discussion How do you regain your modelling mojo?

[HAWKERHUNTER]

I forgot to add that for some of us older modellers it's a great way of reliving those happy times when much younger. BTW - does anyone know (have) any info. about control line powered (glowplug engine) model aircraft flying?

Ivor what do you want to know about glow plug engines?

 

[Guest]

Hi Steve, I have a Guillow's Grumman Avenger to build (as yet) balsa model, it will take a Cox .020 glow engine (which I have obtained of ebay). It can also be rubber powered, but as I'm reliving my youth (!!) I never had much success with rubber powered aircraft and always wanted to have powered models but never had the resource then (apart from fiddling with Jetex engines - whatever happened to them). So now I'm planning to build this balsa model which uses 'tethered' flight which I think would suit me until I can get enough feel for the airplane before going for RC models. The cox engine has a throttle control so my question is how do I get tethered controls - what's used for a line, would I use two controls lines - one for the aircraft itself and one for the throttle, or would I be best to just use one control line and lock the throttle off. I have no experience of using glow engines so any helpful advice would be much appreciated. I have the correct size prop for that engine/aircraft - I guess I just need to get in there and do it - but I like to have some fore knowledge to get started with. I'm still building plastics models at the moment but I'm itching to get started with balsa.

cheers, Ivor

 

[Guest]

As others have said it should be relaxing and fun,you can't force yourself to do it though plucking up the courage to have a bash at an unfinished project can be very rewarding.Cheers

Steve

O I wish that I had that instinct to leave & then return to an unfinished project.

Not in my catergory. I have to finish a model before passing on to the next. It would bug me. I would never return & therfore never leave until completed. Yet in my career I mutli tasked all the time.

The human brain is strangest thing in this world. We each differ how can that be but it is ?

Laurie

 

[stona]

Laurie like you I only ever build one model at a time. I do sometimes "walk away" from a project before returning,hopefully with a fresh view. I've never not completed a model,but I've finished a few that I've been unhappy with! They go straight to the storage bin in the sky,well,the loft anyway.

Ivor,I can't really answer your questions,I'll leave that to an expert,but I did fly control line models as a kid. My brother flew "proper" RC aircraft and the two were very different indeed. My control line aircraft were basically flying wings with a relatively large 2.5cc engine bolted on the front! There was no throttle control,just the two control lines which gave up and down on the elevator. I found a forty year old set,wrapped around a can, complete with handle,in my mum's loft after she passed away! Sadly no aeroplane to go with them.

Good luck with your balsa project.

I bet "Jetex" motors fell foul of health and safety. They were nothing more than a crude solid fuel rocket! I once bolted one to a boat which promptly capsized before continuing up the canal with the motor running underwater! I've still no idea what those fuel pellets were made of.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Guest]

Yes the Jetex were very popular on model power boats. I always wanted the Scorpion jetex motor but once again funds were limited in those days!! I had the basic motor - a bit like a sparklets capsule - which easily coked up after one use. Would a jetex motor power an airbrush!! I think the fuel pellets were a type of cordite, they were a brick red in colour and produced a lot of smoke, especially if you used more than the manufacturer stated! I think kids are missing out on all that fun we had - nearly killing ourselves with rocket motors! Pioneering days. Must trawl ebay for jetex!

That control line sounds similar to what I plan to use until I get competent enough at flying balsa models then i plan to move onto RC model aircraft. Possibly joining a local aero modellers club would help as a good way of getting started. I've played around with the helicopters that are readily available on any outdoor market these days, but there's nothing quite like flying something you've built yourself.

cheers, Ivor

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Hi Ivor. Im not going to be of much help to you because I dont fly control line but I have a little knowledge that may assist. I fly RC and I can tell you that RC and control line are two totally different skills. As you are aware your plane will be tethered and the type of control line will depend on the size of the model and the force it will generate as it moves about a fix axis(you). From the control line planes I have seen the pilots use a duel line which both act on a single pully that control the elevator only. Some may also link the elevator into to the flaps.(not ailerons) The majority of the planes use a glow diesal engine or fuel engine with a 10-20% nitro mix. All the ones I hve seen have a fixed throttle which runs on full power until the model either runs out of fuel or crashes.

I cannot tell you how risky control line flying is. The event that I recently witnessed saw a total loss rate of the models of about 60% and when those things hit the ground they dont break, they shatter.

If you wanted to link up a variable throttle you would need to factor in a third line or some RC gear. Quite often the more elaborate models have a second person with radio gear to control undercarriage and throttle. Iam going to ring an expert in my club just to clarify what I have told you and get any more information that I can. Like I say, control line is very fast, very risky and everything of course is taking place real close to the ground. To give you some idea of how risky it is, I have been flying for about 20 years but when I was offered a go on the control line I turned it down. There was no way that I was able to fly those things safely.

Steve

 

[Guest]

Many thanks Steve, a lot of usefull info. there. I think joining a local aero modellers club may be the way forward, once model is complete, before venturing into the sky and coming back disappointed!! There's a group not far from here that have use of a large field.

cheers, Ivor

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Hi Ivor

Yes that is the best thing you can do. I have verified my advice that I gave to you with a flyer of control line aircraft at my club. It was pretty much correct. All the planes they fly have the engine throtle pre

set to max power. They fly with two lines with both lines acting on a single mechanism for the elevator only. Apparantly you can fly on a single line in order to reduce drag. This single line operates onto a worm screw device so that to activate the elevator you just twist the line. However because the movement is so slight this method is usually reserved for the racing planes that need to reduce drag and travel at ridiculous fast speeds. Good luck with what ever you decide to try, its a great hobby.

 

[Guest]

Hi Steve, many thanks for the useful info., I really appreciate it and it goes to emphasize what a great forum this is. I haven't yet built the plane but I know it's set up for control line flying only as the ailerons are fixed but saw this as a good intro into proper RC flying. It's actually set up for rubber power flight (brings back memories!!) but has an option for adding a bulkhead for a small motor - such as the cox peewee - Reading your info has further wetted my appetite and I'm very eager to get going, especially with summer months coming up. Will let you know how it is as time goes by. Cheers, Ivor

 

[Ian M]

That brings back memories of the then local flying club in Danson park. They met every Sunday and me and my mate used to walk the dogs there so we could watch them. They flew ribbon cutting dog fights two at a time. They didn't half give it some. And Yes when they take a dive into the ground at full throttle they didn't just break, they exploded.

Ian M

 

[Guest]

That brings back memories of the then local flying club in Danson park. They met every Sunday and me and my mate used to walk the dogs there so we could watch them. They flew ribbon cutting dog fights two at a time. They didn't half give it some. And Yes when they take a dive into the ground at full throttle they didn't just break, they exploded.Ian M

Yes Ian we have a flying club here. Joined it & was going participate until I watched these things flying into the ground & decided that it was as bad as owning a boat. Difference you throw money into the sea or bury it in the ground.

They had some very nice helicopters & could fly them well. Thought that the most interesting.

Laurie

 

[Ian M]

lol the good thing with boats is that even if they do sink, they are normally whole and just need drying out. Cars are a blast, I still have one that sits and collects dust, in the work room.

Considering a boat, but have no idea where to hide it, I mean keep it.

Ian M