Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2022 i Model Airplane News

SKYRAIDER SCALE BUILD In this issue, we take a close look at a super-scale Skyraider A-1, as pro modeler P.J. Ash takes us through how he turned an ARF model into a carbon copy of a war-ravaged Sandy. A competitor at the Top Gun Scale Invitational, P.J. wows the crowd everywhere he flies his A-1. Not often modeled, the Douglas Skyraider was designed and built during a time when faster, jet-powered aircraft were gaining prominence. Despite this, the fighter quickly became a battlehorse for U.S. Navy and Marine squadrons in the Korean War and Vietnam. STOL GUIDE With their high power-to-weight ratios, Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft are blast to fly. Their oversized control surfaces enable them to descend and land quickly, making them even a natural for all…

Pilot-RC P-47D 95" Pilot-RC’s first composite scale warbird, this impressive 1/5-scale P-47D has full scale details, like rivets, panel lines, and simulated hatches, and it’s painted outside the mold to eliminate seam lines. All linkages except the rudder horn are hidden, and a two-piece wing and stabilizer make it easy to transport. This ARF comes in the Jeanie scheme shown and in the famous Tar Heel Hall scheme. It’s available with electric retracts and cockpit for $3,399 and “engine-ready” with lights, retracts, and servos installed for $4,999. chiefaircraft.com Legend Hobby Savage Bobber 92" This ¼-scale model features a true welded fuselage that’s handmade from 304 stainless steel tube. Its 7-inch bush tires allow it to fly off rough fields, and its large control surfaces make it ideal for STOL operations.…

PowerBox Systems in Germany, a manufacturer of power distribution systems and multi-axis gyros for large and complex aircraft, recently introduced their second radio system, the Atom. The Atom promises to bring many of the same powerful features of their 26-channel Core flagship radio, such as their highly reliable, Weatronics-based radio-frequency link, telemetry integration, and modern look and feel, to a wider variety of modelers because of its more modest price point. This came along at a good time for me because I wanted a second radio to buddy-box aspiring turbine jet pilots and to equip my gliders because my tow plane is set up on my Core. The Atom has 18 fully proportional channels, 2048 resolution, and can bind two receivers to one model memory. It uses the same touch…

Flying a Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft is some the most fun you can have as an RC pilot! With their high power-to-weight ratios, STOL planes can take off in very limited spaces, and their oversize flaps let them descend and land in a hurry. Plus, RC STOL models are usually scale, which allows the pilot to faithfully recreate the flight characteristics of the full-size. Your STOL flying adventure starts with the right RC plane, and you’ll find your new favorite in this guide that highlights 10 amazing STOL fliers. Have fun at the field!…

The Timber X Bind-N-Fly (BNF) Basic with AS3X and SAFE Select comes with everything you need to get airborne except for a flight battery and radio. Its tundra-style landing gear will handle a variety of field conditions, and if you want to try float flying, you can order the optional float kit. Supplementing the larger control surfaces, the Timber X features a flexible power system that can run 3S or 4S packs. The additional control authority and available power mean you can go from a sedate control setup and longer flight times to 3D rates and power to spare. The fixed landing gear includes a spring suspension and bush-style tires. Fly the Timber X slow and stable with short takeoffs and mild landings or really wring it out, the choice…

Constructed mostly of injection molded foam and painted in the distinctive bright red of Mike Patey’s full-scale Draco super bush plane, this model has a two-piece wing. The Draco has incredible surface detail with panel lines, corrugated control surfaces, radio antennas, cockpit controls, pilot bust and even bubble windows on the cabin doors. It comes with its brushless motor, speed control, and servos installed, and its top-mounted hatch allows access to the flight battery. In the air, its included four-blade prop and powerful motor give the Draco the kind of upgraded power of the full-scale Draco has, so it will take off within its own length. QUICK SPECS Wingspan: 77.7 in. Time to assemble: 1.5 hours Radio req’d: 6-channel Power req’d: 4S to 6S 5000mAh LiPo $599.99 (PNP), $629.99 (BNF)…

It may look like the biggest slow-flight RC model you’ve ever seen, but Airbus’s Zephyr S is actually a High-Altitude Platform Station, and it’s setting records for the longest uncrewed flight ever. As this is being written, it is still airborne after over two months in flight! Launched by the U.S. Army on June 15, 2022 from Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, Zephyr S has solar panels on top of its 82-foot wing that power its two electric motors, each of which drives a two-blade propeller. The solar panels also recharge its 53 pounds of lithium-sulphur batteries so Zephyr S can continue to fly at night. Controlled via satellite communication from a ground station, the aircraft can take off and land autonomously but also be flown line of sight. It…

BRISTOL M1Cs Michael Trautman, Champaign, Illinois These three awesome Balsa USA Bristol M1cs were built by (from left) Dan Landis, Mike Trautman, and Art Pesch. The three gathered in Dan’s workshop for Mike’s first kit build over the winter months. The Bristol is approximately ⅙ scale and the wingspan measures 60 inches. Dan and Art both fly theirs with JR radio systems while Mike flies his using a Spektrum setup. All are equipped with RimFire 80 or equivalent motors and Castle Creation Talon speed controls. Mike writes “All three planes have flown successfully and the group build was tons of fun and good fellowship.” WACO YMF-3 Ralph Derico, Ephraim, Utah Ralph obtained a partially built WACO YMF-3 that was started from a Pica ⅙-scale kit and had been sitting untouched…

How many times have you lost a screw, washer, or other hardware piece and had to stop what you’re doing and run to the hardware store (or crawl around on your hands and knees with a flashlight and a magnet, looking for the piece that bounced once and disappeared forever)? What about sitting down for a build session only to get halfway through a step only to find out the hardware bag was short two screws? I’ve been there done that and it’s annoying. All modelers have a supply of hardware nearby but if your collection is like mine, it’s in an old coffee tin and the only organization applied to the collection is that it’s usually in the same place on my workbench when I go looking for it.…

This year’s Top Gun Scale Invitational in Lakeland, Florida had a treasure-trove of impressive, never-before-seen scale models that looked as good on the ground as they did in the air. One eye-catcher was the well-worn Douglas A-1 Skyraider flown by Model Airplane News contributor P.J. Ash. I had a chance to chat with P.J. about his Vietnam-era ground-pounder, here’s what he had to say. Model Airplane News: So, P.J, tell us about your scaled-out Skyraider. P.J. Ash: Okay, I started with the almost-ready-to-cover Legend Hobby Skyraider. Compared to other ARF/ARC models out there, the Legend Hobby aircraft has a very accurate scale outline. After a good sanding and filling in seams to smooth out the airframe, I glassed the plane and added all the panel lines, panels, rivets, hatches, etc.…

This impressive ARF features lights, cockpit details, and a multitude of working doors. It’s also available in military camouflage and Fed-Ex motifs and comes with an optional underside cargo module. The all-wood model features a three-piece wing with the outer panels that are easily removed, leaving the wing struts attached to the fuselage while also making the model easier to transport. The wings have large, key-together flaps with offset hinges on both the inner and outer wing panels. The integrated tow hook and large side doors also give the model extra utility—true to the full scale’s heritage. Anyone with moderate flying skills can handle this aircraft as it’s aerobatic, yet fairly floaty on landing. QUICK SPECS Wingspan: 85 in. Assembly Time: 20 hours Radio Req'd: 7-to 9-channel Power Req'd: 35cc…

This MR Aerodesign kit includes laser-cut wood parts, large rolled plans, a CD full of high-res pictures, and drawings showing the placement of panel lines and inspection covers. It also includes Du-Bro rods, rod ends, and 4-40 bolts. A landing gear kit, available separately, includes working struts, a scale kit for the inspection covers, scale sliding door and door kit with hinges. The vertical stabilizer hinges with brass tubes like the full-size aircraft, and the rudder features a pull-pull control system. In the air, the Porter has a heavy but nimble feel. It is well behaved and is a great everyday flier. QUICK SPECS Wingspan: 120 in. Time to assemble: months Power req’d: 50 to 60cc gas Radio req’d: 5-channel/8 servos $740 || mraerodesign.securicom.ca WHAT WE LIKE • Well-designed and…

A BNF Basic model with AS3X and optional Safe Select technologies, this scale EPO-constructed Maule comes with a full array of scale goodies, including molded panel lines, a pilot figure, and LED navigation and landing lights. Fixed, bush-style landing gear are standard equipment, and floats with a servo-operated water rudder are also included. Designed to use a 3S or 4S battery, the Maule is an agile model and on 3S exhibits plenty of power; it will even hover at just over half power. With flaps deployed, it lands at walking speed and stops in just a few feet on paved surfaces and nearly instantly on grass. QUICK SPECS Wingspan: 59 in. Time to assemble: 15 min. Radio req’d: 5-channel Power req’d: 3S or 4S 2200mAh LiPo $329.99 || horizonhobby.com WHAT…

If you prefer to build from plans, check out this ’30s warbird designed by Rob Caso. The Storch’s wing has a standard D-box design and is conventionally built on a flat board. The fuselage is comprised of forward and aft assemblies attached to a ventral spine with a combination battery box, servo and motor mount attached to the nose. In the air, the Storch requires a lot of control-surface throw to fly slowly. Short landings take a little practice, the key to which is keeping the model pitched up and under power as you come in. Then, when the wheels touch, immediately cut the power. QUICK SPECS Wingspan: 46 in. Time to assemble: months Radio req’d: 5-channel Power req’d: 18 to 20A brushless motor $19.95 || airagestore.com (plan K0510A)…

What’s all the fuss about the Eachine E180 helicopter? Besides incredible performance, direct-drive motors, no gears, and flybarless, to start with. I contemplated buying a direct-drive helicopter when I saw the OMP M-1s appear on the scene a couple of years ago. But a friend who raves about his Eachine E180 said the Eachine was less expensive with some unique features, so I got it. UNIQUE FEATURES So what is direct-drive mean? It means the motor is connected directly in line with the main rotor shaft. Therefore, there are no gears! Its brushless electric tail-rotor motor is really impressive, and its electronic circuits include the gyros. Seeing it fly, you will hear that incredible screaming of the tail rotor spinning its heart out to hold that tail, no matter what!…

The Kingfisher is a high wing bush-plane that comes with bent sheet-aluminum gear with burly oversize tundra wheels, scale foam floats, and snow skis. The injected-foam airframe comes with a brushless motor, speed control, and servos installed, and its two-piece wing comes with linkages installed and with has a fiberglass joiner. If you’re flying off water, the injected-foam floats have spray rails and can be installed on a pair of scale-looking wire landing gear. The Kingfisher has a nimble sporty feel in the air, and the flaps give a wide speed envelope. The Kingfisher is a rugged design that’s perfect for any intermediate pilot. QUICK SPECS Wingspan: 55 in. Time to assemble: 2 hours Power Req’d: 3S 2200 mAh LiPo Radio req’d: 5-channel $269.99 || fmsmodel.com WHAT WE LIKE •…

While hobbies are meant to be fun, operating remote control aircraft carries its own unique set of safety challenges, similar to those of our full-scale brethren. Our flying fields are often located away from town (and emergency services), and there’s a whole host of hazards that we mostly manage to avoid. There are still plenty of things that can bite you when you least expect it, both literally and figuratively, so it pays to be prepared. Here are a few things to think about next time you’re out and about, especially if you’re at an event or visiting another club field that you’re not familiar with. 1 Familiarize Yourself If you’re new to a location, take a few moments to get the lay of the land. Make note of such…

The P-47 Thunderbolt is one of the most iconic warbirds ever. Over the years, the P-47 has been modelled many times and in various color schemes and sizes. This 58.4-inch-span, stand-off scale model is constructed almost entirely from wood and is finished in UltraCote film covering. The PNP model comes equipped with a 60-amp Avian Smart speed control that can provide real-time battery voltage, current, motor rpm and other data. UNIQUE FEATURES The P-47 is provided in an almost ready to fly model but does require some assembly. The assembly manual for the P-47 has excellent step-by-step instructions accompanied by detailed photos. There are two ways to assemble the P-47, and they depend on which battery cell count you intend to use. If you only ever intend to fly on…