What is Scratch-Building?

By Stan Alexander | [email protected]

As seen in the November 2022 issue of Model Aviation.

SCRATCH-BUILDING IS WHEN a full-scale set of aircraft drawings is scaled down to whatever size, weight, and wingspan that you want. The structure is drawn, and then the parts are cut and assembled.

When you build from someone else’s plans, you are plans-building. If you start with all of the parts cut out for you, you are kit-building. If you buy it and only assemble the main parts, that’s an ARF. It’s that simple.

I’ve mentioned Jack Buckley before and I’ve judged several of his outstanding scratch-built and plans-built models. His latest is a Fairchild with a 155-inch wingspan. This month, I will look at a model that Jack designed and built especially for the AMA Designer Scale class. He wanted to have a bit of fun with it.

Jack Buckley’s Mini-Max 1500R sits in the pits at the 2022 AMA RC Scale Nats. It’s a great model and larger than you might think.

Jack starts most of his models with a local or easily located full-scale aircraft. He did that with his de Havilland Tiger Moth, as well as the Fairchild, but the Mini-Max 1500R is truly a model of a model.

The Mini-Max 1500R is a single-seat, 25-foot wingspan, 16-foot-long ultralight airplane that nearly anyone could build with common shop tools. The kit to build one of these costs less than a large-scale, turbine-powered model.

Jack took the full-scale plans and sized them down to 1/3 scale with a 101-inch wingspan. He built the model from balsa and plywood and added a trusty O.S. Engines 1.2 FS surpass engine to it. The first version was covered with red MonoKote, but after a slight run-in with a tree that caused the battery to fly out, he repaired and re-covered it. The full-scale Mini-Max 1500R looks like a model in its bare bones and only weighs 269 pounds empty. The model came in at 17.5 pounds.

John Pasquale entered and flew a Horizon Hobby Cessna 150 ARF in Fun Scale Novice at this year’s RC Scale Nats.

Another great Designer Scale entry was Gary Smith’s 74-inch, electric-powered Sonex.

Graphics were reproduced from the full-scale aircraft, and the cowling and wheel pants were designed and made from molds that Jack fabricated himself. The landing gear is constructed the same way as the full-scale plywood gear legs that are held in place by hinges. After the accident with the first version, Jack decided to cover the model with Stits Lite fabric and Stits paint to match the fullscale aircraft.

Jack loves the way the model flies and has entered it in several contests, flying Scale maneuvers with great results. When not competing, he flies loops, rolls, and other aerobatic maneuvers.

At the 2022 AMA RC Scale Nats, Jack flew the Mini-Max to a first-place win in FAI F4H Scale. He has also won Designer Scale at previous Nats. We call this little airplane the "giant killer" because it has beaten larger aircraft that cost thousands of dollars more than this ultralight. The key is having consistent flights and documentation that exactly match the fullscale aircraft.

The Mini-Max 1500R flies well and easily performs basic maneuvers.

Jack’s Mini-Max is ready to cover.

The Mini-Max model is shown beside the full-scale aircraft. This gives you an idea of the amount of detail that went into the model.

RC Scale Nats

I recently returned from this year’s AMA Nats for RC and Control Line Scale. We had a great time and the bad weather held off until after the last round of competition flights. Every conceivable type of Scale model was there, which is what I like to see. There was everything from a foamie Cessna 150 to exquisite jets and scratch-built airplanes.

The Nats is one of those special competitions where you can enter Fun Scale Novice or any other class up to Designer Scale. John Pasquale, from Danville, Illinois, entered Fun Scale Novice with his Horizon Hobby Cessna 150 ARF. The electric-powered model has a 90-inch wingspan.

This was John’s first Scale Nats, and he had a good time. He told me that he was a bit nervous flying the first round of competition, but he settled down with the help of one of his local club members, Dan Landis, and others who were there in the pits. John’s wife also flies and is considering competing next year as well.

There was a good turnout this year in Fun Scale Novice. Helping these newcomers is a great way to encourage modelers to enter into, as well as grow, the hobby. I hope to see the Fun Scale Novice class, as well as other Scale classes, continue to grow, especially when you can increase your building skills. I’m looking forward to learning when the 2023 Nats will be held.

Fair skies and happy holidays!

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