Tag: Free Flight Scale

1/7/2024 Glastonbury Meet Cancelled!

Legendary model magazine editor Bill Winter shares his perspective.  Read Now

            Click to Enlarge Images

Bill Winter – pioneer rubber scale modeler and long-time editor of American Aircraft Modeler magazine.
Clubster Matt K. launches his 54in Comet Taylorcraft at Waywayanda, NY.
Chris M. readies his Whitehead pioneer scale model. It flies!
A 50in Waco biplane soars at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA. Built from a pre-war Megow Models plan.
A Nieuport 17 peanut scale model climbs for the gym rafters. Built from a 1930s vintage Peerless Models plan.

1/7 Glastonbury Meet Cancelled

Due to SNOW forecast.

Don’t miss the Jan 14 Georgetown Indoor Flying!

Sunday January 7, 2024 – CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER!

Sunday January 14, 2024 – Stealth Squadron Winter Meet (Georgetown MA)

Why Free Flight Rubber Scale?

When asked if he flew “those remote control models”, Free Flight Rubber World Champ, Bob Hatschek replied:
“No. The ones I fly are much more advanced. They’re fully automatic.”    

Great response Bob, but what about those Rubber Scale Models – why make the effort?

Way back in April 1969, Bill Winter -legendary 1930’s rubber scale modeler and long-time editor of several international model airplane magazines – shared his perspective.  His editorial is as relevant today as it was 50yrs ago.

Check out Mr. Winter’s editorial below and share your thoughts via the Comments to this post.

Straight & Level,  AAM April 1969

See you in the gym in early January skysters!

September 18 Fall Fly-In Meet – Durham CT

 

join us!

The next local meet is this coming Sunday Sept 18 at Whites Farm in Durham, CT about a 2hr drive from Boston. 

View the full contest flyer which includes the event roster, Contest Director contact info, etc. 

Directions to Whites Farm in Durham

Several Stealth Sqdn members will be attending and competing to represent our club.  Make the drive and join in the fun!

 

Stealth Squadron November Meet – Sunday Nov. 8 in Amesbury, MA

 

 

Click Image to View Full Size

 

 

Free Flight meet at Woodsom Farm 11/8!

Whew!  There’s a lot of free flight rubber powered model airplane flying going on at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury – and that’s a great thing!  Yessir, the stealthy brass hats at GHQ have decided that more flying is just what we all need these days.
What nice folks, eh?  (now don’t you skybosses go gettin’ noggins too big for your brass hats now.)
As usual, all events and details can be found on the Contest Flyer at left and at the link below.   A “rain date” Saturday 11/14 has been reserved in case the weather fails to comply.  Check this site and your email as Nov 8 approaches to confirm the date.   As usual masks and social distancing protocols will be observed at this meet. 

Click the image at left to view the full contest flyer  which includes Directions, Event Roster, Contest Director contact info, etc. 

And because it’s been helpful, here again is a link to the

Flying Aces Club rulebook

All mass launch events except WW1 will be flown on 10% rubber motors to shorten retrieval time.  Note that due to daylight savings time, we may draw the meet to a close a bit earlier than usual in the afternoon.  Not to worry though it’ll still be worth your trip to beautiful Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA which is about 30 minutes north of Boston. 

Hope to see you there!!

 

Stealth Squadron October Meet – Sunday Oct. 11 in Amesbury, MA

 

 

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Free Flight meet at Woodsom Farm 10/11!

UPDATE: Due to more favorable weather/winds, the October Meet will be held on SUNDAY OCT. 11, 2020 and NOT Saturday 10/10 as originally scheduled.
All events and details other than the date will be the same on the Contest Flyer at left and at link below.  See you at Woodsom Farm this Sunday!
Well, the gang had so much fun and good flying at the September meet, that we just had to schedule another one.  That’s right skysters, Saturday Oct 10 Sunday Oct 11, 2020 we’ll be gathering again to fly on the beautiful rolling fields of Woodsom Farm in Amesbury.    You won’t want to miss this one as its going to be a long winter and who knows if indoor flying will be happening at all what with Covid and all.  So..

Click the image at left to view the full contest flyer  which includes Directions, Event Roster, Contest Director contact info, etc. 

As for Events – we’ll have FAC Jet Catapult Scale again – see p14 of

Flying Aces Club rulebook

for rules.   The Greve and Thompson Trophy mass launch events are being combined for this meet into the National Air Race (NAR) mass launch event.  Bring your Thompson, Greve, Bendix or other National Air Race model to fly in this event.  This will make room for a Goodyear Peanut mass launch event which is always fun.  All mass launch events except WW1 will be flown on 10% rubber motors to shorten retrieval time.

Location will be at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA about 30 minutes north of Boston. 
Hope to see you there!!

 

Stealth Squadron September Meet – Sept. 12 in Amesbury, MA

 

click image to view full size

Free Flight meet at Woodsom Farm 9/12!

We just completed a great contest on August 22nd on the beautiful rolling fields in Amesbury.  If you missed out, here is another chance to fly free flight rubber with us on the 12th of September. 

Click the image at left to view the full contest flyer  which includes Directions, Event Roster, Contest Director contact info, etc. 

Events are changed up a little and include a FAC Jet Catapult Scale (see p14 of

Flying Aces Club rulebook

for rules), and special, unofficial, Cricket contest (read about the model and download plan here).

Location will be at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA about 30 minutes north of Boston. 
Hope to see you there!!

 

Stealth Squadron Summer Contest – August 22 in Amesbury, MA

 

Click Image to View Flyer Full Size – including directions and contacts

first outdoor contest of 2020!

Well, it’s finally been scheduled….our first outdoor contest of 2020 will be held on the big field at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury on Saturday August 22, 2020.  All safety precautions will be in use – social distancing, masks, etc.  Please come prepared — and come prepared to enter the events and fly!

Click the image at left to view the full contest flyer which includes Directions, Event Roster, Contest Director contact info, etc. 

Location will be at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA about 30 minutes north of Boston. 

Come on out and fly with us.  If you don’t have a model airplane we’ll help you get started in this rewarding hobby.

 

Laird “Solution” Scale Model Plan & 3 View

“Download William’s 3 view and 22in wingspan model construction plan (scroll to end of post)”

 

BY  
William Skelly

 

 

The Author taking measurements at the New England Air Museum
Laird “Solution” 3 view
by William Skelly

 

 

Laird Solution Construction Plans
& 3 View Drawing

There’s nothing better than when a scale modeler builds a model from plans that he or she has drawn. 

Well, maybe there is – if that modeler/designer has developed their own three-view general arrangement drawing from measurements he has taken from the actual airplane to be modeled!

Such is the case with clubster William Skelly who trekked to the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT to view the original Laird LC-DW 300 “Solution” in their golden age raceplanes collection.  William convinced Museum management to let him get up close to the one-of-a-kind aircraft and take the measurements needed to compose his own scale 3 view drawing for the Laird.  We’re thrilled to offer William’s drawing to you here as a free download, along with the rubber-powered free flight scale model construction plan he designed and drew from that 3 view. 

By using actual measurements taken from the real airplane along with perspective photos, William eliminated the foibles that often come with designing a model from a previously published 3 view drawing.  Noted model airplane designer Bill Hannan discussed the issue in one of his excellent books, highlighting the discrepancies between published 3 view drawings for the ubiquitous Fokker DVII World War I fighter aircraft.  Bill favored taking measurements from the actual aircraft whenever possible.

After taking a short break from his documenting and designing efforts (it’s not easy, but rewarding), William is now underway with construction of a flying scale model from his plans.   We’re sure he’ll do a real knock-out job of it too.

Why not download your own set of plans and documentation and join along in the build?  We’re sure William would be happy to correspond with any modeler who does.

Thanks again for your excellent contribution, William!

Download 3 View Drawing
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Laird Solution 3 View Drawing

1 file(s) 148.79 KB
Download
Download Construction Plan (print on 8.5 x 11in sheets)
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Laird Solution Construction Plan 22in Wingspan (8.5x11in sheets)

1 file(s) 5.36 MB
Download
Download Construction Plan (print on one Arch D 24x36in sheet)
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Laird Solution Construction Plan 22in Wingspan (Arch D 24x36in)

1 file(s) 8.28 MB
Download

 

Zee Zpandau!

Build a realistic Spandau machine gun for your German WWI model!

 

BY  
William Skelly

Construction Plans & How-To

The Flying Aces Club (FAC) World War I mass launch event is always a hit at our indoor and outdoor model meets (check the calendar on this site and join us to see for yourself).

FAC Rules for the WWI mass launch event specify that 3D armament must be present on all models participating.

Clubster William Skelly found that many WWI flying scale model construction plans offer sketchy, if any, instructions describing how to make the machine guns.

William tackled the issue head-on by drawing his own plans for the Spandau machine gun on his latest model of a German Fokker D VII fighter aircraft (see pics on the Photos page). 

We’re very pleased to share with you his plans and construction article.  Now you too can have realistic Spandau guns on your model. 

Thanks William!

Download Construction Article

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Spandau Construction Article

1 file(s) 178.29 KB
Download

Download Plan

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Spandau Plan

1 file(s) 591.61 KB
Download

 

Fall 2019 Contest Photos – Amesbury & Durham

 

View Pictures, highlights & Results

We had some truly great flying days at this Fall’s local meets.  Unfortunately, turnout for the Oct 13 Woodsom Farm meet was light.  If you were not able to attend, please try to make upcoming meets – we need your participation and it’s assured you’ll have fun. 

We’ve posted photo essays of the recent Amesbury MA and Durham CT meets.  View these on the Pictures Page to get a sense for the goings-on at the field.  Feel free to post your comments.

Click the image at left to view the full results of the October 13 Amesbury Meet. 

See you at the next meet!

 

Stealth Squadron Fall Contest – October 13 in Amesbury, MA

 

Update: sat 10/12 flying cancelled

all events flown on sunday 10/13!

Click the image at left to view the full contest flyer which includes Directions, Event Roster, Contest Director contact info, etc. 

Location will be at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA about 30 minutes north of Boston. 

Come on out and fly with us.  If you don’t have a model airplane we’ll help you get started in this rewarding hobby.