Banned in Moosup.

I used to be able to post comments on the Norwich Bulletin web site. About 4 weeks ago I couldn't post anything there. I figured they had taken offence at something I called our dopey Sen. Dodd. I tried to get the bulletin to say so for a couple weeks now and no one would answer my emails. I finally got one on the line and after two days he confirmed that I am banned for inappropriate comments. Their customer service is as bad as the paper.
It snowed today and on the trip to Groton we saw over 25 accidents from home to exit 80 in Norwich. Just plain dumb drivers. One accident had 4 cars involved. Hundreds across the state. The tow truck drivers are having a Happy New Year.

Long ago and 6 miles away.

Way back in the fifty's I lived across the street from the only other modeler in the town. We never connected on anything as, I think, his wife hated me. Maybe him too. I went to school with their son and we played together. Only once do I remember him flying any of his planes. In the winter in the snow and the plane had skis. It was a Scientific Lil Devil powered by a Wen Mac .049. I remember that he used a propane torch to warm the engine before starting it. It did get off the snow and he flew it in a circle nothing else. Well that bit of information came back to me today and I had a new Fox .40 to run as a sheet of balsa soaked in the rain barrel. Now came the good part, should I use a torch as my neighbor did or something safer like a fire contained in a burn barrel? Then I remembered the heat gun I use on monokote. Perfect answer. The spot I run the engines is near the garage and there is an extension cord hanging out the window. I warmed the engine in the house and again just before attaching the battery. One flip and it's running. I ran two tanks out and headed for the house. I got almost 6 minutes from 3 1/2 ounces at 9100 rpm. Pretty good for a new engine. 2 1/2% nitro 21 1/2% castor. Home brew. Smoked up the neighborhood pretty good.
I had an e-mail from UPS yesterday that a 5 pound package would be delivered today. I have an order coming from Fox but it will be heavier than that. Another coming from MBS supply and it will be lighter than that. All right Goldilocks what's left. Tower hobbies that's what. 5 rolls of monokote, two ounces of glue and two engines. Bingo. Then moments later the mail arrived and in it was my order from MBS Model Supply. Hot Dog. Now I have what I need to continue on the new plane.I modified the stock mufflers that came with the engines by opening up the exhaust outlets to .280, a .02 sq. in. increase over the stock opening. Or close to it.
When I got the mail I removed the balsa sheet from the rain barrel and molded it around the top deck of the new plane. It's drying now and should be ready tomorrow. I covered the plane structure with Saran Wrap so it wouldn't get wet. This way I didn't have to make a mold to form the balsa. It's the first time I've molded 3/32" balsa.
Weather report for tomorrow has temps in the low 40's but showers. Maybe I can get in some flights anyway.

Even colder and even windier

At 2 pm it's 14 degrees and the wind is gusting to 40 mph. I forgot about the brass monkey, it's too late I'm afraid.
We did manage to take in a movie. Sherlock Holmes. Not bad.
When we got home there was a box next to the door and I figured it was from Brodak. It was, the Vector ARF and the other parts I need for the new plane.
I'm in the finishing stages on the Ringmaster cheek piece installation. I got a couple coats of spot putty on and sanded smooth and two heavy coats of dope. I will cover the piece with silk span which will be faster than filling and sanding. It's just too cold to do it now even with the heat on. Or is it the beer.

New charger.

I went to Sears this morning and bought a battery charger. Not the top of the line but the next one down. $139.99 plus tax. It is capable of starting a car but I need it to keep the hot rod battery up to snuff. After putting the thing together I put 50 amps into the hot rod battery for a half hour.
The temp. got into the 40's and the wind was light so I packed up and headed for the dog track. The engine ran well until I did a loop and it took off again. I tried to get in another flight but it started to rain so I headed home. I removed the engine and put it on the Primary Force that I re built and started to put a cheek piece on the Ringmaster. The epoxy is drying now. I fiddled around with one of the Fox .40's and found it would fit on the Ringmaster so I installed it and will try it with that engine. I still have to carve and sand the cheek piece and paint it but flying time is scarce right now.
I'm waiting for UPS to bring some of the stuff I ordered last week. I got a call from the place I ordered the lines last night. I told him I ordered on line and he said it would be shipped today. I have to hold up on the new plane as I need some parts before continuing.

It was a dark and stormy night. Really.

The wind and rain went on all night and into the day today. I went about my usual stuff and around noon I noticed that the wind had stopped and the sky was getting lighter. Off to the dog track we went. The rain had washed away all the snow except for what the snow plows and blowers had piled up. I brought the 576 Ringmaster and the engine started to go fast after launch again. I changed tanks, same thing. I added muffler pressure, same thing. There was bubbles in the lines so when I got home I removed the fuel system and pressure tested it under water. No leaks. It must be vibration. I took a plastic tank off another plane and put it on and went outside and ran two tank fulls through it. The engine held the rpm and there was no bubbles in the lines this time. I don't have a cheek piece/tripler on the nose of this plane and it vibrates more without it. I also changed to a 10 x 5 prop to get the engine off the vibration point, I hope. If it's not to windy tomorrow I'll give it a try.

Back at square one, finally.

The temp. got into the high 30's today so I figured I would put the bike back together. I put the original ignition back in after cleaning and lubing the advance mechanism. Then I found that the new advance mechanism that came with the points conversion kit would fit the old stuff so I used it. The original was pretty worn. I wired the module up and tried to start it. It would burn the prime and stop. I shook the bike and couldn't hear any gas sloshing around in the tank. I had forgot that I drained it to use in the mowers. I put a quart in and it fired up and ran. I shut it off and opened the door to let the fumes out. Two more things to button up and I'm back to the beginning.
The new plane is coming along well. I had planned to use a landing gear from one I scrapped but it took up too much room. I looked at the directions for the Nobler and made a set of wires that look like the Goldberg Eaglet/Eagle models. I should have put the gear in the wings but was too lazy.
The biggest design problem I had was the shape of the fin/rudder. I think that is the only item that sets the plane apart from all the others. The fuse., wing, tail are pretty much all the same shape. But the fin/rudder is always different and I think I have a different shape than all the others again. I can see it now at the field. Hey, that fin/rudder makes it look like so and so's design. Yeah? Fuck You.

You don't need no stinking drivers license

There is a character that has breakfast at Lizzy B's almost every day. A bit eccentric. He got arrested for driving without a license, no insurance, misuse of marker plates, no registration and one other charge. He gave the police the riot act and made them remove his car from the flat bed. the Police asked him where he got the plate and he said he found it two years ago. As the car was being removed from the flat bed the cop said he would take the plate. He said go ahead I have another one. Another cop arrived that he knew and he asked the other cop"where did you get this douche bag"? I guess it happened in Norwich someplace as he started in court in Norwich. He told them he was within his constitutional rights and the state can't stop him from operating a motor vehicle. The judge didn't get what he was saying and he said he wanted a jury trial. Off to New London and judge Susan B. Handy. She takes him into the chambers and asked for an explanation for his actions. He says "I don't have a license". This prosecutor can't believe his ears and starts to execute him on the spot. She says send this case back to Norwich it don't belong here. (She read the law at one time.) On his way out he tells the prosecutor "don't take it personal, asshole I know what I'm doing". At last he ends up in court in Danielson. The prosecutor asks him to say he will be a good boy get a license and register the car and the judge will be nice to you. He says "no". He gets in front of the judge and the prosecutor says he is unrepentant and recommends execution, again. The judge says to him that he is close to trouble. He says to the judge your in contempt, you have me here wasting my time for no reason and it's against the constitution. The gallery erupted with support. Then he states, verbatim, the paragraph in the constitution that allows anyone to drive on public roads unempeded by anyone. So and so versus so and so in such a year, page this, book that. He did know that when you sign your license you waive that right. So in 1985 he sent his license to the RI DMV with a letter explaining why and hasn't had one since. He got off without any other problem. And he still drives like he has. As he exited the court room the deputys said good job.
This took place no more than two weeks ago. Should be available someplace.
I asked him if that law applied to aircraft, he said he didn't think so as it's a separate license and that the new CDL should be a separate license as well as it's a federal license like a pilot's license. Then he asked me if I had a pilot license, I said I did and he said I got something for you. He went to his unregistered old Ford Ranger and came back with a Remington collectable metal model Sopwith Pup still in the original box. He said don't open it. Yup the gun maker. It's colored up in camoflage with a turkey picture on the top wing. Pretty neat. Made in China.

Still cold and windy.

Very little melting of the snow as the temps have been in the twentys for a while.
I've been working on a new wing for a week. I started by setting up the jig and didn't like the way it looked. I set the ribs up the old fashioned way, over the plan and started glueing. It came out pretty good and It's ready to be installed into the fuse. I planned on another profile but changed to a full fuse. plane yesterday. I have the sides cut out and doublers glued in. I built a new stab. for it too. I was going to use an old one but the paint wouldn't sand off at all. I tried the belt sander and the paint just balled up. I wanted to make the plane with an upright engine but gave up and inverted it.
I made some calls to Tower, Fox, Brodak and another cottage shop for supplies and an ARF Vector. Tower had a sale on OS .46 engines, 2 for something and I was ordering 2 anyway. I ordered 3 mufflers for the .40 from Fox and another gallon of castor oil. I break more mufflers than anything else. The stuff I ordered was things I didn't win at the contest last October. It';s a good thing the sale of my mother's house closed yesterday.

My new word for today.

Snosucks. Self explanatory.

Gas mileage tests.

I filled the truck last week and after 103 miles of around town driving and one trip to Groton I re filled the tank and it took 4.5 gallons. I figure 22+ mpg. I didn't believe it so I checked it again but I had some less than careful driving and over 200 miles this time. 18 mpg this time. I am shifting at 1500 rpm and feathering the gas as much as possible, free wheeling as much as possible (a term for coasting) and not getting back into the gas after a downhill run until much later than I normally would. Free wheeling was a devise on older Saab cars. Pulling a lever let the engine disengage from the transmission when you let off on the gas. Kinda like a centrifugal clutch. Pushing the lever back in kept the engine coupled to the drivetrain. Don't you think we could use it now on American cars or all cars??

Same as yesterday only colder.

I dropped Ma off at the school and after that she is going to get the Saturn from the dealer as they have flashed the computer. Not a pretty mind picture.
I had some plans re sized and then figured an easier way to get what I want. I e-mailed the plans guy and asked if he could cut a set of ribs for an S-1 ringmaster size wing using the much better airfoil of the large Ringmaster. No answer yet.
I figure that when I change bars on the Harley something got bent on the tach. wiring and shorted it out. After I tried to remove the tach. there was no short anymore. I didn't try to start it when I changed bars either or I would have noticed it at that time.
It's 1530 pm and 20 degrees with 20 to 30 winds
I don't think the closing on my mothers house will be tomorrow. The buyers want to close to take advantage of the tax cut for first time buyers. Two weeks left yet.

Cold and windy again.

There is the Ruffy in blue. Not quite half of the fleet shown. Seven more on racks and the floor. The Ruffy and the Nobler are full body planes the rest are profiles. Only three without flaps now. I could add flaps to the Magician if I get bored.
As promised I tried to start the bike. Not a pop. I removed the plugs and there was spark so I figured the fuel may be bad. I hooked up the two electronic ignitions and they both have spark with the tach. wire un hooked. I remembered a can of brake cleaner nearby and sprayed some in the carb. First kick it started but stopped as soon as the prime ran out. I'll have to get some fresh gas and try it with the door open if it warms up. The timing must be way off too.

Bummer.

I did manage to get in the first flights I planned yesterday. I was pleased with the Ruffy. I got it started on it's wheels and it flew quite nice. A little tweak of the flaps got the wings level and the balance seemed right on. The Primary Force flew well but needs more trimming and the Ringmaster engine was not good. I figured vibration was foaming the fuel causing the engine to go lean right after take off. I shook the jug when I got home and it foamed up so I added some armor all.
I was going to try it today after my trip to the VA. But the Saturn ignition lock broke and it was towed to Groton and I had to go to Groton after my trip to the VA. That shot down the flying for the day. Tomorrow is not going to be good for flying either.
I think I did make some progress on the Harley ignition. I was testing for voltage through the coil and was supposed to have full battery voltage through the coil with the points open. I got a volt. I removed the wires from the coil and got 13 volts. I put the tach. wire on and got a volt. I put the points wire on and got 13 volts. I left the tach wire off and grounded a spark plug and turned the engine over and got a spark at the plug. I'll try to start it tomorrow.

Temperatures in the high 40's.

I loaded up two planes and headed for the dog track. I figured I would take some picture of the place while I was there. The first is from the north end looking south towards the big pile of rubble that was the buildings. Next are some shots from the top of the pile. My truck is in pic 2 which is next to my circles. Then is the rest of the parking lot looking to the north towards exit 87 of I 395.Then the dirt pile from the truck and then 2 of my planes on the circle. I painted a 65 foot radius circle and use it almost daily. I figure that putting a 75 foot radius circle in a 200 foot square area I could have 87 circles with room to spare at this place.

It warmed up.

The temp is in the mid 40's with a bit of sun now and then. Just right for some first flights. I have the re built Primary Force and the Ruffy loaded up and ready to go. I figure that if I start the Ruffy while inverted and let the engine warm up a bit then stop it and set it in the stooge it should start with the plane upright and the engine inverted. I got the starter just in case.
I took a picture of the builds and re builds so far this season. The white one with red and blue is the pupster with a new wing, the white and orange one is the Primary Force with flaps and a larger stab/elevator, the blue one is the Ruffy and the one on the shelf is the one I scratch built using the pathfinder airfoil and measurements. The orange wing 576 is the Ringmaster I added flaps to.

New temperature update.

And at 1800 (6pm) it's 45 degrees. Gotta love it.

Should rain later today.

13 degrees at 0630. 32 degrees at 1045.
I put the finishing touches on the Ringmaster and the Ruffy. The Ruffy weighs 38 ounces which I think is real good for an old kit. I may get in a couple first flights tomorrow as it's supposed to be in the 40's. After flying the repaired Primary Force I can remove the engine,install it on the r
Ringmaster and fly that. The Ruffy is a full body plane with an inverted engine. It will probably need to be started with the plane inverted which can be a bother using a stooge.

Still cold, less wind.

Winter sucks.
I put the flaps together and installed them on the wing. I hooked up the push rods and adjusted the lengths. After the glue dries I'll put some packing tape over the gaps and it's ready to go.
My launch stooge has been biting off small pieces of the fin. I found a piece of 1/8" dowel and glued it on the fin to protect the soft wood.
I got the info on the ignition Merle Hawkins used. I googled the name, Compu-Fire, and their web site came up. They are still in business making a lot of electrical stuff for Harleys. $179.95 for the ignition system in question. Good to know just in case.

More cold and more wind.

After breakfast I filled the tank on the truck. I had gone 103 miles since the last fill up. The pump clicked off at 4.5 gallons. That's pretty good mileage. I added more before taking the fuel reading to be sure.
I managed to get the flaps and wing areas covered by using stuff I removed from the parts. I had some covering on the original Pupster wing and used that to cover the flaps. I glued the hinges into the flaps by inserting glue in from the back side of the end cap on the flap. I made a hole at each hinge and squirted glue in over the hinge. The slot should keep the glue from getting to the pinned portion of the hinge. When I install the flaps on the wing I'll glue the joiner rod to the flaps and then squirt glue through the holes in the wing to secure the hinges. I did remember to make the holes on the bottom of the wing. I sawed out a flap horn and the plans show a funny shaped horn. I copied it as best I could. I am able to use the original push rod by taking it apart and re doing it. I cut off a couple inches for the flap to elevator rod and just put a clevis on the bellcrank end rod. It should be finished in a day or so.

Cold and windy.

I put the clear coat on the Primary Force and the Ruffy this morning.. The Ruffy has been sitting around since last winter. I finally found a paint to match the covering and got it painted and it sat a while longer waiting for the clear coat. All it needs now is to put an engine in it and set the leadouts and the balance. I put all the stuff on the Primary Force and set the leadouts and balanced it where I figured the c/g should be. I didn't have to add any weight as it balances within a eighth inch of the right spot. All up weight is 44 ounces which is good. It's hard to believe that some of the r/c planes weighed more than 128 ounces and flew quite well.
I started on the Ringmaster flaps this afternoon. I got them cut out and the cap on the wing and flaps. I'm in the middle of installing the wire joiner and shaping the hinge surfaces. I'll need another roll of covering as the sanding is scratching the old covering.

A half decent day.

The sale of my mother's house is going along. The inspection was done last week and we haven't heard anything from it.
We went to the dog track and I got in one flight. Cool and a bit breezy but the turbulence was too much to make any more flights. The flaps help it cut a nice corner. The airfoil is a high lift thing as it really floats when landing. I went to the dumping grounds in the back of the track and loaded up some more stuff to bring to the bulky waste site in the morning.
The rebuilt Primary Force is coming along and I put a coat of primer on the fuse. this afternoon. I figure on using all Dupli-Color paints this time rather than mixing them as I did on the other rebuild. I have to get a can of orange for the trim color. NAPA has a good selection of paints. My balsa order came in the other day so I'm all set for the building season. Too bad I don't have anything to build or re build now.
I found an ignition system on ebay and bought it. It's a conversion kit back to points and condenser. $39.00 free shipping. Watch it be something else causing the problem.

First snow.

It snowed last night and an inch stayed on the ground. I was below freezing so the snow is crunchy. The driveway is a bit slippery too.
With the crap weather I spent most of the day working on the Primary Force. I've got the wing covered, flaps installed and hooked to the bell crank. I made the stab. and elevator and glued the stab to the fuse. I hinged the elevator to the stab. and found that I don't have enough white to cover both sides of the stab. I think I will cover the bottom of the stab. in orange, the same as the flaps and elevator. It won't show right side up. I put all the parts on the scale and I'm looking at the low to mid 40 ounce range when it's done. The flaps and larger stab/elevator will add about 5 ounces. The fuse is covered with spot putty spots filling in the dents and dings.

I think I got it.

After flying the re built plane yesterday I did some measuring to get the engine offset in the plane. I increased it so the prop was half inch different tip to tip. I went to the dog track today and the plane stayed out on the lines quite nicely. I did a whole pattern and the hourglass was recognizable.
The re build is progressing slowly. I don't have the balsa to make the stab and elevator yet. I cut some monokote for hinges and the strips for the hinge lines. I have enough white left to cover the wing and hopefully the stab. The flaps and elevator will be orange. Krylon makes a paint that is real close to the orange monokote color. I had to re do the control bellcrank as the push rod exited under the wing and needs to exit out the top with flaps. So far so good. Should come out real light, under 40 ounces, and have an OS .40 in the nose.

Nice weather.

The storm knocked 2 branches off the tamarack tree last night. I dragged them off and cut them into burnable pieces later in the day.
The wind slacked off a bit and I went to the dog track and got in a few flights. More trimming needed. I added more engine offset.
I couldn't help myself and started on the Primary force this morning. Several pieces of broken ribs inside the covering and plenty of cracked ribs too. I cut off the stab. and rudder. Then I cut a half inch off the trailing edge of the wing so I can glue a piece of quarter inch on it. The flaps will mount to that. I laminated the flaps and made slotted boxes for the control horn joiner as the trailing edge is tapered and the flaps can't move freely with the joiner glued to the flaps.
It's still in the 50's at 8 o clock.
I washed the El Camino and the hot rod while the temp was up.

Making progress.

I flew the re built plane today and the second tweak was too much. I re tweaked it and ended back where it was in the first place. Another tweak and I got it right. Now the right wing is up inverted and upright. That means I need tip weight. I put in a half ounce and re did the leadouts. I moved them back a lot to get the nose hanging down a little. That should improve the hour glass a bit. I lost control when I hit down at the top of the maneuver and the plane would head off and regain control before hitting the ground.
The rain from the south is supposed to hit tonight with lots of wind so no flying for a day or two.
I'm thinking of starting on the Primary Force.

Trying it again.

OK, I X'ed out of the net and an overlay on the picture posting page came back on the home page. I cancelled that and X'ed out of the picture page and started over again. I worked this time.
Anyway this is the plane, it's the oldest one I got. It was almost 2 years old and somehow survived several belly flops and roof landings. The old wing was borrowed from a 20 size ugly stik and was too strong to break.Pictures of the original are in my post of Jan. 2008. I built a wing using the rib templates for the Cardinal, I think he said, that Gil sent me and later found out that it should have had a straight leading edge. I made it a straight trailing edge. I kept the stab. big as I had done originally and it now looks more like the Primary Force except for the flaps. It flys very nice. And the balance came out right where I figured it should but I don't know if it's where it should be. I can add nose weight as an aluminum spinner came with the engine. 1.6 ounces worth. Or I can put on the OS .40 which is heavier by the same amount. I gave up on the idea to clear coat the plane as the white even wrinkled itself. I'm looking at the first kit built Primary Force that I've been flying. It's pretty beat up and pieces of rib are loose inside the wing. The canopy section is ground off and re built and the tail has been ripped off several times. The fuse. is re usable so I may re build that one next. I'll use better balsa on this one. I'm thinking Pathfinder airfoil but it may be too thick for this fuse. to handle. I'll have to check.

Can't post pictures.

I have been trying to post pictures of the re built plane and the icon stopped working.

Getting close.

I went to the dog track yesterday with the rebuilt plane. I had a plastic clunk tank on it so I didn't have to put to much fuel in it for the test sessions. It didn't look too bad up right but inverted the plane was banked about 10 degrees into the circle. It was sprinkling so I went home to make adjustments. I removed the r/c carb and installed a venturi. I went back to the track and got in one flight in the heavier sprinkles. I consulted the trim chart and it said for thge wings not level to adjust the flaps. I made a clamp thing to go over the joiner wire and gave it a twist. I went back today and the tweak was helpful but not quite enough to level the wings. I did manage to get in a full pattern as is. The winds are tricky above 50 feet as the plane got banged around in the overhead eights. I tweaked the flaps again when we got home.
The clunk tank is one I could never get to run on any plane. For some reason it works perfectly on this one. A very steady engine run and the shut off is final. No indication at all, it just stops. I timed the run on a full tank and it's 6 minutes. More than enough to be safe.
I took some pictures and the computer whiz got called to baby sit before they could be put on the computer.