G'day

Today I did several modeling related things. I wonder what else other RC Universe people did? I am retired so I do have a bit more time than many to spend on my hobby.

1. Loaded up the truck with some models and collected a new member and headed out to the club flying site.

2. Gave the new member some flying lessons on his new Kadet Senior with Saito 62. He is coming along well and has been using a simulator to get his thumbs working in the right directions then we head out for some "reality". He is also retired so he is starting out rather late in this hobby though he did build control line models way back when.

3. Test flew my new Big Stick with its Jet SJ-46. What a blast. This motor really sings. Still need to run the motor a little more before it will be at its best.

4. Test flew a new Me 163 Komet foamy by S&B models. The inrunner is pulling nearly 300 Watts and as a result the little Komet really lives up to its name. A real blast from the past. Model flies well on about half throttle with plenty in reserve. My original one had a 60 Watt motor and that still flew well.

5. Replaced some crash damaged HS-81 servos with HS-82MG ones in my Squirt 700s. Did some current tests on the E-Flite 25 size motor with a 12 x 5 prop. Motor is pulling just on 20 Amperes from its 2200mAh 3 cell Lipo. Should be good to fly again. (Crash caused by not pulling the antenna on the 36Meg radio up. AAAAAGH! No serious damage to the model but both servos were stripped.)

6. Charged up models and radios ready for more tomorrow.

So what did you do today?

Mike in Oz

I know you're retired....I worked

Ditto

Its 13 degrees below zero outside (-25C ) so I stayed in the house and started a recovering job on my Big Stick.

It is in the 30s F with fresh snow on the ground. Being retired I am staying in and assembling a new Escapade 60 for spring.

Bruce

Went to the post office to send my broken engine in for service or replacement. Went to one of my rec centers for a wood workers meeting, wrong day!! Being retired for so long I can't keep my days straight. Came home and started covering a new electric plane. Read a book the rest of the evening. Made plans to go Flying Friday and Saturday with a friend. The weather is going back into the high 60s and low 70s for the weekend again.

I did some work on my TF P-51 I got for Christmas.  I too  am retired. 

Nice thread Mike.

Went to the field in the early AM before the winds and the attendant wind chill to play a bit with my newest addition. The first of a couple of new Cadet Senior Arf's which I just got in. This first one I did as a lightweight all mini servos and 1/16th carbon pushrods etc. Powered with an OS .35AX it is proving to be an awesome flyer and a pretty able aerobat. Even hand lauching this one is completely practical.

The second one won,t fly for some time yet it is getting the bash treatment to carry up to a gallon and half of fuel with extended wings and on floats with an OS 91SE for power. This for a projected flight this Spring on a long stretch of the Colorado river.

Anyway I got home from the field and a couple of big box's were on the doorstep. These later years I have been getting smaller tools and using them on small rollaround tables that are more suited for use out of my wheelchair. They can be easily moved around and plugged in as needed, much more convienent than standing at a big machine which I can,t realy do.

So spent the balance of the after noon putting a new rollaround table and one inch belt sander together from Harbour Freight. Yup cheap but perfectly suited to my needs and I can work faster than when I was still struggling with giant 'grown up machines'[8D]

John

I am NOT retired. So when I get home I'll work on my 30cc sbach, or I'll program some more models into my new transmitter.

Hi Mike,

I too am retired. Today I'm installing new retracts in my US 1000 and getting batteries charged for the weekend. I plan to take my Ultimate Bipe, Giant Su-Do-Khoi and the US 1000. Hope the heatwave has finally passed the last few outings saw short spells of flying and long spells in the shade solving the world's problems with the other old farts. Although I did get one of my students converted from those nasty electric models to a Boomerang Trainer. He flys well but has never taken off before other than from a hand launch with his gliders, S&B Komet and frantic frisby.

Cheers,

Colin

Went to work but..... Had a long lunch break so I could get to my hobby store to get some fresh CA to put my servos in a new H9 Saratoga I got Wed. Hurry up spring!!![8D]

G'day all

Well thanks to all that replied. I am glad to see the varied range of activities. Back when I was working, modeling was a night time and weekend activity in between family matters, running Scouting activities and rebuilding my ancient Land Rovers.

Today a small group of us went out (including a visitor from out of town and two working people who had a day off). Sadly it was quite windy and worse, the wind was blowing strongly over our trees and causing quite severe turbulence. Matt, one of our large model fraternity, was testing a very large Extra and an almost as large Yak. Even they were being knocked around in the wind.

I took my modified Kadet Senior (ailerons, less dihedral and tail dragger conversions) and the Saito 72 quickly hauled it up passed the worst of the turbulence and my visitor and I flew it for about 10 minutes. Landing was no problem as the wind had dropped just as I decided to land.

Next came my Pocket Rocket - the S&B Komet - and it provided its usual adrenalin boost. Landing was a but bumpy but the Komet is tough and no damage.

Then we tried one of the normal Kadet Seniors. This was a mistake. With the wind from the north the take off was always going to be difficult and on the third try we made it. The flight was short and the engine did not seem to be very happy so I decided to land. All was going well until we were about three feet in the air and the wind tipped the model onto its wing tip and she cartwheeled. Damage was very minor and will soon be fixed. We also found the reason for the lack of engine performance. The engine was gradually trying to leave the plane by vibrating its mounting bolts out of the firewall. This pulled the throttle closed restricting performance and eventually causing a dead stick. The owner has not flown the plane for a few months and will be doing some preventative maintenance after his minor repairs.

So now I am at home doing secretarial things for the club. I signed up a new member this morning too. He is re-joining after several years away from the club.

Another full day and it is not over yet.

Went over to a friends and we cut some foam wing cores for a new plane he's designing....and started stripping the old covering off a BUSA Phaeton 40.

Working on an Ultra Sport .60 kit now...(and watching Jonny Quest [8D] )

G'day John. I am really glad to see someone "adding lightness" to their models. The Kadet with the 35 should really be a nice flier. My ARF Kadet presently has an Enya 53 which suits it really well. I gather the Kadet was originally designed with 29 size two strokes in mind. No wonder the wings get ripped off when someone puts a 90 four stroke in one. (Actually I did it as an experiment but the engine was only in there for two flights. It was insane and was sure to pull the plane apart sooner or later.)

Cheers

Mike in Oz

I build a little everyday almost. I'm on unenjoyment thanks to you know who.


Pete

I'm not retired...just plain tired.....put out to pasture because of back surgery. ...Anyway, I spent the day going through a deceased pilot's collection. His widow asked me to find homes for all of it.....boy, he had a lot of stuff

I, for one, had the greatest day ever at the field.<div>
</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>That's my son, beaming from ear to ear after his first buddy cord flight ever, on an airplane HE helped restore from a wreck.</div><div>
</div><div>Flying days do not get any better.</div>

Well I didn't get to go fly any RC but I did get to go out flying in a Super King Air 200 that I am flying with the Navy right now. I am in the Air Force in the joint pilot training program in Corpus Christi, TX. Right now I am going through the basic contact stage of flying learning all the basics of handling a larger mulit engine aircraft. I attached some pics of me out flying. One of them you can see the prop is feathered and the engine shutdown for simulated engine failure training. It has been alot of fun here flying near the Gulf of Mexico.

I also got some stuff from Tower Hobbies in the mail. I fianlly spent the money to get a Great Planes CG machine. I decided I have been in this hobby way to long to be still balancing my models with my fingers. Overall a pretty good day and i am headed to work to go flying again!! Hopefully I will get to burn up the rest of my glow fuel this weekend as the weather is looking really nice!

I got all the kids together for a family photo. hard to get them all to sit still long enough to get a good pic in. But it turned out well

G'day everyone. Good to see that there is some activity in the northern hemisphere despite the cool weather.

TruBlu - What a wonderful way to go to work. Keep up the fun and keep flying the models. One of our young members has just returned from 18 months pilot training and is now trying to find a job in the world of commercial flying.

gboulton - I think you may have to have that smile surgically removed or his teachers will begin to think he is up to something. I remember my son (who is now 32) and his first flights. We started together and within a couple of months he was taking off and landing. It took me rather longer and my landings are still not as good as his were after two months.

scottm - Sorry to hear about the back. Hope it is not making life too difficult and you are still able to play with your toys. Our long time club president died about 10 months ago leaving a wife, 7 dogs, 2 donkeys, a horse and a huge collection of planes and engines. The club chipped in and sold the collection for his wife. I bought his un-built quarter scale Space Walker and the Laser 150 engine he had bought for it. The hardest things to sell were the tons of small items - props, nuts and bolts etc.

Oberst - my brother-in-law is currently out of a job so he spends most days working on some new models and looking for a job in his field as a programmer. He is currently building a Tony Nijhuis Mosquito and restoring an older and quite large Fiesler Storch. The Mossie will be electric and the Storch is being converted from 46 size glow to electric too. He is currently trying to join a very active club not far from where he lives. The club is so popular they have had to close their books. The local council owns the site and does not want to create a parking and traffic problem for the locals.

To everyone else - thanks for reading and how about telling us of your adventures in balsa, foam and plastic?

G'day Pilzee. Nice kids, sitting quietly like that. I bet they love to rush around outside though.

I see you have "one on the way" too. Keep up the good work.

Mike in Oz

Retired too... 23 degrees today... worked on the new super stearman.. almost done... ready for some warm weather.

It's 10*F here! I'm not a fan of cold winter flying. I did it once and I'm not doing it again unless it's indoors.

Yes, I have a back issue as well and while I'm building this: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10038870/tm.htm I'm looking for a job that will hire me with the 40lbs lifting restrictions.

I make enough off of unenjoyment to give my wife the cash every other week, and between that the money is mine to build with. Thank God my wife has a good job or I'd have to leave the hobby.

The doctors want to give me full disability because of a torn disk and degeneration. I got hurt on one of my past jobs, and won free medical for my back for the rest of my life. ( I refused the cash settlement) They say it's too risky for surgery, but I've worked all my life and I refuse to give up my life style. When I can't walk anymore, then I'll consider it. Other than that, the govenment handouts can all go to H3ll. I like earning what I make and don't want a hand out.

I'll find a job sooner or later. Building and flying R/C- and full size aircraft seems to always lift my spirits and keeps me somewhat sane. [&:]

That reminds me, I have a AMA R/C Club meeting this Sunday. Time for my yearly dues of $40.00!


Pete

They stuck a 20lb. restriction on me, and no standing or sitting for longer than 30 min at a time. I worked at the same construction company for 30 years. Construction is all I know. I'll be 51 in April. My chances of finding someone to hire me are getting slimmer by the day, and I'm not receiving any government handouts either. My atttorney was busy politicing(sp?) for solicitor, and didn't do such a good job. He advised that we settle, and not keep the medical open...bad mistake. Now any medical treatment I get will have to come out of my pocket. Just as needless to say, my "playing" money is long gone, no more toys. I'm good with that, though, I stocked up on toys while the money was there. I sold about $20,000 in photo equipment that I had collected, and about that same amount in firearms that I had collected over the years. I gave 90% to my wife, and spent 10% on rc "stuff". Oh well, it was fun while it lasted...Aint life grand?

Sorry guys, I got a little long winded.