Musings from the Combat Pits
By Buzz Wilson
Buzz Wilson shares his experience in control-line combat competition.
New! November
2025 column:
Build a carrier for Combat
planes >>
New! March
2021 column:
Construction
notes for electronic launcher
New! February 2021 column: Electronic Combat plane launcher
August 2019 column: A propane-powered starter horn
April 2019 column: The Combat stooge revised
March 2019 column: New tools!
February 2019 column: Modifying line ends for Speed Limit Combat
January 2019 column: Combat 60 years ago
October 2018 column: The perfect stooge table
April 2018 column: March Madness trip and trauma
March 2018 column: The madness of contest preparation
February 2018 column: All about bladders for 1/2-A Combat
January 2018 column: Fora 1/2-A engine bearing problems
December 2017 column: A safety thong you can't miss
August 2017 column: Small tools for the Combat field
February 2017 column: Aeronautic quips and quotes
July 2016 column: Half-A testing, bad bearings
September 2014 column: The saga of the lost Nelson
October 2013 column: A computer-controlled foam cutter, Part IV
July 2012 column: A computer-controlled foam cutter, Part III
January 2012 column: A computer-controlled foam cutter, Part II
November 2011 column: The Nekked Chicken: How to Build Jeff Dawson's 1/2-A Combat plane
March 2010 column: For new Combat fliers: What do I fly? What do I need? Where can I get it?
February 2010 column: Fabricating a jig for building Vintage Diesel Combat Planes
January 2010 column 2: A computer-controlled foam cutter, Part I
January 2010 column 1: Storing lines and handles
December 2009 Column 2: Making Propellers Part II, The First Prop
December 2009 column 1: Making propellers, Part I, the Mold
November 2009 column: Making the Dick Salter
combat/speed handle
<< April 2009 column: Building the new, improved combat pit box
Pitting series Part 4 Preparing for the contest
Pitting series Part 3 The role of the launcher/helper
Pitting series Part 2 The pilot's role in the combat pit team
Pitting series Part 1 Setting up a pit box for combat
Also by Buzz Wilson:
Make a carbon fiber landing gear
Setting up the OS Max 25FX for 80mph combat
How to build a combat plane launching stooge
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This page
was updated Nov. 1, 2025