Radio Control: Helicopters
Larry Jolly 15781 Empire Ln. Westminster, CA 92683
Welcome back. I've got quite a few things to cover this month, but before I get to them I'd like to share a few thoughts. First, I'd like to thank all of the newsletter editors who have been kind enough to send me their respective club newsletters. This is such a great help that I can't express enough my most sincere thanks to you generous folks. Please keep 'em coming.
Recently I've heard some complaints about the column. Looking back, I realize that I've been AMA's heli columnist since 1983. I have to admit that I have been at it longer than I thought I would. Eight years is a long time, but I'm not ready to hang up the old word processor yet. What I am wondering is: where do we go with this column? I want to make it better, and I need some ideas from you. If you have time and would like to share your ideas with me, drop me a line. I also appreciate the modelers who send pictures of their new creations. Again, thanks for the interest and please keep the photos and comments coming.
Top Gun 1992
Those of you who follow fixed‑wing happenings will already have heard of the Top Gun Scale Tournament. For those not familiar with this great contest, check out George Jenkins's article in the October 1991 Model Aviation. Last month A. E. Stanley contacted me and wanted to know if I thought there would be any interest in a Helicopter Division at Top Gun 1992.
Apparently it's not firm yet, but Frank Tiano is interested and will consider a Scale Heli Division if we can get 12 firm commitments. The '92 tournament is tentatively scheduled for May 7–10 in Arizona. I think this would be an outstanding opportunity—one we shouldn't pass up. Scale helicopters could really use a shot in the arm. A contest like this could be just the ticket to develop some serious interest in scale machines. Bear in mind, though, that nothing is final yet. If you're interested contact:
- A. E. Stanley
686 Violet Road Warminster, PA 18974
Hobby Dynamics Update
I recently received a letter from Hobby Dynamics president Mike Ciolli. Mike wanted to remind me that Hobby Dynamics has some new products that might interest the RC chopper enthusiast. New items include:
- JR's new JR150 gyro
- Kalt's new one‑piece clutch for the Enforcer
- Kalt's Huey Cobra fuselage for the Whisper
- Kalt's Long Ranger fuselage for the Enforcer
- Webra's new heli engine line, including the new .70
You'll also want to know that Hobby Dynamics is now the U.S. distributor for K & S accessories. All these products should be available from your Hobby Dynamics dealer now.
In addition, Mike says that the Kalt Baron Alpha is now in stock and available as this is being written. While in Europe this summer I had the opportunity to work on a friend's Baron Alpha and I was very impressed. Basically it is an updated Excalibur. The Alpha is made with the typically high quality Kalt workmanship. Set up for long blades and Japanese FAI‑style flying, the Alpha should prove to be very popular. I have one ordered and look forward to passing on my experiences shortly.
Tim Lampe, Great Plains' head contest man, has recently been very ill. Tim has undergone surgery and has had to stay away from work while resting up. I know you join me in wishing Tim a speedy recovery and hope he gets back to work soon. Good luck, Tim!
P.A.R.R.
I just heard from Ray Stacy, secretary/treasurer of the Pittsburgh Area Rotor Runners (P.A.R.R.). Ray was kind enough to send along a copy of P.A.R.R.'s demo videotape. I found the video very entertaining. It was good to see long‑time heli flier Dave Darr and Paul Trudel in action with their helis. Of special interest to this California boy was watching P.A.R.R. club members flying their machines in a snowstorm. Winter flying in California means you wear long pants.
With all the video cameras out there it seems to me that a club promotional tape would be a useful and fun tool for attracting new members—just the thing for hobby stores and mall shows, and a fun club project as well. I'd be interested in hearing from other clubs who have gone this route.
Ray also sent photos of his latest scale project. The fuselage is a Schluter Bell 222 and the mechanics are X‑Cell .40. Dave Darr painted the fuselage for Ray. The 222 is a real beauty—maybe I can interest Ray in a Top Gun slot? Ray says that if anyone in the Pittsburgh area is interested in the club they should contact him:
- Ray Stacy
521 Hankey Farms Drive Oakdale, PA 15071 Phone: 412‑787‑9739
P.A.R.R. will soon have color pictures in their newsletter! Thanks, Ray!
Helicopter in Paris
As many of you know, I was fortunate to be on the U.S. Soaring team that went to Holland this past summer. After the contest I traveled to Paris to visit my friend Philippe Bataille. Philippe enjoys all the various disciplines of RC flying and broke into RC helis with a Shuttle I'd loaned him on his visit last spring. Philippe progressed to one‑minute hovers before he had to go back home. I decided to take the Shuttle to him this summer as a present so he could continue his training.
During my visit, Philippe took me to the helicopter shop owned by French champion Alain Doudignon. The shop is called Elge and is located about 200 meters southwest of Notre Dame Cathedral. Alain stocks all the major brands as well as several European accessories we don't often see over here. If you're ever in Paris, look up Alain and take a look at his shop.
Onboard Systems
I just received a new tool from Onboard Systems called the Piston Locking Tool (PLT). The PLT is manufactured from brass and is designed to keep the crankshaft from turning while you tighten the prop nut on your engine. It's designed for helicopters like the Kyosho Concept 30 and the Kalt Enforcer that use a starter cone directly on the engine's crankshaft.
The PLT allows you to re‑tighten the prop nut without removing the engine from the machine. It's a quality unit and comes with explicit instructions for use. I must warn you that if you ever torque the prop nut you could cause serious damage to your piston and connecting rod, so be careful and take it easy.
On the other hand, the PLT looks much safer and is certainly more desirable than stuffing a dowel into the exhaust port of your engine—something I've witnessed other fliers doing on their Concepts.
- Onboard Systems
7210 Jordan Ave., Suite D37 Canoga Park, CA 91303 Phone: 818‑999‑3952
BCNU
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
