A treasure
trove it is, what a great repository for aero-modeling knowledge! There are an
abundance of plans and even some books and all these captured the ingenuity of
aero-modeler of old which is still relevant today.
I have
never seen or flown free-flight (simple stick rubber jobs excluded), CO2,
or jetex, but there is an abundance of good plans (in good taste) in this
repository and they are obviously good candidates to be converted to modern
radio control or modified to use present material and technology.
We are in a
way better situation now to design, build, finish and fly model planes than it
was then. We have the internet to research our projects, home/office printers
to print insignia and other designs. We have foam sheets, carbon fibre rods and
tubes to build or strengthen our models. We have affordable airbrush and air
compressor to finish the models. We have brushless motor/esc with lightweight
lithium polymer batteries to power our models. Our radio control equipment is
very affordable, lightweight and reliable. And there is a multitude of products
such as retracts, hinges, and on board telemetry, cameras and such. Our flying
skills in general has obviously improved with so much of ready to fly models
that I would guess that we would be considered ‘skilled’, ‘experienced’ or even
‘expert’ flyers back then. Minimal effort, maximal enjoyment.
Some
thoughts are:
·
Ducted fan designs. Easily
converted to electric ducted fans using brushless motors and commercially
available ducted fan units.
·
Free flight designs. Easily
converted to radio control. I am thinking of a Sopwith Triplane or a Savoia S13
or even a DH-2.
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