Radio Control Combat - 2011/01

[[email protected]]
Radio Control Combat Don Grissom
January 2011 109
The benefits of RCCA membership
Lou Melancon with a Treneff RC Battle Axe, which is
available in a Slow Survivable Combat (SSC) and an
Open B version. The SSC model has an average flying
weight of 41 ounces.
Chris Quinn designed the easy-to-assemble Battle Axe,
and Treneff RC kits it. Lou did a build-along review of
the model that is posted on the RCCA Web site.
The Battle Axe comes in single- and three-kit packs, with
everything labeled and organized. The model is powered by
an O.S. 15LA and requires three metal-gear microservos,
receiver, and 700 mAh airborne pack.
THIS HAS BEEN another long year of Combat, with many events being
held across the country. One thing to remember is that without fliers there
would be no Combat.
As do most other forms of aeromodeling, we have an AMA SIG that
maintains the rules and regulations as well as organizes and promotes our
discipline. The RC Combat Association, or RCCA as we call it, has been
around for numerous years.
The RCCA is the largest RC Combat organization in the US, and the
AMA regards it as the official voice of Combat fliers. By looking at the
ranks of a SIG’s membership, the Academy can tell at a glance what
percentage of its membership is interested in this aspect of the hobby. So
the first reason to become an RCCA member is to have your voice heard,
your presence known, and your interest clearly identified.
If there were no RCCA members or a tiny membership, the AMA, its
chartered clubs, and its flying sites would have little reason to have an
interest in Combat; we would be by ourselves. Membership in RCCA
gives you the credibility and strength of a national organization.
The RCCA is also your voice with the AMA when it comes to making
nationally consistent rules. You can be assured that wherever you go in
the US to fly Combat at an RCCA or AMA rule book contest, you will be
flying according to the same rules you do at home.
The RCCA has the most active RC Combat Web site on the Internet.
There are quite a few discussion forums on the subject, but far and away
the biggest, most active, and most content rich is on the official RCCA
page.
Not only can you gain a tremendous amount of technical and tactical
knowledge on the Web site, but you can also keep up with members in your
area and check the
rankings of who is
leading the points races
so you can follow what
type of equipment they
fly. In addition, the
RCCA board of
directors uses the forum,
among others, to keep
the membership
Also included in this column:
• RC Battle Axe
RCCA members Glen Kratz and Jason Erwin support RC
Combat by promoting it at the 2010 AMA Expo in
Ontario, California.
01sig4x.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/22/10 8:33 AM Page 109
informed of what is happening in our sport.
This past year there was an election of
new RCCA officers, with Bob Loescher
being re-elected as president and Danny
Bronstein taking over as vice president. The
treasurer, which keeps up the membership,
is Keith Jones.
The organization also has district
representatives and appointed officers, such
as Randy Hodges who keeps the scores for
the National Points System.
An RCCA membership is $15 a year,
which goes toward paying for the Web site
and holding the RC Combat Nats. Visit the
site if you want to learn more.
I was recently looking through all of the
models that have been written about and
remembered a build-along that Lou
Melancon did with the Treneff RC Battle
Axe kit.
It is a great review, with many pictures
posted on the company’s Web site.
110 MODEL AVIATION
Following is a portion of what Lou wrote
about the kit.
“I needed planes for the upcoming Mid
America Championships June 21st in
Tennessee. In the past I scratch built Cobras,
and Georgia Gorillas [from Georgia RC
Aircraft Combat]. This time I did not have any
foam on hand, nor Coro[plast], or plastic
fencepost material.
“Instead of driving to the different outlets
to get these things, and having to buy more
than I needed I decided to get kits. I ordered
the 3-pack from Treneff RC and am very
happy with the results. It is a very complete kit
and I can heartily recommend it …
“The plane shown is a ‘Battle Axe’
designed by Chris Quinn and exceptionally
kitted by Treneff RC … This one is powered
by an OS LA .15 running on 30% heli fuel,
Hayes 4 ounce clunk tank, with three metal
geared micro servos, a Hitec 555 receiver,
700Mah airborne pack and weighs 41 ounces.
“Treneff RC offers SSC and Open B
versions of the Battle Axe … There are two
‘parts’ packages with the basic kit. The
individual plastic bags contain all the parts
needed to complete the plane and make up
the wing saddle.
“The wing cores are each marked on the
inboard root, and the wing is assembled in
conventional combat fashion then covered
with bidirectional tape … and then with
colored packing tape. The “Battle Axe”
pressure sensitive decals are a very nice
touch.
“The fuselage is almost a completely
‘bolt together’ affair. The mounting holes
for the OS LA are already drilled and fit
perfectly. The 4x40 hex bolts, washers and
locknuts are supplied.
“How does it fly? Great! I set the first
two planes up identically and they both
launched with an easy over hand toss. I
followed the Treneff’s recommended
break-in process and was seeing 17,250
rpm on the fourth flight of each plane.
“If you are looking for a quality kit that
is very complete that builds into a top level
competitive fighter then I heartily
recommend you to Chris Quinn’s Battle
Axe as kitted by Treneff RC.” MA
Sources:
RC Combat Association
www.rccombat.com
Treneff RC
(731) 217-2868
www.treneffrc.com
Georgia RC Aircraft Combat
www.georgiacombat.com
01sig4x.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/22/10 8:33 AM Page 110