 Even during
the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some form of model building activity
(many times consisting of merely a dedicated monthly reading of modeling magazines). This
site has been created to help me chronicle my journey through a lifelong involvement in model
aviation. It all began at Route 4 Box 504, Edgewater, Maryland (later changed to 114 River
Road), and has run through states from Florida to Colorado to Vermont, and many places in-between.
There is a lot of good information and there are lot of pictures throughout the website that
you will probably find useful, and might even bring back some old memories from your own
younger days. My ModelAirplanes website on EarthLink outgrew its capacity, so I purchased
the AirplanesAndRockets.com domain to continue the work. Thanks to my enabler, Melanie (pictured above), and to you for visiting.
Colorado
Springs Traffic Cams |
Here is a collection of photos
of my progression through aero modeling that might interest you:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
| DP-03 CO2 Motor |
|
 This
model DP-03, CO2 motor came in a Russian free flight Styrofoam model kit. I uploaded a
video of it running to YouTube.
I bought three of these on eBay, kept one for my display, and then sold the other two on
eBay. The fellow that bought them actually plans to fly his. Carlson Engine Imports sells
this DP-03 motor for
$35. The
Operations / Service Manual for DP-03 CO2
is now available online.
|
| The Aerosente Glider Workshop |
 Here is a great resource for scale sailplane kits - for R/C and free-flight.
"Aerosente offers a full line of balsa wood gliders and sailplanes starting with our
simple hand toss gliders and culminating with our vintage and classic scale sailplanes.
We carefully selected our gliders and sailplanes in stepping stone fashion - from simple
to complex, and from easy to fly to most challenging. Most of our models are kitted by
 Thomas Martin of TMRC who is well known for his adaptation of classic and vintage
sailplanes. We sell most of Tom's kits, plans, and fine art prints here at the
Aerosente Glider Workshop."
I have
one of the 1:8 scale, Schweizer SGS 2-33a
sailplane kits in my workshop now. It will be finished like the ones formerly used by the U.S. Air Force
Academy, in Colorado Springs. Updates on the progress will be posted as the become
available. |
| Huge Inventory of Cox Engine & Components Discovered |
| From the
XENALOOK
Web Store... On February 6, 2009, at 16:00 hrs MST, Estes Industries
(the owner of Cox Hobbies) effectively shut down their "Cox" division, affecting the
supply of all their vintage Cox products. Finished is everything that is associated with
gas-powered engines and flying. Now here is the good news! We were in a position to
acquire the remaining Cox inventory, including many engines and parts, as well as
tooling, dies, moulds and machinery. At present, there is sufficient supply on hand in
our facilities to supply the world market for some time. Also, we are in the process of
setting up manufacturing to continue production of some more popular parts and
accessories, all on original Cox tooling and partially with former Cox OEM suppliers.
Although the # of items we plan to manufacture is limited at present, we will look at
what else is viable down the road. We wish to thank all of our friends and customers for
their overwhelming support and would like it be known that we will continue to provide
you with the same quality products and "customer comes first" service that you have
become used to. Wishing an awesome day! Bernie and Xena |
| History of Communications - R/C #1 on List on FCC's Website |
| As part of some research I was conducting for my RFCafe.com website, I went to the
FCC website's History of Communications
page (http://www.fcc.gov/omd/history). If gives a short introduction in layman's' terms of
its role in guarding the electromagnetic spectrum. It then presents a short list of
examples of common items that receives its protection. #1 in the list is when, "Your
child plays with a radio-controlled airplane." I'm conflicted over whether to be
insulted
over the classification of RC airplanes as toys, or to be grateful that our great hobby
merits the top position in the list. Regardless, at least we know for certain that the
FCC is aware of us. |
| Custom-Built Chameleon Field Box & Accessories |
 Field Box in original configuration to support glow fuel operation
 (left).
Sig Akromaster
loaded on launch
stooge
FEATURES: ▪ Stooge for C/L models ▪ Control line
spool holder/winder ▪ Electric fuel pump
▪ Storage for quart fuel container ▪ Removable tray for R/C transmitter
▪ Power panel / battery compartment ▪ Tool storage Prop storage |
|
Airplane Plan Pages Scanned from 1960s and 1970s
American
Aircraft Modeler Magazine |
| I have begun scanning some of the plans pages from American Aircraft Modeler.
Back in the day, every edition of the magazine typically included detailed plans and 3-view
drawings for three to sometimes five or six different airplanes. Some of them might still
be available from a plans service, but it helps to have a good, high-res photo of what you're
getting into before laying out money for it. These were all scanned at a 300 dpi resolution
so there is very good detail in the originals. Here is what I have thus far:
Comet Sparky,
C/L Mustang,
Albatros D. Va (1917)
3-View, Senior Aerosport
Biplane, T-34B Mentor,
Quick Floats,
Martin MO-1,
1909 Curtiss
Model A, Pietenpol
Air Camper, Junkers
D-1, DeHavilland DH60G Gipsy Moth,
Curtiss A-3B
Falcon, Halberstadt
D-II, Dee Bee Plans,
Aeronca 7AC
Champion, Strato-Streak
68, FAI Pussy-Cat,
El Cochino,
Sperry Messenger,
Emeraude,
Sopwith Camel,
Classical Gas.
More will be added as time permits. |
| EPA Partners with AMA to Provide New Opportunities for Superfund
Sites |
 On February
10, 2005, Joseph Beshar, a representative for the Academy of Model Aeronautics, signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with Michael Cook, the Director of
Superfund Remediation
and Technology Innovation. The Academy's member clubs will offer services at no cost
to interested Superfund communities, such as mowing and maintaining the landscape surfaces
and fences on the parts of Superfund sites that the Academy is using. EPA will provide publicly
available information to the Academy about which Superfund sites have the physical characteristics
that the Academy finds suitable for aeromodeling. EPA will also provide appropriate contact
information for EPA, State, and local representatives for the sites. |
| Antique Clothes Chest Restoration |
 No,
it's not model airplanes and rockets, but the skills gain through modeling are shared with
woodworking, and vice-versa. To the right is the 100+ year old clothes chest that I recently
restored. It was built by Melanie's grandfather sometime in the late 19th century. We have
had it for 25 years, and it finally received the attention it deserved. |
| You Know You're a Modeler When... |
|
These contributions were published in the March 2008 Model Aviation.
More have been added as they become available.
- "You do a search on the Internet for
'models' but delete al the sites that are about pretty
women."
-
"You spend two days trying to get a park flyer out of a tree that is 75-feet high."
-
"You've gone to the emergency room more than once for airplane-related injuries."
- "You
describe to the nurse how to put on the bandages so you can hold a transmitter."
- "You
know you are a slope soarer when you are more interested in checking out the
dunes than the beach."
- "You know you're a 3-D pilot when you respond to 'check out that
waterfall' by looking to
open sky."
- "You spent more on your last airplane than on your last car."
- "It's 36° and sleeting and you're standing in the pit area wondering 'Where is everybody?'"
- "You test-fit the family cat into the cockpit of your 33% Extra and seriously consider
giving
it a try."
- "Your idea of an engaging dinner conversations
is a lively debate on the merits of castor
oil versus synthetics."
- "Your mom and dad finds magazines under your mattress and are relieved to find it's only
Model Aviation."
- "Your wife says she'd like to see you more often and you hand her a
map to the field."
|
| Final Edition of American Aircraft Modeler |
|
 The
Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) ceased publication of is official magazine, American Aircraft
Modeler, after the March 1975 issue. The current version, Model Aviation, was its replacement.
On a whim, I checked to see if the AmericanAircraftModeler.com
domain name was available. Amazingly, it was, so I immediately registered it. I'm hoping
that the AMA will grant permission for me to scan and post pages from some of the editions
so that the wealth of information there can be accessed by anyone.
|
| Estes Saturn V Rocket |
 My
Estes Saturn V rocket kit is finally complete! Construction began in August of 2005, and
finally ended in September of 2007 - about par for my projects. See pre-painting image to
the left.
My vintage Estes model of the Saturn V rocket
that boosted the Apollo series of capsules into space is shown here ready for painting. It
only took me two years to get it to this point (yeah, pathetic!). Lots of detailed photos
of my Saturn V have been added to the page.
|
|
Crossword Puzzles in Model Aviation
|
|
 Whilst
going through some items getting them ready for a November swap meet, I ran across a November
2001 edition of Model Aviation that had one of my crossword puzzles printed in it. Bob Hunt
graciously offered to print six of them, and this was the first. Click on the image for a
full-size version that you can print out and complete.
|
|
Jetex Rocket Engine Collection
|
|
   I purchased a
Jetex 150 engine on eBay for about $25 + shipping. It is in in nearly new condition. I had
a Jetex 50 when I was a kid, and am waiting to get a good deal on one on eBay, also. Most
are selling for more than $50, which is more than I am willing to pay. Sooner or later, I'll
snag one for around $30 - it just takes patience.
|
| Great Planes Spirit - Conversion to e-Spirit |
|
 This is the third
2-meter Spirit that I have built, as well as an Electra, which is an electric-powered version
of the Spirit. For the money, performance, and ruggedness, you can't beat it, in my opinion.
My other two ended up being sold to justify moving on to the next project - and always for
more money than I had invested in them. The Spectra tried to move an oak tree, but failed.
This Spirit was first flown on May 8, 2005. It uses just two of the Futaba 6-channel radio,
with standard size servos. The rectangular NiCad receiver pack was rearranged to a square
configuration to allow it to fit in the nose. 2.25 ounces of lead was required to balance
it, even with the servos mounted at the CG.
|
| A Very Simple Method for Creating Monokote Lettering |
  Print out exactly the
size and text, including spacing and alignment, that you want on your printer. Tape the paper
onto the Monokote and cut out each character with an x-Acto knife. Then, tape the newly formed
stencil onto the surface exactly where the lettering is to be attached. Peel off the backing
and lay each character in place and tack it firmly in place with the iron. After all the
characters are tacked, remove the stencil and carefully complete the ironing. Clean any leaking
color adhesive with a little GoofOff. Voila! Perfect lettering using any type and size font
available on your computer. |
| Citizen-Ship Escapement |
|
  
Here are some pictures of an old Citizen-Ship PSN Escapement unit that I just purchased on
eBay for $13. I have never even actually seen one before, so when it appeared on eBay at
such a low price, I went ahead and bid on it.
|
Nazi Stealth Jet Could Have Won War for
Hitler - the Horten 229
Giant Solar Plane Will Stay Aloft for Five Years Straight - Popular
Science 
Students, Engineers Set Record Fuel-Cell-Powered, R/C Airplane Flight 
Paul
D.'s Electric Sparky Flight Photos
Kim's Winder Update
- Paint's On
Enstrom Fuselage Painted & Installed on DuBro Tri-Star Frame
World's
Largest Model Rocket to Lift Off Saturday 
Robocopters Unite! RC helis
being taught to autonomously collaborate on tasks.
Check Gil
Morris' gearbox for a 2-propeller configuration on F1C free flight in the Feb 2009
issue of 
A story in the
Feb 2009 issue of 
Paul D. Sent Pics of His 110%
R/C Electric Sparky!
Suzy Homemaker
Appliances for Sale
1 Man, 1 Transmitter, 50
Aircraft - All Flown in a Single Day
Great Planes' E-Fest 2009 Runs February
7 & 8
For Sale:
AccuPoint Laser Incidence Meter - Like New
For Sale: Full and partial rolls of Monokote
For Sale: CS-5 Nano
Servos, 9" Extension - Liek New
Discover magazine ran a story on an RC helicopter used for volcano research
