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.