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Laminating Balsa Parts Made Easy

When building model airplanes, especially scale WW I subjects,lamination work for parts of the wing and tail are a requirement. This technique has been used for decades but to new RC model builders the technique of producing lightweight curved parts may need some explaining. Here’s how I do it. There’s nothing exotic about the technique. […]

Mini Mustang: Is it scale?

This 80% scale homebuilt P-51 Mustang, built in the U.S., puts on a show at the Willis Warbirds Fighter Meet in Little Gransden, UK. Love that V8 engine and 4-blade prop! The pilot is eerily lifelike. So if you build a model of an 80% scale replica, what scale would your model be?

Stop the Vibration!

RC Prop Balancing Made Easy. I have been often asked, “Do I need to balance my prop?” and the quick answer is always “Yes!” A properly balanced prop will give you more rpm from gas, glow and electric engines. A balanced prop will reduce the wear and tear on your aircraft by greatly reducing vibration, […]

Easy Landing Gear Repair for ARFs

Damaged landing gear caused by landing off-field is probably the single most common repair needed during an RC model’s lifespan. While flying a 30cc Ultimate biplane from Aeroworks, an engine out on the downwind gave us a bad case of landing gear down. Test Pilot and MAN contributor Aaron Ham was doing an inverted pass […]

VQ Warbirds at Bomber Field

East Coast and West Coast VQ B-24 Pilots meet at Bomber Field in Monaville Texas for the 31st Annual B-17 Gathering & Big Bird Fly In! Mark Glanville of California and Mike Bost of NC flew several sorties together with their VQ Warbirds 110-inch B-24 Liberators and they looked amazing in flight. (Above) Mark Glanville […]

Scale RC Me-163 Komet

When it comes to blasting off from the runway, nothing beats a rocket powered warbird. Fireworks and firepower all in one package, what a great combination! Anyway, one of our favorite RC WW 2 warbirds is the rocket-powered flying wing the Messerschmitt Me-163 Komet! (Above) plans available from the MAN library at the AirAgeStore.com website. […]

Historical Accuracy — Scale Planes & Correct Insignia

One of the things we like best about MAN readers is that they’re sticklers for accuracy: if we publish a photo of a plane that has incorrect markings, the letters pour in! A few years back, a reviewer followed the box art and placed the stars and bars insignia upside-down and reversed the upper and lower […]

Secrets for How To Fly Scale

Model Airplane News has devoted many articles and columns to the improving of static scores in scale competition. This score however, represents only 50 percent of your total, and taking the time to improve your model’s documentation material between events can definitely help you maximize overall score. But for this article, let’s talk about improving […]

Tremendous Texan

With a wingspan of over 120 inches, this 1/4-scale T-6 Texan is powered by a Moki 215cc radial gas engine. It looks and sounds great in the air, and the onboard camera on the horizontal stabilizer provides an in-air view! We love the detail on its meticulous sliding greenhouse canopy. Thanks to Dean and Peter Coxon who […]

Historical Artwork Cover

For many years, Model Airplane News used amazing artwork produced by Jo Katula on the magazine’s covers. Katula was a historical aviation expert as well as a draftsman and a very talented artist using various mediums. One of our most popular was a Douglas SBD Dive Bomber, that Jo painted using a famous wartime photograph […]

AT-6 Texan Formation Flight

This past weekend, editor Gerry Yarrish flew backseat in Nick Ziroli Jr.’s beautiful AT-6 Texan during formation flight training. Based at the American Airpower Museum at the Republic Airport in Farmingdale, the flight was flown over the Long Island Sound. Nick flew with Craig Sampson during the training. Nick gets Gerry all tucked and strapped […]

Museum Modeling at its Best

Master model builder and Model Airplane News contributor Ron Peterka, checked in with us recently to bring us up to date on an interesting project. Ron, who recently received his 25 year pin from the San Diego Air & Space Museum and the model shop just finished its most recent assignment of a 12-foot wingspan […]