The Temora Invitational Scale Classic

Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | The Temora Invitational Scale Classic

By Greg Tracey

 

See photos below 

 

Temora is a small town that is about 300 miles southwest of Sydney in the state of New South Wales. Temora was once a WW II elementary flight training school and it is now home to a world-class collection of flying piston and jet warbirds. The collection also includes the only Lockheed Hudson, CAC Boomerang flying in the world and not one, but two Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires. The aerodrome is also home to strong GA, Aerobatics and Gliding Clubs.

 

This year saw the inaugural running of the Temora Scale Invitational Classic, organized by a small team led by John Rolfe and Greg Tracey. The aim of the event was to hold a scale competition that would cater to all types of aircraft and under a set of rules that did not give an advantage to any particular style of aircraft. 

 

For this reason, the event was based on the Top Gun format that has run successfully for the past 20 years. There was no need in the eyes of the organizers to re-invent the wheel. While the format was copied, the event was held over three days and restricted to 37 entries that flew:

-Four classes: Masters (designer, builder and flyers), Expert, (builder/flyer) Team and Flying only.

-Four rounds

-Two flightlines

 

The flying started daily at 8 a.m. with a break in proceedings at noon to allow the judges a quick refreshment and for the public to watch a quick lunchtime show aimed to display models of the full-size types that are operated at Temora. The show featured David MacFarlane flying a scale aerobatic freestyle routine with a 40% scale Extra, Peter Agnew flying his MiG 15, Peter Love and Steve Thomas with their ¼ scale Warbird pairs demonstration, finished by Byam White with a scale aero tow demonstration. To the delight of the organizers, the effort to put together this display was not lost on the user groups from the aerodrome with plenty of thanks received.

 

 

Sponsors

Robart

Promark

The Hobby Specialist

Model Draughting Services

Zap

Kempinski Hotels

JR

Saito

Flight Power

Spectrum

Traplet Magazines

Echo Point Holiday Cottages

Intairco

DA Australia

The Flying Scale Association of NSW

NSW Scale Aircraft Society

The Victorian Flying Scale Aircraft Association

Col Taylor Models

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winners List

 

 

Category

Sponsor

Winner

Aircraft

 

 

 

 

Best Gas Performance

DA Australia

David Balfour

Curtis Robin

 

 

 

 

Best Methanol burner

Saito

Brian Borland

Miles Hawk

 

 

 

 

Best Jet

Skoda

David Law

DH Vampire

 

 

 

 

High Static

nsw sas

Ross Woodcock

Hawker Sea Hurricane

 

 

 

 

Engineering Excellence

kempinski

Ken Lawson

Westland Lysander

 

 

 

 

Highest Flight Score

fsaa

Peter Agnew

Grumman Cougar

 

 

 

Pilot Choice

Intairco

Steven Thomas

B17

 

 

 

 

Critics Choice

Spectrum

Steven Thomas

B17

 

 

 

 

Best Miltary

ZAP

David Law

DH Vampire

 

 

 

 

Best Civilian

VFSAA

David Balfour

Curtis Robin

 

 

 

 

Special Achievement

The Hobby Specialists

Clive Butler

Gloster Gladiator

 

 

 

 

Best Pro-Am Entry

Traplet Australia

Mick Ryan

P-47

 

 

 

 

Pro-Am 1

JR

David Brown

Grumman Panther

Pro-Am 2

 

Mick Ryan

P-47

Pro-Am 3

 

Peter love

P-40

 

 

 

 

Team 1

Pro Mark

Frank Rogers/Peter Agnew

Grumman Cougar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Masters 1

kempinski

David Law

DH Vampire

Masters 2

 

David Balfour

Curtis Robin

Masters 3

 

Gwyn Avernell

Douglas Dauntless

 

 

 

 

Expert 1

Robart

Phil Crandon

Albatros

Expert 2

 

David Gladwin

Bae Hawk

Expert 3

 

Peter Gow

Vought Corsair

 

 

 

 

Champion of Champions

Zap

David Law

DH Vampire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The models

One of the aims of the event was to get the best possible collection of models together in the Australasia region and that aim was met. The models covered all types of prototypes, competitors travelled from all over Australia and New Zealand and the quality was stunning.

 

Phil Crandon –Albatross Dv

Model is from a Proctor kit. Engine is an Enya 240 V Twin four-stroke with on-board glow. Weight is 10.6kg and Multiplex radio with Powerbox redundant receiver and twin 6 volt redundant on board power.

 

Wing is covered with Lozenge Linen from Glen Torrens Models in U.S. Most of the ABS plastic Mercedes engine parts were remolded in fiberglass and reproduced for durability, so that the exhaust could be routed through the scale manifold.

 

Extensive weathering achieved with water-based inks and paints available through Games Workshop war-gaming stores, then sealed with polyurethane. The checkerboard paint scheme is from the Bavarian Flag, home state of pilot Walter Bonning. Circa 1917-18. This was masked off with automotive pinstripe tape over three days.

 

Steve Thomas – B17

Steve Thomas made the 14-hour drive from his hometown in Toowoomba in the state of Queensland to bring his magnificent 1/6 scale B17 to its first competition. It was no surprise to anyone at the event that he collected both the pilots and critic’s choice awards.  Steve finished this highly detailed model in a rare and unusual all-black scheme. The photos speak for themselves, but this is simply an awesome scale model aircraft. Built from a Wingspan Models part set, powered by 4 DA 50’s and guided with JR radio. A photo library of the build can be seen at www.wingspanmodels.com

Wingspan: …………207″

Length: ……………..146-1/4″

Wing Area: ………..3375sqin

 

Gwyn Avenell – NZ – Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless – Masters, Third place

This is a replica of an aircraft that was flown for a period of six weeks in combat in the Solomon Islands in mid-1944. The RNZAF only ever had one squadron (No. 25) of these dive bombers (indeed, very few outside the U.S. Navy operated on this scale and even fewer in combat) but served with distinction with Australian, New Zealand and American forces over this period.

 

The model is a very docile performer with generous wing area and large elevators and dive/flaps common to U.S. Navy aircraft of the era. The bomb drop requires a programmable mix onto a three way switch to allow the flaps and dive brakes to be opened and allow the bomb to be toggled in the third position during the dive and then everything retracted back to the closed position during the pull out—a very busy few seconds.

 

The model is traditional with balsa construction with some epoxy resin parts, and is finished with two coats of epoxy resin over ¾ oz. glass cloth. All the rivets and panel line plates have been applied to the model, which has also been heavily weathered to reflect the harsh climate that the full-sized plane, operated in at the time.

 

The model is painted in two pack polyurethane paint mixed to monogram publication paint chips. The model’s details are listed below:

 

Scale: 1:5.5

Wingspan: .16m – with scale wing section

Weight:12 kgs

Engine: OS 300 Flat twin–four stroke methanol/glow powered, (48cc)with on-board glow,

pneumatic-powered, retractable undercarriage.

Droppable 500 lb bomb

Dive Brakes

Flaps

Sliding canopy

Two detailed cockpits

Two Occupants

 

 

Brian Borland–NZ – Miles M2P Hawk Major – Masters – Best Glow performance

 

A 1/4 scale, own design model (100″ span) with construction of spruce, birch ply and balsa. Folding wings are featured as per the original and the wing structure is based around full-size “girder ribs” where these are visible when folded. This system makes for quick assembly at local flying fields; however, the outer-wing panels are removed for overseas shipping. The covering of the model is primarily 0.4mm birch-ply with some 0.8mm used on the forward fuselage sides and cockpit section turtle deck. The tail surfaces are fabric-covered and stitched. Light weight silk is applied over doped tissue with stitching and tapes to finish. The fuselage and wings are also silk covered and taped accordingly. The cowling is a combination of epoxy molded components with aircraft alloy hinged side panels secured with scale fasteners.

 

The undercarriage is based on full size with double shock absorbing legs. The streamlined “trousers,” a feature of early Miles aircraft are epoxy moldings with aircraft alloy trim strips. The sprung tail skid is fixed as per full size and the model features working spilt flaps made up of five sections, including one across the fuselage underside. Power is provided by an ever reliable Laser 180 4 Stroke. An on-board glow is fitted for ease of starting without ground attachments and total reliability in the air. The model weighs in at 11.3 kegs and has now logged up 123 flights.

 

David Law – DH Vampire – Masters – Champion of champions, first place Masters, Best Jet

Own design. Homemade fibreglass fuse and tail booms. Balsa wing. PST 900 turbine. JR 10x.  Finished in the Royal Australian Airforce, Telstars display team from the 1960s.

 

Ken Lawson – Westland Lysander Mk 111 (SOE variant)

– Masters. Winner of engineering excellence award

 

WW II “Spy Plane.” Short take off and landing capabilities with operational slats and flaps. Noted for its turn of speed. Andy Sephton, chief pilot of the Shuttleworth collection, said it flew at 250mph without belly tank and at 200mph with tank. Quote, “This is a very slippery aeroplane”.

 

Model is 162″ span, and weighs 63 pounds. Scratch-built to 1 to 3.7 scale from own plans.

Undercarriage is own design. Chromemoly TIG welded with short internal oleos. Cabane is all chromemoly silver braised. Wing struts are aluminum tubes and plates with wooden fairings. They attach to TIG welded tabs on the legs.

 

Wings have a main and secondary box spars made of tapered Oregon with solid cedar roots and 1/16th ply webbing. Metal buckets are set into the wing roots to take the chromemoly cabane cross tubes.

 

Fuselage is traditional built-up formers on a crutch with hoop pine stringers and then cloth covered. Extensive use of litho plate on all metal covered areas on fuse front, tail, cowl, and leggings and on wings.

 

Engine: 215cc radial petrol four-stroke 5 cylinder Moki Modelli. 11.5 H.P. Prop 32 x 14 3W wood. All electronic ignition. Electrodynamics fibre optic kill switch.

 

Radio. Tx JR PCM 9 Mk1. One JR PCM Rx 9ch. Electrodynamics Powerbus. JR Multi-box to flaps.

Servos: Throttle Hitec 645 MG. Ails Hitec 755 x2

Elevators Hitec 755×2

Rudder Hitec 755

Flaps Hitec 855×2. Slats off two Hitech 645MGs via JR Multi-box.

Halogen landing lights; two circuits. Electronic (RCATS) switches to 2x 6 cell 2400mAh DEACS.

 

Batteries. One 3000mAh 4.8V Deac to main Powerbus. One 2400mAh 4.8V deac to flaps via JR Multi-box. One 2000mAh NiMH 4.8V battery to Rx. One 1700mAh 4.8v Deac to ign module.

 

Frank Rogers/ Peter Agnew – Grumman Cougar – First Place Team, Highest overall flight score

 

Built from the Airworld Kit. Jetcat 160. Futaba 14mz

 

Ross Woodcock – Hawker Sea Hurricane – High Static

Scratch-built from his own plans. Finished in the colors of the restored aircraft that is presently operated by the Shuttleworth Collection in England. Ross model built using traditional construction methods using predominately balsa and plywood. Powered by a Sachs 4.2 and JR 9x 11 radio

Span 110”

 

Clive Butler – Gloster Gladiator – Masters – Special Achievement Award.

 

The Gloster Gladiator is built to 1:3.86 scale, which makes it 100.25 in. span, 86 in. long and weighs 19.5 kgs. It is powered by a 215cc Moki 5 cyl petrol radial 4-stroke engine that swings a 32’x18’ prop and puts out about 13 BHP at about 4,000rpm, more than enough to fly the Gladdy on about 1/3 to ½ throttle and, with the application of a LITTLE more power, pull 200ft loops with ease.

 

Construction is conventional ply,balsa, spruce and the covering was SRTex (no longer available) which appeared to be a cheaper version of SolaTex. The model is built pretty much the same method as the original, except I did not attempt too replicate the Dowty undercarriage, which is too complicated for my limited engineering skills.  I used telescoping square section Chrome Molly tube for each leg.

 

The model is in the colors of the Shuttleworth Collection Gladdy restored in 1958 and carrying fake serial number and pre-war markings of 72 squadron.

 

Updated: July 16, 2015 — 3:51 PM
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