RE: Black Magic VF3 Build Thread
[quote]ORIGINAL: Robbidos I purchased one of the early basic VF3 kits.  It came with a CD of PDF files and some .DXF files of the spars and molded parts, but no full size plans.  Is there any way I can get electronic copies of plans to build on from someone? Thanx, Rob [/quote] Robert, there were never any full size plans. they simply weren't needed. That being said I THINK Mark Atwood may have something like that, but I don't know. If you have the files, that's really all you need. It's nothing at all like the V2....or a umm....Typhoon ROFLOL As for Rick and the "bought the rights", I didn't sell anyone anything. At all. But with that said, he does have the molds (via a 3rd party) and stuff so if he's making them, more power to him, I don't care. best of luck, you'll need it Rick [;)] See above for what you have to look forward to. But I own the VF3 molds, templates, design etc. But Rick has my full permission to make kits etc., although it would be nice for his to actually say SOMETHING to me personally...a PM would be fine. I want NOTHING to do with this crap anymore. And with that, Ed your plane looks fantastic, hopefully the mods will clean this up, ban Everette for life (and me too, who cares), and the world will go on like it should. But be warned people, there are wierd and crazy people in the pattern world, and they spread thier crap like the black plague. if you tolerate it, you better have a back up hobby lined up. Cyaz, -Mikey Edit: for clarity
Posted on: 6/23/2011 11:33 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10588498

RE: Black Magic VF3 Build Thread
[quote]ORIGINAL: wattsup Mike, after reading your diatribe from yesterday's response I've come to realize two things. Number one, you are ''the Master of cheap shots'' and number two, you and Jason are in the process of getting your just reward from a past history of making bad decisions. BTW, I took the liberty to contact Rick and told him the real story about the knock-off Typhoon you called a Black Magic. Also note, Cameron and I are doing well and enjoying everything life has to offer! How about you? I wish you luck my friend because you both are going to need it______Everette [/quote] Everette....you are utterly, completely insane. not a little crazy, not a little "touched", but flat out looney tunes. I've kept my mouth shut about you freakin idiots for far too long already. You're poison. Toxic. Nothing but hateful. You know NOTHING about me or this plane. NOTHING. Typhoon? are you kidding me? ROFLMAO. Yeah ok, maybe the wood box build up is similar...it IS wood, you got me there...and oh yeah, it has wings too. Nice catch. The only bad decision I made was ever trusting you and Cameron in the first place. If I made a second, it was giving you whackos the benefit of the doubt and a second...third....fourth chance and let the insane babble slide. Moreso you than Cameron even. THAT'S saying something. At least Cameron ATTEMPTED to be civil. My just reward? LOL yeah ok. I feel better and am doing better NOW than I ever was messing with toy planes. one of the main reasons I stopped. So I wouldn't have to be forced into the same area with the likes of you and the other little childish haters. on a CONSTANT basis. I'm not even friends with jason you fvcking retard. he's in trouble for messing around on the net. I'm not in any sort of trouble. At all. Sorry to disappoint you. But your real disappointment will come next time you go flying, as usual. Get a clue, and go get some professional help. At this point I'm thinking straight jacket. And why do you even care? You won't see me again unless you do something very, VERY stupid. I'm out of this game and just cleaning up a few loose ends and then I'm gone for good. Then pattern can have you....lucky them. I'm sure the people at the meets look forward to endless complaining and whining instead of having FUN. God help them if they try and have any of that.... Dude really, let go of the hate. Dean is gone off in Rio flying handgliders and I'm hitting the gym and working on a boat. This constant hate isn't worth it to either of us and we quit. You can have it, congrats. I haven't slept this good since last century. Lupus is in remission, one daughter graduated, the other is becoming something of a star in the art world, and Mitchell is thriving. Never been better. All since I gave up this nightmare. And got away from psychotics like you. But hey, if it keeps you out of the psycho ward for another day, then yeah I'm homeless, addicted to heroin and in trouble with the law. make up whatever you need to make your world keep turning. Enough of you. Find somebody else to bash and harass. You don't seem to have much problem in that department. The rest of you, just keep quiet and do nothing. pretty soon you'll have contests with about 4 Everettes and not much else, because everyone else will be gone. It isn't worth it to the average person. -Mike
Posted on: 6/23/2011 10:01 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10588487

RE: Black Magic VF3 Build Thread
"Sold"? News to me..... -Mike
Posted on: 6/22/2011 3:36 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10587280

RE: Found this thread educational and entertaining
Entertaining yes. Educational? Yes if a common Joe can sort through the "sword" fight. That's why I don't argue aerodynamics with anyone.
Posted on: 3/30/2011 8:01 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10433736

RE: =NOT= The 800-pound gorilla sitting in the corner
Yep. And I finally found the perfect avatar for this forum:
Posted on: 3/20/2011 8:48 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10411426

RE: [Deleted]
Aww man, I was having more fun than the law allows [&o] Now that the fun is over. Seriousness. If you object to Jason being on the team over moral reasons, then contact the AMA and go that route. Because you certainly aren't going to get anything actually DONE on a forum. I don't even know if they CAN or WOULD do anything, but maybe you can get an answer that way. If they even HAVE a position on this, I can't find it. Because this isn't the way to go about it. Now peace guys, I'm gone. -Mike Edit PS: Actually I almost forgot. I have one teensy weensy piece of unfinished business with pattern and RCU. So I'm only gone for the moment. Because I hate unfinished business, and this one's a doozy. And I won't be nearly as nice and forgiving as I was to Troy for the same thing. Actually this one even shocked me....
Posted on: 3/19/2011 6:50 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10410110

RE: The 800-pound gorilla sitting in the corner
[quote]ORIGINAL: 1bwana1 <span style=''font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA''>Not trying to take sides or be argumentative, but the ''Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law'', and the whole Constitutional argument, applies to a Citizen's relationship with his Government, not society and other private organizations.  There is plenty of precedence for private organizations taking action based on charges prior to conviction.  You can bet that if a person was charged with this kind of offense he would not be allowed to teach children in a classroom, or serve as a Scout Master.  We as individuals, or as members of an organization, are free to have discussions and form opinions based on available knowledge, without being called ''un-American''.  Whether it is appropriate for a person charged with such an offence as Jason is to represent our organization in a World Championship event is a valid discussion to have. All that being said, I am troubled by the entrapment aspects of this case in particular.  I think the changing charges may indicate a problematic case from a legal perspective.  Still, in light of the facts as I currently understand them, I would not allow Jason to be in a position of control over my Children.  Does this caution extend to participation in a model airplane competition?  I am unsure, but interested in others opinions on this. So for me, this thread has value.  It is part of a process that unfortunately needs to take place. [/quote] Good point and well stated. If you read my post, you notice that I did allude to removal on moral grounds, IF the powers (AMA I think) deem it in the best interest of the sport. Whether or not I agree with THAT action is totally irrelavent. My objection comes in from the automatic assumption of guilt before there has ever been a trial. He has been ACCUSED. So if I accuse Chip of trying to get in my 15 year old daughter's pants (an example, he's never met her LOL) then we assume he's guilty and kick him off the team as well? What if one of thier girlfriends got POed at one of them and accused them of abuse or child molestation, we gonna just send Van Putte? (LOL sorry Ron I know you know that's a joke). My point is we ALL need to take a closer look at this. Not just Jason, but our knee jerk responses and the way this group of people ignores years of transgressions by a few, while burning others (of "lesser value") at the stake for trivial crap that 99% of the time is fabricated rumor in the fist place. We as a people need to have a closer look at how we crucify people in the media as well. A lot of those precedents you mention are pretty much the same thing. Here's what I want you to know: if he's found guilty, which he might be who knows, then you have a right to label him as such. But we do NOT know. We have a media whore cop who told us what he wanted us to hear...that he, the great savior of Florida, has mightily struck down and smited these abhorrent deviants in the name of righteousness and the good people of Florida. Don't buy it so fast. You can bet if they had ANY evidence at ALL of child sexual intent of ANY kind at all, they'd be charging him with it...ALL of it. And let's make no mistake, that's ALL this is about is that FICTIONAL kid. What he wanted to do with the grown woman is his own business. I don't care if he brought a case of whipped cream and a chicken suit, who cares?????? This is a microcosm of what's going on in this whole country right now. Fact: we have 5% of the world's population and 25% of the world's prisoners. Look it up. China isn't even a close second. Land of liberty? Pfffft we love to lock people up. Let's get that college kid for playing call of duty in his own living room and smoking a doobie too....it's illegal send in the swat team NOW!!!!! Shoot the dog he barked at me!!! (Too common in swat raids) Lets charge him with intent to distribute as well because although what he really had wouldn't fill a thimble, he has a bathroom scale...and we ALL know scales are used to weigh drugs with right? Then super DA can say how he got a dangerous drug dealing doper off the streets and now...your kids are safer, thanks to him. (Want video links? I got TONS of em) After all we have SOOOOOOOO much spare cash to pay to jail all of them. Not to mention court costs, police salaries and equipment, helicopters, probation costs, hey hey....we can afford to put half our citizens in jail!! Do you guys know how many unsolved murders there are in Florida alone? What about thefts, robberies, carjackings etc? And you mean to tell me I'm supposed to cheer this numb nuts for entrapping a horny guy on the internet? On OUR DIME?!?!?!?!?!! Granted they probably got a couple of genuine predators off the street.....for a short time at our expense. And I don't begrudge them that fact. Making it a media circus and the way they go about it however is to me, unacceptable. Show me the pictures and tell me the names AFTER the trials, NOT before!!!!! Now you have just as much right to free speech as I do or anyone else, until it crosses the line of libel (the typed word for the vast majority who think "slander" applies here). And so far I see nothing across that line....some right up to it maybe, but not across. Also I think the AMA needs to adress this quickly and loudly. Make a choice. Write a letter to the AMA if you need to voice your opinion to someone who can actually do something, I encourage that, either way your opinion slides. Of COURSE you have a right to your opinion! And the right to voice it! My plea is to temper it with a closer study of that prejudgemental streak some people are showing...with great gnashing of teeth. -Mike PS Whassup Mike C and Doug!! Long time no hear/see!
Posted on: 3/17/2011 7:52 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10407007

RE: The 800-pound gorilla sitting in the corner
Oh lord....first time I log in for a year and look what is the first thing I see.....this thread. Now I remember why I left in the first place. So much for nostalgia and renewal of interest. Look. I realize that nowadays the PC thing to do is condemn the sh1t out of the accused and demand his head for the atrocities....but then I remembered the state of things in our country. That little thing called the constitution is pretty much toilet paper, and has been for a while now. The accused is guilty regardless of the facts, which not a d@mn one of us has. What, he's guilty because a freakin COP says so? Oh lord.... from what little I saw, he's guilty of being horny and a little foolish. Cyberspace ain't the best place to cruise for chicks...I mean, who KNOWS what's on the other side of that screen *shivers* I have had a lot...and I mean a LOT of experiences with law enforcement, both personally and professionally. I worked for years in downtown ATL at an underground metal club long ago, then a couple years in strong arm security. Do you know what a cop's job is? To collect evidence for the DA to gain a conviction. And maintain a "presence" for a show of force. This does NOT mean "all cops are scum", but by the exact same token, they are NOT the salt of the earth saints people seem to think. They're driven by the sames things we are. Money, ambition, temptation...and you aren't going to get a promotion writing parking tickets. The problem I have is this was a sting. That means lure somebody in, lead the conversation, lie if necessary (that's legal common proceedure for a cop unless on the stand, you DO know that right?) bust everybody and sort it all out later. Trouble is, they have news conferences and put pictures on the web (I wonder why that is?) and ALL of the people busted are now GUILTY in the eyes of the public...period. If they later discover during trial that the subject was NOT guilty, guess what? You ain't gonna be told. When was the last time you saw a cop give a news conference when they busted someone and it was bullsh1t? When was the last time you read front page news that read, "hey remeber that guy we had on the news a few months ago for child molestation? Just uhh....forget that...". Jason isn't a "rock star" to me. In fact we've had a few nasty scrapes in the past. I KNOW he's not perfect. But then again, Like Mike C said, how many of YOU are? Want me to be specific? Didn't think so. MOST of you have skeletons in your closets. Some have graveyards. If the few TRULY good and righteous people knew how many of you smoke weed for instance (I'm talking grey haired otherwise perfectly upstanding people, I personally know of over 30...that's not a typo) ...or cheat on your wife OPENLY and OFTEN... or gotten WAY too loaded on beer and drove somewhere (I mean staggering drunk)... there'd be no "sport" left. I can count the "truly righteous" people on one hand. The rest of us are human. And the last time I checked, this was still the United States of America. And that pesky constitution is still in effect. That whole "innocent until PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW thing is more than a mild annoyance....it's the LAW!!! If you publicly condemn Jason for this BEFORE the trial, you are wiping your arse with the constitution that WE live under and COUNTLESS people died for. The only problem I have with this situation is the lack of a public stated position from either the AMA or the NSRCA. if they want to replace him on moral grounds, I THINK that's thier right, dunno for sure. But if not, they need to stand up NOW and stand behind him or throw him under the bus. I THINK that's what the OP was eluding to. People, a lot of you are WAY too slow to take a stand against those that TRULY deserve it, and WAY too fast to condemn someone who may not deserve it. I have so many knives sticking out of my back I feel like a porcupine... and I got nostalgic because I was helping a high school kid with an RC project, come here, and see this mess. My health is one thing... but THIS is the main reason I left pattern, and won't be coming back I don't think. Don't worry haters, the door hit me in the a$$ a long time ago...left a HELL of a mark I might add... I love you too. Step back and take a breath and a hard look at YOURSELF first. If you don't, this whole thing is OVER. If you don't like the situation, vote with your feet and your wallet; that's your right. And that's exactly what I did, just for a different reason. -Mike PS I DO miss a lot of you. If you think you're friends with me, you are. The rest, well, you KNOW who YOU are.
Posted on: 3/17/2011 3:16 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10406463

RE: Black Magic VF3 E build thread!
[quote]ORIGINAL: grantb Hi guys, Started building my VF3E in earnest at last. I have a couple of questions, some maybe a bit ahead of the thread but maybe worth thinking about already. 1. On my VF3 the doubler (and the hole in the fuz) for the nylon wing bolts has been omitted. In fact there isn't provision in the wing root either. How is this rectified? 2. How have people channeled the airflow over the motor/batteries/speed controller? Where/how is the airflow exit constructed. 3. In the ''messy'' VF3 thread Mike talked about using 4 x wing adjusters but for the electric he has only sent me 2. How/where are these installed? Any info would be appreciated. Biggest thing I've built to date is an Epsilon 90 and the VF3E is going to stretch my abilities somewhat. [/quote] 1. Only the bolt goes in the front. The electrics only use 2 adjusters per plane, in the rear. 2. I'll see if I can get you a pic this weekend. Basically an air dam right behind the wing tube exiting the bottom of the plane. 3. See answer #1 It's really not that bad. pay attention to the weight and alignments. It's pretty easy unless you get in a hurry. Don't re-engineer the plane, it's already got more structure than it needs for an electric. Weight is everything. -M
Posted on: 3/17/2010 3:32 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "Electric Pattern Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9590242

RE: Black Magic VF3 Build Thread
Nice, guys !!!! Yeah so this is the first time I've logged in in 6 months.....been reading around a bit. Heh.....I think I may just log right on back out. My head is about to explode. Anyway so I have gotten a lot of well wishes over the last few months (along with a few death threats?) and I want to say thanks and it does mean a lot. Yes, we lost 2 close family members in a month. Yes I lost my entire extended family on one side over part of it. And yes, I have spent the better part of 6 months in the bed sick. Lupus sucks, and this time around it's as bad as it ever has been. And no, I don't have a plane yet. And don't really expect to until the end of the year with a little luck. We pretty much shut down CAA for the time being. Replacement parts can still be had, but no full kits right now. I am freakin tired and sick, and I have made enough Black Magics for the time being. I need a break and I'm taking one. I can assure you all we're not done, we're changing things around. Having a guy with Lupus cutting foam and sheeting cores all day every day isn't working anymore. I just can't do it right now. I can't move my hands correctly, my face looks like someone splashed me with acid, and everything hurts. Might be a couple months, maybe a bit more. Sort of depends on the quality of the break. But I need to heal up after 4+ years of doing exactly what I wasn't supposed to be doing. I'm not even supposed to be in direct sunlight....LOLOL For the last 5 years straight I have left Muncie with a fever of 103-104 like clockwork. That's not good in the long term. Anyway, planes look great! I'll have a pair one day, and get back on the design/kit thing fairly soon. But fairly could be a year. I'm just sayin.....nothing happening until everything in the shop is done, gone, and I have a matched pair of weapons for myself again. I can't believe it's been almost 4 years. But, I DO hope you guys enjoy the planes. I know I do. In the fast moving world of pattern, there are new designs coming out monthly, sometimes it seems like weekly. It's a comfortable feeling knowing the VF3 was already WAY ahead of the curve a couple years ago. Now it's simply a solid plane. ROCK solid. Have fun,' -Mike
Posted on: 3/16/2010 11:14 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9588549

RE: I cannot dispute this statement
Interesting, that.... I don't know the Xs and Os of it, except it creates a bit of a seperation and drag there. I know what the effects are. It helps smooth out the choppy bumps in severe turbulence. It also acts like expo, helps keeping the wings "feeling" centered and set. Of course, if you go too far, bad things happen. What exactly can depend on way too many variables to list, but the first thing I noticed was snaps got a little more difficult to nail fast and accurately. Like it took more to stall the wing to induce the snap. But, if you play with the airfoil thickness you can tweak that part too. To a certain extent. I noticed one designer (Hebert) using a tapered angle trailing edge. That's pretty interesting to me. Back to the thick TE, the late Jim Ivey and I did some field tests on this. We flew at a field notorious for bumpy turbulence above the trees. Our planes were bumping around quite a bit. Bruce Thoman had an (Osmose?) with thick TEs and it didn't exhibit this particular trait. (May it RIP). We then glued some stock to the TEs of one of Jim's planes and tried it out....and it worked. Been using a form of it ever since. The only question is how much, and where. -M
Posted on: 10/13/2009 9:48 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9171220

RE: I cannot dispute this statement
I'll try this again...... THANK YOU GUYS! Nuff said. -M
Posted on: 10/13/2009 7:56 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9170887

RE: Extreme Flight Vanquish 2M?
Uhhhh.......... Welp, I saw the 2 Vanquishes at Huntsville. Up close. I was supposed to fly it, but when I got out of the judges chair, they were put up. No joy. The Evolution and the vanquish basically came from the same place/person. I'm talking about the design not the construction. The construction looks awesome BTW, although I have some reservations about the current way the front end is built. It's probably fine, and it's not the final version. Overall quality of these prototyopes are everything one would expect from Extreme Flight. The vanquish IS an evolution of the Evolution per se. It went something like this: Virtuoso (one prototype, is currently in my attic) Rock N Roll (what the production version of the Virtuoso became) Evolution (A more pattern refined version of the design) Vanquish (the next step in the design series so to speak). The designs all came from pretty much the same place, and they don't suck. Chris has had a lot of input from a few F3A pilots. So far he's done a bang up job. My prediction: it'll become the next Focus....rather, it will fill that area of the market so to speak. And since Chris seems to have a lot of pull with the 3D community, don't be suprised to see a few more of those guys trying pattern because of this plane. That could be a good thing or a bad one, sorta depends LOL If someone wants to jump in and fly pattern in that price range, this would be the plane I'd recommend. It's the best I've seen so far. -Mike
Posted on: 10/9/2009 11:08 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9160788

RE: D2 Championships Winson Salem
I'll be there Friday afternoon. And yes, I have a present for you Don [:D] -Mike
Posted on: 9/30/2009 3:38 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9135087

RE: Black Magic VF3 Build Thread
"Busy" doesn't even cover it.....LOL Just got back from a day trip to NC. Over 1500 emails since I left for the nats, all legit (no spam). Needless to say it's taking time to go through and answer them all... Hint: cell phone if it's imortant [;)] number is on my site. I suspect you're missing the PDFs for the wing, stab and fuse? Easy fix. If Pete doesn't get you fixed up, call me... -Mike
Posted on: 7/28/2009 7:36 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8971771

RE: 41st Annual Rocket City Pattern Contest Huntsville, AL
Welp since this contest would mark Gary and Chris's first masters contest, and with the addition of Greg, Arch and Steve, I'd say all in all it looks like a fun one not to miss [:D] I'll be there! -Mike
Posted on: 7/22/2009 10:33 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8956310

RE: Black Magic VF3 Build Thread
[quote]ORIGINAL: Doug Cronkhite I really need to build one of these. [/quote] Yes, you do [:D] -Mike
Posted on: 7/21/2009 9:00 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8951383

RE: Black Magic VF3 Build Thread
[size=4]ATTA BOY!!!!!![/size] News flash! VF3s take top 5 wood in all 4 classes at the nats!!!! Don Szczur: 5th place FAI Arch Stafford: 2nd place masters Chris Odom: 2nd place Advanced Dean Funk: 5th place intermediate Dean Funk: Coucours de Elegance, Grand Champion!!!!!! So, congrats to all of you, including the guys who flew well and didn't make the top 5. Too many to list! We came very close to the win in a couple of classes. Masters especially could have gone either way, and I am VERY proud (no other word to use) of Arch for putting up those ice cold flights against the strongest masters class I have ever seen....ever. Now we gear up for 2010. Beginning NOW. (Ok after I sleep for a week LOL) I just had to say how happy you guys made me this last week. You have no idea. -Mike
Posted on: 7/19/2009 9:23 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8945743

RE: USA AMA NSRCA Pattern Nats Muncie Indiana
Hmmmm what first, congrats or controversy? I'll take congrats for $500 Alex... Congrats to all of the competitors. Some of the best flying I have ever seen in ALL classes. Special congrats to the winners...Andrew (it's about time), Tony, Gary, and Riley (welcome to pattern!) Congrats to Don for making it back into the finals. Congrats to Chris Odom for flying the best I have ever seen him fly. Congrats to all of the new kids (yes like what 6-7 of them????) in intermediate. Congrats to my bro Dean for winning the Concours by 1 vote (!!) and flying from deep in the pack to finish in the wood. And a HUGE atta boy to Arch Stafford, who put up some really world class flights against some really world class competition in nasty wind in the finals. Arch won the first 2 rounds of the finals, it was much closer than it looks. It seriously could have gone either way. I had a blast even though I wasn't flying. I think finals day I was more on pins and needles than any flights I have ever personally made during the previous nats. Frack, Arch, George, etc put up some awesome flights. So ok that brings me to the controversy....err one part anyway. Someone touched on how FAI gets the spotlight. It's true for sure. It's considered the top class and it is what everyone seems to be interested in. That's natural. What gets me is how the other classes seem to get overlooked. This year was a perfect example. The flying in Masters was easily as good (and closer!) than the flying in FAI, but not much has been mentioned. But hey at least it did get mentioned this year! LOL... but also the flying in intermediate and advanced also went down to the last day for the wins. And the forums etc are just as guilty. Although again it is better this year, I hope due to the quality of the flying and interest. I try to spend the lion's share of my time on site 4 for a reason. These guys are the future of pattern. These guys deserve our attention. Nuff said. As for the pilot with the weight issue...I'll comment since I was sitting a few feet away. in general I'll say that nobody wants to disqualify anyone over a technical issue if they can avoid it. You guys forgot to mention a certain FAI pilot that they let change a few items to make weight as well. It has become common practice in the last few years, and I don't think it'll fly next year. I can say for absolute certain the masters pilot in question had NO IDEA he was overweight since he was flying a borrowed plane. And it has been mentioned before he's a great guy and nobody really wants to see him DQ'd. But SHOULD he be? technically, yes....and it pains me to say it because of the placings were set between the poles, not on the scales. Personally if I were in second place and the first place guy got DQd for being overweight by 2 ounces, I would drop that first place trophy in the garbage right after I got it. But that's just me... Over the past few years I have seen it all. People changing equipment, taking knives to planes to make length, setting conditions to make sound, you name it. in my opinion, next year, we need to make the scales and measuring stick readily available like under the gazebo at site 1 all week. So if you wanna know, there's no excuse not to know. And if you fail, that's it, you're DQd and you deserve it. Trouble is right now people know they have wiggle room and they intend to wiggle if it comes down to it. I will NOT point fingers and accuse and blame because it's simply not any one person's fault. But the solution is simple. Let it be known that next year we will follow this one to the letter and that's that. if you protest, you'll most likely win it. State the intent early and this won't be an issue. With that being said, I thought generally the Nats were run very well. We were severely short handed this year in case anyone missed that one. My wife had to do sound checks for god's sake. Like she doesn't do enough already. (but she enjoyed it and didn't mind at all). And on that note, after much discussion on how sound checks work, DQing someone for failing sound by a decibel or whatever won't work. There are WAY too many variables involved. And not everyone has a perfectly calibrated meter before hand. Add wind and it gets louder. And louder.... But I don't want a fantastic nats to get drowned in controversy. Where it matters most is between the poles, and this one had it ALL. Next year, watch out masters, I'm back..... [:D] -Mike
Posted on: 7/19/2009 9:06 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8945716

RE: Black Magic VF3 Build Thread
I told you so. LOL Anyway you're welcome and very cool. Just a head's up: if I'm a little hard to get in touch with over the next week, I have a bum finger and I'm under the gun in the shop. if it's important just leave a message and I'll get back with ya. -Mike
Posted on: 6/25/2009 8:36 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8881166

RE: Duralite Batteries (Buyers Beware)
[quote]ORIGINAL: dreadnaut I am sorry for dentdocs loss, but a question arises in my mind; one that I am surprized has not come up yet in this thread. Did this incident occur before, after, or was it part of the cause of the endless product warnings about not charging lithium batteries indoors, and untended? [/quote] Answering you, but not specifically directed at you.... Before, and was one of the causes. The paperwork that accompanied the batteries touted "charge safe" technology and used the words "perfectly safe". Nowhere was it mentioned that there was any danger whatsoever. it was sold originally as PERFECTLY SAFE. Obviously looking back, it was anything but safe. Now we have warning after warning and years worth of them. It's now as common knowledge as a spinning prop. At the time of the fire in question, it wasn't. Ya know, things break, dookie happens. Everyone makes mistakes. But I am suprised that from my understanding no attempt has ever been made to pay the judgement whatsoever, and years after it's just a minor hiccup and business as usual. If I am wrong on this why has nobody set the record straight? dentdoc (Cameron) doesn't type well and as you can tell was deeply emotionally affected by this. Put yourself in his shoes. He and I have had our differences but this subject has never been one of them. I really don't want to get into a lengthy debate about this because I have already been down that road, and I know where it ends. The majority of people just don't care. They don't want to care. My message back then was simple: BEWARE THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS (long before the written warnings that come with every lithium battery since then). I got crucified for it. I just posted here to back up a few facts. Period. Look at the pics. Speculate all you want (not you in particular dread). It really doesn't matter to me what people think. if you're right, nothing happens. If you're wrong, you wake up dead. Not my problem either way. I run li-ions now but they aren't Duralites. I know the risks and I take precautions. That's the beginning and the end of my involvement. Fly safe! -Mike
Posted on: 6/25/2009 5:55 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "Electric Pattern Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8880805

RE: Brian Hebert's new F3A Design - Valiant
Somebody catch that cat and put it back in the bag!!! Oh well now that it's out..... 1st you're more than welcome Bryan. Wish I could have done more for you. Now I have access to a laser scanner and lots of CNC stuff....wish I would have had access to it back then. Secondly I'll say if you liked the Quest, this might be the plane you've been looking for. It has very Quest-like styling. I know that Bryan is flight testing this bird and making sure it flies right and the construction works, that's why the "secrecy". You'd be suprised how many planes go to market without ever being tested, or not being tested enough. Those are the ones with well documented issues after the fact. Another reason for "secrecy" is you wouldn't believe how many people will bug you asking questions if they know you're working on something new/cool. Don't get me wrong, it's great! But it's also extremely time consuming. Unless you don't answer, and then you're being a "jerk". if you're under the gun, it's best to just keep it hushed up until the hard work is done. I learned that one the hard way [;)] I can't wait to see this one in person. It's an interesting design that is a bit different in style than what else is out there. All you can do when the cat gets out of the bag like this is try and lighten the mood. I'm sure Jon intended no harm whatsoever. But he's still on double secret probation..... -Mike
Posted on: 6/25/2009 9:17 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8879590

RE: Brian Hebert's new F3A Design - Valiant
Oh crap not the red flashy thin................. Those were some pretty cool pics of swamp gas and refracted light. Why'd they take em down? -M
Posted on: 6/24/2009 5:36 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8877923

RE: Brian Hebert's new F3A Design - Valiant
Sorry guys, just trying to lighten the mood. I'm sure when it's ready we'll all get the low down. but that's why I don't allow cameras around my new projects. As soon as the first picture is taken, you may as well put it on the front page of the news. We're a small group and word travels like lightning. Pics travel faster than that. But no I hadn't seen that page before Jon posted the link (thanks bro!) -Mike
Posted on: 6/24/2009 12:32 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8877155

RE: Brian Hebert's new F3A Design - Valiant
[quote]ORIGINAL: jonlowe This is sort of like Animal House around here after all, isn't it?! [/quote] [size=7]TOGA!!! TOGA!!!!!![/size]
Posted on: 6/24/2009 12:06 PM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8877107

RE: Your biggest
[quote]ORIGINAL: 2Sunny Fantastic replies dudes! I am learning more here for free than I could in months on my own! Anyways, here's my tiny addition from today. . . I was having trouble coming out of my stall turns on the right angle, altitude, and with the appropriate curve so I started climbing higher on my verticals and then focusing on where I wanted to END UP on my pull outs. Suddenly I was dramatically improving the precision of my lines. That's it for me today . . . not much . . . but just a tid-bit for beginners like me[;)] Joe [/quote] Pay close attention to the vertical-ness of the lines too. That's another common defect. Strike vertical and draw it out. After the turn make SURE you strike a vertical downline and stay there. Another tendancy is to pinch the exit radius at the bottoms. This usually comes from not starting the radius early enough. To add to what Derek said, if you're correcting for a crosswind on the way up, when the plane pivots CROSS the rudder to avoid the dreaded pendulum and preset the correction. -Mike
Posted on: 6/24/2009 10:20 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8876846

RE: Typhoon vs typhoon
Those look like either the 900s or the 1000. if the fuse isn't 78" long it's not a 2+2 or a 2000 for sure. The numbers were for the wing area. by comparison, the 2000 had a wing area of 1150 inches. HUGE. The cowling attach was generally up to the builder. The older ones were meant to have a fully removable cowl. The chin cowl came into play later. Most likely with the use of a nose ring? just guessing. -M
Posted on: 6/24/2009 10:16 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8876835

RE: Black Magic VF3 Build Thread
The rudder is only as effective as the servo. The stronger the servo, the stronger the rudder. If you want to be able to carve that integrated 2 roll half loop then you need the power. it also affects the snap somewhat. A stronger faster rudder will snap more violently than a weaker slower one. Actually this is the one surface on this plane where I have to say don't skimp on a servo at all. You can get away with murder on the ailerons and elevator...not the rudder. -Mike
Posted on: 6/24/2009 9:30 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8876711

RE: Brian Hebert's new F3A Design - Valiant
That's because Jon's now on DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION!!!!!!! -Mike
Posted on: 6/24/2009 9:26 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8876703

RE: Typhoon vs typhoon
if you had a 2000 you would know. It dwarfs the rest of them. I scratch built quite a few back in the day. Nice plane! Would still kick tail in the lower classes. -Mike
Posted on: 6/24/2009 8:31 AM by Author "MHester" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8876585