RNZAF Radio Control Models?

[Dave Homewood]

This modelling board on the forum is quite well used and is great fun but we see so few R/C models with a New Zealand theme on here. I know there must be some R/C modellers out there, do any of you do RNZAF topics?

I have seen some amazingly good radio controlled models over the years. The biggest and perhaps most impressive have been the two massive C-130 Hercules models that were made by a Blenheim modeller, who's name escapes me, was it Ron Loader? I saw the first one at Woodbourne in 1989, and it subsequently crashed and he built a second example which i watched one Sunday at Wigram.

In about 1988 I went to a scale R/C fly in with Dad at Waharoa, and there I saw two amazign models. One was a large Douglas Dauntless in RNZAF colours, from memory it wore the markings and nose art of Paddy's Mistake. The other was a massive, like 1/4 scale or so, Harvard in 1950's dark red and silver. The skin was real metal and the engine was a chainsaw motor that was geared to actiually sound pretty close to the real thing. It wore the markings of NZ1058 I think and was a Red Checker aircraft. I'm sure it also had a smoke unit.

I'd love to know if those two models are still around and doing the scale r/c fly-in circuit.

What other RNZAF r/c models are out there? Does anyone have photos?

[lumpy]

You are correct Dave , it was Ron Loader with the C130 .

[Naki]

My Dad (who is also a member here - hi Dad!) has a 1/6th scale P-40N Kittyhawk in Waiarapa Wildcat colours along with a number of non RNZAF aircraft such as a 1/3rd scale Tui Sport, 1/4 scale (?) Jodel D-11 (although subject to restoration after a recent incident) and a 1/3rd scale Piper J-3 Cub.

[Dave Homewood]

Cool, I'd love to see photos of them if possible, especially the P-40 and the Tui Sport.

[shorty]

Here are three shot's of Ron's first C-130.
It could drop either two or three pallets or a stick of parachutists

[shorty]

Al Woodley's P-40


and a hygenicaly clean A 4 by a Timaru modeller with Rons 2nd (or 3rd) C 130 (in USCG markings) behind it.

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, I really like Alan Woodley's P-40. he does as good a job on the models as he does on the real thing by the look of it. I'll bet it looks good in the air.

Ron Loader must have repainted the second Hercules because when I saw it, it wore the same schemes as the first one. I have posted these before but here they are again, at Wigram in the summer 1992/93, one Sunday morning.







The chap in the tracksuit was Group Captain Gordon Wood, the Base Commander


Ron loader is the one in the hat

[shorty]

Three more RNZAF types, 1st is a large scale Tiger Moth by the late Zac Wilcock (ex W/O)

Then a 626 by a unknown modeller

and a work in progress. This is my Auster project, it will be on floats and finished as either NZ1701 or NZ1705


Sorry, I put you wrong there, Ron's USCG Herc is smaller that the NZ one (I think about 12 ft span as compared to 15 ft) I took my photos that same day you did Dave.
The person walking out with Ron to act as spotter is Tony Rodgers, an ex framie. Ron was a sumpie.
Ron now lives in Oxford.

[Dave Homewood]

Blimey, we were both in the same spot on the same day? That's not you in the red and white stripey shirt is it, Shorty?

Do you ahve a date recorded for that event at all? I only went along because the noisy buzzy things were desturbing my Sunday sleep in.

That Tiger Moth is superb, and the Avro 626 looks great too, apart from the roundel. So many r/c modellers seem to stuff up roundels I find. It throws the whole look of the thing out of whack.

Please keep us up to date on the Auster build, it should be cool to see, especially if you can get someone to photograph the first water flight.

[lumpy]

Strangly enough Shorty , I actually worked with Ron Loader when he was building the first c130 ( and he wouldnt even tell me what it was - possibly because some of the building took place at work , Shhhhh ) .
Also worked for Tony Rogers son ( they dont spell Rogers with a d ) Brian .
Brian ( Tonys son ) took over my place of employment from another mutal friend -- Stu Bone
Small world !!!!

[shorty]

Some more
a turbine powered Vampire by Graham Smithson from Nelson

and a model with a "sorta" NZ connection, a electric Lancaster by Peter Hewson in the markings of a aircraft flown by RAF No 75 (NZ) Squadron.

[kiwikid]

For those of you that haven't seen it, here's a little vid of my EDF TA-4K Skyhawk from No. 75 Squadron:

Some pics are here: rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Modelling&action=display&thread=8099

[Naki]

Here are the long promised pics...not RNZAF but NZ aircraft never the less.

The 1/3rd scale J-3 Cub was built by my late Uncle and now flown by my Dad (pictured at a recent Springhill meet) and the 1/4 scale Tui Sport was built and flown by my Dad. I'll get some of the Kttyhawk once its had a spruce up.

[Dave Homewood]

Those are both really neat indeed. The Cub looks like the real thing in the air.

[Naki]

..and heres Dad's 1/7th scale Kittyhawk.

[Dave Homewood]

That is a superb Kittyhawk model Paul, please pass on my congratulations to your Dad.

[catbalu]

HI Guy , just came across this thead, I'm just building a sh2g super seasprite 1/6 scale that will be finished in nz navy colours, cheers ..

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[Dave Homewood]

Cool Seasprite.

[catbalu]

some up dated pics of my seasprite plugs, just fairing it up before getting some undercoat and then all the tricky parts added. cheers Gavin

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[hoonnz]

Hi Dave

I'm building my 2nd R/C 1/8 scale Corsair, I am at the painting stage. The Corsair I am modelling is NZ5385, no. 23 squadron, Bouganville 1945. This particular Corsair was named 'Aline' and had Aline painted on the nose, both the name and her picture. I live in hope that someone may have a reasonably clear photo of this motif as I have only a sketch and a small blurry black and white photo to work from.
I've attached a photo of the cockpit area, I'll send more later when I've finished the roundels etc.

Thanks
Brian

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