December 2020 Articles

• My most recent project is a 1/3-scale RC Thomas Morse S4B, and I used Replicraft 1/5-scale plans for reference. They include everything needed to build a full-scale aircraft let alone a model. You can see my entire building thread at the Radio Control Scale Builder forum (rcscalebuilder.com), which includes multiple photos of all the scratch-built […]

  

  Paint Scale Markings with Vinyl Masks: Neat and precise results every time

  My most recent project is a 1/3-scale RC Thomas Morse S4B, and I used Replicraft 1/5-scale plans for reference. They include everything needed to build a full-scale aircraft let alone a model. You can see my entire building thread at the Radio Control Scale Builder forum (rcscalebuilder.com), which includes multiple photos of all the scratch-built […]
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• When it comes to installing a dummy engine or a cowl with a dummy engine molded into the front, I have a trick I use to help center the engine’s output shaft and prop hub. I use some double-sided foam tape cut into a strip. I stick it to the hub and then slide it […]

  

  Centering Tape

  When it comes to installing a dummy engine or a cowl with a dummy engine molded into the front, I have a trick I use to help center the engine’s output shaft and prop hub. I use some double-sided foam tape cut into a strip. I stick it to the hub and then slide it […]
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• After spending hundreds of hours building a giant-scale airplane, modelers can easily invest in many more hours adding scale details. The amount of detail can include just an instrument panel and a pilot figure or a completely detailed replica of the full-size counterpart. Scale competitions like the Top Gun Invitational are great opportunities to see […]

  

  Hiding your RC Gear

  After spending hundreds of hours building a giant-scale airplane, modelers can easily invest in many more hours adding scale details. The amount of detail can include just an instrument panel and a pilot figure or a completely detailed replica of the full-size counterpart. Scale competitions like the Top Gun Invitational are great opportunities to see […]
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• Stauer Flyboy 1916 Midnight Wristwatch   During World War I, French fighter pilot Dieudonné Costes fought in countless dogfights with enemy planes. Timing was essential to victory, and the world’s first multifunction wristwatches forever changed air combat. They allowed pilots to execute complicated maneuvers and coordinate attacks. After the Great War, Costes, navigating the pitch […]

  

  Model Airplane New Gift Guide – 20+ Most-Wanted Presents for Aviation Enthusiasts

  Stauer Flyboy 1916 Midnight Wristwatch   During World War I, French fighter pilot Dieudonné Costes fought in countless dogfights with enemy planes. Timing was essential to victory, and the world’s first multifunction wristwatches forever changed air combat. They allowed pilots to execute complicated maneuvers and coordinate attacks. After the Great War, Costes, navigating the pitch […]
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• If you are a WW II fighter fan, there’s one British RAF classic everyone knows and loves—the sleek and attractive Spitfire. The Spitfire was a short-range, high-performance interceptor designed by R. J. Mitchell, chief designer at Supermarine Aviation Works. Mitchell pushed the Spitfire’s distinctive elliptical wing with cutting-edge sunken rivets to have the thinnest possible […]

  

  Planes Worth Modeling: Supermarine Spitfire Mk II

  If you are a WW II fighter fan, there’s one British RAF classic everyone knows and loves—the sleek and attractive Spitfire. The Spitfire was a short-range, high-performance interceptor designed by R. J. Mitchell, chief designer at Supermarine Aviation Works. Mitchell pushed the Spitfire’s distinctive elliptical wing with cutting-edge sunken rivets to have the thinnest possible […]
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• A not-so-well-kept secret of many competitive scale and jet RC pilots, the Bavarian Demon Cortex is like an electronic way to turn off the wind! Distributed by Chief Aircraft, the Demon Cortex 3-axis Stabilization System with USB costs $289. It is very well made with a lightweight and compact CNC-machined aluminum housing. It comes with […]

  

  Bavarian Demon Cortex 3-Axis Flight Stabilization System with USB

  A not-so-well-kept secret of many competitive scale and jet RC pilots, the Bavarian Demon Cortex is like an electronic way to turn off the wind! Distributed by Chief Aircraft, the Demon Cortex 3-axis Stabilization System with USB costs $289. It is very well made with a lightweight and compact CNC-machined aluminum housing. It comes with […]
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• There are few things more frustrating that having a propeller and spinner come loose from your engine. Usually it takes removing the spinner so you can retighten the prop nut. A good way to prevent this is to make a circular patch of stick on sandpaper with a hole in the center and attach it […]

  

  No-Slip Spinner

  There are few things more frustrating that having a propeller and spinner come loose from your engine. Usually it takes removing the spinner so you can retighten the prop nut. A good way to prevent this is to make a circular patch of stick on sandpaper with a hole in the center and attach it […]
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• As a longtime free flighter, my track record with high wing models and biplanes hasn’t been too bad. However, with low wing models, it’s been a bit less than stellar. So the goal with the Hoodoo was to design a fairly simple sport model that would deliver consistent flights in the 30 – 45 second […]

  

  The Hoodoo: Give free flight a try with this “low-winger”

  As a longtime free flighter, my track record with high wing models and biplanes hasn’t been too bad. However, with low wing models, it’s been a bit less than stellar. So the goal with the Hoodoo was to design a fairly simple sport model that would deliver consistent flights in the 30 – 45 second […]
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• Don’tcha almost hate it when you come across a good looking scale model in the pit area with a bunch of exposed switches, fuel fillers and charging jacks bolted, glued or otherwise taped or fastened to the exterior of its beautiful finish? I know, right? Well after very careful investigation I have come to the […]

  

  Hatch it!

  Don’tcha almost hate it when you come across a good looking scale model in the pit area with a bunch of exposed switches, fuel fillers and charging jacks bolted, glued or otherwise taped or fastened to the exterior of its beautiful finish? I know, right? Well after very careful investigation I have come to the […]
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• A longtime Model Airplane News contributor, Nick Ziroli Sr. has influenced our hobby for decades. Nick has been building and flying model airplanes for more than 70 years having flown his first RC model in 1952. Nick officially retired 12 years ago but continued to be a consultant for the aerospace industry for several years. […]

  

  Never Stop Flying!

  A longtime Model Airplane News contributor, Nick Ziroli Sr. has influenced our hobby for decades. Nick has been building and flying model airplanes for more than 70 years having flown his first RC model in 1952. Nick officially retired 12 years ago but continued to be a consultant for the aerospace industry for several years. […]
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• When it comes to sizing prop shafts, drill bits or other items you need to know the diameter of, this inexpensive size guide is a great shop accessory. A lot cheaper than a micrometer or a vernier caliper, just slip the guide over your item and find the size hole that fits the best. It’s […]

  

  Quick Size Guide

  When it comes to sizing prop shafts, drill bits or other items you need to know the diameter of, this inexpensive size guide is a great shop accessory. A lot cheaper than a micrometer or a vernier caliper, just slip the guide over your item and find the size hole that fits the best. It’s […]
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• For scale airplanes with an open cockpit, I save the hassle of opening various hatch covers by adding a 9-inch servo extension lead to the binding port of my receiver. This way if I need to rebind the receiver in the future, I can just attach the bind plug and continue on with the binding […]

  

  Binding Plug Extension

  For scale airplanes with an open cockpit, I save the hassle of opening various hatch covers by adding a 9-inch servo extension lead to the binding port of my receiver. This way if I need to rebind the receiver in the future, I can just attach the bind plug and continue on with the binding […]
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• The Supermarine Spitfire was a high-performance, short-range single-seat fighter plane operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during and after World War II and along with the Hawker Hurricane comprised the was a primary fighter for the RAF during WW II. The Spitfires had a higher victory to loss ratio than the Hurricane and eventually […]

  

  Legend Hobby Spitfire 50 GP/EP ARF

  The Supermarine Spitfire was a high-performance, short-range single-seat fighter plane operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during and after World War II and along with the Hawker Hurricane comprised the was a primary fighter for the RAF during WW II. The Spitfires had a higher victory to loss ratio than the Hurricane and eventually […]
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• For this issue I wanted to return to our process of repairing and refinishing a crashed E-flite P-39 Airacobra. Last time we used a combination of lightweight spackle and polycrylic finish to repair the crashed airplane. From there, we applied multiple coats of primer (sanding in between coats) to smooth out the airplane and then […]

  

  Scale Makeover: A new scheme for a P-39

  For this issue I wanted to return to our process of repairing and refinishing a crashed E-flite P-39 Airacobra. Last time we used a combination of lightweight spackle and polycrylic finish to repair the crashed airplane. From there, we applied multiple coats of primer (sanding in between coats) to smooth out the airplane and then […]
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• With my Balsa USA 1/3-scale Fokker Triplane project, I have had a really good time both on the workbench and on the flightline. The Triplane is powered by a Zenoah GT-80 and I used my Spektrum DX18 for control. The kit took about 500 hours over eight months to build and I finished the model […]

  

  Aluminum Engine Cowls: Tech tips for assembly and installation

  With my Balsa USA 1/3-scale Fokker Triplane project, I have had a really good time both on the workbench and on the flightline. The Triplane is powered by a Zenoah GT-80 and I used my Spektrum DX18 for control. The kit took about 500 hours over eight months to build and I finished the model […]
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• After building model and carving scale parts from wood for years, I have come up with an easy method that uses some math. (Stay with me—you won’t need a calculator or even a scratchpad with this technique!) Invented hundreds of years ago, calculus is the method for defining curved lines as a sequence of increasingly […]

  

  Advanced Balsa Carving: An easier way to make scale parts

  After building model and carving scale parts from wood for years, I have come up with an easy method that uses some math. (Stay with me—you won’t need a calculator or even a scratchpad with this technique!) Invented hundreds of years ago, calculus is the method for defining curved lines as a sequence of increasingly […]
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