Hobby Lobby Hawker Hurricane

Model Airplane News, Jan 2002 by Chianelli, Chris

BACKYARD FLYER

I'm glad I couldn't see into the future of RC when I was a young, model-airplane loving kid because if I had known then that mini, fly-at-your-local-ball field, WW II fighters were to come, I would have had myself cryogenically frozen with instructions to wake me when it all started happening. Well, it has all started to happen, and my years in this world notwithstanding, I'm still a kid! Dogfighting at your local schoolyard with a couple of prefinished mini warbirdsthat can not only be built in a day but also fly well-is now a reality. Who would have believed it? Not me, even just a year or two ago. But the future is here, and Hobby Lobby's pretty little Hawker Hurricane is just the beginning.

HURRICANE'S PERFORMANCE

Although the Hurricane's scale-like appearance is definitely one of its most distinctive attributes, its flight performance is truly the standout feature here. This cute little fighter can dogfight its way within the confines of a professional baseball diamond infield. Surprisingly, even with its fantastic slow-flight characteristics, it can handle mild to moderate breezes adeptly-in the hands of an experienced pilot, of course.

With its light wing loading, high-lift airfoil and 4.5:1 ratio driven 9x6 prop, the Hurricane gets off from a taxi run in about 15 feet and climbs skyward with authority. In the world of electrics, the Hurricane has very good climb performance when equipped with the optional Speed 300 motor. Does it climb like aerobatic sailplanes? No, but they're powered by very expensive motors. With the optional Speed 300, the Hurricane gets to a safe altitude in very short order, and the Speed 300 costs only about $15.

The Hurricane's full-throttle demeanor was very relaxing. It never displayed any tendency to balloon coming out of a highspeed turn-an annoying habit that many airplanes with an under-cambered airfoil often have, but not this one. Because of the Hurricane's considerable dihedral, with proper rudder throw, it can be yanked into a tight, fighter-style turn with no problem and no tendency to tip-stall whatsoever.

And after the successful defense of London (the pitcher's mound) has been accomplished, the Hurricane returns to the airfield (third-base line) in true backyard-flyer fashion-that is, at a very stable crawl.

A WORTHY OPPONENT

Also available now from Hobby Lobby, in the same format and size as the Hurricane, is its historic nemesis: the Me,109. Both kits are constructed of fairly resilient foam that has a semi-gloss camouflage finish, over which water-slide decals are applied. The modeler must install some internal balsa and plywood structures, but all procedures are fairly simple and easy, even for relative newcomers-all procedures, that is, except the spinner assembly, which isn't all that difficult (it just seems more complicated than it needs to be). The problem is that the thin plastic is hard to cut without its flexing. If you aren't careful, you will end up with a wobbly spinner. With today's materials and technology, there must be a better and simpler way.

A word about adhesives: since a lot of these new park flyer/backyard flyer models are constructed of various types of foam, some being quite resilient, I think it's worth reminding everyone not to use CA-type glues on any joint that comes into contact with the foam. These glues aggressively attack foam and will melt it. While specially formulated CA is available for foam, I still find 5-minute epoxy is the way to go. But a word of caution here, too: denatured alcohol is the cleanup solvent to use with epoxy; unfortunately, it will also instantly clean up-or clean offthe Hurricane's beautiful camo finish, so be careful.

The Hurricane is a sheer pleasure to fly, and you can have it built in a day on your kitchen table. Get a Hurricane, and you'll be defending the local ball field by doing full-bore attack runs on that invading Me-109 your buddy purchased from Hobby Lobby. I'll tell ya what: radio control airplane modeling certainly has changed since I was a kid. Luckily, it doesn't matter. Today, as an old kid, I'm still having just as much fun. If this little WW II fighter turns you on, check out our new publication, Backyard Flyer; it's dedicated to small, fly-at-home airplanes and the equipment related to them.

Hobby Lobby Intl., 5614 Franklin Pike Cir., Brentwood, TN 37027; (615) 373-1444; fax (615) 377-6948; www.hobby-lobby.com.