RE: Great Planes Combat Spitfire!
[quote]Why not use a .25LA and not move the engine mounts? [/quote] Thats what I decided to do. I already had the 15 LA at home, but decided to return it and order a 25 LA instead.
Posted on: 8/21/2009 4:30 PM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "RC Combat"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9034091

RE: Great Planes Combat Spitfire!
Just got one in. Has anyone mounted a .15 LA in this thing? I am aware that power will be low, but a .15 should have enough power to move it around, there are a few people who mounted .15 LAs in the GP P-51. I was just wondering what mods are required, I am already aware that the engine mounts are too far apart and I will need to drill new firewall holes in order to get them closer together. A friend and myself are considering using these things for friendly basic combat, nothing too fancy mind you, just chasing eachother around and occasionally clipping a ribbon.
Posted on: 8/18/2009 7:14 PM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "RC Combat"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9026474

RE: Ahhh...
I figure C/L will be the way to go as far as getting my family involved in one of my hobbies. I've flown R/C for years, but my wife shows little interest in it (she has a fear of crashing the plane). I have let her try that, but it wasnt her thing, although she does enjoy the Air Hogs U-Build-It I bought for fun.. C/L is fairly straight forward and intuitive, in a 1/2A I think she will pick it up fast and we have a large parking lot and soccer field pretty much right in our back yard.
Posted on: 6/12/2009 6:43 PM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "Control Lines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8847527

Ahhh...
Its been a while since I have piddled with an .049 engine (my other 1/2A stuff is Cox .09 and Norvel .061 which are not as piddly), but I recently decided to get back into control line and got a great deal on some odds and ends. This morning I got out to the garage and tried to light up a used Black Widow I got in deal and the thing just wouldnt start. I swapped it out with an unused Black Widow, I had from back in the day, and low and behold the thing lit up like a match and filled my lungs and life with happiness. Now its off to a local soccer field tomorrow with the wife and 3yr old to see if I can remember how to fly and teach my wife the basics. The plane is a barely passible Sig Skyray (must have been crashed by the previous owner). Oh well, I will let you all know how it goes.
Posted on: 6/12/2009 10:29 AM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "Control Lines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8846543

RE: Good Plane for a Cox .09 ?
I have a Medallion .09 as well, if you arent tied to building from plans then House of Balsa makes some "1/12" kits that will work with it. I have a couple of the HOB FW-190s and I think a Cox .09 is the engine illustrated on the plans. I realize that these kits are of an older design but they were designed to use the older and heavier electronics as well. With modern light weight stuff an .09 works fine.
Posted on: 6/11/2009 5:13 PM by Author "BumRC" in the forum ""1/2 A" & "1/8 A" airplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8844783

Top Flite Combat Kitten
I got a great deal on some C/L stuff recently and I wanted to see if anyone had an idea of how much a Top Flite Combat Kitten kit (still sealed in box) might be worth. I fly for relaxation and I dont see that C/L combat is in my future, so I doubt that I will ever open the kit and build them.
Posted on: 6/10/2009 8:57 AM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "Control Lines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8840749

RE: Pentagon Predator's Crashing
T-MAXX, Is that UAV a Shadow. Thats the UAV the Army was operating out of the area I was in over there, they were pretty sweet. Often when we would call in a rocket launch, from the badguys, a Shadow would go tearing off in that direction to look for the crew or launcher. I am not sure if the Shadows ever saw anything, but some patrols did catch up to launch teams and hooked them up. Of course the rockets were more of a nuisance than a real threat.
Posted on: 9/22/2008 8:08 PM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "UAV's and Drones"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7980763

RE: Pentagon Predator's Crashing
Well EC... I think that is all very much far sighted, but not practical anytime soon (perhaps too much Sci-Fi). The USAF is a little extreme by demanding that pilots, trained at great expense, be used to fly UAVs, but that is their call and certainly not the truth for other services. You seem to have a lot of faith in the value of the computer systems used to make these UAVs work, but your opinion about whether pilots are necessary does not change the fact that they are used and do fly the UAVs. I know that enlisted personnel are used to operate the sensors on the aircraft (at least on Predators and possibly Global Hawk) although smaller UAV systems are run entirely by enlisted personnel (such as by Security Forces and Special Forces units). I currently serve in the USAF and know that a lot of new stuff is right around the corner, but computers cannot be trusted with certain functions and some form of piloting skill is needed for UAVs. In particular, all shoot dont shoot functions have to be commanded by a human. That is why, at least for the forseable future, there will not be a UCAV nuclear capable bomber, there has to be a human involved directly. The last thing you want is a machine capable of engaging targets with high tech gizmos without a human interface. Finally, while it is true that most anyone who can play a video game might be able to manipulate a joy stick to make a UAV go where they want, they would still need training to correct any form of exit from controlled flight, something computers often allow to happen. Someday, everything you speak of may happen... but for right now, the USAF and entire Dod have good reasons for doing things the way they do with regards to UAVs.
Posted on: 9/10/2008 5:40 PM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "UAV's and Drones"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7940932

RE: stubby build from RCM plans
Either the alphatic resin or epoxy will work. The balloons are just there to lighten the mix, make it more thick (so it doesnt run), and provide a little strength. Both alphatic and epoxy will be more than strong enough. Again, corn starch will work ok too, if you cant find balloons, toothpaste consistancy is what I normally mix it to. The balsa spar is fine. Balsa is very strong, but I would pick a particularly hard piece. Spars, leading edges and trailing edges are best built out of hard balsa. That is where picking and choosing you wood comes in handy.
Posted on: 9/5/2008 11:24 AM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7922706

RE: stubby build from RCM plans
I would just use micro balloons and glue to fill in the gaps, it will be sturdy and form a good bond between your spar and ribs. In lieu of micro-balloons you could use corn starch which would also work, but not as well. Just mix either one into a good thick paste and pack it around and into the gap. The best part about this process is that it is sandable, so any excess can be removed by sand paper wrapped around an appropriately shaped piece of wood. Hope that helps.
Posted on: 9/4/2008 1:44 PM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7919574

RE: King Kobra Finished
[quote]I wanted to give the canopy that look (sort of) that you see in the full size F16's. They have that swirly amber look - some sort of glare or UV coating I suppose, and I never know how to outfit a cockpit in a sport plane anyways[/quote] That coating is actually gold based. It has something to do with stealthing up the cockpit, but you can see a difference as it get wiped off over time by the guys cleaning the canopies. After a while the canopies become completely clear and you tell that the coating was ever on them. On the model side... that paint adds a very realistic effect, good looking model.
Posted on: 9/1/2008 10:17 AM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7907777

RE: Going electric
CP, Ill check that out, thanks for the heads up!
Posted on: 8/29/2008 8:53 PM by Author "BumRC" in the forum ""1/2 A" & "1/8 A" airplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7900413

RE: Going electric
Combatpigg, I hadnt tried the Nelson stuff... I was refering to the Norvel and AP bell style plugs. I run conversion heads on my .049 engines for the most part so I can use regular glow plugs. My fuel comment related to my personal financial status, where I have to ration fuel purchases and I have bigger planes which already need fuel so another $25 per gallon is hard on my pocket book. Thats just my situation, but when I can afford it, I do love the little ones. Actually, I bought a few 1/2A control line kits when I got back from Iraq to try them out, I think the Cox Sure Starts are perfect for C/L.
Posted on: 8/29/2008 7:51 PM by Author "BumRC" in the forum ""1/2 A" & "1/8 A" airplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7900242

RE: Kudos for the Tower Trainer
Both my buddy and I purchased Tower Trainer 40 ARFs as hacks, there is just something relaxing about trainers that higher performance planes do not have. Anyway, both trainers suffered catastrophic spar failures within 10 flights (no arobatics just straight and level then land). We did some analysis and discovered that the spars themselves had failed first right at the angle in the middle, this of course lead to the epoxy joint between the center ribs failing. Both planes fell nose in to the ground and were seriously damaged. In the end, we have both contacted Tower and received excellent treatment and replacement aircraft. I can say this, other than my original Flight Star 40 (which I am hopelessly partial to), the Tower Trainer is one of the best flying ARF trainers (out of the box) that I have ever flown. When I complete the replacement plane I will probably use SIG wood to build a better spar, but I can really say that the Tower Trainer 40 is an excellent deal at $70 something.
Posted on: 8/29/2008 6:06 PM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7899949

RE: Going electric
I have had decent luck with 1/2A engines, but then I dont really expect a lot from them, so there is little room for disappointment. I just flew a Herr Aqua Star I built years ago, but never even started, with a Norvel .061 followed the instructions and it started fine (with help from an electric starter while the needle valve was adjusted). Now it starts right up without the starter. I even have an old plastic crankcase Testors which runs fine on 15% nitro. My main problem is cost versus benefits, I already have all the junk that goes along with bigger engines and do not like spending $10 bucks for a glow plug and $25 for a gallon of 1/2A fuel to support my little engines. I own a couple of the fancy "regular" glow plug heads, which work fine, but that is even more money on a tiny engine that could have been manufactured to use regular glow plugs. That said, the 1/2A stuff is still fun to play with on a small field and I treat it as a niche in my hobby, as apposed to the main part. As an aside, I find that most 1/2A sized planes will work with a .10 with a little balancing. TT and OS both make .10s which are not really that much more than a .061 and use everyday glow plugs and fuel. You pay a weight penalty, but only the smallest of 1/2A planes are bothered by it and maybe those are better left to true 1/2A fans anyway.
Posted on: 8/29/2008 5:36 PM by Author "BumRC" in the forum ""1/2 A" & "1/8 A" airplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7899857

RE: Pentagon Predator's Crashing
Predator pilots actually have full control over the aircraft for a good portion of the mission profile. The autonomous flight feature is mainly for preplanned searches and getting to and from a target area. Those Predator videos, which float around the internet, are normally from aircraft under pilot control.
Posted on: 8/27/2008 9:38 AM by Author "BumRC" in the forum "UAV's and Drones"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7891126