Design contest finalists

Model Airplane News, Oct 2000 by Sharp, Debra

Judging by the overwhelming response to our "4th Great RC Airplane Design Contest," the craft of designing and scratch-- building model aircraft continues to flourish. We received so many outstanding entries that we decided to feature 32 finalists in this issue and get your input before we choose the top three winners and runners-up. Made out of every conceivable construction material-foam, balsa, ply and carbon-fiber-these designs have wingspans from 36 to 145 inches and encompass detailed scale models, sport planes and even a floating cube! Please take a moment to jot down your top three picks and send us an email (man@airage.com) or a postcard (Great Design Contest, 100 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877-- 4606 USA). The winners will be featured in future construction articles, so this is a great way for you to let us know which types of planes you'd like to build.

It isn't easy to surprise "Mr. Scoop," Chris Chianelli, but Magnum's new .30 4-stroke did just that. Check out his findings in "Air Power" on page 76.

This month, IMAC competitor Dan Wolanski allays the fear of spinning your airplane by explaining how to recover from the maneuver easily. Whether the spin you're attempting is inverted, cross-over, flat, or knife-edge, getting out of a spin is more crucial than getting into one. On page 52, team how to safely do both.

In his "Effective Programming" column, Don Edberg takes a close look at gyros and how to maximize their use in our models. Gyros have been around for a long time and are mainly used in helicopters, but these units have recently been used in aerobatic airplanes and scale models to help pilots fly more precisely. Though not an "autopilot" device, a gyro can make even the best pilot fly more smoothly, help to compensate for windy conditions and make take-- offs and landings easier. The piezo gyros on the market today are reliable and low cost, and they're also easy to install and adjust.

Have you ever thought about how you could build a true-to-scale DC-3 or P-51 model entirely out of metal, complete with flared lightening holes and functional rivets? In this month's "Final Approach," Colombian modeler Carlos Rangel highlights his personal twist on scale model construction.

This is your magazine; please email usman@airage.com-or write to us (100 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877-4606 USA) and tell us which topics and issues you'd like to see addressed in these pages.