Author: B. Tenny
Edition: Model Aviation - 1995/05
Page Numbers: 113, 114, 115
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FREE FLIGHT INDOOR

Bud Tenny, P.O. Box 830545, Richardson TX 75083

NATS ALERT!

The AMA Executive Council is now requiring Nats events to have at least five advance entries before the event can be scheduled. Presumably, the details of how this will be handled will be announced before distribution of entry forms or explained in the same mailing with entry forms. Contact your District VP (addresses in the "AMA News" section of Model Aviation) for the latest information.

Thank You

A recent column presented a discussion of partial-motor test flying. Thanks to Bob Gibbs and Rob Randolph for their initial help and review of the comments, and to Jim Clem and Stan Chilton for their information and comments.

USIC!

The 1995 US Indoor Championships is go again: a five-day meet, with test flying the first day. The dates are May 31–June 4, 1995. As of this writing (1/4/95) final details are being decided and entry blanks prepared. Send SASE to Howard Henderson, 444 Bryan Ave., Kirkwood MO 63122 to get an entry blank.

Three classes are new this year: 35cm Indoor Stick, Pro-20 Indoor Stick, and P-24 Condor.

  • 35cm Indoor Stick Rules:
  • Maximum span = 35 cm; no other limits.
  • Pro-20 Rules:
  • Monoplane only.
  • Maximum projected wing span 20 inches.
  • Maximum projected wing area 68 square inches.
  • Maximum stabilizer area 50% of wing area.
  • Propeller: must be built up; micro-film or plastic covered.
  • No variable-pitch or variable-diameter mechanisms permitted.
  • Propeller hubs that permit blade replacement and manual adjustment of pitch are acceptable.
  • Motor stick must be built up (no solid motor sticks).
  • Energy restraining devices other than the propeller are prohibited.
  • In addition to the above, rules for free flight Indoor Rubber and Stick models shall apply.
  • P-24 Condor Contest Rules:
  • The model must be built according to plan. No deviations will be allowed.
  • Several other specifications will apply and all models will be processed.
  • For a complete set of P-24 rules contact Larry Coslick, 4202 Valleycrest Hills, St. Louis MO 63128; Tel.: (314) 982-3803.
  • If you need a P-24 Condor kit, it may be ordered for $9.99 plus $2 postage from Mace Model Aircraft Company, 359 S. 119 East Avenue, Tulsa OK 74128.

International Easy B Contest

There will be an international Easy B contest as part of the Kibbie Dome meet (mid-July). Contest entry fee will be high ($35) with very special prizes. Since proxy entry for foreign fliers will be allowed, proxy fliers will be needed. The contest will be held one day, separate from all other activities. No other flying will be permitted during the contest.

AMA Easy B rules and timing rules will be in effect, except that flights will be in rounds. Contact Larry Coslick, 4202 Valleycrest Hills, St. Louis MO 63128; Tel.: (314) 982-3803 or Wally Miller, 2860 Packsaddle Dr., Coeur d'Alene ID 83814; Tel.: (208) 772-4814 if you are interested in entry or proxy flying.

1995 Indoor Nats at Kibbie Dome

The Indoor Nats will be held in the Kibbie Dome, sometime during the week of July 8–16, 1995. Note the leadoff warning about minimum event entry. Contact AMA HQ for schedule and entry forms.

Kibbie Dome Bash

Will be held the week of July 8–16, 1995. The regular schedule begins (probably) the first two days, followed by the 1995 Indoor Nats and the International Easy B contest in some order, followed possibly by two more days of the normal schedule of "fly-what-you-want-when-you-want." Send a SASE to Andy Tagliafico, 10039 SW Quail Post Rd., Portland OR 97219; Tel.: (503) 452-0546 for schedule and entry information. Combine this request with an entry in the Easy B contest or offer to proxy if needed!

No-Touch Event (proposed)

For years, various fliers believed that to systematically improve indoor model performance it was necessary to eliminate rafter-banging as a tactic. Larry Coslick circulated a plea for such an event. By the time you read this, the initial vote for the current rules cycle will be finished. One of the rules voted on proposed a provisional Cat. I no-touch event having these provisions:

  • Model Specifications:
  • Any model meeting the specifications for Easy B, Intermediate Stick, AMA Stick, or Limited Pennyplane can be used, but all entries in a particular event must be of the same class.
  • Scoring:
  • All provisions of Sec. 9 shall apply, except that timing shall cease when the model contacts any part of the building structure hard enough to cause a visible deviation in the model's attitude or direction of flight.
  • The best single flight of five official flights wins.

Whether the proposal passed intact or not, any club, group, or individuals interested in this concept can use the above proposal as a guideline for club fun-flying events. Know your models and make them better!

1994 Easy B Postal Contest

Individual Standings — Top 10

(Header: flights 1–5 shown where applicable; then Best and Rank)

  1. Stan Chilton — Flights: 16:31, 16:09, -, -, - ; Best: 16:31 ; Rank: 1
  2. Bob DeShields — Flights: 06:15, 14:08, 04:40, 16:10, 15:43 ; Best: 16:10 ; Rank: 2
  3. Dan Belieff — Flights: 00:44, 03:49, 14:44, 15:30, 15:49 ; Best: 15:49 ; Rank: 3
  4. Bob Gibbs — Flights: 14:26, 01:47, 06:51, 14:24, 15:36 ; Best: 15:36 ; Rank: 4
  5. Steve Brown — Flights: 13:59, 13:34, 12:36, 11:31, 15:13 ; Best: 15:13 ; Rank: 5
  6. Tom Vallee — Flights: 12:42, 15:02, 13:02, 13:19, 13:58 ; Best: 15:02 ; Rank: 6
  7. D. Hardcastle — Flights: 11:32, 13:39, 12:45, 01:31, 14:42 ; Best: 14:42 ; Rank: 7
  8. Larry Loucka — Flights: 13:32, 14:23, -, -, - ; Best: 14:23 ; Rank: 8
  9. Larry Mzik — Flights: 11:34, 11:09, 13:40, -, - ; Best: 13:40 ; Rank: 9
  10. Bud Tenny — Flights: 13:04, 11:03, 07:34, -, - ; Best: 13:04 ; Rank: 10

Note: As announced in a previous column, Tom Vallee hosted a Category I postal contest between US teams and teams from Japan. The results from Japan haven't arrived, but note the excellent US times.

Flying Opportunities

The sessions listed below are the latest information available. Contact persons for other areas are included. Clubs with events beginning in April 1995, send schedules ASAP! Always verify a contest date by phone before leaving home.

  • Arkansas — Little Rock area
  • Indoor sessions every month, usually the second Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Little Rock Burns Park Tennis Center.
  • Side walls 20 feet, center peak 40 feet.
  • Cost is $24 divided by the number of participants.
  • Contact Ron Stanfield, 20 Oakridge Dr., Maumelle AR 72113; Tel.: (501) 851-1697.
  • California — Burbank
  • The Blacksheep Exhibition Squadron (VMF-214) has monthly sessions on second Fridays; flying in Cat. I site at Luther Burbank Middle School; 7–10 p.m.
  • Contact Tony Naccarato, 2121 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank CA 91507; Tel.: (818) 842-5062.
  • California — Garden Grove
  • Access to the gymnasium at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove every Tuesday evening from 7 to 10 p.m.
  • Gym is approximately 25 feet to the lowest ceiling girder with another 10 feet of airspace above.
  • Contact John Wenk, 4612 Silverleaf Ave., Orange CA 92669; Tel.: (714) 633-8546.
  • California — Los Angeles area
  • Monthly sessions at the Naval & Marine Corps Armory, next to Dodger Stadium.
  • Contact Paul Avery, 6360 Germania Ct., Agoura Hills CA 91301; Tel.: (818) 707-0282.
  • California — Marin County (20 miles north of San Francisco)
  • Year-round minicontests, 8 a.m.–2 p.m., fourth Sunday each month.
  • Standard basketball court with 28 feet clear.
  • Contact George Benson, 204 Benson Circle, Mill Valley CA 94941; Tel.: (415) 388-1809.
  • California — San Diego
  • Fun fly and scale sessions 2nd Friday each month; monthly sessions on fourth Friday, all in Colina Del Sol Community Center (Cat. I) 5316 Orange Ave., San Diego.
  • Contact Howard Haupt, 3860 Eochee Ave., San Diego CA 92117; Tel.: (619) 272-5656.
  • Canada — Ontario
  • Indoor flying at Woodroffe High School in Ottawa on Mondays, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Contact Dan O'Grady, 50 Largo Crescent, Nepean, Ontario K2G 3C7.
  • Canada — Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • Flying sessions twice a month in a 23-foot gym on Sundays and one session each month in an 80-foot hangar (subject to work schedules).
  • Hangar is tight with minimal drift and has been locale for several Canadian Cat. III records.
  • Contact Barrie Taylor, 2 Thackery, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3K 0H1; Tel.: (204) 889-4737.
  • Connecticut — Norwich
  • Sessions held throughout fall and winter at Teacher's Memorial Junior High School in Norwich. Beginners welcome.
  • Last session for 1994–95 scheduled Saturday, April 15, 1995 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Contact John Koptonak, 2 Wiemes Ct., Waterford CT 06385; Tel.: (203) 442-9003.
  • Florida — Tampa / MacDill
  • MIAMA State Indoor Meet #5: includes mass launch in WWII class and the Big MaL Ed Seay Ansaldo SVA-5 mass launch event, March 25–26, 1995.
  • State Indoor Meet #6: April 22–23; Armed Forces Day meet: May 20–21, 1995 (last state meet of MIAMA's 24th Indoor season; includes a mass launch of biplanes).
  • Contact Dr. John Martin, 2180 Tigertail Ave., Miami FL 33133; Tel.: (305) 858-6363.
  • Idaho — Kibbie Dome
  • Kibbie Dome Annual will be held the week of July 8–16, 1995.
  • Contact Andy Tagliafico, 10039 Quail Post Rd., Portland OR 97219; Tel.: (503) 371-0492.
  • Illinois — Chicago area
  • Year-round weekly sessions in a 25-foot gym at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Currently held 6–11 p.m. on Monday evenings.
  • Contact Bob Warmann, 245 N. Oaklawn, Elmhurst IL 60126; Tel.: (708) 834-9075.
  • Kansas — Topeka
  • Kansas Indoor Championships, April 1, 1995, gymnasium at Washburn University.
  • Contact Jack Koehler, 3310 SW Eveningstide Dr., Topeka KS 66614-3726; Tel.: (913) 273-9554.
  • Kansas — Wichita
  • Note address change: Stan Chilton, 3010 Grail, Wichita KS 67211; Tel.: (316) 686-9634.
  • Kentucky — Louisville
  • Flying sessions every Tuesday at the Sawyer Park site, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
  • One Saturday each month (subject to military schedules) at the Kentucky Air National Guard site 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
  • Contact Mason Plank, 3207 Oriole Dr., Louisville KY 40213; Tel.: (502) 634-8191.
  • Maryland — Goddard NAS
  • Contact Tom Vallee, 444 Henryton So., Laurel MD 20707; Tel.: (301) 498-0790.
  • Massachusetts — Merrimac Valley
  • Merrimac Valley Air-Istocrats 17th Annual Indoor Contest, 27-foot site, 99 Fordham Rd., Wilmington MA. March 12, 1995.
  • Contact Jim Fiorello, Tel.: (508) 687-0022.
  • Nebraska — Beatrice
  • Note contact change: R. D. Hawes, 9220 N. 52nd St., Omaha NE 68152; Tel.: (402) 571-6512.
  • New Jersey — Lakehurst
  • 1994 flying sessions/contests/record trials at Hangar #77 were scheduled almost every weekend between July and October. For information on the 1995 season, send Gary Underwood a SASE at 24 Kennebec Ct., Bordentown NJ 08505 or call (609) 324-9004.
  • North Carolina — Charlotte
  • Flying sessions at 25-foot gym every Friday night, year-round.
  • Contact Cliff Culpepper, 1401 Ferncliffe Rd., Charlotte NC 28211; Tel.: (704) 366-7350.
  • Ohio — Cleveland area
  • Weekly sessions year-round in Cat. I sites.
  • Willoughby site (Andrews School): 20-foot ceiling, 60 x 80-foot floor area.
  • Meridian Euclid Hospital site in Euclid: 19.5-foot ceiling, 45 x 70-foot floor area.
  • Contact Vern Hacker, 25599 Breckenridge Dr., Euclid OH 44117-1807; Tel.: (216) 486-4990.
  • Oklahoma — Oklahoma City
  • 1995 contest at the Armory: Mar. 19, 1995.
  • Contact Edsel Ford, 10163 W. Country Drive, Oklahoma City OK 73170; Tel.: (405) 691-5411.
  • Virginia — Hampton area
  • Langley Brainbusters' winter indoor contest schedule includes March 19 and April 23, 1995, 1–6 p.m. at the SBH Gym.
  • Events: EZ-13, Limited Pennyplane, Bostonian, No Cat, A-6, 8-inch hand launch glider and MiniStick. All events count for scoring.
  • Contact Abram Van Dover, 112 Tillerson Dr., Newport News VA 23602; Tel.: (804) 877-2830.
  • Washington State — Seattle area
  • Boeing Hawks' last scheduled contest for 1995 is at the Naval Reserve Center in Lake Union, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., March 18, 1995.
  • Contact Gene Stubbs, 5505 Ann Arbor NE, Seattle WA 98105; Tel.: (206) 523-6148.

Quote: "Whether the [no-touch] proposal made it through the initial vote intact or not, any club or group of individuals can use the proposal as a guideline . . . know your models and make them better!"

Electronic Balances

These expensive "toys" are endlessly useful, and some fliers (including Stan Chilton) use them at the flying site to check weight ratios between the partial motor and the spacer. I now own one, but the USIC borrowed Jim Clem's balance to match MiniStick prop weights. The first thing I did was match weights on three MiniStick props. Unfortunately, the scale's 0.01 g resolution wasn't good enough, so I had to trick the scale.

All of the props were close to the same weight, but the heaviest was just heavy enough to flip the least significant digit. I added tiny pieces of #24 gauge solder on the pan with each of the lighter props, then added equivalent pieces of solder to the lighter props. A more exact way to get another digit of resolution is to create ten pieces of aluminum foil that weigh exactly 0.01 g, then add foil weight until the least significant digit flips. For example, suppose an item produces a scale reading of 0.21 g. Add pieces of foil until the display reads 0.22 g. If the third piece of foil did the job, then the weight is very close to 0.217 g (0.22 − 0.003 = 0.217).

Thinning Aliphatic Resin

This column has mentioned using aliphatic resin (Titebond or similar) thinned by some amount of water. Unfortunately, if you use any measuring device like a graduated cylinder, some glue always sticks to the measuring device. I finally realized that by adding the water first, then drops of resin followed by thorough shaking, almost no residue is left in the measuring cup. This works equally well when thinning Duco cement.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.