Another Wall To Hit

[Dick Pacini]

Well, I hit a building wall, I mean I haven't resumed building my Coyote.  I ran into a few snags, mostly my fault, and I sort of lost interest.  I have been on this for almost two years.  The fin is done, the stab and flippers are done but not horned or hinged.  The fuselage is finished except for popping the triplers off for hollowing and trimming the tank hole to suit.  The wing has been finished for a long time, but needs finish sanding.  I nicked every rib removing them from the cut sheets, all at the leading edge.  The wood just wanted to split there.  As a result, the radii do not meet the leading edge.  The covering will likely hide it and I have thought about sistering balsa on either side of each rib and sanding to shape but that will be work and weight I don't need.

The Coyote is a nice airplane.  I built one way back when the plans were in Flying Models.  Rugged and easy to fly.  Somehow, I can't get my butt in gear.  I believe when I broke my foot in July of 2012 and was laid up for 4 months, I lost my enthusiasm because I couldn't go downstairs to work on this plane.  I am torqued because I have over a dozen high-end kits and new engines waiting under the bench.  I don't want to start another airplane until this one is ready to fly.  I need a visit from the Balsa Fairy big time!

[john e. holliday]

Broken foot kept you from going down stairs to  work on a plane.  You prissy you.   When the doctors did the meat graft on my legs many years ago, the legs were put in a cast so I couldn't move them.  Really I couldn't move them.  My model plane room was up stairs with a walk on one side of the stair well.  Some how I managed to pull my self up the stairs and sitting on the floor worked on a Nobler I had started.  When I got tired I had to call the wife to help me down as I was afraid the stairs would be like a sliding board.   Had to put rags  around the heel area of the cast as I kept wearing it out.   

But, I can understand loosing the enthusiasm for building or working on planes.  When I had quit smoking(I still tell people I am still quiting), every time I went to the basement  I would reach for the pack of cigarettes that was no longer  there.  Was almost summer time before I could spend any time in the basement to work on planes.   The last cigarette was Thanksgiving eve of 1988 and I still crave one every so often.   

[John Stiles]

If you wad'n so dadgum far away I'd bring you enough balsa to keep you busy for a while. I have a box about 12" square and 4' long slam full with every variety it takes to build  a complete airplane or two. Sorry about the bad luck with bone breakage.....when we get old, we are sorta like balsa.

[Dick Pacini]

John Holliday, my basement stairs are the stairs from Hell and almost straight down.  They are more like a ladder with wide rungs.  I cringe every time I use them.  When you reach the bottom, you are face to face with a cinder-block wall.  Sort of like going down a mineshaft.

John Stiles, I have plenty of wood, kits, engines and supplies.  I just need the Balsa Fairy to poke my ass with her wand a couple of times.   

[Steve Helmick]

The first time I fractured the ligaments in my left ankle, I lived in an upstairs apartment in an old house on Queen Ann Hill in Seattle. There was a glass door at the bottom of the stairs, and I knew I'd probably die if I fell down the stairs. I went down them one step at a time, on my rump. I was starting in at the UW, and had to start skool on crutches, so I had to drag my briefcase, crutches, and brolly with me.

As the swelling went down, it required a new (plaster) cast, so I had to use the crutches for 3 days (I think) for each of 3 casts. Of course, I had a long hike to campus from the bus stop, and had some long hikes across campus from building to building. I had to go to work after class, and then ride the bus home, and couple blocks hobbling home. Nobody ever offered me their seat on the crowded bus. 

Stop snivelling! Get yourself downstairs and fix that airplane!!! I would cut a notch out of each of those buggered ribs and glue in a little rectangular piece. OR, cut out the entire top or bottom section forward of the spar and glue in a "strip rib". Then, when the glue is all dried, sand them to contour and nobody will ever know where the ribs were deficient.  Steve 

[John Stiles]

my basement stairs are the stairs from Hell and almost straight down.  They are more like a ladder with wide rungs.  I cringe every time I use them. 

You need to rig a brass pole like they use at fire dept.s 

[Dick Pacini]

You need to rig a brass pole like they use at fire dept.s 

Maybe I could move our stripper pole.

[John Stiles]

Maybe I could move our stripper pole.

Don't forget to take pictures!

[Dan McEntee]

  If the weather allows, you need to borrow an airplane and go fly it. Any kind of airplane, just something to get you reved up. I have the same problem sometimes with getting started. I got stuck on second shift 17 years ago, and that really messes withyour spare time, and for the last 5 years or so, I had to help care for my Mom until she passed away, and that ate into spare time even more. I'm the type that can't build a little here, a little there, and few minutes or so at a time. I like to be at the work bench for hours and quit when I get to what I call a "good stopping point." If I can't do that, I won't even bother starting. Lucky for me, I have been able to buy some decent models, and ARF models go together quickly and I have kept the attrition rate pretty low for the last 10 years or so. If I couldn't fly anymore, I would lose interest in a hurry, I think. Flying keeps my head in it and keeps me coming back. But I am REALLY craving to build some new airplanes, and earning a living still gets in the way. I'm actively searching for a day shift job closer to home, but until the right situation comes along, I'll stick with what I got and try to make the best of it. If I had not rediscovered vintage dirt bikes, I would have a little more spare time, but they are fun also and restoring and racing them offer a different challenge than model airplanes. I figure while I can still throw a leg over a bike, I'll keep at those also until I get the remaining project bikes finished. A winning lottery ticket would be a great help also!
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Dick Pacini]

I have a Brodak P40 ARF that I have flown a couple of times in the past.  Still trying to get the prop and line length right to avoid getting screwed into the ground.  I gave up flying in 1975.  Of course, In NH, you don't do much in the winter time.

[John Stiles]

If I couldn't build C/L airplanes, I'd be one miserable old coot! X-2 on the winning lottery ticket! 

[Bill Little]

Hi Dick,

I know where you are at.  I have been on hold for almost two years.  I have done minimal work on a model airplane since then.  Worse yet, I haven't flown a model since before then!  I REALLY need to fly some model airplanes to get back going.

Big Bear

[John Sunderland]

 I hit a wall some years ago now. Totally embarrassed by it too. Free rides on compassionate and sympathetic friends airplanes has not compelled me either. Free OPP's and engines et al! It is shameful, and maybe I should just spend more time at the drawing board for lack of time and space to tolerate anymore stink to be considered relaxation. I work with glues, all of the same ones we use for models, and woods from the cheap to exotic variety every day. Same grades of sandpaper until my fiongers get raw and I spend nearly half of my time in a spray booth.... no wonder I cant bring myself to pick up a tool and finish one at home.

[George Hostler]

Dick, you've already pinged the balsa fairy by posting a reply in http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=33939.0, The January Giveaway thread. Regarding loss of synergy, it will come back. Perhaps now's the time to get a few other tasks out of the way.

Hi Dick, I know where you are at.  I have been on hold for almost two years.  I have done minimal work on a model airplane since then.  Worse yet, I haven't flown a model since before then!  I REALLY need to fly some model airplanes to get back going. Big Bear

Until a year ago, I was on hold for 20 years, so I think I've outdone you there, Bill. I retired a year ago, so now I have more time to do build and fly. Guys like Ron Cribbs who came and visited me so we'd fly at the local field, Jim Hayes who invited Ron and me to fly with him in Albuquerque, Doc Holliday who invited me to fly his planes when I was in the area, these all have been an encouragement to continue and finish my builds.

Having a flying friend over to visit helps to restore the building synergy. 

[Guy B Jr]

Talk about being on "hold". I have a Midwest Magician that I stopped building in 1970. The wing is complete, the fuse is complete with mounts and doublers and is sanded to the correct cross section. Just sitting there on the shelf.

[Avaiojet]

I'm flying a Magician I purchased at a yard sale.

My neighbor's son, Julian, "Jules," is just about ready to solo with it. Jules is nine years old and a great kid!

Well, as far as building and completing a model, looks like I'm not that bad off compaired to some. 

At least I try to stay active and get a bit done on each model.

Even though I'm always designing and starting new ones. 

[Herb Calvin]

Dick, I'm not the Balsa Fairy but poke poke

[Dick Pacini]

I will be into the Coyote bones next week.

[john e. holliday]

Don't forget the pictures.