Radio Control Combat — Don Grissom [[email protected]]
Homemade engine repair and improvement
When I returned home from a recent contest, I noticed that one of my engines had sustained a lot of damage. It was an O.S. 15LA that I use for Slow Survivable Combat (SSC). Most people thought that I would have to replace the carburetor and muffler because the connections were torn off.
Despite the severity of the damage, all I needed to repair the engine was copper tubing and J.B. Weld, which you can get from a hardware store. This product is similar to epoxy but can handle the heat from the engine and does a good job of mending different materials.
To make this repair:
- Remove the remaining fuel connection from the engine or muffler.
- Clean the surface and remove debris. Soap and water or any grease-cutting cleaner or spray work well.
- Using a drill bit the size of the copper tubing, enlarge the holes where the tubing will be substituted for the old fittings.
- Place the copper tubing in the hole and try to blow air through it to make sure it is the correct size. This is important on the carburetor because you want a smooth fuel flow into the engine.
- Mix a 50/50 blend of the two J.B. Weld compounds in a mixing cup or tray. You won’t need much.
- Let the mixed compound sit for approximately a minute before applying so it starts to harden. If applied too soon it might ooze into the hole and prevent a good fuel flow.
- Apply the resin to the outside of the connection and the copper tubing. Do not put any in the hole you made; you risk clogging the inlets.
- Keep the part level and do not move it much. Let the resin cure for a day or two before using the engine.
I have found that these connections, if done correctly, will last longer than the originals.
Bushwhacked Spring Fling — West Palm Beach, FL
I received some new 2548 Combat kits from Chris Handegard that I plan on working on for the next issue. Chris has been one of the biggest supporters of 2548 in the past few years. Last year he released a Ki-43 Oscar that I currently use, and this year he has released his P-47 kit. While I was talking to Chris, he sent me information about his first contest of the year.
Hosted by the RC Bush Pilots of West Palm Beach, Florida, the 5th Annual Bushwhacked Spring Fling took place April 10–11. Three classes of competition were scheduled:
- Open B
- Scale 2548
- SSC
Each category had a planned eight rounds. Pilots traveled from as far away as Palm City, Naples, and Tampa, Florida. Among the group were two young fliers: Nick Windsor and Kenny Clements. Nick is a relative veteran, having participated in the AMA Nationals, and Kenny is in his second season of competition. Both are already accomplished Combat pilots.
Weather conditions were a factor in this contest from the outset; wind speeds on Saturday were easily 25 mph and gusty, but fortunately they came from a favorable direction. Even so, the nine competitors in Open B had their hands full with the blustery conditions. Mostly sunny skies prevailed. The first five rounds were flown in two heats. Then the pilots went to all-up for the final three rounds, which is exciting. Good club support and spectator turnout made for a good event, and the Bush Pilots cooked and served lunch to the pilots, volunteers, and spectators. The competition itself and scoring were standard. When the competition was finished, young Nick Windsor had pulled out to a lead of nearly 1,000 points.
Maintaining a smooth-flowing and rapid pace was easy because everyone arrived well prepared, even though bad weather was predicted. That proved to be substantially motivating. The event came to a close on Sunday after flying only six of the eight scheduled rounds in SSC because a thunderstorm got too close for comfort.
Having completed the eight scheduled Open B rounds, Saturday’s action continued as planned with four rounds of 2548 Scale. Seven pilots flew in the first four rounds on Saturday, and an eighth pilot was expected to join the group on Sunday.
The realism of Combat models that are intended to replicate World War II fighters and the slower speeds in 2548 competition make for a flavor of Combat that pilots and spectators alike enjoy. It generally calls for more pursuit and a tactical approach rather than all-out melee.
The weather on Sunday turned wet, but that did not deter eight stalwart souls from gearing up with their finest heavy metal to sortie out into the gray unknown and do battle. After enduring intermittent showers and unfortunate streamer fall-off, the competition transitioned to the use of forestry tape instead of standard crepe paper streamers.
Forestry tape is used to mark trees for various reasons, such as harvesting; it is weather-resistant and much harder to cut or break than regular streamer material. Combat pilots use forestry tape in place of standard crepe paper whenever conditions become too humid.
After two days of sun, wind, rain, and more wind, the event wrapped up with Nick Windsor claiming the overall championship trophy. The finishing order in SSC and Scale 2548 were the same; fifth through first places went to:
- John Harding (5th)
- Kenny Clements (4th)
- Craig Buttery (3rd)
- Nick Windsor (2nd)
- Chris Handegard (1st)
I thank the AMA for maintaining RC Combat as an officially sanctioned event and the Radio Control Combat Association for its outstanding organization of our SIG and the website it maintains. The RCCA site contains a wealth of information and many resources and tools that make putting on a contest much easier for the contest director and the competition pilots.
Check the contest listings for an event near you, and join the fun by coming to watch. Better yet, experience for yourself the thrill of the chase; see if you don’t agree that RC Combat is the most exciting five minutes in model aviation.
Sources
- The Radio Control Combat Association
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
