British Fighter Aircraft In World War I: Design, Construction And Innovation

british-fighter-aircraft
Product Spotlight New Products That Are Worth A Closer Look
As seen in the December 2021 issue of Model Aviation.

 

MARK C. WILKINS’ BOOK spans 192 pages and includes 250 photos, profiles, and diagrams that cover the design, construction, and innovation of British aircraft. The book has chapters about the major aircraft manufacturers, including the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, the Royal Aircraft Factory, the Aircraft Manufacturing Company, the A.V. Roe & Company, and the Sopwith Aviation Company.

A chapter of the book is also dedicated to engines and propellers. An appendix in the back of the book contains aircraft patents. It is interesting to read through and look at the diagrams.

The book begins by explaining that Louis Bleriot’s flight across the English Channel in 1909 precipitated the need for aerial defense, and that sea power could no longer protect Britain. Within a week of the flight, air power was being discussed by the British government.

Mark provides readers a glimpse of the creation of the airplane industry in Britain, including several photos of some of the factories, as well as fascinating advertising from that time. It even goes into some detail about what was needed logistically for an airplane factory.

When you get to the specific chapters on aircraft manufacturers, you read more about the companies and some of their creations. Included in these chapters are photos and information about people who have built re-creations of iconic World War I aircraft.

In the chapter on the Royal Aircraft Company (RAF), Pemberton Billing, who coined the phrase "Fokker Scourge," gave an address to Parliament, in which he blamed the poor designs of the RAF and the government’s unwillingness to support other aircraft manufacturers, resulting in a monopoly. Many stories such as this are told, as well as some battlefield assessments.

Beyond the interesting reading that this book provides, it is a great resource for modelers who are looking for photos to document Scale projects. Many black and white photos, color photos, and illustrations provide much for people to review. It has proven to be a great resource for a Sopwith Pup project.

Two AMA employees who own this book find it to be a great resource for anyone who is interested in WW I aviation—specifically British aviation. If this topic interests you, this book should be on your short list.

SOURCES:

Casemate Publishers

(610) 853-9131

www.casematepublishers.com

casemate publishers
advanced radio

AR 7434-S and AR 7444-S Servos @ $109 - $119 + S&H from Advanced Radio

Email: sales@boomarc.com; website: www.boomarc.com

If you are looking for some of the best high-end servos for your next project, visit BoomaRC or any Advanced Radio retailer to learn more about the new AR 7434-S and AR 7444-S titanium brushless servos!

Both servos boast a brushless, hightorque motor for smooth and strong power delivery. They also come with the proprietary AR soft start function, so control surfaces move smoothly to the startup position, adding scale detail to any airplane.

Originally designed for the exacting demands of Giant Scale aerobatics, AR 7434-S and AR 7444-S servos offer a full aluminum casing, high voltage from 6.0 volts to 8.4 volts, dual-thrust bearings on the final drive for accurate, tight control, three-phase brushless motors for smooth power, titanium gears for lighter weight and high power, a tight dead band for an accurate center control, anti-backlash and blow-back control, and position hold so that the servo remains in a position with massive torque until it’s removed.

The AR 7444-S is excellent for larger turbine models and boasts 44 kilograms of torque. It’s ideal for flaps and other hightorque operations. The AR 7434-S is also designed for larger turbine aircraft and comes with increased speed and 34 kilograms of torque, making it perfect as an aileron or elevator servo for any sport or scale model.

deluxe materials

Eze Tissue @ (prices vary with currency conversion) + S&H from Deluxe Materials

Email: sales@deluxematerials.co.uk; websites: www.deluxematerials.com and www.horizonhobby.com

Deluxe Materials is delighted to announce Eze Tissue, a specially developed, lightweight tissue paper that is composed of a special blend of naturally grown fibers and unique binding agents.

Eze Tissue is not only lightweight (12.5 grams per square meter) but also has properties that are important for the construction of lightweight balsawood model aircraft and not found in many tissue papers, including a high wet strength, an unusually high strength-to-weight ratio, and the availability of relevant colors and designs. It easily bonds with Deluxe Materials Tissue Paste AD60 and is airproofed with Deluxe Materials Eze Dope BD42.

The tissue paper comes with a useful illustrated set of instructions in attractive packs of multiple 75cm x 50cm sheets. The range of finishes include bright red, blue, yellow, and natural, and red/white and black/white checker patterns.

Look for Deluxe Materials products in its network of international distributors, including Horizon Hobby in North America.

horizon hobby

Carbon-Z Cessna 150T 2.1m BNF Basic and PNP @ $469.99-$499.99 + S&H from Horizon Hobby

4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639; website: www.horizonhobby.com/e-flite/

Maintaining the original Carbon-Z Cessna’s popular features, the updated E-flite Carbon-Z Cessna 150T 2.1m is an even better giant-scale model with a mild-to-wild flight envelope for slow-and-easy scale flying plus smooth sport-to-aggressive aerobatic capabilities.

The 60-amp Spektrum Avian Smart ESC provides real-time battery voltage, current, motor rpm, and other data via compatible receivers and transmitters, while the specially tuned motor is compatible with 4S to 6S LiPo batteries without the need for modifications or upgrades. The convenient top hatch and battery compartment fit 3,200 to 7,000 mAh LiPos for a wide range of flight and performance options.

Features include a two-piece wing with a hands-free connection system, tail-dragger landing gear with oversized tundra-style tires and a steerable tail wheel, functional LED landing, navigation, and strobe lights, and functional flaps for shorter takeoffs and landings. Optional-use motor reversing for special ground handling and other capabilities can be used with compatible seven-plus-channel transmitters.

The BNF Basic version includes optional-use SAFE Select flight envelope protection and the stability and locked-in feel of AS3X technology, as well as a Spektrum AR637TA receiver. A full-range six- to seven-plus-channel Spektrum DSMX/DSM2-compatible transmitter, LiPo battery, and charger are needed to complete. The Plug-N-Play (PNP) version requires a full-range, five-plus-channel transmitter and receiver, as well as the battery and charger. Tricycle landing gear, smaller wheels/tires and wheel pant configurations, and a float and wire mounting set are all optionally available.

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