RADIO CONTROL ELECTRICS
Bob Kopski — 25 West End Drive, Lansdale, PA 19446
"PLEASE INCLUDE A SASE...with any correspondence for which you'd like a reply." These or similar words should ring familiar with readers who actually make it to the end of this column each month. I know that's many of you, because I get lots of mail.
But some folks miss the fact that my address really is as it appears just above on this page—I really don't live or work at HQ! While a letter sent via the AMA does eventually reach me, it's faster if you send it direct.
As for the faster part: sometimes I do get bogged down with other things, and my incoming mail piles up—perhaps for as long as three or four weeks. This does not happen often, but when it does, those folks no doubt feel some frustration when they don't hear from me in a timely manner.
I'm truly sorry when this occurs, but be assured it is my policy and intent to respond to everyone who seeks information, and while I always try to accomplish that in expedited fashion, sometimes I miss.
Occasionally some longer delays have occurred. It's both hard to explain and hard to understand, but there have been a few occasions over my decade of writing where I've actually misplaced some reader mail. I had one piece literally fall in the crack between my bench and the balsa rack! I've also had some accidentally wind up in my "bills" or "answered" files—the result of shuffling lots of paper at one time. More than once I've set a letter aside, pending further research prior to a response, then had it slip my mind. Folks, things of this nature can happen, despite my best intentions.
If a reply has really been too long in coming, kindly write again and beat up on me; I won't be offended or angry.
Computers and modeling
More and more E-modelers are finding interest and utility in computers along with the pursuit of Electric. In the June '93 issue, I discussed a program by reader Ken Rusnok that is designed to evaluate and compare various motor/prop combinations.
Ken was offering this program free to readers who sent a formatted disk. Two or three weeks after that column appeared, I received a letter from Ken telling me that he had 32 requests. On a relative scale, 32 is a lot!
This sizeable reader reaction tells me that many E-modelers are very interested in the modeling/computer connection. Beyond that, it is clear that many advanced modelers are very interested in the finer technical points of electro-modeling.
It's this sort of thing that makes the oh-five type of motor nomenclature all the more difficult for me (and many others) to take. As I've said before regarding computers and modeling, "it's just the beginning."
The computer/modeling connection is not limited to Electric; more and more programs are showing up for other modeling specialties as well. In fact, I think this marriage needs its own acronym: how about CAAM—Computer Aided Aero-Modeling? Or making it more specific, like E-CAAM (Electric), S-CAAM (sailplane), and O-CAAM (Old-Timer)? These are merely examples that quickly come to mind. What do you think?
Most regular readers know that this is not my favorite arena, and several readers have written or called offering to help me do battle with PC/DOS per se. Several folks have even sent disks containing helpful material, like shells for the operating system. Well, it finally dawned on me that my column comments may have conveyed the wrong message. Let me explain.
Despite the impression my comments may leave, I really am able to bludgeon my way through most of this miserable DOS-based stuff. In fact, that is how the very words are being generated, and they will be sent by modem via CompuServe as an ASCII file—almost right to the pages of the magazine.
Thus, while I'm able—like most everyone else—to make this stuff work, in my own mind this PC/DOS system is a "hammer and chisel and block of stone" approach. I'm only interested in computers as a tool or accessory to modeling—not as a vocation or avocation. For me, it's computer-aided modeling.
As a tool and in general, PC/DOS and most applications are incredibly user-abusive. They are not intuitive and not easy to use. I know this is the case, relatively speaking, because I've seen the Macintosh work and it is easy—very easy! It's an intuitive tool, like a sanding block or a sharp knife.
The problem is that most of the neat modeling stuff is written for the PC! It's like building a model while holding the knife blade upside-down. Another way I see it is that PC/DOS is like wet flying; the Mac is like Electric. Get the idea?
So, mine is sort of a mind problem. I don't like being forced to use less than the best tool to do what I really want to do: Electric modeling. In that sense, I'm beyond help, but I certainly thank all those who have tried.
Reader response and community
Along the same lines, the July column offered some commentary about things tending for the worse with time. I gave hobby-shop music wire (which I often use to make Electric landing gear and other modeling applications) as an example.
In particular, I lamented how, at one time long ago, this wire was really very good stuff, but now what I find is not so good at all. I invited readers to respond, and so you did!
Five readers have responded with suggestions and/or literature on the matter. While I've not been able to follow up on everything so far, I will. Then I'll pass along my findings in a future column.
Meanwhile, note how this specific subject brought reader reaction, just as it did with Ken's disk offer and my computer woes! What this is shaping up to look like is what I've suspected: this column's readership is made up of many fine folks, representing wide-ranging backgrounds, interests, abilities, and resources, who have sensitivity, kindness, and responsiveness—not to mention a focus on Electric! Imagine: someone being able to collect and compile all that you folks know; what a dazzling collective wealth that would be!
Lehigh Valley Radio Control Society Electric Fun Fly
June 12th (a week ago as I write this) was the date for the sixth annual Lehigh Valley Radio Control Society Electric Fun Fly, held near Easton, Pennsylvania, which is less than an hour from where I live.
Like so many groups around the country, LVRCS is primarily a veteran club that has some Electric membership. This club enjoys a magnificent field, and shares it once a year with all interested Electric modelers.
Over the years, this Fun Fly has grown in size and quality, and always brings out many fine new Electrics ("new" because it's held early in the season). This year's meet was headed up by Ellis Grumer and Dale Hart, with the assistance of other club members and support from industry. It featured open flying all day, plus several low-key events; this format seems to be generally accepted at meets around the nation.
The official count gave 41 registered pilots and approximately 104 planes. Among the latter were my two Revolts: one equipped with a Master Airscrew motor on seven cells, and one with a geared Cobalt 40 on 21 cells.
It was rather amusing to watch as people watched both models fly, knowing something was rather different even though they looked identical. When they picked both models up—surprise! Many requested plans.
With great weather, a great field, and many fine folks having lots of fun, the only thing that could make this meet better would be for there to be more of it. My personal thanks to everyone at LVRCS for such a great time. Here's hoping that next year will find the return of the two-day format. With all this meet has to offer, one day is just not enough!
Supplier updates
Two suppliers have recently sent updates.
- Astro Flight Inc. released updated pricing in the form of the June 1993 Price List. I know the automatic reaction to words of this nature is "bigger bucks," but much to my surprise, this list actually drops prices on several items. This alone may make it a collector's piece. Request a copy from:
- Astro Flight Inc., 13391 Beach Ave., Marina Del Rey, CA 90292.
As an aside, I believe I'm among the very earliest of Astro's customers, having purchased my first Astro Electric product in the early '70s. Sometimes I wonder just what the state of Electric in this country would be today if it were not for Astro—the dominant U.S. force in this field for about two decades.
I personally feel a deep indebtedness to these folks, who surely must have had to "tough it" through some very lean and discouraging times. But they stayed at it, and now Astro has a product line that is nothing short of spectacular—the very biggest and best "made in the USA" Electric line that this country has to offer.
- CS Flight Systems sent the July '93 catalog. This catalog contains more Electric items from more manufacturers than any other single source I know. Prices are discounted, and nearly everything is in stock. The catalog is also an information booklet, covering many how-to topics and reprints of significant published articles. It's available for:
- $6 (USA) and $7.50 (Canada and elsewhere)
- CS Flight Systems, 31 Perry St., Middleboro, MA 02346-3117; Tel: (508) 947-2805 (6–9 p.m.). Tell 'em Bob sent you!
SR Smart Charger/Cycler (SRCSC)
For about a year, I've been using my SR Smart Charger/Cycler, and over that time it has become number one over several other older, timer-controlled chargers. (I normally have several chargers installed and operational in my minivan.)
The SRCSC is a rather versatile unit, offering many operational features, including some that I don't often get to use because it's installed and dedicated to motor packs. The SRCSC is also equipped to charge receiver and transmitter packs, and to accurately discharge all packs. It has adjustable rates and an LCD readout so that one always knows the operating conditions, times, capacities, etc. In fact, it has so many operational features that I just can't fit them all in the space remaining.
I've seen several feature articles on the SRCSC. As a motor-battery pack charger, this unit is very easy to use and functions very well. If you're considering a top-end charger, be sure to include this microprocessor-controlled product among those you're reviewing.
Quite coincidentally, I happened to meet Larry Sribnick of SR at the LVRCS meet. I told Larry about this charger! I think Larry was set back a bit by my enthusiasm; normally I'm a bit of a stickler for electronic performance (Larry chose alternative words to describe the same thought).
Anyway, Larry briefed me and described a forthcoming update to the charger software that will expand its operational limits and add even more features. This is an optional upgrade for a relatively small cost, and current users will be notified of its availability. As I understand it, in the future the SRCSC will be available with or without this expansion feature for the same price. That's the nice thing about computer-controlled products: a chip upgrade allows product feature enhancement without obsolescence.
I've seen this in other modeling products, including the ACE MicroPro 8000 transmitter and the BEP MicroPeaker. I recently installed my MicroPeaker-equipped Astro 11 in my van, and I'll be accumulating experience with that product in upcoming months. Incidentally, Larry shared a quip from one of his fellow club members: "A watched pack never packs." (Yes, it does; just seems like it will never get there!)
Final notes
Thus ends yet one more column. By the time you see this, the '93 KRC Electric Fly will be history. The Nats issue (December) will be the next one out, and my next column will be in the January '94 MA. And right now it's only June 20!
Please forward a SASE with any correspondence for which you'd like a reply.
Happy, quiet power landings, everyone.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
