Flying Models, August 2004

LAST EDITED ON Jun-30-04 AT 02:18 PM (CDT)
 
The first thing I read each month is the RC Pattern column by Dean Pappas. He's a character, very enthusiastic, and generally has items of interest which have an application in CL Stunt.

Doug Moon and I were discussing the Boxer series of RC Pattern models, I did not have a picture of my 60-sized Boxer, but I believe model in background to be just such a model. No real matter, as they all pretty much look the same.

Several items of interest here. First, Rick Allison is a local guy, one with an interest in CL Stunt incidentally, and he used to write the RC Pattern column for Model Aviation. (If you have old MAs around, go back and read Rick's stuff; excellent material.) I have known Rick for years, he and I used to be in a private RC club that leased space for a fabulous field from which I flew RC, CL and FF.

In short, while Rick locally has a rather checkered history as to his interactions with some competitors and contest sponsors, he **really** knows his stuff and I remain indebted to him for many lessons well taught.

From the article: "The marketing philosophy behind these Boxers is the same as it's always been--large bang for the buck with a simple, rugged, *rigid* airframe that is still extremely capable in every class up to Masters, can be covered with MonoKote, and can be field repaired after taking a dump that would necessitate taking a new (insert current faddish fiberglass model of choice here) home in a sack."

I mention this because it is so easy to attempt looking beyond old-fashioned balsa, especially when the perception sometimes is, "Well, the RC Pattern guys are doing such and so..."

The technology these guys are using is hardly unfamiliar to me, certainly is not to Rick, and I submit to you there are several reasons for molding fuselages from exotic materials, very few of which contribute to a nicely rigid component.

And Boxers come out pretty light with only reasonable care as to material selection. Locally most of them powered by 120s are under 10 pounds and this is regarded as a very competitive weight.

I really like the motto of Rick's company, as it has a bearing on one of the subjects currently banned from discussion on this forum.

"Those who can't build will always be at the mercy of those who can."

Ya just gotta love it!

The other item of interest is the remote plug lighter. With the four-strokes stuffed into my two Impacts, having the rear intake tends to keep fingers away from CF props, a good thing. So I just automatically thought it another good thing to incorporate a remote unit for the glow plug.

By and large this has worked fine. Tettra fitting from Central Hobbies for the plug, a visit to Radio Shack for a suitable device to install in the fuselage.

Of course it failed recently. Also of course it was at our biggest contest of the year. Yes, I know it was stupid to think a plug-in thingie designed for stereo gear would survive the pounding of a four-stroke.

Dean says go to a Pylon unit, they look like a normal glow plug, thus most all of your glow clips will work. Plus if (when) yours dies, a friend's will work and none will have the sort of wiring I used back in May.

For the glow plug connector Dean illustrates what looks to be a very reliable piece and that is what I will be switching to when my Tettra units get old and decrepit.

Remember, the RC Pattern guys are not only dealing with much larger four-strokes then we use, they also have these goofy "soft" mounts which lead to almost hysterical flopping around of the motor at low revs. So what they use for remote activation of plugs can be counted upon to be very reliable in our CL Stunt models.

Again: "Those who can't build will always be at the mercy of those who can." Y'all think about that one for a bit...

Dan,

Adding a bit to the "Think about it" stuff.

"Those who have built five airplanes will always be at the mercy of those who have built five hundred"

"Those that burn one gallon of fuel a year will always be at the mercy of those that burn one hundred gallons"

"Those who have had one year's experience 45 times will always be at the mercy of those who have had 45 year's experience one time"

Quote from my hero, Gen. Charles Yeager: "Was I the best pilot in the air force? I don't really know, but I think I might be considered as one of the contenders. The only reason was because I flew more, studied systems more and was willing to take it to the edge. When I was in charge of training pilots, the top of the class were always the ones who put in the most time in the air,paid attention and learned from every flight."

>The first thing I read each month is the RC Pattern column
>by Dean Pappas. He's a character, very enthusiastic, and
>generally has items of interest which have an application in
>CL Stunt.
>
>Doug Moon and I were discussing the Boxer series of RC
>Pattern models, I did not have a picture of my 60-sized
>Boxer, but I believe model in background to be just such a
>model. No real matter, as they all pretty much look the
>same.
>
>Several items of interest here. First, Rick Allison is a
>local guy, one with an interest in CL Stunt incidentally,
>and he used to write the RC Pattern column for Model
>Aviation. (If you have old MAs around, go back and read
>Rick's stuff; excellent material.) I have known Rick for
>years, he and I used to be in a private RC club that leased
>space for a fabulous field from which I flew RC, CL and FF.
>
>In short, while Rick locally has a rather checkered history
>as to his interactions with some competitors and contest
>sponsors, he **really** knows his stuff and I remain
>indebted to him for many lessons well taught.
>
>From the article: "The marketing philosophy behind these
>Boxers is the same as it's always been--large bang for the
>buck with a simple, rugged, *rigid* airframe that is still
>extremely capable in every class up to Masters, can be
>covered with MonoKote, and can be field repaired after
>taking a dump that would necessitate taking a new (insert
>current faddish fiberglass model of choice here) home in a
>sack."
>
>I mention this because it is so easy to attempt looking
>beyond old-fashioned balsa, especially when the perception
>sometimes is, "Well, the RC Pattern guys are doing such and
>so..."
>
>The technology these guys are using is hardly unfamiliar to
>me, certainly is not to Rick, and I submit to you there are
>several reasons for molding fuselages from exotic materials,
>very few of which contribute to a nicely rigid component.
>
>And Boxers come out pretty light with only reasonable care
>as to material selection. Locally most of them powered by
>120s are under 10 pounds and this is regarded as a very
>competitive weight.
>
>I really like the motto of Rick's company, as it has a
>bearing on one of the subjects currently banned from
>discussion on this forum.
>
>"Those who can't build will always be at the mercy of those
>who can."
>
>Ya just gotta love it!
>
>The other item of interest is the remote plug lighter. With
>the four-strokes stuffed into my two Impacts, having the
>rear intake tends to keep fingers away from CF props, a good
>thing. So I just automatically thought it another good thing
>to incorporate a remote unit for the glow plug.
>
>By and large this has worked fine. Tettra fitting from
>Central Hobbies for the plug, a visit to Radio Shack for a
>suitable device to install in the fuselage.
>
>Of course it failed recently. Also of course it was at our
>biggest contest of the year. Yes, I know it was stupid to
>think a plug-in thingie designed for stereo gear would
>survive the pounding of a four-stroke.
>
>Dean says go to a Pylon unit, they look like a normal glow
>plug, thus most all of your glow clips will work. Plus if
>(when) yours dies, a friend's will work and none will have
>the sort of wiring I used back in May.
>
>For the glow plug connector Dean illustrates what looks to
>be a very reliable piece and that is what I will be
>switching to when my Tettra units get old and decrepit.
>
>Remember, the RC Pattern guys are not only dealing with much
>larger four-strokes then we use, they also have these goofy
>"soft" mounts which lead to almost hysterical flopping
>around of the motor at low revs. So what they use for remote
>activation of plugs can be counted upon to be very reliable
>in our CL Stunt models.
>
>Again: "Those who can't build will always be at the mercy of
>those who can." Y'all think about that one for a bit...
>
>Dan
>
>An edit because I forgot issue noted above has details on a
>really effective technique for creating balsa wing skins,
>same technique as shown on one of Bob Hunt's videos.
>
>I think all the tricks have been tried in my shop. This is
>certainly the best.
>
>Dan

Ron B.
F4Fguy

Dan:

I started to read this post ,and as soon as you mentioned Rick Allison,I thought of that quote.

Ron,

Rick is a very clever guy, and preceding is one of the most accurate and cutting things I have ever heard him come up with.

For those of us who aren't so clever, this saying goes back to when the RC Pattern guys were wrestling with first subject to be banned from this site, the good ol' Billder 'O De Model rule, their abandonment of same and the proliferation of custom-built models in RC Pattern.

As such, placed in proper context, it really says quite a lot. I sure have enjoyed spouting off with it a great many times over the years.

I would again like to urge one and all to go through back issues of Model Aviation, either the real thing or in the AMA archives, looking for Rick's RC Pattern columns. Volumes and volumes of material which applies *directly* to what we are doing in CL Stunt, all written in a manner which made Rick's columns most enjoyable to read.

Billder 'O De Model rule,
>Dan

Using French won't hide what you are talking about, we are too smart for that.

>
>
>Billder 'O De Model rule,
>>Dan
>
>
>Using French won't hide what you are talking about, we are
>too smart for that.

Zeke,

I don't want to trick you, wouldn't think of it. We only have to trick Len, he of the over-used "delete" key.