Everyone likes ‘looping the loop’ when they’re learning to fly, and it’s a good thing too; we all need a bit of light relief during training sessions. However, there’s more to a perfected loop than just pulling in ‘up’ elevator. Ultimately you’ll be using all four primary controls (throttle, aileron, rudder and elevator) to nail the definitive loop.
Surprisingly difficult to perfect, properly executed loops are smooth flowing and accurate figures.
Power Scale Soaring Association member Steve Kemp poses with his new 1:8 scale Hunting Percival Jet Provost, built from enlarged plans by Andy Blackburn. The model spans 57”, has an AUW of 6lbs and flew superbly in the conditions enjoyed at July's PSSA gathering on the Great Orme - see the full report by Simon Cocker in his regular column.
Aero-Naut are a German model company that have been manufacturing a wide range aircraft and boat kits since the 1930s, their kits exuding quality and thoroughness, the cartoon scale Luscombe Silvaire 8 being a fine example. I say cartoon scale as, for ease of building, the model uses a square section fuselage rather than the monocoque oval construction of the full size.
The full size, incidentally, broke new ground when introduced in 1937 as it used an all metal fuselage with a fabric covered wing and no wood in its construction, with all metal sheeted wings being introduced in 1946. The aero-naut version, unlike the full size, is of all wood construction and designed for electric power with a 350-watt power train using a 3 or 4S LiPo of around 3,000 mAh.
Back in the old days, many plans had a materials list included on the drawing - and it’s been suggested that it would be good to reintroduce the idea. However, even if future plans do incorporate such a list there are thousands of old ones that don’t, leaving the builder to work out what materials are needed.
The materials list of yore was only ever a loose guide, because some people use more wood than others. For example, one individual might cut a set of wing ribs from two sheets of wood by carefully interleaving them, whereas someone else might use the ‘solid block’ method of cutting them out, which uses far more wood.
Our (usually) roving reporter, Alex Whittaker continues his lockdown virtual model event series with a look back at just a fraction of the best bits from the LMA's Cosford mega show
Like many print media titles, RCM&E experienced overseas distribution problems during the pandemic lockdown. Accordingly the May and June issues were not sent to our overseas readers, although subscriptions were extended by 2 months to compensate for this.
We do appreciate that some readers were upset by this decision. Accordingly the pull-out plans from the two issues can now be downloaded by clicking on the links below, and the accompanying build articles can be viewed in the subscriber's digital archive via this website.
Danny Fenton has been asked for more information on the R/C conversion of his little Vintage Model Company SE5a. He converted this free flight model by fitting the radio and motor from a rather tired ParkZone micro indoor model. Key to moving the control surfaces is a pull-pull set-up using 1lb fishing line that is super light.
Graham Ashby (RCM&E former editor) has reviewed a number of scale models from the Freewing range in the past and when chatting to him he’s been genuinely passionate about his collection of foam warbirds. He convinced me that with care they can be kept pristine, being structurally sound enough to absorb a degree of knocking about and able to withstand some aerial abuse, with flight performances providing the real scale effect of the type. His positivity warmed me to the whole concept of an EPO-based RTF, which opened the door to ticking off an item on my bucket list.
For many years I’ve harboured the desire to fly an L-39, be it jet-powered or a big PSS, and with Freewing’s EDF version purporting to offer sport-style performance in a scale package it seemed just the ticket, particularly as it will take off from short-grass runways, which is all I have at my disposal.
The Pitts Special should need no introduction. The prototype first flew in 1944 and went on to become an aviation classic. If you’ve ever seen one, then you’ll know how tiny it is. FMS have emulated the two-seat S2 version but even that spans just 20ft, making this 1.4m span model a respectable 1/4-scale, give or take.
First published in June 2000 issue of RCM&E, Chatterbox 2000 is Ray Wood's update on Vic Smeed's delightful cabin wing design for a 1958 issue of Aeromodeller.
The plan can be purchased from Sarick Hobbiesand the article pages can be downloaded below.
DATAFILE
Name: Chatterbox 2000
Designed by: Vic Smeed/Ray Wood
Wingspan: 40"
Wing Chord: 6. 5"
Fuselage Length: 30"
Overall Height: 9"
Motor Used: 280 Geared (J.
