Dave K Wins Another One

Winners of the 2010 "G" Challenge were announced yesterday. In the words of contest director Howard Littman, "Dave Krinard flew away with the flying prize" with his Guillows 500 Series FW-190. This was Dave's first entry in the annual postal contest since 2007, when he won first prize overall with his 500 Series Hellcat.



If you're not familiar with the "G" Challenge, the object is to build a Guillows model from a designated series of kits. Builders are required to use kit wood, but pieces may be cut or sanded to save weight, provided the outlines remain intact. This year, prizes were given for flying, speed dash, and appearance. For more information see the Guillows "G" Challenge Yahoo Group.

Record 10 entries in Bostonian contest

We had a really good turnout for the Bostonian contest at our St Vincent’s indoor meeting on Sunday (9/26). The Jim Bearham trophy goes to Mike L for an outstanding performance with his Bay Watch model, but all contestants worked hard to make it a rewarding and fun event. Some pics below.

Best three times out of five flights . . .

Mike L - Bay Watch - 303 seconds
Jerry L - Own design - 207 seconds
Tom W - The Fish – 152 seconds
Dave W - Celtic – 145 seconds
Ed S - ? – 132 seconds
George B –“Volksplane ripoff” – 122 seconds
Daniel N – Sorta Senator – 105 seconds

Haoyang, Bob and Jim (who provided the trophy and flew a Canuck #1) didn’t record times as they were having trimming issues, but they put a lot of effort in and will doubtless be in a better position next time.

There was no attempt to handicap for weight, but Mike’s advice is to build light and use a prop with a high pitch. Most of us struggled to stay under the rafters, off the walls and out of the bleachers with varying degrees of success. I think there was a least one three point basket. We all felt that we should have done better, and it would probably have helped morale if Mike had been forced to fly last. But he has given us a target for next year.

We missed Brian who would have been in the top three if past performance is anything to go by.

Thanks to everyone, and let's make the most of our October indoor session with a open scale contest - Dime, Nocal, peanut etc.

Small Rubber Contest

Some of us participated in the SAM 27 Small Rubber Contest at Lakeville on Saturday, August 7. (The contest was originally scheduled on July 24, but had to be postponed when the fire department set the field on fire early that morning as a training exercise.) Roberto Soncin Gerometta captures the atmosphere and action in this video:

Fahrvergnugen

Vanquishing volks vie for volksplane victory at St Vincents

We finally held our peanut Volksplane contest!
Amid a swirl of media attention and hounded by hordes of paparazzi, five contestants faced off before a small but fanatical group of spectators on Sunday July 25, 2010. When the props stopped and the dust settled one man emerged to bask in the glow of victory.

Mike L, with his exquisite model - decorated to perfectly mimic a real Volkspane - emerged head and shoulders above the rest, and not just because he is a lot taller.

Mike won all 4 categories as follows

BEST THREE TIMES OUT OF FIVE

Mike L 169.5 secs
Ed S 112.6
Tom W 80
George B 72.1

LONGEST SINGLE FLIGHT

MIKE 1 minute 02 secs
Ed 40.4 secs
Tom 28 secs
George 24.1 secs

CONCOURS (a totally subjective scoring method by myself)

Mike 85 points
George 84
Jim 77
Ed 76
Tom 65

MASS LAUNCH (IF YOU CAN CALL FIVE MODELS A MASS)

Mike (still going after the rest of us had gone home)

So first prize of a Gizmo Geezer went to Mike, and Ed as the runner up received a packet of rubber bands - both provided by George.

Jim broke his prop during a final trimming session and was unable to compete in the main section)

Models from top right clockwise - Ed, Mike, George, Tom and Jim.



Thanks to everyone for a great session and lots of laughs. We invite anyone to email us with times and photos of their peanut Volkspanes.

Summer Time

Part of a mural painted by students outside the St. Vincent's gym


One of several models competing in the Volksplane contest on Sunday. I will leave the reporting of that event to others who took better notes and more pictures. Hope to see a report here.


An example of the Easy Built Models variation of the Little Richard design. Distinguishing features include polyhedral breaks near the wing tips and tail feathers extending aft of the fuselage.


Ed shows his finely crafted mini-square.


At his first St. Vincent's session, Haoyang flew a Phantom Flash and then this GM Aero-Bat.


Thanks to those who brought cookies.


Dave K just built this immaculate dime scale D.VII from the Skylake Models kit. This one flies really well both indoors and out, and of course it looks fantastic.

6-27-2010 Indoor flying

Sunday's session saw many versions of the peanut scale Volksplane being readied for the upcoming event.



Jerry concentrates on trimming his VP, in Luftwaffe livery.



George's VP is a real lightweight.

Much attention is paid to keeping the weight to a minimum.
Tom knows the importance of this, and he shows us how its done.

Part of Jim's air force.

Mike's Sparrow & VP.



Dave K's Fokker returned to base with battle damage.

Jim pauses to answer questions, in midst of winding.

George's Bostonian-sized VP suffered major damage after encountering an immovable object.

More of Mike's handiwork, an Aeronca L.

Additionally, heres some pics from the previous indoor session that didn't get posted...( better late than never!).