pearl. Several other de- signers weighed in on the Pearl theme and refined the design for at least another decade. The trademark high pylon, rear ver- tical fin with its 90 degree leading edge de- sign still makes its appearance every year in local, regional, and national contests.
NFFS Editor and master modeler, Don DeLoach, has brought the Pearl into the car- bon fiber, Li-Po battery, outrunner motor, Mylar covering high tech world with his Su- per Pearl 202E short kit and plans intended for the new NFFS E-36 novice electric class. The 202E is similar in size and aspect ratio to the classic Mini-Pearl with a 9% thick flat-bottom wing, a 7% stab, full-chord geo- detic ribs, and a projected wing span of 34¾ inches with 202 square inches of wing area. Don’s short kit includes 115 laser-cut
parts on three sheets of contest balsa and one small sheet of birch plywood. As in all short kits, the builder supplies the strip wood, power system, and accompanying electronics. Don provided a pdf file of the plan this month to whet reader’s appetites. Contact Don at
ddeloach@comcast.net for pricing and other particulars. He can also provide information on motor, battery, prop, and timer recommendations and sources for optimum performance.
Jim Walker revisited In the April 2011 column, we looked at American Junior Aircraft’s iconic gliders in some detail and presented some astounding information on the number of models the company produced for Army gunnery prac- tice during WWII. Reader David Greve was in the process of going through some old magazines for the purpose of discarding them when he ran across the magazine page entitled “Model Planes Stunt for Gunners” included in this column. The page dates from April 1944, and shows a radio con- trolled plane, a whip-controlled model, Jim Walker flying two Fireballs simultaneously, and the catapult system devised to put the famous AJ Interceptor into gunner’s sights as high and rapidly as possible. One of the
JANUARY 2012
by larry kruse You can reach Larry Kruseat 18 NW Heatherstone Drive, Lawton, Oklahoma 73505, or via e-mail at
aircats@att.net
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76