The Model Maker: Volume 17, Issue 6 – March, 1940

Volume 17 Number 6 THE COMMODORE’S CORNER The San Francisco Model Yacht Club’s Restricted Hull X Class. BY RICHARD TOMKINSON. RIOR to the advent of the new X class there existed in this country but two major classes, the A class and the M class. Many model yachtsmen objected to the A class because of its too complicated rule and excessive weight and Presentation and discussion of technical and theoretical subjects related to model yachting will be the feature of this department. Material intended for publication should be addressed to “The Commodore’s Corner,” care of THe MoperMAKER. Constructive criticism of articles and plans are invited. All such, however, must be free from rancor or personalities. size. With the advent of the Marblehead 50-800 or M class, it appeared that at last a rule had been perfected which because of its extreme simplicity and the moderate size produced would attitude on our part, but, nevertheless, that has suit everyone, and so it did apparently, because been our position. Then, out of a clear sky, came hundreds have been built and the M has formed the news of the new X the largest class and proved to be the backbone sure, was the answer to the proverbial yachts- of model yachting throughout the nation. man’s prayer. This rule was simple—it prohibit- . However, even this rule has had its drawbacks ed all the M class gadgets including spinnakers, in the minds of many model yachtsmen, especi- scows, etc., and about all the rule measurements ally in its late development. The dimensions of contained was a the hull are limited to 50” of water line. The you could have any size hull just so your sail final result has been a creation that had no more area did not exceed 1000 sq. in. In fact, it looked restriction of sail area and that resemblance to a prototype yacht than a scow or too simple to be true, and so it seems to be upon barge. further consideration. To add to this, the vane steering gear, which is a mechanical device that steers by the Here in this club we happen to like model wind power of a blade or paddle-like contrap- yachts which bear a resemblance to real yachts, tion, was introduced. There is no denying its and we felt that after all, this proposed X class efficiency, because the vane will steer a faulty would, when compared to the evils of the M hull to windward closer and truer than is pos- class, be out of the frying pan into the fire, and sible with a well designed hull without it. produce a hull as long as an A class. In other words, the vane minimizes the skill of de- ee class, and here, we felt If no restrictions are to be made as to hull over all sign and sailing in favor of mechanical action. length, we envisioned a long narrow “toothpick” To add to this came a mechanical gadget known driven by a sail about the size of a handkerchief as the sliding rig, with which, by the pressing of in proportion. a lever, the entire rig would move forward or ceived proved this to be the case, because those astern, giving the boat so equipped a decided already built in the East ran 75” and longer. So The information we have re- advantage over the ordinary stationary rig, and we got together and worked out an X rule of correcting the vagaries of a faulty hull. Finally, our own, which we call the “Restricted X Rule,” immense silk parachute spinnakers were intro- and have already built 11 models under this duced until “keeping up with the Joneses” in the rule. We believe that, like us, there are a great M class became the job of combination mechanic, number of model yachtsmen in the country who opportunist, and yachtsman, and to top this off want an orthodox wholesome model yacht some- the result was a racing model that neither looked where between the size of the A and M like a real yacht nor was handled like one. and to these men we welcome the adoption of In the San Francisco Model Yacht Club we have about 50 M class yachts, but have never classes, this simple rule to supplement the regular X class; and here it is: gadget The sum of the length over all, plus length types, chiefly because they cannot be used to of water line, plus draft, minus the sum of any advantage on our lake. In this attitude we the beam and freeboard (at shrouds) not to gone overboard for the plumb end stand alone on the Pacific Coast, and, conse- exceed 110”. The other X rules in addition. quently, took little interest in inter-club racing. We have This may or may not have been a creditable experimented with a number of scale drawings under this rule and find that it 2 BEL) 190 The Modelmaker is impossible to gain any advantage by creating With this rule it would be impossible for one a hull under this rule of either extreme length hull to outclass another in sailing length, as has or of a plumb end type, because if extreme proved to be the case with the unlimited X class overlength is obtained then the water line is so rule. We do not expect our rule to supplant the short the boat would prove to be cranky and present national X rule, but hope that instead it limited as to ballast, while on the other extreme, will supplement it and create a class of moderate if long water line is effected at the expense of sized hulls of a fair degree of prototype design over all length, the advantage of heeled sailing that will appeal to the model yachtsman who length will not exceed that of a hull with a favors dimensions between the M and A shorter water line but longer ends and easier and either does not care to or cannot afford to classes, By restricting the com- experiment with extreme types. We also believe bined dimensions of l.o.a. and l.w.l. and draft, that on account of the restricted measurements a hull not too long nor too deep will result, the of the hull, it will create a class of model yachts entrance and delivery. premium of beam encouraging moderation here, that will afford closer competition than if the and yet must be moderate because too much hull measurements were unrestricted. beam would be of no advantage with the limited The premium of freeboard is to en- [Have any other clubs worked out their courage wholesome design quite unlike most M own classes of yacht as has the San Francis- hulls, which sit too low in the water. co club with its “Restricted Hull X Class”? sail area. This rule will develop a hull of about 64” L.o.a., 48” Lw.L, Comments and criticisms from other skip- 1042” beam and 34” free board, which is an pers on this and other locally-made rules ideal size will be welcome for publication in this department. Address your letters to The Com- for an the M and A intermediate class between classes, and should be faster than a 6-Meter hull. A variation of a few inches here modore’s Corner, THE MopELMAKER, 1568 W. Pierce St., Milwaukee, Wis.] and there is possible. Woman Builds Unusual Models N a Junior League contest Mrs. Margaret P. used for the rugs, and the lamps in the bed Paddock, 544 Oakdale Ave., Chicago, Ill., made room are made of crystal beads. a living room. As a result, she received commer- was used to form the fruit. Glitter wax The display was cial orders from rental agents at the Stevens exhibited at several of the leading hotels in and Edgewater Beach Hotels. The flower pot in Chicago and helped materially in interesting the window is a button mold. The lamp on the prospective renters. desk, a Chinese button mounted on a penny; ash in the making of this project is worthy of any trays, crystal beads. man’s attention. March, 1940 Upholstery material was The craftsmanship shown 19] GYEING the Medel Racing Yacht BY WALTER K. MOSS. HEN the course of a model racing yacht is The attachment is merely an adjustable cord short of the finish line on a beat to wind- which reverses the action of the rudder from ward in pool competition, its skipper often ap- that exerted by a running sheet, or, instead of plies what is known as gybing gye, whose opera- holding the craft “off the wind,” it accentuates tion causes the boat to swing around into the the pivoting action of the wind when the boat wind after a short tack, into the tack on which is on one tack, but does not function when it is it on the other. was originally started. This maneuver is termed “looping,” and shortens the distance a model must travel, Thus, a boat released from shore on one tack with the gye attached will veer which often means the difference between winning and losing a close race. Saving an ex- tra leg across the pond is important, so if you intend to become a racer, become acquainted with a gybing gye. SIMPLE CORD AND TSOWSER GYE )N PLACE ATTACHED TO CONVENIENT Boom FITTING. BEATING SHEET HOOKED TO TRAVELER SKIPPER ME!ne GYE APPLIED BY DOUBLE LooPeD SSN RUBBER BAND é 7 Sy AND BLocx GYBEING SS HOOK TO PLATE WITH RUBBER IN LoOorsS SS GYE Bloc SSSN, GYE Hoox To QUADRANT SSS na < ia. RUBGER AND CoRD BY FASTENER JOINED re ‘e FLAT BOWSER FoR ADJUSTING <— ¥ LENGH HI292290900 200 Goa 0e og ) GYE = | kmCLTTTENTT, | ~ a aS) Main TRAVELER GYE HookED to ae Eyelet YACHT CENTER Line The Modelmaker about shortly and take the alternate tack without manual adjustment. The most common form of gybing gye is illustrated herewith. It consists of a cord hooked from the outer hole of the quadrant through a the outer quadrant hole and brought into action by the boom swinging over from the side on which it was originally set, it will forcibly act on the rudder, causing a gybe and throwing the boom back to its first position. bowser arrangement and block attached on the The proper use of both a gybing gye on the deck approximately opposite the middle of the beat, and the idle running sheet on a run, will boom near the sheer, and then on back to the put you on an equal footing with most of your outer end of the boom where it is hooked to an competitors, but remember, there is only one eyelet. winner in every race... This off-center radius results in a all others are merely shortened gye with the boom on one side and a contenders. May you not be numbered among lengthened gye when the boom is on the other. these too often. ——F The gye is adjusted to such a length that it com- ee mences to pull on the quadrant when the boom reaches, or passes, the center line of the boat on the opposite side from that on which the gye is attached. To quicken the gybing action the gye is shortened, and to retard the action it is lengthened. With the gye applied a yacht may be On the Circular Course put off headed downwind and will gradually veer up into the wind and gybe, when properly adjusted. In addition to the cord a rubber band is frequently inserted into that section of the gye lying between the block and the boom. This added feature eases out the action of the gye as well as exerting a constant inward pull on the boom so that as the craft heads higher and higher into the wind the turning pressure is not lessened. Such a gye is practically 100 per cent effective, but a skipper should gain some experience in its use before expecting to become proficient in “looping.” Should the gye be too loose it may fail to gybe your boat and you'll only find that the speed has been reduced by the craft being held too closely into the wind; on the other hand it may work too quickly, causing the boat to return to shore short of the finish line a second, or even a third, time. Either of these mistakes is an extravagant waste of precious seconds, especially if your opponent’s boat is being properly handled. While a gye must not be in functioning posi- tion at the start of a race, it may be (and often is) hooked into place on the leeward side. This is advisable, when possible, for two reasons: first, it need not then be hooked up when put about, and, second, it assures you that should your craft inadvertently be thrown on to the opposite tack because of a “slam,” or otherwise, it will quickly be returned to its original course by the gye. Carrying a gye ready for any action is considered good practice. While not technically considered a gye, the (Photo by Robert Graham.) HE above photo shows a racing engine built and designed by Martin Waller and Wolfgang Pfister of the Metropolitan Model Power Boat Club. This engine powered the boat winning first place in Class A at the final New York World’s Fair Perisphere Race. Also winner of first place in Class A at Washington, D.C., in October, 1938; tied for second place in Class A at Flushing, N. Y., in September, 1938; won first place in Class B at Flushing in September, 1937. Its highest official speed was 38 m.p.h.; unofficially it has made 45 m.p.h. The engine is 30 cc., 1%” bore, 11%:” stroke. Cylinder is steel ma- chined from solid, hardened and ground. Con- necting rod is one piece dural. The crank shaft was machined from solid steel, two pieces locked in alinement. cast. All aluminum parts are home Oiling is splash, fed by spring-loaded plunger pump through main bearing to hole in idle running sheet can similarly be used when a periphery of crank shaft, which is hollow, feed- yacht “runs” down the pool. If it is hooked to ing to crank case. March, 1940 201 AM happy to note the pro- gress being made by the Hartford M. Y. C., especially for 1939. . . . In existence only 4 years, it is taking the sport in stride and making a reputation for itself. A letter from Charlie Petschke thanks Hudson M. the Deeper Y. C. for getting Hartford started in skiff sailing, and the D. H. members are glad they were able to do this little stunt for the Hartford folks. Hartford Model Yacht Club skippers in action. Everybody had a swell time, with weather to suit the most exacting, even going so far as landing one of the of ponds and sailing events, as well as maps of Hartford members in the lake when that worthy ponds. The man should not have had to beg for tried to make an adjustment. these things, but it seems hard to get club sec- Undauted, they carried on, and now have two retaries to realize the need for prompt coopera- skiffs built and 12 M class models ready for the tion... nor the amount of labor one man is put 1940 season, with more on the way. to in an effort to get out something for the sport Through the cooperation of Superintendent of Parks Hollister, they have a pond 200 x 600 ft. for pond sailing, which should fit them for that is a real contribution and a certain build-up. Boston was given the National A Class Championship event for 1940. Boston knows how to traveling to any type of event. In their two out- handle the event and Storrow Pool is a body of of-town events last year, they made a good water designed especially for model yachting. showing at skiff sailing although they came out There should be no less than 50 entries this a little behind the Deeper Hudson skippers, but year. The dates are Aug. 31, Sept. 1 and 2. over at Providence, R.I., they took that club for And Detroit gets the M Class National Cham- a nice little ride with a score of 135 points for pionship event on July 4, 5 and 6. There, too, is Hartford as against 63 for Providence. a fine pool made possible by the efforts of a A. Adams, small group of enthusiasts . . . and a pool that is commodore; B. Root, vice-commodore; M. Sloat, claimed by some as being the best in existence. rear commodore; C. Petschke, secretary-treasur- Well, that may be enthusiasm, and doubtless has er, Lincoln Ter., Bloomfield, Conn. I know these much to warrant the statemeut, but it is a fine men personally, and I look for the club to make pond, and weather is usually with the Detroit a real showing this year both in trips to other skippers in abundance. Their official lineup for 1940 is: clubs and high scores in sailing. . . . Thanks, Charlie, for your kind praise. Wish I could spend a lot of days racing with you. And another Charlie (Farley), past secretary The Long Island M. Y. C. has gone gaga over the C class, evidently. .. . Tex Foster tells me they are building ten new ones, and they will be overboard before this goes to press. The of the M. Y. R. A. A., is working like a beaver X class looks like an up-and-coming class of in these last few days of preparation for the 1940 model. year book. . . . Charlie wanted photos of officials, designer and such a fine looking craft results 208 There is so much leeway allowed the The Modelmaker that designers are eager to try them ... and for It is welcome news to see our old friend Dan sailing, well, they can give an account of them- Manning of Marblehead back in harness. Dan, one of the old-timers, had to forego the sport for selves. The Marblehead M. Y. C. is backing a move what seemed ages, because of a loved one pass- to have five interclub regattas for 1940 instead ing of the usual three held heretofore. This ought to away from the pondside. But Dan is back again give the local clubs plenty of sailing for the as members who cannot get away to attend out-of- Marblehead M. Y. C. Glad to greet you Danny, town events. and business conditions which kept him the Eastern Division delegate from the old boy, and don’t forget .. you owe me for two The Marblehead boys won the New England event three times in the last five years. This is nice new Stetsons you ruined in your exhuberance, something for the nearby clubs to shoot at and And this scribe is now residing among the we expect the Marblehead boys will have to “cow nurses” and cactus, in Texas... to be keep on their toes after making this boast. more explicit, at 216 Dowdy St., San Antonio. The Boston M. Y. C. held its annual election We gathered the happy family in the “company and has a worthwhile ticket that should make jalopy” and with a howling blizzard pushing us for a busy season for the Boston crowd. Charles along we started across country . . . over plains, Farley was elected commodore, with H. L. Hig- mountains and through valleys .. . never once ginson as vice-commodore, Thomas Allen as relinquishing our hold on model yachting. secretary-treasurer, Bill Bithell as measurer and Jim Potter as assistant measurer. What I would give for the skill of Oliver Cur- wood or Zane Grey ... to write a book of model The North-East League, patterned after the yachting as heard and described by and to lanky Metropolitan League, is having a fine burgee mountaineers and swamp dwellers. Back in the designed. Good... deepest the more flags flying, the recesses of the mountains, with ice more colorful are the events. And what is more coated roads that added years and gray hairs to colorful than a well handled regatta, unless it is P. T. Barnum’s old circus? crawling up steep grades and as slowly slipping my head, the car more often than not barely The Prospect Park M. Y. C. has an invitation and sliding down what seemed to be “straight- skiff sailing event in the M class for Apr. 7, and down” narrow roads, we stopped often and long on June 23 the A class event for the famous old “Eagle Cup” with teams of three boats each per to chat with the scattered natives, and in little community stores . .. and there, risking being club competing ... and the A class event for the looked upon as out-of-gear mentally, we chatted “Prince Trophy” on June 25 with unlimited entries . . . two fine events that the A boat men about racing models. Some few were so skepti- should not miss. for the most part they were courteous, The Warinanco M. Y. C. will hold the “Ross Trophy” M class event on May 12 with five entries allowed per club. This will be held in Warinanco Park, Elizabeth, N. J. The Deeper Hudson M. Y. C. will have its skiff sailing event for M class on Aug. 3 and 4. This event is sponsored by the club and accepts entries from clubs without stint, as well as entries from non-members. The only things needed for this event are a 50-800 and an appetite . .. or just the appetite .. . for both fun and food. It is the annual get-together for all men interested in the sport, both the Eastern Division officials and the officials of the M. Y. R. A. A. graciously giving their consent to maintain this one event as it was started 11 years ago. cal as to run when we just approached them, but and greatly interested. Most surprising was a stop we made in an almost inaccessible mountain retreat in Virginia, far, far up in the Blue Ridge mountains. . . and one in the Great Smokies of Tennessee. Seeking shelter from the snowstorm in progress, we left the highway and drove back into a secluded place. In each case, discovering a little mountain cabin, we requested lunch; and while the meal was being prepared, started the usual conversation about the weather, which led to carefully worded questions of where we came from and where we were going. My usual “line” was that being vice-president of the Eastern Division of the Model Yacht Racing Association of America (gosh, what an important sounding title that And in a letter from an old friend, the inimi- was!) I was hoping to interest people in this fine table Roy Clough, originator of the M class, sport. In the Virginia home this lank, unshaven comes these timely quips... “The difference be- mountaineer brought out a model of a fishing tween a champ and an also-ran is that the champ schooner. plays close attention to details”... “If you can’t workmanship, and I learned that in the Spring take part in the sport... be one, anyway.” of each year he went into the shipyards along March, 1940 It was a finely executed piece of 209 the coast to work and that he would “get some ideas about this model yacht stuff and make him a couple” this year... . And, far from the beaten track of the Great Smokies, we found a little pond, and a man, with his wife and their eight youngsters, had a nice little sailing model, 39” long, with Bermuda rig. It was carved on the water lines, and the sails were nicely made and set finer than many we see at races. His steer- ing gear was of the so-called Marblehead type, with a spring for centering, and while his sailing ability was not all it should be as judged by racing at pond sides, still, he did sail on a beat and go 5rive moTOR reach. In San Antonio, hundreds of miles from deep water, here on the plains, and in the center of a thriving city, I found boats sailing. An artificial lake named “Woodlawn” sported five boats, ranging from 12 ft. to 25 ft. in length, and the 25 footer was sailing when we arrived. Imagine my surprise, when, driving through a pretty community, I turned a corner around a public library to see a sail slipping along the ground, about 15 ft. of it apparently sliding through the grass. I jammed on the brakes, jumped a fence, and there before me wasa lake that looked about 500 or 600 ft. wide and perhaps 2500 ft. long, with a fine clubhouse and—of all things—a lighthouse on a @ 9” Workshop Back-Geared, Screw-Cutting Metal Working Lathe now in Model A Quick Change Gear and Model B Standard Change Gear with power cross feed, also Model C without power cross feed. 38 attachments for Mfg., Laboratory, Repair Shop. OTHER SIZES: 9”, 11”, 13”, 1444”, 16” and 16-24” swing, bed lengths 3/ to 12’, motor drive and Countershaft drive. SOUTH BEND LATHE WORKS 175 E. Madison St., South Bend, Ind., U.S. A. FREE! Write for Catalog No. 46-B showing = complete details of the new 9” lathe. BHEHRHRHH Hw is South Bend Lathe Works 175 E. Madison St. South Bend, Ind., U.S.A. Send Catalog No. 46-B Free, Postpaid Name Address City— State Lame eee little island set like a jewel. And now again my work is cut out for me to get model yachting started here. With lots of news from the clubs to hand to the proper people here, it is not impossible, and the sport will have another foothold . . . and that is as it should be ... showing still again that model yachting, with all its rapid growth in recent years, has loads of “elbow room” for expansion. I have received several letters from readers asking why clubs will persist in getting out mimeographed “news sheets” each month. The reason in the past has been that magazines received notes from clubs and dropped them in the waste basket, but here we have a magazine Build the New Sensational Cleveland SPEEDSTER 4 AIRCAR & Airplane-propellor driven model gas powered car. Use any motor to 1”. AU-7 complete (except power unit) —__ 4 50 e OTHER GAS POWERED RACE CAR KITS Immed. delivery. All easy to assemble. Approx. 20” long—without motors. Speed Chief—all alum., rear drive, $12.50. Speed King —all alum., except wood body blocks, rear drive, $15.00. New Speed Demon—all alum., except wood body blocks, ‘‘wizard’’ rear drive, $16.50. Syncro Rocket—kit contains finished steel and die cast parts, wood body blocks, front wheel drive and steering, $19.00. Mercury Midget De Luxe—all alum., rear drive, $23.50. Alexander De Luxe C. A. R.—all alum., front drive—world record holder, $25.00. Following motors fit these cars—Sky Chief, $6.95; Denny Racecar, $17.85; Bunch Speedway, $14.00; Ohlsson ‘‘60,’’ $21.50. Complete catalog featuring Race Cars, Engines, Parts, Supplies, and everything needed for Gas and Rubber driven Model Airplanes, Trains, Ships, etc. te CLEVELAND MODEL & SUPPLY CO. INC. 4508D35 Lorain Ave. Cleveland, Ohio “SINCE 1919’ anxious to assist the sport of model yachting... and generous to a fault with its space. If the clubs issuing “monthly sheets” will send along the club news, we will be happy to compile it and give it to the many readers of THE MopDELMAKER. And that’s that ... ’til next issue—‘“C .O.” P.S. Here send available news to me at the address listed so that the It looks like an exceptional opportunity to open model yachting in an area where are several builders of power boats; and I’m sure all model men will welcome an opportunity to see this new area opened up.—‘C. O.” 210 Hunt’s latest edition on finishing, many new ideas for experts (AND a new supplementary service showing beginners how to make beautiful furniture the proper: people here in hopes of making an early all manner of sports are encouraged, and where there Harold FACTS including new designs, new hints up-to-the-minute news items can be passed along to start for this new field. is 1940 buyers guide and catalog. Nothing like it ever before published in the history of woodworking—136 pages of vital Through these pages I appeal to all clubs to ¢ first week) —- Experts and Amateurs: Get this book NOW ne posted and up-to-date, Read the latest price quota- ions. See the lists of all Standard American Woods, of ultra-rare foreign woods, the new style of ornaments and inlays AND note the many astounding bargain deals! Send only 10c (silver or stamps) to CRAFTSMAN WOOD SERVICE Co. 2729 S. Mary Street, Div. 2703, Chicago, Ill. The Modelmaker