Written & Submitted by RLC; Updated 7/2002, with material from MA magazine (2000); Transcribed by NR (5/1997); Edited by SS (2002); update by JS (09/2006)
Career
- Designed the Berkeley “Cloud Copters”
- Designed the first ground effect vehicle in late 1930s
- Built successful rubber powered helicopters and gas powered versions in the 1950's
- Built ducted fan delta in late 1940s
- Was an early builder of reso-jets
- Designed and built glow and diesel engines
- Built a steam-powered control liner
- Designed the original free flight version of the Martian Spaceship
- Have built and flown Flettner-type rotor planes as early as the late 1950's
- Originated the slotted flying saucer design made popular by Fran McElwee
- Built and flown several types of autogyro
- In 1948, built a liquid fuel rocket with compressed air oxidizer
- 22 years as Chief Engineer of high tech firm
- Four years as an Ind. Consultant
- Worked as reporter/writer/editor New Haven Journal-Courier, Eastern Pilot
- At present, a freelance writer/designer, author of four books, including 1930s period novel: A Brief History of the Ashmont Town Team etc.
- Long time C&W musician, pedal steel, Dobro. Designer and builder of many instruments
Honors
- 1999: Model Aviation Hall of Fame
Roy L. Clough, Jr. submitted the following autobiography.
I was about 10-years-old when I built my first flying model out of pine sticks, gray building paper, and inner-tube rubber. It flew about 25 feet and I was hooked.
My first kit was a Guillow’s 10-cent Spad, given to me by a little girl who drew my name in a school Christmas party. The Spad wound up as a mid-wing that would not fly. Early inspiration to design my own sparked by Gordon Light's Wakefield winner. It proved a good pattern. I have built models with all sorts of power including rubber, compressed air, steam, rocket, park ignition, glow engines, and electric motors. One early model, best forgotten, even had a clock spring motor.
I developed an early interest in unusual, unorthodox, new types etc., and in early 1940's built successful rubber powered helicopters and gas powered versions in the 1950's. Both types were widely copied.
I got into magazine projects by accident when Popular Science's Workshop Editor, the late Harry Walton, was told by his secretary, Ria Nichol, that during a visit to my wife and me in Now Haven she had seen me repeatedly fly a model helicopter from one tabletop to another. When I discovered I could be paid for this stuff, I published a lot of it in MAN, FM, Pop Science, Air Trails, Science & Mechanics, Popular Mechanics, and Mechanix Illustrated. I also designed the Berkeley “Cloud Copters.” My rotor system was widely copied, including by Cox Manufacturing who never acknowledged or paid for it. Considering the job they did on Jim Walker, I figured I lacked the resources to buck them. Later involvement with Big John Elliot and Larry Renger was pleasant and productive, but they fared no better at the hands of Cox management. I had a lot of firsts including perhaps the first ground effect vehicle. It was a small gas engine powered model about three feet long. It worked great, but all the dirt, grass, and twigs it threw up convinced me the idea was practically useless. Talk about blowing it!! I could have had a basic patent. Later on, I built a .049-powered model for Popular Mechanics, which they reprinted in one of their workshop books.
I built several early ducted fans, maybe the first to achieve worthwhile thrust. I was flying Free Flight versions when Bill Effinger and Don McGovern could not get their Control Liners off the ground, but what they told me was helpful to my later designs. Also, I built two or three pressure Jets. Only one of these was published but I might get back to the idea. Jets published in Air Trails & Popular Science. I was an early builder of reso-jets; the smallest had 7/16 diameter and a tailpipe made from telescoping tubing sections from a golf club. I slid sections back and forth like a trombone to locate the proper resonant frequency. I designed and built glow and diesel engines. Little Dragon, published in Model Airplane News is the best known. I converted an OK C02 motor to run very poorly as a diesel. I also built a small steamboat and a steam racecar for Popular Science. I built a steam-powered Control Liner that blew up on take-off. I designed a gas helicopter with 48" self-powered rotor that flew well on Cox .02. Pop Science. Originated the slotted flying saucer design, (Air Trails,) but it was made popular by Fran McElwee who carried the design forward. Much later, I published a couple of versions in Model Builder.
While I designed the original Free Flight version of the Martian Spaceship, (Air Trails,) Skip Ruff should get the lion's share of the credit for the bigger radio control versions that have made such a hit on the West Coast.
I built and flew Flettner-type rotor planes as early as the late 1950's. Model Aviation News, Popular Science, latest “Rotorplane!” in MAN. (*) See bibliography Built and flown several types of autogiro. MAN. Autogyro kites for PS and S~&M. Built early but not greatly successful electric in the 50's.
In 1948, I built a liquid fuel rocket with compressed air oxidizer that blew up with a very satisfactory bang.
Despite early AMA membership have, until recently usually been a loner. Now, in the springtime of my senility have joined up with the Winnipesaukee Radio Controllers, and acquired a great bunch of flying buddies.
I'm likely to try any construct that gets my interest. As a result of this, I know more things that won't work than anybody.
Background includes
22 years as Chief Eng. of high tech firm, Four years as an Ind. Consult.
Worked as reporter/writer/editor New Haven Journal-Courier & Eastern Pilot. Co-authored a McGraw-Hill text on Industrial Psych.
At present a freelance writer/designer, novelist, and semi-pro C&W musician pedal steel/ Dobro/ keyboards. Have worked with Paul Main, Hank Thompson, Dick Curless, and ran my own “Stateliners” for a few years, but enforcement of tough driving and drinking laws has wreaked havoc on the cabaret scene.
Although I believe I am widely known as a designer of “weirdoes,” I wonder what these same readers would think if they had seen some of the stuff, I tried but did not publish. Reason? It has always been my policy to publish only those things that were easy to build, were not dangerous, and would work on the first try for anybody. This ruled out my regen engine that developed so much ungovernable power it kept blowing up; my fuelless flying machine that would have to dump energy continuously to avoid melt-down, and a new system of propulsion that pilot and passengers probably could not live with. Fun stuff, but practically just curiosities. Currently I have a couple of dozen hot model projects in the works, which, now being retired, I'll finish doing whenever so will not interfere with goofing-off.
Bibliography
AM= American Modeler AP= Airports Magazine AST= Astounding Science Fiction AT= Air Trails AZ= Amazing Stories BL= Boy's Life CL= Car Life FM=Flying Model MA= Model Aviation Date June 1945 Sept. 1945 Oct. 1945 Oct. 1945
Magazine Hunt. Fish Bas. Des.
AP Sky Raiders
MAN= Model Airplane News MI= Mechanix Illustrated MN=Merchandising News PM= Popular Mechanics SM= Science & Mechanics PMA= PM Shop Man PS= Popular Science RTV= S&M's RAD.TV.EX
Title, Subject or Content Several Hum. Verses anent H&F Problems of Model Helis Dear Mr. Small Operator Is German.Sec. Weapon a Rocket Plane?
Oct. 1945 Jan. 1946 Jan. 1946 March 1946 April 1946 Summer 1946?
Sept. 1946 Sept. 1946 Oct. 1946 March 1947 May 1947 May 1947
PS PS MAN MAN PS PS PS MAN AT PS MAN PS
Aug. 1947 Sept. 1947 Feb. 1948 Jan. 1948 March 1948 April 1948 June 1948 Aug. 1948 Nov. 1948 May 1949 Aug. & Sept. 1949 April 1950 Mo.? 1950 Mo.? 1950 Sept. 1950 Oct. 1950 Nov. 1950 Mo.? 1950 April 1951 June 1951 Aug. 1951 Aug. 1951 Mo.? 1951 July 1952 Aug. 1952 Sept. & Oct. 1952 Dec. 1952 Feb. 1953 July 1953
AT MAN MAN MAN MAN PS MAN MAN AT MAN MAN
Skyhook Coax Helicopter Air Freighter of the Future?
SOS to Model Manufacturer Unorthodox Design “Naclio” Steamboat Model Roadable Plane Model Triad (Radial Wing FF Model) Speed Made Easy Cage Drive Rubber Co-Ax Helicopter Steam Powered Model Race Car More About Model Helicopters Stressed Paper U-Control (Atom .05) Car and Plane in Home Workshop Annual for 1950 Evolution of the Model Plane Hoverbug Rubber Powered Helicopter Improving CO2 Performance – Wat. Jack.
Autogiro Theory Autogiro Free Flight Rubber Job WHIZZER CO2 Racing Boat Model Experiments with Expansion Engines English Gyro to Clough Specs Beginners’ Goat (Still Flying, March 1990) Theory of Rotor Planes Reworking Old Engines
MAN
AZ AZ MAN MAN MAN AZ PS AST FM MAN MAN MN AT AT
WhirliCO2pter Social Obligation – STF How the Saucers Fly Flying Saucer Design Little Dragon Glow Engine Part 2 Micrometer in Your Brain Why Shacks Come Apart (Foundations) Bait (Picked up for Anth. Space Police) Try a Helicopter Why Models Land in Trees (Prof. Tate) Flying Barrel – Description and pictures only Small Dealers on the Carpet Build Flying Saucer (Famous slot job) What’s the Score on Helicopters?
PS FM AT
Fly a Plane in the Living Room Sikorsky S51 TR Helicopter Turbine (Duct. Fan.) Jets for Models Aug. 1953 Sept/ 1953 Nov. 1953 Aug. 1954 June 1954 Mo.? 1954 Not. Pub.
Pub. 54-55 April 1954 July 1954 Nov. 1954 Aug. 1954 Annual 1955 Mo.? 1954 Mo.? 1954 July 1954 July 1954 Mo.? 1954 Sept. 1954 Oct. 1954 JORA 1954 S Dec. 1954 Dec. 1954 Jan. 1955 Mo.? 1954-55 Mo.? 1954-55 Feb. 1955 March 1955 Aug. 1955 Aug. 1955 Sept.1955 Oct. 1955 Oct. 1955 Dec. 1955 Dec. 1955 Mo.? 1955 Dec. 1955 March 1956 June 1956 June 1956 Pub. 1956 March 1957 Dec. 1957 July 1960
AT PS AT PS SM ?
PS to BERK AT AT AT AST FM AT PS PS PS AT AT AT AT BL PS PS PS PS PS PS AT AT PM AT AT AT PS AT (YM) CL SM AT MAN AT (YM) AT Ann AM AM PS
Below Bug Pressure Jet Model Jetex Driven Turbie – FF Model Two-Part Helicopter Design Dope Hydrojet Powers Tiny Boat TR Helicopter .049 Reprinted Model Craft V3, 1954 Oil Can Reso-Jet Doggerel Verse Fillers Martian Spaceship Typhoon Expansion Engine It Didn’t Come From Mars Stunt Goat CL Model Sikorsky R-6 Helicopter TR Co-axial Autogiro Kite More Fillers per Request Fourth of July Noisemakers Channel Wing Control Line Plane Tri-Yi Rubber Model January Alouette’ .049 Duct Fan – Ukie Wind Wagon Air Drive Race Car Mille Diesel Endurance – Ukie Ceiling Repair Fillers Uses for umbrella ribs Electric Shop Heater from Oil Can Things to do with Coffee Cans Turbine Jet Race Car Model Model Submarine Bautilus Venusian Scout Saturanian Space Skimmer Slat Wing Control Line Trainer TanGiro Twin – CL Autogiro Teenie Genie Tri-Yil Aerial Tramway TEE JAY’Super Delta Ducted Fan Phantom of the Turnpike Rebec Medieval Three String Violin Sheet Metal Susie Lil’ Dragon Used as School Project Cement Drives Crazy Water Gadgets Special Case of TR Helicopters Tumblewing CL Flettner Rotor Plane Famous Firsts (Yet to be Made) Rebuild of Cecil Peoli Twin Pusher Sept. 1960 Feb. 1961 June 1961 June 1961 Sept. 1961 Nov. 1961 Jan. 1962 Annual 1963 Sept. 1962 Sept. 1962 Mo.? 1961-62 Feb. 1962
March 1962 May 1962 July 1962 Aug. 1962 Sold Aug. 1962 Nov. 1962 Nov. 1962 1962 Sold Dec. 1962 Dec. 1962 Dec. 1962 Mo.? 1962 Mo.? 1962 Pub. 1962-63 Jan. – Feb. 1963 March 1963 March 1963 March 1963 April 1963 June 1963 June 1963 Aug. 1963 Fall 1963 Fall 1963 Nov. 1963 Nov. 1963 Mo.? 1963 Mo.? 1963
AM SM SM PS PS SM PM PMSHOP PS PM MAN A.E. Esty Machine and Tool Employees Manual MAN PS PM AM PM SM AM Crestwood PM (Pub?)
MI AM SM PM Sam Bierman AM MI PM PS PM AM PM PM SMRTVEXP SMRTVEXP SM PM PM PM
Typhoon’s Expansion Engine Two String Splinter Bass Triple Neck Steel Guitar Tethered Ducted Fan Jet Plane Boat that Flips to Go (Porp. Tail Dr) Reader Report on Guitar Projects Ground Effect Vehicle Air Car Reprint GEV Platter Plane-Non-Slot Saucer Old Mill Waterwheel Table Centerpiece Model Helicopter Dynamics
Nervous Nellie .05 Stunt Job Self-Powered Rotor Helicopter Remember the Spinning Wing Autogiro?
Spinning Disk Model Ven. Scout Control Line Kite Whirlybird Co-Axial Autogiro Kite Snapper .49 FF Speed Job Please Shake Carefully (Humor) Tetra Four Radial Wings Ukie (X-Wing) String Phones Deluxe Peter O’Dactyl Homemade Vernier Dials Vapor Pressure Drivers Model Boat How to Open Anything (Humor) Yankee Flea Tandem Darkroom Light Box Mystery Moving Box and Kite, p. 164 Styrofoam Model Oos on Cox .010 Hoopskirt Annular Wing FF Turkey Buzzard Flying Plank Type Water Skating Model Boat Wind Rotor Drives Boat Propeller Speaker Box Does Everything Electric Amp for Banjo Moon Scout Electric Centrifugal Cannon Harlequin Stressed Paper Glider Control Line Stunt Kite
As a result of being bugged by Skip Ruff and Bill Northrop in 1990. First published was in MAN, July 1992 a review of “Modelcad.” Then “Multiwiz” in August 1992 in MAN. More articles are due in MAN, FM, and MB.
Date July 1992 Aug. 1992 June 1993 July 1993 Oct. 1993 Feb. 1994 May 1994 May 1994 July 1994 July 1994 Aug. 1994 Nov. 1994 May 1995 June 1995 July 1995 Aug. 1995 Oct. 1995 Nov. 1995 Dec. 1995 Dec. 1996 Dec. 1996 Dec. 1996 Dec. 1996
Magazine MAN MAN MB MAN MB MB FM MB MB FM MB MB FM MAN MAN MAN MAN MB MAN MAN FM MA FM
Title, Subject or Content CAD for Your Model Designs Multiwiz Model 2-Channel From 1 Servo Pushcart .049 RC Pusher Rotorplane! Flettner Wing-Rotor Saucer Mania Two Slot Saucers Ment. RLC Award Winner Morles 1915 .049 FMBD RC Pix Reader Built Zoomslot Ment. Adv. For Martian SS Ment. FM Helic. Of August 1951 Mention Traysvite Ment. Page 7 and Class, Gas and Jazz Ment. Page 28 and 57 Martian Spaceship Ment. Hal DeBolt’s Col. On Early RC Stringer Wing-Warp Control 02 RC Designed 2D 6.0 Critique R.K. Hicks FF Electric Air Age RC Book Chapter “Mindset” Ringer Annular Wing .049 RC Faux Fighter FMBD ‘Pilchard’ Aileron Trainer Materia Aeronautica Modela
Magazine AT or MAN PS PM Lost by AT
Title, Subject or Content Flying Barrel Gyro Glider Kite Foilplane, Flying Body Aircraft Maple Seed Jetex Powered One-Bladed Helicopter
Other Projects
Constructed the steam-powered race car model made for Minimax importer Cloud Copters Designed for Berkley Models
Hummingbird Helicopter Design for Hamp. Research Foundation] Helicopter engine design with K & B
Helicopter blade system for Sikorsky Aircraft Patent Inter.
Co-authored text on Ind. Psych. With Dr. Brian Kay, McGraw-Hill Wrote novel: “A Brief History of the Ashmont Town Team vs. Equestrian Statue.”
(signed) Roy Clough, Jr.
Updated July 15, 2002
Roy Clough, 77, has devoted 66 years to a seemingly unending array of experimentation. Over the years, his articles have appeared in virtually every model publication, including the early Air Trails. In addition, he is published in Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, Science and Mechanics, Boys’ Life, Mechanics Illustrated and many others. With well more than a hundred specific subjects listed, his writings encompass the time from 1945 to the present. The subjects of his experimentation cover a very wide range of interest from specific conventional model designs to more esoteric types such as slotted flying saucers and flying barrels. Roy has done much work with autogyros and helicopters, especially with blade design. He developed the coaxial cage drive for rubber model helicopters and the use of tip weights on feathering rotor blades to produce automatic cyclic and collective pitch. He also developed the use of gyro procession of blade-mounted motors to control collective pitch of self-propelled rotors.
Roy also developed a torque-reaction helicopter and a single-bladed Jetex helicopter. Recent articles pursued such subjects as CAD for model designs, multi-wing two-channel models from one servo, Free Flight, Electric, and an aileron trainer.
Roy’s articles were not limited to technical information and designs. Titles such as “Why Models Land in Trees” suggest a sense of humor, as does his personal comment regarding experimental engine projects, including a “liquid rocket engine which blew up with (a) very satisfying bang!” Besides model design, Roy provided technical information for the aircraft industry and administrative information such as industrial psychology and marketing.
This page is a text transcription of the original document, made automatically and may contain errors. .