Model Aeroplane Notes

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 117, 20 May 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

Model Aeroplane Notes

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MODEL AEROPLANE NOTES. With the long winter evenings coming v-ery close many of my readers will be looking forward to constructional articles of scale models and so forth. Well, I have mapped out some good models for you and you should be able to keep the carving knife busy this winter. The little six-inch scale model of the SOB (Supermarine racer) was so popular that 1 think it will be an excellent idea to set out several well-known 'planes so that they all scale out to about the same size. This will give builders an opportunity of making up model hangars, or even tp convert their workshops or dens into model airports. I had the privilege of seeing a model airport recently in a boy's backyard,. It was surprisingly complete, even to model benzine bowsers. Of "course, the wind-sock and all the usual appurtenances were there. And didn't he have a good collection of 'planes, all beautifully made to jcale. Among them were a preponderance of Yankee jobs., the reason being given that better plans for these were available. This is, unfortunately, true. However, 1 am going to publish some really fine English 'planes this winter, so that objection should no longer hold good. I have promised you the Gipsy Moth plans for some time now. Well, the reason for their non-appearance is that I have not yet been satisfied as to their accuracy of detail, and I would welcome the 16an of really authentic plans of this machine from any reader lucky enough to possess them, in order to check mine up. I desire to give the fuselage sections at the nose in fairly line detail, as I find it is upon the correctness of this part that the looks of the whole model depend.

Indoor flying is gradually obtaining a liold in New Zealand. Letters from Christchurch and Wangauui indicate tliat this type of contest is to be tried out this winter. From Feilding. comes a record claim for over four minutes duration indoors. This flight was, I understand, made by Mr. Hobday, sen., and shows that Feilding possesses some real talent, for there are others doing

well over the two-minute mark there. And, believe me, a flight of two minutes indoors is no mean feat. Of interest to the flyers in the Xorth is the fact that at the Waikato Winter Show, held at Hamilton, there will be provision for model aeroplanes in the workmanship class, and also a competition for flying models on June 3 in the show buildings. A representative party of over twenty strong are booked to go down from Auckland for this event, and if the display put up by the boys last winter at the Auckland Winter Show gives any indication of the public interest aroused, model flying should bo more than ever popularised in the Waikato by this means. A fairly full programme has been arranged. There will be a hand-launched duration contest, a fuselage, rise off ground competition and a seaplane event. A good deal of friendly rivalry is already evident, and some fine "buses" will bo going down to Hamilton.

Answers to Correspondents. ' Waipukurau, writes and says that he has read the notes in this column for some time, and mentions: "When you started writing in the 'Star' I had just begun a model aeroplane career. Sii<ce then I have improved steadily—mainly because of your notes. All the same," he adds with becoming modesty, "I am no cracker-jack yet; however, I am keen." Well D.8.M., stick to it, and I feel sure you will soon be an ace. D.Y., Te Awamutu, wants to know how to make the cyclinders for the Southern Cross. Well, several ideas were given before. Here are some more. Small corks bound with fishing line and blackened are very effective. Another scheme is to get an iron nut arid force a round balsa dowel into it, twisting at the same time. This cuts a thread in the wood, and after blackening the effect is very like cylinders with their cooling fins.