Dr. Walt Good having a relaxed “chin wag” while waiting for his turn

Issue #180 March-April 2021

Dr. Walt Good having a relaxed “chin wag” while waiting for his turn to fly in the late fifties.(Note the well-worn control box of his TTPW transmitter.)

VINTAGE FLIER Page 1 March-April 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld4fPt5go0U

From the Bench

By Mike Denest

Spring has SprungI’m sure all of you are as tired of this Covid issue as I am. Many of you may have already received your vaccines and some of you have yet to receive them. Whether having received a vaccine or not is a determining factor for clubs hosting a VRCS event and for our members travelling to them. I highly recommend that clubs who wish to host an event check the local conditions and any limitations on attendance that you may have before doing so. As much as we would like to see a large number of events this year with good attendance, the priorityof your health (and mine!) must be of the highest consideration. I am not trying to dissuade any clubs from hosting an event but please do so with the necessary precautions in place to

insure that it can be done safely. If you wish to hold an event, contact me to add it to the events calendar. I will be sending out an email letter to event directors from the previous years with the latest VRCS event information.

What’s on Your Bench?Over the winter I started two builds (which is a first for me!), one is the SterlingMambo from the Lazer Works short kit and the second is a true replica of TomBrett’s TBX-1. The Mambo is well on its way while the TBX-1 had a setback. Whathappened? To make a long story short, a misplaced drain line from the washer(after a carpet cleaning) was the cause for a flooded kitchen and Niagara Falls(slowly I turned!) in my basement workshop. Everything was salvaged except forthe horizontal stabilizer I had just constructed which warped like a pretzel. I wasable to salvage the ribs but have to return back to square one and start over. Mynext one will be better!

I was contacted by Mark Lanterman of Old School Model Works regarding hisexcellent job of recreating Joe Bridi’s original Kaos design, now as a laser cut kit.Mark has redesigned the Kaos using CAD, incorporating many self-aligningfeatures engineered into the kit making it much easier and faster to build. Thebest part is Mark made sure that his redesigned Kaos is exactly the same size andproportions to the original. Many of you who have built and flown all theversions of the Kaos know how good and easy it is to build and fly and Mark’s kitseriously reduces the build time to get you into the air faster. OSMW is taking kitorders for $225.95 plus $5.00 shipping. Check out the OSMW website for moreinformation and I also want to welcome them as a new advertiser in The VintageFlyer.

VRCS Apparel ReminderCalleo Apparel is our supplier for shirts, hats, patches and anything else VRCSrelated. You can order your items through their website www.calleo.com. Besure to mention VRCS when you order.

Help NeededWe STILL need a volunteer to take over the reigns as webmaster from Norm Berger wishes to retire after many years of service to VRCS. IT skills are needed to manage the VRCS website and the database. If you have experience in web design, that’s a plus. For your efforts, your VRCS membership is free for the duration of your position. Contact Norm or myself for more information.

See you at the field,

Mike


http://www.calleo.com/

https://www.oldschoolmodels.com/kaos60.htm

Hello again everybody. Finally, some signs of Spring! Here in Maryland’s Eastern Shore Peninsula it was 82 degrees last Friday, but the warmer weather only lasted a few days. More to come.

Time to start making plans for this year’s Vintage events. I am looking forward to manning the VR/CS table at the Dayton OH. Modelrama Swap Meet and Auction, April 23 rd and 24th.According to the latest up day I got from Mike D. the Modelrama has sold 300 tables and have had 22 manufacturers and distributors sign up to attend. The event is shaping up to be the premier event now that the Toledo and Wrams shows are no more. I should mention that Toledo Weak Signals will be also be hosting a swap meet and auction the following weekend. I wish I could attend both. If you can, please try to attend one or more of these events. We all need to support the hobby now as much as we can. I’ll have a report and photos of the Modelrama event in the next news letter. An added benefit to attending the Modelrama is the opportunity to visit the Air Force Museum. The last time I was there was back in the late 70’s so I am looking forward to seeing it as it is today.

In my last column I posted some pictures of my new Mini Antic. I have yet to test fly it, as every time I have the opportunity,the weather has been rainy or windy. I don’t want to show off just my airplanes, I really want to showcase your new vintage projects. Please! Send me an email with a photo and description of your latest vintage project, and I will see to it that it willbe published in the Vintage Flier.

Keeping with the Vintage Scale theme of last month’s VK Sopwith Camel kit, this issue’s featured kit is the Jetco Rearwin Speedster kit. The model is a Walt Mooney design. I have always had a soft spot for the Speedster, it just has that “look” about it, not to mention an easy to model and great flying airplane. Walt’s original design was for free flight, but Walt worked with Bill Dean of Jetco to adapt it also to R/C or Controlline for the production kit. The kit contains parts for each version. The wing span is 38” and it will take an engine from .049 to .15, depending upon your application. I am assuming that the free flight version would use an .049, the R/C version would use a .074 to .10 and the .15 for a heavy Controlline version.

Here are some photos of my kit. If you are interested in building the Speedster from a kit, keep and eye on Ebay, as I see them come up for auction from time to time.


VP’s Voice By John Haffner


So much for this issue, send me your pictures and descriptions, it is always inspiring, and everyone loves to see what others are building or have built. Oh! One more thing, if you live anywhere near the Mid-Atlantic coast, mark your calendars for the Fall Vintage Fly-In on the 16th of October, right here in Salisbury, MD. Till next time, keep having fun!

Hang in there and keep building. I hope to see you in Dayton in April, or at a VR/CS event this year.

John Haffner O000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Welcome to the new members who joined VRCS in February and March:Ron Ballard Decatur, IN - Bob Mc Donald Bellingham, WA - Gary Williams Lima, OH0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000OOOOOOO


Theme Plane designs for 2021.Because so many events have been cancelled due to Covid 19, preventing many from campaigning their 2020 Theme

plane's, we are keeping the Mambo as our 2021 Theme Plane, and are also adding any of the Mambo variants. 2021

Designs are:

Original 48" span Mambo, Minnie Mambo, Mighty Mambo and the Mambo Special.

The Scale theme plane remains the Goldberg 1/2A Skylane and, keeping with the variants for 2021,

we are adding the Goldberg Skylane 62. Let's hope the 2021 flying season will be more successful than 2020.

Happy New Year to all and to all a happy building and flying season!

The Great VRCS Kit List

There were a couple of responses to my updated kit list that was mentioned in the previous issue.

First up was Jim Shoen who has a softspot for Dave Robelen's Pronto and thought it should be added to the list. Jim did some impressive detective work and found out that Dave actually started Tidewater Hobbies (his kit business) in the early 1970s, closed it in the mid 1970s, then re-opened in the mid 1980s. Jimeven found an ad for the Pronto and Super Pronto from December 1985 that I had missed. Tidewater Hobbies has now been added to the list.

Next up was Dave Hable who wondered if the Sig Kadet Seniorita was close to being eligible. This has actually come up a few times before. Despite looking like old-timer designs, the Kadet Senior and Seniorita may not be as old as you think. Thisgives me a chance to share a story from my Sig days. Indulge me...

I started work at Sig Manufacturing in April 1986, exactly thirty-five years ago. This seemed appropriate to mention because35 is something of a magical number for VRCS. My very first day was spent in a van on its way to Toledo! It was definitely a thrown-in-the-deep-end way to learn about the business and my new coworkers. Shortly after returning from Toledo, I got to meet the well-known designer, Claude McCullough. Yes, he was a past AMA president and an AMA Hall-of-Famer, but I knew him best as a great model designer and a scale modeling legend.

We never technically worked together because Claudehad retired a month or two before I arrived. Still, hecontinued "working" from his home in Montezuma,Iowa (not sure he was paid, he probably just enjoyedworking at his own pace). The day we met, he poppedinto the plant to show us his new airplane, a reduced-size Kadet Senior. His Kadet Senior design had just beenreleased and it was already very popular.

The cute little plane that he brought in that day wasgorgeous, covered in red silk and trimmed in black withsilver pinstripes. I was told later that he had settled onred and black as his signature colors, because theycontrasted well in the black-and-white photos of theday. He said he would continue working on the kitengineering (plans, manual) at home so it could bereleased as a Sig kit - something of a follow-up to theKadet Senior. But he was struggling to come up with agood name for it. Sig already had a Kedet Junior, andKadet "Senior Junior" sounded kind of clumsy. Itimidly offered up the name "Seniorita" because itsounded like a diminutive form of the word Senior.Claude didn't accept the new guy's idea immediately,but said he would sleep on it. The next day, he cameback to the plant to say he had settled on the nameKadet Seniorita. So I'll take credit for that little slice of modeling trivia.

*************


North West Region By Bruce Tharpe

The first ads for the Kadet Senior appeared in February 1986 magazines. My kit list runs through 1985, and is primarily based on ads – that's why the Senior isn't on my list yet. There's no doubt that the Kadet Senior prototype was designed, built, and flown in 1985 (or earlier), but I have no proof. So next year, it will be eligible, officially. The first ad that I could find for the Seniorita was in 1989, so it won't be VRCS eligible for another four years! One could argue that it is just a scaled-down version of the Senior, and scaling is allowed under VRCS rules, so the Seniorita should also be eligible next year. It's something of a moot point because I imagine that most CDs at VRCS events would welcome both of them for openflying.

LINKSThe Great VRCS Kit List:http://www.btemodels.com/vintage-resources.html#kitlistPronto Plans and Articles: https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=1740Sig Kadet Senior Kit:https://sigmfg.com/collections/sig-kits/products/kadet-senior-kitSig Kadet Seniorita Kit:https://sigmfg.com/collections/sig-kits/products/sig-kadet-seniorita-kit

Visit the Vintage R/C Resources page on my website: http://www.btemodels.com/vintage-resources.html Scroll down for the kit list.

North West Region members should contact me with any VRCS related items, including ideas for VRCS events at your field, winter building activities, and any other VRCS related items that may be on your mind. Please contact me at [email protected] or 541-582-1708


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.btemodels.com/vintage-resources.html

https://sigmfg.com/collections/sig-kits/products/sig-kadet-seniorita-kit

https://sigmfg.com/collections/sig-kits/products/kadet-senior-kit

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=1740

http://www.btemodels.com/vintage-resources.html#kitlist

I had forgotten to mention a few items in my last report; including the fact that I intend to fly my 1912 Blackburn Monoplane in the VRCS events that I’ll attend this season. The kit was offered from the English company D&B Sport & Scale in the mid 1980s, although it was surely designed sometime earlier. I’m pretty sure that its design was too late to qualify for VRCS competitive events such as Concours, Pattern or Scale, but I’m also certain that the design was early enough to qualify for flying in the General Open category.

The Blackburn is a truly enjoyable aeroplane in flight, a fact that I managed to prove a month or so ago at my home field in Lancaster PA. The weather report promised me a sunny, 55-degree day with a pleasant northeast wind at just 3-4 miles per hour, so I spent the previous evening cleaning up all the minor, pre-flight details, such as charging the transmitter, receiver, and electronic-ignition batteries, triple-checking the controls, and mixing up a batch of high-test gasoline and Zenoah oil to feed the G20EI powerplant up front.

The wing warping system had finally been perfected and is now a most entertaining thing to watch while the model is at reston the ground. If you’ve ever built a Proctor Antic or Antic Biplane, you can get an instant visual of the warping mechanism by picturing the aileron linkage of those airplanes, and simply replacing the ailerons with cables on pulleys running to the drag spars of the Blackburn’s wing panels. It’s really no more complicated than a pull-pull rudder or elevator system, although I’ll admit that it’s a lot less common on the typical RC flightline.

Well, my perfect day turned out to be a nightmare (I guess that would make it more of a “daymare”). The sun was out all right, and the temperature hit that 55-degree mark, but the wind was horrible—blowing at approximately 12-15 and gustingup to 20 miles per hour. My friends at the field, including Tom Kozel, Vintage RC Society President Mike Denest, and Lancaster County RC Club President and Vice President Warren Wasiewski and Jeff Guito, feared for my sanity as they measured the wind velocity and helped me get through starting and tuning the finicky Zenoah engine that hadn’t been run in at least 8 years. But I came to fly, and I wasn’t about to let a “bit of wind” stop this old XC sailplane and Bleriot XI-2 flier.

Jeff and Warren had the Zenoah gasser running smoothly and reliably, so we rolled the Monoplane out onto the runway andaimed her nose into the wind. At this point I was committed, so I slowly throttled up and the model began its takeoff roll. In no more than a few yards, the Blackburn leaped into the air and began a sharp upward climb. A bit of down elevator had theaeroplane calmed down and flying a lot better while I dialed in the pitch and roll trims.

Upwind speed was something akin to a slow walk, while downwind was a relative speed run. She ballooned excessively in the upwind turns, and showed me that no matter how smooth the performance may have appeared to an observer, learning to fly this model correctly would clearly take quite a bit of flight time—in addition to the much-needed adjustmentsin elevator trim, dramatically increased surface throws, a few degrees of engine down-thrust, and the removal of all or nearly all of the exponential that I had programmed into the roll, pitch, and yaw functions.

Just the same, the Blackburn was an impressive sight in the air, and I hope that you and I will be attending some of the sameVRCS events so you can share some of the fun with me.

The weather has been super nice over the past couple of weeks, and along with driving my 45-year-old Bradley just about everywhere I went, I’ve managed to put a few finishing touches on some of this year’s vintage airplanes. My Goldberg 1/2A Skylane and Sterling Mambo both received their final clear urethane topcoats and are now ready for final assembly, as is my Top Flite (Dave Platt) S.E.5a. The S.E.5 (Scout Experimental #5 for those who may be unaware of where the designation originated) received three coats of ZAR satin urethane spray over its olive drab dope upper surfaces and stained undersides. I also coated the Lewis and Vickers machine guns, the pilot bust, and the hardwood interplane struts. I hope to fly all three of these models in the competitive events this year, along with my Kraft (Bridi) Vagabond and Airtronics New Era III.


North East Region By Jeff Troy

One of the events I’ll be attending—where I will NOT be flying—is the Third Annual Lancaster County RC Club Vintage Celebration and Triathlon, now an AMA “Traditional Event” already sanctioned for August 21 and 22, 2021. As usual, I will be the CD for the event, assisted by Event Manager Tom Kozel and nearly two-dozen Lancaster County RC Club Member volunteers. I’ll have an event flyer finished in time for the next VRCS Newsletter, along with the hotel block and the Saturdayevening dinner menu at Blue Pacific. Please plan to join us for a weekend of great flying with every event on the VRCS program, fun-filled and challenging triathlon tasks, and three huge table-loads of awards and sponsor prizes. If you’ve attended before, you know full well what this event brings, and if you haven’t, just ask anyone who has.

I’m closing here because our trusty editor Jean-Marie is patiently waiting for my traditionally days-late column to arrive. So once again, my friends, thank you for indulging my aimless meanderings, and please get busy building a few new models of your own for our events. You know you want to!

Until next time, build straight and fly safely. We’ll do this again.

North East Region members should contact me with any VRCS related items, including ideas for VRCS events at your field, winter building activities, and any other VRCS related items that may be on your mind. Please contact me at [email protected] or 717-917-3670

Hello Southwest members, hope you are I doing well. As I write this we will soon be in April which meansflying season will be in full swing at least here in Ca. and probably in most places in the Southwest areas too.

First off it looks like things are getting slowly back too normal. Withthat my local club is planning it’s first VRCS event later this year.

Were shooting for Nov. 13th and since it is our clubs first one we are going to keep itsimple. It will basically be a open flying type of event for models 35 years or older. Wewill have a award for the best Bridi built model and a award for the best overall vintagemodel. A noon time lunch is planned as well as a raffle. I will get a flyer out in the nearfuture with more information. The event will be held at our club field in Tranquility CA.which is located in central CA. just west of Fresno. I recently lost my father so I don’t have much this time. Been helping my mom copewith our loss and it’s been hard on the family. However I did pickup a old Veco .50R/Cmotor recently. Want too mount it on my test stand and run it. I have plans for it latergoing in a Debolt design.

If any of you members are working on a vintage project and want to share it. Makesure and e-mail me some pictures and information on it and I will post it in a upcomingnewsletter. That goes for finished and flying models too.

That’s about it for this time members.

Remember build vintage South West Region members should contact me with any VRCS related items, including ideas for VRCS events at your field, winter building activities, and any other VRCS related items that may be on your mind. Please contact me at [email protected] or 559-906-2910


South West Region By Robert Nunes



Well, it’s been an interesting couple of months. Snowmaggedon down here in Texas really threw a monkeywrench into a lot of plans. I didn’t have any major damage to my house or my shop but I know people who did. Regardless, it did represent a lost week. On a timing issue, my wife’s knee replacement surgery had to be postponed for a month, which is affecting my ability to get to the field now. That’s even limited

more by the fact this has been one of those “March comes in like a lion…” years as it has been very windy for weeks now. Yet to be seen if there if it will go out like a lamb.

I did manage to finish all the construction and finishing work on the rebuild of this VRCS Nostalgia class Sig ¼ Scale Clipped Wing Cub:

My shop inhabits a one car garage so a project of any size can result indisorder, as was the case with this build. I needed to clear the decks so Icould do some needed maintenance on some of my other vintage planes,continue work on my Willard School Boy (on the small building board) andget started on a new project on the main building board. This time,however, instead of just clearing boards and shoving things in availablecubby holes, I’ve decided to do, for lack of a better term, a decadalreorganization. About every ten years I need to do this just to rememberwhat I have (like the very nice miter cutter and sanding tool I found in abox). It’s a big chore but I’m always better off after. I have a Dymo LabelMaker and will expand its use in this effort.

There continues to be no exclusive VRCS events in this region. There are, however, many events, particularly of the fun fly orfly in variety, where a vintage model airplane would be appropriate. Nostalgia class planes are very adaptable to these eventsw and do promote those nostalgic feelings. Get a couple of the VRCS shirts (great quality with long tails) to wear and some VRCS stickers to put on your airplanes and attend some events. If you have the capability, print off some of the newsletters to share. Hangar flying sessions are great times to discuss vintage modeling in general and VRCS in particular. South Central Region members should contact me with any VRCS related items, including ideas for VRCS events at your field,winter building activities, and any other VRCS related items that may be on your mind. Please contact me at [email protected] or 210-838-1429.

South East Region members should contact me with any VRCS related items, including ideas for VRCS events at your field, winter building activities, and any other VRCS related items that may be on your mind. Please contact me at [email protected] or 919-634-5129.

North Central Region members should contact me with any VRCS related items, including ideas for VRCS events at your field, winter building activities, and any other VRCS related items that may be on your mind. Please contact me at [email protected] or 815-997-7755.


South Central Region By George Wilson

South East Region By Rodney Earp

North Central Region By David Swanson


../../../F:%5CVRCS%20Newsletter%5C171_Sep-Oct_2019%[email protected]

../../../F:%5CVRCS%20Newsletter%5C171_Sep-Oct_2019%[email protected]


Notification from Dayton Wingmasters:

Dayton Modelrama Friday April 23rd and Saturday April 24

Hello Everyone,

As the old saying goes “We’ve rounded turn four and we’re on the home stretch! As predicted in my last update, registrations are coming in fast, if the current pace continues, we should exceed 300 tables. We have 22 Mfg. / Dist. attending, and as mentioned, we have an excellent shot to exceed 300 tables. With the addition of the second building, we have been able to grow the show while maintaining social distancing. If you have attended previous Dayton Modelrama, the layout will seem different. We have widened our isles to avoid bottlenecks and contact situations.

COVID Update - The State of Ohio has begun loosening restrictions, i.e., schools are open curfews lifted, there will be graduations and people will be allowed in sports stadiums. However, Ohio still has a mask mandate. The Governor gave a target number and once Ohio hits it, the mask mandate will be as lifted as well. The Governor predicted that at the current rate of decline it could happen in the next six weeks, not soon enough for our show date but it is an indication that things are progressing in the right direction.

To Sellers:

The good news is, we have limited space still available. Wall tables are sold out, but we have some choice spots left on the interior. If you have items in your hanger you no longer want, or projects you’ve lost interest in, rent a table or several tables and sell them. A one-day table is only $16 each and can be upgrade to a two-day table (Friday & Saturday) for only four dollars more and that includes your free admission (one per table rented)!. Fill out the attached registration form and mail it with your check to insure you get a spot. If you have already rented a table(s), you will receive another e-mail.

General Admission:

Are you looking for that special plane, or it may have been discontinued? If so, you have an excellent chance at finding it at Modelrama. I found a plane that had been discontinued on Tower and it was built less engine and it had never been flown. Perhaps you have an interest in learning more about RC, this is the perfect place to gather information and to talk to experienced pilots. You will find new, slightly used or projects that we’re started but never completed. This includes airplanes, helicopters, drones, boats, and cars along with parts and pieces and field equipment. One day general admission is priced at only $8 which can be upgraded on Friday to a two-day pass for only $2 more (two days for $10)! Children under 10 are admitted free.

Auction:

Don’t forget to attend our Auction Saturday afternoon! Starting time will be approximately 1:30. You’ll have the opportunity to bid on hundreds of items and there will be hundreds of people placing bids. What’s common to see, if someone does not sell an item from their table, they’ll scoop it up and enter it in the auction. To sell an item, the commission fee is only 10% of the winning bid, a minimum of $2 but not to exceed $20, Some say it’s the highlight of the show! To participate, you, don’t have to be a swap meet table holder. Anyone can enter an item(s). We will start collecting merchandise Saturday morning.

Visit http://daytonmodelrama.com/ for more information or you can call me at 937-361-7696. Be a part of one of the largest RC Shows in the country!!!

See you at the show!

Paul Stimmel, CD


http://daytonmodelrama.com/








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Ads must be submitted by the 1st of the month, one month prior to publication. We are a bimonthly publication starting Jan/Feb.

Payment is due at the time the ad is placed.Ad copies should be mailed to James Fuller, 3901 Springwood Dr., Clovis, NM 88101 or emailed to [email protected] questions email the same address or call 575-769-0912.

Payment by check: mail to: Rick Bell VRCS Treasurer 38 Lexton Drive Farmington, CT 06032

PayPal payments to: [email protected]



VR/CS OFFICERS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

PRESIDENTMIKE DENESTPhone: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENTJOHN HAFFNERPhone:: [email protected]

TREASURERRICK BELLPhone: 860-307-5861 [email protected]

SECRETARY/EDITORJEAN-MARIE PIEDNOIRPhone: [email protected]

NORTH EAST REGIONJEFF TROYPhone: 717-917-3670 [email protected], MA, RI, NH, VT, CT, NJ, NY, PA, DE, DC, MD

SOUTH EAST REGIONRODNEY EARPPhone: [email protected], VA, TN,.KY, NC, SC,GA, AL, FL,

NORTH CENTRAL REGIONDAVID SWANSONPhone: [email protected], IN, IL, MI, WI, IA, MN, NE, SD, ND

SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONGEORGE WILSONPhone: [email protected], AR, LA, KS, MO, OK, MS

NORTH WEST REGIONBRUCE THARPEPhone: [email protected], WA, OR, ID, MT, WY

SOUTH WEST REGIONROBERT NUNESPhone: [email protected], NV, UT, CO, AZ, NM, HI

OTHER POSITIONS

WEBMASTERNORM BERGERPhone: [email protected]

HISTORIAN

Position OPEN

TECHNICAL DIRECTORDAN THOMPSONPhone: [email protected]

THEME PLANE CHAIRMANJOHN HAFFNERPhone:: [email protected]






Documents

Dr. Walt Good having a relaxed “chin wag” while waiting for his turn