AND SO ANOTHER columnist springs forth! First, I have a plea
for help. Your input is vital to this column’s success, so please
contact me with information, questions, concerns, tips, warnings,
and close-call stories. More about this later.
Now for the obligatory biographical information. Long ago, when
dinosaurs walked the earth, my father Ralph encouraged my interest
in aviation by bringing home a Len Marlow Shark kit. He patiently
taught me to build and fly stick-and-tissue models in the presuperglue
era of “pin it down and wait
overnight.” (Fast-drying cyanoacrylate
products proved to be better suited to my
temperament when they arrived.)
I never acquired my dad’s high standards
of craftsmanship, but that hasn’t stopped me
from slapping models together ever since. My
son Jeff grew up to be an RC pilot, so model
aviation bridges our three generations.
A supportive spouse is a must for someone
whose hobby involves smelly paint and balsa
dust. I am blessed to have sweet Diedra, who
is more likely to borrow my new tool than
complain about the purchase price. When
she’s not dulling my blades on her craft
projects, she helps out at contests. I’m a lucky
man!
I dabble in many types of flying models
and use enthusiasm to compensate for a lack of
skill. It is said that exhibitions of my RC stickhandling
expertise have led to a local
resurgence of FF activity. There are also a few
electric-powered CL models in the hangar—
many with unexplained impact damage. My
endurance airplanes scarcely deserve the
name, but once in awhile I turn out a decent
Scale model.
If I had to pick a favorite category, it
would be Indoor Scale—especially Peanut. I’ve flown RC
helicopters only on computer simulator programs, but the results
indicate that I should stick to fixed-wing flying. If I shattered as
many real rotor blades as digital ones, the lumber industry would
Dave Gee
S a f e t y C o m e s F i r s t
Box 7081, Van Nuys CA 91409; E-mail: [email protected]
New MA safety columnist Dave Gee (aka StukaDave) winds a Rubber model at the
notorious Grassy Knoll Free Flight site in Los Angeles, California.
Dave included a photo of his 30-inch Profile Scale glider Stuka,
just to prove that he does sometimes make models.
There are plenty of options for eye protection, but they’re
useless unless you wear them. See text for details.
be hard-pressed to meet the demand.
I perform frequent demonstrations for schools and groups of kids
just to see the amazed looks on their faces, which reflect my inner 8-
year-old’s fascination with model airplanes. When a youngster says
“Wow!” I know exactly how he or she feels. Growing up is
overrated, although it does enable one to afford better kits.
I have some policies and parameters. This column is to be a
clearinghouse for all information having to do with enjoying our
October 2004 95
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:22 am Page 95
sport safely. Your input is vital since I don’t
know everything and can’t be everywhere.
I’m idealistic enough to hope that by pooling
all the experience and expertise of this
magazine’s readership, we can do some good
and perhaps save someone from getting hurt.
You’ll see serious studies and statistics
here, but anecdotal information is great
because it’s interesting and motivational to
hear about someone else’s harrowing close
call. If you have such a story, please consider
sharing it in the hope that a modeler you
never met will be saved from embarrassment
or harm.
As an old-fashioned stick-and-tissue guy,
I have limited experience with many of the
popular newfangled building materials. Foam
and carbon fiber lack the classic romance of
balsa, but they sure make fine, strong wings. I
will depend on more knowledgeable readers
for the latest tips and warnings about hightech
structures.
Some readers may know me as
StukaDave on the Internet. I realize that there
are still plenty of modelers who don’t have
computers, despite the perception that
everyone is online. A great deal of the stuff
I’ll discuss here will make reference to
Internet sources, but I’ll make sure nobody
feels left out.
I will keep things on-topic and cordial. No
politics, no insults, no feuds. Remember that
this is about model airplanes, and we got
involved because they are fascinating and
fun; that will be the tone here. There will be
no hurt feelings—just the latest dope on our
hobby. Besides, life’s too short to be a
sourpuss.
I am not beholden to anyone. Therefore,
good products and poor products will receive
pure factual treatment. Useful solutions to
problems and productive info will get top
billing. If the Zooper Looper 2000 has a
structural weakness, let’s publish the fix so
that all Zooper pilots can fly securely. I will
not hesitate to plug a good item that makes
our hobby safer.
I have a theory for your consideration. Some
modelers have a built-in resistance to
following safety rules because they suffer
from “Commodore Syndrome,” which is
characterized by an inner confidence
developed from the immense satisfaction of
our hobby.
It is not a team sport, but generally an
individual pursuit, which gives utter control
over all aspects of our miniature flying
machines (except, in my case, landings). We
are in command of our air fleet, and we are
used to being the boss at all stages:
conception, design, construction, test-flying,
etc. Even ARF pilots answer to no one when
they pick out a new foamie and zoom
skyward. This can sometimes breed a subtle
reluctance to accept guidance and the feeling
that safety precautions can be bypassed if
circumstances warrant.
Does that sound familiar? I admit to being
a longtime sufferer and to making mildly
arrogant decisions based on an illusion of
vast experience and skill. I’ll skip the
problems of running a model club in which
every member is a Commodore and
concentrate on those occasions where it pays
to realize the truth.
When you’re standing at the hobby-shop
counter with cash in hand, let your fantasies
take wing. The time for humility is later,
when you face a mental crossroad regarding
some precaution that seems annoying. Why
go clear across the room for the mask when
I’m only going to spray this little bit? I’ve
started that engine or performed that task a
hundred times, so I’ll skip the onerous safety
rule this once. I am The Boss and I say it’s
okay.
The point is to remain aware of these
tendencies and make the smart choice when
you weigh a bit of inconvenience against
what seems like a small risk. Don’t leave
yourself vulnerable to a mishap when you
have control and the power to keep things
shipshape.
Story Time: One afternoon approximately
three years ago, I was happily puttering at my
workbench, using my trusty “cordless rotary
tool” on a cowling. Suddenly the piece split
and threw sharp wooden shrapnel around the
room. A chunk of plywood struck my cheek
and left a nasty wound. The shard hit my face
roughly three-quarters of an inch from my
right eye, which was unprotected. A fine pair
of safety glasses sat unused on the table.
Excuses? I have none that sound good or
that you would believe. I was spending some
casual time on model building and only had a
bit of work to do with the power tool before
returning to a sanding block. It was only one
cut; I had done it a million times. But not like
that!
The pain of a minor injury was nothing
compared to the chill that ran up my spine as
I gazed into the mirror and realized how close
I had come to a life-altering loss of binocular
vision. I felt like an idiot, but a lucky idiot.
While plucking the plywood shard out of my
face, I vowed to never take such a foolish risk
again.
Since that day, the eye protection goes on
before I reach for the tool. I even sprung for
some fancier safety glasses to remove any
rationalization about how “I can’t see through
those scratchy old things.” By the way, a
close examination showed that some of the
scratches were apparently caused by other
shards impacting the lenses. Well, that’s what
they’re for, and better to ruin the plastic than
my eyeballs.
There is a huge selection of commercial
eye-protection products, ranging from cheapo
glasses to truly bulletproof face shields. None
of them are what you might call jaunty, but I
have settled on some high-quality shooting
glasses that feature a wraparound design to
intercept ricocheting particles. They come in
assorted tints, so I keep a darker set for
outdoor use.
I gave up trying to look cool many years
ago (when I got a bald spot and a beige
minivan), so appearance is not a big factor for
me. But you attractive young modelers may
find such stylish glasses more appealing. Go
with whatever makes you most likely to wear
them!
Shooting glasses are made to different
specifications than industrial safety goggles,
but for our purposes they are likely to provide
more than adequate protection. Please learn
from my foolishness; make sure you have a
good set of protective glasses handy and
wear them when you use power tools!
Again, please send in your close-call
anecdotes for use in future columns.
Anonymity can be provided if you want. By
spreading the word about these goofs, we
might save our friends from having their own
incidents. MA
96 MODEL AVIATION
TIRED OF PAYING
$1.29 FOR 6 SCREWS?
Our 4-40x1/2 socket
caps sell for $4.35/100
for alloy steel, or
$6.65/100 stainless, or $7.50/50 aluminum.
For fair prices on sensible quantities of the fasteners
you need for model building, call, write or
fax for our free catalog!
Micro Fasteners 800-892-6917
24 Cokesbury Rd., Suite 2 908-236-8120
Lebanon, NJ 08833 fax 908-236-8721
e-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://microfasteners.com
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:22 am Page 96
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/10
Page Numbers: 95,96
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/10
Page Numbers: 95,96
AND SO ANOTHER columnist springs forth! First, I have a plea
for help. Your input is vital to this column’s success, so please
contact me with information, questions, concerns, tips, warnings,
and close-call stories. More about this later.
Now for the obligatory biographical information. Long ago, when
dinosaurs walked the earth, my father Ralph encouraged my interest
in aviation by bringing home a Len Marlow Shark kit. He patiently
taught me to build and fly stick-and-tissue models in the presuperglue
era of “pin it down and wait
overnight.” (Fast-drying cyanoacrylate
products proved to be better suited to my
temperament when they arrived.)
I never acquired my dad’s high standards
of craftsmanship, but that hasn’t stopped me
from slapping models together ever since. My
son Jeff grew up to be an RC pilot, so model
aviation bridges our three generations.
A supportive spouse is a must for someone
whose hobby involves smelly paint and balsa
dust. I am blessed to have sweet Diedra, who
is more likely to borrow my new tool than
complain about the purchase price. When
she’s not dulling my blades on her craft
projects, she helps out at contests. I’m a lucky
man!
I dabble in many types of flying models
and use enthusiasm to compensate for a lack of
skill. It is said that exhibitions of my RC stickhandling
expertise have led to a local
resurgence of FF activity. There are also a few
electric-powered CL models in the hangar—
many with unexplained impact damage. My
endurance airplanes scarcely deserve the
name, but once in awhile I turn out a decent
Scale model.
If I had to pick a favorite category, it
would be Indoor Scale—especially Peanut. I’ve flown RC
helicopters only on computer simulator programs, but the results
indicate that I should stick to fixed-wing flying. If I shattered as
many real rotor blades as digital ones, the lumber industry would
Dave Gee
S a f e t y C o m e s F i r s t
Box 7081, Van Nuys CA 91409; E-mail: [email protected]
New MA safety columnist Dave Gee (aka StukaDave) winds a Rubber model at the
notorious Grassy Knoll Free Flight site in Los Angeles, California.
Dave included a photo of his 30-inch Profile Scale glider Stuka,
just to prove that he does sometimes make models.
There are plenty of options for eye protection, but they’re
useless unless you wear them. See text for details.
be hard-pressed to meet the demand.
I perform frequent demonstrations for schools and groups of kids
just to see the amazed looks on their faces, which reflect my inner 8-
year-old’s fascination with model airplanes. When a youngster says
“Wow!” I know exactly how he or she feels. Growing up is
overrated, although it does enable one to afford better kits.
I have some policies and parameters. This column is to be a
clearinghouse for all information having to do with enjoying our
October 2004 95
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:22 am Page 95
sport safely. Your input is vital since I don’t
know everything and can’t be everywhere.
I’m idealistic enough to hope that by pooling
all the experience and expertise of this
magazine’s readership, we can do some good
and perhaps save someone from getting hurt.
You’ll see serious studies and statistics
here, but anecdotal information is great
because it’s interesting and motivational to
hear about someone else’s harrowing close
call. If you have such a story, please consider
sharing it in the hope that a modeler you
never met will be saved from embarrassment
or harm.
As an old-fashioned stick-and-tissue guy,
I have limited experience with many of the
popular newfangled building materials. Foam
and carbon fiber lack the classic romance of
balsa, but they sure make fine, strong wings. I
will depend on more knowledgeable readers
for the latest tips and warnings about hightech
structures.
Some readers may know me as
StukaDave on the Internet. I realize that there
are still plenty of modelers who don’t have
computers, despite the perception that
everyone is online. A great deal of the stuff
I’ll discuss here will make reference to
Internet sources, but I’ll make sure nobody
feels left out.
I will keep things on-topic and cordial. No
politics, no insults, no feuds. Remember that
this is about model airplanes, and we got
involved because they are fascinating and
fun; that will be the tone here. There will be
no hurt feelings—just the latest dope on our
hobby. Besides, life’s too short to be a
sourpuss.
I am not beholden to anyone. Therefore,
good products and poor products will receive
pure factual treatment. Useful solutions to
problems and productive info will get top
billing. If the Zooper Looper 2000 has a
structural weakness, let’s publish the fix so
that all Zooper pilots can fly securely. I will
not hesitate to plug a good item that makes
our hobby safer.
I have a theory for your consideration. Some
modelers have a built-in resistance to
following safety rules because they suffer
from “Commodore Syndrome,” which is
characterized by an inner confidence
developed from the immense satisfaction of
our hobby.
It is not a team sport, but generally an
individual pursuit, which gives utter control
over all aspects of our miniature flying
machines (except, in my case, landings). We
are in command of our air fleet, and we are
used to being the boss at all stages:
conception, design, construction, test-flying,
etc. Even ARF pilots answer to no one when
they pick out a new foamie and zoom
skyward. This can sometimes breed a subtle
reluctance to accept guidance and the feeling
that safety precautions can be bypassed if
circumstances warrant.
Does that sound familiar? I admit to being
a longtime sufferer and to making mildly
arrogant decisions based on an illusion of
vast experience and skill. I’ll skip the
problems of running a model club in which
every member is a Commodore and
concentrate on those occasions where it pays
to realize the truth.
When you’re standing at the hobby-shop
counter with cash in hand, let your fantasies
take wing. The time for humility is later,
when you face a mental crossroad regarding
some precaution that seems annoying. Why
go clear across the room for the mask when
I’m only going to spray this little bit? I’ve
started that engine or performed that task a
hundred times, so I’ll skip the onerous safety
rule this once. I am The Boss and I say it’s
okay.
The point is to remain aware of these
tendencies and make the smart choice when
you weigh a bit of inconvenience against
what seems like a small risk. Don’t leave
yourself vulnerable to a mishap when you
have control and the power to keep things
shipshape.
Story Time: One afternoon approximately
three years ago, I was happily puttering at my
workbench, using my trusty “cordless rotary
tool” on a cowling. Suddenly the piece split
and threw sharp wooden shrapnel around the
room. A chunk of plywood struck my cheek
and left a nasty wound. The shard hit my face
roughly three-quarters of an inch from my
right eye, which was unprotected. A fine pair
of safety glasses sat unused on the table.
Excuses? I have none that sound good or
that you would believe. I was spending some
casual time on model building and only had a
bit of work to do with the power tool before
returning to a sanding block. It was only one
cut; I had done it a million times. But not like
that!
The pain of a minor injury was nothing
compared to the chill that ran up my spine as
I gazed into the mirror and realized how close
I had come to a life-altering loss of binocular
vision. I felt like an idiot, but a lucky idiot.
While plucking the plywood shard out of my
face, I vowed to never take such a foolish risk
again.
Since that day, the eye protection goes on
before I reach for the tool. I even sprung for
some fancier safety glasses to remove any
rationalization about how “I can’t see through
those scratchy old things.” By the way, a
close examination showed that some of the
scratches were apparently caused by other
shards impacting the lenses. Well, that’s what
they’re for, and better to ruin the plastic than
my eyeballs.
There is a huge selection of commercial
eye-protection products, ranging from cheapo
glasses to truly bulletproof face shields. None
of them are what you might call jaunty, but I
have settled on some high-quality shooting
glasses that feature a wraparound design to
intercept ricocheting particles. They come in
assorted tints, so I keep a darker set for
outdoor use.
I gave up trying to look cool many years
ago (when I got a bald spot and a beige
minivan), so appearance is not a big factor for
me. But you attractive young modelers may
find such stylish glasses more appealing. Go
with whatever makes you most likely to wear
them!
Shooting glasses are made to different
specifications than industrial safety goggles,
but for our purposes they are likely to provide
more than adequate protection. Please learn
from my foolishness; make sure you have a
good set of protective glasses handy and
wear them when you use power tools!
Again, please send in your close-call
anecdotes for use in future columns.
Anonymity can be provided if you want. By
spreading the word about these goofs, we
might save our friends from having their own
incidents. MA
96 MODEL AVIATION
TIRED OF PAYING
$1.29 FOR 6 SCREWS?
Our 4-40x1/2 socket
caps sell for $4.35/100
for alloy steel, or
$6.65/100 stainless, or $7.50/50 aluminum.
For fair prices on sensible quantities of the fasteners
you need for model building, call, write or
fax for our free catalog!
Micro Fasteners 800-892-6917
24 Cokesbury Rd., Suite 2 908-236-8120
Lebanon, NJ 08833 fax 908-236-8721
e-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://microfasteners.com
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:22 am Page 96