Flying For Fun — 2006/04
D.B. gets ripped off!
D.B. Mathews | [email protected]
Writing this column has been difficult for me from a time standpoint and from being dispirited. Many of my "spare" models, kits, and engines have been stolen from a storage unit. They were of considerable sentimental value to me; it is a bit like losing some old friends.
This unhappy event brings up the question: how much merchandise on the various classified-ad Internet sites might be stolen? How can you tell? If you notice a 4-120 Bipe or Big Bingo kit on the Internet and the seller doesn't seem to be a modeler, be suspicious.
It seems that those gated storage units aren't nearly as secure as I thought. The police officer who investigated seemed cavalier about the whole thing; several units besides mine were broken into. Apparently this sort of thing happens often. It's certainly not reassuring.
Outrunner motor operation clarified
Error: In the December column I attempted to describe how an electric outrunner motor worked. I took notes while asking two modelers and somehow totally messed up. If you wonder if anyone is reading your material, make a mistake! Several modelers have sent e-mails to point out the error, and I appreciate it.
To straighten things out (hopefully): in a hobby outrunner motor the armature does not move. Instead, the magnet structure moves, and it is in the case. The magnet is a rimmed wheel that spins around the outside of the coils.
Internet site
The address of a site worth checking out came from Kelvin Heath of Rochester, Minnesota. I mentioned Bob Holman's laser-cut kits of the deBolt Champ and other old RC designs in the January column, and Kelvin advised Bob Harris of Early RC Models in Apex, North Carolina. This company has a long list of laser-cut kits of other early models from the rudder-only days. Visit www.earlyrcmodels.com for Esquires, Lil Roughnecks, School Boys, Mambos, etc.
Many of these designs—particularly in 1/2 and 1/4A sizes—would make attractive electric-power conversion models. I'll bet that replacing the dry-cell battery packs and heavy receivers we had back then with modern microservos and receivers, brushless motors, and Li-Poly cells would result in a model that is not much heavier than the original—perhaps lighter.
If you enter Bob Harris's site you'll notice that several Ken Willard designs, such as the School Girl, the Roaring 20, and others, feature all-sheet-balsa construction. These building techniques were common in kits and designs of the 1950s and 1960s.
Bending sheet balsa over heavier sheet ribs is a nice way to create a quick-to-build and relatively damage-proof wing.
Also included in this column:
- Outrunner motor operation clarified
- An Internet site to check out
- Formula I Sport Racing rules explained
Using slow-setting cyanoacrylate adhesive beats the old way of holding things together overnight with pins while waiting for the nitrocellulose (Ambroid, etc.) glue to dry. I am in the midst of building a .15-size, enlarged School Girl biplane, and it's astonishing how much simpler things are going with decent wood and cyanoacrylate. A common complaint about those kits when they were new was the poor quality of the wood—particularly the sheet. The supplied wood was often heavy, brittle, and flawed. Reproducing the aircraft with hand-selected wood is proving to be a joy.
AMA and Rules
You may be fully aware of the multiple reasons to belong to AMA, such as insurance; representation with local, state, and federal agencies; a voice with the Federal Communications Commission; flying-site assistance; this magazine; etc. However, we tend to forget the compilation and standardization of competition rules. Were it not for this rule-making function, those who compete would have no assurance that an out-of-town or out-of-state event they attended would be flown under the same set of standards that are used locally. One could easily make the trip to a contest only to learn that his or her airplane did not meet local rules.
Some local special operational guidelines such as unusable frequencies, reduced maximum flight times, or flightline procedures can vary, but the overall rules are the same for every official event everywhere. This national standardization of rules was one of the earliest reasons for the establishment of the Academy.
Here in Wichita an active group of modelers has been having fun with what it calls "Formula I Sport Racing." The fliers have evolved a set of rules requiring unmodified ARFs of Goodyear racers using .90 engines. They employ a 1,000-foot, two-pylon course of six laps using a matrix of three to six heats for scoring.
The choice of ARFs is currently the Great Planes Shoestring, Lil Tony, and Minnow and the World Models Midget Mustang. Engines are limited to Super Tigre, O.S., and GMS. No modifications are permitted. Pressure fuel-feed systems are illegal, as are bladders, pumps, etc. Any propeller and any fuel can be used.
I've watched these fliers compete with each other, and it is obvious that they are having loads of fun. Since the aircraft and power plants are so closely matched, piloting skills in negotiating the pylons is much more important than the model used.
Although the event is hotly contested, there seems to be no tension between contestants. The contest is remarkably laid-back. Part of the attraction is the simple rules. No rulers, calculators, or scales are needed to process the entries; there is only a safety check.
The subcommittee of AMA's competition-rules group has passed a set of provisional rules for this event. A period for additional input is underway, and comments should be submitted to the AMA Web site. A second vote on these proposals will be followed by an action by the full competition rules-making body. At some point Formula I Sport Racing will then become a rule-book event.
The provisional rules currently include:
- Minimum model weight: 7.5 pounds
- Maximum model weight: 10.0 pounds
- Minimum wing area: 500 square inches
- No retracts
- Maximum wingspan: 48 inches
Other dimensional figures appearing in the proposal included:
- 64-inch wingspan minimum
- Wing area: 750 square inches
- Minimum wing thickness: 1.5 inches
- Minimum tail thickness: 0.5 inch
- Fuselage minimum depth: 9 inches
- Fuselage width: 4.5 inches
The aircraft must have full fuselages and cheek cowls. A 3-inch minimum wheel diameter is required, and wooden propellers are prohibited. This was a short review of the provisional rules as published at www.modelaircraft.org/Comp/2007Proposal/SRCracing.htm.
The old Formula One RC Pylon Racing event has nearly died out for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the subject of appearance points, which involved judging. Additionally, to be competitive the model had to have an exquisite finish and markings, which were often well beyond the average builder’s skills.
Perhaps another factor was the “racehorse” start used in the event, in which all models in a heat were released simultaneously. Takeoffs could get hairy.
In the local sport pylon event, each aircraft takes off individually and then they bunch up for an even start as they cross the start line. A starter uses an air horn to signal a start if they are lined up properly. This is a much safer and easier system for the pilots.
I would think the ARF aspect of the Wichita rules would be attractive to potential competitors if for no other reason than the great reduction in required building time. In this age many fliers lack the time and/or skill to build a model for an event in which wear-and-tear rates are high.
If this event seems fun to you, check out the AMA Web site and talk it up with your flying buddies. Those who enter and enjoy Formula I Sport Racing range in flying skill from advanced to newcomer, so anyone can compete.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
