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F/FSport


“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” —ECCLESIASTES 3


I


have made it a practice over the last 15 years or so of taking note of how long it has been since I first began writing for FLYING MODELS. Apparently, that is a mistake, because it appears that such a practice only makes the anniversaries ar- rive more quickly. I’m quite sure it was only a couple of months ago that I noted that March of 1973 was the publication date of my first article entitled, “From Theory to Trophy”, which detailed my preparation to fly hand launch gliders in competition. Now it well may be that my calendar is wrong, because it is a cheap one that I got from someone soliciting me for something or other, but it nonetheless shows that this col- umn marks 40 years of writing for this mag- azine. Yikes!


Assuming the calendar is correct, I am certainly obliged to thank the several edi- tors, beginning with Don McGovern whom I considered a mentor; through Bob Hunt and a modeling friendship that continues even until today; and most of all the current edi- torial staff headed by Editor Frank Fanelli, and prodded along by Production Editor Maureen Frazer, who keeps us all moving in the right direction.


The chronicle of a “build” I am constantly amazed by the changes


that have taken place in our language in a very short time, and not for the better, I’m afraid. Nowhere is this more evident than in current model airplane magazines that use the bulk of their space to review new ARFs (almost-ready-to-fly) or RTF (ready-to-fly) models. In those articles the word “build” has taken on a pejorative meaning and is often substituted for the word “assemble”, mean- ing to fit together already prepared pieces. The subject at hand in this segment is tru- ly a “build”, i.e., forming by uniting materi- PHOTO: TANDY WALKER


PHOTO: TANDY WALKER


Master modeler Tandy Walker’s newest creation is this immaculate Fairchild PT-19 that started out as an Easy Built kit. Tandy chronicles his entire build on his web site address given in the text.


als into a unified structure, and is being hosted by one of the most exacting and meticulous builders I’ve ever encountered, Tandy Walker of Arlington, Texas. Tandy is so meticulous that he will go back and re-do even the smallest element of any model con- struction that doesn’t meet his standards, and beyond that he employs his engineering background to solve even the most difficult problems in exacting and creative ways. Two of the accompanying photos are of Tandy’s latest project, a Fairchild PT-19 that started out as an Easy Built kit (Kit #FF-06), and gradually morphed into something clos- er to a Cleveland “Platinum” line product through Tandy’s changes and modifications. The complete process of starting with sticks and finishing with a gorgeous, museum scale flying model can be found on the web at http://tandysmodelplanes.com. Be prepared


to learn how to “build” things right, and leave those who merely “assemble” scratch- ing their heads in wonder, as you read and view the work he has chronicled.


A source correction There’s been a good amount of interest in


the Play Plane submitted by Jim Newman and featured in the January issue. Jim sent a note this month that rather than the Mod- el Airplane News source he originally cited, the plane was actually featured in the 1952 Aeromodeller Annual. A possible course of action for those not having access to that particular magazine would be to enlarge the plan enough to read the dimensions, and then go “old school” and pencil out a full-size drawing on butcher paper. It


is simple


enough that a couple of hours work should result in a very useful and rewarding plan.


by larry kruse You can reach Larry Kruseat 18 NW Heatherstone Drive, Lawton, Oklahoma 73505, or via e-mail at aircats@att.net


PHOTO: DAVID TESTERMAN


As an example of the precision and innovative construction that went into Tandy Walker’s Fairchild PT-19, this photo (at left) details the removable landing gear positioned with wire pegs and tubes sunk into the wing and held in place with small magnets to allow knock-off without damage in rough landings. David Testerman is justifiably proud of his Hellcat (above) built from Mike Nassise plans featured in the Tailspin, the newsletter of FAC Bay State Squadron. The plane weighs 27.5 grams and awaits flight testing under power.


40 MARCH 2013


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