File: 12gee.ht1.doc
[Have some glue … it’s on me!]
You likely have heard of models with a dummy engine. Well, my models sometimes have a dummy builder, especially when I use CA glue. It just seems to bring out the clumsy in me.
Sometimes I glue myself to a half-built model, or worse, spill CA glue on my pants. Ruining a pair of slacks is sure to bring some witty wifely wisdom from Sweet Diedra about how she’ll stick with me but the stained pants have to go.
My friend, Wynn Hammer, had some advice for me on this sticky subject. He is 90 years old and has learned a thing or two along the way.
Wynn recently spilled CA glue on his pants but didn’t worry about it. He simply grabbed some Golden West Super Solvent (CA debonder) and removed the hardened glue in a jiffy. Wow, I never thought to try it on clothing! He suggests testing it on a hidden part of the fabric, in case they don’t get along.
I used to keep this product handy during building activities with kids in case of stuck fingers, but seldom used it. Patience and some warm water usually will unstick CA-adhered skin. Golden West Super Solvent is produced by Satellite City, the company that first introduced CA glue to the aeromodeling world. Impatient modelers such as I owe that company a lot!
Maybe It Just Seems Longer
Tim Holly forwarded me a recent scientific study showing that having a hobby you are passionate about can extend your life and keep you healthier and happier. Based on the number of mature friends that I have in this sport, I believe it!
Aeromodeling can be a fascinating pursuit. Building, flying, studying, designing, and improving our aircraft are fun and challenging. I don’t understand why some non-modelers say, “I don’t have the patience for that.” My model building time is anything but dull drudgery and I intend to keep it up until I’m in my 90s.
Takeoff Troubles
There are some big differences between piloting full-scale aircraft and models. Imagine an aborted takeoff situation. The throttle is open and the wheels are rolling, but the pilot realizes that something is wrong with the airplane. A decision must instantly be made.
The pilot of a full-scale airplane would close the throttle and hit the brakes to fix the mechanical problem while safely on the ground.
At the model field, there usually are no brakes and running off the pavement guarantees a damaged airplane. I have seen some pilots “horse it off the ground” and plan to deal with the trouble in the air, hoping for a better chance of saving the model.
This requires an open, unpopulated area where you can “dump it” if needed. In such circumstances, it might make sense. Not being inside the airplane opens your options, right?
Got It on Video
Maybe this is related, or maybe not. Several readers sent me video links showing a large RC Scale model crashing during takeoff at a public event. It was sad that the airplane was destroyed, but a relief that no one was harmed.
The most interesting part was the wave of Internet conversations about the cause of the crash. People viewed the video several times and analyzed it to pieces. Was it a case of taking off to avoid runway overrun?
No video can show the pilot’s thoughts or the inside of the control system as it fails. Large or small, our models are all subject to crashes because of mechanical or human failure. We try to prevent accidents as much as possible and make the best split-second choices when necessary.
In the case of this often-discussed crash, I think endless speculating is pointless. Seeing the video made me think and consider what I might do in a similar situation, and that is the only useful part of this whole affair.
Not-So-Great ESC
Andrew Kestin sent me a story with a sad ending. He is an experienced RC pilot who lost more than one model to the same faulty ESC. It was salvaged from a crash and reused after being carefully checked.
The component tested fine on the ground, but Andrew said the problem arose during aerobatic flight while the ESC was exposed to vibration, heat, and power loading. By the time he realized the cause, another airplane had bitten the dust.
We are living in the luxurious age of reliable electronics, and ESC failures are rare. I would have been fooled, too. Andrew now does thorough preflight checks and is skeptical of component bench tests that are conducted when the part is cool and not under load.
Real Trippy, Dude
On the subject of electronics, I recently was at an informal fly-in held at a public park. It was fun, but I noticed the electrical charging setup shown in one of the photos. It doesn’t look optimal, does it?
I guess that plugging multiple units into one outlet is okay considering the low current draw and the beefy splitter, but how about the knee-high cords? I could imagine someone—possibly a kid—passing through there and pulling all of that expensive gear onto the concrete.
One of the pilots reassured me by asking, “How could someone with two broken legs get through there to trip?” I said I was more worried about someone with fully functioning legs, but a distracted brain. He said, “Trust me, anyone who knocks all my stuff off the table is gonna have two broken legs.”
In the safety biz, that is called a downstream measure.
Mystery Airplane
The mystery airplane this month is difficult to guess because it is shown in bare bones form. Hint: the framework is a popular Guillow’s kit that has been produced for many decades.
Guess what it is and receive redrawn classic plans for the Porterfield 65. The aircraft has simplified modern construction but sticks to Old-Timer outlines. Email me your guess and, right or wrong, you’ll receive the digital plans.
SOURCES:
Satellite City Instant Glues
(888) 200-9413
www.caglue.com
