Aero Mail
The New Elexaco
I note in your June MA editorial "The Inside Loop" your reference to the New Elexaco event and 3.7 volts. The event specifies 2 Li-Po cells, resulting in 7.4 volts. Wingspan not to exceed 36 inches and a motor run of 15 seconds for a competitive total endurance flight time.
Joe Beshar Oradell, New Jersey
Tales of Shipping Woe
Overall, you wrote a very good article for the June ’09 AMA mag, "Ship Model Aircraft Successfully" by Fred Randall. I use a lot of the same techniques for my shipping requirements.
One big problem: duct tape. Never, under any circumstances, should duct tape be used for cardboard shipping containers.
Even the best-quality duct tape loses its adhesive properties after a few hours in contact with the paper covering of the cardboard. It sticks really well at first, then starts to peel off in a few hours or a day. It gets even worse if the box passes through several climate changes—e.g., from a warm dry area to a moist cold area. It seems that the paper cover on the cardboard soaks up moisture from the air and then attacks the adhesive on the tape. The tape just starts to peel off.
I've used filament tape, duct tape and masking tape to try to close cardboard boxes for shipping—and they all have problems.
What I've found, through experience, is that even the cheapest, true packing tape works best. I buy the clear, 2-inch-wide packing tape at Rite Aid or Walgreens for about $4 per roll.
I ship boxes to the Philippines (family stuff) all of the time. The boxes are double-wall cardboard (for ocean transport) or single-wall (for airlines). If I use duct tape (or filament tape), the boxes are falling apart by the time I get to the airport or the container terminal.
If you take a trip to the Philippines, as you are standing in line at the check-in counter, you see everyone in line has at least two boxes per passenger—and everyone that used duct tape, masking tape or filament tape is having problems. They have added string or rope to the outside of the boxes to keep them from falling open.
With the clear packing tape, you have to use a knife to open the boxes; otherwise you will rip up the cardboard as you try to remove the tape from the seams.
Dave Burwell via e-mail
Interesting article on shipping model airplanes. Years ago I was faced with the problem of shipping a couple of gliders out of the country and back as airline luggage and the following was my solution.
Like you, I started out with a cardboard box (single-wall construction) and lined it with thin, lightweight lauan plywood. After gluing the plywood to the cardboard I glued (with 3M spray adhesive) 1-inch-thick polyurethane foam to the plywood. I also made a "bridge" out of lite ply and white foam to reinforce the gap where the box was opened. It supports the opening from spreading apart and also keeps the center of the top from getting crushed. The reason for the plywood on the inside is to fool the baggage handlers into thinking that it's just a cardboard box, when it's really more like a crate. Packing was done with layers of polyurethane foam between airplane parts. I used this box three times before I switched to a two-rifle gun case, which looks like baggage handlers could not hurt it a bit.
If I had to make another cardboard box I think I would use 1/2-inch insulation foam and lite ply, ala sheeted foam wing. With this sort of construction you could make "brackets" out of pink foam and lite ply and attach them using Velcro.
Jim Bonk via e-mail
Amusing Developments
I began flying R/C in 1979 with a COX Electric Sportavia. This was a Kyosho model that COX was importing at the time. I purchased it from Johnny Clemens at his Hobby Counter hobby shop in Dallas. It was a bit weak on the power side and the run time was not very long, but I was able to teach myself how to fly. I became very knowledgeable about tip stalls!
At the beginning of 1980 I went to work for Johnny at the hobby shop. I was primarily interested in sailplanes and small 1/2A gas flown with two-channel radios as I was a broke hobby shop employee.
About this time Estes, the model rocket people, decided to venture into electric power for aircraft. I experimented with their equipment, making removable power pods for my sailplanes. The power was marginal and the batteries still quite heavy.
I became active with the Dallas R/C Club, a very active club in the area that was a multi-interest power club. I would bring my latest planes to the field and club meetings. The members were always amused and would comment on how electric just was no good and never would be any good. I would just smile and keep doing what I was doing. Several of us formed the Dallas Electric Aircraft Flyers (DEAF) and it has grown into a very active group.
In recent years I have enjoyed watching the growth of electric power and the amount of advertising and editorial space it is now taking in the modeling magazines. It makes me chuckle to think back on all the knowing naysayers in the past.
Richard McCarroll's letter and comment in the June 2009 "Aero Mail" on how there is "Toooooo much electric anymore" gave me the kick in the pants I needed to finally write this letter.
It's all good!
Good lift and 100-point landings.
Pancho N. Morris via e-mail
Zomby Memories
"Blue Foam Super Zomby" in the June 2009 issue brings back memories of a long time ago, and continued contacts and friendship.
While in the RCAF in 1943, I built an F/F model (The American Ace, power was a .29 ignition), and I had trimmed the plane to the point that on a 10-second engine run I could predict where it was going to land.
This fascinated a few of the airforce personnel. One of them, more than the others, started to question me, which ended up with the local hobby shop ordering a plane and engine.
Leon's Zomby and an O&R .19— the interested party was an engine mechanic. I was an airplane type. He did a fabulous job of the building, but he overdid the finish with so many applications of regular aircraft dope (not thinned down) that it turned out too heavy.
We parted company in late 1944, but kept in touch; after the war he stayed in the service and kept in touch via Christmas cards.
Much later, as my work involved industrial information and visiting purchasing agents all over Eastern Canada, I was waiting at an airforce gate to get the engineer to call back and tell the provost guard that he was free to see me. At a distance of about 100 feet came this funny shadow with a funny walk. I yelled out his name (the guard stood flabbergasted that I could tell who it was). As George came closer I had to call out to him and then he recognized me. We still sent Christmas cards until he died a few years ago. He was still building models in Western Canada.
All during that time I had crossed Leon's path at many contests or events, and the last time was at the TOC in Las Vegas. He was with his son and grandson and we called back some of the contests we had met at so many times. I had Leon recall one in particular as he reads this. This is one of the best ways to have good friends.
Ray Gareau via e-mail
Please Keep Joe Writing!
First of all, a little background. I recently cleaned up an engine that I last flew in 1957. I took it outside and test-ran it. With the glow plug that came with the engine when I bought it, the engine started on the first flip of the propeller. I fiddled with it a little bit and finally used my tachometer to check out its performance. The engine ran as well as it did back in 1956 ... wish I did!
The next day my copy of Model Aviation arrived and I read Joe Wagner's article about model engines having personality. I couldn't agree with him more! Electric motors just don't evoke the same reaction as a little blob of metal screaming its guts out and giving me all it's got. I realize that other people feel differently, but Joe struck to the very heart of why I cling to model airplanes.
On a similar vein of thought: with the economy getting worse by the day, there may come a time when the more economical forms of our hobby will become more attractive to the average modeler. In the future it may be wise to run a few more articles on engine maintenance, engine-powered free flight, control liners, simple rubber-powered models, or even hand-launched gliders.
Oh well — it was just a thought.
Jerry Price Walsenburg, Colorado
Helicopter Content
I just wanted to take a moment and say "thank you" to RC helicopter columnist Mark Fadely for your monthly contribution to Model Aviation magazine. Since you've started your column I now actually look forward to receiving the magazine and I always open right up to your section to see what's going on in the world of helicopters.
Thanks again and keep up the good work!
David "Nashville" Wilson via e-mail
Response from Mark Fadely:
Thanks for the nice note. It's rewarding to hear good comments on the heli column. I try to keep the content varied, current, and lively. I am glad you appreciate it. Emails like yours really motivate us to do an even better job moving forward.
Thanks again, you made my day.
Mark Fadely Fishers, Indiana
Stu Richmond (center, with plaque) at his 80th birthday party, held at the Arizona Model Aviators' field in Mesa, AZ. His friend who hosted the party, Cissy Fuller, is to his right.
RC Friends Are the Best!
I'm an active member of the Arizona Model Aviators—285 members—in Mesa, Arizona. Many of our members are "snowbirds" who winter in this area. We have world-class club management, field, and runway. Our club's R/C activities are often written up in the model press.
My dearest friend, Dr. Marie "Cissy" Fuller of Austin, Texas, wanted to host an 80th birthday party for me on Sunday, April 5, 2009. We realized the logistical difficulties of having the party at my home and I mentioned this to the guys at the field.
Two of the club officers said, "Why not have your birthday party here at our field? We have plenty of shaded picnic tables and party tablecloths, plenty of chairs and parking, and everyone knows where the field is." Club president John Mangino approved and the party invitations went out by email to all 285 members.
In order to get an estimate of how many people would attend at 10:00 a.m. that Sunday, we asked attendees to email their intentions to attend for "free cake and ice cream." That led us to expect 30–40 attendees. Most of our snowbird members had already gone north.
Both a chocolate and a white sheet cake were locally ordered with airplanes on the decorations. Party plates and balloons were added along with plastic utensils and bottled water, and four half-gallons of vanilla Blue Bell ice cream. Cissy even arranged for sweet Carol Culver of Wilder, Idaho, to be ready to make an emergency run to the grocery store in case more was needed. Smart, huh?
The photo was taken about 10:45 that morning; those who attended came even though it was far too windy to fly R/C that morning. I've received a few so-called honors through our hobby over many years, but the best is shown in the picture: R/C friends are the greatest in the world!
Stu Richmond Apache Junction, Arizona
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
