October 2009 145
The VII SAM [Society of Antique Modelers]
Eurochamps was held in Suhl, Germany, June
10-14, 2009. It was sponsored by the Suhl
Modellsportclub, SAM 85, Graupner, and the
city of Suhl.
Ed Hamler and several others from SAM
USA have regularly attended the European
meets. This year Ed volunteered to CD the
event. He didn’t have to relearn on which side
of the road to drive this year, but he did have
to brush up on a few rules, because European
SAM rules, US rules, and events vary slightly.
As in the US, the 1/2A Texaco and electric
classes are popular. With 26 entries in 1/2A,
the top three finishers were Mokran, Grassi, and Svoboda. Among the
33 entries in ELOT (Electric Old Timer), six competitors maxed out
and a flyoff was launched late Saturday evening.
Italians Mersecchi and Grassi garnered first and second, with
flights approaching 40 minutes. Bulin was third with a flight lasting
more than 20 minutes.
Glider (or sailplane if you prefer) flying has long been popular in
The SAM Eurochamps
Old-Timers Bob Angel | [email protected]
Also included in this column:
• Gasoline glow fuel
• Oil-soak repair hint
• Glass syringe fix
• WW II historical note
• Old-timers try CL
Rover Mersecchi launches for a fellow flier in the OT Glider flyoff. Rover was the
overall champion at the Eurochamps. Dave Harding photo.
Above: Eut Tileston’s Cub flew in the 1/2A Texaco event.
Photographer Ned Nevels enhanced the photo with clouds.
Right: Bud Romak displays his Lanzo RC-1, which is seldom
presented as a cabin model. Bud added windows while maintaining
the original design profile. Eut Tileston photo.
10sig5.QXD 8/21/09 12:35 PM Page 145
Europe, and there were more than 70 entries
in OT Glider. Eleven fliers maxed in all six
rounds. That evening, 11 beautiful Gliders
launched via hi-start and soared together in an
exciting flyoff won by Rover Mersecchi of
Italy in 19 minutes, 56 seconds. Berkö of
Hungary and Hochhofer of Austria placed
second and third.
OT Glider is being reintroduced in the US
this year at the Henderson, Nevada, SAM
Champs, to be held October 5-9. Check MA’s
contest calendar for details.
Texaco had 30 entries. Most used diesel
engines, but the winner, Imoletti of Italy, had
a reliable Ohlsson .60 small port running
smoothly, and he bested the diesels of Knob
and Svoboda in the early afternoon flyoff.
Eight different events were flown and
Rover Mersecchi was awarded the grand
champion trophy, with Ulf Mett, Nick
Bruschi, and Roberto Grassi close behind.
Modelers from Austria, Czech Republic,
Germany, Hungary, Italy, San Marino,
Slovakia, Sweden, and the US attended. More
detailed results are available. See the sources
at the end of this column.
Thanks to CD Ed Hamler for contributing
to this report. Ed thanks host Ulf Mett,
interpreters Holger Menrad and Nick Bruschi,
SAM 85 President Leo Bussmeier, postmaster
Günter Kessel, weighmaster Dr. Juergen
Stengele, and all of the enthusiastic
aeromodelers for making VII SAM
Eurochamps a big success.
Next year, the VIII SAM Eurochamps will
be held in the Czech Republic, June 10-13, at
the Mikulovice Airfield near Jesenik. SAM
78 will host the event.
As a postscript to the contest, Dave Harding
sent the following e-mail message to
SAMTalk regarding the Texaco event.
“There was some conversation at the
Euros about guys trying glow-equipped
engines, burning gasoline with full-time glow
excitation. I don’t know any more on this
approach but of course in theory, the fuel
specific heat value and compression ratio are
prime parameters in economy.”
Using gasoline in a glow engine is indeed
a viable option for Texaco, because the
engine run time is limited to a specific fuel
volume. Gasoline gives better mileage than
alcohol, whether it’s employed in your model
or an automobile. Glow engines using gas are
usually harder to start because of the lack of
catalytic action between the glow plug and
methanol, but they run fine using a battery to
keep the plug lit.
I’ve flown Texaco with a four-stroke
using a 50/50 mix of methanol and gasoline,
plus compatible lubricants. I didn’t want to
bother installing a plug heater battery, and I
found that it wasn’t necessary with that mix.
Because four-strokes tend to run cold, mine
seemed to enjoy the extra warmth supplied by
the gasoline.
Gasoline fuels and additives are allowed in
regular Texaco but specifically prohibited in
the 1/2A Texaco events.
Oil Soak: Old-Timer models are not made
from plastic, and some of them lead a long
and adventurous life. They can become oil
soaked, and oil adds to the challenge when
repairs or refinishing are needed. Typically,
adhesives and paint do not stick well to oily
balsa.
The solution most often used and
recommended is the spray-can product K2r,
found at Ace Hardware and similar stores.
K2r sprays on as a light aromatic, soaking
into the balsa. As it dries, it turns to a white
powder, absorbing the oil and wicking it to
the surface where it can be brushed away.
When there’s a large oil-soaked area,
some modelers start with one or more
applications of corn starch or other absorbent
material. Diatomaceous earth also makes a
good absorbent. It’s a fine white powder,
possibly the same ingredient as in K2r. It can
be more cost effective, except it’s usually sold
in large-volume sacks as swimming pool filter
material.
When all of these tricks have been
utilized and the result is still not quite
satisfactory, I’ve found that thin CA seems to
soak into slightly oily wood and cure into a
nice, hard surface that is suitable for gluing or
refinishing.
CA can be sparingly applied by wiping or
patting across the surface using the backing
material from plastic film covering. It doesn’t
stick to that type of plastic, and the result
sands reasonably well.
Glass Syringes: In my June 2009 column, I
mentioned that the imported syringes some of
us prefer for gasoline fueling were thin,
untempered glass and easily broken. Gordon
Smith of Santa Barbara, California, sent the
following hint to make them more durable
and safer.
“Here’s a tip about making cheap glass
items less brittle and therefore safer to use.
My Child Bride (of 60 years) and I have
found that the main difference between cheap
glass items like water glasses and the more
expensive ones is that the cheapies are not
properly stress relieved.
“We put them in a large pot of cold water,
bring the water slowly to boiling, and then
turn off the heat and let the whole thing cool
to room temperature before removing the
glass items. This anneals the glass, which
makes it much more flexible and less likely
to break. Try it on your glass syringes; I think
you will be happy with the result!”
Thanks, Gordon. That sounds reasonable,
but I suggest that you anneal only the outer
barrel, because the plunger unit is sealed with
air inside. I wouldn’t want you to risk
pressurizing it and create a possible
Order foam wings from
the AMA Plans Service.
(765) 287-1256, extension 507
I was so disappointed that so many
fields were members only; they would not
even talk to you if you were not going to
join their club for $100.00 up plus initial
fee of $50.00 up, and that is ridiculous. I
am an AMA member and an AMA
instructor at our club in Florence Arizona.
Our dues are $20.00 year no initial fee. We
welcome all flyers no charge and you
don’t have to join the club.
We have a 600 ft by 100 ft runway
paved, large shade and plenty of parking.
In Lubbock Texas they were
accommodating and friendly and I met a
lot of individuals that were very nice. My
hat is off to a farmer in Mich that had his
own runway grass but in excellent shape
that said fly any time I wanted to as long
as I was AMA and that is the way it should
be.
So sad as it could have been a lot better
trip. Clubs should take in consideration
members who are traveling. Thanks. MA
Hilton David Lantz
via e-mail
Aero Mail
Continued from page 7
explosion. Usually only the outer barrel
breaks.
Rocky Giordano sent another potential
solution.
“The Fortuna brand PP/PE syringes are
translucent plastic and have no rubber piston.
The piston is part of the plastic plunger (either
PE or PP) and nothing will bother it.
“Norvel used to sell them, but Norvel is
extinct. You can get them from Sigma-
Aldrich Company [see “Sources”] if you buy
them in quantity. The variety of syringes
offered is confusing, but I prefer the 20 and
50 ml. sizes without the Luer Lock tips.”
Thanks, Rocky. Gasoline and mineral oils
will cause rubber plunger seals in most plastic
syringes to swell and become unusable. Glow
fuels seldom cause that problem.
History Lesson: George Schroedter, now 81,
sent the following interesting tidbit from the
1940s, when gasoline and other things were
rationed.
“Your column brought back some
memories. I recall that obtaining the white gas
and the SAE 70 oil during WW II required
going to the local Ration Board and filling out
a form on which I gave the details of my two
engines: an Ohlsson .19 and a Super Cyke.
Included among the data asked for were the
horsepower and the displacement. I’d turn it
in and then had to come back a couple of days
later to pick up some ‘E’ ration stamps to turn
in at the filling station.
“Those were the wonderful days of flying
at Western & Rosecrans and the semiannual
contests put on by the Los Angeles Gas
Model Airplane Club (LAGMAC).
“Good flying.”
Fliers crash—not models! CL flying can
be a dizzying experience for those who
have never done it or who have been away
for a few years. My friend, Jim Bierbauer,
decided we needed to relive our youth, so
he dug out one of his old CL models and
brought it to the regular OT flying session.
We wisely decided to alternate as pilot,
in anticipation of possible problems. I took
off with it first and found that time had
warped the wings too far out of trim to
permit switching between inverted and
upright flight to unwind brain, inner ear,
and eyeballs. The world was spinning and
becoming more blurry with each
revolution.
Roughly halfway through the flight, I
yelled for Jim to come in and take over.
The handoff went smoothly enough, and
we managed to complete the flight without
crashing the airplane. But in each case, as
soon as the body stopped rotating, the
brain did not, while the eyes suddenly saw
the spinning world come to a stop. And in
both cases we crashed dizzily to the
ground.
Two positive things came from this
experience: the model was intact and no
one had a video camera! MA
Sources:
SAM Eurochamps results:
www.flugmodellsportclub-suhl.de/
PP/PE fueling syringes:
www.sigmaaldrich.com
Society of Antique Modelers
www.antiquemodeler.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/10
Page Numbers: 145,146,147
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/10
Page Numbers: 145,146,147
October 2009 145
The VII SAM [Society of Antique Modelers]
Eurochamps was held in Suhl, Germany, June
10-14, 2009. It was sponsored by the Suhl
Modellsportclub, SAM 85, Graupner, and the
city of Suhl.
Ed Hamler and several others from SAM
USA have regularly attended the European
meets. This year Ed volunteered to CD the
event. He didn’t have to relearn on which side
of the road to drive this year, but he did have
to brush up on a few rules, because European
SAM rules, US rules, and events vary slightly.
As in the US, the 1/2A Texaco and electric
classes are popular. With 26 entries in 1/2A,
the top three finishers were Mokran, Grassi, and Svoboda. Among the
33 entries in ELOT (Electric Old Timer), six competitors maxed out
and a flyoff was launched late Saturday evening.
Italians Mersecchi and Grassi garnered first and second, with
flights approaching 40 minutes. Bulin was third with a flight lasting
more than 20 minutes.
Glider (or sailplane if you prefer) flying has long been popular in
The SAM Eurochamps
Old-Timers Bob Angel | [email protected]
Also included in this column:
• Gasoline glow fuel
• Oil-soak repair hint
• Glass syringe fix
• WW II historical note
• Old-timers try CL
Rover Mersecchi launches for a fellow flier in the OT Glider flyoff. Rover was the
overall champion at the Eurochamps. Dave Harding photo.
Above: Eut Tileston’s Cub flew in the 1/2A Texaco event.
Photographer Ned Nevels enhanced the photo with clouds.
Right: Bud Romak displays his Lanzo RC-1, which is seldom
presented as a cabin model. Bud added windows while maintaining
the original design profile. Eut Tileston photo.
10sig5.QXD 8/21/09 12:35 PM Page 145
Europe, and there were more than 70 entries
in OT Glider. Eleven fliers maxed in all six
rounds. That evening, 11 beautiful Gliders
launched via hi-start and soared together in an
exciting flyoff won by Rover Mersecchi of
Italy in 19 minutes, 56 seconds. Berkö of
Hungary and Hochhofer of Austria placed
second and third.
OT Glider is being reintroduced in the US
this year at the Henderson, Nevada, SAM
Champs, to be held October 5-9. Check MA’s
contest calendar for details.
Texaco had 30 entries. Most used diesel
engines, but the winner, Imoletti of Italy, had
a reliable Ohlsson .60 small port running
smoothly, and he bested the diesels of Knob
and Svoboda in the early afternoon flyoff.
Eight different events were flown and
Rover Mersecchi was awarded the grand
champion trophy, with Ulf Mett, Nick
Bruschi, and Roberto Grassi close behind.
Modelers from Austria, Czech Republic,
Germany, Hungary, Italy, San Marino,
Slovakia, Sweden, and the US attended. More
detailed results are available. See the sources
at the end of this column.
Thanks to CD Ed Hamler for contributing
to this report. Ed thanks host Ulf Mett,
interpreters Holger Menrad and Nick Bruschi,
SAM 85 President Leo Bussmeier, postmaster
Günter Kessel, weighmaster Dr. Juergen
Stengele, and all of the enthusiastic
aeromodelers for making VII SAM
Eurochamps a big success.
Next year, the VIII SAM Eurochamps will
be held in the Czech Republic, June 10-13, at
the Mikulovice Airfield near Jesenik. SAM
78 will host the event.
As a postscript to the contest, Dave Harding
sent the following e-mail message to
SAMTalk regarding the Texaco event.
“There was some conversation at the
Euros about guys trying glow-equipped
engines, burning gasoline with full-time glow
excitation. I don’t know any more on this
approach but of course in theory, the fuel
specific heat value and compression ratio are
prime parameters in economy.”
Using gasoline in a glow engine is indeed
a viable option for Texaco, because the
engine run time is limited to a specific fuel
volume. Gasoline gives better mileage than
alcohol, whether it’s employed in your model
or an automobile. Glow engines using gas are
usually harder to start because of the lack of
catalytic action between the glow plug and
methanol, but they run fine using a battery to
keep the plug lit.
I’ve flown Texaco with a four-stroke
using a 50/50 mix of methanol and gasoline,
plus compatible lubricants. I didn’t want to
bother installing a plug heater battery, and I
found that it wasn’t necessary with that mix.
Because four-strokes tend to run cold, mine
seemed to enjoy the extra warmth supplied by
the gasoline.
Gasoline fuels and additives are allowed in
regular Texaco but specifically prohibited in
the 1/2A Texaco events.
Oil Soak: Old-Timer models are not made
from plastic, and some of them lead a long
and adventurous life. They can become oil
soaked, and oil adds to the challenge when
repairs or refinishing are needed. Typically,
adhesives and paint do not stick well to oily
balsa.
The solution most often used and
recommended is the spray-can product K2r,
found at Ace Hardware and similar stores.
K2r sprays on as a light aromatic, soaking
into the balsa. As it dries, it turns to a white
powder, absorbing the oil and wicking it to
the surface where it can be brushed away.
When there’s a large oil-soaked area,
some modelers start with one or more
applications of corn starch or other absorbent
material. Diatomaceous earth also makes a
good absorbent. It’s a fine white powder,
possibly the same ingredient as in K2r. It can
be more cost effective, except it’s usually sold
in large-volume sacks as swimming pool filter
material.
When all of these tricks have been
utilized and the result is still not quite
satisfactory, I’ve found that thin CA seems to
soak into slightly oily wood and cure into a
nice, hard surface that is suitable for gluing or
refinishing.
CA can be sparingly applied by wiping or
patting across the surface using the backing
material from plastic film covering. It doesn’t
stick to that type of plastic, and the result
sands reasonably well.
Glass Syringes: In my June 2009 column, I
mentioned that the imported syringes some of
us prefer for gasoline fueling were thin,
untempered glass and easily broken. Gordon
Smith of Santa Barbara, California, sent the
following hint to make them more durable
and safer.
“Here’s a tip about making cheap glass
items less brittle and therefore safer to use.
My Child Bride (of 60 years) and I have
found that the main difference between cheap
glass items like water glasses and the more
expensive ones is that the cheapies are not
properly stress relieved.
“We put them in a large pot of cold water,
bring the water slowly to boiling, and then
turn off the heat and let the whole thing cool
to room temperature before removing the
glass items. This anneals the glass, which
makes it much more flexible and less likely
to break. Try it on your glass syringes; I think
you will be happy with the result!”
Thanks, Gordon. That sounds reasonable,
but I suggest that you anneal only the outer
barrel, because the plunger unit is sealed with
air inside. I wouldn’t want you to risk
pressurizing it and create a possible
Order foam wings from
the AMA Plans Service.
(765) 287-1256, extension 507
I was so disappointed that so many
fields were members only; they would not
even talk to you if you were not going to
join their club for $100.00 up plus initial
fee of $50.00 up, and that is ridiculous. I
am an AMA member and an AMA
instructor at our club in Florence Arizona.
Our dues are $20.00 year no initial fee. We
welcome all flyers no charge and you
don’t have to join the club.
We have a 600 ft by 100 ft runway
paved, large shade and plenty of parking.
In Lubbock Texas they were
accommodating and friendly and I met a
lot of individuals that were very nice. My
hat is off to a farmer in Mich that had his
own runway grass but in excellent shape
that said fly any time I wanted to as long
as I was AMA and that is the way it should
be.
So sad as it could have been a lot better
trip. Clubs should take in consideration
members who are traveling. Thanks. MA
Hilton David Lantz
via e-mail
Aero Mail
Continued from page 7
explosion. Usually only the outer barrel
breaks.
Rocky Giordano sent another potential
solution.
“The Fortuna brand PP/PE syringes are
translucent plastic and have no rubber piston.
The piston is part of the plastic plunger (either
PE or PP) and nothing will bother it.
“Norvel used to sell them, but Norvel is
extinct. You can get them from Sigma-
Aldrich Company [see “Sources”] if you buy
them in quantity. The variety of syringes
offered is confusing, but I prefer the 20 and
50 ml. sizes without the Luer Lock tips.”
Thanks, Rocky. Gasoline and mineral oils
will cause rubber plunger seals in most plastic
syringes to swell and become unusable. Glow
fuels seldom cause that problem.
History Lesson: George Schroedter, now 81,
sent the following interesting tidbit from the
1940s, when gasoline and other things were
rationed.
“Your column brought back some
memories. I recall that obtaining the white gas
and the SAE 70 oil during WW II required
going to the local Ration Board and filling out
a form on which I gave the details of my two
engines: an Ohlsson .19 and a Super Cyke.
Included among the data asked for were the
horsepower and the displacement. I’d turn it
in and then had to come back a couple of days
later to pick up some ‘E’ ration stamps to turn
in at the filling station.
“Those were the wonderful days of flying
at Western & Rosecrans and the semiannual
contests put on by the Los Angeles Gas
Model Airplane Club (LAGMAC).
“Good flying.”
Fliers crash—not models! CL flying can
be a dizzying experience for those who
have never done it or who have been away
for a few years. My friend, Jim Bierbauer,
decided we needed to relive our youth, so
he dug out one of his old CL models and
brought it to the regular OT flying session.
We wisely decided to alternate as pilot,
in anticipation of possible problems. I took
off with it first and found that time had
warped the wings too far out of trim to
permit switching between inverted and
upright flight to unwind brain, inner ear,
and eyeballs. The world was spinning and
becoming more blurry with each
revolution.
Roughly halfway through the flight, I
yelled for Jim to come in and take over.
The handoff went smoothly enough, and
we managed to complete the flight without
crashing the airplane. But in each case, as
soon as the body stopped rotating, the
brain did not, while the eyes suddenly saw
the spinning world come to a stop. And in
both cases we crashed dizzily to the
ground.
Two positive things came from this
experience: the model was intact and no
one had a video camera! MA
Sources:
SAM Eurochamps results:
www.flugmodellsportclub-suhl.de/
PP/PE fueling syringes:
www.sigmaaldrich.com
Society of Antique Modelers
www.antiquemodeler.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/10
Page Numbers: 145,146,147
October 2009 145
The VII SAM [Society of Antique Modelers]
Eurochamps was held in Suhl, Germany, June
10-14, 2009. It was sponsored by the Suhl
Modellsportclub, SAM 85, Graupner, and the
city of Suhl.
Ed Hamler and several others from SAM
USA have regularly attended the European
meets. This year Ed volunteered to CD the
event. He didn’t have to relearn on which side
of the road to drive this year, but he did have
to brush up on a few rules, because European
SAM rules, US rules, and events vary slightly.
As in the US, the 1/2A Texaco and electric
classes are popular. With 26 entries in 1/2A,
the top three finishers were Mokran, Grassi, and Svoboda. Among the
33 entries in ELOT (Electric Old Timer), six competitors maxed out
and a flyoff was launched late Saturday evening.
Italians Mersecchi and Grassi garnered first and second, with
flights approaching 40 minutes. Bulin was third with a flight lasting
more than 20 minutes.
Glider (or sailplane if you prefer) flying has long been popular in
The SAM Eurochamps
Old-Timers Bob Angel | [email protected]
Also included in this column:
• Gasoline glow fuel
• Oil-soak repair hint
• Glass syringe fix
• WW II historical note
• Old-timers try CL
Rover Mersecchi launches for a fellow flier in the OT Glider flyoff. Rover was the
overall champion at the Eurochamps. Dave Harding photo.
Above: Eut Tileston’s Cub flew in the 1/2A Texaco event.
Photographer Ned Nevels enhanced the photo with clouds.
Right: Bud Romak displays his Lanzo RC-1, which is seldom
presented as a cabin model. Bud added windows while maintaining
the original design profile. Eut Tileston photo.
10sig5.QXD 8/21/09 12:35 PM Page 145
Europe, and there were more than 70 entries
in OT Glider. Eleven fliers maxed in all six
rounds. That evening, 11 beautiful Gliders
launched via hi-start and soared together in an
exciting flyoff won by Rover Mersecchi of
Italy in 19 minutes, 56 seconds. Berkö of
Hungary and Hochhofer of Austria placed
second and third.
OT Glider is being reintroduced in the US
this year at the Henderson, Nevada, SAM
Champs, to be held October 5-9. Check MA’s
contest calendar for details.
Texaco had 30 entries. Most used diesel
engines, but the winner, Imoletti of Italy, had
a reliable Ohlsson .60 small port running
smoothly, and he bested the diesels of Knob
and Svoboda in the early afternoon flyoff.
Eight different events were flown and
Rover Mersecchi was awarded the grand
champion trophy, with Ulf Mett, Nick
Bruschi, and Roberto Grassi close behind.
Modelers from Austria, Czech Republic,
Germany, Hungary, Italy, San Marino,
Slovakia, Sweden, and the US attended. More
detailed results are available. See the sources
at the end of this column.
Thanks to CD Ed Hamler for contributing
to this report. Ed thanks host Ulf Mett,
interpreters Holger Menrad and Nick Bruschi,
SAM 85 President Leo Bussmeier, postmaster
Günter Kessel, weighmaster Dr. Juergen
Stengele, and all of the enthusiastic
aeromodelers for making VII SAM
Eurochamps a big success.
Next year, the VIII SAM Eurochamps will
be held in the Czech Republic, June 10-13, at
the Mikulovice Airfield near Jesenik. SAM
78 will host the event.
As a postscript to the contest, Dave Harding
sent the following e-mail message to
SAMTalk regarding the Texaco event.
“There was some conversation at the
Euros about guys trying glow-equipped
engines, burning gasoline with full-time glow
excitation. I don’t know any more on this
approach but of course in theory, the fuel
specific heat value and compression ratio are
prime parameters in economy.”
Using gasoline in a glow engine is indeed
a viable option for Texaco, because the
engine run time is limited to a specific fuel
volume. Gasoline gives better mileage than
alcohol, whether it’s employed in your model
or an automobile. Glow engines using gas are
usually harder to start because of the lack of
catalytic action between the glow plug and
methanol, but they run fine using a battery to
keep the plug lit.
I’ve flown Texaco with a four-stroke
using a 50/50 mix of methanol and gasoline,
plus compatible lubricants. I didn’t want to
bother installing a plug heater battery, and I
found that it wasn’t necessary with that mix.
Because four-strokes tend to run cold, mine
seemed to enjoy the extra warmth supplied by
the gasoline.
Gasoline fuels and additives are allowed in
regular Texaco but specifically prohibited in
the 1/2A Texaco events.
Oil Soak: Old-Timer models are not made
from plastic, and some of them lead a long
and adventurous life. They can become oil
soaked, and oil adds to the challenge when
repairs or refinishing are needed. Typically,
adhesives and paint do not stick well to oily
balsa.
The solution most often used and
recommended is the spray-can product K2r,
found at Ace Hardware and similar stores.
K2r sprays on as a light aromatic, soaking
into the balsa. As it dries, it turns to a white
powder, absorbing the oil and wicking it to
the surface where it can be brushed away.
When there’s a large oil-soaked area,
some modelers start with one or more
applications of corn starch or other absorbent
material. Diatomaceous earth also makes a
good absorbent. It’s a fine white powder,
possibly the same ingredient as in K2r. It can
be more cost effective, except it’s usually sold
in large-volume sacks as swimming pool filter
material.
When all of these tricks have been
utilized and the result is still not quite
satisfactory, I’ve found that thin CA seems to
soak into slightly oily wood and cure into a
nice, hard surface that is suitable for gluing or
refinishing.
CA can be sparingly applied by wiping or
patting across the surface using the backing
material from plastic film covering. It doesn’t
stick to that type of plastic, and the result
sands reasonably well.
Glass Syringes: In my June 2009 column, I
mentioned that the imported syringes some of
us prefer for gasoline fueling were thin,
untempered glass and easily broken. Gordon
Smith of Santa Barbara, California, sent the
following hint to make them more durable
and safer.
“Here’s a tip about making cheap glass
items less brittle and therefore safer to use.
My Child Bride (of 60 years) and I have
found that the main difference between cheap
glass items like water glasses and the more
expensive ones is that the cheapies are not
properly stress relieved.
“We put them in a large pot of cold water,
bring the water slowly to boiling, and then
turn off the heat and let the whole thing cool
to room temperature before removing the
glass items. This anneals the glass, which
makes it much more flexible and less likely
to break. Try it on your glass syringes; I think
you will be happy with the result!”
Thanks, Gordon. That sounds reasonable,
but I suggest that you anneal only the outer
barrel, because the plunger unit is sealed with
air inside. I wouldn’t want you to risk
pressurizing it and create a possible
Order foam wings from
the AMA Plans Service.
(765) 287-1256, extension 507
I was so disappointed that so many
fields were members only; they would not
even talk to you if you were not going to
join their club for $100.00 up plus initial
fee of $50.00 up, and that is ridiculous. I
am an AMA member and an AMA
instructor at our club in Florence Arizona.
Our dues are $20.00 year no initial fee. We
welcome all flyers no charge and you
don’t have to join the club.
We have a 600 ft by 100 ft runway
paved, large shade and plenty of parking.
In Lubbock Texas they were
accommodating and friendly and I met a
lot of individuals that were very nice. My
hat is off to a farmer in Mich that had his
own runway grass but in excellent shape
that said fly any time I wanted to as long
as I was AMA and that is the way it should
be.
So sad as it could have been a lot better
trip. Clubs should take in consideration
members who are traveling. Thanks. MA
Hilton David Lantz
via e-mail
Aero Mail
Continued from page 7
explosion. Usually only the outer barrel
breaks.
Rocky Giordano sent another potential
solution.
“The Fortuna brand PP/PE syringes are
translucent plastic and have no rubber piston.
The piston is part of the plastic plunger (either
PE or PP) and nothing will bother it.
“Norvel used to sell them, but Norvel is
extinct. You can get them from Sigma-
Aldrich Company [see “Sources”] if you buy
them in quantity. The variety of syringes
offered is confusing, but I prefer the 20 and
50 ml. sizes without the Luer Lock tips.”
Thanks, Rocky. Gasoline and mineral oils
will cause rubber plunger seals in most plastic
syringes to swell and become unusable. Glow
fuels seldom cause that problem.
History Lesson: George Schroedter, now 81,
sent the following interesting tidbit from the
1940s, when gasoline and other things were
rationed.
“Your column brought back some
memories. I recall that obtaining the white gas
and the SAE 70 oil during WW II required
going to the local Ration Board and filling out
a form on which I gave the details of my two
engines: an Ohlsson .19 and a Super Cyke.
Included among the data asked for were the
horsepower and the displacement. I’d turn it
in and then had to come back a couple of days
later to pick up some ‘E’ ration stamps to turn
in at the filling station.
“Those were the wonderful days of flying
at Western & Rosecrans and the semiannual
contests put on by the Los Angeles Gas
Model Airplane Club (LAGMAC).
“Good flying.”
Fliers crash—not models! CL flying can
be a dizzying experience for those who
have never done it or who have been away
for a few years. My friend, Jim Bierbauer,
decided we needed to relive our youth, so
he dug out one of his old CL models and
brought it to the regular OT flying session.
We wisely decided to alternate as pilot,
in anticipation of possible problems. I took
off with it first and found that time had
warped the wings too far out of trim to
permit switching between inverted and
upright flight to unwind brain, inner ear,
and eyeballs. The world was spinning and
becoming more blurry with each
revolution.
Roughly halfway through the flight, I
yelled for Jim to come in and take over.
The handoff went smoothly enough, and
we managed to complete the flight without
crashing the airplane. But in each case, as
soon as the body stopped rotating, the
brain did not, while the eyes suddenly saw
the spinning world come to a stop. And in
both cases we crashed dizzily to the
ground.
Two positive things came from this
experience: the model was intact and no
one had a video camera! MA
Sources:
SAM Eurochamps results:
www.flugmodellsportclub-suhl.de/
PP/PE fueling syringes:
www.sigmaaldrich.com
Society of Antique Modelers
www.antiquemodeler.org