Think of this picture the next time you reach
around the propeller to adjust a running
engine. Ray Teliczan sent this funny, but scary,
reminder.
Don’t be fooled! That model may look innocent,
but it is the reason Dave Arthur has a bandaged
hand.
Even experienced modelers can be
bitten by propellers
Dave Arthur is a great guy. After you
read his story, I bet you’ll agree.
Dave was in a hobby shop, getting
his electric sport airplane repaired. The
model had minor damage, but not as
much as Dave’s bandaged hand.
My friend, Tony, was behind the
counter, and there was a twinkle in his
eye as he introduced us. Dave explained
his mishap.
He had been working on the airplane
when his transmitter stick got bumped,
and the throttle went to full. The
propeller instantly bit into Dave’s hand.
He said it was more than one slice. The
blades continued to spin and cut him.
It took 15 stitches to close it. He was
forgiving of the airplane—more than I
would have been—and posed with it for
the picture you see.
I was clear about what I intended
to do with the photo and information.
Dave laughed, not knowing until that
moment that he had been confessing to
the Model Aviation “Safety Comes First”
columnist, but he cheerfully agreed to
let me retell his tale.
He felt that because the incident was
so awful, the only possible silver lining
would be if people could read about the
situation and think twice before getting
into the same jam.
Dave is not an inexperienced kid. He
is a careful modeler who knows well—
especially now—what damage an RC
electric power system can do. But even
with his maturity and sound judgment,
Dave had a brief moment of inattention
and paid the price.
The modelers in the shop discussed
the accident and what might have
prevented it. Some pilots carefully place
the radio out of the way, or they wrap
rubber bands around the throttle stick or
use other mechanical gimmicks.
Others prefer an arming switch, which
allows signals to reach the controls but
not the motor during pit work.
There is also a danger for gas
pilots who switch to electrics. We are
accustomed to the engine being safe
when it’s not running and take for
granted that it won’t start up until we
start it. We all know differently about
electrics, but in our subconscious, that
old complacency cannot wait for the
right moment to bite us.
Dave’s foam model is a midsize sport
aircraft, but it caused plenty of damage.
When we work with even bigger models,
we must remember to be cautious.
The risk gets greater, along with the
horsepower.
Ray Must Be Psychic
Ray Teliczan sent me this funny/
awful photo of a model with a saw blade
in time to go with the previous story.
Ray’s photo might be proof that some
modelers have too much time on their
hands, but his picture might also help
someone remember what can happen
when fingers and propellers meet.
Things That Spin
Bob Mandeville emailed me about a
television show he saw. It appears that
in special circumstances, it might be
possible to create an explosion hazard
with our shop grinders.
Bob said that “under certain
circumstances, grinding aluminum and
then grinding carbon steel can produce a
crude form of thermite that might spoil
your whole day by making the wheel
explode.”
He added that “everyone knows not to
grind aluminum in the first place.” Well,
I didn’t, but we agreed that only a farfetched
set of circumstances could lead
to this danger.
Thermite is the pyrotechnic
combination of metal powder fuel and
metal oxide. An explosive situation
would involve aluminum dust, the
right amount of rust on the steel, and a
great deal of bad luck, but apparently it
could happen. We agreed that thermite
formation is a small worry, but grinding
metal always requires caution.
As for grinding aluminum, a bit of
aluminum tubing or sheeting and a
cutoff wheel on my Dremel is a far cry
from a big piece of metal and a bench
grinder. The concern is that aluminum
could melt and load up the wheel and
set up a vibration that could possibly
shatter it.
Nothing that might go on one of
my Peanut Scale models requires that
much metal, so I guess I’m off the (big
aluminum) hook.
www.ModelAviation.com July 2013 Model Aviation 83
safety comes first
Dave Gee
[email protected]
083-085_MA0713_GeeSafetyFirst.indd 83 5/20/13 12:02 PM
Email such as the one Bob wrote is the best kind—filled with experience and contrasting viewpoints. Please consider sending me your new or old close-call stories or suggestions, or any hot information you might have about modeling hazards. Wisdom from real modelers is the best way to learn about our hobby.
My Turn to Confess
There was an incident last week. I instigated it. Of course, I’m wracked with guilt! I broke every safety rule in the book, and in front of a bunch of
Dave gave a model demonstration then told the kids to attempt to hit him with their new gliders. Challenge accepted!
84
Model Aviation
July 2013
www.ModelAviation.com
SAFETY COMES FIRST
083-085_MA0713_GeeSafetyFirst.indd 84 5/28/13 10:28 AM
This airplane is the last
of its type still flying.
Guess what it is and
receive Delta Dart plans
via email.
impressionable kids.
My models flew
close to spectators,
and over the kids’
heads. At the climax,
there I was, daring
them to hit me
with their model
airplanes.
Okay, I was
deliberately breaking
the rules with those
kids, but it was in a gym and the models
were indoor types—none weighing more
than 18 grams. I was flying in an air
show for an afterschool program.
Although I was not putting anyone
in danger, it kept bothering me that I
broke the safety rules, so I paid penance
by having the kids use me as a target for
their new hand-launched gliders.
Mystery Airplane Time!
The last one was an F-4 Phantom, and
the photo was taken at the marvelous
Grissom Air Museum in Peru, Indiana.
Guess this month’s airplane and win a
prize.
The picture was taken from inside of
the airplane, but all of you aviation fans
should recognize that unique cockpit.
Email your guess to me and you’ll
win special “Safety Comes First”
commemorative Delta Dart plans. Print
them out and build one if you’re into
irreverently decorated FF models.
Stumped? Simply ask and you’ll get
the plans anyway. Email only please.
There are no printed copies.
SOURCES:
Grissom Air Museum
(765) 689-8011
www.grissomairmuseum.com
www.ModelAviation.com July 2013 Model Aviation 85
083-085_MA0713_GeeSafetyFirst.indd 85 5/20/13 12:03 PM
