RE: RCU member and jet modeler in a serious accident
Over 5,000 death here in the US last year from motorcycle accidents alone. Helmets aren't going to save you. They might keep your brains from spilling out on the street but you are going to suffer a closed head injury which a helmet complicates as it did a friend and police officer here that was in pursuit regarding a traffic violation. He got creamed by an oncoming car. They couldn't get his damned helmet off because his head had swollen instantaneously. He died at the scene. I saw a biker broadside a car pulling out of a parking lot at 45 mph. His body pushed the center post half way into the vehicle. He was nothing but body fluids on the inside of that car. A man in rush hour two years ago on my way home in the right lane on s curve was crowded by someone in a hurry to get home. All he did was lay his bike down to avoid being side swiped. As he did he slid curbside and straddled a fire hydrant. Spilt him plumb in two. None of those gentleman were saved by helmets and I bet if you could ask them about riding motorcylces, we probably all know what they would say. "Organ Donors" EXACTLY! I've had motorcycles. It doesn't matter whose fault it is. You're still just as dead and somewhere a family tries to put life back together because you opted to travel unprotected. This man is lucky to have survived. Damned lucky!
Posted on: 5/18/2013 4:11 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11515008

RE: offer
Don't go through with the offer with his attitude like that. You'll both end up with bad ratings and it's not worth it. [quote]ORIGINAL: mlawrencemsc He just sent me and email telling me to stop low balling him, but still hasn't answered any of my questions. Mike [/quote]
Posted on: 9/13/2012 12:48 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11227477

RE: offer
I've had buyers back of out offers all the time. Some are mannered enough to send me an email requesting that I decline their offer which I always do. The replies here are right. Ask seller a question comes first then you make the offer. If this seller is trying to shove this purchase up your tail feathers, that's a red flag all in its own. If you haven't paid, email the seller and ask the questions again. He should have nothing to hide. If he fails to answer, don't pay until you get the information you need. That should solve the offer and the sale.
Posted on: 9/13/2012 7:48 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11227214

RE: Am I the only one who flies pattern with no mixes in their plane ??
No but I fly my plane with the anti lock brakes and traction control off! [quote]ORIGINAL: can773 Do you drive your car with anti lock brakes and traction control turned off? [/quote]
Posted on: 9/8/2012 7:49 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11222323

RE: Nitro proof paint
Are you saying I could use most any paint as an undercoat if I lightly buffed it with 400 grit and then applied a coat (or two or three) of the Minwax urethane? I'm not doubting you, just gettting clarification for future project use. The urethane should/would act like a clear coat protection? [quote]ORIGINAL: irocbsa I think it is a common misconception that Rustoleum is nitro proof. In it's modern form it definitely is not, at least not to 15% nitro fuel which is what a lot of us use. From what I understand, in it's heyday Rustoleum was quite fuel proof but then Big Brother madated the elimination of most of the VOCs that were in spray paint so now it is just as un-nitro-proof as the rest of the off the shelf brands. I have small drops of 15% nitro on spinners that I have painted with Rustoleum and the paint bubbled in seconds. Top Flite Lustrekote is nitro proof to about 20%, but it stinks to high heaven so for your lungs' sake only use it outside. I typically use clear satin finish Minwax spray polyuretane to nitro proof any paint job that I do. Holds up quite well. [/quote]
Posted on: 9/8/2012 3:36 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11222070

RE: NOTAM from Hell
Like they are going to be out in force with binoculars looking for small RC aircraft? Now if you had a shoulder mounted RPG launcher, that might excite some SS guys!. Fly low and have fun!
Posted on: 9/7/2012 6:57 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "AMA Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11221299

RE: What's a good plane for this engine?
HONDA ELEMENT?
Posted on: 9/6/2012 12:28 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11219779

RE: Hanging Around
It's because they have 6 ounces of overage weight in the tail!
Posted on: 8/29/2012 6:09 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "3D Flying!"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11210103

RE: What happens if arf and kit building prices meet?
It doesn't really matter if prices meet! Those that have the money will buy what they want. Those that don't have the money will put everything on a credit card, not pay for it, file bankruptcy eventually making prices higher for those that have money. It also causes prices to go up across the board for all these kits and ARFs for future hobby enthousiasts. This hobby is a luxury and not exactly for those on a tight budget! In fact if a family is week to week with budgeting, or even close to living paycheck to paycheck, this isn't an "affordble" expense whatsoever. Whether the cost is a kit, arf, RTF, those that deem the costs necessary will spend whatever it takes to satiate the hobby's addiction. I can't see starting from scratch getting into a complete self sufficient flying mode for less than $150.00 minimum. If one's income just meets the weekly outgo of cash, that $150.00 will buy a lot of diapers, groceries, or pay some utilities. Granted there are those that will neglect the above responsibilities regardless. Price won't affect that neglect one way or the other. Whether it changes the minds of folks that can afford either, that comes down to those that care to spend countless hours building and not flying vs. those that love to fly more than build. What isn't going through the roof these days? I drive 10 miles one way to get my airplanes from the warehouse and 10 back to the field. It costs me a gallon of gas just to get to the field. Add the cost of fuel, what I tear up and the trip back, I'm glad my days of having to buy diapers are long over with. If you want to spend a lot of flying, I'd suggest you fall on that WIlkenson Sword and quit having kids.
Posted on: 8/25/2012 1:16 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11205708

RE: Starting ?
Well from us dumb Texans...you can hook a whole bunch of them there 6 volt lantern batteries together and do some serious cat fishing with them. It won't take a fellow long to realize that hooking a 6 volt battery to a glow plug will break the wallet pretty quick!
Posted on: 8/23/2012 4:58 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum ""1/2 A" & "1/8 A" airplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11203102

RE: LHS Rant!
Rant opens the door to ranting so here it goes. Hmmmm, almost 11,000 posts in 9 years!!! Hmmmm, let's figure 2x that in PM's and another 2x in emails not to mention all the time spent browsing? That's about 4 to 6 hours a day sitting at the PC letting the arteries clog. No exercise, and a box full of donuts next to the keyboard? Could that combination warrant a "hart" attack? Is having the most posts on a hobby web site worth it? Like most everyone said here, it's the LHS owners choice to carry what he thinks will sell so he can pay his rent, utilites, taxes and feed his family. Do you go into McDonalds and ask for a 16 ounce prime steak cooked to order? He's a small entrepreneur trying to cater to HIS desire to make a living first and then sell what will get him to that plateau next. We just lost an awesome family owned hobbyshop in Plano that has catered to this hobby for decades. A new owner came in and bought the remains and I noticed close to an $8.00 per gallon price increase on fuel alone. As mad as that made me, our current economy requires a specific profit margin in order to pay the cost of doing business. I was really hoping for "business as usual" but the new owners won't replace the hospitality, love, friendship, dedication and customer support that once fueled that store. I've been self employed for 33 years. You can't pay the electricity bill with and of those attributes listed above but they all fall into the equation of making sales. This is RCU. There are hundreds of kits for sale here and you don't have to drive 60 miles and waste $40.00 worth of gas to make that trip. The owner doesn't make squat on selling your planes over what he makes on his merchandise. You can also sell your planes here too! HMMM. I'm done ranting. I think I'll go execise the "hart" by doing my early morning 1.5 miles jog before society wakes up and reality kicks in.
Posted on: 8/17/2012 2:15 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11196555

RE: Best sounding model
Obviously an electric flyer! Gotta love that sweet sound of an electric! Oh yeh, there's NOT a sweet sound is there?
Posted on: 8/16/2012 2:50 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11195470

RE: Best sounding model
Yeh, next to a blow up doll, the most idiotic item sold is the "real engine sound" speaker that they sell to stick in ones electric airplane.....If I wanted a real engine sound in my RC airplane, I'd put a real engine in it.
Posted on: 8/15/2012 4:25 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11194928

RE: What the....?
They're all missing a prop!
Posted on: 8/15/2012 4:20 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11194921

RE: Screwed by HobbyKing
Ya gotta love the aroma of a fresh bottle of CA! DOH. [quote]ORIGINAL: dirtybird Their plastic covering is great. I think its better than monocoat and its 1/2 the price. [/quote]
Posted on: 8/9/2012 1:49 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11186606

RE: Mom Hates R/C!! Help!!!
Based on some of the advice/comments from what I am assuming are very young posters suggesting back sassing ,threatening drugs alcohol, pornogrophy,or insulting one's parent in order to validate their hobby, WOW. Had my son used that ploy in my household he would have had to extend the recharging cord about 4' to reach the new parking spot that car found! Not to mention he would have to stand backwards and naked in front of a mirror to get to the orifice the car was inserted! If I had verablly insulted my Mother about how she spends HER money that SHE earns I would be wearing dentures (as soon as I got a job and earned enough money to buy them). There are MORE yards in your neighborhood than yours to mow. Ask Mom if you do extra chores, wash the car, rake leaves, mow the neighbors yard, trim hedges, do windows. You will win/win showing her you want to contribute and EARN money if she truly thinks your hobby is too expensive or too time consuming. Make a deal with her for some "A"/s in school! Respect will earn respect. Please ignore the posts here that tell you to disrespect her! Some day you'll be changing her diaper and you'll realize how short life will be with her. What she does is because she loves you and cares for you. You can't replace that with a lipo battery!
Posted on: 8/8/2012 3:55 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11185269

RE: Getting Sick of this!
To quote Wesbters "BUILD" : to form by ordering and uniting materials by gradual means into a composite whole. According to the guru of vocabulary, there is NO segregation in the act of building whether it comes from individual sticks or preformed pieces. If one wants to spend 6 months of perfectly good flying time "building" (gluing sticks together), that is their option. If one wants to spend 6 hours "building" (some pre-assembed parts) and fly a lot (as many times as factory glue will hold), that's their option as well. This hobby would benefit greatly if the egos were left in the garage and the love of this great adventure were the main reason people showed up at a flying field. I think I enjoyed the beginning days of the ugly sticks and 40 sized beaters more than I do today when money and ego are the primary reason the pilots show up and the field. I can feel the love of the sport when a young man brings his best flying plane to the field and doesn't have to spend 2 hours unwrapping it and parking it in a certain place and direction so his everyone has to walk by it and gawk at it. My RANT OF THE DAY....going ANYWHERE with the wife and daughter and having an employee of the establishment come up and say, "HEY GUYS......" I still don't consider my wife or my daughter to be a guy! ALSO...people chose the category(s) for thier listings on Ebay. Ebay doesn't do that! Misfiled listings are the sellers option. You need to understand, the more keywords they select, the more people accidentally run across their listing. Would I want 100 X the exposure for my listing... You're damned toot'n I would! Just maybe someone will see it and buy it not even knowing they wanted one.
Posted on: 8/8/2012 3:36 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11185261

RE: help me deal with this guy!!!
Taz, I admire and respect your professionalism and business wisdom. I have bought items from you before. It takes me at least 15 minutes to list a new item on Ebay and 5 minutes to copy and post duplicates. Not to mention the time packaging, shipping, procuring mailing materials and then the follow up, feedbacks and email responses. That's a whopping 12 items per hour at my speed. It never ceases to amaze me how paranoid people have to slam an organization that has allowed sellers of all values to present their items to billions of potential buyers. Ebay has turned garage sales into an international client base. it's THEIR playing field people. If you don't like it, simple don't use it ....DUH. Truly, if they are in the slightest unhappy with a PRIVATE company charging to promote items people chose to sell, they should just get their old folding up bridge tables out, hand paint some signs and staple them to the telephone poles and have themselves a fine old time sitting in the driveway selling stuff the people that will try to argue them down to 5 cents on a dollar instead of 10 cents! Ignorance of the ability to list/sell/profit off of Ebay does not constitute a fault with Ebay. They invented their system and if they charge 10% and one receives 75% (or more) of it's value, that person is still ahead by 65% over the traditional garage sale. Plus you don't have to watch the arriving garage sale grunts steal your items while their friends try to distract you. When I see a seller on Ebay with thousands of items sold and a 100% positive feedback, I'd buy from that person in a New York minute! When I see a seller with a few "neutral" or a couple negatives, I'll read his/her response and determine whether I want to trush them with my money or not. IT'S A CHOICE...no one is holding a virtual gun to a sellers head to buy anything from anybody on Ebay. You can't prevent a buyer from hammering you on Ebay. If a 100% perfect Cherry rating is the most important thing in life, REFUND THEIR MONEY...they can't leave a negative if you refund their money! Negotiate if possible! Reply to a negative with positive attitude and most buyers will see that when they review your ratings. Sell the hell out it Taz! Make sure you block all these paranoid people sitting in their driveway selling trinkets to the garage sale grunts from buying from you!
Posted on: 8/7/2012 4:14 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Car General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11183965

RE: help me deal with this guy!!!
EddieC hit it right on the head. Ebay has taken away the seller's ability to rate the buyer so ANY buyer can hammer a sale for any reason and ruin a perfectly good sellers record in no time. The seller has no recourse. Ebay knows they have the market cornered on internet selling and you play it their way or no way. PLUS you cough up 10% of the sale, like it or not. It's obvious this sale is going to a buyer that is missing a whole bunch of marbles and you're going to get a negative feedback. Respond with just what you told us. You missed the next day shipping so you sent it expedited. There's not a lot of text you can put in the response so let your buyers know your intent was good, buyer as a soda jerk.
Posted on: 8/5/2012 1:17 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Car General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11181867

RE: First attempt at robart hinges FAILED, now what??
Gorilla glue specifically states that it will SWELL. This can't be a good thing when one is trying to get a snug fit into a soft wood such as balsa. After very careful alignment in one half of the install, whether that be in the control surface or the air frame itself, I use 30 minute epoxy. First I treat all the hinge pin areas with oil not to get any on the barrel of the hinge itself. If you do, clean it off with acetone before continuing. You can put blue masking tape around each hinge hole to keep the epoxy off of the monokote and gently remove it just after everything lines up and there is enough time for the epoxy to hold but not harden. With a 30 minute window, you can work the control surface and make sure the movement is satisfactory. This also can be done as a dry run before the final expoxy step. If you want, you can lightly sand the plastic barrels so they rough up some for a better bond. Have some cleaner handy so you can clean up right after the install.
Posted on: 8/2/2012 4:57 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11179027

RE: Most Blatant
So paying an actor to promote Geico, or Ford, or Cheerios and say good things about them on national television is dishonest? Mike Rowe is lying about the Ford trucks? Dennis Haysbert is lying about Alstate? Bruce Jenner is lying about Cheerios? I think you need a lesson in contractual promotions. HK isn't doing anything dishonest by asking someone to PROMOTE their product for payment. We call that advertising.
Posted on: 7/31/2012 6:20 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11176557

RE: Most Blatant
You know, it's a free country. If the OP doesn't like a particular company, DON'T BUY FROM THEM! DUH. Find your parts from somewhere else. I'm SURE your boycott will most certainly bankrupt Hobby King! HK didn't say a damned thing about asking anyone to lie about their products! If $100.00 buys false loyalty, then maybe we should do something about lobbying in Washington! I wonder what all those lies cost? If they want to "promote" via a compensation, that's called advertising! Rarely will someone spend their time beating the drum promoting the great service, sales of a company. All we hear about it is from some disgruntled buyer that didn't get 101% service / product. This is 2012! Chances of getting anything near perfect are 50/50. That's a shame but it's the way it is. Seriously, don't buy from them. Do without.
Posted on: 7/31/2012 5:29 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11176500

RE: London Olympics are fantastic!!
I see they found some fresh lipos to put in the Queen. She was actually animate this outing. NICE JOB.
Posted on: 7/29/2012 3:49 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11173053

RE: Jet Product Supply Monopolies
I must not have a life. I actually read this thread. Someone shoot me and put me out of my misery.
Posted on: 7/29/2012 3:47 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11173051

RE: RANT: The
If you quit wrecking them and tearing them up you won't have to worry about spare parts. Raptureboy hit it on the nose. You can tell from the responses those that have ever been self employed, or managed a business or had a job in the upper ranks. There is no way in hades that a company can keep an endless supply of spare parts for discontinued items nor should they have to. Granted it's frustrating as hell not be be able to find a fuselage or set of wings or canopy when you make one of those not so perfect landings but to expect companies to cater to the wah wah "it's all about me" types is absurd! Build it back the best you can and cover it with whatever you have if you want to fly it again or find a big enough Glad Bag and give it a proper funeral.
Posted on: 7/27/2012 11:52 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "ARF or RTF"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11171424

RE: RANT: The
You can't expect them to keep the same planes, same parts forever. A lot of the times they have improved the design, maybe even had definite faults like the Funtana and opted to drop it completely and make a new version that is more reliable. They need to introduce new models, new designs to draw in new purchases. Would you buy the Corvair today? Want a Yugo? How about a push lawn mower? Would you use an AM Tx and Rx if one came on the market?
Posted on: 7/26/2012 3:14 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "ARF or RTF"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11170406

RE: Unexplained loss of control
I hear only the heli guys are allowed educated enough to wear the title of "Certified Colonoscopists"? A hobby shop owner told me KISS. The more crap one throws into their plane, the more can go wrong. It amazes me that without a $1,000,000.00 flight recorder than anyone can go over to a pile of mangled balsa, monokote, plastic and batteries and diagnose what broke first, last or even contributed to a crash. A sudden movement like that should indicate some electronic malfunction but could also be a physical issue with rod set up, clevises, servo mounting, fatigue, faulty factory production, yada yada yada. Just because they fly good one time, doesn't mean that something didn't get tweaked or torqued or work itself loose. It's almost like 15 minutes of flying requires one hour of preflight and how can one pre-determine the failure of an a piece of electronics that probably cost the Chinese $0.75 cents to make? KISS them now or kiss them goodbye.
Posted on: 7/26/2012 4:07 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11169756

RE: Unexplained loss of control
FYI Penn beat themselves. NO help needed from anyone but the devil was used to get them where they are! Enough said.
Posted on: 7/24/2012 7:25 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11168046

RE: Cant see my damn airplane !
We flew in Plano Sunday and there was a serious haze (ozone or just the ever rising smog from Dallas) in the air. It made it hard as hell to see orientation if you got out any decent distance for sure. Not that quarantees you aren't getting too old or too blind to fly lol! We both had the same problem so part of your issue was the air conditions here. It was dead air Saturday at 106 and Sunday early had a little breeze but if you flew anytime early Sunday, you were seeing horrible visibiity here in this area. They are right about which kind of sunglasses work best. I always wear safety glasses bought from Home Depot or Lowes as a rule of thumb but they are NOT RC flying friendly for long distant vision. The recommendations for the safety glasses worn with good filtration by experienced pilots above are perfect. Whatever they cost is well worth the safe flying experience. My flying buddy and an amber pair and they made a huge difference yet I opted for my safety glasses because I've seen props turn into ginsu knives and have had glow fuel splash in my eyes once and that convinced me to wear them throughout the flying day. The major problem with the style I wear is they are pretty much wrap around and get hot and steamy quick which is worse than the haze. A little breeze here blows that ozone up to Oklahoma so if the air is still, you're going to feel/see it more here.
Posted on: 7/23/2012 1:48 PM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11166159

RE: Wife was NOT amused . . .
Abstinence is a wonderful thing. Just think of all the time you'll have to fly since you won't be doing any of THAT for a while!
Posted on: 7/21/2012 2:47 AM by Author "pmerritt" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11163283