Flying with Fred - Volume III, No 11
I’m not yet
100% sure about global warming, but I can’t recall a
“gentler” entry into Fall than we’ve had so far in
2007. As I write this the daytime temps are JUST
beginning to average in the mid-40’s, and there’s been
no real rain to speak of (a bigger problem, I think, in
most areas of the country than any “warming”). The
nagging problem of grass mowing has solved itself, in
that most of it is now dead, or the grass has stopped
growing outright. I suspect grubs (the local squirrels
are very thankful) and I’m shopping around for the best
non-toxic green spray paint that matches what’s left of
the healthy, remaining patches of lawn. Hey, a man has
to get his priorities straight, after all.
Club news-wise, a word of thanks to all who participated in our annual picnic. Special thanks to Dave L., Bob M. and Jay B. who handled everything from food procurement to flight line safety. Many thanks also to Fred F. for documenting the day with his usual excellent photography (see the web site). The weather cooperated wonderfully, and I think everyone had their fill of hamburgers, hotdogs and other low-calorie (ha!) goodies. There is no truth to the rumor that I am Emeril’s twin brother.
Yet another attempt at a balloon-busting contest almost turned nasty, thanks to the inadvertent use of super-strong ribbon holding up the balloons. Vince C. did a nice job of avoiding “re-kitting” his Miss America P-51 after he snagged one of the indistructable balloon and ribbon combos with his aileron, making for an interesting landing. Joannis P. fared worse, totaling his Shoe String racer after unwisely trying to beat the odds with the unforgiving ribbon material. Note to Peter P.- next year, crepe paper!!!
I had a chance to actually demonstrate the much used term “flies straight from the box” by virtue of bringing my just-replaced Park Zone Spitfire. If you recall from last time, I had to exchange the original due to a faulty receiver. As is turned out, in the interim I read a review of the Spitfire by Gordon Banks in RC Report (that paragon of Truth In Modeling) which mentioned a problem with mis-labeled RX servo ports. More on this in a moment…
I placed the box with all the contents on one of the picnic tables under the tarps, and began to take components out and assembling same. All Park Zone offerings come with their own chargers, which plug into auto cigarette lighter receptacles. I had charged the provided non-lipo battery on my way up the field, and thanks to a standard Phillips screwdriver which replaced the provided item (which was WAY too small to be useful) we had everything ready to go in… oops- seems the ailerons don’t work.
Back out with the three sheet metal screws, and a look at the receiver confirmed what Gordon had mentioned in his review. We (myself and a collection of interested assistants who helped by holding various parts, etc.) futzed around until the aileron servo finally found its home. Realigned and drove home the screws, taped the horizontal stab firm, connected the (installed) pushrod to the (installed) elevator horn, and NOW we’re ready to fly. The whole process- including the search for the correct servo slot- took all of about 6 minutes.
Club news-wise, a word of thanks to all who participated in our annual picnic. Special thanks to Dave L., Bob M. and Jay B. who handled everything from food procurement to flight line safety. Many thanks also to Fred F. for documenting the day with his usual excellent photography (see the web site). The weather cooperated wonderfully, and I think everyone had their fill of hamburgers, hotdogs and other low-calorie (ha!) goodies. There is no truth to the rumor that I am Emeril’s twin brother.
Yet another attempt at a balloon-busting contest almost turned nasty, thanks to the inadvertent use of super-strong ribbon holding up the balloons. Vince C. did a nice job of avoiding “re-kitting” his Miss America P-51 after he snagged one of the indistructable balloon and ribbon combos with his aileron, making for an interesting landing. Joannis P. fared worse, totaling his Shoe String racer after unwisely trying to beat the odds with the unforgiving ribbon material. Note to Peter P.- next year, crepe paper!!!
I had a chance to actually demonstrate the much used term “flies straight from the box” by virtue of bringing my just-replaced Park Zone Spitfire. If you recall from last time, I had to exchange the original due to a faulty receiver. As is turned out, in the interim I read a review of the Spitfire by Gordon Banks in RC Report (that paragon of Truth In Modeling) which mentioned a problem with mis-labeled RX servo ports. More on this in a moment…
I placed the box with all the contents on one of the picnic tables under the tarps, and began to take components out and assembling same. All Park Zone offerings come with their own chargers, which plug into auto cigarette lighter receptacles. I had charged the provided non-lipo battery on my way up the field, and thanks to a standard Phillips screwdriver which replaced the provided item (which was WAY too small to be useful) we had everything ready to go in… oops- seems the ailerons don’t work.
Back out with the three sheet metal screws, and a look at the receiver confirmed what Gordon had mentioned in his review. We (myself and a collection of interested assistants who helped by holding various parts, etc.) futzed around until the aileron servo finally found its home. Realigned and drove home the screws, taped the horizontal stab firm, connected the (installed) pushrod to the (installed) elevator horn, and NOW we’re ready to fly. The whole process- including the search for the correct servo slot- took all of about 6 minutes.
Next thing
you know, I’m in the air. No rudder control, but plenty
of oomph from the geared 400 motor. Flew and handled
just fine, thank you- I think I won some converts over
to Park Zone, especially at the price of roughly $170
for the entire enchilada. I recently ordered two more
non-lipo packs, and I’m contemplating asking Santa
(never too early) for the Focke-Wulf 190 that’s also
available. Looking back, it may have been that the
first Spit’s RX was OK, but its fuselage had a bent
wing fairing, so I came out ahead of the game with the
replacement.
One the new product front, I’ve noticed there’s been a mini-boom of “25-Size” ARF’s being produced these days. They can be considered the “next step” in the increasingly blurred line between traditional (electric) park flyers and standard “mid-sized” planes. They are typically larger (40-50+ inch wingspans, as opposed to 36” for previous examples) and are either built up or a combo with fiberglass fuselages. Great Planes and Hangar 9 are among the Big Players involved as of this writing.
They’re easier to see in the air and fly, with 4 channel control, and most can still be hand-launched. The quality is- for the most part- pretty good. The most recent marketing push involves- for some reason- WWII Spitfire warbirds, although there are some sport planes being promoted out there as well. These newcomers are typically more expensive (from $100-$170 without components) but if you shop carefully you can get a great buy.
I’ve been impressed with a (relatively) new company by the name of Hyperion, that is making available a number of these type ARF’s. Their three warbird offerings- a Spitfire, Mustang and KI-84 Hayate- are real beauties that come with not only a fiberglass fuselage, but with drop-in retract installation. Quality seems to be very good to excellent, and recent reviews of the Hayate and Spitfire (the latter in a “nurse shark” Australian air force livery- biggest “teeth” I’ve ever seen on an airplane) in Model Airplane News gave them a very positive thumbs up.
Hyperion also offers combos that include a motor and ESC for just under $300. Overall selection is growing as well- the Hyperion P-51 comes in three different versions, and they offer CAP’s, Edges, Cubs, Cessnas, Extras and a few others as well. As an extra bonus they all include hardware to use a regular .25 glow engine, if you’re so inclined. See additional reviews in RC Groups and other web sites (and, no- there is no truth to the rumor that I’m on Hyperion’s payroll).
For the moment the only fly in the ointment is the decreasing amount of sunlight, as we’ve just gone back off Daylight Savings Time. I’d like to get some more flying in before things get totally hairy, as they tend to do from about mid-November forward. Also, please remember to RENEW YOUR AMA MEMBERSHIP ASAP, as I will begin taking applications for 2008 at the November meeting on the 20th. Last but not least, think about who you’d like to see running the club for 2008. If you’re a responsible, reasonable and dependable individual who’d like to see the only real RC airplane club in Westchester prosper, step forward and make it happen!
Until next time, fly safely, but FLY!
One the new product front, I’ve noticed there’s been a mini-boom of “25-Size” ARF’s being produced these days. They can be considered the “next step” in the increasingly blurred line between traditional (electric) park flyers and standard “mid-sized” planes. They are typically larger (40-50+ inch wingspans, as opposed to 36” for previous examples) and are either built up or a combo with fiberglass fuselages. Great Planes and Hangar 9 are among the Big Players involved as of this writing.
They’re easier to see in the air and fly, with 4 channel control, and most can still be hand-launched. The quality is- for the most part- pretty good. The most recent marketing push involves- for some reason- WWII Spitfire warbirds, although there are some sport planes being promoted out there as well. These newcomers are typically more expensive (from $100-$170 without components) but if you shop carefully you can get a great buy.
I’ve been impressed with a (relatively) new company by the name of Hyperion, that is making available a number of these type ARF’s. Their three warbird offerings- a Spitfire, Mustang and KI-84 Hayate- are real beauties that come with not only a fiberglass fuselage, but with drop-in retract installation. Quality seems to be very good to excellent, and recent reviews of the Hayate and Spitfire (the latter in a “nurse shark” Australian air force livery- biggest “teeth” I’ve ever seen on an airplane) in Model Airplane News gave them a very positive thumbs up.
Hyperion also offers combos that include a motor and ESC for just under $300. Overall selection is growing as well- the Hyperion P-51 comes in three different versions, and they offer CAP’s, Edges, Cubs, Cessnas, Extras and a few others as well. As an extra bonus they all include hardware to use a regular .25 glow engine, if you’re so inclined. See additional reviews in RC Groups and other web sites (and, no- there is no truth to the rumor that I’m on Hyperion’s payroll).
For the moment the only fly in the ointment is the decreasing amount of sunlight, as we’ve just gone back off Daylight Savings Time. I’d like to get some more flying in before things get totally hairy, as they tend to do from about mid-November forward. Also, please remember to RENEW YOUR AMA MEMBERSHIP ASAP, as I will begin taking applications for 2008 at the November meeting on the 20th. Last but not least, think about who you’d like to see running the club for 2008. If you’re a responsible, reasonable and dependable individual who’d like to see the only real RC airplane club in Westchester prosper, step forward and make it happen!
Until next time, fly safely, but FLY!