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SkyWriter
Chartered Club #970
Skymasters R/C Club Newsletter
- January 1999
See Skymasters on the Web at www.geocities.com/~skymasters
President's Message
Hi All,
I am writing this a few days before Christmas, whilst the holiday slowdown has began. You will be reading this in January and our 1999-flying season will have begun. I hope our newsletter editor has the time to include the results from our December fun fly, but he usually has the stuff into the printer's hand by then. Hopefully, I will have not crashed any of my ships and will have recovered from Steve Frederick's chili by then.
This is the first year for me when I really don't have a big building project planned yet. I have several little ones, but no big project is at hand. I am still debating what kind of ship to build for my 300 Saito, as my first solution ended in disappointment. I had cut a deal to buy an Ohio R/C Ultimate biplane on the net, built around the Saito 300, but the shipping company broke the ship into pieces. I got a refund from the person I bought it from, but I was quite bummed. My idea of an ARF is buying a ship someone has already built up and flown, so all I have to do is fit a new motor and/or radio, or better yet just fit my receiver into a complete setup!
I am working on a few smaller ships this winter, and perhaps they will fill up my entire building season. I could not in good consciousness allow all of the people in the club to enjoy the Gremlins they are building without checking one out, so I will be building one of those myself and will hope to have it airborne this spring.
There are always a few hearty souls who continue to fly during the winter, and for those of you who do not know this, you can actually get a patch from the AMA for having at least one logged flight in each month of the year. Earning the patch in Michigan is a good accomplishment, one however that I have not tried to do yet. The field still is open, but daylight is at a premium.
I think this article will make it to you before our first regular club meeting in January and we have tentatively lined up a speaker who knows a lot about props. (Changed to second meeting. First meeting will be the Yankee Air Force Museum. See event schedule inside for details. Ed.) Those mysterious wings that spin around and generate both noise and thrust are a complex subject. I would encourage you to attend and perhaps we can all learn a few new things about them.
See you at the winter swap meets!
Joe Finkelstine
Meeting Minutes
November 11, 1998 Meeting at Larson Middle School
· Minutes from previous meeting were not available.
· Treasurer's report was not available.
1999 OFFICER ELECTIONS
Officer elections for the 1999 year were held, the following is the new line up for 1999:
President - Joe Finkelstine
Vice President - Gary Weaks
Secretary - Ross Hardy
Treasurer - Graham Overton
Editor - Greg Cardillo
CLUB CONSTITUTION
It was proposed that a change be made to the Club Constitution. The change would substitute "President" for the current "President Elect" references (since we do not have a President Elect). A vote was held and the proposal passed.
FIELD NOISE LIMIT
The proposal to lower the field noise level was discussed (lower from 95dB to 94db). A vote was held and the proposal passed. A 94dB field noise level will go into effect 1/1/99.
SHOW AND TELL
Terry Overton - Terry displayed his Sig Hog-Bipe. Power comes from a twin cyl.90, wrapped in 21st Century Fabric and sound checked at 90dB.
Bob Burns - Bob showed us his Arrow Plane which was powered by a 15 sized engine, weight was 2 pounds.
Bob Donohue - Bob displayed his Gremlin which was powered by a Thunder Tiger 46 and had a 48" wing span.
Gene Payson - Gene brought in his Sunomi.
Dave Shea - Dave showed us his Gremlin which was powered by a 40LA.
NEW BUSINESS
· The Scout Conference will be held on 12/5/98 at the Scripps Middle School. Contact Gary Weaks if you would like to help out or offer your plane for display.
· The Club Christmas Party is on 12/9/98.
· The Snow Fly will take place on December 27th.
· A discussion was held regarding the purchase of a new food trailer and expanding the field shelter.
From the Editor…
Welcome to the January 1999 issue of Skywriter. It has been a busy month for me, and I am sure for many of you with the holidays. A business trip the week before (to sunny San Jose), and traveling back to New York for Christmas kept the Cardillo family jumping!
While in the San Jose area, I found a local flying club (what a surprise, huh!) My thanks to the members of the SCCMAS "Tomcats" for their hospitality. I arrived a little late on Sunday and missed most of the fliers that day, but did get to meet a few of the pilots and get a copy of their newsletter to bring back. If you ever have time when traveling, give a local hobby shop a call. They are always happy to provide you with information on area clubs, and I have never been disappointed at the welcome when I visit.
For those of you that missed the Snow Fly, it was cold and windy, but there were a lot of nuts, I mean dedicated pilots, (no I think I really mean nuts! myself included!) that braved the cold and came out. Look for more details next month from Steve Fredericks. Thanks Steve for organizing this once again, and for the hot chili, coffee, and fire.
Congratulations to Matt and Cathy Rowan on the birth of their daughter Nicole in November! Nicole was the youngest attendee at our Christmas party.
Please send me any input you may have for the newsletter. Please send mail to GMCardillo@att.net, or to my address on the back cover…
Skymasters Events
January 13, 1998 Skymasters Meeting - Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM.
Joe Rivers from the Yankee Airforce Museum will be joining us to talk about the museum and some of their restoration projects, some of which have won awards. This should be an interesting presentation.
January 27, 1998 Skymasters Meeting - Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM.
When 30-40% of your plane's performance is based on prop selection, do you know what prop to choose? Noted electric flyer, Keith Shaw will be joining us to talk about how to optimize your performance with the right prop.
February 10, 1998 Skymasters Meeting - Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM.
Sound Reduction - now that Skymasters is 94dBa at 10 feet, how do we get those marginal planes 1dBa quieter?? Or those already quiet planes even quieter. Come learn and share what works and what doesn't from your own experiences, and hear those of others.
February 24, 1998 Skymasters Swap Shop- Larson Middle School, 7:00 PM. (6pm setup)
See ad on next page! Gary Walling will be looking for help the day of the event for everything from setup/cleanup to staffing the door, kitchen, and raffle sales. Look for a signup sheet in this issue of Skywriter and at the meetings, or give Gary a call if you can help out!
Courtesy of Servo Chatter, SCCMAS "Tomcats"
Upcoming Programs/Events
Sunday, January 10* DAM Swap Meet, Farmington, Tom Weedon 313-697-0875
Wednesday, January 13* Skymasters Meeting, Larson Middle School
Sunday, January 24 Metro Miniature Swap Meet, Westland, Larry Dalrymple 734-722-2489
Wednesday, January 27* Skymasters Meeting, Larson Middle School
Sunday, January 31* RCCD Swap Meet, Eastpointe, Sam Monteleone 810-465-6913
Sunday, February 7* Flying Ace's Swap Meet, Flint Baker College, Steve Polen 810-635-9392
Wednesday, February 10 Skymasters Meeting, Larson Middle School
Wednesday, February 24* Skymasters Swap Meet, Larson Middle School
*See additional information for these events in this issue of Skywriter!
Event info from mailings received, AMRCC, and Michigan RC Flying Times
For Sale
(The following item was listed the last two months with the incorrect displacement. Here is the corrected adJ)
.49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49
P.A.W. .49 Diesel Engine with 3 gallons fuel; refueling pump and manual. $85. 92 dB. Runs cool. Call Howard at 248-608-0473. (I got it right this time Howard! Ed.)
.49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49 .49
Our annual swap shop will be help on Wednesday 25-Feb-1998 at Larson Middle School. Set-up time is 6PM with general entry at 7PM. Raffles will be drawn at 7-45PM and 9PM. The 50/50 and door prize will be drawn at 9PM too.
I have been busy trying to organize the event and now need to call on our club members to help me by volunteering some of their time to help out during the evening. There are various jobs to be done, some light work and some heavier - but there will be jobs for all. Bill Dzure has accepted the daunting task of organizing the kitchen and so both of us will need some help. I have divided the event into 30 minute slots and would like people to sign-up for a given slot (or slots). Please consider helping out since it spreads the load and lightens it too. Note that we need people from around 5PM to help carry things and set-up the tables and afterwards to help clean-up.
Please call me and I'll pencil you in !
Gary Walling 248-299-4654
Other Area Events
Buying Used Equipment by Bryan Jones
Seemed like an appropriate article to include as swap shop season resumes in Michigan!
Have you ever been presented with a deal too good to be true? Sometimes they are good deals, other times... well. One thing we have in our benefit living in the Houston area is a very large group of RC airplane flyers. There are several outlets for buying and trading model airplanes and their related accessories. Regardless of where you go to find the used equipment you desire, there are a few tips I have learned you may want to consider.
Airframes These are the easiest items to inspect. The first and easiest items to check is the covering or paint. Having a well-applied and thoroughly sealed covering or coating is important in keeping oil and other materials from the underlying wood or fiberglass. Water or oil soaked structures will eventually weaken and fail. Look in the engine compartment
for the sealing I have mentioned. Exposed wood is easy to spot. Another area critical to an airplane's structural integrity is the wing saddle and attachment structure. Look here for cracks or evidence of previous repairs. Generally, any joint having been repaired will be weaker than originally constructed. If the joint shows sign of repair, this indicates design or crash damage. Assume it is crash damage and inspect the tail feathers and other exposed inner surfaces in the fuselage.
Wings are a little more of a mystery than the fuselage. Without breaking the wing, place it over your knee and apply bending pressure. Listen for cracking noises (Stop then!). Look for splinters falling out any openings. Check control surface tightness and proper operation. Look for wing tip damage. Wing tip damage comes in two forms: first, the underside scrapes
caused from ground loops and hard landings. Second the crunching effect on the end of the wing tip caused by cartwheels. Cartwheels will trash a model quicker than almost anything.
Engines Purchasing a used engine is not quite as easy as purchasing an empty airframe. The first item of concern is external damage. Look for dirt, particularly that packed in between the forward cooling fins or around the carburetor. This is a pretty good indicator of a crash. Don't forget looking for the broken cooling fins and bent needle valves. Once you have checked the engine externally, look at the cylinder head. Assure all head bolts are present. Check the crankshaft. Look for buggered threads.
One thing I strongly recommend is checking the shaft for runout with a dial indicator or similar instrument. I wouldn't accept any more than 0.002" TIR (total indicated runout) on .60 and smaller engines; 0.003" TIR on all others. Bear in mind, this measurement should be weighed in relation to the rest of the engine and these runout measurements are pretty high.
Look into the exhaust port on the cylinder. If the muffler is attached, remove it. Slowly turn over the engine while feeling the condition of the bearings and the piston/cylinder liner fit. Look down the port at the piston and the liner. Look for gouging and excessive scraping or scratches. Feel the engine as it is turned over. Notice any grinding or gritty feel in the bearings. Try and find out if the engine has ball bearings or sleeve bearings on the shaft. A ball bearing engine (with good bearings) is more valuable.
Hang onto that dial indicator we used earlier and set it up to check shaft looseness. When you get the indicator set up, pull the shaft in the opposite direction than it is being pulled when you set up the indicator. On enginges 60 or smaller, 0.001" to 0.002" is reasonable. Larger engines can withstand 0.003" to 0.005" looseness.
Finally, check the thrust on the shaft. While holding the engine in one hand, push and pull the shaft while turning it. Note any noises or unusual feels such as metal on metal rubbing or gritty feel. This is not particularly a problem in the inactive or reverse thrust direction, but may be a real problem indicator in the active or normal thrust direction.
I have purposely skipped the four-cycle engines for a couple of reasons. First, this subject deserved more space than available and second, I would have to research the issue more before writing.
Radio Gear This is a more challenging area than the previous two. Bear in mind the consequences of a complete radio failure... not pretty. Keep this in mind when you are about to make that killer deal. I have a few easy items to look for when buying used radio gear. These items typically do not indicate the actual condition of the internals but are a very
representative indicator.
First, the general external appearance of the transmitter, receiver, and servos are important. Look for dirt, glue, or fuel residue. None are good. Even more important, check the switch harness from one end to another if you must use a used item. I don't recommend it. I only use switches I have purchased new. One failed switch or switch lead and the game is over.
The external condition of the transmitter is a good indicator of how the entire system was treated by its previous owner. Check the bottom and back of the transmitter case for excessive scratches. This indicates the amount of use the system has had. Less scratches, less use, good, good. Check the feel of the gimbals. Smooth and tight. Check the trim switches and auxiliary switches. Extend the antenna, checking for bends or damage. Turn on the transmitter and check the output/power needle response. Obviously the batteries may be dead or undercharged.
Look at the receiver antenna. Is it in good shape? A kinked or stressed antenna indicates rough use and possible damage. Look for cracks in the case. Check for narrow band certification. Check for bent pins in the open sockets.
The servos are the least important items, but don't forget, it only takes one well-placed servo failure to wreck your plane. First, check the outward appearance. The leads are important as well. Look to see if the wires are damaged where they are attached to the plug. Look for plug damage. CAREFULLY check the gear train by rotating the servo head. If you strip the servo, you may have to buy a wrecked servo. Don't do this step if you don't feel sure of what you are doing. If you do, feel and listen for broken gear teeth.
Flight battery pack -- be very careful. I wouldn't recommend using a flight pack if you don't have a cycler/charger to verify the capacity and health of the battery. Don't forget to look at the lead. It's just as important as the battery switch.
Finally, connect the components of the system and operate with the transmitter. Check each channel individually, check dual rates, chek programmability (if applicable), check servo response (noise, chatter, dragging, speed, etc.). If possible, perform a range check -- collapsed antenna at 200 feet minimum fully operational.
These are just a few items to keep in mind when purchasing used equipment. Even if everything checked out as described here, there is a possibility that the equipment was near breaking down or someone was trying to sell away a hidden problem.
[from The Flightline, Pearland TX, Bryan Jones, editor.]
1999 Family Membership Application
(Junior Member applications available at the meeting.)
Information:
Date: __________________________ Birth date: __________________________
Last Name: __________________________ First Name: __________________________
Street: __________________________ Home Phone: __________________________
City/State: __________________________ Zip Code: __________________________
Student or Pilot: __________________________ AMA #: __________________________
Other Family Members who fly:
Name: __________________________ AMA #: __________________________
Name: __________________________ AMA #: __________________________
Optional Information (to include in roster/club records):
Work Phone: __________________________ E-Mail: __________________________
Significant Other: __________________________ Year Joined: __________________________
Field Rules
1) Field hours are 10 AM - 8 PM (NO EXCEPTIONS)
2) Noise limit for 1999 is 94 dB at 10 feet.
3) All transmitters must be narrow band (Gold Sticker equivalent) excluding 53mHz
4) All receivers must be AMA approved narrow band (dual conversion or ABC&W) excluding 53mHz
5) Membership card must be placed in slot on frequency board when pin is removed
6) You must not fly behind the flight line.
7) AMA Safety Code must be followed.
8) All vehicles at field are required to have 1999 State Park Permit.
I have read the above rules and agree to abide by them and all other Skymasters and AMA rules and regulations.
Member's Signature: __________________________ Date: __________________________
Club Officer Use:
Date: _______________ Dues Paid: _______________ AMA Verified: ______________
To renew by Mail, send:
1) Check for $50 ($55 after February 28,1999)
2) Photocopy of 1999 AMA Card
3) 1998 Skymasters Card
4) Self addressed stamped envelope
5) Signed Application!!!
To:
Graham Overton
8530 Northfield Road
Oak Park, MI 48237
For 1999 we are asking ALL members to fill out an application to help verify our records. Thanks!
Skymasters Information
Skymasters field is located within the Bald Mountain State Park (see map). State Park Permits are required and can be obtained from the Park Headquarters located on Greenshield Road or at club events. Flying is permitted from 10 AM to 8 PM. The noise limit for 1998 is 95dB at 10 feet - this noise rule is strictly enforced.
Wednesday evenings during the summer is Student Night and there are usually instructors around all afternoon. Student night is also 'pot luck' buffet night so that you can fly-n-feed (though not usually at the same time). Students are encouraged on other days and weekends. It is a great idea to come on Wednesday, meet the Instructors and arrange for more instruction time together. Our Chief Flight Instructor is Pete Foss. Assistant Chief Flight Instructor is Graham Overton.
From June to August, Club Meetings are held at the field on the first Saturday of the month at 12 Noon - a great chance to fly and gossip too! Winter meetings (September to May) are held at Larson Middle School (on Long Lake just east of John R - see map) on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM. Show and Tell, coffee and donuts, and model-speak are the order of the evening. Come along - they are fun.
The Skywriter newsletter is sent to all members, local hobby shops and other local R/C clubs. Any and all contributions are welcome, please pass any articles to the Editor. If you know of anyone who may be interested in our hobby (friend, relative, neighbor, colleague or acquaintance) - please give them a copy of this newsletter or a copy of an AMA magazine - it may spark their interest and get them into our hobby!
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