FREE FLIGHT DURATION
Harry Murphy 3824 Oakwood Blvd., Anderson, IN 46011
Model Finders — Part III
In our last installment we discussed several low-cost home-brew buzzer/beeper systems you can fabricate into model finders from parts available at your neighborhood Radio Shack. This time we review a quality preassembled audio beeper system offered for the last five or six years by Bill Turner.
The Screamer Beeper sells for $19.95, which includes the battery and a simple but functional actuating switch. The out-of-the-box system uses the same 12-volt electronic cigarette lighter battery and N-size battery box used in the Radio Shack beeper. Elementary tests showed the Screamer Beeper to be somewhat louder than the Radio Shack unit.
The Screamer Beeper weighs about 18 grams complete with the 12-volt #23-144 battery. Using button-type batteries can reduce the total by a few grams, but you will probably sacrifice battery life for that small weight savings.
Bill's system has a reputation for reliability, and he says most sales have been for use in 1/2A Texaco models. He also reports recent military interest in using his device on drones to augment existing electronic radio-frequency (RF) systems. The military’s interest stems from the difficulty of determining the direction of an RF signal at distances less than about 600 feet; in such cases the human ear can sometimes be a better directional receiver than RF equipment.
My experiments with RF model-finder systems that use hand-held walkie-talkies or scanners bear this out. A good directional antenna would certainly help at ranges under 600 feet with those systems. Conversely, for distances over 600 feet (generally beyond the beepers’ effective audible range), RF systems prevail. Electronic beepers are generally most effective at middle distances—from roughly 600 feet to about half a mile.
As noted at the start of this series, there are many trade-offs: the modeler’s particular needs, the flying environment, the capabilities of each model-finder device, and the cost involved.
Contact for Screamer Beeper: Bill Turner, 3027 Rutgers Ave., Long Beach, CA 90808 Tel.: (310) 425-6866
One-design events
One-design events and postal contests are nothing new, and we cannot mention every local contest in this column. Time and space limit us, so most of these events are detailed in model newsletter media and Model Aviation’s Contest Calendar. However, two notices arrived at about the same time and merit mention.
- Marion Airfoils MAC (Marion, Ohio) is combining with a local Explorer post to sponsor a one-design Comet Sparky contest on August 29, 1993, from 1–5 p.m. at the Marion Municipal Airport, in conjunction with the airport’s 40th anniversary. A Sparky postal contest will also be held. Send an SASE and one dollar for particulars and an entry form; proceeds will fund modeling supplies for Explorer post members (ages 14–19).
Address: Marion Airfoils MAC, c/o David Narance, 255 Chevy Chase Dr., Galion, OH 44833.
- Aero Modelers of Brevard County, Florida, have staged one-design events annually since 1989 (Korda Cabin in ’89, Russ Hansen’s T-Bird in ’90, Wally Simmers’s Gollywock in ’91, Ed Lidgard’s Sparky in ’92). This year’s event commemorates Sal Taibi’s contributions to free flight Old-Timer Gas, Nostalgia Gas, and AMA Gas. Sal is scheduled to attend coast-to-coast. The contest was scheduled for mid-March, so it will have concluded by press time.
Terry Rimert is seeking information on one of Sal Taibi’s lesser-known designs—the Racer. According to Terry, only one plan existed and Sal never built one. The design supposedly had a Pacer-like fuselage and used a Spacer wing; Sal gave the plan to someone he was flying with, and that person and his son built one. The owner later moved away with the plan and model, and Sal cannot recall the name. Terry offers a free copy of his Third Nostalgia book to anyone who provides information leading to plans for the Racer. Contact: Terry Rimert, 367 Orange Ave., Baldwin, FL 32234.
Books and videos
The National Free Flight Society (NFFS) has two recent releases of interest.
- Twenty-Fifth Annual Report 1992. Although a bit tardy, the delay is understandable—the issue was ably edited in England by Paul Masterman, and moving information across the Atlantic takes time. The report has a stronger international flavor than past issues and includes the traditional three-view, explanations of the Ten Models of the Year, write-ups for three new inductees to the Free Flight Hall of Fame, and numerous articles by noted experts.
Notable papers and articles include:
- Aram Schlosberg on Nordic wing construction
- Max Chernoff on advance ratio props
- An article on optimum rubber weight for rubber-powered models
- A Wakefield prop article by Bob Meuser
- Testing indoor props by Bob Bailey
- Plus many more contributions
Order: $16 plus $2.50 postage and packing from Fred Terzian, 4588 Moorpark Ave., San Jose, CA 95129.
- The Joy of Flying Free — 42-minute video documentary. This presentation is recommended for anyone who loves free flight and is an excellent promotional tool for parents, schools, civic groups, the military, or the general public. It covers indoor and outdoor model activities with abundant action sequences shot in 1992 at the East Tennessee State University Mini-Dome (indoor), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Dayton, Ohio), and the new AMA flying site in Muncie, Indiana.
Price: $25 plus $3 postage per copy from NFFS, 1655 Revere Dr., Brookfield, WI 53045. The video is the work of outgoing NFFS president Tony Italiano and is both entertaining and useful as a long-term promotional tool.
Another significant publication: Don Edberg’s F.Y.I. Model Flight (1993 edition). This 200-plus page sourcebook is a comprehensive reference covering “everything” relating to models that fly. It includes:
- An alphabetical “yellow pages” of available products
- Complete alphabetical listing of companies producing model engines, kits, and accessories, with addresses, phone numbers, ordering info, and brief product listings
- Product data tables of kits and engines (kits broken down into FF, CL, RC, etc.; engines with specifications)
- Charts on radios and servos
- State-by-state lists of model clubs and hobby shops
Price: $19.95. Order direct from Dynamic Modeling, 4922 Rochelle Avenue, Irvine, CA 92714-2941. Clubs can order four copies and get a fifth free (20% savings).
Engines and kits
- Oliver Tiger Mk III (2.5cc) reproduction — Australia: Don Belote reports a reproduction of the 1954 2.5cc Oliver Tiger Mk III is available from Andrew Kennedy. Don obtained a specimen and reports excellent quality; it turns a Rev-Up 9 x 5 at 10,500 rpm after a few runs. Price: $125 plus $5 shipping. Order from Andrew Kennedy, 79 Hull Rd., Croydon, Victoria, Australia 3136. If you order, tell them “G’day” from Duration.
- AD .06 (1cc) engine — Italy: West Coast flyers Bruce Augustus and Bill Lynch have been using the Italian AD .06 (1cc) for FAI free flight events. It’s reported to be lightweight, ready-to-run, and after reasonable break-in can equal or exceed the performance of Chinese CS or American Shuriken suggestions. Available direct from Italy for $165 from Mario Rocco, 40420 Rovereto, Ferrarese, Italy. Stateside, Bill Lynch markets a version with a Nelson plug conversion (complete assembly) at $237.50. Contact Bill Lynch, 11137 Creekhaven Court, Auburn, CA 95602. Prices may change, so inquire before ordering.
- 1/4A Taibi Spacer kit — Lee Campbell: A new .020-sized kit for the Nostalgia Gas scene—a 1/4A Taibi Spacer (80% of the original 1/2A size, about 160 sq. in. wing area). Price: $21.98 plus $4 shipping. Available through hobby dealers who carry Campbell’s Custom Kit products. Contact: Campbell’s Custom Kits, 401 Executive Center Drive, Suite H-108, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Tel.: (407) 686-7824.
Roger Coleman, business manager for the United States Free Flight Championships (USFFC), pointed out an omission: Katrina Duncan, a Junior B Gas flier, won Women’s High Time at the ’93 contest but did not receive proper recognition. Belated congratulations to her!
Well, I guess there ain’t no more for this month. See ya downwind!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
