Season Opener

We were back in the gym last Sunday for our first meeting of 2011. Around 12 people were on hand, not a bad turnout considering it was Easter. Some of the regulars did not make it and were missed.




In this video: (1) Paul's modified Peck Polymers Bostonian Pup. (2) Mike's peanut scale Broussard MH1521, just built and making its maiden flight on Sunday. (3) Todd's Big Pussycat. Will it end up in the lights?

Field Trip

Sunday was mostly a bust because of the wind, but we did manage a few flights. There's a picture below of Jerry & Phobi with Heinkel and Jimmie Allen yellowjacket, and of a beautiful bi-plane that someone is sure to identify.

Some of us headed over to Schellville to enjoy the open day and an opportunity to browse the hangar - pics below.

The military plane at the bottom is a Broussard MH 1521. We agreed that it would make a great build. George has subsequently obtained a plan for a peanut version from Bill Hannan, and we think it would make the perfect scale contest build to kick off the 2011 season.

Copies will be available soon - please let us know if you'd like a copy.

What's new?

You never know what you'll see at MAC, but there's always a good chance to see some new models, gadgets, plans, and maybe a new face or two. Seen at our last indoor meeting:

Tom brought a new model for the Bostonian contest. The all-red pusher prop driven Bostonian is one of Tom's own designs. The color is hot, but I think this plane is really cool.

One of our friends from SAM 27 attended his first MAC meeting last month. He flew this micro R/C Prairie Bird and I think he learned some things about free flight, too. Welcome!

Not your average Prairie Bird.

A work in progress. Haoyang has covered all of this biplane except the fuselage. The parts are not attached yet, just set up temporarily for this picture.

Mike showed us the fuselage of a Grumman F7F Tigercat he is building.

Haoyang and Daniel studied a plan.

When you build from plans, there aren't always a lot of instructions. Figuring out what the designer intended may be part of the fun, but I'm grateful for other modelers who are ready to help -- at club meetings, online, or via email. Thanks, guys!

FROG Delta 16

I posted a picture of Mike flying his FROG Delta 16 last month and remembered that model from my first outdoor MAC meeting in 2006. That was before we started this blog, so my pictures from that day were never posted... until now. Here is Mike on May 14, 2006, in the field behind the St. Vincent's gym in Marinwood (we moved our outdoor sessions to Lakeville in 2007).



Mike built his Delta 16 from plans which are available to download free from the House of Frog website. The video below shows the model flying in 2006. I guess it isn't easy to trim a flying wing, but Mike is doing okay. (Tom: "The glide is superb." Mike: "Yeah.")

Sartorial elegance on the flying field

Jerry Long, shown here with one of his his Bostonians, doesn't usually dress as finely for outdoor flying sessions, but he was playing a gig right after,
And Roger, with an excellent Jimmie Allen BA Parasol has a kind of East Coast Ralph Lauren layered look.

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.

Late Summer at Lakeville

Yesterday was a beautiful day in the Bay Area, an example of the great weather we usually get in September and October. If we had any control over the conditions, we would've turned down the wind a few notches, but it wasn't too bad. Models filled the air and we witnessed some impressive flights. Also new models on display, discussion of plans and building techniques, a trivia quiz, two dogs, a new car, and some R/C planes thrown into the mix.


Jim lets one fly.


Mike's FROG Delta 16 is one of my favorite models. I remember seeing it fly at my first outdoor MAC meeting in 2006.


This is Mike's newest model, a scale-ish looking Bostonian. Tom said something about flying ROW (rise off water) but in reality that seems unlikely, to say the least.


Ed had the runway all to himself until late in the morning when a few more R/C guys showed up. Here is Ed, starting the engine on his Tutor.


Daniel brought a couple of new planes: a Skokie and this nicely detailed Junkers D.I built from the Rocky Top kit.


Tom also has a new Skokie. This plane shows a lot of potential, possibly owing to the all-red tissue covering.


Expect to see more Skokies at the Jimmie Allen contest rescheduled for Saturday, September 25.

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.