Judges Guide

Jun 8, 2016

Individuals seeking certification as a scale contest judge should be aware of the two (2) protocols which exist for pilots participating in AMA and U. S. Scale Masters scale contests. This training course seeks to establish a clear understanding of the differences by referencing one protocol to the other, as each is portrayed. In this manner, a difference that exists is more clearly defined. The two protocols are not intermingled at any point.

Protocols are clearly defined in competition handbooks published by each organization. Judge candidates should become familiar with both documents “before” participating in the certification programs of these organizations.

Though they appear identical, each organization require pilots to witness mechanical options and flight maneuvers with options in a different manner. There are additional differences as well. It is necessary to require all candidates to possess a “current” AMA and U. S. Scale Masters, Assn. Competition Hand Book. A copy of the rules for both AMA and Scale Masters can be downloaded from within this web site. Downloads are for reference only. Formal “printed” copies of the rules is the only document you are to consider absolutely correct and accepted as reference material at a contest.

The AMA rules are located here: http://www.modelaircraft.org/events/compreg.aspx

The Scale Masters rules are located here: http://usscalemasters.org/forumsmf2/index.php?action=dldir;sa=list;id=1

What I Need To Know About Flying In A Scale Contest

Jun 8, 2016

Compiled from AMA and Scale Masters Contest Rules
By: Ed Clayman

The intent of the flying portion of a contest is to determine the pilot’s ability to fly the model aircraft in the most realistic manner possible. The AMA and U.S. Scale Masters contest processes differ in just a few ways. The significant difference is Scale Masters emphasizes maneuver combinations where mechanical operations (flaps, bomb drop, & retracts) must be combined with a flying maneuver to enhance Realism. Both AMA and Scale Masters recommend that a theme or mission be established in choosing flight maneuvers so the flight routine’s order is easier to track by judges and is more pleasing to watch.
The emphasis will be placed on scale realism so contestant beware, the chosen aircraft type will determine the maneuvers parameters such as speed, geometry, and positioning with respect to the judges center-line. Contestants should indicate aircraft type and be designated either Aerobatic capable or Non-Aerobatic by checking the appropriate box on the flight score sheet. To document maneuvers not contained in this guide, a Maneuver Declaration Sheet will need to be filled out by the contestant, signed by the Contest Director and presented to the judges before each flight.
The Flight Judge will not downgrade items that are beyond the pilots control such as when a tail-skid aircraft is slowing down from a landing and at the point where the model “takes control” and turns into the prevailing winds. The judge will stop judging at the point the model takes over and determine the score. This is also true during bumpy wind conditions or when flying over thermals and the aircraft appears to be bumped around. The judge will be familiar with certain areas of the flying field that exhibit these unstable air conditions and take this into consideration in scoring.  Tail-skid aircraft will be allowed to attach a non-scale functional tail-wheel for flying off of paved surfaces only.  With the exception of electric motors and turbine aircraft, the engine must be equipped with an effective muffler or silencer to limit noise output to fly. Tuned pipes are considered silencers.
Each maneuver will start with a score of 10 points and the Flight Judge will deduct for errors noted during the execution of the maneuver. Errors will include mismatches noticed in Precision, Placement, and Realism for each maneuver. Judges need not arrive at the exact same score with each score however they can observe each others scores to see if they are consistent.
Flight judges will confer on the Overall Flight Realism qualities. Identical scoring is not required between flight judges.
Replacement parts to damaged aircraft are limited to props, spinners, wheels, tires, landing gear units, cowls, canopy, tail wheel units, antenna, flying wires, struts, and wingtips as long as the replacements are of the same size, shape and color. Anything else will need to be repaired and retained as original equipment by the modeler.
Maneuver scoring content: Maneuvers and “maneuver combinations” with scale operations will be scored for three basic content considerations as listed below. These are similar to those found in the AMA Competition Regulations Rules Governing Model Aviation Competition in the United States, except provision is made in Scale Masters for “maneuver combinations” and each content is quantified.
The three contents are:
Scale Masters Points Distribution
Precision: Maximum of 5.0 points
Placement: Maximum of 2.5 points
Realism: Maximum of 2.5 points per maneuver.

The content elements are scored to the nearest 1/2 point in Scale Masters only.

As a general guide, a maneuver is scored as in the past. A “maneuver combination” is primarily scored with equal emphasis between the maneuver and a timely added scale operation feature. This is further detailed as follows:

1. Precision Content (5 pts.): The pilot’s ability to perform the defined maneuver geometry, and when applicable, the mechanical Precision of scale operation features within a “maneuver combination”.

1.1. If the maneuver does not contain a “maneuver combination”, the Precision content of the maneuver will be entirely that of pilot skill, i.e. 5 point’s maximum.

1.2. When brief scale operations are actively deployed within an optional “maneuver combination”, the scale operation(s) Precision content will be equally divided with pilot Precision skill (or a maximum of 2.5 points each). This equal sharing of the 5 points described for total Precision which effectively shares some of the pilot Precision in maneuver geometry for a “maneuver combination” score.

1.3. Should scale operational feature(s) fail to operate or deploy in a realistic and timely manner due to either mechanical malfunction or pilot error within a “maneuver-combination”, the result will be a downgrade in the score for “Precision”. With this scoring method, a significant error occurring in only one portion of an optional “maneuver combination” may still leave the final score a combination of Placement and Realism instead of 0 as before.

1.4. Precision of Flaps, Slats, and Retracts is demonstrated by the prototypical operation and must be judged on the pilot’s Precision in the “Overall Flight Realism” score. Precision and reliability may also be further emphasized and demonstrated within a “maneuver combination” by selecting the optional “Slow Speed Dirty Inspection Pass”. Flaps, Slats, and Retracts shall not be listed with any other maneuvers for scoring as “maneuver combinations” to dilute scoring content.

2. Placement Content (2.5 pts.): Most in-flight maneuvers (including those with droppables) will optimally be placed directly in front of the judges (judges center-line) beginning on the far side of the active runway (maneuvering line). This will typically be at 0 to 50 feet beyond the far side of the defined runway area for fly-by type maneuvers, but may extend further depending on the horizontal size of the maneuver performed. (NOTE: For fly-by traffic separation and safety, Jet prototypes are encouraged to position their maneuvers to the outer regions described [50 to 100 feet beyond runway] and slower propeller driven aircraft to the inner regions [0 to 50 feet beyond runway]). There are times when the sun may be directly in front of the judges so the contestant will be allowed to offset the maneuver to either side as long as the contestant informs the judges before the flight, otherwise the judges will have to default to the judges center-line for placement.

2.1. Maneuvers with horizontal symmetry (Cuban Eight, Loop, Roll, Figure 8, etc.) should have their midpoint on the judges center-line with equal distance on each side for optimal score.

Placement content will also be divided in emphasis between the maneuver and optimum scale operation deployment position.

2.2. Some maneuvers due to their asymmetry are offset from judging center for best viewing, such as a Stall Turn or Wingover. Also the Procedure Turn is positioned in the Scale Masters Program where the initial 90 degree turn away from the runway begins before reaching judging center, and the remaining 270 degree turn starts at judging center to the left or right. (NOTE: This is identical in desired position as the start of the mandatory figure eight for optimum judging view.)

2.3. Although the Placement of a maneuver normally represents only 2.5 points content, a greater penalty deduction will be imposed in the interest of safety when maneuvers are performed unnecessarily close to the flight line (over the runway) as described in “Runway Safety and Dead line Infractions” of this Guide. Runway “Placement-critical” maneuvers will effectively have Precision and Placement content combined for needed emphasis in scoring. For all maneuvers some severe forms of Placement problems may impair the judges ability to accurately score Precision or Realism content, in which case all score contents may suffer accordingly.

2.4. Optimum Placement of bomb drops will be defined as the point of impact in front of the judges at the far side of the defined runway. When discussed with judges prior to flight, the maneuver may be performed slightly to the left or right of the judges center line for best viewing. Relative targeting accuracy for determining Optimum Placement score will be dependent on release elevation (high level versus low level bombardment), and the typical accuracy level corresponding to that prototypical mission. Parachute or empty tank drops will be scored for Optimum Placement as point of release rather than impact, since wind conditions may unpredictably affect point of landing.

2.5. The optimum Placement of flaps, slats, and retract deployment is only included in Overall Flight Realism “Continuity” unless the optional “maneuver combination” of Slow Speed Dirty Inspection Pass is also selected.

3. Realism Content (2.5 pts.): The Realism content of scoring is also described by the AMA Guide in rule 2.3, pp. 141-142. The following is added for further emphasis or definition. Realism content will also be approximately divided in emphasis between maneuver and scale operation when applicable to a “maneuver combination”. The Realism content of the score is based upon the pilots skill to perform only those maneuvers capable of the full size aircraft in a manner as if watching the prototype in actual flight. The size, shape, and speed of aerobatic maneuvers performed by a contestant should reflect the capabilities of the full size prototype. For example, it would be expected that a loop performed by a J-3 Cub would be smaller in diameter and egg-shaped compared to a P-51 Mustang if both models were of the same scale. The speed at which such maneuvers are performed should also reflect the capabilities of the prototype. Consideration should also be given to throttle position during aerobatics. In many full-scale prop driven aircraft, power must be reduced at the point of maximum altitude in a vertical maneuver before entry into the descent portion. Execution of such maneuvers by a model at a constant full throttle setting should be downgraded in Realism portion.

Consider the stability or “smoothness” aspects of each maneuver as well as the power management (throttle) expected for that specific maneuver of the model compared to its full size counterpart. Both of these considerations will be influenced by aircraft design and wind conditions. Since slow, light-weight aircraft will be much more visibly influenced by wind than fast heavier aircraft, wind conditions should be taken into account during judging.

Maneuvers should appear realistic in scale size of performance (site and conditions permitting). Attitude, bank angle and g-loading appearance through turns should be consistent with those generally observed in the full-size. With scale-size maneuvers, these prototypical attitude features are achieved through use of an optimum speed relationship to the full size aircraft.

Realism content of a “maneuver combination” will also have approximately the same emphasis between the maneuver and the accompanying scale operation feature regarding realistic motion or other intended activity displayed for Realism. For dropables, this will include the manner in which it was secured and carried in flight to point of release or the trajectory likeness to that of the full size. A particular maneuver may be downgraded for Realism content if it is apparent it exceeded the performance capabilities of its full size counterpart. Maneuvers that have been classified only for non-aerobatic aircraft will still be judged for all maneuver contents without downgrade for all aircraft. However, the “Overall Flight Realism” score may be penalized if such maneuvers were chosen as options by high performance aircraft.

What I Need to Know About the Static Portion of a Contest

Jun 8, 2016

Compiled from AMA and Scale Masters Contest Rules
By: Ed Clayman

Welcome to Static… The Static portion of the contest is very important since it makes up one-half of your overall score. Good documentation gives you the edge over a similar model with poor documentation. We would like to point out some common frustrations shared by contestants and static judges alike. We all have a favorite airplane that we want to build and fly however, pick a color scheme that is easily documented. Remember it is your choice on what you bring to the contest and Proof of Scale is the Contestants responsibility.

What is documentation…much less good documentation? For an excellent description of what appropriate documentation is,click here. For an example of internet documentation resource management click here.

For example, if the available documentation for a particular aircraft is not easily readable, then you might consider another aircraft’s paint scheme. Please don’t blame the judges for down grading your model if the documentation is poor. Plan ahead and pick one that clearly shows outline, color, and markings. The ideal situation is where you decide to try for the Masters, find documentation of the very aircraft you would like to build, and build it to perfectly match the documentation.

If you already have an airplane built and then you decide to enter the Masters all you can do then is to try and alter your model to match the documentation and the judges will in turn do the best they can with the information you provide them. Remember…it is your choice of documentation not the judges. The process starts by having the model set up on the table pointing straight at the outline judge. The judges study the documentation item starting at the tip of the rudder then look up at the model. Does it match? If yes, proceed to the next element in a clockwise rotation. If not, look at the photos provided to see if the item shows up in the pictures as photos take precedence over 3-view drawings. If it matches, go to the next item. If the judge cannot find a photo that clearly shows the mismatch the judge must downgrade for that particular item and go to the next item.

  1. Straight (head on) view
  2. Side View
  3. Top View
  4. Bottom View

Static judging shall take place prior to flight judging. It is recommended that the Documentation package be contained in a 3-ring binder of such that each section can be removed and presented to the perspective judge to allow simultaneous judging. If the contestant would like feedback comments from the judges, extra copies of the outline drawings should be provided for each judge to mark up with a highlighter and write comments on.

The model will be judged from a distance of 15 feet with the exception of Craftsmanship in Scale Masters competition, which is judged at no less than 4 feet. The static judges shall not examine the model closely before static judging begins. Static scores will be from 0 to 10 for each sub category on the score sheet, to the nearest 1/2 pt.
The maximum static score for each category is:

Accuracy of Outline – 40 points
Color-Finish-Markings – 30 points
Craftsmanship – 30 points

Transmitter use to operate mechanical scale operation during static judging is not permitted.

Cockpit and cabin interiors or the interior of landing gear wheel wells even if partially visible from the judging distance are not to be considered in scoring the model. All other visible features will be judged. The following is a suggested way to expedite static judging.

Simultaneous Judging is a process where all three static judges judge the aircraft at the same time. The Outline and Color&Markings judges sit together at a table. The contestant prepares the documentation package by removing the sections from his 3-ring binder and places each section by the appropriate judge. The contestant places the aircraft on the judging table that is 15 feet away and points the nose of the aircraft directly toward the Outline judge. The Outline judge sets the pace and calls the position he wants the aircraft in starting with the front, head on view. The Craftsmanship judge walks around the aircraft no closer than 4 feet but does not talk to the contestant. If he has a question that needs clarification, he will refer to the photo documentation that the Color& Markings judge will have. If more than 20 contestants are expected, the Dual Simultaneous Judging method is suggested where two additional tables are set up (See Fig. 1). While one plane is being judged, the other is being set up and the documentation is prepared on the table behind the judges. When the judges are finished with one plane, they spin around, pick up the documentation and immediately begin judging the next aircraft. This system is capable of 8 aircraft per hour which still gives the equivalent of 22.5 judging minutes per plane (7.5 minutes x 3 judges). (Scale Masters Example)

Moving Canopy Frames

Jun 8, 2016

Yes, that’s a simple “y” driven from behind the cockpit with a servo. The “y” is made from three clevis rods silver soldered with nylon ball link cups threaded onto the ends. The one to the rear attaches to the servo. The other two nylon cups attach to ball links per illustration. The channel is mounted facing outward parallel to the cockpit edge. The channel is “flush” with the surface of the fuselage with a nylon block running within the channel.

You can be as inventive as you want here. You can attach the canopy to the nylon block with what ever you decide works best for you. Remember the air will be buffeting the canopy so you might want to laminate the inside edge of the canopy with oak or maple veneer to distribute the stress. Use what ever you can find to simulate this set up with the parts you have. DO NOT USE ferrous metal parts against ferrous metal parts as this will create electronic noise (emi).

How Toe In Helps Model Aircraft

Jun 8, 2016

by: Russ O’Brien

In airplanes, toe-in aids in keeping an airplane going straight during takeoff roll and landing roll-out, particularly with tail-draggers. Airplanes with tricycle gear have the center of gravity (CG) forward of the main gear. This helps straighten out an airplane that has developed a yaw angle between where it is pointed and where it is actually going. A tail-dragger has the CG behind the main gear and a slight yaw angle is not automatically corrected but is made worse and can result in ground loop.
Here is where toe-in of the wheels helps both types. An airplane rolling straight ahead has equal drag from each of the wheels. When it takes an unwanted turn to the left, the drag from the left wheel goes to zero while the drag at the right wheel increases. The net effect is the unbalanced drag exerts a retarding force and turns the airplane back to the desired direction. This wouldn’t happen without toe-in.

Free-Flight Resources

Jun 8, 2016

Kits, Plans, Rubber Strip, Wood, Tissue, and Other Necessities

By: Bob Clemens

Thanks to the dedication and hard work by a small but growing number of dedicated entrepreneurs around the country, an amazing array of free flight necessities are available via mail order. Most of these cannot be found in hobby shops. The following is a basic list of some of these sources. There are many more. Check the ads and free flight columns in Flying Models magazine, as well as the Internet, for others. Best first choices for beginners or “returnees” are those sources marked with an asterisk (*). Please feel free to copy and distribute this list. Show it to your hobby shop owner, since many of the listed vendors also sell to dealers. Most shops don’t know these vendors and products even exist. Chances are you didn’t either until you read this list! Note that some vendors have web sites and e-mail. Prices, e-mail addresses, and web site URL’s are subject to change without notice.

Aero Dyne
17244 Darwin Avenue, Unit H
Hesperia, CA 92345
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Web site: http://www.freeflightmodels.com

Aero Dyne’s very extensive catalog includes kits, plans, covering materials, propellers, motors, and accessories from a wide variety of sources, both domestic and imported. Most are for outdoor flying. Lots of oldtimer rubber and power kits. Catalog $2.00 

Campbell’s Custom Kits
P.O. Box 3104
Muncie, IN 47307   (765) 289-7753
E-mail:  [email protected] 

Lee Campbell, a veteran free flight flier and competitor, is the proprietor and kit maker. His inventory includes lots of gliders: 14 hand-launched models, three catapult types, and a towline design. All this plus 11 rubber-powered duration models and 18 power models keep Lee busy cutting his top-quality balsa wood. He also sells kits and accessories from other manufacturers such as Peck-Polymers, Micro-X, and R/N Models and is always adding new merchandise. Send him $3.00 for a catalog. 

Campbell Model Supply Co.
37742 Carson Street
Farmington Hills, MI 48331   (810) 478-7846

Glenn Campbell’s chief product is Esaki tissue, the finest Japanese tissue available for general model plane use, and is available in 18″ x 24″ sheets of yellow, white, red, blue, orange, black, and green. Glenn Campbell imports Esaki tissue directly from the manufacturer in Japan and sells it at the best price anywhere. He recently added an even lighter, hard-to-find white tissue known as Gampi. He also sells balsa, propellers, and kits for small electric-powered and easy-to-build rubber models. Send him $2.00 for a complete catalog.

Diels Engineering, Inc.
P.O. Box 263  
Amherst, Ohio 44001
E-Mail: [email protected]

Dave offers lots of excellent kits, many of pre-WWII and WWII military aircraft with vacuum-formed canopies where needed and great decals. Lots of plans too if you like to pick your own wood and tissue for scratch building. Catalog $2.00.

F.A.I. Model Supply*
P.O. Box 366
Sayre, PA 18840-0366    (570) 882-9873
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.faimodelsupply.com/

100+ free flight kits and growing: scale, rubber and power endurance competition types, and three ready-to-fly indoor rubber models. FAI carries a great selection FF supplies, including their splendid Tan II rubber strip that has become the performance standard of the hobby. Catalog is $2.00, a must for all free flight fliers!

Flying Aces Club
3301 Cindy Lane
Erie, Pennsylvania 16506    (814) 833-0314

Join the Flying Aces Club! It’s an informal, nation-wide group of model airplane hobbyists who love to build and fly stick-and-tissue model aircraft of all types, but especially rubber-powered scale. Membership includes a subscription to their bimonthly newsletter, The FAC News. Each issue contains several full-size model plans, modeling news and tips, lots of model photographs, contest results, and club news. The biennial FAC National contest is held on even-numbered years in Geneseo, New York, during July and is the premier free flight scale meet with more than 190 fliers competitng. Annual membership fee is $15.

Golden Age Reproductions
P.O. Box 1685
Andover, MA  01810

GAR has hundreds of Comet, Peerless, Megow, Scientific, Ace Whitman, and other reprinted plans from the 1930’s and 40’s rubber-powered scale kits that those of us over 50 fondly remember. They also have over two dozen excellent rubber scale kits, most based on those same old models, some of later design including the P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt, and Messerschmitt BF-109E of WWII fame. A recent addition to the GAR line are the excellent kits designed and formerly sold by John Bell. These include a P-51A Mustang, Clipped Wing Taylorcraft, Hughes H-1 Racer, Mk. XIVE Spitfire, Curtiss P-40, Stinson Reliant, and Rearwin Speedster. Molded canopies are included where needed on all GAR kits. The catalog is $3.00, a must for rubber scale fans.  

Hannan’s Runway*
Box 210
Magalia, CA 95954   (530) 873-6421
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.hrunway.com

Bill Hannan carries a very comprehensive inventory of wonderful books on model airplanes and aircraft history, many aimed for beginners, many available nowhere else, many with lots of model plans. There’s also a growing list of excellent modeling videos. Hannan’s Runway is a splendid resource for anyone getting started as well as experienced builders/fliers and aviation buffs. The $1.00 catalog charge is refundable on your first order. Visa and Mastercharge accepted. Excellent web site.

HiLine
P.O. Box 11558
Goldsboro, NC 27532   (919) 778-6653
E-mail: [email protected]

HiLine sells a variety of very small electric motors for free flight and small RC models, plus chargers, battery packs, and plans for electric as well as rubber-powered models. There’s also an excellent 10:1 rubber winder called the Scale Winder. Proprietor Dave Rees is a nationally known free flight scale designer, flier, and competitor. He sells an informative video on electric-powered free flight. The HiLine catlog is $1.00.

Indoor Model Supply*
Box 2020
Florence, OR  97439   Phone: (541) 902-8508
Web site: http://members.aol.com/~IndoorMS/IMS.htm

IMS caters to both beginner and veteran indoor fliers, and offers kits, wood, rubber, and lots of other items for this unique niche of aeromodeling. Their Slow Poke and Salem 6 kits are excellent beginner indoor models and they fly for several minutes! IMS also has duration and scale model kits plus a 15:1 rubber winder. Proprietor Lew Gitlow takes phone orders. Catalog $2.00.

NOTE: IMS now offers a model kit, the Sci-Oly, specifically designed for the national Science Olympiad Wright Stuff competition. Call for details. Lew is now selling an informative booklet on this event.

Kenway Micro-Flight
P.O. Box 889
Hackettstown, NJ 07840 

Ken Bassett sells the smallest of all available electric motors for free flight use, plus batteries, capacitors (used in place of batteries), propellers, and battery/capacitor chargers. Peanut scale or even smaller models can be flown with these motors. Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope for his catalog. Ken now sells a novel compressed air-powered model, the “Air Hog,” plus several quick-building electric-powered models.

A.A. Lidberg Model Plan Service
1008 E. Baseline Road, Suite 1074
Tempe, AZ 85283 (602) 839-8154 (evenings & weekends)
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:  http://members.aol.com/aalmps/

Al Lidberg offers a most interesting and extensive selection of plans and kits. He has 22 profile (“no-cal”) scale plans, six peanut scale plans, 16 larger size rubber scale plans, plus a growing series of mini-replicas of old timer free flight endurance models and a number of larger scale plans suitable for radio control. Al is a master draftsman and his plans and kits are excellent. Send him $2.00 for an illustrated catalog with all models shown. Good web site.

Mace Model Aircraft Co.*
359 South 119th East Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74128    (918) 437-5490

Don Mace sells two good beginner’s models, the P-18 Hawk and the P-24 Condor (the numbers refer to their wingspans). Both are offered as complete kits or just construction plans, and are good beginner indoor models that can also be flown outdoors under calm conditions. Don also has two rubber winders, a 16:1 and a 6:1. He also has scale plans, wood, rubber, tissue, and three sizes of ready-to-use plastic prop/bearing units that can be used to power a variety of fun models. His catalog is $1.00. 

Micro-Mark
340 Snyder Avenue
Berkley Heights, NJ 07922-1595    (800) 225-1066   

Micro Mark, “The Small Tool Specialists,” lives up to their name and then some. Their extensive selection of specialized tools is aimed directly at the hobbyist, model plane builders included. Their catalog is well illustrated, showing the vast array of hardware, paints, brushes, miniature power tools, adhesives, measuring devices, books, and videos. Call their 800 number to get a free copy.

Micro-X Products
P.O. Box 1063
Lorain, OH 44055 

Micro-X is another vendor dealing primarily with indoor-oriented products: kits, select quality indoor wood, specialty covering materials and accessories, rubber strip, and books. Anyone interested in indoor flying should have their $2.00 catalog.

Midwest Products Co., Inc.
Educational Products Division
400 S. Indiana Street
P.O. Box 564
Hobart, IN 46342   (800) 348-3497  

Midwest, long known for its free flight and radio control models, offers some unique projects through its Educational Products Division. Although primarily aimed at national school programs such as the Science Olympiad, these models are highly suitable for any group modeling activity. Included are some gliders and four rubber-powered models plus teaching texts, wood, tools, and adhesives. The rubber models include a Delta Dart (similar to the AMA Cub); a larger Super Delta Dart; a 12” Shoebox R.O.G. (“Rise Off Ground”); and the Right Flyer, a robust 19” R.O.G. Both the ROG’s are capable of flights of well over one minute in a 20 ft. gym. Call the Midwest 800 number and ask for their catalog. Midwest is now offering the Sorcerer, a model kit for the nationalScience Olympiad competition, along with an excellent 15:1 winder and packets of Tan II rubber in various sizes.

Michael A. Morrow
1327 44th Avenue S.W.
Seattle, WA 98116 
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.aeroaces.com/aeroaceshome.htm

There are no less than 37 no-cal plans in his catalog. All are well engineered and superbly drawn. Lots of pre and post-WWII fighters, racers, sport planes, and some offbeat subjects as well. He also has five peanut plans plus a selection of scale 3-views. A unique offering from Mike are pre-printed pressure-sensitive markings (licenses and race numbers, logos, lettering) for his plans. And he has tissue, packets of Tan II rubber strip, plastic propellers plus a telescoping pole that extends from 45 inches to 19 feet for retrieving models from trees and girders. His latest addition is a complete kit for the Cessna CR-3 1930’s-era racer, great for Flying Aces competition. It’s a beauty! Send $2.00 for his catalog. Good web site too. 

Peck-Polymers**
P.O. Box 710399 
Santee, CA  92072-0399  (800) 392-5520
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://[email protected]

Peck has loads of kits, plans, supplies, CO2 & electric motors, wood, and tools of all kinds for both beginners and experienced modelers. Truly a free flight model airplane “wish book,” this catalog is a must!  $4.00. They take phone orders and accept Amex, MasterCard, & Visa.  NOTE: Peck has a “Slow Flier Designer Kit” suitable forScience Olympiad competition.  

Penn Valley Hobby Center
837 W. Main Street
Lansdale, PA 19446    (215) 855-1286     (215) 368-0770
Web Site: http://www.pennvalleyhobbycenter.com/

Penn Valley offers free flight kits from many of the U.S. vendors shown elsewhere on this list at discount prices. Micro-X, Sig, Golden Age Reproductions, Peck-Polymers, Herr, Dumas, Campbell Custom Kits, and R/N Models are included. They also have their own unique line of rubber scale kits, authentic reproductions of those pre-WWII Comet, Megow, Peerless, Burd, and Scientific kits so fondly remembered by most over-60 modelers (like me). Most of these are based on the 10¢, or “dime scale,” models of that era that typically had wingspans of 16-20 inches. Some are larger, some are non-scale types. Catalog $2.00, which also gets you on their mailing list.

Just getting started?  Here are some suggestions:

1. Peck-Polymers for kits and a winder:

– Peck ROG, a12-inch span, easily built stick-and-tissue model for indoor or outdoor flying.

– Sky Bunny, a larger, more robust stick-and-tissue model for outdoor flying.

– Pussycat, an excellent 12” sport model designed by Dick Baxter for beginners. Highly recommended for indoors and out!

– Prairie Bird and Bostonian Pup non-scale endurance models, Nesmith Cougar and Lacey M-10 peanut scale models. All four are stick-and-tissue models with built-up fuselages and wheels w/simple structures. They are excellent fliers, suggested as second or third projects, and will hone building skills needed for more sophisticated subjects, such as scale models.

– 5:1 rubber wider.

2. Indoor Model Supply for gym fliers and a better winder:

– Slow Poke kit. For advanced beginners. Ready-to-use plastic prop unit is provided. Has stick-and-tissue wing and tail.

– Salem 6 kit. For advanced beginners. It will fly for over two minutes in a 20 ft. gym! 16″ span, stick-and-tissue wing and tail.

– Excellent 15:1 rubber winder

3. Hannan’s Runway for books and videos:

Good books on free flight modeling are few, but Bill Hannan stocks them, such as “Rubber Powered Model Planes” by Don Ross, “Indoor Scale Model Flying” by Fred Hall, and “Model Aircraft Aerodynamics” by Martin Simons. Also in stock at the Runway are excellent videos on modeling, such as “Basics of Rubber Power,” “How to Cover Models with Japanese Tissue,” and a number of others with action-packed coverage of various prestigious model airplane contests such as the Flying Aces Nationals.

4. Midwest Products for the Right Flyer kit

A robust, good-flying model that can be flown either indoors or out. Available in single or “class pack” multiple kits.

A brief glossary of frequently used free flight modeling terms

Electric Model: A model powered by one of the every-growing number of tiny electric motors now available. Power is supplied by small rechargeable batteries carried in the model. These motors can power free flight models ranging from 12 inches to several feet in wingspan. There are some good almost-ready-to-fly (“ARF”) model kits that use electric motors

Endurance model: A model that is designed and built solely to stay aloft for as long as possible. There are many competition

categories of indoor and outdoor endurance models. These models may or may not have a realistic appearance, and are a good starting projects for beginners rather than more difficult to build and fly scale models.

Free flight model: A model that flies “free” of any outside control while airborne. It uses settings of balance, flying surfaces, and thrust line put into the model prior to launch for in-flight guidance and stability.

Indoor model: A model built specifically for flying in an indoor site, such as a school gym, athletic arena, fieldhouse, aircraft hangar, or other interior location with suitable floor space and ceiling height. Gliders, rubber, and electric-powered models are flown indoors. They are comparatively lighter and more fragile than those intended to be flown outdoors.

Laser Cut: A term referring to the relatively new technique of precisely pre-cutting model parts, such as ribs and formers, from balsa sheets using a very thin laser beam. This eliminates the traditional and time-consuming use of a hand-held blade to cut out parts printed on balsa sheets. A growing number of kit manufacturers are using laser cutting.

No-cal scale: A class of comparatively simple, easily-built semi-scale rubber models having a two-dimensional profile fuselage in place of the traditional built-up, three dimensional, hollow fuselage. Typically they are of stick-and-tissue construction are covered on only one side of their framework, but can also be built using a light all-sheet balsa structure. They can be flown indoors or out. “No-cal” is short for “no calories,” meaning a lean, minimal structure.

Outdoor model: A model built for outdoor flying, using relatively robust design and construction compared to indoor models. Various types of gliders, rubber-powered, and engine-powered models are flown outdoors, often using thermals (rising warm air currents) to achieve long flight duration.

Peanut scale: A popular class of small rubber-powered scale models with a maximum wingspan limit of 13 inches. There are many kits and plans available for peanut scale models. They can be flown both indoors and out.

Rubber lubricant: A slippery substance, usually a liquid, applied to a rubber motor to reduce friction between the strands when they are tightly wound for flight. Use of a proper lubricant is vital as it enables many more turns to be wound into a rubber motor than would be possible without it. Rubber lubricants are sold by some of the listed vendors. Automotive protectants such as Armor All, Formula 2001, and Son of a Gun make very good rubber lubricants and are readily available.

Rubber motor: The loop, or loops of rubber strip that is the “motor” for rubber-powered model aircraft. Tan II rubber strip (see below) is formulated especially for powering model aircraft and is sold by a number of the above vendors, most notably F.A.I. Model Supply. When used with a mechanical winder (see winder, below) and a proper lubricant, rubber motors can be wound several thousand turns.

Scale model: A model plane designed, built, and decorated to closely resemble a particular full-size, man-carrying aircraft. In competition, scale models are scored on their depiction of the subject aircraft, overall craftsmanship, and flight duration.

Stick-and-tissue: Model airplane jargon referring to the classic method of free flight model construction which uses balsa wood sticks for the model’s framework and tissue paper to cover it. This tissue is most often a fine, lightweight grade imported from Japan. Many of the vendors on the above list sell Japanese tissue.

Stooge:  A fixture designed to securely hold a rubber-powered model while it is being wound for flight. This omits the need for another person to hold the model during winding, thus allowing solo flying. Once wound, the the rubber motor is hooked to the model, which is then removed from the stooge and is ready for flight. Stooge designs vary somewhat, but often use a piece of stiff wire that runs through the aluminum tube commonly used as the rear rubber support in models. This wire also runs through two vertical supports that straddle the rear of the fuselage where the rubber tube is located. These are attached firmly to the base of the stooge, which is clamped or otherwise firmly fastened to a table, bleacher seat, or other solid support. With winding completed and propeller attached, the wire is withdrawn, freeing the model from the stooge. Some vendors, such as FAI, sell stooges.

Tan II: The brand of rubber strip specifically formulated for powering model airplanes, named for its tan color. Tan II is sold as long continuous strips of various widths, usually 1/16, 3/32, 1/8, 3/16, and º inch. Its thickness is approximately .045 inch. Rubber-powered models fly using one or more loops made from one of these widths. F.A.I. Model Supply of Sayre, Pennsylvania markets Tan II directly to both modelers and vendors and works directly with the U.S. manufacturer to constantly monitor and upgrade its quality. Indoor Model Supply and Micro-X strip it into an even wider range of custom widths required for flying various classes of ultralight indoor models. Yes, there once was a just plain “Tan.”

Winder:  A hand-held mechanical device used to wind the motors of rubber-powered free flight models, and a must-have piece of equipment for successful rubber model flying. Winders have a hand crank which turns a simple gear train connected to a hooked output shaft. The hook holds one end of the rubber motor; the other end remains attached to either the rear rubber hook or propeller shaft of the firmly held or anchored model (see stooge, above). The lubricated motor is then stretched to three or four times its slack length and winding is begun. With each single turn of the hand crank, the output shaft turns anywhere from 5 to 20 times, depending on the gear ratio of the winder. The person winding slowly shortens the length of the stretch as he winds, starting to come in at about 50% of desired turns and finishing with the motor at its flying length. The motor is then carefully transferred to the model. This classic technique allows many more turns to be put into a rubber motor than would be possible using manual winding of the propeller. The slack length of rubber motors is often two or more times the distance between the model’s front and rear rubber hooks, making hand winding all but impossible. Stretch winding permits 1,500 to 2,000 or even more turns to be quickly put into a rubber motor. More turns = longer flights. Thayer Syme’s web site (see below) has pictures of winders.

Web Sites

There are a surprising number of web sites on the World Wide Web devoted to free flight modeling. Many have links to still other related sites, including vendors, so take some time to check them all out. These sites are valuable resources for current information on the hobby, and many have photographs of models, drawings, and plans. Here are nine good ones for starters:

Academy of Model Aeronautics:     http://modelaircraft.org /     The AMA is the official governing body of all phases of model aviation in the United States.

DC Maxecuters club site:   www.his.com/~tschmitt/index.html    The D.C. Maxecuters are one of the best known free flight clubs in the country, particularly where Flying Aces competition is concerned. Lots of great scale information, photos, and links.

Dumas Products, Inc.:     www.dumasproducts.com/     Dumas makes an impressive line of laser-cut rubber scale kits ranging from 17 &Mac189;” to 30” in span. You can see them all on this site.

Herr Engineering Corp.:    www.iflyherr.com/about.html       Herr pioneered the use of laser-cut parts in free flight kits and has many models in a variety of sizes, mostly scale. They’re all shown on this web site.

Sig Manufacturing Co., Inc.:    www.sigmfg.com    Sig is the largest mail order business in the modeling field and has lots of items of interest to free flight fliers including scale and non-scale kits, tissue, wood, adhesives, and other supplies.

National Free Flight Society:     http://www.freeflight.org    A special interest group dedicated to the practice and promotion of free flight model flying. They publish an excellent bi-monthly newsletter for members. Lots of good links found here.

Don Slusarczyk’s Indoor Web Page:   www.indoorfreeflight.com   Don is a first-class indoor flier and maintains this very informative site devoted to indoor flying. Lots of tips, plans, and information, including a new Science Olympiad CD-ROM.

Thayer Syme’s free flight site:    www.sirius.com/~thayer/modelhp.html   Thayer’s very active site is full of ever-growing amounts of information, tips, plans, and model photos. Science Olympiad information too. Highly recommended!

Volare Products site:   www.flyingacesclub.net/volare/  Excellent variety of model plans plus complete Flying Aces Club information and rules.

Recommended reading:  Flying Models magazine has two excellent free-flight columns every month, plus periodic FF model construction articles and many ads from the vendors listed above and more. Sometimes hard to find on newsstands, it’s worth the search. Better yet, get a subscription. Don Ross (below) writes an interesting column that appears monthly in Flying Models.

Rubber Powered Model Airplanes by Don Ross covers the basics well. Your library may have it, or it can be purchased from Don himself for $14.95 post paid:  Don Ross, 38 Churchill Road, Cresskill, NJ 07626.  E-mail: [email protected]

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