10 BEST WARBIRDS

Model Airplane News, Oct 2004 by Cleghorn, Debra

If there are any modelers out there who don't love warbirds, we at Model Airplane News haven't met them! Big or small, these heavy-metal warriors have universal appeal. In this issue, we've collected 10 of our favorite ARF models to make it easier for you to find that perfect scale plane. How did we narrow the field? All of these planes have very high-quality construction and parts fit, exceptional scale outlines and details and great flight performance, and each is a showstopper in the air and on the flightline. Turn to page 36 to see which planes made our list-and why.

When O.S. Engines replaced its popular .46FX powerplant with the new .46AX, everyone was curious to see whether it would live up to the high standards set by its predecessor. Enter engine guru Dave Gierke, who completely tore down this new engine, reassembled it and then put it through its paces on his dynamometer. How well did the AX measure up? Turn to his review on page 98 for the lowdown on the .46AX's horsepower and rpm as well as some tidbits on nitro content and compression ratios.

Need a break from your current long-term building project? Our featured construction article this month offers nearly instant gratification! The Minimum Impact is an easy weekend build that offers topnotch performance, and it's inexpensive, too: it's built out of about a dollar's worth of blue foam sheet and is powered by two low-cost, GWS twin-motor power systems. Designed by versatile modeler Dick Sarpolus, Minimum Impact is a durable, low-cost profile model that's a blast to build and fly. We'll bet that it also inspires you to experiment with building your own sheet-foam flyers!

Most warbirds and modern aircraft have formed canopies, and scratch-building these plastic parts can be a challenging task. See how it's done in this month's "Scale Techniques" column. Master modeler Dick van Mourik shares his techniques for vacuum-forming custom-molded pieces.

No engine, no motor; no action? Think again! Racing and combat slope sailplanes offer adrenaline-pumping, breathtaking excitement that isn't recommended for the faint of heart. tdThis month, photo-journalist (and "slopehead") Dave Garwood offers an inside look at one of the premier slope-racing events in the country: the Midwest Slope Challenge at Wilson Lake, KS. Check out his story and photos starting on page 46, and see these "unpowered" speed demons at their best.

Debra Cleghorn