Airwaves

Model Airplane News, Jul 2001

Our readers write back

What do you do with a 10-year-old Italian kit that is supposed to be given to a new jet model builder? Warped fuselage; no plans; and the kit was made for a pulse jet with no interior linings. In all fairness, I didn't think I could give it to anybody to build, least of all a new jet modeler. I decided to build the thing myself!

So, what do we have? We have the Aeromacchi MB-339A/PAN, which weighs 13 1/2 pounds dry. "PAN" stands for, in Italian, national aerobatics team.

The plane has a 66-inch wingspan, is 61 inches long and has a wing area of 726 square inches and a wing loading of 43 ounces per square foot (a little on the heavy side, but I think it's going to be fine).

Unfortunately, because of the aircraft's low stance, the tail scrapes at 8 degrees. The weight on the nose gear is just about right-8 percent of the aircraft's weight, and that's with 1/2 pound of lead in the nose. I finished it in hardware store Krylon spray paints and Goldberg's Ultracote clear coat. The markings are by Savage, and guidance is by Airtronics. I power it with a slightly modified K&B (as described in an article in the March 2001 issue of Model Airplane News). There's also a Ramtec fan and shroud and an 11 3/4inch MAC pipe. Installed, the fan turns 21,500rpm running on Byron fuel (20 percent oil, 10 percent nitro) plus 5 ounces of Klotz Bean oil. The tailpipe velocity is 140mph, and static thrust is 8 pounds. Its flight dynamics are very good-not outstanding, but it's very pleasing to the eye and flies at about a jet trainer speed.

COL. ROBERT E. THACKER

Thank you for sharing your latest project with us. DS

HOMEGROWN DECALS

On page 100 of the November 2000 issue, there's a review of Vitagraphics' Vita-Cal water-slide decal paper, which can be slid through a home ink-jet printer to produce custom model decals. I bought the product and am very happy with the decals I make. Thanks for bringing this great aid to scale modelers to your readers' attention.

It seems to me that you could use a word-processing program such as Microsoft Word and type in any number of letters, numerals and other simple aircraft markings if you had the correct font styles. In particular, I want to make "military block" letters, and I'd like to find a military-stencil font so that I'd be able to make the small markings such as "No step," "Lift here," "Ground here" and "No push" that are so evident on military aircraft. Is this font available, and if it is, where can I find it?

BILL PAEZ, FRESNO, CA

Bill, when I discovered Vita-Cal decal paper, I wanted to do exactly what you want to do. I tried the standard available "stencil" fonts, but they were too stylized for scale models. On the Internet, I found a company that offers custom fonts; you pay to download these files and then add them to your wordprocessor program's font arsenal. TLai Enterprise Media Design offers several fonts that are suitable for scale aircraft, and they range in price from $12 to $16. 1 downloaded Amarillo USAF, LongBeachUSN and MD Military Stencil A-USAF and US Navy letters and nomenclature stencil fonts that look great!

Downloading is easy and installation instructions are provided. So head over to www.tlai.com/med_des/modeling.html, or write to TLai Enterprises, 10573 West Pico Blvd., PMB #70, Los Angeles, CA 900642348. Good luck with your homegrown decals. GY

CENTENNIAL WRIGHT FLIGHT

With the approaching centennial of the 1903 Wright brothers' flight, I would like to construct a Wright Flyer-model A or B-in plastic or balsa covered with paper. I'd like a model that's 8 to 12 inches long, but I haven't been able to find one anywhere. When I ask at hobby shops, I am usually met with barely comprehending stares.

I haven't had any luck on the Internet. Does any company market a kit or plan? [email]

CHARLES D. SEVERSON

Charles, you are in luck. Nick Ziroli Sr. has been working on a small park-flyer-size Wright Flyer model A, and we will soon feature it as a construction article. It's true to scale and designed for a pair of geared Speed 280 motors. Keep your eyes open for this one.

Also contact Arizona Model Aircrafters-- (480) 348-3733. At the Recent Toledo Model Expo, that company showed a beautiful scale RC Wright Flyer; the company specializes in laser-cut model kits and has produced a number of 1112-scale, static-display wooden kits. If there is enough interest, they might make a miniature Wright Flyer. GY

3-VIEW VARIETY

In many issues, you include a 3-view drawing and photo documentation for scale modelers. This is fantastic! Please keep "Planes Worth Modeling" coming. Could I order a 3-view drawing of other planes, such as the P-511)? I couldn't find information for this in the magazine. [email]

HARRY J. RIETHER

Thanks for the encouragement. We enjoy publishing "Planes Worth Modeling" because it offers readers free scale documentation that can be clipped out and used to start a more complete documentation package. We know that readers who build scale models for competition really appreciate this.