This month I have a new—actually, returning—modeler, a couple of new models, and a safety topic for you, plus a couple of other items.
Welcome Back
Bob Parker resides in Washington state in the summer and takes refuge in Tucson, Arizona, during winter. Burt Brokaw convinced him to bring his Nostalgia Class I Mauler to the Southwest Regionals, and it was my pleasure to meet him for the first time.
Bob is a retired Boeing engineer. He has a history with CL Navy Carrier that goes back a while. Both he and his son, Sean, were once Carrier fliers, and it’s good to have Bob back. His Mauler is from a Sturdi-Built kit designed by Bob Smurthwaite. Bob uses a K&B 5.8 engine for power.
Bf 109T
Eric Conley from Gardenville, Nevada, has a new Messerschmitt Bf 109T that he brought to the Carrier Plus contest in Phoenix and the Southwest Regionals in Tucson. The model is similar in design to the rest of Eric’s successful Profile models, except that this one is electric powered.
Eric uses a two-line control system for elevator and a Spektrum radio system for controlling the throttle and auxiliary functions. His handle was described in this column in January 2014.
The Bf 109T e-Profile is powered by a Hyperion 3026 1,400 kV motor controlled by a Cobra 100-amp ESC. The Thunder Tiger battery consists of two 4,400 mAh 2S 70C batteries in series. The two thin batteries can be carried inside the wing.
The propeller is a wood Zinger 9-7P. Eric uses the BEC of the ESC to provide power for the radio. The line slider is released by a relay.
The model weighs 51 ounces, has a 40-inch wingspan, and 325 square inches of wing area. High speed is impressive at approximately 100 mph, and Eric is still working to determine the maximum low-speed performance within the capacity of the power supply.
Safety
Safety is a topic that should interest us all. It is always a good idea to have both hands free when working on a model aircraft. That is especially true if the engine or motor is operating.
With our internal-combustion-powered models, the engine operation is relatively independent of other things on the model. Planning for engine operations is simple and straightforward. The engine won’t run unless we take a series of required actions (fuel, prime, power the glow plug, flip the propeller).
Electric motors aren’t as simple. All that is required for an electric motor to start is power, and it is not easy or even possible to determine the state of electronic controls by looking at them.
Many of the functions on an electric model require electrical power to operate, and the power often comes from the same battery used to power the motor. Connecting an electric model’s battery is often a two-hand operation.
Whenever you connect power to an electric model, please be sure the model is properly restrained so that it can’t cause injury or damage if the motor starts to run unexpectedly. It doesn’t matter if you use a stooge or a human helper; if the power is connected, be sure the model is restrained.
Nostalgia Navy Carrier
Nostalgia Navy Carrier exists to provide an opportunity to fly an event in which high speed is a dominant factor in scoring. Many prefer this type of flying to the propeller-hanging slow flight of today. There are merits to both types of events. There are also merits to both types of modelers who enjoy the Nostalgia Navy Carrier events. I’m a “go fast” kind of guy, but to each his own!
Some like to see how much performance can be achieved with the technology and designs of our sport that were available three decades ago. Others would like to see just how much performance can be achieved with modern technology—a “where would we be today if we were flying under the old rules?” approach to the event. That’s why there are bonus points awarded to vintage model designs and loop-scavenged engines. The bonus allows new and old technology to compete in the same event.
Burt Brokaw is building a new model for Nostalgia Profile Carrier that should be ready this summer, perhaps as you are reading this. Burt is building the Trager model, designed by Russ Brown and published in the July 1976 issue of Flying Models. For power, he is installing a side-exhaust Nelson .36 engine. I’m looking forward to seeing it fly!
Navy Carrier Rules
Navy Carrier rules will not be changing for the 2015-2016 flying season. There have been no proposed changes to either the CL Navy Carrier rules or the CL General rules for the current cycle.
There have been major changes proposed in CL Scale, so if you are one who also enjoys CL Scale competition, be sure to check on the AMA website and let your Scale Contest Board representative know your thoughts.
Nats
The 2014 Nats Navy Carrier competition will be flown Tuesday through Thursday, July 15-17. I hope to see many of you at the Carrier circles in Muncie.
If you can’t attend, you can follow the action in the NatsNews newsletter on the AMA website.
