Author: Rich Lopez
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/03
Page Numbers: 150.151
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Control Line Combat

Rich Lopez [[email protected]]

Constructive answers to the fuel-shutoff-device requirement

There was a tremendous amount of chatter on the Yahoo! Groups forum in November and December that dealt primarily with fuel-shutoff devices for F2D Combat. The FAI will require such equipment on Combat models beginning January 1, 2009.

The discussions were sometimes constructive and downright hostile and negative at other times. Human beings seldom like being told what to do and how to do it, even if it is for their own good or for the good of their fellow human beings.

The ideas presented were sometimes theoretical and technically difficult and costly to implement. Some individuals proposed electronic devices controlled by the judges or devices that were self-actuated once the lines were severed or broken. Others proposed the use of mechanical shutoffs. Still others disliked that whole idea of a mechanism that would be required. Hostile barbs were traded because some individuals felt that those proposing the rules were not active F2D participants.

Jeff Rein in the Pacific Northwest and Bobby Mears of Lubbock, Texas, actually offered workable, viable devices. If you visit Jeff Rein’s website, you can view the H&R bellcrank shutoff that the fliers in his region have been using successfully for many years. Henning Forbeck of Denmark had done quite a bit of testing with some devices and was frustrated by some of the problems he encountered.

No one who loves Combat is going to give up and quit flying because of a new rule. Modelers are a resilient bunch who will find answers when motivated to do so.

I have included a picture of the device Bobby Mears developed. He had a model with one of these creations at the Red Flag Combat contest in Phoenix, Arizona, in November. I lost the address for the website on which you can view this shutoff in action, but I am sure Bobby will e-mail the address to you if you contact him. His device is simple and costs next to nothing in terms of materials. You need only be proficient at using needle- and round-nose pliers to bend music wire.

Whichever side of the argument you find yourself on, fuel-shutoff devices will be a reality in less than a year. All the energy spent fighting the impending rule would be put to better use trying to invent that better mousetrap.

Model equipment is easy to obtain if you know where to get it. In past columns I have provided e-mail addresses for reliable suppliers. I have been successfully doing business with Igor Kolosov of ViKo Models in Ukraine for several years, and I have been happy with the service and quality of the RTF models he sells.

ViKo offers roughly six different F2D model configurations. They range in price from $33 to $42, depending on how you like your favorite design.

Igor’s standard model is nice, is superbly built, and is a good buy at $33. It features standard construction with a wooden TE and no reinforcement for the ribs. You can purchase the same design with a carbon-fiber TE and with or without Kevlar wrapping around the wing ribs. Or if you prefer, you can get a copy of two-time World Champion Igor Trifanov’s model delivered to your door for $42 plus shipping.

The cost for shipping at the time I wrote this was $80 for a 10-pack box of models or $120 for a 20-pack box of models. A box of 10 standard models will cost you $330 plus $80 shipping and the cost of a bank money transfer, which is approximately $35, for a grand total of $445, or $44.50 per model. A box of 20 models will cost you a total of $815, or $40.75 per model.

Igor Kolosov posted a message on the Combat group site indicating that he is accepting VISA credit cards, which means you could save yourself the cost of a bank money transfer. I guess the world is shrinking and is as close as your computer keyboard.

ViKo also has bladders, propellers, engine mounts, lines, handles, venturi/muffler plugs, and streamer/muffler hooks. Talk some of your sport-flying friends into going in with you on a box of models. F2D aircraft are fun to fly, just for sport.

Tom Siegler had Fora engines for sale at the 2007 USA F2D Team Trials. I don't know the price, so drop him a note if you are in the market for one. I have older Foras, and all have proven to be reliable and fast. They start easily and run where they are set.

All the modern F2D engines are kept lit by the use of Nelson glow plugs. Contact Henry Nelson for a price. Adriano Molteni of Italy posted a notice that he has a similar glow plug for sale. Contact him for the particulars.

There is no reason for you not to fly Combat models and have top-of-the-line equipment.

The annual Red Flag F2D contest was held the weekend of November 3–4, 2007, in Phoenix, Arizona. It drew all three 2008 US F2D team members: Richard Stubblefield, Andy Mears, Mike Willcox, and first alternate Greg Hill. The quality of flying was great, with numerous "barn burner"-type matches.

In the end, Lester Haury was able to defend the champion title he earned at the 2006 contest. Bobby Mears was second, and Chuck Rudner finished third. This shows that there are many quality pilots in the US who are capable of winning on any given weekend.

The weather was great both days. And Phoenix, being a college town (the home of Arizona State University), has plenty of good eateries that offer good food at reasonable prices.

I did a bit of spying to see what some of the top competitors were using as pit boxes. I was impressed by the layout of Lester Haury's pit box and how efficient and easily accessible all pitting items were.

Many of us thought we were clever when we mounted glow-plug caddies on our boxes, but Lester went one better by mounting powerful magnets on his box to keep his spare glow plugs handy. A screw-in glow-plug caddie is handy, but it takes a few extra seconds to unscrew the plug before it is in your hands.

All of Lester's tools have a specific place and are easy to find. He keeps spare propellers and bladders handy with rubber bands stretched across the inside cover of the pit box.

Take a close look at the picture I have included with this column. I spent some time thinking about how your pit box's layout can make a difference between winning and losing a match.

An item that may be of interest to F2D contest organizers is the type of streamer material Steve Stewart was using. The Arizona fliers have found a biodegradable surveyor flagging tape from Ben Meadows Company that works well and does not shred or flake off. Visit the website to see the various colors and prices for this material.

This is the time of year when you should be checking all your equipment for the upcoming flying season. We often neglect starting batteries and forget to check on how well they hold a charge.

A couple months ago I ran into some extraordinarily dirty terminals on my battery clip that gave me problems while trying to start an engine. A quick stripping of the wire ends and a good cleaning of the clip gave me that bright glow I have come to expect.

This is also the time to check your engines to see if the bearing needs to be replaced. I like to turn the crankshaft back and forth to feel for any rough spots or slight bumps that should not be there. If there are any "ticks," I replace the bearing. If you suspect that dirt is causing the "tick," try cleaning the bearing.

Under magnification I have been able to see where the balls in the bearing have broken and are missing chunks. It is better to take care of this now, before serious problems occur.

Sources:

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.