Friday waffle

After tracking and ordering the Lowrider 30 plan and magazine, the postal system has completely failed..... So looked at something assembly quick with the SD 8020 for the slope aerobat play, as the Kzn conditions are so mild and pleasant at the moment, plus hoping to combine a wing order with Mark as the courier cost is as much as the sheeted cores! First up was the old Ridge Runner fuselage tucked away and then scratching around for the tip chord, not quite there yet - although estimating 240/180mm at the mo. [Indebted to ole Dave Hooker for confirming this dead wrong: tip chord 160mm. Centre chord 265mm sanded flat to 255mm to suit fuselage mounting. Ailerons 40mm. LE only swept]. Then an old file pic of the Greco Hurricane caught the eye. At least I have the root and tip chords and the fuse is ultra similar to a bog stock Ghostbuster fuse so the plane a dead simple build with a pre made SD8020 instead of SD8000 wing. The blurb says the wing is straight single taper but one maybe gets the impression there is slight sweep back to the trailing edge – or is it an optical illusion? Parameters: Root chord 190mm Tip chord 100mm Each panel length 750mm

Help!

My appreciation goes to ex Durbanite Vic Schroeder, the Jart man, for doggedly tracking down this long sought little beastie for me, more power to chat groups and blogs. This really made my morning!

Back in the early eighties as a struggling audit clerk, I picked up an American magazine in the CNA, which yours truly could not afford to buy at the time. The model plan was a small 30 inch 020 powered craft that had apparently been scaled down from a larger model. Drooled over the stunning little red plane till closing time then tried remember the issue number etc as I was determined to blow up this sleek little model for other use but, alas now decades later trolling through Google and plans list has not brought forward an old listed plan or even a model or full size version that even approximates that natty little plane.

Thus I am hoping to describe the model using parts of other familiar craft. The features are a composite of:

1. The red and white Corsair colour scheme with the same bent wing (what is the opposite of gull wing?) but even more pronounced wing bend, almost Stuka like, with the shrouded wheels exiting the wing bend somewhat like the less pronounced bent wing (also red and white) of the Comet. 2. The cockpit was sleekly set way to the rear ala a very slim version of the pale blue Magician in the middle pic.

3. The very slim fuselage not unlike the little red and yellow craft in but obviously rather coupled with the afore-mentioned Corsair / Stuka bent wing and a canopy top straight lining to the rear like the Magician.

Not having a shred of artistic ability has frustrated this image stuck in the mind and I would be verrrrrrry relieved if some kind soul with a long memory could point me in the right direction to find something on this elusive little gem.

More foamy buzz for your buck

One gets some damn fine tips off RC Groups. The foamie Fastcat in the pic was a cheapie off the net that was "ok" on the Velocity 2700kv brushless motor, but did not set my world alight like the Velocity itself.

Then I read about this gem motor on RC Groups, where some speed freak had his Fastcat taking off vertically like a rocket on four cells:

Turnigy 2836 Brushless 450-Size Heli Motor 3700kv
Dimension: 28mm x 38mm, 53mm(with shaft)
Weight: 70g
Max performance;
Voltage: 3-4S
Current : 30A
Power: 700W
For 450 size Helicopter
$17.57

A quick Google will no doubt identify the motor source.

I must caution that I did build in a main spar for the Fastcat, up front, nevertheless deciding to proceed on the side of caution and try the motor first with three cells instead of four, using my trusty Hyperion 1800mah pack. A 4.5x4.5 prop was the smallest I had but would have preferred closer to 4x4.

The first test was literally at sunset in no wind. I must say the first test rev woke up the butterflies in the tummy and I decided to launch asap before I chickened out. I have never had a small model head for the heavens from the hand launch so fast, like this one did, in fact almost disappearing in to the gloom before I could react to close the throttle. The first flight was magic but the pilot probably a bit too tense and throttling in short bursts, just in case anything started to overheat. The combo was only just gently warm after landing, whew.

Another sunset launch last night offered some enjoyable jet style flight and, whilst it does not make the howl noise of the Velocity, it is obviously going fast, verrry fast, for a foamy. I suspect four cells may just be too silly fast for yours truly.....

Thus the onset of the grin which just won't go away....... ;-)

For those contemplating this R200 plane and R200 motor, a couple of minor points:

1. The roll rate with the common sub micro servos is scary. It does not look a helluva of physical movement on 100% rate but you will still get twinkle rolls without frightening yourself on 70% roll rate, be warned.

2. The elevator is huge and the quoted movement same but do not be tempted to reduce the gross elevator throws as the craft is magically pitch smooth and badly needs the control movement on landing approach, or you will run out elevator. Maybe the quoted CG is too forward but the plane flies fine inverted so I will leave be.

Otherwise this has to be the best buzz bang for buck el'cheapo combo that I have enjoyed so far.

Mid Phase Video on Inanda Hill - NE Wind Slope

This video was shot on the NE slope of Inanda Hill. After a fair walk with all the kit we sent the Mid Phase off. This video shows an approach over the houses with a stripped starboard servo (discovered after the flight). The plane also overshot the hill and landed nose first into the mud on the lee side of the slope - luckily not into the valley below to be retrieved by some lucky local....

This video was shot on the SW slope of Inanda Hill. It was quite rainy as can be seen by the droplets on the wing. Also note the the wings occasional vibration.....

RC glider tow

This video was inspired by Simon Nelson. The Turnigy mini camera was mounted, rotated by 90 degrees clockwise on the wing top of the tow plane (hence the strange orientation). The glider was towed some 20 m back. Unfortunately the tow line took flight preventing other tows being done.

Two Oceans Slope Soarers 2011 aerobatics

Whew, Toss managed to offer up scary perfect weather for the third year in succession, probably nigh impossible for sloping anyhwere else in South Africa.
The 55kmh awesome wind for the Friday practice at Smitswinkle was only topped by the perfect aerobatics blow for Saturday at Red Hill.

The new generation moldies were so impressive up front that we thought slam dunk but the good pilots came through with a variety of of craft. Mark Wolfe got back to winning form with his seventies Primeus, big Louis even surprised himself with an excellent second with the Toucan (yes, bog stock Anton Benning Models Toucan), Steve Meusel third with the OD two week quick build 8020 using a Bobby Purnell fuse and Kev Farr was top moldie in fourth with the Vector.

A useful spread on results, glorious weather and the normal TOSS warm hospitality made for another magic weekend.

Back to El'cheapo foamies

This Saturday morning dawned idyllic for parkie flying (if only your scribe had been awake earlier ;-)

Paul had neatly fitted ailerons and elevator to the little R75 throw glider, now intended for slope soaring. A few adjustments and hand launches off the bank and this attractive little aerie looks a treat for the slope.

Dave had resurrected the Wipeout and replaced the 1800kv Suppo Witblitz motor with the 2600kv version of the same Suppo motor, along with a heavier 1100mah Hyperion lipo. The previously useful UHU hinging had completely broken down so was stripped off and redone, albeit with additional UHU rubbed in to the surrounding surfaces to give more "bite". If unsuccessful in the long run, some other method will be used but just a little heads up for those using the similar method.

Simon did the launching honours and the little model took off as rock steady as always and was obviously more perky, although the zero wind conditions made anything look good...... Possibly a little under propped with the smaller prop but pulled fine through large loops and extra long motor run compensated. The larger battery had moved the CG forward a touch and the dreaded flat spin could not be induced, no matter how hard we tried. Definitely a fun improvement to an already proven combo and thanks to Sy for the quick pic.

Springfield Chickens at Ziggi-nanda

It has taken a while to pick up on wind forecasting ala the Toss team with Windguru but an early Friday work departure was planned last weekend, based on new found respect for same. It was short and sharp as the Dion's Dive east area of the newly Russ-christened "Ziggi-nanda" delivered some awesome conditions for the test of Russ's rebuilt Shongiloma, before the unexpected approaching hail storm sent us scuttling for cover. The test proved fine, with the best vertical eights your's truly has seen, un-ballasted! The storm had moved on and cleared by the time we gathered at Russ and Mandy's home for a most pleasant braai.

Ryan admiring Le Coqy, wus magic in the conditions.

The wind, as Winguru predicted, switched to a useful SW for Saturday and Dave arrived late to find the mob having had a ball in the smooooth and powerful air. Mark was now fired to take on Toss aerobatics, with some help from Russ, and Dave managed to get in a useful flight each with the Le Cocy and Toksix, before the area completely clouded in (see the group pic completely backed by cloud). Simon gave some good advice on the Toksix settings and Ryan was quite taken with the Le Coqy, which had come back to life with the reinstated 150 grams ballast, which should never have been removed.

Would have sworn the Natal coast was impossible to wind predict but Windguru proving excellent so far:

http://www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=4865

Here is a panarama video view and the cloud closing in on Dave taking the last flight with Toksix:

Dion's dive north east slope adjacent to Inanda

With the last Saturday wind looking useful but "beastly easterly" and off the right corner of Springfield, it was eventually decided by the Springfield Chickens to meet fearless leader Russ at Sasol garage and convoy up to the north east slope mountain, first Google earth discovered and explored by Dion Thompson and Ziggy way back. Dave made a complete klutchkop of himself by contending this was indeed not the same slope but fortunately Russ stuck to his guns and tested the short but possibly treacherous access road before phoning us to proceed.

The slope offers a vista from NE right through SE (quite handy on our coast) and looked gorgeous and unblemished on our arrival. We of course had to learn all over again that the Kzn NE slopes are overly thermic on very hot days and extremely treacherous in the sink cycles between the booming thermals. Lots went walkies and one of the walkie visits to the far left bowl by Mark and Dave for the encouraging Dyna-mite sloper prompted the realisation that we were in fact flying from the wrong spot for that wind direction! A revisit to the left hand bowl is looked forward to, especially as the access is less problematic for vehicles and folk.

Russ's Zagi refused to co-operate whilst the Nelson clan were quickly in the air with the srtreamer trailing Griffin and Zagi racer. Dave maidened the newly winged Toksix and Mark and Paul tried the camera mounted Middle Phase. Kobus was till charging. Then it all started to go wrong for a while with the aforementioned patches of sink and then a huge crunch as Russ comprehensively mid-aired his Toss 2011 destined Shongi, which put a real damper on things (but now fortunately almost repair complete). Lasses Kelly Conradt and Claire Phillips kept us all well behaved and the view in to the valley was really quite magic.

After various fetchings, it was obvious that Kobus was now having a ball with his OD PSS Mustang, which now had the slope to itself and was pretty impressive. When the noises were made to start heading home, yours truly started to twig that it was not all Mustang and the conditions were in fact getting more pleasant - and consistent. Fortunately Kobus and (new;-) Pete agreed to stay a while, which turned out quite a while! Pete had his first Gentle Lady slope fly since Springfield 18 years ago (including take off and landing) and Dave got to grips with the four servo winged Toksix. It is interesting that the moderate wind was smooth enough for the gas bag but also more than enough for the Toko winged Toksix.

Yes, a Switchblade it is probably not but certainly a useful scenic alternative for those Springfield days when the wind is good but not straight on. Probably wise to travel as a mob ala Switchblade, though (whereas the SW Inanda Ziggy site is completely void of spectators). More importantly, later in the afternoon on steamy days (only mad slopers and English men go out in the mid day sun ;-)

Mark's Missus, Claire Phillips, with the newly four servo winged Toksix, which flew a treat. Thanks to Russ for the hard work in getting it all together.

Spektrum DX8 radio personal review

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0ByxPEkmTgjQ1MzNiZjE3Y2EtMDk4My00M2QyLWExZDMtYjA0NGRiMGFlM2Q1&hl=en&authkey=CLilvuMN

The list of features on this radio are available from numerous web sites so below is a just mini review from this die hard Dx6i fan, now upgraded to this magic e-flight radio.

Midphase landing in the misty-rainy conditions. Dave's, Paul's and Russ' cars in the distance. Note the yellow blur - Mark Philips in his highly visible yellow jacket!!!!

Shot of Inanda dam from the midphase.....Dave flying just off the left leading edge of midphase

Russ....flying the midphase has his eye on Dave.....dead ahead.....

4 Springfield chickens flapped on over.....er....well....actually drove up to Inanda Hill on Saturday 11 December 2010 for a slopie session in the South-wester that showed up.....
Here is an aerial view from the Midphase of the 3 cars on Inanda Hill.......

Springfield remembrance fly and braai

Hi everyone,

When I sent out the first e-mail (Below is the pre-amble), I would never have believed what the result would have been. Three modellers who touched our lives in different ways, Pete and his amazing scale planes, Arthur and his engineering abilities for his original scale helicopters and that out and out affable character, Lynn. I believe everyone of us who came out of the woodwork yesterday was there because of our PAL's. To name a few, Gary Boase, Mike Thompson, Hynie, Fred and Rose, it was awesome to see you folks "Topside".

Ok, so we didn't get to Inanda Mountain, but Will's Hill was certainly second best option, (I learnt yesterday that Ziggy and William discovered this "Mountain", Ideas for a new name, please),.
It was magic to see so many people gather and enjoy the lift, if you didn't enjoy flying, at least the company was good.

Where to next? I propose that we set up the same get together every 3 months, using the option that we excercised yesterday between Inanda and Will's Hill, that helps balance the travelling for Johan and the PMB lads,

Thoughts PLEEEEEEZE!

I would like to thank Johan and Wi-Fly (sms's) for helping me drive yesterday's event, and to those who didn't pitch, sorry, but you missed out on and awesome day,

Till next time
Russ

Oh, please forward any all the your pictures to dave.greer@monteaglegroup.com and to me twsc@mweb.co.za, I would like to get a montage printed for our PAL"S families.