RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

Thanks LeBlanc,

Now some more questions.

First, what do you mena "sissyish"? Like nerdy, brainy, something like that? Why do they think that? I'm really trying to understand and only some one like you can help me.

I can really relate to learning things without an application. Its absolutely frustrating, I remember well. But, after a number of years I've found that I do use allot of what I learned then. Problem is I ignored allot of it and had to learn it later, like grammer and english.

You have discovered what allot of us have enjoyed for years, building yourown really is a satisfying experience. Tell me, most people my age feel that people your age are into instant gratification. How do you see it? Are you unusual or don't we understand?

Thanks,

Randy

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

Yes when I meant sissyish I did mean like neardy and brainy, but good question, lets people know what I mean. They think that way because they are use to see people with radios and itech stuff, so when they see a handle with lines there like "man whats up with them, lines why don't they with the technologie of today?." Thats what they have in mind, well most of them, I've asked them.

Good points for what you've said about learning without an application.

Well, I see myself as very different as others. I don't do drugs, don't do pranks or anything that causes harm or anything. The teens these days, thats almost all they do plus hanging out with friends but often leads to pranks ect... You probably see me as one of those kids, but no I use my time very well ( not enough time though ) I try to learn more and more, cause airplanes IS my passion, it's what I love to do, but for others there minds are also different, they've been raised differently, well I was raised fairly well I think, so I don't waste my time.

In other words yes I am unusual comparing the others. It's not you guys that don't understand me.

Also yesterday, I just got one of my friends everything they need to get flying ( he was so happy ), I hope he's going to be has enthousiast as me!!

Thanks for reading

LeBlanc

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

Tom,

That was not hypothetical, it was from experience when I was about 16. After flying we often stopped at drive-in restaurants and the car-hops (waitresses) would often ask us about the models and strike up a conversation.

Of course I was 16 a long time ago. :)

George

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

LeBlanc,

This is really interesting. Sounds to me like you must have really supportive parents that give you a sense of security so you don't have to go out and do the things the other kids do to try to be cool. That's a real blessing, believe me.

You're an interesting young man and I enjoy talking with you.

Great on getting your friend started, I really appreciate your generosity.

Where do you live? I'm in SE Michigan so my flying season is over. So building is now my activity.

I'll probably have more questions for you after I think about this, but I wanted to reply so you know I'm paying attention and am interested.

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

Well thanks for the complements RRyan, makes me feel like someone his actually interested!!( my parents are but they think I talk to much about it )

I live all the way over in Canada in BC victoria saanichton.

Building is my activity now too I am building the akromaster from sig .15-.19. I am thinking a placing a third line for throttle, because I have a OS LA .15 for RC and want to use it for CL. Tips would help this is only my 5th CL airplane but my first one out of 1/2A, and the fact that I have to have the wing perfecky straight for best flight performance actually bothers me a little bit, but I am still going to try it and I'll see how it goes.

I've got 2 trainers CLP-28 from brodak, a skyray .049 but with a norvel .061, and a stop sign with a AME norvel .061.
The stop sign is a built up wing but I heard that for 1/2A's it doesn't matter too much for the wing, but I know that it's still better to have the wing straight.

And for christmas I am getting a ARF ( my first one ARF ) it's the Flite Streak from top flite. I am putting a Brodak .40 with it. With it I am going to do stunts aerobatics ( better get practicing ).

I would also need tips for painting my akromaster. I use model dope. I've got a bit of Insing yellow, lots of madrid red, amd lots of rocket blue. I don't know what to do for a design...
Little help.

Thanks for reading
LeBlanc

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

LeBlanc,

Check out Tony Elmore's Control Line Stunt Plane pictures. It's a wonderful resource - both for inspiration and paint scheme ideas:

[link=http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/[email protected]/my_photos]http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/[email protected]/my_photos[/link]

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

LeBlanc,

The SIG Akromaster is a nice little plane. I have one powered by a baffle (old) Fox .15 and one powered by a Thunder Tigre .10. The one with the TT .10 has extended wing size. If this pic comes out the top one is with extended wings.

On SSW, there was an extensive discussion about Akromasters. Just look it up in the archives. I thought there was one here also but I couldn't find it.

There is also several discussions about the ARF Flite streak and power for it.

Regarding the LA .15, some guys use RC versions with the throttle wired open. Mine is the LA-S .15 so it came with a venturi.

Good luck,
George

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

Hi LeBlanc,

Well, here are a couple shots of my Akro and Super Clown, They're done in Rusoleum. The Akro is covered with dyed silkspan and the Clown in silk. I'm not mush for really wild paintjobs, I like it simple. I do a occasional detailed paint job but its always a chore for me. I'm working on a Jetco Sabre Stunt right now that's got allot of detail, I've really slowed down on it.

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

For anyone that reads this.
I am wondering if the brodak pathfinder is good for an intermediate flyer like me. I'll have a brodak 40 in it with 60 feet line.
Or the brodak P-40 B. Same engine and lines.
Which one would you guys recommend.

Thanks
LeBlanc

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

LeBlanc,

I reccommend you start a new thread and ask the question again. It takes too long to get to the end of this one. Make the title fit the question.

Tom

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

For anyone interested I do a CL Combat newsletter that is email only and comes out quarterly. It is mosly about what is going on in the Great Plains area of the far midwest but has things of interest to anyone building and flying CL. Just send an email to [email protected] and I will put you on the mailing list.
Bob Furr

See ya in the circle!

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

how do I start a new thread?

LeBlanc

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

LeBlanc,

Go up one level to the Control Line forum and in the upper left corner you'll find the New Post buttom.

Randy

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

Is CL flying really loosing people?

When I joined the local CL club in the early 90s, I was the 13 or 14th member. This Club now has almost 50. There seem to be more kits available now than 10 or 15 years ago. For a number of years, it seemed only Fox and Cox made CL engines. Now OS has found enough of a market to have CL versions of one of it's engine lines. There are a couple of importers providing designed for CL engines. If manufacturers are starting to get into the market, there must be an increasing market.

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

As far as I know OS never stopped making CL engines. My first OS was a MAX-I .15 in about 1957. Oddly enough, the last OS I purchased was an OS LA-S .15. :)

George

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

I just hadn't seen any ads for OS CL engines for a number of years until Tower started running the ads for the LA series of CL engines. In fact, at the Toledo show one year, I asked at the OS booth, and recieved the comment that "Nobody flies CL any more!" They also basically started laughing when I asked about getting some replacement parts for their engines I had. In fact, the only engine manufacturer there who seemed to have any respect for the questions I had was Fox.
I've got an assortment of engines collected over the years that includes Fox, Cox, OS, Enya, HB, ASP, K&B, Johnson, O&R, Veco, Enya, OK Cub, Supre Tigre, Merco, Forster, Aurora, and a number of others. The RC engines run the gamut from slide and rotary exhaust baffles to the latest twin needle carbs.

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

I have a few Fox engines and also a few passed down from my dad. In my opinion a Fox engines are hard to beat for C/L, no matter how old they are! They are also good people if you have any problems or need replacement parts.

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

I understand that OS started pushing RC when they started carrying RC sets as well as engines.

Fox has always had a good rep for helping modelers as far as I know.
You list some great engines. What Forsters do you have? I have are a couple of front intake .31's. Hope to get them in OTS planes some day.

What, no two needle venturis? :)

George

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

I just have a single Forster 35 FI. Did have an older 29 and a ringed 35, but gave those two away. The 35 ring was cracked.

I managed to skip the two needle contraptions. Tube type radios and rubber powered escapements, A, B, and C battery packs, more than enough complications for a teen-ager at that time.

Also, was in the early stages of starting a family when Fox came out with a 3 needle carb on his 59 or 60. One of the local experts used to cuss them out for weeks at a time, go out and buy a differrent brand and play with it for a couple weeks, then put the Fox back on and continue cussing. And repeat. Of course, since he owned a very good hobby shop, he could afford it.

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

Guys look at me funny when I tell them that if they learn to start and run a Fox 35 stunt they will be able to make almost anything run. Fox has always been good about backing up his engines. Have not had any to send back since he passed away many years ago. he was a very fine gentleman to me anyway. My son still has the Fox patch that Duke autographed for him. Still fly Foxes quite a bit, but, do my own repairs if needed. DOC

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

I've been with Fox engines for almost 40 years for one main reason. They almost always start in one or two flips, even without a starte. Just hand flipping.

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

I've flown some CL, RC power & Glders dabbled at Free Flight, and lost ALL pretensions I had about being a modeler the first time I saw an Indoor microfilm model fly. Don't know about "maturing" from one facet of hobby to another, but I would offer up my perspecives:

There is NOTHING as exciting in modeling as a good CL combat match, it will teach you to hold your breath for 5 minutes!
No other form of flying is as precise as good ol CL-PA.
Scale Models look best flying in RC, when flown in a realistic manner
Model construction-as-art looks best in Scale Free-Flight
Few things in modeling are as awesome as a transparent-film covered Thermal Glider specked out in a thermal
The most awesome thermal sight is a SAM old timer, preferrably silked, specked out in a thermal
If you get the chance, attend a RC AeroTow event. These are all fun-flys but the take-offs to launches are really beautiful
...then go attend a microfilm meet and reconsider everything you THOUGHT you knew about modeling

There is nothing in modeling more over-rated then rc-hover-floppy-freestyle "aerobatics". RC PA is beautiful to watch.

One perspective on the advancing age of modelers; most Free Flighters, CL'ers and RC competitors worry about it and try doing something about it. Still there is a lunatic fringe who brag about it cause it separates them from "kid stuff". Seems a comment about "maturing" would fit in about here...

done enough damage for one post...

Dennis Adamisin
Fort Wayne IN

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

Lack of a place to fly, noise, and the advent of R/C, and the insurance that goes along with AMA membership. Like a lot of old modelers, I started with balsa gliders, (cost a nickle, now 2 bucks), then rubber, Megow, Comet, then free flight, then C/L, and finally radio. R/C is safer and more controllable. Fly as long as you want, not wait for the gas tank to run dry. Also, R/C kits come in all sizes and price ranges, and the ARF's have really improved. Scale is more exact in R/C, and on and on. I enjoyed C/L in it's day, but it has been overcome by events. Cheers.

Bill Mol
Austin, Texas.

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

Guess I am just stuck in control line. I still like the feel of control of the plane, knowing it is responding to my commands, right or wrong. The main thing I liked about rc was, that its easy to do just sitting in the recliner, watching the tv, running the simulator. Rain, wind, sleet or snow can't keep me from flying, and I could be comfy too. Different strokes...
Lee TGD

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
 

I like them all, but my attempts at indoor have been at best mediocre. Built a Micro-X EZBee once, was real happy to get the weight under 4 grams. Got to talk with the designer. My PROP was heavier than his plane, with rubber. As far as declining interest in C/L, The local club's newsletter just reported a growth from 22 in 1998 to over 60 today, at least as far as newsletters mailed.