Radio Control: Soaring

Radio Control: Soaring

Byron Blakeslee 3134 N. Winnebago Dr. Sedalia, CO 80135

F3B Team News

Team Manager Randy Spencer sent the latest scoop on preparations for the World Championships to be held in the Netherlands, August 27 through September 2. In April Joe Wurts and Daryl Perkins started practicing with their new F3B Eagles. Last month's column featured Mark Allen's latest kit offering, the Thermal Eagle, which uses the same fuselage. Mark anticipates having F3B Eagle kits available in the near future.

Thermal Eagle specs:

• 111.5-inch wingspan
• RG-15 airfoil
• 935-square-inch wing area
• Triple-taper wing planform
• Aluminum arrow-shaft aileron & flap hinging
• Vacuum-bagged blue foam cores with carbon-fiber cloth
• Carbon-fiber wing joiner

Randy says this new Eagle is a traveler. Larry Jolly is developing his own new F3B design; until it is ready Larry continues using his Mueller Comet 89T. What impresses Randy about speed-task practice is how close the average times are among the three pilots — "What we are getting now is consistency!"

Team helpers are Norm Timbs and Dean Clark. Norm (owner of Timbs Engineering Co.) designed and built three new winches for the team. Randy says they work fantastically well and "run like sewing machines."

Please remember these six guys are working hard to represent the USA in the Netherlands. It’s our team and it needs your support. Fielding a competitive world-class team is relatively costly. Winners of the big merchandise raffle ($10 per ticket) will be drawn at the Nats. Top prize is round-trip airfare to the World Champs. Souvenirs available:

• Team logo pins — $3
• Patches — $5
• T-shirts — $12
• Caps — $10

Order raffle tickets and souvenirs (add 10% P&H) from: 1991 USA F3B Soaring Team P.O. Box 3242, Lakewood, CA 90711-3242

When responding to advertisers, mention that you read about them in Model Aviation.

The Bat Sheet

The Bat Sheet (newsletter of the Stratobats of Seattle) carries regional Free Flight news and often some good original material. Mark Sexton, 8717 17th NW, Seattle, WA 98117. Subscriptions (12 monthly issues): $12 (U.S.), $13 (Canada, U.S. funds), $14 (other countries, U.S. funds).

From the February issue: a source and technique for using aniline dye to give a light translucent enhancement to doped tissue. The dye (about $2.24 per pound) dissolves in alcohol, not in dope or thinner. Mix one-eighth teaspoon of dye powder in two tablespoons methanol to color about 2½ ounces of clear dope. Spray onto tissue that has two or more coats of clear dope; a top coat of clear restores gloss and prevents the dye from running (it is water soluble). Dye source: Keystone, Pacific Division, 13787 Milroy Place, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670.

Vortex — Gold Coast Avionics

While visiting Florida last winter, I flew at West Palm Beach and saw an impressive range of ships. Tony Arnoux flew Roland Sommer's Impuls (a German-made, all-molded F3B-type ship). At the other end of the dollar scale was a neat little wood-and-foam two-meter that caught my eye. Greg Norsworthy was zoom-launching it; it was the Vortex, designed by local flier Rich Ernst. Rich and his son Sean flew their Vortexes and Rich is now ready to kit the ship.

Gold Coast Avionics announces availability of the Vortex Two-Meter competition sailplane kit. The Vortex has been under development for two years with many prototypes and construction techniques tested. The design offers state-of-the-art aerodynamics and handling, superior strength, and an easy-to-build package. The goal was high-tech performance without the difficulties of composite construction — no fancy shop or expensive tools required.

Vortex features:

• One-piece wing with conventional spruce spar and balsa-sheeted foam core
• Wing can be built with ailerons and flaps or ailerons only
• Standard balsa and plywood fuselage
• Built-up stabilator attached as a T-tail to reduce drag
• Wing unique features: triple-taper leading edge, cranked trailing edge, and up-kicked wing tips to reduce tip-vortex formation
• Option to build as four-channel (aileron + flaps) or three-channel (rudder) with increased outer-panel dihedral
• Aileron version: better landing response
• Rudder version: improved spiral stability in thermals
• Finished weight: about 39–41 ounces using standard servos (except aileron servos) and a 500 mAh battery
• Wing loading: about 9 oz/sq ft (ballast capability can easily double the loading)
• Strong wing construction; speed runs have been impressive (winch lines usually break first)

Kit information:

• Offered as a semi-kit (includes everything needed except strip/ sheet stock, covering, pushrods, etc.)
• Additional material to complete kit costs about $25
• Kit cost: $64.95 plus $5.00 shipping

Gold Coast Avionics 908 Alamanda Drive, North Palm Beach, FL 33408 Phone: 407/622-7262 Free catalog available. Kits also available through Northeast Sailplane Products.

Rich Ernst also sent info on his 1.5-meter hand-launch called the Goblin. It looks like a scaled-down Vortex but uses the SD7032 airfoil on a fairly low-aspect platform with aileron and stabilator control. With 399 square inches and 16 oz weight, it throws well and the wing is surprisingly strong. Full kits are available factory direct for $49.95 with free shipping.

Northeast Sailplane Products (NSP)

If you haven't seen NSP's 1991 RC Soaring Reference and Catalog of Products, you're missing a treat. This 102-page catalog is more than a catalog: it arranges top sailplane kits by size (hand launch through cross-country), includes imported scale kits, radios, accessories, and excellent information on building and flying gliders. NSP selected designs of interest to serious competition and sport fliers — the best made in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Excerpt from the Introduction:

• NSP is owned and operated by sailplane enthusiasts Sal DeFrancisco and Stan Eames.
• The catalog aims to provide information necessary to make informed kit purchases and offers phone support for discussions on RC soaring technologies, building, flying, and kit details.
• NSP provides assistance after purchase for building and finishing issues.

NSP catalog: $5.00 ppd NSP, 18 Kirby Lane, Williston, VT 05495 Phone: 802/658-9482

Milo Model Products

The Milo Model Products catalog (12 pages, free) includes interesting designs and accessories: the 150-inch-span Sailaire, the ex-Mark Smith 1/2-scale ASW-20 (16 feet!), a new Mini Bird of Time, scale kits (1/2-scale Gates Learjet, two-meter Pilatus B-4), and pocket-scale Phoebeus (48 in) and LS-3 (65 in). Milo also offers tie-tack glider pins, field boxes, tow hooks, wing bags, and transmitter bags.

Milo Model Products P.O. Box 236, Nestor, CA 92053 Phone: 619/429-8281

Airfoils To Go!

Airfoils To Go! (Taylor Collins) is a collection of 48 model sailplane airfoils with full-size drawings:

• 12 Eppler, 4 Göttingen, 4 NACA, 8 Quebec, 9 Selig, and 3 miscellaneous (Clark Y, MB303515 & RG 15)
• Airfoils plotted with chords in eleven sizes from 4.5 to 13 inches, ready-to-use templates (no need to plot coordinates)
• Each airfoil includes a 10-inch master drawing with percentage stations showing the straight chord line and the camber line (useful for understanding lift/drag characteristics)

Airfoils To Go! — 49 pages, 8.5 x 14 inches, plastic-ring-bound Price: $19.95 ppd Soaring Stuff, 9140 Guadalupe Trail NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114 Phone: 505/898-1129 Taylor accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.

Model Maniacs Indexes

Larry Sivertson has compiled a 1990 Model Aviation index to help locate past articles. It indexes topics useful to RC pilots; columns with several topics are represented by multiple entries. The 1990 index has over 500 entries on 26 pages. Sailplanes are broken into nine sub-categories containing 40 references. Larry also has 1990 indexes for Model Airplane News and RC Modeler. Price: $8 each ppd.

Model Maniacs, 3663 Balboa, Ste. 242, San Diego, CA 92111.

Model Construction Videos (MVC)

D.O. (Denny) Darnell produced building tapes showing kit construction and flying shots. Examples:

• Building the Airtronics Legend
• Flite Lite Composites Falcon 600

Both tapes run about two hours and are valuable for newer builders and experienced modelers who want to learn new techniques and tricks.

MVC videos: $24.95 plus $4.05 S&H (Visa/MasterCard accepted) MVC, 4227 E. 83rd St., Tulsa, OK 74137 Phone: 918/481-8555

Bob Smith Industries (BSI)

Finish Cure epoxy is recommended for applying glass cloth when the surface will be sanded. It is thin, low-odor, sets in about 20 minutes, and sands well. Bob Smith's CYAs (Super-Gold) are odorless and foam-compatible; BSI claims freshness and a two-year guaranteed shelf life. Free information sheet available.

BSI, 8060 Mero Road, Atascadero, CA 93422 Phone: 805/466-1717

The Beginner's Corner — Tony Digirolamo

NOW THAT you have your radio and first kit, it’s time to start building. A few essentials and tips:

Radio and safety:

• Make sure your radio is "1991 ready": narrow-band transmitter and receiver. Check the AMA listing for compliant models to avoid interference.

Workshop and tools:

• A flat building surface is essential (or your sailplane can become curved).
• Suggested starter tools/supplies:
• Quick-setting thick and thin CA
• Six-minute epoxy
• Straight pins
• X-Acto knife and tool set
• Zona saw
• Soldering iron
• Sealing iron and heat gun for covering
• Wax paper
• Sanding blocks and papers (80, 220, 320–400)
• Wood filler (DAP Fast 'n Final Spackling)
• Needle-nose pliers, small screwdrivers
• Small drill-bit set, small file set
• Optional: Dremel Moto-Tool set

Covering and reinforcements:

• Covering film: MonoKote, Oracover, UltraTape or equivalent.
• Observe colors and markings that are easy to follow in the air; copy those you can track well.
• Obtain carbon-fiber strips and triangle stock to reinforce wings and strategic areas.

Shop location tips:

• If space is limited, store your building board under the bed or work on a covered dining table (consider gift diplomacy with your spouse!).
• Use odorless CYAs when working inside. Sanding outdoors is recommended.

Building advice:

• Remove everything from the kit box and read the instructions completely. Mentally build the kit first.
• When stuck, call your instructor or an experienced club member — it saves time and mistakes.
• If your trainer lacks spoilers (most don't), add them — spoilers greatly ease landings. They require an extra servo but are worth it for landing control.
• Strengthen the wing: increase structural strength at the inboard end of spars (two-piece wings) or the wing center (one-piece wings). Use good wood, consider replacement spars/leading/trailing edge stock, epoxy the wing join, and glue carbon-fiber strips to top and bottom of the main spar to reduce bending without adding excessive weight.

Community:

• You are part of a club with many members who will help. Ask for assistance when needed.

Special Interest Newsletters for Sailplaners

Our hobby contains many soaring disciplines: thermal duration, scale, slope (F3F), multi-task (F3B, Sportsman), cross-country (F3H), percentage-slot duration (F3J), hand launch, sport flying, and electric gliders. Special newsletters serve these niches.

• F3J (Percentage Slot Thermal Duration) — George Burr is publishing a new newsletter devoted to F3J. Subscription details (rate/frequency) TBD; contact:

George Burr 1614 McCarthy Blvd., Wausau, WI 54401 Phone: 715/675-9851

• F3H (International Cross-Country) — Myles Moran is publishing a newsletter promoting F3H. He anticipates four issues per year at about $1 each.

Myles Moran 10428 Oso Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311 Phone: 818/882-4687

• F3F News — Preben Norholm (Denmark) has published two issues so far. Publication may be irregular. Suggested contribution: $10 (cash preferred).

Preben Norholm Godthabsvej 7, DK-7400 Herning, Denmark

• F3B/USASA — Randy Reynolds (Colorado Springs) published this newsletter since 1987. Due to other commitments he requested relief; Byron Blakeslee is now editing F3B/USASA to keep it going. The newsletter serves F3B and Sportsman Multi-Task enthusiasts and has grown to about 120 subscribers, including international readers (Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, England, Japan) and clubs (e.g., Capital Area Soaring Association). F3B/USA is published six times per year (odd-numbered months). Subscriptions: $12/year (U.S.), $20/year (overseas). Contact Byron at his address above. Phone: 303/688-9572

Miscellaneous Short Items

• Vortex (reiteration): Gold Coast Avionics' Vortex semi-kit includes most parts, is easy to build, and is priced at $64.95 plus $5.00 shipping.

• The "BB Seal of Approval": Bob Smith's CYAs (Super-Gold) are odorless and foam-compatible; BSI claims freshness and a two-year guaranteed shelf life. Free info sheet from BSI (see address above).

• Model Construction Videos, Airfoils To Go!, NSP catalog, Milo Model Products, and the Model Maniacs index are all excellent reference/learning resources for modelers at various experience levels.

When responding to advertisers mentioned here, please say you read about them in Model Aviation.

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