NEW ALESSailplane pg 64 World’s Most In-Depth RC Aircraft Magazine
CALYPSO GLIDER
REPORT
SEE HOW TO HONE YOUR PILOTING SKILLS
GETS YOU UP & SOARING
HOT 26NEW PRODUCTS
HUGE ACO W
HAWKER SEA FURY
PHOTO SPREAD
ARF Warbird OCTOBER 2012
USA & CANADA $6.49
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DEPARTMENTS
BUILD
EVENT
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LEADING EDGE
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HOT PRODUCTS
2012 CLOVER CREEK See how IMAC competition is earning pilots like Gernot Bruckmann huge paydays. By Joe Cutright
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ADVERTISER INDEX
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USRA RACES Get an inside look at the high-powered action of these giant-scale racers. By Staff
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MYSTERY AIRPLANE
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FUSELAGES PART I This month Jeff takes you inside his shop to show you how to build wood fuselages. By Jeff Troy PAINT MARKINGS Learn how to paint insignias and markings on your models from one of the masters in scale. By Rob Caso
REVIEWS
See why the FlyZone Calypso makes the perfect pick for all pilots as a limited run motor glider.
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PG 80 Take control of the E-flite Hawker Sea Fury to see why this little warbird is made for fun Park flying.
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RC SPORT FLYER — OCTOBER 2012
E-FLITE SEA FURY Take a look at this greatflying, gorgeous little warbird park flyer. By Wil Byers MILLENNIUM MASTER Check out this sleek and stylish, low-wing sport plane—way fun! By Dan Deckert ALBATROS LMR GLIDER Don’t miss this review if you have a love of soaring and gliders. By Gene Cope REALFLIGHT 6.0 Install RealFlight 6.0 to get an edge on others and the competition. By Daniel Holman CALYPSO Catch an inside look at LMR soaring with this fun-to-fly glider ARF. By Devin Troy
OCTOBER 2012
PG 64 PHOTO
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WACO UPF-7 Look at what a beautiful scale biplane Martin built over course of a 16-year period of time. By Martin C Zeller
Discover why F5J LMR gliders are becoming the hottest soaring machines in the air!
A Fun-to-Fly Airplane
that Won’t Break the Bank
PG 60
RC-SF.COM
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Esprit Model DFS Habicht ARF
Esprit Model 1114 Lynbrook Street NW Palm Bay, FL 32907 Phone: 321-729-4287 espritmodel.com
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he DFS Habicht (German for “Hawk”) was designed in 1936 by Hans Jacobs as an unlimited aerobatic sailplane. The Let Model’s scale version of this beautiful sailplane comes with the fiberglass fuselage and flawless finish in white or beige gel-coat. The windshield is removable, has a fiberglass frame and comes with a scale-like latch. The cockpit is completed with instrument dashboards and fiberglass seats, just like the actual plane. The wing and fuselage have pre-installed wiring harnesses that also include multi-pin connectors for fast, trouble-free setup at the field. The wing is beautifully
Esprit Model Albatros 2.4S/E ARF
Esprit Model 1114 Lynbrook Street NW Palm Bay, FL 32907 Phone: 321-729-4287 espritmodel.com
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he Albatros 2.4S/E is one of the most beautiful combinations of classic design and modern technology. The nostalgic shape
finished in scale-like Solartex and ready for your aileron and spoiler servos. The foamcore, obecchi-sheeted, composite-reinforced wings are easily removed for transportation, yet are securely held in place with Let Model’s ingenious retention system. All these features give the Habicht performance characteristics similar to a full-scale airplane while still remaining very light and beautifully built. The synergy of low weight and strong structure is very unusual even in custom-production sailplanes and can only be achieved with careful attention to design and construction.
Specifications Wingspan
153.25 in. (3890 mm)
Wing area
1875 in.2 (120.8 dm2)
Wing loading
21–23.5 oz/ft2
Length
74 in. (1880 mm)
Weight
15.5 lb (7040 g)
Radio
6–7 channels
Servos
12 (required)
Price
$3490.00 • White or beige gel-coated, prepainted fiberglass fuselage • Releasable launch wheels and tow hook included • Solartex-covered wings with pre-installed servo wiring • Scale cockpit with canopy latch and dashboard • Decals applied, ready for final assembly • Control surfaces: ailerons, elevator, rudder and spoilers
is perfectly blended with modern building techniques to create an electric sailplane that performs as well as it looks. The white, gel-coated fiberglass fuselage and high-tech CF main spar/leading edge tube wing and carbon/balsa built-up tail parts come together to make the Albatros a strong and light model. Do not be fooled by its retro looks; this model was designed and built to be a 21st-century favorite. With its flap-equipped, two-piece
wing and full flying elevator, the Albatros is one of the most impressive models that we have seen in quite some time. • Available in four color schemes—white/red, white/blue, white/orange and white/purple • Control surfaces: ailerons, elevator, rudder and flaps • Can be set up as sailplane or E-sailplane; conversion parts included • Carbon fiber main spar for added wing strength • Transparent Ultracote®-covered wings and tail parts • Includes all necessary hardware • Suggested battery: EM2600 3S
Specifications
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RC SPORT FLYER — OCTOBER 2012
Wingspan
96 in. (2440 mm)
Wing area
846 in.2 (54.6 dm2)
Wing loading
9–10 oz/ft2
Length
54.5 in. (1385 mm)
Weight
25 oz (700 g)
Radio
4, 6 channels
Servos
6 (required)
Price
$100.00–$395.00
HOT PRODUCTS
Flyzone DHC-2 Beaver Select Scale Tx-R
Great Planes P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 greatplanes.com
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xploring the great outdoors starts here! The Flyzone Select Scale replica of the deHavilland DHC-2 Beaver will transform
any RC flyer into an adventurous bush pilot. Equip it with the included floats for takeoffs and landings from a pond or small lake; conventional landing gear is also supplied. Final assembly is quick and easy—no gluing. The Beaver features plenty of surface detail complemented by working LED lights, a replica radial engine and more. And because it’s a Tx-R, you can pilot the DHC-2 Beaver using your favorite transmitter with AnyLink! Please visit flyzoneplanes.com for more details.
• Floats for water takeoffs and landings are included as well as conventional landing gear • Water rudders on each float improve handling—and the tailwheel is steerable • Working navigation and landing lights add realism • Ailerons and flaps feature drop hinges and authentic corrugation • A hatch on the underside of the fuselage allows easy access to the battery compartment • Advanced AeroCell foam construction makes the DHC-2 Beaver crash tough and feather light • Requires AnyLink and compatible fivechannel transmitter, 1800-mAh 11.1-V LiPo battery, compatible charger
Specifications
O.S. G22 Gasoline Engine
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Great Planes P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61821 Phone: 800-637-7660 greatplanes.com
he O.S. GT22 gas engine offers fast starts, more power and more flights from your fuel budget, and unlike most other gasoline engines, it’s beam-mounted for easy installation inside cowls that are engineered for two-stroke .60–.91 or four-stroke 1.20 glow engines. The GT22’s rear-mounted Walbro carb is custom-designed for this engine. A choke rod guide has been integrated into the crankcase, minimizing set-up time and hassle. Redesigned for even easier starting, the included IG-02 electronic ignition system handles 4–6-cell NiCd/NiMH or 2-cell LiPo/LiFe batteries. Best of all, with the GT22, there’s more muscle available than other comparably sized gas engines can deliver! Please visit osengines.com for more details.
• Produces nearly 10 percent more power than other similarly sized two-stroke gas engines • Electronic ignition system accepts NiCd, NiMH, LiPo or LiFe batteries • Uses the same beam mounting as most
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• • •
Wingspan
59.5 in. (1510 mm)
Length
38.5 in. (980 mm)
Weight
3.0–3.25 lb (1360– 1470 g)
Price
$209.99 (FLZ4022)
glow engines, allowing the GT22 to go in many aircraft designed for 1.2-in.3 glow engines Included Pitts muffler is built to last, with reinforced mounting bolt holes and webbing at high-stress points Generous two-year warranty Suggested propellers: 16 x 8, 16 x 10, 17 x 6, 17 x 8 Includes Pitts-style muffler, electronic ignition module, CM-6 spark plug, muffler gasket, bolts
Specifications Displacement
1.35 in.3 (22 cc)
Bore
1.26 in. (32 mm)
Stroke
1.08 in. (27.5 mm)
RPM
1800–9000
Output
2.66 hp @ 9000 rpm
Weight
Engine: 761.6 g (26.86 oz) Muffler: 132.6 g (4.68 oz) Ignition Module: 105 g (3.7 oz)
Price
$409.99 (OSMG1522)
RC-SF.COM
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BY Joe Cutright
2012
CLOVER CREEK INVITATIONAL
A HEAD-TO-HEAD BATTLE FOR THE CCI TITLE
T Gernot Bruckman jumps to his feet as his name is called for the first place finish at the 2012 Clover Creek Invitational.
he 2012 Clover Creek Invitational (CCI) was held the weekend of August 30 through September 2, 2012. Pilots from around the world started to arrive in Toone, Tennessee about a week before the contest. The weather could not have been better for an IMAC competition, with clear skies and light winds. It was no wonder that the pilots were excited about
competing for the first place prize of $20,000. A problem, however, faced the pilots and the event. Hurricane Isaac was moving up the Gulf Coast and was predicted to head straight for Tennessee. It seemed that the 2012 Clover Creek Invitational would not take place over Labor Day weekend.
Gernot came well prepared for this event. He had put in countless hours of practicing, which finally paid off big with a check from John Schroder for $20K.
Tina and John Schroder (event sponsors) stand proud with Gernot. His hard work for the four days of competition earned him a big first place win.
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RC SPORT FLYER — OCTOBER 2012
2012 CLOVER CREEK INVITATIONAL Kelly Yeager, one of the girls from Higher Plane Productions, takes a moment to pose with the event sponsor and host, John Schroder. John put up the cash purse for the 2012 event.
With the weather forecast predicting a 40 percent chance of rain on Thursday and 70 percent chance on Friday and Saturday, the event directors were forced to make lastminute changes to the schedule. They decided to have the competitors fly as much of the competition as possible on Thursday. On Thursday morning, the first day of the competition, the first
The contest received continued support from sources that had sponsored previous Invitational Championships, as well as from some new ones!
competitor was in the air by 7:00 a.m. A few times, the weather forced us to pause the competition to let some mild rain showers pass. Nevertheless, the competitors still managed to log a total of 96 flights. The day’s competition ended at 7:05
p.m. The flights flown included four single sequence Known “A” rounds, an Unknown “A” sequence and a Freestyle #1. The competition was hard fought, with the pilots pouring every ounce of energy they had into their flying—they were concerned this might be the only day they would compete! Overcast skies greeted the Friday morning competitors. Even so, the contest started by 8:00 a.m per the schedule. Pilots were able to fly Unknown “B,” Known “B” single sequence, Freestyle #2 and another round of Known “B” single sequence. Because of the teamwork of the officials and of the competitors, the event ran super smoothly. The result was that the pilots were able to complete all the tasks that were scheduled for both Friday and Saturday Saturday’s schedule mirrored that of Friday’s. The competitors flew Known Sequence “B” two times and then flew an Unknown “C” and Freestyle #3. Saturday’s flying ended with a fantastic sunset. There was also time for everybody to take a dip in the saltwater swimming pool. Once everyone relaxed and socialized for a bit, they got ready for the 6:30 p.m. banquet. At the banquet we were treated to a 25-minute video done by a family friend of Nicolas Detry—a pilot from France. He had taken the video over the three days of the competition. It was really enjoyable to watch during dinner. At the banquet, the contest director, Joe Cutright, acknowledged the volunteers by giving them prizes that had been donated by event sponsors. The event staff and judges were thanked and then it was time to announce the ten finalists in the competition. They would compete Sunday. All of the competitors were very accomplished. Only the top ten pilots, however, would advance to compete on Sunday. The top ten pilots to RC-SF.COM
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BY Jeff Troy
FUSELAGES PART I THE GREAT PLANES® SUPER SPORTSTER 60
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f you’ve been following my “Building Model Airplanes” series for RC Sport Flyer magazine, you’ve seen the empennage for five different airplanes hit my workbench. These tail sections were followed by three sets of wings, with two more wing sets to come. I had planned to continue the series with the wing panels for the 89-in. Dynaflite® Super Decathlon, but I felt that a break from ribs and spars might be a welcome relief for everyone. After all, if I was seeing double from gluing ribs for my own models, how must my readers feel when most of you were probably not building the same models that I was—and certainly not all five of them. So, relief comes to you in the form of the first of five fuselages, and it’s the venerable Super Sportster 60 from Great Planes. I chose this fuselage because it is a relatively simple component to construct, but it still gives me plenty of opportunity to pass along suggestions for improving your personal bag of building tricks. Those last two sets of wings are still on the burner, but the heat’s on low
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and they’ll just stew for a bit while I build the Sportster fuselage. Designed by Don Anderson, the Great Planes Super Sportser 60 has a slab-sided fuselage. This means that the two fuselage sides are solid-sheet parts with no stringers or built-up sections. The formers use built-up
Plywood doublers are installed on the fuselage sides with BSI gap-filling CA. Be sure to make one right and one left side, not two rights or lefts. RC SPORT FLYER — OCTOBER 2012
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construction and the rear deck is all stringers, but the sides and rear bottom are simple sheets of balsa. The original design used 1/8-in. balsa doublers to strengthen the inside wall of each side sheet from the rear of the wing saddle to the front of the sheet where the firewall
Pin the sides together with the doublers face to face. Be particularly careful about lining up the sides at the fuselage’s nose and tail.
BUILDING MODEL AIRPLANES mounts. The balsa doublers have been replaced in current kits by a diecut, 1/8-in. plywood sheet for each doubler, complete with lightening
cutouts and a correct wing saddle shape that you can use as a guide to trim the machine-cut balsa sides. I laminated the plywood doublers
onto the balsa sides with Bob Smith Industries (BSI) gap-filling cyanoacrylate (CA) glue, working quickly to apply the adhesive to the
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Sand the sides to be identical, working hard at keeping your bar sander at a perfect right angle to the sides. You don’t want any angle sanded in.
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Check the fit of the rear deck in the doubler notch. The notch will probably have to be slightly deepened to get the deck flush with the sides.
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K&S Engineering offers this bag of “Sizes & Shapes,” an assortment of metal tubing odds and ends in round, square and other configurations.
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Prepare the fuselage sides for the pushrod exits by using a #11 blade to cut a bevel on the inside edge of a length of 3/36-in. brass tubing.
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Mark the locations of the pushrod housing exits on the fuselage sides, then use a rotating motion of the tubing to cut a clean hole through each side.
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A 3/16-in. round file is handy for adjusting the angle of the hole. The objective here is to put as little bend as possible in the plastic pushrod housing. RC-SF.COM
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BY Rob Caso
PAINTING MARKINGS
Follow a sequence when applying painted markings—here the mask is applied, but the general areas are masked by taping to the mask, not the model.
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ears ago, I started painting all the insignia and markings on my scale models. There are a number of reasons why I developed this skill: first, nothing looks like paint—like paint! Second, commercial decals aren’t always available in the scale you need (or perhaps at all). Also, the decals you can get are oftentimes incorrect in many ways, such as color, proportion, saturation and sheen. Third, it is difficult to get even high-quality decals to settle down over surface irregularities, especially on a fabric-covered model. And, fourth, decals are often too bright, and they inevitably have some thickness, both of which conspire to make them look like—decals. Few models that are flown on the contest circuits feature anything but painted markings, and while painting is certainly an exercise in modeling, it gets easier the more you do it, and the results are worth the effort. I can now paint markings faster than I can apply waterslide decals. Still, how serious you are about the model will determine whether this is a skill you want to develop and apply. 44
RC SPORT FLYER — OCTOBER 2012
Start with the light colors first. The white outline of the marking is applied to the model’s surface. Here I’m using regular masking tape, not the blue painter’s tape.
MASKS AND MASKING
Making masks and applying them correctly are the difficult parts of the process. Masking to protect the rest of the model is time consuming, but spraying is really the easy part and goes quickly once the masks have been applied. While I cut my masks from a CAD (.dxf) file that feeds my laser cutter, vinyl sign printing/cutting companies can also cut your masks— assuming you have already laid them out in a compatible computer file. A quick search on the Internet revealed a number of people who can supply ready-to-use masks, so doing them by hand is almost a thing of the past. If you buy them instead of making your own, it is nevertheless important to check the proportions of any purchased mask to see that they line up against authoritative scale documentation. Another consideration is the material to be used for the “close in” masks for the markings. Generally, an adhesivebacked mask will be used, so these should be tested on the model to make sure they will not pull off the existing finish when they are
removed. It’s a good idea to let the base coat on a model dry for a week or two before stressing it with a mask. I use both clear, low tack shelf paper and friskets of various tacks. An epoxy or solvent-based finish over a glassed surface is probably the most durable, while covered, open framework surfaces tend to be more finicky. Foam models present a whole list of potential problems since foam by its nature is unstable and does not hold paint well. In the latter two cases, my removable shelf paper masks seem to yield the best results. Note further that generally one mask will be required for each color, and don’t ever assume that a set of masks can be reused—it’s just too hit or miss. Another tip is not to leave masks on the model any longer than you have to. Don’t, for example, spray all the markings and go to bed! The mask will, over time, bond with the base coat and could, if left on the model too long, either pull off the existing finish or leave an adhesive residue when being removed—both of which are maddening problems to
PAINTING MARKINGS
A mask covering the white outline is applied before spraying the black. One mask for each color is needed.
The lozenge pattern on my CL.II was masked prior to its application to avoid having to apply markings over a multicolored background.
This is the finished marking. Note that straight black should never be used—lighten it up with a few drops of white.
on the model than is absolutely necessary. Tape general masks to those used for the “close in” masks already applied. And never apply regular masking tape directly to a surface—if you must do so, use the green autobody tape. It’s expensive, but for good reason. It works. If you are spraying properly— more on this later—you will not need to mask off that much of the model. I am not sure I have to say this, but never use newspaper for general masking, as paint will go through it and it will dirty up the model. I use aluminum foil for general masks—it won’t let paint through, and it forms around all kinds of protrusions. Plus, you can roll its free
fix. I’ve been there. The other, more subtle issue is that leaving the mask on too long will affect the quality of the job. When a mask is properly removed (while the painted area is still wet), the edge of the newly painted area will roll down to the base finish, eliminating a hard or raised edge. While certain paints will cure at different rates, leaving masks on the model will almost certainly guarantee an edge that must be sanded out. Insofar as general masking is concerned, as much as possible avoid putting more adhesive-backed masks The cross on the wing of the CL.II had to be carefully positioned to account for the wing sweep. RC-SF.COM
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BY Martin C. Zeller
A QUARTER-SCALE PATTERN PERFORMANCE AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE! The classic lines of the WACO are sometimes mistaken for those of the Stearman, but there are distinct differences between this airplane and the Stearman. I incorporated them into my WACO.
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have always liked the WACO UPF7. It is a truly classic biplane. The airplane was made at a time when wood, rags and wire construction were still used, and expert craftsmen were plentiful. The quality craftsmanship is evident in the design of the beautiful, tapered elliptical wing tips and generous lower wing root fillets. My model aviation scale interests gravitate to World War I
and Golden Age aircraft that exhibit this type of construction. The Weaver Aircraft Company was founded in 1919. Located in Troy, Ohio, it manufactured several types of civilian aircraft. In 1928 Weaver changed its name to WACO Aircraft Company. The WACO Company was noted for their beautiful cabin models. The WACO publication, The Famous “F” Series, says that in 1936
The cockpit interior shows the structure and PowerBox location under the pilot’s feet. The 24-oz. main fuel tank is under the vacuum-formed front seat, and a smaller header tank is just aft of the firewall.
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RC SPORT FLYER — OCTOBER 2012
they marketed the “F” series of open cockpit biplanes as the most beautiful sport and luxury biplanes in the United States. I have to agree—they are gorgeous. During World War II, over 600 UPF-7’s were produced to support the Civilian Pilot Training Program. This market was also shared by the well-known Stearman. Many onlookers mistakenly think that my model is a Stearman until they begin to see the subtle differences and graceful lines. My project started when I got a set of 1/4-scale fuselage drawings from John Eney. He is a life member of the National Waco Club and is currently restoring a full-size UPF7. Other references for my model project were 1/10-scale drawings by Nicholas Karstens, numerous photographs and Waco publications.
This photo shows the aluminum longeron structure, with typical wood former and scale stringer arrangement of the fuselage. There is some fiberglass in the forward part of the fuselage.
A QUARTER-SCALE WACO UPF-7
WACO UPF-7
In the air the model handles very well. The model’s climb-out is realistic with thrust coming from the scale 24x8-in. propeller married to the Robart radial engine. Cruise is comfortable and realistic at around 30% power.
RC-SF.COM
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BY Wil Byers
Hawker Sea Fury 400 ARF A WARBIRD PARK FLYER YOU CAN FLY ALMOST ANYWHERE
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he Hawker Sea Fury was the British Fleet Air Arm’s last design that sported a pistonpowered engine. It was developed during WWII, but it never saw service until after the war. The airplane was developed out of the Hawker Tempest, which was a variant of the Hawker Typhoon. The designer behind the Hawker Fury was Sidney Camm in 1942. It was purposely designed to be a lightweight replacement for the Tempest II. Interestingly, the Hawker Fury was the result of a pilot’s mistake. On June 23, 1942, Luftwaffe pilot Oberleutnant Amim Faber erroneously landed his Focke-Wulf Fs 190A-3 fighter at the RAF’s Pembrey airfield. He apparently mistook it for a Luftwaffe coastal airfield. The British could not have been more surprised and pleased with the results because
Depending on the motor used to power the Fury, the mount must be cut to size. The mount is marked and was cut with a razor saw.
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RC SPORT FLYER — OCTOBER 2012
Doing low strafing passes, the Sea Fury looks great in the air. The retractable landing gear adds to the fun of flying it too.
This model is actually quite easy to fly, although you must be at least an intermediate pilot because is pretty maneuverable.
A screw holds the motor unit on the motor mount. The Park 480 provides plenty of power for any fight maneuver you’ll want to fly.
E-FLITEŽ HAWKER SEA FURY 400 ARF The wing is shown here with servos and retract gear units installed. The servo extensions run in the wing’s molded-in channels.
This shows you how the servo leads run in the wing. There is a cover that will hide all the wires and add detail to the bottom of the wing.
it gave them a working example of the airplane that had been challenging their aircraft in the skies. The first Sea Fury flew on February 21, 1945. It was powered by a Centaurus XII engine that turned a huge, four-blade propeller. It was subsequently navalized with a set of folding wings and then tested for aircraft carrier duty. The test continued until the Japanese surrendered in August 1945, which left the aircraft without a wartime purpose. Hawker Sea Fury airplanes did, however, see action in the Korean War. It was used by many countries, including the USA.
MODEL SEA FURY
Your Hawker Sea Fury 400 ARF is going to come as an EPS injectionmolded, lightweight, durable and easyto-assemble model. Our review kit arrived in perfect condition. It comes double-boxed to protect it against
My Sea Fury is on you in a heartbeat, ready to shoot you out of the air. This is very much a fun airplane to pilot.
RC-SF.COM
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BY Dan Deckert
MILLENNIUM MASTER
A FUN-TO-FLY AIRPLANE THAT WON’T BREAK THE BANK This is one fantastic looking airplane no matter what angle you are looking at it from—on the ground or in the air.
mounted) • Propeller with adaptor and spinner • Fixed landing gear w/wheels (premounted) • Elevator control horn (one each) • Velcro®
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fter seeing the new Flyzone® Millennium Master RX-R airplane, my first question was, what is it, aside from quite sexy looking? It turns out the kit is modeled after a full-scale, civilianbuilt aircraft that was designed in Italy. Leave it up to the Italians to design such a gorgeous-looking airplane, and kudos to Flyzone for releasing this beauty to the masses. As a lover of civilian aircraft, I knew this was going to be fun to build and fly.
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INCLUDED IN THE KIT • • • • • • •
• Radio transmitter (four-channel minimum) • Compatible receiver • LiPo charger
Fuselage Wing with wing bolt Servos (pre-mounted) Vertical stabilizer Horizontal stabilizer Motor (pre-mounted) Speed controller (pre-
The kit parts include the empennage, wheels, propeller, spinner, screws and tape.
WHAT YOU GET
You get a complete airframe that is receiver ready. Most everything is pre-installed, so the builder can have his model up and flying in as little time as possible. The builder is left with only a few basic steps. The manual is straightforward, illustrated and easy to follow. About the only thing you will need to do is attach one control horn on the elevator.
NEEDED TO COMPLETE
The servos and landing gear pockets are installed at the factory and reduce the completion time.
RC SPORT FLYER — OCTOBER 2012
The aileron servo wires are pre-installed for you, which saves you lots of building time.
FLYZONE® MILLENNIUM MASTER
I had a ton of fun flying this airplane pass after pass for my cameraman. It just handles superbly.
• 3S 11.1-V 1800-mAh 20C LiPo battery (Flyzone HCAA6430) • Foam safe CA glue • Common hobby tools (Small flat blade, Phillips screwdriver, hobby knife, small crescent wrench) • Two each T-pins or equivalent • Ruler
IN THE AIR
Using low rates, I eased into the power, and the airplane practically lifted off on its own in under thirty feet. Its takeoff was straight and true. After a couple of passes up and down the runway, I added a few clicks of up elevator trim to my transmitter. Nothing else was needed for straight and level flight while using only half power.
The nose gear is factory installed. Again, you don’t have to do anything except program the transmitter.
There’s plenty of room inside the fuselage to install the receiver and the LiPo battery pack.
The pushrods for the tail come pre-installed and the tail is formed to receive the stabilizers, so alignment is easy.
The canopy that the distributor sells is extremely clear and very well done. Mine fit perfectly.
RC-SF.COM
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BY Gene Cope
ALBATROS CLASSIC SPORT 3S/E ARF GET ON TOP OF THE COMPETITION WITH THIS SAILPLANE
These are the airframe components, which I found to be exceptionally well made and of goodquality wood.
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ltitude Limited Electric Soaring (ALES) has hit the sky in a big way the last couple of years. It is a competition format geared to leveling the playing field for pilots by limiting the model’s climb to altitude during its motor run time. ALES soaring has become such a popular competition that an online league has been created for it. It is called simply the ALES League: ales-league.org. Pilots from around the world can learn about the rules, get a
I bought these components from Esprit Model. They are the perfect match to give the Albatros the climb performance you’ll want.
While it looks like an inrunner, the MVVS 4.6/840 motor is actually an outrunner with a case—plenty of power for the Albatros.
The Jeti Advance 70 Pro electronic speed controller is a great mate for the MVVS motor, and it is easy to program too.
I mark all the servos, center their control arms and position the arms appropriate to the control prior to installing them in the airframe.
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RC SPORT FLYER — OCTOBER 2012
ALBATROS CLASSIC SPORT 3S/E ARF countdown file, see some multimedia clips and enter competition scores to be ranked in the league standings. It looks to be a lot of fun for everyone.
ESPRIT MODEL ALBATROS
Until recently, most ALES gliders were the model builder’s compilation of glider, servos, receiver, motor, speed controller, propeller and battery pack. That is now changing, and changing fast. Esprit Model has many very good gliders and sailplanes
that are perfectly suited to ALES competition or fun flying, and that are available with a complete Esprit hardware package. One of their best ALES offerings is the Albatros Classic Sport 3S/E ARF. The Albatros 3S comes packaged exceedingly well to prevent shipping damage. Mine arrived in perfect condition—not a dent or ding anywhere. When I unpacked my Albatros I was impressed by its nostalgic looks, which reminded me of the
classic Bird of Time glider that I flew many years ago. However, this glider is modernized for today’s pilot, hardware and competition. It uses the latest manufacturing methods like a fiberglass fuselage reinforced with carbon fiber, carbon fiber wing spars and fiberglass wing rods, which
Just after launch I applied power to my Albatros, and up it went in a rapid fashion!
You’ll trim the servo bay covers 1/8 in. inside the wood’s edge. Then you’ll seal the covering around the edges.
The wing servos are held in place with Rohacell® foam blocks that key the servos into position and alignment.
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BY Daniel Holman
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1 I’m flying the beautiful 35-percent scale model of Jim Bourke’s Sbach 342 Thunderbolt in the Soccer Field HD flying site.
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f all the innovations and gadgets that have been invented to assist pilots in honing their skills to fly remotecontrolled model airplanes, none has been as powerful as the flight simulator. Knife Edge Software® has been at the forefront of simulator development for years, starting with the original RealFlight. They’ve made significant enhancements with each new version. RealFlight 6 is their latest version, and I was quite excited to give it a try.
WHAT’S NEW
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The first version of RealFlight I used was their G-2 software about nine years ago. I then got G-3, which included the PhotoField graphics. The flight physics in that version were better, and it included more aircraft simulations. I was happy with that version. Of course I’ve upgraded from time to time, flying RealFlight 5 until RealFlight 6 arrived. Here I am years later with the newest version of RealFlight, which incorporates some amazing new features and many more airplane simulations. RC SPORT FLYER — OCTOBER 2012
REALFLIGHT 6® 2 Look at the amazing 3D graphics that RealFlight 6 offers! The leaves rustle when you turn up the wind speed.
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This is preparing to fly the elegant Seawind at Alpine Lake. Float flying in RealFlight 6 and the reflections at the 3D flying sites are incredible! 4 This train is being rapidly de-commissioned as I strafe it with the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper.
One of the most significant enhancements to RealFlight 6 is its new helicopter physics engine. Previous versions provided good helicopter simulations, but Knife Edge worked with top helicopter pilots to fine-tune the helicopter simulations and create an even more realistic RC flight experience. Some minor changes were made to the airplane simulations, but I couldn’t feel much of a difference. However, aero-towing has been introduced into RealFlight 6, which is very enjoyable to fly and which I found quite realistic. The InterLink® USB interface is very similar to the one from G5 but has the new Rewind feature. This allows you to back up your flight 5
Sitting on the grass after an exhilarating flight, the beautiful model of Jim Bourke’s Russian Thunder Yak-54 looks great— amazing cockpit detail.
to any point and re-fly the aircraft from that point. While learning new maneuvers this can be really helpful because you don’t have to reset and reposition the aircraft after a mistake. The graphics quality in RealFlight 6 has been improved yet again. It is now really quite stunning, even in the 3D fields. Such advancements as real rendering and depth-of-field view add realism to the simulations. For those of you who want RealFlight to be more of a video game, you’re in for a treat. Knife Edge has added paintball, rocket and streamer wars. Now you can take your “bad day” out on some fellow gamers. It is lots of fun. There are also numerous other advancements such as a removable 5
6 RealFlight 6 is an excellent simulator for beginners. Here you can see the NextStar trainer coming in for a successful landing.
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Albatros D.Va AR-6 Endeavor Cessna® 182 Skylane® Dynaflite™ Super Decathlon ElectriFly™ BLT™ Park Flyer ElectriFly Cirrus® SR-22 Turbo ElectriFly Edge 540 ElectriFly Edge 540T EP 3D XLC™ ElectriFly ElectroStreak™ ElectriFly FlatOuts™ Extra 300S ElectriFly Fundango™ ElectriFly PBY Catalina ElectriFly Slinger™ ElectriFly Yak-54 3D Extra 300L Flyzone™ Beechcraft Staggerwing Flyzone Diablo™ Flyzone SkyFly™ 2 Flyzone Switch™ Sport Gary Wright Model Products E3D Gee Bee R-2 General Atomics MQ-9 “Reaper” Great Planes Big Stik™ Great Planes Big Stik w/Floats Great Planes CAP 232 Great Planes PT-40™ Great Planes SpaceWalker Great Planes Super Sportster™ Great Planes Super Sportster w/ Floats Great Planes Ultra Sport™ Hall Bulldog Harrier Hobbico® ElectriStar™ Hobbico NexSTAR™ Hobbico NexSTAR EP Hobbico Twinstar™ L-39 Albatross Multiplex® Easy Star Multiplex ParkMaster 3D North American AT-6 Texan P-51D Mustang Piper J-3 Cub Piper J-3 Cub w/Floats Russian Thunder™ Yak-54 Ryan STA Schneider Cup Racer Seawind® Sbach Thunderbolt 35% Sig Seniorita Simple Flyer SkyShip Sopwith Pup
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BY Devin Troy
CALYPSO AN EXCELLENT COMBINATION OF FUN, QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE
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he new Calypso from Flyzone® is an excellent motorglider, full of options that will keep a pilot interested. To start, the kit comes four different ways: ARF, Rx-R, Tx-R and RTF. There is also an optional flap kit. The most basic version is the almost-ready-to-fly one, which provides only the airplane. This means you get the fuselage, canopy, wings, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, Y-connector for the ailerons, wing tube and tail screw, but no electrics. You must provide the radio gear, motor, ESC and battery.
WHAT YOU GET
The Calypso’s airframe components are made of durable AeroCell foam, a Great Planes® exclusive, resulting in a lightweight model that’s great for soaring without being flimsy. The wingspan is 73 in. with 526 in.2 of wing area, making the model substantial without being too large to transport or build easily in a workshop with limited space. It is an inch shy of four feet long, and it weighs approximately 30 oz, depending how you set it up. The overall effect is an airplane that is impressive physically, but still manageable for pilots with limited RC flying experience. The version I’m reviewing is the Rx-R, or receiver-ready. You need to provide the receiver and an appropriate transmitter of fouror-more channels, but you get the complete ARF kit with four factoryinstalled servos, a 28x30 1300-Kv brushless outrunner motor and 18-amp electronic speed controller (ESC). You’ll still need the optional This is what you’ll get when you buy a Calypso. It includes everything but the transmitter and charger.
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Onyx 235 AC/DC balancing charger and Flyzone 3S 1300-mAh LiPo battery, but everything else is in the box. The Tx-R, or transmitter-ready, kit comes with everything needed except the transmitter. However, Tactic® provides an amazing solution to this problem with the company’s Tactic AnyLink® SLT 2.4GHz Radio Adapter. This great tool allows you to use your favorite transmitter
from a large range of options, enabling it to communicate with the included Tactic SLT receiver rather than you having to provide a receiver of your own. The AnyLink module is easy to install and lets your transmitter broadcast a 2.4-GHz signal to the receiver, regardless of the band of your transmitter. The most complete version of the Calypso EP, the ready-to-fly, comes with everything you need, including a four-channel Tactic transmitter with AA batteries. However, it is important to note that you need at least five channels to support the optional flap kit. If you are thinking of adding flaps now or later, the Rx-R or Tx-R versions are your best choices.
In my opinion, the fuselage of the Calypso has the look of a full-scale glider. I like the clean design lines that give it a classy look.
FLYZONE® CALYPSO
ASSEMBLY
Assembly for the Rx-R kit is basic. Beginners will do best with a little bit of guidance, but the instructions are clear enough for most anyone to complete the model on their own. The first step to tackle is installing the receiver, in my case This was my gear for the Calypso: an Onyx charger, the Tactic SLT receiver. Flyzone 3S 1300-mAh LiPo batteries and (optional) Hobbico® Power Supply. Whenever I’m installing a receiver, I use alcohol to wipe down the fuselage bay and the I recommend you wipe the receiver case and foam of the airplane receiver where the hook-and-loop with alcohol to get a good bond material must adhere. This removes between the hook-n-loop material, the case and the foam. skin oils and other contaminants from the surfaces, ensuring a secure hold. The same holds true for the
battery installation, and while you’re preparing the battery, it is important to always adhere the hook-and-loop material to the back side of the battery. If the front of the battery is covered, the charging information won’t be visible, and being able to identify the cell count and capacity of the battery is mandatory for safe and proper charging. Once the receiver is installed and the servo leads are connected to the proper channels, the tail assembly comes next, and it is completed in three quick steps You’ll attach the hook-n-loop material to the outlined in the manual. receiver’s plastic case after you’ve cleaned the case with alcohol. The tail surfaces have
You may want to go with a package that includes the Tactic TX600 transmitter and SLT receiver for controlling your model.
Next you will press the receiver, with its hook-n-loop material, against the foam of the fuselage to get it fastened tightly to the glider.
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BY RC-SF Staff
Mike Tallman flies his gorgeous white-and-red F1GT racer. He finished third in the overall championship for the year.
Two Formula 1 GT racers round a pylon and speed up as they head for the straightaway.
USRA Race of
CHAMPIONS III THE EXCITING WORLD OF GIANT-SCALE AIR RACING
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f the idea of huge, high-powered, gorgeous model airplanes roaring around a racecourse excites you, then giant-scale racing may just be for you. Be prepared, though, because it can be expensive and time consuming, just like the full-scale racers at Reno. Chris Justus is captured in this photo piloting his unlimited racer just moments before its takeoff.
Giant-scale model airplane air racing was started twenty years ago by Tom Easterday and Cliff Adams. A couple of years later the Unlimited Scale Racing Association (USRA) was formed. The USRA is an AMA special interest group dedicated to
promoting the air race format. In a nutshell, the goal of giantscale air racing is to recreate the excitement of the full-scale Reno air races, but with large-scale, highpowered models. The classes mimic those of the full-size racers, with names such as Formula One and Unlimited, as do the airframes that, in some cases, look much like those of the Reno racers.
RACE OF CHAMPIONS
We attended the premier USRA event of the year, dubbed the Race of Champions. This year’s event was held at the Rabbit Dry Lake Bed in southern California. This is an excellent location for an event of this type because it is a huge open area, with a dry lakebed for the models 88
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USRA RACE OF CHAMPIONS III teams of three. The spotter tells the pilot when to turn the airplane, as well as where to fly it so he can avoid mid-air collisions. The spotter’s job is extremely important and makes a significant difference in the outcome of a race. The third team member is the engine mechanic. Racing is all about performance, and only an engine running at peak efficiency will result in winning races. During my weekend at the races, I saw a malfunctioning engine completely rebuilt in a matter of minutes. This is a testament to the skill and dedication of the mechanics.
UNLIMITED CLASS
Logan Shaw flies his unlimited racer low and fast right in front of the pilot’s area. Ear protection is a must!
Unlimited racer Logan Shaw is moments before takeoff. Even at idle, the pull from the engines is substantial.
Tom Keating, designer of the Stiletto, gets ready to race his unlimited airplane. He finished in second place at the Race of Champions III.
to take off and land on. The weather could not have been better either. A total of 33 pilots attended the 2012 races, which offered racers five different classes. The competitors traveled to California from a number of states to compete. Even though each airplane is allowed only one pilot, it is best to think of the competitors as
The USRA Unlimited class is the most popular, as well as the most eye-popping for the spectators. These monstrous airplanes weigh 25 pounds, have wingspans of eight feet (2.5 meters) and zip around the pylons at speeds approaching 250 mph (400 kph). It is very difficult finding words to describe what it is like to hear and watch these powerful machines in action. Although many different airplane designs can be
Look at the engine detail of Peter Goldsmith’s unlimited racer. Instead of using a carburator, these engines use mechanical fuel injection.
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