The Scale Squadron Fightertown USA

01/25/2026

Gettin’ her close!!!….
Got my 1/4 scale F4U-1A Corsair home yesterday afternoon…I made and just installed the front main landing gear wheel leather covers and they look and operate the same way as on the full scale aircraft…the next couple of days I’ll be installing the electronic ignition system for the 5 cylinder 250cc gas 4 cycle engine, just a couple of more fuel system and electrical wiring checks then a gallon of fuel to break in the engine….after 2 full engine runs, I’ll pull off the wings and inspect the entire airframe and retighten any loose nuts and bolts then finish running in the engine through a gallon of fuel, give her a basic paint job, and final and most important check and adjust the aircraft’s center of gravity before the test flight!👍😎

02/08/2023

Have you ever considered what the most important aspect of playing the flute is? I would say, it all starts with the breath. Without the breath, we have no sound, no phrasing, and no music.

08/10/2022

Anatomy of Mk IXc Spitfire....
M712 flown by Warrant Officer Henryk Dygala Polish No. 302 Squadron which was formed on 13 July 1940...I can't afford a real Spitfire, and I'm not a great builder, but I do like to build and compete with RC Scale Models and I'm just finishing my Masterpiece Spitfire....I love a lot of Warbirds, but the Spitfire has and always will be my favorite...On the 5th of March 1936, Reginald J. Mitchell introduced the world to a magnificent and iconic aircraft...the Spitfire...she has the most beautiful lines and ever since I saw her when I was very young and read about her, I've modeled her and flown her like she's the real thing, like she is mine...you can see in the last pictures my RC Scale aircraft that I build, paint, and fly as realistically as possible, but my new Spitfire, yes, she's the one! and as a yank I can say, "E pluribus unum" ("Out of many, One")

04/18/2020

Part of my historic flying RC Scale aircraft collection....

I'm remembering "The Doolittle Raid" 78 years ago today 18 April 1942 by watching some historic movies featuring the famous North American B-25 "Mitchell" Twin Engine "Medium Bomber...."30 Seconds Over Tokyo"...."The Purple Heart"...."Pearl Harbor"...."Midway" (latest film 2020)

I built this one with an 88" wingspan and converted it to a PBJ-1...she's powered by 2 SAITO 100 4 cycle engines swinging (2) 3 bladed 15x6 propellers...it is the "Gunship" that was used in the Pacific Theater of Operations by the U.S. NAVY and the USMC during WWII ...also built 2 different noses for her, the "soft nosed" glass version, and the heavy Gunship version with 14 Forward firing caliber .50 Machine guns.....a majestic beauty in the air and.....she's flies great!
(Photos by my good friend Glen Fee/RIP)

04/14/2020

Been busy in my shop working on my 1/5 Scale (88" wingspan) Mk. IXC Spitfire MH712 that I've been building from Dave Platt Plans...just finished applying the Aluminum colored Ultracote covering to the entire aircraft...I'm modeling it after Polish Flight Sergeant later promoted to Warrant Officer Henry Dygala's Spitfire of #302 Squadron flying with the RAF during World War II. I researched the pilot and his aircraft to show proof of scale that it existed and the last photo is going to be the finished paint job...the scale details, weathering, and painting is the most fun in the building process!

03/26/2020

Had to “temporarily” close my Hobby Shop (Gorilla Hobbies) because of the quarantine....so I regrouped at my shop at home and...yes, I have a lot of things to do to stay busy! 👍🙂
(I'm building this from Dave Platt 1/5 Scale Spitfire Plans: 88" wingspan, modified the engine mounts to accept the DLE-55cc rear exhaust engine...modified the main spars and retract landing gear mounts for increased strength)

03/26/2020

03/03/2020

So many builds going on....it's been a long time coming, but I've been flying my Top Flite Giant 1/5 Scale Corsair for 2 years and I'm just about finished figuring out a main gear doors system for it...5 Videos in comments....(currently working on tail wheel and front main doors too!)

02/22/2020

Over the years...I really love the evolution of my RC Scale hobby experience....while I do build 90+ % of my scale birds this 1/4.5 Scale 110" wingspan CARF F4U Corsair is a must have of engineering marvels!!!.....the Moki 250cc engine was delivered to me yesterday!!!😀

(Big "bad ass bent wing bird!")

01/28/2020

People always ask me...why this hobby?
Well...From the ground up....REALISM
RC Scale Warbirds/Civilian Aircraft is a fraction of the cost of thousands or the 4 to 5 Million dollar price tag of the real thing...

For me, the Heartbeat of this Hobby is and will always be Building....
I love the historic research and creativity in selecting the Fighter Pilot, study his aircraft, find the plans or kit, engineering the build and modifications, cutting the wood, assemble/prepare for finishing and weathering paint, selecting and installing the power plant and radio gear, and of course the nervous "adrenaline rush" of the first flight and...success, "Wow!...she flies great!!! When people see a picture of one of my aircraft flying and ask, "is that real?"...then I succeeded...REALISM!

The most rewarding is that I did it...and it keeps me close to my Father who sparked a little kid's light....always in awe of one of the many joys he taught me in my life....Victory Rolls!

01/24/2020

Ohhhhhh Motherooney....check out all the pics...a new fun project...my REALLY GIANT CARF F4U Corsair and Moki 250cc Radial engine is here....you can see how really big this engineering marvel with folding wings is going to be!!!