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The latest in giant scale
If you live in the Northeast, one sure-fire sign that the winter
building season is drawing to an end is the annual WRAM show
in White Plains, NY. Every year, thousands of modelers trek to
this modeling mecca to show off their latest projects
and for a preview of things to come from the RC
model industry. Hosted by the Westchester Radio
Aero Modelers club, the 2002 show (the 34th)
was definitely worth the trip.
REALLY BIG STUFF
At this year's show, it was obvious that very big
aerobatic models are in vogue. Several companies
showed almost-ready-to-fly unlimited aerobatic
planes in the 150cc engine-displacement range.
Being able to see these Tournament-of-Championsize
aircraft up close is a great way to observe the latest
trends. Typically, these giants have three servos per aileron, four
servos for elevator and at least two servos for rudder control. For
the ultimate in system redundancy, many pilots split their
onboard RC systems in two by using a left- and a right-side
receiver, battery pack and switch harness to control the servos on
either side of the aircraft. Considering how much you can invest
in one of these beauties, I'd say that installing a redundant radio
system is a very good idea.
RC SHOWCASE REVOLUTION
I spoke with Mike Dooley of RC Showcase about the company's
awesome-looking, all-composite, almost-ready-to-fly Velox
Revolution.
Manufactured by
Krill, the 47-percent-scale
model
has a 135-inch
wingspan, weighs
about 50 pounds
98 MDDEL AIRPLANE NEW5
Left: the ZDZ 210B2 is
an impressive twincylinder
gasoline engine
with electronic ignition.
This Krill Velox Revolution took up
about half the display space in the
RC Showcase booth. The 47-percentscale
unlimited aerobat has
all-composite construction.
and is intended for the ZDZ 210 twin-cylinder gasoline
engine. The finish on this molded-Kevlar and carbon-fiber
beauty is flawless. The model basically comes as you see it in
the picture and is ready for engine and radio installation. The
most difficult part about this project would probably be finding a
47-percent-scale pilot figure to put under that beautifully molded
canopy.
J'TEC RADIOCRAFT EXTRA 330LX
Next to our booth was an impressive Extra 330EX ARF. A scaledup
version of the popular J'Tec RadioCraft 35-percent aerobat, this
ARF has a 123-inch span and 2,745 square inches of wing area.
Weighing 38 pounds, the Extra has a respectable wing loading of
32 ounces per square foot. Designed around a 150cc-size engine,
the 40-percent-scale 330LX comes with an engine-mounting box
completely built, and right engine thrust is already incorporated
into the structure. Pilot holes have also been drilled in the firewall
for either the Desert Aircraft DAI50 or the 3W 150 engine. Made
from laser-cut balsa and plywood parts, it has fully sheeted foamcore
wing panels and horizontal stabilizer panels.
ZIROLI'S VENGEANCE
Always ready to show something new at the WRAM show, Nick
Ziroli Sr. displayed his latest warbird project high above the Nick
Ziroli Plans booth. Sporting an unpainted epoxy resin and fiberglass
cloth finish,
Nick's Vultee A-31
Vengeance is a
replica of an early
American-built
dive-bomber used
in the South
Pacific during
WW II. Designed
around a Zenoah
G-62, the '/6-scale
A-31 has a
96-inch span. The
model uses Robart
no. 150 90-degree
RC Showcase showed some new canister mufflers
for its ZDZ engines. These mufflers are mounted
internally in the airplane and are very efficient
and quiet.