If your radio-controlled or control-line model has a non-removable landing gear or its size does not allow a hand launch, don’t be upset by the lack of a suitable runway nearby. A drag sled will help — it can be used both in winter and in summer. To make such “skis,” you will need a Read more…
When building small-scale sailing ship models, a great deal of work goes into making realistic chain plates. I use a simplified method of imitating these parts and fittings entirely from a single piece of metal. Using a special forming jig makes it possible to achieve good results both in accuracy and in appearance. At a Read more…
As a prototype for this model, a twin-engine boat of the British Air Force was chosen. During World War II, such boats were used to search for and rescue pilots shot down over the sea, and also to perform guard duties. Work on making the model begins with drawing a full-size scale-copy plan. The plan Read more…
The term “autogyro” comes from two Greek words: autos — self, and gyros — rotation. In fact, they define the essence of this aircraft, in which lift is created by an airscrew-rotor that freely rotates under the action of the oncoming airflow, while forward motion is provided by a tractor or pusher propeller. The autogyro Read more…
When preparing a rubber-powered aircraft model for launch, rubber breakage is not uncommon. As a rule, the secured strand, which has a lot of energy, then destroys the propeller and injures the modeler. Recently, many people have been using a protective disc made of plastic, metal, or plywood, which is installed between the rubber motor Read more…
The prototype of this slot-car model (for how to build a simple home or school track for model-car racing, see “M-K” No. 3, 2025.) was the Cummins Diesel Special racing car, a participant in the 500-mile race of 1952 on the track in Indianapolis (Indiana, USA). In the early days of the automobile industry, racing Read more…
Did you ever, as a child, send toy cars down a slope, competing with friends over whose would roll faster? Now this pastime is taken seriously by perfectly grown-up people. The event is called “Valve Cover Racing.” A valve cover is a part of an internal combustion engine that closes the valvetrain to protect its Read more…
We have already described the construction of a sailboat and a vessel powered by a rubber motor, using PET soda bottles (see “M-K” No. 5 and 8 for 2024). We suggest adding to the “bottle fleet” a catamaran model with a rotor wind drive. It has long been observed that if a rotating cylinder is Read more…
Vessels of this class can be found in all major ports of virtually every country in the world. These are rescue craft built to assist those in distress, fight fires, patch hull damage, pump water out of flooded compartments, refloat grounded ships, and tow them. They differ in displacement, speed, and technical capabilities. A large Read more…
This very “flyable” radio-controlled powered hang-glider model was designed specifically for beginners: it is not difficult to build, and it is practically impossible to wreck on landing. A wide variety of materials can be used to make the model — from balsa to basswood (linden). For the formers, even ordinary packaging foam will do, for Read more…
