However you get there, flying is fun
Back in the old days, if you wanted to fly a model airplane, you had to build it. Those times don't seem so long ago to some of us, but in 2013 a large portion of AMA members are pilots first, rather than builders. They purchase airplanes and helicopters that are nearly flight ready and take them straight to the field.
Some cool RTF aircraft are available, and some are nicer than I could ever construct. Many builders feel that buying such airplanes is a shame because making a model is half the fun.
I believe that there are enough interesting niches in our hobby to suit everyone. Whether someone wants to tinker at the workbench or simply put something into the air, getting off the ground is the point, right?
Bringing Balance
It's surprising that, after all of these years of advancement in model aircraft, there are still basic lessons that pilots have to learn the hard way. Airframe balance is a crucial one.
My club works with middle school students, and they are sharp. When I show them a video compilation of RC airplanes crashing (always a crowd-pleaser), they ask, "Dave, how come they keep trying to fly all those tail-heavy models?" Good question! Clip after clip shows a model struggling off the runway, obviously out of balance, and the youngsters can see the reason.
The answer is that the pilots either didn't know better or were trying to cut corners and get a flight in without properly balancing their models. Down goes the beautiful, expensive airplane because of lack of ballast in the nose. It's a shame, but entertaining to watch!
I learned this lesson at less cost when I was a lad. In those days, for less than $1 you could buy North Pacific slip-together rubber-powered models such as the Sleek Streek, Star Flyer, and Skeeter. (I still collect them, and they are sold at higher prices now!) The little airplanes went together with plastic clips that held the wings to the motor stick.
If you had enough extra parts, you could create something new and more complex. I did, but was disappointed to find that it fluttered to the ground instead of zooming skyward as I intended.
My father pointed out that it was tail-heavy and required ballast on the nose. No way! I thought that extra weight could only hurt the performance of my model. Of course, Dad was right (not for the first or the last time), and a little lump of clay allowed the airplane to fly as I had hoped.
This concept is difficult for a newbie to accept, and the crash videos prove it. Balance is critical for stable flight. Check your model for proper CG, even if it is ready to fly. Don't be shy about adding weight if needed. You don't want your model to be the star of a crash video.
A Burning Issue
Daniel Rossman told me about a fiery episode with his electric power pack. He had a new six-cell battery pack and attempted to remove the Velcro. While holding the pack by the body, not the pigtail, he pulled on the Velcro and noticed that the heat shrink appeared to pull up from the pack. Suddenly, the pack lit up. Fortunately, it was on a metal surface on his workbench. Daniel dropped the pack on a metal chair, opened the garage door, and got the pack onto the driveway. He said that the smoke alarms rang for a long time!
Apparently, only one of the six cells burned. The other five cells and the pigtail/connector looked as good as new. Daniel said that, based on the amount of flame he saw, if all six cells had burned it could have started a house fire.
This story reminds us that our battery packs can suddenly release energy when we least expect it. Even a new battery should not be taken for granted.
Fliers should store these packs in fire-resistant containers and charge them outdoors. Don't become complacent!
If Daniel had not acted swiftly, the situation could have been more serious. What if he had not been there when the pack ignited? There are still some modelers who charge their packs unattended. Sure, you might get away with it for a long time. And then again, you might not.
Trouble Brewing
Jim Rice passed along a story from an anonymous modeler. This is third-hand information, but Jim is an experienced and distinguished modeler and I know he is truthful and reliable (when he's not telling corny jokes).
Jim's friend was mixing various hardeners together for his epoxies. He is not sure of the exact blend but knows he combined two different brands of epoxy hardener and then added some hardener intended for Bondo. He had not mixed in any glue, only the hardeners.
Suddenly, the metal container began to emit smoke and became scalding hot. He was able to carry it with a pot holder of sorts to his patio where the mixture became bubbly and yellow and emitted more smoke. It was roughly a pint of mixture; the reaction continued for approximately 30 minutes and was too hot to handle.
Had he been in a closed shop or had the mixture been in a plastic container, there is no telling what it may have done to him or his home. He was concerned that many modelers would not know that such a concoction could be dangerous and possibly deadly.
Jim said that the lesson learned is that chemicals should be used for their intended purpose and only with products recommended by the original manufacturer. When we try various combinations, the results are not always what we expect or want.
Quick and Dirty
The RC radio makers at Hitec RCD USA provided some inexpensive radios that are perfect for quick, temporary installations. The photo shows how we used a tape hinge to hold together scrap balsa control surfaces, then ran pull-pull string from the servos to toothpick clevises. The radio components are crammed into the fuselage and taped into place.
In the hands of a young, first-time pilot, crashes are assured, but the radio system is easily moved to the next airframe!
AMA has taken delivery of some of these radios through the generosity of Hitec RCD USA. Perhaps the company did know what would become of them.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
