February 2015 - Ventura County Comets
Transcription
February 2015 - Ventura County Comets
The Comets Tail President Dave Fishman (805) 340-0192 Vice Presedient Dale Nash (805) 532-1433 Secretary Alastair Brennan (805) 388-0180 Treasurer TJ Moran (805) 646-6084 Field Marshal/Safety George Lanquist (805) 646-5365 Park Liason John Dugan (805) 646-6898 Webmaster Don Sorenson (805) 968-4288 Comets Web Site: VCComets.com Comet’s Tale Editor: Alastair Brennan, [email protected] Board of Directors Dave Fishman, Dale Nash, TJ Moran, George Languist, Alastair Brennan Instructor Pilots: Emery Balasa, Steve Billings, Andrew, Carlson, Bob Root, Ron Scott, George Lanquist, TJ Moran, Steve Steinmetz, Alastair Brennan February 2015 The Comets’ Tale is the official newsletter and record of the Ventura Count Comets, AMA Chartered Club #173 and is published monthly at the Comets’ Tale Lair, in Camarillo, CA. Editorial contributions are welcome. Next Meeting: Thursday, February 19, 2015 7:30 PM At the Oak View Community Center Upcoming Events: Feb 21 - Indoor Electric fly @ Simi Vally Rec Center - 5005 LA Ave. March 1 - First Sunday at Santa Paula airport Pres Sez: How’s your flyin’ goin’? Good I hope! I’ve been having fun flying my 51” Popwing flying wing. Pay your membership dues if you haven’t yet. You know who you are. Don’t make me make T.J. kick your butt! The April Float Fly is on the schedule. Thank you George Boston! George has volunteered to be the C.D. for the event! He submitted the paperwork to the AMA, and we have already been sanctioned to go ahead and have the event. The Float Fly will go on providing we have enough water to safely stay away from boaters and the launch ramp. In the coming days, we will venture down to the flying site to have a look. We’ll keep ya posted. Calendar of events available on our website, thanks to Ron Scott for putting it together and Don to post it to the site. Now you can plan your vacation! The shed door was repaired by George Lanquist, Logan Hall and Chris Hudspeth. That door was getting wobbly, thanks to all for your handyman work! Shower-house gate - If you don’t know, the Lake staff has closed and locked a gate on the road to the field near the Shower-house. We have one of our combination locks on the gate. If you find the gate closed and locked, re-close and re-lock the gate after you pass through it. Big thanks to TJ for emptying the trash cans. Here’s a video on helping to keep your electronics water resistant. These guys fly a coaxial helicopter from underwater inside an aquarium, out of the water flying in the room! Crazy! The intention is not to fly your planes under water, but to keep electronics water resistant. I really enjoy these guys, their name is “Flite Test” and you can visit their website (flitetest.com) to see lot’s of interesting videos. Here’s the video FliteTest Waterproofing Electronics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4z8QMgTEA4#t=17 Take care and see ya at the field! Dave Meeting Minutes The meeting was called to order by President Dave at 7:32. We had 17 members present; no guests. The minutes and Treasurer’s report was approved and the Treasurer reminded the group to pay the club dues The safety officer said the things were running smoothly and currently there are no concerns. The April float fly was discussed and at the meeting we discussed the lake water level, yet are still planning the event. George Boston volunteered to be the CD...Thanks George. TJ brought up that he was contacted by a fellow model flyer from Chicago that wanted to sotp by the field. A few members volunteered to have TJ give the guest cell phone numbers in order to meet up and get him to the field. A couple weeks later this all went as planned and the guest wrote a thank you email stating that he (and his brother in law, the guest brought a guest) had a great time. Models of the month: 1)George Lanquist brought a “Primo” powered glider. It is a Buzz Waltz kit, electric motor, folding prop, polyhedral wing. 2) Lynn Breedlove brought a “Tiger” powered by a OS 46AX The winner...... Lynn! Honorable mention went to Peter Perry, he brought an unfinished gas powered (not nitro) Citabria. The meeting closed with the usual raffle and some guys won some nice stuff Lynn and the Tiger George and the Primo Peter and the Citabria Root’s Ramblings... This month I will show a few pictures I took at the AMA show in Pomona, but first a few pictures of a nice scale twin built by Dan Elsasser (pictures 1, 2, and 3). I took these pictures several months ago but hadn’t had a chance to include them previously. He built this beautiful and great flying model from an old Jack Stafford kit. Like all Dan’s models it is electric powered. Pict 1 2 3 At the AMA show I saw a lot of nice scale models and it seemed like there were more old time models on display than in previous years. The 1933 to 1935 Curtiss Condor shown in picture 4 was built by Col. Lawrence Klingberg. It is 1/6 scale with a wing span of 16 ft. and weighs 54 pounds. The 1939 WACO E in picture 5 was also built by Col. Klingberg and is 1/3 scale with a wingspan of 12 ft. and a weight of 50 lb. Both models are scratch built using balsa, plywood, pine, and some aluminum and fiberglass. Pict 5 6 The P-38-J in picture 6 was built by Michael Pokorny from a Yellow Aircraft kit. The beautiful aluminum covering was achieved by Bob Parcell utilizing individual scale panels. The C-47 Skytrain in picture 7 was built from Ziroli plans by John Redman in 1986. It has many flights and was refinished to this paint scheme 4 years ago. It is still flying with the original Zenoah G-38 engines. Pict 6 7 Besides the “biggies” there were several well done small scale models. The SE5-A in picture 8 was built from a Gillows kit. I built one of these kits for rubber powered indoor scale in 1962! This model has a wing span of 24 in., weighs 6.16 oz. and is radio controlled with electric power. Another small scale electric radio controlled model is the DH-4 in picture 9. It was built from a Dumas kit by Sanny M. Odulio. Pict 8 9 I am always interested in the old time free flight models. The 1937 Sailplane in picture 10 was built by Tom Hammond and is powered by an Ohlsson .60 spark ignition engine which is almost as old. The Sailplane was designed by Carl Goldberg and is from the same era as the Quaker design (which is so popular in our club). Pict 10 11 One of the most popular pattern designs in the 1960’s was the Phil Kraft designed Kwik Fly. Phil was one of the best pattern flyers at that time, and his Kraft radios were also very popular. Two Kwik Fly 5 models are shown in picture 11. Unfortunately I didn’t get the name of the builder but note that they are electric powered (not glow) and he uses a Kraft transmitter with a modern 2.4 module. The fake glow motors sit on top of the electric motor. The AMA hung over 20 scale models from the ceiling which provided a nice back drop to the show. The follows pictures show a few of these models. Tips on Buying Stuff at RC Swapmeets By Ron Scott When you go to a swap meet, garage sale or flee market you can find some real deals or some real junk or anything in-between. One of the questions I always ask myself when at the swap meet is “why is this person trying to sell certain items?” Also, is this stuff stolen or is this person really in need of $$$$. Whatever the case, you need to be careful or you may get stung. The following are some tips that I use in wheeling and dealing. I hope you find them useful. 1) Don’t pick up or handle anything unless you ask the price first. If you do pick up an item, the seller will probably up the price depending on how interested or excited you appear. It’s a psychology game and you need to be a good negotiator. If the price seems reasonable, then, pick it up and inspect it. 2) Inspection: - Carefully inspect the item looking for good and bad points. - Anything electrical, smell it – it may be burned internally and not obvious by looking at it. - Look for repaired areas – and how well the repairs were done. Example: If the alignment of the repaired sections was slightly off, the item may never function as it originally did. - Kits – check to see that all the parts are there – Cowel, wheels, elevator, rudder, etc. - Engines: A) Is it free to rotate and are there any rough spots as it rotates – this may indicate rusted or broken bearings. B) Is the crankshaft bent - as it rotates does it wobble or appear straight. C) Does it have good compression – as it rotates, it should be hard to turn as it approaches “TDC”. D) Are there any obvious broken parts that may need replacing. 3) Haggling over the price. This is a real art. If you’re a millionaire, it won’t matter that much but if your like me (and I am a real cheapskate) cost matters a lot. My rule of thumb, depending on the items condition is “ don’t pay more than 50 – 60% of the original cost of the item. Try to get the seller to give you a price first. If it’s way too high, just walk away – you can always come back but there is a risk of the item being sold. If the asking price is reasonable, then look more closely at it – pick it up and give it a real good look – “Inspection” as noted above. If you think the price is a little more than you can afford, make a counter offer – he may say OK or NO and you can negotiate further or ????? Hopefully you both feel good about the DEAL if you buy it. 4) If your spending a lot of money or if your not sure about the items operation, ask if you can try it out. Obviously he isn’t going to let you fly a plane, helicopter or quadcopter but in the case of a battery charger, transmitter, battery, or fit in your car, or whatever, he would probably allow you to check it out. If the item doesn’t work, ask him if you can get your money back. Get a phone # incase you may have questions later. 5) Don’t spend too much $$$, sometimes you can trade stuff. --Good luck and happy wheeling and dealing, From the The Economist (Jan 2015) 2015 R/C Flying Event Calendar – Ventura County and Around – By: Ron Scott (as of 1-24-15) January 9-11 AMA RC/Hobby Show at Ontario Convention Center 25 T-28 Races @ Santa Barbara RC Modelers www.sbrcm.org February 1 Fun Fly & Swap Meet – Valley Flyers Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com 16 Fun Scale Event - Valley Flyers Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com 21 Electric Fly (indoor) @ Simi Valley Rec Center 5005 LA Ave. @ 7:30 PM 15 Fun Fly – Camarillo Flying Circus - http://webefier.com/drupal/ 29 Electric Fun Fly - Valley Flyers Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com March 14 International Drone Day - http://www.internationaldroneday.com - Las Vegas 14 Heli Fun Fly - Valley Flyers Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com 15 T-28 Races – Camarillo Flying Circus ?15 Quickie 500 Pylon races – San Gabriel RC League – Whittier Narrows, www.sgvrcl.org/ 21 Electric Fly (indoor) @ Simi Valley Rec Center 5005 LA Ave. @ 7:30 PM 29 T-28 Race @ Santa Barbara RC Modelers www.sbrcm.org 29 Electric Fun Fly - Valley Flyers Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com April 4 Simi Valley Flyers – Fun Fly, BBQ, & Swap Meet www.simivalleyflyers.com 5 Easter Sunday ?4-6 Warbirds over LasVegas–William Bennett Field http://www.lvrcc.org/ 19 Swap Meet & Fun Fly – Camarillo Flying Circus 10-12 Q40/Q500 pylon racing – Apollo Field - Valley Flyers www.valleyflyers.com 18-19 Float Fly @ Lake Casitas – Camping, BBQ & Big Raffel - Ventura County Comets 18 Electric Fly (indoor) @ Simi Valley Rec Center 5005 LA Ave. @ 7:30 PM ?20-21 SC Scale Masters Event at Hemet Model Masters www.hemetmodelmasters.org 24-26 Wings over Prado – Scale Airplane Fly-in @ Prado Airpark, Chino, CA www.pvmac.com May 9 Fun Fly – Apollo Field - Valley Flyers www.valleyflyers.com 10 Mothers Day 16 Electric Fly (indoor) @ Simi Valley Rec Center 5005 LA Ave. @ 7:30 PM 16 L A Jets Spring Fly-in – Valley Flyers www.valleyflyers.com 16 -17 RCX Model Airplane Expo (Orange County Fairgrounds) www.rcx.com or 317-236-6515 23 Electric Fun-Fly & Glowpower < .15”. + BBQ @ Comets Field – Lake Casitas 17 Warbird Day – Camarillo Flying Circus ?18 Quickie 500 Pylon races –– Whittier Narrows, www.sgvrcl.org, - Park 818-554-3517 24 T-28 Race @ Santa Barbara RC Modelers www.SBRCM.org 22-24 Float Fly – Visalia Russell Pond – for directions - www.CVRCSoaring.com 21-24 Giant Scale Fly-in, Castle Airport, Contact Scott at [email protected] or 209-617-5789 June 5-7 Q40/Q500 Pylon racing – Valley Flyers www.valleyflyers.com ?7 IMAC flying competition @ Fresno - www.mini-iac.com ?14 IMAC flying competition @ Riverside - www.mini-iac.com 14 Fathers Day 20 Electric Fly (indoor) @ Simi Valley Rec Center 5005 LA Ave. @ 7:30 PM 20 Simi Valley Flyers - Fun Fly, BBQ, & Swap Meet 20-21 Western States All Electric Fun Fly – Apollo Field - www.valleyflyers.com for details. 21 Quaker Fun Fly & Baloon drop - Comets Field - Lake Casitas 28 4 rounds of Combat – Camarillo Flying Circus July 11 Swap Meet & Fun Fly - Valley Flyers Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com ?13 Swap Meet San Diego – Don Madison 18 Electric Fly (indoor) @ Simi Valley Rec Center 5005 LA Ave. @ 7:30 PM 18 L A Jets – Valley Flyers – Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com 19 Fun Fly – Camarillo Flying Circus 25 Warbird day & BBQ + Swap Meet @ Comets Field Lake Casitas $10 Entry fee includes lunch August 1 All Scale Event – Valley Flyers - www.valleyflyers.com ?2-3 Glider – Slope racing @ Grass Mountain www.socalsloperacing.com 8 Simi Valley Flyers - Fun Fly, BBQ, & Swap Meet ?9-10 Pattern Contest at Miramar, San Diego (Bill Wallace; [email protected]) 15 Electric Fly (indoor) @ Simi Valley Rec Center 5005 LA Ave. @ 7:30 PM 15-16 Camarillo Air Show 15 Fun Fly & Swap Meet - Valley Flyers Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com 16 T-28 Races – Camarillo Flying Circus September ?1 Swap Meet & Dawn Patrol Contest @ Hemet Model Masters – www.hemetmodelmasters.org 5 All Electric Fun Fly – Valley Flyers www.valleyflyers.com 19 Electric Fly (indoor) @ Simi Valley Rec Center 5005 LA Ave. @ 7:30 PM ?19-20Float Fly @ Lake Castiac Lower Lake– Canyon Crosswinds www.canyoncrosswinds.com 25-27 Float Fly @ Lake Mc Swane near Merced… Reservations – 209-354-2954 27 T-28 Race @ Santa Barbara RC Modelers www.SBRCM.org ?26-28Lake Hemet Float fly – Hemet Model Masters – www.hemetmodelmasters.org 26-27 Point Mugu Air Show – with the Blue Angels October ?3-4 Classic Pattern Contest at Pomona (Robert Fish, [email protected]) 2-4 Glider Festival @ Visalia, CA ( www.CVRCSoaring.com ) ?3-5 Tucson Aerobatic Shootout - www.desertaircraft.com ?5 Quickie 500 Pylon races, San Gabriel RC League, Whittier Narrows Rec. Park 818-554-3517 10 Simi Valley Flyers - Fun Fly, BBQ, & Swap Meet 11 Try & Fly- Public open house - Valley Flyers – Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com ?11-12 Pattern Contest at Sacramento (SAM; Frank Capone; [email protected]) 17 Electric Fly (indoor) @ Simi Valley Rec Center 5005 LA Ave. @ 7:30 PM 17-18 Float Fly @ Comets - Lake Casitas – Camping, BBQ & Big Raffel 18 Combat – 4 rounds – Camarillo Flying Circus 25 Electric Fun Fly - Valley Flyers – Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com 23-25Float Fly @ Visalia – Russell Pond for directions check www.CVRCSoaring.com ?23-26Giant Scale Air Races - Rabbit dry lake www.usrainfo.org November 7 Swap Meet &Fun Fly -Valley Flyers – Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com ?8-10 London Bridge Float Fly, Lake Havasu, Az. (Desert Hawks Club) www.deserthawksrc.org 14 LA Jets - Valley Flyers – Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com 15 Warbird Day – Camarillo Flying Circus 20-22 Float Fly @ Comets – Club members only 21 Electric Fly (indoor) @ Simi Valley Rec Center 5005 LA Ave. @ 7:30 PM 22 T-28 Race @ Santa Barbara RC Modelers www.SBRCM.org 23-25 West Coast all Electric RC Event – Fly-in @ Prado Airpark, Chino, CA www.pvmac.com ?24 T-28 Day – Camarillo Flying Circus December 6 Toys-for-Tots Fly-in – Valley Flyers – Apollo Field www.valleyflyers.com 13 Holiday party – Simi Valley Flyers 17 Comets Christmas party 19 Electric Fly (indoor) @ Simi Valley Rec Center 5005 LA Ave. @ 7:30 PM 25 Santa Claus brings new stuff to replace all the planes & engines that Murphy broke during the year. RC Event and Miscellaneous Contact info: CLUB OR EVENT CONTACT PHONE # AVTI (Lancaster) ?Jerry Budd (805) 943-4970 Desert Hawks (Lake Havasu) ?George Field (928) 855-1197 Comets (Ventura County) Ron Scott (805) 522-5455 Condors (Camarillo) Robert Wagner (805) 491-2222 Camarillo Flying Circus Giant Scale Squadron ?Dave Hendrix (213) 758-2935 Las Vegas R/C Club ?Tom Hart (702) 566-0668 Port-A-Potti Pilots (Sylmar) Robby Hombre R/C Marathon Corona R/C Club (208)486-6063 Santa Barbara RC Modelers Lloyd Gibbs 805 688-4855 SGVRCL (San Gabrial Valley) ?Jim Riccio (310) 973-3696 The Unlimited (Torrance) ?Lesley Burnett(310) 320-8369 Torry Pines Gulls Valley Flyers (Sepulvida) Simi Valley Flyers Visalia Glider Festival Ed Hipp Canyon Crosswinds Wally Briggs (661)722-0029 Santa Fe Dam R/C Modelers (626) 821-4133 Southern Calif - Slope racing Org. IMAC(International Min. Aerobatic Club Riverside RC Club Simi Indoor Electric fly Matt Keennon Corona RC Club Internet Web Sites AMA Calender of events Club Links Gliders Visalia Glider Club Web Site http://www.avti.org/ www.deserthawksrc.corg www.vccomets.com www.cicondors.com/ www.RobinsHobbies.com www.sbrcm.org www.sgvrcl.org www.torreypinesgulls.org www.valleyflyers.com www.simivalleyflyers.com www.cvrcsoaring.com www.canyoncrosswinds.com www.sfdrcm.com www.socalsloperacing.com www.mini-iac.com www.riversidercclub.org [email protected] www.coronarcclub.com http://www.modelaircraft.org/events/iacevents.aspx www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx www.rcsoaring.com www.socalsloperacing.com www.gliderking.com, https://cvrcsoaring.wordpress.com Electrics www.sefsd.org Warbirds www.rcwarbirds.com Model Airplane Clubs in California: http://www.rc-airplane-world.com/california-rc-airplane-clubs.html AMA Charter Club #173 Ventura County Comets P.O. Box 333 Ojai CA 93024-0333
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