Mail Order R/C Dealers

Stuka Stunt Main Forum · 27 of 27 known posts recovered

Steve Helmick · Mar 03, 2001 04:06 AM

I recently did an online order for Thunderbolt glowplugs and a few other items (so you know who I mean). I noticed a place to click for a catalog subscription, so hey, why not? But there was a survey to take before you could sign up. Hmmmm. R/C Airplanes? No. R/C Cars? Boats? Tools? Etc. No box to check for CL or FF. I tried not checking any, but it didn't work. Gotta click a box. This kind of hacked me off. I think I checked "tools" and then sent an email to the manager of something department that sounded about right. And I suggested that they could at least have a box to check for CL and FF, because we all buy glue, coverings, paints, wheels, etc, even if they do say "R/C Glue", "R/C Wheels" etc. I got a response, and they said that the CL business went away a long time before their stocks of CL stuff did. I shot back that having a couple more boxes to click on their website survey might not cost a whole lot, and they might learn something useful about their customers. How about starting a campaign to do this?
I suggested that they stock Brodak stuff as a starter. I think I also suggested that the average R/C flier would not know if it was safe to use a set of wheels that did NOT say "R/C" on the label, and that not having boxes for CL & FF was disrespectful. Is this a valid sniveling, or am I just in a bad mood after the Big Quake of Feb. 2001?

Steve

Tony Elmore · Mar 03, 2001 04:33 AM

#1 source

You're the 100th person I've told today - there's no demand for it!

(Joke)

LNeumann · Mar 03, 2001 07:39 AM

#2 source

Is this like the Yogi Berra joke (talking about a restaurant) "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

The truth of the matter is the big bucks are in RC stuff. Most of these places don't like to deal with small orders and that's why they charge a shipping and "handling" charge. If you just want a couple of Thunderbolt plugs, they would just as soon you went elsewhere. (I have Thunderbolt plugs, by the way. Maybe not as cheap as they have them, but I don't charge the handling charge.) How many CL guys are going to buy radios? Most of the RC guys are after the "latest and the greatest". They will even buy a ready to fly airplane (at an inflated price). And, since they didn't build it, they won't repair it, either. Crash it and buy a new one. They buy the latest engines. We use their cast offs for CL. How many RC guys are flying planes with 30 year old engines. When you see an OS 35S engine on e-bay with a carb going for twice the price of a 35FP with a carb you can be absolutely sure that wasn't an RC guy trying to buy it. And he wasn't a collector either. It is going in a plane.

But I agree, totally. If they just had a category to check to say you fly CL, they might understand our needs. I get all sorts of "specials" in the mail from Tower. I guy their Tower 40 engines because I happen to like them. But I convert them to CL. I don't buy their other stuff, and they could save a lot of money not sending me the blurbs. But they will, anyway, because they figure we are all going to "graduate" some day.

It is interesting how the guys at the local RC field used to always ask us that question. They quit asking. They even quit flying and watch us. There's none of them that can do with their plane what we can do with ours. It's a whole different hobby.

And it is alive and well and kicking.

So, go ahead...kick.

Leonard Neumann

ucflier · Mar 03, 2001 09:01 AM

#3 source

>>How many CL guys are going to buy radios?

Leonard:

I have one in my shop, one in each car, a stereo in the living room, one in the bedroom, one in each of the kids rooms . . .

Larry F · Mar 03, 2001 09:10 PM

#4 source

No, let it ride. Leonard and UCFlier nailed it. We are outsiders. We enjoy that status. Anyone can fly store bought radio ships. It takes a lot of talent to build and fly CL.

Someone once mentioned that all CL fliers were into competition. I am not sure that is true, but the RC fliers I have known were, let's say politely, wimps. You know, if you got into a knife fight in a bar, who would you rather have on your side -- A CL flyer or an RC flyer?

Larry F

Bigiron13 · Mar 03, 2001 09:43 PM

#5 source

I think Steve H hit it properly. If more of us would do what he did, perhaps they would see that there is a resurgence in CL and that FF still is alive. With no one telling them, how do they know????
We don't have to be rude about it, but we CAN inform them.
I think we should, and I will.
Thanks Steve for a good suggestion and initial action.
Bigiron

Currell · Mar 03, 2001 11:49 PM

#6 source

People in the RC business shouldn't be too smug. Go to a few swap meets; it's like a geriatrics ward, and 95+ % of the stuff that's there is RC. (And I'm some of the younger folks see me as geezer material, no doubt).

They don't have enough new people coming in. And too many people are checking out. (Have you noticed all the stuff form estate sales lately)? Oh, RC'll survive, but the (RC) hobby need a new infusion of...something.

We CLers are pretty much in the cottage industry category. But then I see the new RTF CL planes coming out of Maryland (check Isky's BB) with Norvels, and I know that there's a God somewhere. And he's not partial to carbs, mufflers and 'Cote.

Currell

Jim P · Mar 05, 2001 07:07 AM

#7 source

On the bright side, the local hobby shop(spell that RC shop)owner is said to be signing up with Brodak to carry kits. Says he is seeing an increasing demand locally for CL equipment. Of course he's going to need lines, handles, tanks, dedicated CL engines(Fox is about the only game in town right now) etc. In addition to the kits if he's going to outfit a new guy from scratch.
I'll go in usually one or two times a week and buy wood from his well stocked and fairly priced wood pile, glue, glow plugs, nuts and bolts, etc. I appreciate the fact he has never tried to talk me into moving "up" to RC but instead seems more interested in what's going on in CL.

LNeumann · Mar 05, 2001 07:54 AM

#8 source

OS is back in town with the 35 and 40 FP in cl guise. Once again the engine has been brought back from the dead--and I can only assume because of CL demand.

Leonard Neumann

Steve Helmick · Mar 05, 2001 08:50 AM

#9 source

Gee, thanks for your support and affirmation, guys. I have seen the listings online for the whole lot of OS LA's in Ukie form, but not the "return of the FPS"...where would we look to confirm that? Oh, Leonard, what do you do with all the old carby's? It would be kewl to pile them all up and take a picture and send it to those R/C shops. But you probably sell them at swap meets. I would. Chow, Steve

LNeumann · Mar 05, 2001 09:21 AM

#10 source

You are right about the RC carbs. I sell a lot to RC guys who break their carbs or needles and have sold some several times to several people who were going to swap meets. I don't have the time or opportunity to attend a lot of swap meets. I may just put some up on my web site as "available". I sell them cheaper than wholesale. It is a good deal for me, and it is a good deal for the buyer. But I still have a pretty good pile I could stack up for a picture.

It is also interesting about the manufacturer. Most don't like to sell the engines without the carbs. And they won't buy them back. Fox will sell them without the carb and without the muffler and I just bought some ASP 53 engines that way. In this case it is the distributor, probably, who kept them, and he will sell them as spares and make more on them. But, again, it is a good deal for him, and a good deal for me.

On the FP engines, Tower is listing them on their web site as "in stock". If Tower has them, then Great Planes (the importer and owner of Tower) has them. How many? How long? Don't know. I am planning on getting some post haste (that means as fast as the post office can haste them to me.)

Leonard Neumann

Steve Helmick · Mar 05, 2001 07:36 PM

#11 source

LAST EDITED ON Mar-08-01 AT 09:17 PM (EST)

LAST EDITED ON Mar-06-01 AT 00:10 AM (EST)

Over the weekend, just for yuks, I emailed Great Planes Info, as the info email was right there on their website. They import OS and Super Tigre, if you don't know. I asked if the ST G.51 CL was in stock, or when it would be in, as I'd been looking for one for about a year (ok, not true). They replied, saying that their website and infomail was for dealers or folks who wanted to be dealers, so please go to another website, www.bestrc.com. Well, that is just another version of Great Planes website, and if you click on one of the brand labels, you go to GP's website, there is the same info email addy, etc. I REPLIED thanks, but what I really need to know is when the engines will be available, as I have no hobby shop nearby that would stock them. (They provide a mickey mouse search engine that will find local dealers based on your zipcode.) We'll see what happens. Maybe they will tell me something before I get tired of it. Why dontcha all send them some kind of story like this. Leonard can justifiably say that he is an engine tuner and would like to stock the G.51 CL as many potential customers have asked for it. The rest of you, make up some kind of a story...like "I have one, but pounded it into the asphalt and would like to buy another, but can't find one". Be a bit original, ok? We'll check back in and tell us your story! And if you have some other ideas about a CL product to save from extinction, post it, ok, and we can all work on it with you. Ciao, Steve
EDIT/PS: Had a crumby day at work, and for fun I called Tower's "order assistance" number and asked about the ST G.51 CL. This may be of interest to somebody. They said that the engine was temporarily out of production, so I asked what that meant. The answer was that there was probably some retooling or revisions in the works. This appeared to be the only way to make a "hashmark" for CL, so I took it. Pretty sleezy, huh?
EDIT/PS2: One wonders if maybe it will be reincarnated (is that ok, Leonard?) as an ABC or AAC, saving the piston rings for something else, saving weight and giving us a better stunt donk? I know, it's pretty far fetched, but some weird stuff happens.

Ron Duly · Mar 08, 2001 05:54 PM

#12 source

Any truth to the rumor that Super Tigre has been bought (by a LARGE USA R/C wheeler/dealer) and moved to China? Might explain why the 51 C/L isn't in production!

LNeumann · Mar 08, 2001 06:05 PM

#13 source

If you mean "Great Planes", that is the rumor. As to the China part, I don't know. What is interesting, however, is that they do now have the ST 51 rc version back in stock, but the CL version is listed as "temporarily unavailable". So, unlike the FP engines which have been "discontinued" three times and came back, these are not "discontinued". They, however, do not have an expected delivery date on them, either. So there may be a move afoot at the factory. (I wonder if they would bring back the .46 and the .60? Nah, the RC community wouldn't buy them.)

Leonard Neumann

Jim P · Mar 08, 2001 10:23 PM

#14 source

I notice that Tower is only offering the OS 35 and 40 FP with "remote needle". Am not sure what this means but it don't sound good. In fact, it sounds like RC influence at work. If a guy is going to show up, unload his Beemer, bop over to the circle in his Gucci loafers lugging his electric starter, he surely dosen't want to get his pinky nippped while tweaking a non remote needle valve.

LNeumann · Mar 08, 2001 10:47 PM

#15 source

Yup, you are right. It has been that way for several years now. First they went to the remote needles and killed the CL version. Then they brought it back with the needle still sticking out of the hip pocket. It works ok for a profile, but not so good for an upright or inverted engine. I convert all my engines back to the front needle unless someone wants the rear needle assembly. The rear assembly costs more, but, what do they care? They just raise the price of the engine and smile. In fact, they raised the price of the engine the last time AFTER they discontinued it. I called them up and asked why they raised the price if it is discontinued. The response was, "We might bring it back." They did. At the higher price. But by now we are used to it. Sort of like the price of gas at the pump. When they raise the price we just buy it anyway. So, what do they care.

Leonard Neumann

Warren · Mar 09, 2001 04:26 PM

#16 source

Leonard,

I like the concept of the remote needle valve thought I have not yet worked with one.

You mention that it might not be as appropriate for an upright or inverted motor.

Is there a functional reason that the needle valve assemble and bracket couldn't be rotated to any position (using the four mounting bolts on the rear cover) that would give you the preferred location for the needle valve handle and fuel pickup nipple? It appears as though, that with a modification of the bracket, the needle valve could exit out the side of the fuselage, and have the pickup nipple oriented directly back toward the fuel tank.

What's your thought?

Warren

LNeumann · Mar 09, 2001 04:49 PM

#17 source

The farther you get the needle away from the venturi, the greater the lag in engine response. So you are giving something there. But you also force the tank to go back further, you lengthen the fuel tube length, you jog it. And then there is the problem of how to enclose the engine with the venturi mounted back there and still have it exit the fuselage in an accessible manner. You would have to make a wierd cut for the cowl. It could be done, and the 4-stroke guys are having to face that latter concern as well. I have a box full of remote needles and brackets and spray bars, and... (just in case you are interested. These will fit other engines, too, you know.)

Leonard Neumann

faif2d · Mar 09, 2001 05:22 PM

#18 source

You may want to let the combat community know about your left overs. They use remotes to prevent damage.
I always wondered why I liked to paint with dope, now I can't remember

geoffgg · Mar 11, 2001 02:56 AM

#21 source

Has anyone actually got an OS remote needle to work properly?

I'm just breaking in an OS 10 FP-S and could not get fuel tube small enough to fit the spiggot on the remote so it sucked air. I tried sleeving the NVA spiggot--that worked for one 2oz tank of fuel. I pulled the remote off and replaced it with the std front mounted NVA--now everything works really nicely.

Cheers, Geoff

LNeumann · Mar 11, 2001 06:53 PM

#22 source

There is a clip that comes with these that holds the fuel tubing on. The ones I have come complete: Metal bracket to fit onto backplate, remote needle, tubing and clip, and front spray bar.

Leonard Neumann

geoffgg · Mar 12, 2001 06:10 AM

#23 source

Thanks Leonard

I got all that stuff but the std tubing that I had would not seal but it works fine on the std forward mountd NVA. I think it is nominal 1/8" but even with the little hose clip, it would not seal. ;-( But the same tube is fine with the std front mounted NVA.

Cheers, Geoff

Currell · Mar 10, 2001 01:04 AM

#19 source

Careful, Jim. I drive a BMW and am very partial to loafers, although not the Gucci brand, and I've got the scars that attest to too many close encounters of the propellor kind.

Gee. Even effete types like me grab the old E J Just once in a while.

And, as Larry attests earlier, I'm pretty good in a knife fight in a bar.

Currell

LNeumann · Mar 10, 2001 11:40 AM

#20 source

>
>Gee. Even effete types like me
>grab the old E J
>Just once in a while....
>
>Currell

"effete"?? I am not used to these big words. Does that have anything to do with a large shoe size?

Leonard Neumann

Jim P · Mar 12, 2001 11:00 AM

#24 source

Currell-But you don't lug your electric starter and 12 volt marine battery around (or have your hired help lug it for you).

mitch · Mar 18, 2001 03:59 AM

#25 source

I even laugh at myself for this, but with all the old engines I just pulled out of the attic, the $29 electric starter I recently purchased was the best money I ever spent. Once I get an engine back in shape, it really isn't needed. But, with a Fox .15(x), .36X, .29 or .35 that hasn't seen the light of day in 25 years, I like my starter. Never had an R/C model. I guess I haven't gotten good enough to "graduate" to something I can fly so high as to avoid the immediate effects of human error.
I will always remember the pain of getting a finger bitten on a cold winter day as a kid. So, when you laugh at me for occassionally using a starter, you can laugh to my face, because I'll be laughing too.

The Kiwi · Mar 18, 2001 01:16 PM

RE: Mitch's Electric Starter #26 source

>I even laugh at myself for this, but with all the
>old engines I just pulled out of the attic, the
>$29 electric starter I recently purchased was the
>best money I ever spent. Once I get an engine back
>in shape, it really isn't needed. But, with a Fox
>.15(x), .36X, .29 or .35 that hasn't seen the light
>of day in 25 years, I like my starter.

>I will always remember the pain of getting a finger
>bitten on a cold winter day as a kid. So, when you
>laugh at me for occassionally using a starter, you
>can laugh to my face, because I'll be laughing too.

Personally, I haven't gotten a finger injury from what any engine of mine is doing since converting to the "Back Flip" start method. I own a couple of electric starters, but haven't had a need to use one yet (each was part of a "lot" or "package" deal in an eBay auction in which I wanted something else, and got such a good final bid price that the starters were freebies).

I've described that starting method half a dozen times the past year or two on several C/L forums. I hope everyone has read the older message threads to find one or another of those treatises.

My response here is based on this: despite the assurances of a few starter proponents who have denigrated my trepidations, I am not enthusiastic about using starters on plain bushing type engines in which the crank is free to float back. Originally, there were Old Wives' Tales regarding engines such as the Fox 35 Stunt and 15X about the crankpin shaving metal from the backplate that would get loose in the engine.

Even if that was an exaggeration, there is a potential of damage that I'd rather avoid, and I get so many one flip starts using the Back Flip method that a starter is just a dead weight in the back seat of the car that never gets on the flying field!

P. S. Mitch! The earlier eBay number I passed to you was for a small Great Lakes bipe, 24" span. Today I ran across a bigger one, 36" span, also Sterling, also on eBay. It's on its last day and its last few hours now:

(http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=568982361)

Kiwi

._.