stunthanger.com
Speed,Combat,Scale,Racing => Combat => Topic started by: Andre Ming on July 30, 2016, 06:30:51 PM
-
For gits n' shiggles... thought I'd start a "1/2 A Vintage Combat" thread!
As for a definition of "vintage 1/2 A"... to me that would be any 1/2 A up to the end of the Tee Dee era. As I recall, 1/2 A Combat didn't even become an AMA "Supplemental" class until the late '70's - early 80's? Once the hyper-performing 1/2 A engines arrived (Norvel, etc)... the Tee Dee was done and it appears 1/2 A became quite sophisticated, and the expense of pursuing 1/2 A combat went up with the speeds.
(Memory assist please: Was the "official" line diameter/length during the AMA Supplemental/Tee Dee years .012" x 35'? Or was it .008" x 35'?)
ANYWAY...
Let's go back to a simpler time and enjoy the old planes for what they were!
First up... the classic Combat Kitten:
(http://www.vscalecreations.com/planes/CombatKitten_120412a.jpg)
"One of these days", I'm going to build me a Tee Dee powered Combat Kitten... I think the little sucker would be good for 70 MPH on the above mentioned lines... though it shouldn't turn as tight as my other 1/2 A stuff due to having less wing area. Though the Combat Kitten wasn't truly competitive as a 1/2 A combat plane as done during the AMA "Supplemental" years... I have so many good memories of them from when I was a kid that I'll probably keep one hanging around me until I'm too old to fly.
Next up, a pic from back in the mid-80's. I'm on the right, friend Alvin Myer on the left. I'm holding my 1/2 A Nemesis I concocted. Laying stacked on the ground is (right to left) a "Cheap Trick" (original design using a Lil' Snip diamond airfoil), a "Hot Stuff" (original design with my own airfoil), and a 1/2 A "Voodoo" w/diamond foil. I was still doing a lot of experimenting then.
(http://www.vscalecreations.com/planes/049a.jpg)
All of my vintage Tee Dee powered airplanes weighed-in at around 4.5 - 5 oz ready to fly (sans fuel in the bladder).
I was a firm believer at the time of flying "imagination with covering stretched over it"!
Any of you have some pics you can post of your old vintage 1/2 A combat planes? Come on! Post up your pictures of Lil' Satan's, Big Otto's, Lil Snip's... originals... whatever 'ya got from the Tee Dee days and earlier!
Andre
-
I flew a 1/2 A design called a "Little Weimer" back in the early 90's with the T.D.'s. It was probably the most important CL plane I ever had, as it really taught me how to fly in a more advanced way. I am not sure I can track down a pic, I will see.
It had a very high aspect ratio wing, with slide in wings. So this made them replaceable when they got all battered from combat flying. They were pretty big as well. If I remember right the wing was around 36", but the chord was narrow so the area was not too ridiculous. They flew very well, but were sensitive to misalignment and bent up wings. The fuselages would last a long time though, and the wings were easy to replace.
Of course, as soon as the more powerful engines came along, and I got exposed to the Larry Driskall designs, I moved on to basically what I am flying now. Although I would not consider high power 1/2 A until maybe the arrival of the VA mk2. THe Norvell and original VA were only slightly better than the TD. But the modern Fora and Cyclone are a whole new deal. My modern 1/2A feels like a small .36 fast ship.
-
My only Lil Satan I built bout 5-6 years back.
(http://i798.photobucket.com/albums/yy270/CajunPoker1/LafayetteEsca004-1.jpg) (http://s798.photobucket.com/user/CajunPoker1/media/LafayetteEsca004-1.jpg.html)
-
(http://i798.photobucket.com/albums/yy270/CajunPoker1/Picture023.jpg) (http://s798.photobucket.com/user/CajunPoker1/media/Picture023.jpg.html)
-
End result after few laps when the monofilament leadouts ( i know stupid) i used snapped and it looped 8 times then poof. I have a video of this.
Powered by a Cox Killer Bee!!
(http://i798.photobucket.com/albums/yy270/CajunPoker1/Picture008.jpg) (http://s798.photobucket.com/user/CajunPoker1/media/Picture008.jpg.html)
-
https://youtu.be/WqOHWSeZljQ
-
Ouch!
Looks fixable. Shame about the mono-filament snapping. Also sounded like the engine was set too lean?
It shall fly again, me thinks.
-
Yea using that mono for a leadout is no beuno. I have since striped the covering.. need to cut open the sheeted section.. re-do leadout... and recover n fly!
-
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161116/eb670412607caf5108674cac1404b3d3.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161116/8989eb086cf22b17edddeabbb24a55d1.jpg)
Finally cut open the Satan and put legit Lead-out wire from Perfect. Now just gotta finish wrapping the leadout and recover and go fly
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
-
End result after few laps when the monofilament leadouts ( i know stupid) i used snapped and it looped 8 times then poof. I have a video of this.
Powered by a Cox Killer Bee!!
(http://i798.photobucket.com/albums/yy270/CajunPoker1/Picture008.jpg) (http://s798.photobucket.com/user/CajunPoker1/media/Picture008.jpg.html)
The field fix for that has always been to ram an Allen wrench through the plane and rubber-band the engine back on. It can be done during a match.
-
Epoxy handled it good :)
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk