RE: Swoose Build
and pictures coming. Best regards, Lou.
Posted on: 7/27/2012 5:18 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11171704

RE: RCGF Engines
Dear AHICKS, I wondered if it could be a 32cc but the only indications were the Hobby King product description, and the labeling on the box, both of which say it is a 30cc. The RCGF web site differentiates in the warranty section between "local" resellers in China and authorized distributors like BP Hobbies. Apparently the engines manufactured for local sale do not carry the manufacturer's warranty and probably will not be the latest and greatest design. My best guess is that the engine is indeed an earlier design and is 30cc. If I were purchasing again I would likely buy from Captmicom or BP Hobbies not so much for their service but because they probably receive a better grade of product. In any event I am satisfied with my engine and happy with its performance.
Posted on: 7/8/2012 4:38 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11147957

RE: RCGF Engines
[b]Ordered an "RCG 30 cc" engine from Hobby King Friday night June 29th. Cost delivered to my home on Friday July 6th, $255. Here is what I got: [img]http://georgiacombat.com/RCGF/0005.JPG[/img] Notice it does say it is an "RCGF" engine. I built a test stand to run it and got a gas container so I could learn how it works: [img]http://georgiacombat.com/RCGF/0004.JPG[/img] [img]http://georgiacombat.com/RCGF/0003.JPG[/img] Before running the engine for the first time the backplate with the carburetor was taken off (and warranty voided in process) to check inside of engine. All looked good but very dry. Dribbled a couple of drops of oil on crank pin, wrist pin and cylinder walls below piston skirt. New NGK CM6 plug purchased and installed then engine mounted to test stand. Included with the engine were the ignition module, plastic wrap to cover the wiring, mounting standoffs, muffler and needed bolts. A NiMH 3500 Mah 4.8 volt battery was charged up to use for the first run. Engine choked, throttle opened and on fifth flip got a blip of ignition. Opened choke, set throttle to idle and on fifth flip it fired up. [img]http://georgiacombat.com/RCGF/0001.JPG[/img] You can see a couple of things in the above photo. First there is no information on the front of the cylinder and case indicating the brand of engine. Second you can also see the oil and exhaust residue on the wood after the first 10 minutes of running. This weekend the engine was run four times for a total time of one hour and burned approximately 40 ounces of fuel in the process. Most of the time the engine was set to a specific rpm and allowed to run. Initially it was limited to 3,500 that was increased in stages to 5,500. During the last run the engine was tested for high and low end. Best rpm with the SOAR 18X8 prop was 7,500 and low end reliable idle was 1,850. Outside temperature in the low 90s with 40% relative humidity. No adjustments have been made nor needed to any of the needle settings. After an hour of running the engine still has more vibration than I expected. That may be from the prop. It may not be perfectly centered. Another prop will be tried to see if it makes any difference. The engine was run with a mixture of 30:1 gas to oil. Operating temperature at the spark plug, using an Ofna hand held infrared meter, showed about 350-400 degrees. At the edge of the head it was a shade under 300 and low on the cylinder it was about 240. The Ofna gauge being old, seldom used and with a low battery may not have given accurate readings. Next steps are to run another hour on the bench. Then switch to 40:1 gas to oil ratio using synthetic. So far the engine is excellent. I am happy with it. [img]http://georgiacombat.com/RCGF/0002.JPG[/img][/b][font="Tahoma"][/font]
Posted on: 7/8/2012 9:56 AM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11147518

RE: Rat Racing Plane kits
combat for years. Glad I could share the memories, best regards, Lou.
Posted on: 6/4/2012 7:52 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Control Lines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11106718

RE: Plans for the
I believe an Australian version was design, built, flown and published in 1939 as a 39" Free Flight model.
Posted on: 4/18/2011 5:14 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Seaplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10470753

RE: Plans for the
I had always wanted a Ziroli Swoose and finally built one in 2008. Mine is from the Ziroli plans enlarged 20% to yield a 72" span. Power is a Thunder Tiger .75 4C which is perfectly adequate to any maneuver the plane is capable of. Finish is Klass Kote epoxy. The fuse is covered with .50 ounce glass cloth and the wings are covered with antique coverite then painted and the whole plane is Klear Koated. I extended the nose an inch to make it balance as a land plane. Very stable majestic flier which always gets lots of comments at the field. PS the rudder is way too authoritative, much more than the ailerons.
Posted on: 4/16/2011 12:31 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Seaplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10466395

RE: Control line or RC?
Bam try www.rccombat.com or www.georgiacombat.com for more information on RC Combat.
Posted on: 2/1/2011 10:17 AM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "RC Combat"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10304909

RE: Voodoo Plane
At one time the plans for the voodoo were half size. You could build a half size voodoo for 1/2As from the plans. Quite a few folks did that to fly 1/2A combat. In the sixties when Will Rogers flew with us we had a 1/2A combat contest in Baton Rouge. Will was flying a 1/2 size voodoo with a TD .051 on it fueled with a small pacifier tank. Covered with silk it was a great little plane.
Posted on: 1/24/2011 11:25 AM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Control Lines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10284996

RE: Rat Racing Plane kits
Hi SuperTiga, My dad would be embarassed about having a contest with his name on it, but he would be secretly very pleased. He would be even happier if a lot of fliers showed up to compete.
Posted on: 9/13/2010 2:46 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Control Lines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9999296

RE: Stunt Contest Oct 16 and 17 Baton rouge La.
I knew Charlie Melancon, he never flew Stunt, but he did pit my rat racers and combat planes all across the south and southwest including several Nats. He would probably be embarassed but pleased about the name of the contest.
Posted on: 9/13/2010 2:45 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Control Lines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9999292

RE: Rat Racing Plane kits
David a/k/a SuperTiga, I did see Darrell at an RC Combat contest several years ago. I was amazed to run into him. He and George went on to Kart racing for a while and I went off to College. When we went to a contest we had 5-8 folks in a motel room. I remember in Longview all the modelers stayed at the same hotel and ate at the same Mexican restaurant. Some knuckle head was running his racing engine in the parking lot in the middle of the night. The room smelled of Ambroid, butyrate dope, and clothes soaked with castor oil. Greatest scents in the world. At the Dallas Nats, which was my first, we paid a dollar a night for a room in the barracks and 10 cents per meal in the mess hall. The movie theater cost 5 cents and the big hangar was filled with plywood work benches end to end and opened all day and night. What an experience for a kid! I was going through some old issues, from the late fifties and early sixties of Model Airplane News. Sterling had a contest to guess how many RingMasters had been made. First prize I think was the princely sum of $50. The answer was published in a later issue. It was over 287,000 kits. Can you imagine any kit of any model today selling at that rate? Two other folks who had a lot of impact on me were the speed team of Shelton & Harris out of Baton Rouge. We usually visited with them at contests and got to meet the a lot of other fliers: Larry and Lany Grogan, Phil Bussell, Dub Jett, the team of Husted & Roy, and others. Do you remember the sounds of a Dyna Jet? They would be outlawed today as noise hazards.
Posted on: 6/25/2010 3:28 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Control Lines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9826565

RE: Rat Racing Plane kits
[size=3]Reading these posts about Rat Racing in Louisiana and Texas in the 60's brings back a lot of memories. In those years contests were a couple of weeks apart and they were held in Longview, Texas, Houston, Dallas, Lake Jackson, Shreveport, Louisiana, Alexandria, New Orleans, and other places, but those are the areas we went too. I was a teenager and built my combat planes and rat racers. My dad set up the engines. We mixed our own fuel in those days and used chemicals that today are known carcinogens (nitro benzine). If I remember correctly we ran 40% nitromethane, UCONN synthetic oil, and 8X9 Top Flite Power Props. The airplanes in the early sixties were based on the Harter's speed pan but a profile design out of Houston used by Ron Eastman and John Locke pretty much took over in 64 or 65. We used variations on that design for a couple of years before returning to pan based racers and cowling the engines. We used Super Tigre G-21 35s in combat and ringed 40s in Rat Race. The ringed engine would re-start much better than the lapped engines. I can remember going to contest in an un-airconditioned car with 4 others, 2 in the front, three in the back in the middle of night trying to get to the contest a just about day break. One of the guys in the back was usually doping a combat plane or doing repairs. In Houston we flew against John and Ron, plus Dickie Ritch, Sherwood Buckstaff, all three of the Stubbefiels, Monica Garrison, Pat Willcox, Bill Estill and many others. In Baton Rouge we had my dad, Jim Bethea, Brian Froisy, Howard Williams, and Bill Stevens active in racing for several years. The speeds of the racers, their line pull and the physical demands of racing led to a shortage of able pilots. Sometines a pilot would fly his own plane and that of several others in a day. There were times when the finalists could fly off because they were using the same pilot. Those years, contests, airplanes, and people were very important to me growing up and I treasure the memories.[/size]
Posted on: 6/24/2010 3:04 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Control Lines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9824525

RE: Mini Mambo, silkspan and dope question
SHD3920, I built a Mini-Mambo from an Early RC kit several years ago. Power is a Norvel .61 which is more than enough to pull it up and around. It handles wind very well and is as quiet as an electric because it is most often flown at 1/2 throttle. It is covered with silk and dope. Here is what it looks like: [img]http://www.georgiacombat.com/MiniMambo/MiniMamboSideView.jpg[/img]
Posted on: 5/27/2010 6:45 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9763680

RE: Aero .35 Does anyone remember it?
OK, so the engine was down on power compared to its contemporaries and up on weight also compared to those of similar displacement, it seems to have run just fine. The benefits of being able to cowl it into a model having an inline engine or one with a tight cowl seems to be its advantage. I need to get one of these just to tinker with. Anybody have one NIB or just slightly run they want to sell? Send me a PM Or email. I am interested.
Posted on: 11/15/2009 8:33 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9256208

RE: too many rpm
AdvanceAndy, The cooler air especially in lower humidity will allow the engines to run faster. Lower humidity allows the engine to take in more oxygen which aids the combustion process. We have often seen SSC engines jump 1,500 rpm in lower temps on dry days. Conversely hot humid days generally lower rpms. Check out this explanation by Don Nix founder of PowerMaster fuels..... http://georgiacombat.com/DonNixOnFuel.htm
Posted on: 11/12/2009 11:32 AM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "RC Combat"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9248457

RE: Aero .35 Does anyone remember it?
. Best regards, Lou.
Posted on: 11/10/2009 4:20 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9243788

RE: Aero .35 Does anyone remember it?
Dennis, Can you tell us more about the "wear" on the engine and what happened to the company. Did they last a year, or two maybe? Curious minds want to know.
Posted on: 11/9/2009 6:24 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9241348

Aero .35 Does anyone remember it?
I remember in the 60's a very unique engine was developed and marketed. It was called the Aero .35. At the time I wanted one but $35 was way beyond my 13 year old budget. Did anyone have one or see one run? I'd like to know how long it stayed on the market. Here is Peter Chinn's review of it from Model Airplane News January 1964
Posted on: 11/8/2009 8:08 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9238828

PCS Radio Systems advertisements
Like many young men in the 60's I was completely in love with the woman who appeared in the PCS adds, Charlene Jones, who married Cliff Weirick in 1967. What happened to her? [img]http://georgiacombat.com/CharleneJones.jpg[/img]
Posted on: 10/5/2009 9:37 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9149761

RE: CMP Hellcat
Chad, Have you attached your gear covers to the gear struts yet? I'd like to see how others have attached them. Thanks.
Posted on: 9/7/2009 11:40 AM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9076029

RE: Miles Sparrowhawk from Horizon
Kirk, I apologize for being AWOL. As was noted the color of the headrest is off from the fuse. The cowl is a good match. The plane flies like a pattern ship, but the CG instructions are wrong. I believe they meant the CG to be 115mm back from the LE at the wing root rather than the wing tip. I had a hard time landing mine in strong winds this past weekend because of its pitch sensitivity. I am going to change it the CG to 115mm from the root. This will be an easy fix as it only requires moving the battery from the radio compartment to its designed place under the cowl. The only part of the plane that is marginal is the wire landing gear. It is too soft and will bend easily. When it bends it typically forces the wheel against the spat either tearing into the spat or binding in such a way as to cause yaw on takeoff and landing. Am I happy with this plane? Absolutely! It gets a lot of attention at the field from all who see it.
Posted on: 4/14/2009 11:05 AM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "ARF or RTF"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8680276

RE: Ben Buckle Kits?
Harvey, I don't think I will change out the engine. It flies realistically with this engine and some experimentation with props and nitro should give it a little more oomph. Today I used the JZ 11X4 running on 5% nitro. A little more fiddling should make it a very nice combination. By the way this thread started out about Ben Buckle kits. In retrospect I would not build this kit again. The thrustline does not match the drawings/plans and the two piece lower wing is not a good design. I would build it from the RCM plans. At $180 for the kit it is a very high price to pay considering the quality of materials you get. The plane could be built better, more easily and be a more solid airframe from the RCM plans.
Posted on: 3/22/2009 9:07 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8605181

RE: Ben Buckle Kits?
Harvey, The ELF flew three times today. The Magnum .30XL 4C is marginal on power but will loop the plane from level flight. It is a joy to fly. Nice and slow, very quiet, almost like an electric, and quite pretty as the sun beams through the covering. The tank is too low and I have real problems getting it started. Once its running the pressure from the muffler is enough to keep it going. Here is what it looks like with the trim applied: [img]http://georgiacombat.com/Elf/RIMG0043.JPG[/img] [img]http://georgiacombat.com/Elf/RIMG0047.JPG[/img]
Posted on: 3/22/2009 7:11 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8604713

RE: Ben Buckle Kits?
and it is a very nice looking little plane. Best regards, Lou.
Posted on: 3/17/2009 1:04 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8587452

RE: What do ya'll think the Taurus Plus is worth
Fly Boy 2, Is this the Taurus put out by Scorpio Models of Italy or is it a reproduction of the Top Flite Taurus? Please post a photo if you can.
Posted on: 3/17/2009 12:54 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Golden Age, Vintage & Antique RC"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8587423

RE: Cline Fuel Systems?
WJVAIL, Thank you. It will be used on a four stroke, and will therefore attach to muffler rather than crankcase. I will use the supplied Cline one way valve first to see how it works. Sorry for the confusion regarding "fuel line". I meant to say in the line going from muffler pressure to the tank. Thank you.
Posted on: 12/1/2008 11:12 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8203631

RE: Cline Fuel Systems?
Hobbsy, I received my Cline PCFS today. The very small "micro check valve" seems to be very restrictive. I blew through it but it took a lot of pressure to get air through it. Is this normal? Do you just push it into the fuel line? I have a tetra one way valve that I can use. Would there be any problems replacing the supplied Cline one way valve with the tetra?
Posted on: 12/1/2008 9:17 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8203213

RE: Miles Sparrowhawk from Horizon
in before I have to meet the boss's Thanksgiving Dinner deadline. Best regards, Lou.
Posted on: 11/26/2008 10:25 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "ARF or RTF"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8187321

Miles Sparrowhawk from Horizon
[size=3]Typically I build my planes from plans or if available from kits. I was planning to build a Miles Hawk Speed 6 from Phillip Kent plans when I ran across a review in a British Magazine about the Seagull Miles Sparrowhawk. As soon as it became available on Horizon's web site I ordered it. Tonight I just finished putting it togethe: [img]http://georgiacombat.com/MilesSparrowhawk/Sparrowhawk0001.JPG[/img] [img]http://georgiacombat.com/MilesSparrowhawk/Sparrowhawk0002.JPG[/img] I am very impresed with Seagulls fit, finishe, detail and accessory package. The plane went together easily and the fit and finish were very good. I would highly recommend this ARF to anyone used to assembling from instructions that lack details but have lots of photos. [img]http://georgiacombat.com/MilesSparrowhawk/Sparrowhawk0003.JPG[/img] [img]http://georgiacombat.com/MilesSparrowhawk/Sparrowhawk0004.JPG[/img] The engine in this model is a Laser 150 which fits totally inside the cowl. Cooling was a concern so vents were made to go over slots cut in the cowl. The thought is that the vents will cause air to raise up over the cowl surface and create a low pressure area at the slots cut into the cowl and draw air through them. [img]http://georgiacombat.com/MilesSparrowhawk/Sparrowhawk0005.JPG[/img] Test flights tomorrow if the weather is good and the wind is low to moderate.[/size][size=4][/size]
Posted on: 11/25/2008 8:17 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "ARF or RTF"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8183340

RE: Running in Laser 150
Jim, Thank you for the info about the valve cover. I've written the factory about it.
Posted on: 11/16/2008 9:51 PM by Author "Lou Melancon" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8154526