This next review for Winter 1983 is of the WACO ARE by Dario Brisighella. These plans are what we've all come to expect of Dario. They are strictly QUALITY, I don't think Dario Brisighella ever did anything that wasn't the best! I examined his mode of the Waco at the Chicago Expo in October 1982, and to say I was impressed doesn't begin to describe it. Al Alman is right when he said in his column BIG BIRDS in Model Builder, that he compares all other plans with Dario's. Even the Hot Quadra I bought from Dario is perfect. We should be thankful that he is into BIG model R/C aircraft, instead of something else. We are all the richer for it.

The WACO ARE plans come in 3 sheets loaded with detail. The fuselage is built up of quarter inch square balsa, with uprights and diagonals of the same material. The cabin door is shown and can be made to open, with very little extra work. The cabin area is made of 3/32 ply for strength, and the same for the lower wing mounting area. Servo and receiver area are shown mounted just behind the cabin in the luggage compartment area, which sounds logical, and the luggage compartment door works too. A small piano hinge is used for the luggage door, neat. Tailwheel is mounted in the fuselage on a nose gear mount and has it's own tiller arm with linkage to the rudder. A Quadra is shown mounted in the model, and Dario suggests that engines from 35 cc to 50 cc be used, as this model weighs from 20 to 24 lbs. Lansing gear is built up of 3/16" music wire, with compression spring shock arrangement similar to the Byron Pitts, and is mounted below the cabin floor, to allow any detailing you may desire. Oh yes, there is a cooling air exit on the front bottom of the fuselage, with a hatch to be opened and closed, and this is scale. (I can remember examining this on a Waco that landed at the local airport, when I was a teenager. Boy was it a great looking airplane.

Dario has built up the empennage with hardwood and balsa strips and outlines. Upper wing is 87 1/4 inches, with 1800 sq. inches of area. Wing loading is given as 20 to 36 ounces, which is not bad at all. The upper wing has built up spares of 1/4" x 3/4" spruce and built in one section.

Ribs, leading and trailing edges and tips are balsa. The airlerons and flaps on one panel have seven hinges between them. Three in the aileron and all brass strut fittings, servo mounting, bellcranks, interplane struts are shown on the plans and the wing has frise, ailerons, with the pivot point moved back from the leading edge, another good feature. Lower wing is built similar except it is smaller. Navigation light positions are shown, likewise the trim tabs. From these plans you can build a GIANT precision scale model.

Since Dario had access to the full size job, everything it has he has incorporated on his plans. I only wish I had the Starduster too! You can purchase these plans from U.S. Quadra. And you could not spend your money better. Wheel pants and cowl can he purchased from T & B Fibreglass Specialties.