Where have all the builders gone
04-07-2016, 08:03 PM
#1201
My Feedback: (1)
Karolh, Your reference to a "55 Austin Healey frogeyed Sprite" must be a double (you said it twice) typo. The only Austin Healey produced in 1955 was the "100-4". Sprites (850cc 4 cylinder) didn't come along untill somewhere around 1959. Sprites and their brother the MG Midget continued untill the early 70's getting larger 4 cylinder engines, 1050cc, 1275 cc, and lastly 1500cc as time went on. The 4 cylinder "100-4" evolved into the "100-6" in '57 or '58 and then onto the 2912cc Austin Healey 3000 in 1960. Healey 3000's continued to be produced untill the end of the 1967 model year. My first Healey was a 1965 BJ-8 model that soon became my first race car. I raced in SCCA D-production class, winning my first race at Watkins Glen in the fall of 1967. That '65 BJ-8 had already won a number of autocross (solo) championships and now had moved onto road racing. I continued to also still do autocross events with the now not streetable BJ-8 Healey that was last road raced by me in 1974. In '68 I bought a second BJ-8 '64 Healey 3000 as a street transportation car. In addition to Watkins Glen, the D-prod car was raced at Nelson Ledges Ohio, Mosport Ontario, and Harewood Acres also in Ontario Canada. Oh, and Ron's MGA makes me recall my 1959 MGA Twin Cam. Yes, a MG in 1959 with a double overhead cam engine and 4 wheel disc brakes. Sure wish I had keep them all !
Many other race cars, wins, championships and fun followed. I didn't stop racing till I was almost 60. No English sports cars in my garage anymore, but there is a one owner '01 Mustang Bullitt and a Honda VTX bike there for the days when I feel like I'am 21 again not the 72 that my driver license says. Those were good times....
, now I just fly toy airplanes.
Many other race cars, wins, championships and fun followed. I didn't stop racing till I was almost 60. No English sports cars in my garage anymore, but there is a one owner '01 Mustang Bullitt and a Honda VTX bike there for the days when I feel like I'am 21 again not the 72 that my driver license says. Those were good times...., now I just fly toy airplanes.
04-07-2016, 08:25 PM
#1202
Guess you are right about me doing that typo, as more than likely I got the years a bit mixed up, as I figure when you are 75 like me stuff like that can and do happen. As I recall my Bugeye was painted in British Racing Green and the other in pale blue as I can't remember the official name of the colour. Still there is an 08 525i as my main means of transportation, but those really were the glory days and like you, now I just enjoy building and flying my RC planes.
04-07-2016, 08:56 PM
#1203
My Feedback: (1)
karolh, Yea I remember the pale blue you are talking about but also don't know the exact name they used for it. It was what we called back then a "baby blue". Had a friend with an MGB that color. I built model airplanes as a kid before I built and raced cars, and now I'am back to building and flying model airplanes,. Sorta gone full circle in life, or maybe I have just returned to my childhood. No matter, I'am having fun with the toy planes (and they cost way less than race cars). The best to ya.
04-08-2016, 05:55 AM
#1205
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Measnes, La Creuse, France.
Posts: 2,128
Received 146 Likes
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123 Posts
Maidened the Gemini today! It did not require any trim adjustments!
I was really surprised as I don't consider myself to be a particularly good builder. Throttled back to half power it flew well. I was anticipating it to be much faster. I did a few circuits loops and rolls then decided to land.
I'm not a particularly good pilot either, and stalled the model just before landing, wiping off the Foam-E WOT 4 undercarriage; it was only held on by two wood-screws. There was no other apparent damage, the C of G seemed to be within limits so I hand-launched it and flew it about before landing it on the grass.
Guess I'll reinforce the undercarriage plate and bolt the undercarriage on with nylon bolts. That way I could easily fly the model either with or without the undercarriage. I'll also make a few cosmetic alterations.
Thirty years on, I've succeeded in building and flying my first radio controlled model aircraft again.
Mission accomplished!
PS. Since we seem to have got onto a car-related theme, if I can get the cybernetics to work, herewith pictures of my 1974 Rover which I've owned since 1998. I got the mechanics sorted out and drove it to the South of France. The following year I drove it to the Grenada in the south of Spain and back. With the help of a friend who is a professional mechanic, we did up the bodywork about twelve years ago. We also re-shelled a 1972 MGB which I thought was a very basic vehicle compared to the Rover.
I was really surprised as I don't consider myself to be a particularly good builder. Throttled back to half power it flew well. I was anticipating it to be much faster. I did a few circuits loops and rolls then decided to land.
I'm not a particularly good pilot either, and stalled the model just before landing, wiping off the Foam-E WOT 4 undercarriage; it was only held on by two wood-screws. There was no other apparent damage, the C of G seemed to be within limits so I hand-launched it and flew it about before landing it on the grass.
Guess I'll reinforce the undercarriage plate and bolt the undercarriage on with nylon bolts. That way I could easily fly the model either with or without the undercarriage. I'll also make a few cosmetic alterations.
Thirty years on, I've succeeded in building and flying my first radio controlled model aircraft again.
Mission accomplished!
PS. Since we seem to have got onto a car-related theme, if I can get the cybernetics to work, herewith pictures of my 1974 Rover which I've owned since 1998. I got the mechanics sorted out and drove it to the South of France. The following year I drove it to the Grenada in the south of Spain and back. With the help of a friend who is a professional mechanic, we did up the bodywork about twelve years ago. We also re-shelled a 1972 MGB which I thought was a very basic vehicle compared to the Rover.
04-08-2016, 08:50 PM
#1210
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Measnes, La Creuse, France.
Posts: 2,128
Received 146 Likes
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123 Posts
Karolh, I have been flying r/c models continuously since 1988. My original Gemini, which I built from a St Leonard's Models kit, had a tricycle undercarriage and was (over-)powered by an Irvine 21. It was not a success in 1988 owing to my own ineptitude and inexperience so I built a Junior 60 and put the engine and radio in that. The Junior 60 was very slow and stable so I learned to fly on that. I kept the Gemini's plan and built this one as therapy for a broken heart and to see whether my flying ability has improved over the last twenty-eight years! (See my previous post with the picture of the model.) I used the motor and the servos from a couple of crashed foamies to power and steer this model. I found that orientation was a bit of a problem with this model as by my standards, at 50" (1030mm,) it's pretty small and being all one colour didn't help, even though that colour is fluorescent yellow!
At a club meeting last night I was GIVEN an incomplete Nieuport 17. It's either 1/4 or 1/3 scale, I won't know till I've picked it up. I should be able to see that!
Larry 52, so you're a fellow "motard!" This is my bike. I'm going back to England to collect it next Thursday.
At a club meeting last night I was GIVEN an incomplete Nieuport 17. It's either 1/4 or 1/3 scale, I won't know till I've picked it up. I should be able to see that!
Larry 52, so you're a fellow "motard!" This is my bike. I'm going back to England to collect it next Thursday.
04-08-2016, 09:05 PM
#1213
My Feedback: (1)
Telemaster...UK, Not sure exactly what a "motard" is, but if it the same thing as what we call a "motorhead" in the US, then yes I am, or I was back in the day. I retired from all forms of automobile competition 15 yrs ago. That's when I returned to model airplanes. I just go from one form of insanity to another!
Good looking Triumph bike too. PS, I'am just messing with Tom about his VW's but he's just asking for rude remarks about his cars.
Good looking Triumph bike too. PS, I'am just messing with Tom about his VW's but he's just asking for rude remarks about his cars.
04-08-2016, 09:27 PM
#1216
My Feedback: (1)
Tom, I have had some "dogs" too, I just don't mention them..........Plymouth Valiant, Chevy station wagon, Datsun B210, I only talk about the Healeys, MG's, Triumph GT-6 (that one also belongs in the "dog" list), the Saleen Mustang, Mustang GT's, 240Z's 260Z, 280Z's, 280ZX, and then the race cars! Besides my race cars I also got to drive a few competition cars that belonged to someone else (they were stuck with the bills, I just drove them) Shelby GT, Lotus, GTU Z car, MG, Triumph, Mustang. It's like you only remember the good looking girls you dated, not the "dogs". Now I'am probably in trouble with the feminists. I better quit.
) Shelby GT, Lotus, GTU Z car, MG, Triumph, Mustang. It's like you only remember the good looking girls you dated, not the "dogs". Now I'am probably in trouble with the feminists. I better quit.
04-08-2016, 09:45 PM
#1220
My Feedback: (1)
Tom, I don't know if your life sucks, but your car choices sure do. Go to your local Chevy dealer tomorrow and buy a new Corvette. That will fix it. If you're more inclined toward a Ford. I have driven a new 435 HP Mustang GT, and believe me that will also fix your life for less than the Vette price. Mustang GT 35-40 grand, Corvette 65-75 grand (and up for either if you want to go off the deep end). Just put it on your Master Card
04-08-2016, 10:06 PM
#1221
My Feedback: (1)
Tom, Ok, you're in the game with the Yamaha 1300. See you're life is not a TOTAL suck. No need to buy that new Vette or Mustang GT, unless you want to. On the VTX shaft drive question.... to me the shaft drive is fine, I don't notice any "lurch" problem at all. My Honda VTX is a 2004 model that I bought new and have had good service out of it (only have 8,500 miles on it). My '01 Bullitt Mustang, also purchased new, has just clicked past 50,000 miles so I don't wear them out much in my old age. When someone buys my used cars they get great stuff. My daily ride, OK being retired I don't drive anything every day, my grocery getter that tows my airplane trailer is a new 2 mo. old 2015 Ford Edge. The 2013 Escape that I traded in on it only had 35 K on it. Not commuting to work any more really cuts down on the vehicle miles.
Last edited by 52larry52; 04-08-2016 at 10:08 PM.
04-09-2016, 03:21 AM
#1222
Tom, I don't know if your life sucks, but your car choices sure do. Go to your local Chevy dealer tomorrow and buy a new Corvette. That will fix it. If you're more inclined toward a Ford. I have driven a new 435 HP Mustang GT, and believe me that will also fix your life for less than the Vette price. Mustang GT 35-40 grand, Corvette 65-75 grand (and up for either if you want to go off the deep end). Just put it on your Master Card
I had a 57 Corvette. does that count ?
I then bought a 57 Nomad. Later on, I had a 52 Chevie, a 72 Malibu, 41 Ford, 37 Buick and a 36 Ford Coupe.. For bikes, I had a BSA 650, Yamaha 850, and an 1100 Goldwing.
I'd like to say that RC is a less expensive hobby, but I;m not so sure.
04-09-2016, 04:42 AM
#1223
Airplane trailer? You have money for an airplane trailer? My life does suck. I have to settle for a '14 Mazda5 (mini-van) to haul my airplanes.
When I was in the market, what I didn't like about the 1300 VTX was the shaft drive, carburetor, manual choke, and the single front brake disk. The biggest deal breaker was the manual choke. Otherwise I thought the VTX was good looking and felt good while sitting on it. But in this day and age, fuel injection is the way to go.
When I was in the market, what I didn't like about the 1300 VTX was the shaft drive, carburetor, manual choke, and the single front brake disk. The biggest deal breaker was the manual choke. Otherwise I thought the VTX was good looking and felt good while sitting on it. But in this day and age, fuel injection is the way to go.
Last edited by Tom Nied; 04-09-2016 at 04:50 AM. Reason: added content
04-09-2016, 07:26 AM
#1224
I didn't mention my 2008 Ford Edge. LOL
A trailer is a nice accessory. Mine doubles as Winter storage for my models. I pull it with the red F-150, in the background.
Your life doesn't suck, Tom. You just have different priorities.
A trailer is a nice accessory. Mine doubles as Winter storage for my models. I pull it with the red F-150, in the background.
Your life doesn't suck, Tom. You just have different priorities.
04-09-2016, 05:12 PM
#1225
It gets hauled around by this.
