RC COMBAT 2013/07 Flight box options and weather woes
by Don Grissom [email protected]
I am ready for another trip to Muncie, Indiana, for the RC Combat Nats. This year’s contest will be held July 16–19. If you have never attended the Nats, consider making a trip even if only for one of the events.
The Nats will start with Open B and Slow Survivable Combat (SSC) on the first two days, followed by two days of Limited B and 2948 Scale.
RC Combat participants who travel more than 500 miles to the Nats can receive a $100 gas card from the Radio Control Combat Association (RCCA) for every 500 miles traveled, but you must be registered for the event by the end of June.
RCCA will also have T-shirts for those who have registered for the Nats by the end of June. Because it will be nearly the end of June when you receive this magazine, you will need to call the AMA to register so your application can be received in time.
Nats registration forms are available at www.modelaircraft.org/events/nats/entryforms.aspx.
Flight Boxes
As I was getting ready for a contest, I noticed that my flight box was once again falling apart. When flying Combat, it’s important to have an organized way to keep your airplane parts ready to go at any time. There are many times during a contest when changing a servo or replacing a fuel tank may be necessary.
One of the easiest flight boxes to buy is a tackle box at a sporting goods store or a discount store such as Walmart. You want one that has divided storage containers that allow you to store small parts such as screws and servo horns.
Other items I store in the box include fuel tubing, glues, and replacement engine parts. Many times I have knocked parts off an engine and repaired it with a simple piece. Velcro and zip ties are also stored in my box.
Be careful what you store in the top of the tackle box because sun and heat can damage some items.
Another flight box option is to make your own, such as the one William Drumm III made. Not only is it a place to store airplane parts, it also doubles as a flight stand. He uses Plexiglas with Velcro to protect the items in the top from spilled fuel.
In a previous design, William had a built-in charger, but to make it easier to charge airplanes in other locations, he made a separate box that contains the charger and a power supply.
It is important to keep everything in your flight box organized. During a contest, things move quickly and you want to be able to get what you need without having to search for something.
When Weather Is a Factor
In the past few years we have seen many new Combat participants in Virginia and Maryland. This year alone there will be more than four contests in the area.
I got together with David Smithgall and his wife, Audra, to get some information about a recent contest. As with many contests early in the year, weather was a factor.
“Rain, sleet, snow, thunderstorms, and downpours … arghhh! Every weatherman was saying the same thing: ‘Saturday’s forecast is going to be a washout.’ Even my club members mistakenly assumed the event was canceled, but I refused to let anything dampen it. Although the Farmer’s Almanac says this is the weekend to plant potatoes and prepare the gardens, around here St. Patrick’s Day means Combat at Battle over Blue Ridge!
“I tried to ignore the weather and stay positive. After all, these events take months to plan. I filed for the AMA sanction, registered the event on RCCA, encouraged pilots to participate, printed the score sheets, and rolled the streamers.
“The planes have all been glued, taped, or repaired, and wings are covered. I even have a few new planes to start the season with. I had everything packed and waiting by the front door ready to load in the truck in the morning. I tried to get a good night’s sleep but the impending rain kept me restless.
“Finally, it was Saturday and I woke ready to go. I had a cup of coffee and walked outside. It wasn’t raining and I felt pretty good about that. I took a quick shower and then started grabbing stuff to load in the truck. I opened the front door and like a bad joke—it was pouring!
“I loaded everything I needed in the rain and started the 40-minute drive over the mountains, cursing the rain and praying that it would just stop.
“This was the season kickoff for Combat in my area and we were all antsy to fly. I expected several out-of-state pilots. It had been a long winter on the East Coast.
“As I pulled up the drive to the club field, it was as if my prayers had been answered! The clouds parted, the sky turned blue, and the sun began to shine. Very quickly, we shed our coats and T-shirts became the attire for the 60° day.
“Eight of the 10 registered pilots showed up and SSC began. We flew eight rounds, all-up, thinking the weather could take a turn for the worse. However, we managed to fly all eight rounds of SSC and four rounds of 2948. The only challenge was some moderate wind gusts that sent one of Bob Loescher's Scale planes into the top of a very tall tree.
“Kirk Adams took first in both classes with scores running very close. All said, the event was great. Everything went smoothly and it seemed like everyone enjoyed themselves.
“The Blue Ridge Mountains are always a stunning backdrop, but add some Combat planes draping streamers in front of them and you have the best East Coast view around.
“A special thank-you goes to Ron at Crossroads Hobby Shop in Salem for all those late nights for last-minute parts. Thanks again to Virginia Aeromodelers of Bedford for hosting us and to all the club members and pilot participants for their part in a great kickoff for Combat season at the Battle over Blue Ridge. As for the great weather, I guess we just had the luck of the Irish on our side!”
Sources
- RCCA: www.rccombat.com
- Virginia Aero Modelers: www.kts2003.com/VAM_Home.html
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
