Hi All,

Well flying season has wound down (for me at least) which begets building and swap season. I write this on the ground once again, actually in my office at work for the first time in a very long while. Our September float fly has already occurred (write up elsewhere in this newsletter I am sure). Our float fly almost always falls on my wedding anniversary and on our church fundraiser events, so I have missed several in a row including this one. I am sure things went well, as I At least saw wonderful weather in my parts Saturday and Sunday. I hope some one in the club won that darn F-18. I still honestly wonder if the .60 on that thing will even fly! (O.S. does make a new .90 that is mount compatible for the lucky one that got it! – just go to a three bladed prop!)

We have begun our fall meeting schedule, and my usual request for meeting speakers is again due. I would encourage those of you in the club with knowledge to share it at a meeting. You needn’t think you need to prepare a thousand slide presentation or have several hours worth of material, just bring your tools, material, and equipment and watch how just doing something will generate more than enough questions to fill up the entire slot. For example, after 8 years in the hobby, I still would like someone to show me how to do the following the right way (no wisecracks about showing me how not to crash please, I have that mastered)

1. Attaching a clear canopy without making it look like I was inebriated when I attached it
2. Bending those darn brass fuel tubes
3. Painting over covering or over ABS, fiberglass cowls, etc.
4. Using anything other than stock muffler (or aftermarket muffler) to make noise
5. Use covering materials other than Ultracote/monocote – how about fabric?
6. Rebuild a 4 stroke engine (after a few less than graceful landings, I have a few 4 strokes that need a bit of ‘fixin)
7. Rebuild a stripped servo (see letter F above for motivation)

I could add several more, but I hope to instill, that for many of you who have mastered this stuff, there are several in the club, like me, who could use the help. Share your knowledge with us, you get a captive audience and fame and fortune will come your way! – Seriously, please consider showing us how you do some of the more difficult things and I am certain it will be well appreciated and a fun way to help the club. Please contact any one of your BOD members to schedule a talk in – the alternative is to have me talk for 2 hours in front of you all.

If memory serves, swap season will have had the first volley in the Indian City R/C club meet. I’ve never made it, but I have heard it’s a good one. I am ready to unload and restock this season, so it should be a fun one. R/C swap behavior is one of the interesting ones I like to people watch on as viewpoints on what is valuable and what is not collide constantly during the few hours I get to watch it.

Our next field events coming up that I remember are the field closing party and the crazy snow fly. Field closing party is not finalized, (Friday, October 22! Ed.) but it has always been in the Halloween timeframe. The field doesn’t actually close, but we put away stuff at the field that does not do well in the winter and anything that hunters like to shoot at. The Krazy Snow Fly, for those of you new to the club is our final fly of the calendar year, as near to New Year’s day as we can make it. This year should be interesting, as the actual fall out of the Y2K bug will make for good conversation to those who actually can make it to the field and taste Steve Frederick’s interesting Chili.

I have begun work on rebuilding my airforce up in strength and numbers, with the Goldberg Chipmunk engine swap in progress. I am swapping out the pumped OS .60 FSR, for a much more pleasing and powerful (at least the way I like to fly) .90 four stroke. All I have left is to cut out the new cowl (purchased at Toledo last year). The ship is a little heavier than I would like (original owner put in flaps and beefed up the landing gear with more wire), but it still should fly well on the OS. We’ll see come Spring I guess.

That’s all for now, keep trying to fit that square peg in the round hole!

Joe Finkelstine

Welcome to the October 1999 issue of Skywriter.

I am barely managing to stay just ahead of what I need… The Tsunami on floats was finished Thursday night for a Friday departure to our Float Fly… It was worth though, as I now have a Balsa USA Laker kit to build this winter!

The Midwest Regional Float Fly has come and gone. Beautiful weather, and a lot of flying and fun for 2+ days. From set up on Friday, to a growing ‘set up crew’ dinner Friday night, through two great days of flying with a wonderful dinner Saturday night.

As the flying season winds down for some – and others bring out the warmer clothes and lighter fluid for those cold starts, Swap Shop season is about to take off in Michigan. The kickoff is the Indian City Swap meet in Taylor next month. See event listings for details!

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…

Darrell had a training session with the flight line coordinators for the float fly

Our field is multi-use and hunters have a right to be on the field. The last Skymaster out must lock the gate, even if hunters, (or others), are still parked in the parking lot. It is in our lease that we will lock the gate. (Some common sense please… If you see a hunter parking, let them know. They are welcome on the land, but may want to park outside our gate. Ed.)

Float fly dinner tickets are still available.

There is a dinner Friday at Putters. See Bob Burns.

There is a switch in the BOD Ross will be the Treasurer Graham is too busy. Elections are in November.

Friends of Bald Mountain Sept 16, they will supply food.

New wood chips are needed, "Potty " will be cleaned, also we will be seeding the field.

Gary had a video of his fleet at our field with a camcorder in it. Cool video, (his wife was out of town and didn’t see him mounting it in his plane).

Darrell did the program how to construct a float fly plane.

Greg Cardillo: had his Tsunami on Floats: (He won the sport division at the float fly with it) Beautiful touch and go. (Thanks! Ed.)

Joe Finkelstein: Hangar 9 CAP 232 Saito 150.12.5 LBS.

Bud Howard: Started a 1/6 scale Kit Fox.OS Wankel Engine Monocote and ultra cote for trim.

Darrell Watts: Cessna with lights that definitely burn more the 15-min.

Vince Pettke: The most beautiful Northstar I’ve ever seen. 12 " prop with an OS 61 tank is at the CG with a pump. Robart retracts so he "won’t get his feet wet". (They work!!!!)RMH. Pilot was cut through the "middle?" with a band saw. 8LBS. Wet. Nice Job!!!!!

Harold Reuter a 13 oz plane with a norvel 061 engine.

Steve Fredericks. Valley flier with balsa usa floats OS 40 fsr.

Terry Overton Extra 260 YS 120 AC easy to snap (a least at Stoney Creek), Hardware store alum landing gear.

PS You should not fly a wooden prop on the water.

Adjourn

Look for Darrell’s report next month! But if a picture is worth a thousand words – here are a few thousand words: Photos from Ron Thuringer and Greg Cardillo.

What! Wheels on a Seaplane!! Yup! The Vince Pettke Northstar taxis into the water on wheels, they retract into the fuse, and a normal takeoff from water. On landing, it rolls right up onto the beach without scratching the Monokote!

Ron Thuringer’s Midstar on Floats.

FOBM held their annual picnic at our field. The day was on the windy and cool side, which limited the flying activities. Thanks to those that brought their planes out to show, and those that did fly… As the wind calmed down, Gary Weaks flew his giant Fleet; then Darrell Watts explained the different types of planes and general info to our guests. There was plenty of food for all. Thanks again for the showing of planes and people!

October 13, 1999 Skymasters Meeting – Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM

We have two topics for our meeting program. First, as winter approaches, we will discuss options for winterizing you plane (and maybe the pilot if you still want to fly!). We also will have a discussion on possible Year 2000 events.

October 22, 1999 Field Closing Party – Scripps Road Field – 5pm-??

No the field doesn’t really close, but it’s a good name for our annual bonfire! BYOB. The gates will be locked after flying stops, so just let yourself in, and lock it behind you (required by the Use Permit for the evening).

October 27, 1999 Skymasters Meeting – Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM

For our October 22nd meeting we wish to welcome Jim Adams of Promotion Models.

Just back from the International Paper Modelers Convention held in Dayton, Ohio. Jim exhibited some of his collection and had contestants compete as we will in a "SPOT LANDING CONTEST".

Jim started in the 40’s building from the Wallace Rigby plans that were laid-out on cereal boxes. His traveling collection dates back to the early 80’s. Jim is a full scale pilot, and promotes flying paper models of full scale aircraft. His travels takes him to many classrooms and national events.

The Skymasters will purchase the paper airplane kits from Promotion Models for the contest. We then build and fly our creations in a judged "SPOT LANDING CONTEST". Jim Adams to be the judge.

This meeting is interactive. Please bring your favorite X-Acto knife and cutting board.

November 1, 1999 Skymasters Retirees and Wanna Bees Breakfast – Denny’s Rochester

714 Main Street at north end of Rochester. Join us for breakfast the 1^st and 3^rd Monday of each month starting November 1^st! Throw a plane in the car if the weathers nice, the group has been known to migrate to the field after breakfast. Contact Bob Burns for more info at 248-628-4666.

Sunday, October 31 Kent Radio Aeromodelers Silver Anniversary Swap Shop –

Sunday, November 7* Midwest R/C Swap Meet, Northville, Chuck Wooley 734-326-6297

*See additional information for these events in this issue of Skywriter!