Hi all,
After 45 years flying C/L there has been a change of life, the youngest son says C/L models are trapped on their lines, so;

He and I just received a framed up RCM 40 Trainer (from a Bridi kit no less) from my Dad that had been sitting in his garage for about 30 years (right next to the one covered in silk and dope!). Along with this he gives me an OS 46 (well used but with carb and muffler) and a Futaba 6AX 6 channel 72 radio with a new battery.
I bought a new airborne pack and got busy assembling the model, which came with a huge roll of transparent red Monocote. I hadn't used Monocote in a long time, but the 12 year old thought it was as natural as can be. The model was modded to use four wing bolts instead of rubber bands, so I had to drill the holes and make some doublers to beef up the bolt hole area. The boy cut out the ply discs, and epoxied them in place. The kit box was full of stuff like the gear, wheels, motor mount, fuel tank, pushrods and horns, etc. And all I'm out is for a battery pack!

The boy and I got the wing covered and I [img][/img]was struck down by an ulnar nerve problem, so resting it now (typing one handed, hurts anyway). I can't wait to get this thing done, and it's so complete, and close...

I'll post some pics and show the thing off when I get healed up.

Chris...

P.S. Pictures of our earlier modeling career efforts...

Cool! I hope both of you have a fun journey into the world of R/C. Cherish this time; I wish my father had been more active in my life.

Chris,

Welcome to R/C, I know your going to enjoy it! Be sure to find yourself a good instructor R/C is far different than U-Control. The instructor will show you the ropes, it will be less expensive and will shorten your learning curve.

Nice airplanes! Its been a good while since I've flown U-Control. Did find an old Flight Streak up in the shed left over from years ago that looks like it needs to be flown.

Its great your son is interested!!!!! We've got some great young fliers in our club, some flying competition in IMAC. Younger fliers learn fast, great reactions, maybe its the video games. Its often hard holding them back a bit to get more experience before moving ahead very quickly.

Enjoy

Thanks guys,
Michael and I have a good instructor in my brother-in-law who has been allowing us to fly the heck out of his CG 1/5 Cub on a buddy box until I finish our model. I had been flying an RTF electric powered polyhedral sailplane which my instructor told me to quit flying so I could concentrate on powered model techniques.
Michael is doing eights, box patterns and loops and rolls, climb-outs and low approaches, too. I have been landing so am to solo soon.
Electric models seem great for the school yard and parks and I'm going to have a couple for just that reason, too. The more flying the better.
Our club wants to put in some C/L circles so we can fly everything at our field, most older guys have flown C/L it seems and they too have a model or two hanging in the garage. Not much has changed in some ways in C/L, but the new stuff is, just like in R/C, so much better. My CLPA model in the picture has an all adjustable control system, a Nelson based FIRE custom C/L .61 on a CF tuned pipe made to control the speed to the optimum 55 mph and a CF prop. Michael likes Scale, and he says he'll still fly C/L Scale because he likes the models. His P-38 he built himself and is powered by Norvel 049 R/C's with an old three line JRoberts bellcrank. it's for competition.
He wants a Spitfire R/C model.

I going to do a few things on the RCM Trainer, see ya...

Chris...

What kind of plane is that in the second picture? Looks fast, and the rudder size cracks me up!

It's a Control Line Precision Aerobatics model. Essentially a C/L Pattern ship. They only go about 55 so we can pack all of the maneuvers within the 70 foot high hemisphere in which we operate them. The vertical surface doesn't do much, but on this model it would've helped to have it a bit larger and have a moveable rudder to counteract the 14 inch prop's GP. I just added two degrees of out-thrust to maintain line tension in combination inside/outside maneuvers.
Chris...

If I recall, the RCM trainer is what Great Planes later kitted as their Trainer 20/40/60 series. What wonderful models! I have a couple of friends who each have one of the GP Trainer 40s. The roll rate is very impressive, and they're very fast! Probably far better sport planes than trainers, but they don't have any bad habits.

It's another kit that I wish GP would re-issue. I'd grab a Trainer 60 in a heartbeat.

Is that the version with the swept leading edged fin? I've seen a couple but just recently realised what they are. Yes, the big one would be the way to go.

I have seen the professionals and have taken their meds, two weeks of therapy for ulnar nerve compression, just lovely.

I'll speak to the therapist about model airplane building as PT!

Chris...

That's a very nice looking stunter (and yes, I thought the fin was a tad small too ) but can I suggest that when you're competent with RC that you build an RC model based on a stunter? They fly extremely well when built to the same standards (lightness) and using the same size elevators with the flaps as ailerons. Ummm...if you have no further use for that PA engine....

Thanks,
I was thinking of building my father an enlarged R/C version of his old Smoothie with retracts. I think 25% to 28% larger to get a 72 inch wingspan. I think that would be about right.
I'll keep my PA's, thanks. I was wondering the other day of talking to Randy about putting it in a Pattern ship, like an Atlanta 60.
Chris...