You know... (about 1/2A designs)
12-06-2002, 12:59 AM
#1
You know... (about 1/2A designs)
You know, just today I was digging through my RCM collection, going back into the 70s, and even into the 80's. Back then, allmost every issue had something on 1/2A, like racing, a published design and construction article, or something like that. SO many neat 1/2A designs, you couldnt possibly build all of them. With today's nice reliable and lightweight mini and micro radio gear, and good reliable throttled 1/2A engines, you could buy the plans and build most of these planes for less than $20 in Balsa, CA and Monokote. A decent 1/2A kit today costs what, maybe $40 to $60 US? Buy some plans from RCM - most of them are less than $7 or $8 for the single sheet 1/2A designs. SOme great planes out there, waiting to be rebuilt!
Why do I have to do this to myself, I mean I have too many planes allready and just looking at the old books is enough to start building MORE planes. Ughhh!! :stupid: I allready have some plans that need building/finishing, like the RCM scooter (pusher design from Dec. 75) and the corky II, a seaplane I have the wing built for but nothing else done...
AJC
Why do I have to do this to myself, I mean I have too many planes allready and just looking at the old books is enough to start building MORE planes. Ughhh!! :stupid: I allready have some plans that need building/finishing, like the RCM scooter (pusher design from Dec. 75) and the corky II, a seaplane I have the wing built for but nothing else done...
AJC
12-06-2002, 07:52 PM
#3
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You know... (about 1/2A designs)
And so it is with us all, the sickness has now been made public. Admitting it is always the first step, but I don't want the cure!! 
12-06-2002, 11:03 PM
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You know... (about 1/2A designs)
Its interesting how things have changed over the last 30 years.....1/2 used to be VERY popular along with control line. both have seemed to die out a bit. They used to be the rage!
12-06-2002, 11:08 PM
#5
You know... (about 1/2A designs)
I dunno! I think there is a reason for the resurgence of 1/2A kits (look at ace for instance) and that is due to events that get great publicity like S.M.A.L.L and the fact that today we have such good lightweight radio gear and also great engines!
I have seen 1/2A grow a lot in the last few years and it probably will grow a lot more in the next few.
Andrew
I have seen 1/2A grow a lot in the last few years and it probably will grow a lot more in the next few.
Andrew
12-07-2002, 12:11 AM
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You know... (about 1/2A designs)
Originally posted by R/Ckrazy
1/2 used to be VERY popular along with control line. both have seemed to die out a bit.
1/2 used to be VERY popular along with control line. both have seemed to die out a bit.
We specified only Sig Deweybirds or Skyrays with integral tank reed valve .049/.051's and had 50 lap heats (1 pit stop mandatory) with a 100 lap final (3 pit stops mandatory) Talk about a hoot! You had guys running around the circle retrieving planes to fuel and restart, the pilots in the center crawling all over each other, dizzy pilots....what a blast!
There was a serious side as well. Unlike r/c pylon races with pilot flying style making a big difference each lap, the u/c course is always the same so the results of a prop, compression, fuel or engine change could immediately be measured in 10 laps or so with a stop watch. Of course it died out when the same 'ol guys were eventually able to tweak their stuff and whup up on everybody else.
12-07-2002, 12:18 AM
#7
You know... (about 1/2A designs)
Dickeybird,
I know this is "RC" Universe but a little "CL" talk wont hurt now would it?
I am the only CL flier active in my RC club. I have finally gotten a small group of youngsters together that are interested in modelling, and we are building rubber stick and tissue models now. Hopefully in the spring I will bebuilding some trainer CL models and I have plenty of good cox reed engines to hand out. I plan to get some CL action going as soon as the spring hits! There is a good coroplast trainer I have plans for that is nearly indesctructable.
One of the kids allready has intentions of RC, and allthough he is starting with a 40 size trainer (a kit, I wont let him buy an ARF!) he will surely get into 1/2A once he gets the hang of flying.
And so another generation of modelers begins... (untill they discover girls when they hit highschool!)
Andrew
I know this is "RC" Universe but a little "CL" talk wont hurt now would it?
I am the only CL flier active in my RC club. I have finally gotten a small group of youngsters together that are interested in modelling, and we are building rubber stick and tissue models now. Hopefully in the spring I will bebuilding some trainer CL models and I have plenty of good cox reed engines to hand out. I plan to get some CL action going as soon as the spring hits! There is a good coroplast trainer I have plans for that is nearly indesctructable.
One of the kids allready has intentions of RC, and allthough he is starting with a 40 size trainer (a kit, I wont let him buy an ARF!) he will surely get into 1/2A once he gets the hang of flying.
And so another generation of modelers begins... (untill they discover girls when they hit highschool!)
Andrew
12-07-2002, 12:49 AM
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Building
Well people that don,t build usually spend there time in front of the idiot box ( TV )and then complain that they don't have time to build or fly ( my neighbor )I take my old planes and motors and give them to the newbies in the club for cheap so I have room for the new stuff, no tv is the way I find time for my kid and the hobby? I think that the 1/2a stuff has taken off be cause of the user friendly norvel and the low cost to get in to it, also when I was in Cailf. fields were disappearing at about 3-4 a year, and the parks Dept wouldn,t even hear of those areas being used, so only school fields were becoming available, plus alot of us in our fifties are coming back to the hobby after our boyhood experiences in the hobby,which were mosly Cox 1/2a
12-07-2002, 01:07 AM
#9
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control line = simple fun
10 points to the first person who can identify my plane (Dickeybird is not eligible to win- hehe)
This is my little all sheet, td.051 powered control line semi-stunter I built for a control line fly in last spring.
This is my little all sheet, td.051 powered control line semi-stunter I built for a control line fly in last spring.
12-07-2002, 02:36 AM
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Hmmmmm... lets see..
It's a 1936 Caudron C-460
Equipped with wing flaps, retractable landing gear and a variable pitch prop.The revolutionary French built Caudron won the Thompson race in 1936.
Bellcranks and line guides were an option I guess...
Equipped with wing flaps, retractable landing gear and a variable pitch prop.The revolutionary French built Caudron won the Thompson race in 1936.
Bellcranks and line guides were an option I guess...
12-07-2002, 03:14 AM
#13
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yeah!
Pretty good AJ!
Right on Nitro Nut. (and yes Fastlash, it is definitely golden!)
Always has been one of my favorites. I have built an .020 RC version, pistacios, peanuts, and I have a long wing Q-midget fuse mold and wing cores waiting for the right time to finish up!
Right on Nitro Nut.
(and yes Fastlash, it is definitely golden!)Always has been one of my favorites. I have built an .020 RC version, pistacios, peanuts, and I have a long wing Q-midget fuse mold and wing cores waiting for the right time to finish up!
12-07-2002, 04:19 AM
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Ground School = Success
Andrew,
I make the kids do at least an hour of ground school before they take the controls. They have to be able to identify all the parts of the engine and plane and how they function, fuel, start and stop an 049 ( Bring Bandaids), change a glo-plug, change a prop, check the controls out, and successfully hold and release 10 times before they even get near the handle. Then I have someone else do the holding and releasing while the newbie and I stand in the middle. By the time they get to hold the handle they have a very good idea about keeping the lines tight and not over-controlling the plane. I tell them to just keep it level and from hittng the ground. It works 99% of the time..
Took 30 minutes to build, 5 days to sand and paint.. The finish is 4 coats of rustoleum white metal primer sanded to the wood, color is two coats of Plasti-kote , crosses are towerkote.
I make the kids do at least an hour of ground school before they take the controls. They have to be able to identify all the parts of the engine and plane and how they function, fuel, start and stop an 049 ( Bring Bandaids), change a glo-plug, change a prop, check the controls out, and successfully hold and release 10 times before they even get near the handle. Then I have someone else do the holding and releasing while the newbie and I stand in the middle. By the time they get to hold the handle they have a very good idea about keeping the lines tight and not over-controlling the plane. I tell them to just keep it level and from hittng the ground. It works 99% of the time..
Took 30 minutes to build, 5 days to sand and paint.. The finish is 4 coats of rustoleum white metal primer sanded to the wood, color is two coats of Plasti-kote , crosses are towerkote.
12-07-2002, 02:17 PM
#17
You know... (about 1/2A designs)
I agree 100% - I will spend a few sunday afternoons stripping apart the 049's, cleaning them, running them and making sure each knows what is going on. THEN we will go fly!
The Harry Higley book on control line flying is quite a good one, I will give it to them to read also.
Andrew
The Harry Higley book on control line flying is quite a good one, I will give it to them to read also.
Andrew
12-07-2002, 02:40 PM
#18
1/2A Madness
OK, for 100 points each, identify the 1/2A model and the radio.
Model hint: look at the vertical stab. BTW, this airplane rolled like it was chucked in a Black & Decker drill!
Radio hint: I built it from a kit.
Model hint: look at the vertical stab. BTW, this airplane rolled like it was chucked in a Black & Decker drill!
Radio hint: I built it from a kit.
12-07-2002, 03:09 PM
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You know... (about 1/2A designs)
OK. gimme a 100 pts....it's a Bill Evans Scimitar, they fly almost as good as he says they do. Do I get an extra 100 pts. for the clever, sarcastic remark since I can't recall the radio name? (Looks real familiar, just can't bring up the name)
12-07-2002, 03:31 PM
#20
Close!
DICKEYBIRD,
I'll give you 90 points on that one, mainly 'cause the designer spelled it "Simitar" (omitting the "c"). I would have given you 95 points, except for that clever, sarcastic remark ;-)
Another hint on the radio: besides being built from a kit, the transmitter had replaceable frequency modules.
I'll give you 90 points on that one, mainly 'cause the designer spelled it "Simitar" (omitting the "c"). I would have given you 95 points, except for that clever, sarcastic remark ;-)
Another hint on the radio: besides being built from a kit, the transmitter had replaceable frequency modules.