Author: D. Pruss
Edition: Model Aviation - 1982/08
Page Numbers: 40, 41, 128, 129
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Radio Control: Soaring

Dan Pruss

Toledo. This year, the Toledo Weak Signals celebrated their 28th year of hosting RC Conferences. It's kind of tough for some old salts to admit that this has been going on for quite a few years before some of the present modelers were even born! But it is a great place to meet old friends and — with the exception of the AMA Nationals — no other annual modeling event brings so many friends together.

Reminiscing is always a part of this annual bash, and the cost of RC through the years is always a topic. Inflation has made its mark on a lot of RC items, but the cost of radios not only has held steady over the years, the radios have also improved in technical advances and reliability.

Just for the record, there was a time when you could go to your hobby shop and plunk down about $400 for a transmitter and receiver, four servos from a different manufacturer (because most radio manufacturers didn't make servos), and go home not knowing if the radio even worked. Why? Because you still had to solder all the connectors (which you bought separately) to the servos, receivers, and battery box. After about 100 to 150 soldered connections (hoping you'd made no cold-solder joints), you had a radio that — when it worked well — didn't perform at all like today's radios do, because that was before proportional control.

Believe some of the old salts when they say today's radios are a buck well spent.

Scouting the displays revealed the following items of interest to sailplaners.

Ace RC

  • Silver Seven. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, this is your radio. The kit version of this transmitter is what F3B World Champion Dwight Holley used — and is still using.
  • Dwight's Gobbler carries seven servos to operate dual-rate elevator, mixed rudder and outboard flaperons, inboard flaps, and spoilers. The Silver Seven also has electronic differential for ailerons.
  • Different functions can be programmed, such as a preset for the Speed task. With the flip of a switch Dwight can get a predetermined amount of negative flap and down elevator.
  • For more information and Ace's latest catalog, send $2 to Ace RC, Inc., Box 511, Higginsville, MO 64037.

Airtronics

  • Airtronics' line recalls some of the "good old days" of radio — though those days weren't as good as remembered. For about $100 you can get a two-channel unit with servo reversing.
  • Price points: four-channel with servo reversing about $140 (dry) and $200 with NiCd batteries.
  • Championship series features:
  • End-point adjustments for aileron and rudder
  • Plug-in mixer module for V-tail operation
  • Options for flaperon and elevator mixer
  • Coupler modules for elevator/flap, flap/spoiler, and elevator/spoiler
  • There are a dozen different servos to choose from, and airborne battery packs range from 250 mAh to 1,200 mAh.
  • Airtronics Sailplane line: the Sagitta family includes the 600, the 900, and the Sagitta XC. The XC is designed for record attempts and cross-country flying, spans 14 ft. 6 in., and has a flying weight of eight pounds.
  • For a copy of the 20-page catalog send $1 to Airtronics, 12160 Woodruff Ave., Downey, CA 90241.

Midwest

  • Look for another two-meter bird. This one is scalelike in appearance and all foam, but with beefed-up areas such as in the wing and tail section.
  • Address: Midwest Products Co., 400 S. Indiana St., Hobart, IN 46342.

M.E.N.

  • Having built a reputation on dependable battery chargers and quality kits, M.E.N. has kitted Dwight Holley's Gobbler.
  • The 110-inch world-beater will be kitted as per Holley's winner — with refinements only as Dwight has specified.
  • Price: around $100.
  • Address: Model Engineering of Norwalk, 54 Chestnut Hill, Norwalk, CT 06851.

Pierce Aero

  • Two new kits from Ed Slobod of Paragon fame:
  1. Gemini MTS (MTS = multi-task sailplane). A 100-inch bird with a 15% thick, semi-symmetrical airfoil section. The thick wing provides the strength needed for zoom-launch techniques while carrying 3½ lb. of ballast, yet it's slippery enough to have logged a 10.4 in the old F3B two-lap Speed event.
  2. Paramount. A model of the plane which holds the AMA Free-Distance record of 66 miles, set by Jerry Krainock.
  • Both kits contain the finest quality materials and precision-cut parts.
  • Write to Pierce Aero Co., 9626 Jellico Ave., Northridge, CA 91325.

Soaring Products

  • The trusty Thermal Sniffer has been improved. The unit is now encased in a flat rectangular package and features a plug-in battery and antenna harness.
  • Tone adjustments can be made without taking the Sniffer apart.
  • Airborne Sniffer and ground-based monitor are $135.
  • Further information: Soaring Products, Box 117, Kensington, MD 20895.

Great Lakes Radio Control, Inc.

  • For the serious cross-country flier, record-setter, endurance flier, and seeker of peace of mind, GLRC, Inc. offers not only a 1,200 mAh airborne pack but a 2,000 mAh one as well.
  • This is a flat unit, weighs 12 oz., contains full-C cells, and sells for $41.95 wired with the connector you specify.
  • Write: Great Lakes Radio Control, Inc., 18791 Southampton, Livonia, MI 48152.

South African Nationals

  • Held at the end of 1981 (December 29–31), the Soaring event consisted of two tasks: six-minute Duration and four-lap Speed, the latter over a 100-meter course rather than the F3B 150-meter length.
  • The South Africans have been flying this event for years and claim it makes for a most interesting contest.
  • Andy Keil, a South African team member at the World Championships last year, was the Nats winner. In seven rounds he logged Speed runs of 16.6 sec. and 17.0 sec.; his slowest time was 20.5 sec. (for four 100-meter laps).
  • In their first trials using the 150-meter F3B course, Keil turned a 21.1, a 21.2, and two at 26 sec. per lap.
  • Ray Spavins, a three-time South African team member, was second fastest with his two best runs being 26.1 sec.
  • Needless to say, a few eyebrows have already been raised over the 21-sec. runs. (Wait 'til they get down to sea level.)

RC M Trophy Race

  • Rick Schramek won the annual Slope event with his two-meter bird that earned him fourth place at the Las Vegas 2M World Cup.
  • Right behind Rick was a British team of Smith, Green, and Foss who placed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
  • Interesting note: of the top 10 finishers, four were F3B-type birds.
  • Other placings: 5th Don Edberg, 7th Ed Holder, and 9th Larry Pettyjohn.

Speaking of F3B, the U.S.A. team-selection finals are planned for the Joliet (IL) Airport on Labor Day weekend. This is the same site where the 1981 LSF Tournament was held. See you there?

Good lift.

Dan Pruss RR 2, Box 49D, Plainfield, IL 60544.

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