Author Topic: 1/4A combat? (Read 1079 times)

minnesotamodeler · « **on:** May 21, 2009, 06:02:15 AM »

I was torn between posting this here, or in the "combat" section. Decided on "here" because this isn't really serious combat, just playing around with small engines.

A previous post energized my imagination...if a guy was to try combat with .020s, what would it look like? Here are a couple of examples, one a solid sheet wing (3/32" balsa) and the other a built-up wing. 12" ruler included to indicate scale. Peewee .020 for both. The solid-sheet weighs about 1.25 oz. as is, the built-up one about .75 oz. I'm anticipating maybe 25' lines, maybe even the old 1/2A standard of 27'.

LARRY RICE · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2009, 06:50:41 AM »

A coulpe of years back I sent one of my 1/2A sheet winged kits to FM for a review. Instead of reviewing the kit they put large holes in the wing and extended the motor mount for a .020 engine. They then reviewed their model. Not quite what I hoped for. Good review .... wrong plane.
Larry

John Crocker · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2009, 04:03:21 PM »

Hey Ray

I love the use of tongue depressers on the sheet wing. You can call it the "Open up and say Ahhh!", cause that is what you'll be screaming when that sucker wraps you up

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2009, 06:31:09 PM »

Yup, it's a throw-together quickie, using what was laying around. The leading-edge dowel of the stabilator is a bamboo skewer.

By the way, they are called (ahem) "craft sticks", for your information! I have a box full of them from somewhere, probably one of my wife's projects.

As far as getting wrapped up, I'm an old combat flier from 'way back...always loved a really quick, snappy combat wing. You learn to do lazy eights really quick, in self-defense!

You know I first flew my Queen Bee on 15' lines...that did have me spinning, surprising what those little .020s will put out. Plenty fun though.

Also I wonder what kind of streamer they'll pull...maybe 1/4" wide, 3 or 4 feet long? On a couple of feet of thread?

Robert McHam · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2009, 07:48:01 PM »

I suggest using the 1/8" tape from old cassette tapes. Might be too tough to cut?

Robert

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2009, 05:24:25 AM »

Good thought, Robert...worth a try. May be a little hard to see, not colored bright enough?

John Crocker · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2009, 11:21:57 AM »

Quote

The leading-edge dowel of the stabilator is a bamboo skewer.

Well there ya go, you got its name too "Skewered"

Looking forward to the flight report.

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2009, 02:57:36 PM »

Me too.

Frank Sheridan · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2009, 04:05:17 PM »

I always wondered who ended up with all those old eight tracks and cassette tapes- it's Robert Mcham! Just out of curiousity, what length and type of lines would a stock Pee Wee powered plane use? I remember a cable TV show called "The secret life of machines" that the discovery channel ran back in the early 90s. The host mounted what looked like an 010 or 020 Cox engine on the end of a stick about eight feet long, and a man sat in a revolving office chair that spun around while the little engine screamed away. It was great!

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2009, 05:07:34 PM »

I started with 15' lines, too short unless you're a masochist...now using 20', better, but I'm trying 27' (the old 1/2A standard) next. I'm thinking 24'-25' might be about ideal.

Frank Sheridan · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2009, 07:27:28 AM »

I was an upholsterer for several years and the little spools of Dacron line we always used for 1/2A flying were actually pre-wound bobbins for use in industrial sewing machines. The style "G" bobbins hold 72 feet of thread, which comes out just about right for a pair of flying lines. If you are lucky enough to live near a marine shipyard or sailmaker's shop, you can still get Dacron thread bobbins. Dacron is used primarily for outdoor applications such as sails due to it's resistance to sunlight. Ordinary upholstery shops use Nylon which is cheaper, but has too much elasticity (stretch) for flying lines. I am told that there is a type of fishing line called Spider wire, I think, which has no stretch and makes excellent lines for 1/2A.

John Rist · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2009, 08:11:26 AM »

Quote from: Frank Sheridan on May 23, 2009, 07:27:28 AM

I was an upholsterer for several years and the little spools of Dacron line we always used for 1/2A flying were actually pre-wound bobbins for use in industrial sewing machines. The style "G" bobbins hold 72 feet of thread, which comes out just about right for a pair of flying lines. If you are lucky enough to live near a marine shipyard or sailmaker's shop, you can still get Dacron thread bobbins. Dacron is used primarily for outdoor applications such as sails due to it's resistance to sunlight. Ordinary upholstery shops use Nylon which is cheaper, but has too much elasticity (stretch) for flying lines. I am told that there is a type of fishing line called Spider wire, I think, which has no stretch and makes excellent lines for 1/2A.

You can buy Dacron line from a kite shop.

http://www.foreverflying.com/
http://www.foreverflying.com/access.html

If you call Shawn (the owner) (256) 308-0988 he knows everything you could ever want to know about string that has no stretch. I get something called Spectra 1000 from Shawn for 1/2 a lines. Zero stretch and very strong. Like flying on steel wire.

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2009, 10:10:09 PM »

Spectra, like Spiderwire, is fishing line, termed "extra-sensitive" because of little or no stretch, so the fisherman can feel any little nibble on the hook. Great for 1/2A lines, some are apparently even using the heavier weights for up to .40 engines!
Only difficulty is the knots for tying off the ends, normal knots, square or otherwise, will slip...there are a couple of fisherman's knots that work very well--I use the Palomar knot to tie line clips on the ends.

George · « **Reply #13 on:** May 25, 2009, 02:18:17 AM »

Pee Wee memory:

I bought my first Pee Wee .020 in the fifties when they first came out. They were so new, the dealer had no props yet...so I carved down a Tornado Plasticote 5x3. I ran the Pee Wee a few times on the bench for break-in then built a simple full fuse, 12" sheet-wing plane for it. Since no one in my area had flown one, I had no idea how well it pulled.

I proceeded to make Dacron lines that were short enough I could hand launch for myself in the back yard. Starter 'er up, launched, and was amazed at the power. It wound around me like you-know-what, then hit me in the leg.

First thoughts: Bigger plane...longer lines!

George

Author Topic: 1/4A combat? (Read 1079 times)

minnesotamodeler

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John Crocker

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