PHOTO: DAVID HART
Is this the future nucleus (facing page) of an annual F/F scale event at Top Gun? Standing, L to R, Len Bechtold, Gwyn Avenell, Christina Avenell, Bob Curry, Carl Laydon, Rich Uravitch, and Greg Tracy (kneeling). Carl Laydon built this Super Cub(above left) specifically for the Top Gun 2013 F/F event. It's an old Guillow's kit . Carl made several mods to the kit (above right). It has plug-in style wings with carbon fiber stub spars. The tail group also plugs into the fuse. The struts on the
wing fold flat for transport and fit over “L” shaped brackets when secured to the fuse. These changes were made to make it possible to transport it to Top Gun since Carl traveled over 2000 miles. Rich Uravitch’s Swift (below left) was expertly covered overall with yellow Esaki tissue and custom decals. Rich combined his computer and graphics skills to create and print a unique 25th Anniversary Top Gun Logo decal (below right) for the tail of his Swift.
The fun begins This included our Master/Expert Class Craftsmanship judge, Rich Uravitch Him- self (Yes, Rich is a noted model aircraft de- signer and has earned a “Himself” rating). Not surprisingly, the availability of hun- dreds of freeflight kits and plans did not phase him. He just drew up his own Globe Swift design, laser cut all the parts and started clicking sticks together. Only two days had passed since we first talked about the event and I received an e-mail from Rich with a few photos of the Swift on his work- bench. The structure of wings, tail feathers, and fuselage were complete but uncov- ered...what was taking him so long! Len Bechtold, our Team Scale Craftsman- ship Judge, settled on a Herr Engineering P-51 Mustang kit. Len is also an accom- plished flight instructor and EAA pilot, fly-
ing a scaled down P-51 Experimental Air- craft kit, powered by a Chevy V8. His other P-51, the rubber band powered model, was covered with natural tissue, doped and inked with panel lines. Len told me that it had been about 55 years since he had at- tempted to build or fly a stick and tissue model.
Lee Henderson, our Master/Expert Color And Markings Judge decided on a Herr En- gineering L-19 Bird Dog kit. Lee also knocked this laser-cut kit out in record time, finished in the colors of a USAF Forward Air Controller (FAC) Aircraft.
Unfortunately, an unexpected family ill- ness forced Lee to return home to New York early and he was unable to participate in Sunday’s event. I hope he’ll be able to return with the L-19 next year.
My criteria for a subject model was sim-
ple: ignore all advice from the F/F experts that the best choice for a novice like myself, would be a high wing, light aircraft, like a Cub or Champ. Ignoring all advice or logic, I had to choose a WWII fighter, a type that no beginner should start out with, a low wing, short nose, tip stalling, torque rolling A6M5 Zero. Like the proverbial bumble bee, since I did not know I could not fly...I just flew! I chose the Dumas Walnut Scale kit of Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero and I can tell you that I could not have been more pleased with the overall quality of this kit, from the clear plans and detailed instructions to the in- credibly precise laser-cut ribs and formers. I typically build large scale wooden air- craft models but I must admit, this little kit was a pure pleasure to assemble. The parts fit was amazing, matching the plans exactly. This kit was also an eye opening diversion
Here is Len Bechtold’s Herr Engineering P-51D entry (above left). Len neatly covered it with natural/white tissue. He then detailed his Mustang with inked scale panel lines and a foam ball “happy face” pilot. Len was “stumped” (above
FLYING MODELS
right) whether to add the landing gear or not. In the end he decided to leave the gear off but increased the wing area by adding an extra rib bay to each tip. (Claimed it was a rare “long range”
P-51DLR.....really!)
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