Author Topic: 1/2A field box (Read 2289 times)

Ed Burkot · « **on:** September 01, 2009, 06:17:37 AM »

Does any company make a 1/2A sized field box? I'm looking for a small box to hold a quart of fuel, a 1-1/2 volt square dry cell and the necessary glo plug clip, spare glo plugs, screwdriver, etc.

Or how about plans to build my own?

LARRY RICE · « **Reply #1 on:** September 01, 2009, 08:46:44 AM »

Check with Sam's Stuff and Hobbies, I believe that Sig makes one.
Larry

Ward Van Duzer · « **Reply #2 on:** September 01, 2009, 09:29:19 AM »

SIG used to make a fold up card board field box that was great for what you are looking for!

W.

Graham Collins · « **Reply #3 on:** September 01, 2009, 11:04:10 AM »

I have a small field box I made from one of those house and home kitchen/cleaning carry all's. One end has a 1/4" piece of plywood with a large hold to take a pint or quart size bottle of fuel and several small holes to hold screw drivers, the other end is open to pile all sorts of
stuff into. Pictures says it all:

cheers, Graham in Ottawa Canada

Bob Furr · « **Reply #4 on:** September 01, 2009, 12:03:21 PM »

Check bar style resturants for the cardboard ketchup, mustand and other condiment holders. They are made by beer companies for advertising. Usually the bar has to pay for them (a couple of dollars at most) but will part with their older ones. They are about the size of the old SIG cardboard flight boxes and the price is right as long as you are okay with the advertising. Also one of the SPAD groups shows a small flight box folded up from coroplast. Should last longer than most of my models!
Bob Furr

Ed Burkot · « **Reply #5 on:** September 01, 2009, 12:32:04 PM »

Thanks for all of the suggestions! It gives me more options!

John Rist · « **Reply #6 on:** September 01, 2009, 01:17:56 PM »

It may be a little big but looks like it might work.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJBU0&P=7#tech

Robert McHam · « **Reply #7 on:** September 01, 2009, 01:28:19 PM »

Ed, What you want is something I don't believe exists anymore, at least not as you describe it.
I think that tha 1/2A bunch is the only crowd that can come to the field with only a quart (or less!) of fuel for a days fun. Most also have a power panel and a rechargeble battery compartment for using starters and fuel pumps and such.
I like what you suggest and that is pretty much what we had as youngsters. Something that could hold a few glow plugs, a Qt. of fuel, some props a screwdriver or two and glow head wrenches.
plus a single 1.5 volt battery for glow use only. I can think of some other stuff too. Like a chicken stick, Head shims, primer bottle and more.

Additionally, there are some that really like the power panel and use of a starter. Some would need no more than a pint of fuel to drag to the field at any one given time.
Still such a box would be more compact with space for props not really needing to be more than say 8 inches fror a .15 size engine and a 1/2A starter takes up such a small space compared to a full size starter.

Really,What we should do is have a design "Nontest"...

Robert

jim gilmore · « **Reply #8 on:** September 01, 2009, 05:47:33 PM »

If somebody came out with a simple enough design It would be forst on my list of things to build. All I need to fly is fuel ,starter battery of (1.5) volts, 1 screwwdriver, glow plug wrenched,and a few props plus handle and lines/clips attached.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #9 on:** September 01, 2009, 06:38:43 PM »

I remember as a kid it was an old small cardboard box I carried all my stuff in. Handle and lines were left on the plane. DOC Holliday

Robert McHam · « **Reply #10 on:** September 01, 2009, 07:00:07 PM »

Jim, I bet this would interest quite a few folks as pretty much all of us have had to adapt to one or another not-quite-right tote. or else a few have made thier own customized to their needs but after finishing I bet they wished they had done something different.

Some considerations would include some standardization of the battery type and size, fuel storage also type and size, and handle choice. Most other cosiderations would be easy... I think!

Robert

Ed Burkot · « **Reply #11 on:** September 02, 2009, 06:01:07 AM »

I'm looking for something simple but sturdier than a show box. I'm finishing up building a couple of 1/2A control line airplanes and plan to teach my son to fly this weekend. He's already proficient at R/C, but has never tried U/C! I want something that would encourage him to fly on his own and not to have to wait for me to haul out all the equipment to the flying field. You know, like in the days of yore, when I was a teenager and would carry the airplane with dacron string and handle attached in one hand and the field box in the other hand and walk to the big parking lot nearby to fly. I kept a brick with a string and hook nearby to use as a stooge. My stooge method was to use the plastic bellcrank from the Cox RTF control line planes. These bellcranks had a small 'finger' molded into the back end of it such that the hook (tied to the brick) could be attached. With the engine running, a tug on the 'down' line would release the airplane. Worked well for 1/2A, but I don't think I would recommend this method for the larger airplanes.

Anyway, a small, simple field box for those small 1/2A pieces/parts would be great!

dave siegler · « **Reply #12 on:** September 02, 2009, 08:49:41 AM »

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3082798/tm.htm

Ed Burkot · « **Reply #13 on:** September 02, 2009, 09:16:07 AM »

Interesting, Dave. Unfortunately, it's over 18 inches long to accommodate a starter and battery. May as well use a box already in kit form or ready-to-use form from Great Planes or Tower or such. I'm looking for something smaller and thus not for a starter and gel cell.

Bill Heher · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2009, 02:31:12 PM »

Since you also fly R/C, maybe you want to kill 2 birds with one stone (box). Great Planes makes a fired box kit that has the A.P.S - Auxillary Power Station - a small flight line box that hangs off the end of the main field box. The A.P.S. looks like a candidate for a 1/2A field box. The main box is pretty conventional, drawers, plane cradle, etc.

You could use the A.P.S as designed with a 12v battery and power panel for starter / glow if you use a 1/2A starter and make a simple bracket to hold your small fuel can to it. Or modify it for 1/2a and eliminate the 12v battery and power panel, opening up extra room for your fuel can and 1.5v hobby battery, a few spare props, glow heads etc.

Tower has the kit for $30, and the manual for it is online - linked from the Tower page that has the details. Worth looking at- even if just for brain food.

GGeezer · « **Reply #15 on:** September 02, 2009, 03:31:31 PM »

I use the box from a six pack of bottled beer. Not only is it a good field box but it is also fun to make because you first have to empty it..... glug....glug.... glug

! Making a larger one for your bigger models from a twelve or twenty-four pack is even more fun since now you can invite your flying buddies over to give you a hand.
The cardboard in these boxes is pretty flimsy so they have to frequently be replaced .... another plus!

Orv.

Wayne Collier · « **Reply #16 on:** September 02, 2009, 08:51:08 PM »

If you are really opposed to using an old WalMart bag, you could probably build a box like the one shown below fairly quickly. The sides are 1/4 inch thick. The ends are 3/4. Not sure about the bottom, but I'd make it 3/4. It's maybe a foot long on the inside which makes it about 14 inches or so on the outside. The handle is either a large dowel or maybe a section of broom handle. Outside width is about eight inches. I think this box has been around about 35-40 years. Painted with blue aerogloss dope if I remember correctly. A person could make the ends and bottom from a piece of 1x6 or 1x8. The sides could be made from thin plywood or panelling. I usually carry fuel, battery, two sets of lines, extra prop, and some tools. I've also included a fuzzy picture of my top secret starting battery (made from dollar store D-cells). I make long leads from lamp cord and leave the battery in the box. I got the "fuel" syringe at a farm supply store.

ray copeland · « **Reply #17 on:** September 02, 2009, 10:24:23 PM »

Ed, i would highly recommend a box similar to the one Wayne posted. It may be a little bigger or heavier than you wanted but i think it would pay off in the long run. I fly a lot of 1/2a's, at least three times a week , i have learned that there is nothing better than getting to your flying spot and knowing you have what you need to get flying!! I have played around with all kinds of batteries and believe me the 12volt with a power panel and a clip similar to the old yellow sullivan is great. Get the old motor a little much flooded, like i tend to do sometimes with a balloon holding 1 1/2 ounces of fuel and it is great to be able to reach down and crank the power up and get it started on the next flip! Plenty of room also for some screwdrivers and pill bottles holding extra glo plugs,props and line clips and such.

Ed Burkot · « **Reply #18 on:** September 03, 2009, 04:54:02 PM »

Wayne and Ray: You are right. That box looks to be about right to do the job. I just don't want to have the full-size, huge R/C field box for little ol' 1/2A airplane support. I want to keep it simple and light enough for my son to feel comfortable with grabbing the equipment and going out to fly near our neighborhood.

Orv.: Also a good idea. I think the six-pack flight box is a bit too small and flimsy. The 12 pack should be about right! Think I'll go right out and purchase this field box!

Bill: Your idea is worth looking into. I do want to separate out the 1/2 sized glo heads, wrenches, fuel line and such to make my R/C field box less cluttered..... Where do you fly in Central Florida? I live up near Lake Mary and need a decent C/L flying site. Any C/L clubs in the area?

Ed

Graham Collins · « **Reply #19 on:** September 03, 2009, 05:14:57 PM »

Ed,

You really should have a look at the grocery store (or hardware store) for one of the kitchen/cleaning carry all's that I posted about in the 4th or 5th reply on this thread. Ready made, lots of room (you don't have to get fancy and add any plywood with cutouts like I did), fuel proof, and often less than $10.00.

cheers, Graham in Ottawa Canada

Bill Heher · « **Reply #20 on:** September 04, 2009, 02:30:18 AM »

Hey Ed,

I live in Orlando, but travel a lot for work. I actually do more flying on the road than I do at home- Portland OR mostly. In orlando I fly at my church and a few other "Secret Sites" I've located, the city / county does not support or allow model flying in any public facilities I am aware of. this kind of puts a damper on organized flying in the immediate Orlando area. 1/2A would be easier to find a site for- less space needed, and easier to slip in fly and slip out before OPD / OCS show up.

There are C/L circles at the IRKS Field near Cocoa Beach, and at the Ridge Barnstormers R/C club in Lake Wales, both require either membership in the club or " Guest " status accompanied by a club member. There are also C/l fliers in the Tampa area and Ocklawaha. Look at the FOTO Op section and there are contact details.

Phil Coopy in Lake Wales and Roger Vizioli by Cocoa are the primary C/L flier / supporters I have flown with at each site. There is a fly-in at the IRKS field around Veterans day, info is posted in the Events section here. Phill hosts a C/L fly-in each year at the field by Lake Wales around Easter, both are well attended and a great time.

There are a few C/L fliers who used to fly across Tradeport road from the Continental hangars at OIA. They used the paved parking area for a building a bit north of the Navy Exchange store. They had to compete with the stick-ball players for use, and I don't know if they still fly there.

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #21 on:** September 04, 2009, 07:22:47 AM »

Hi Bill H,
Thanks for the nice words!
We believe this years Vets Day Fly In will have great participation.
Still planning to devote one circle to Old Time, based on current interest.
Looking forward to seeing you there, or, as always, whenever you can come over.
With our event and Phil Coopy's in Lake Wales, November will be a great month for CL in Florida.

Roger V.

George · « **Reply #22 on:** September 04, 2009, 09:47:10 AM »

As for the field box...I suggest a small cardboard box that will hold your quart of fuel, a few props, wrenches, screwdriver, lines & handle, fueler, and a small pill box with seven compartments (each holding one glow plug) should do. Leave the rest of the "maybe needed" stuff in your RC flite box in the trunk...just in case.

Of course the 12 pack box sounds good too.

George