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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Dave_Trible on March 31, 2013, 04:29:48 PM

Title: Missed opportunity!
Post by: Dave_Trible on March 31, 2013, 04:29:48 PM
Today was my first chance to get out for a few test flights this year.  I also let a great chance go by.  For two years now I've told myself I was going to build a small simple training plane to carry in the car at all times.  I've just put it off to do 'my stuff'.  After my first touchdown of the season a dad and two sons walked up-all full of interest and really turned on by what they saw.  The 11 year old has a birthday soon and I think he knows what he wants for a present.  If I'd only had that dang trainer!  All I could do was give the dad my number,  told him to go to Brodak web site and suggested the Jr. Ringmaster and Brodak .15 for the lad.  Hope that's not the last I see of them....I got home and swept the current project off my work table.  That trainer gets built before I do anything else!

Dave
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: Howard Rush on March 31, 2013, 05:12:01 PM
Look up the Minors and get an old F2D airplane from them.  If you put a fuselage on that you're in business. 
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: Jim Kraft on March 31, 2013, 05:21:19 PM
I hear you Dave. I have an old Ringmaster with a McCoy 35 Red Head on it for training. I have used it to teach my grandkids to fly on, and last year we had the Boy Scouts spend the day at the R/C field to learn about flying models. I think I got through all of them on the handle before I decided to have cardiac arrest. So the Scouts got a little more than they bargained for when one of the dads (who is a doctor), kept me going until the ambulance got there to hit me with the defibrillator to get my heart started again. I do not carry the Ring all the time because our C/L, R/C field is pretty remote, and we don't get to many spectators.

It is almost strange how some kids will be drawn to it just like we were when we were kids, and then others will hardly notice. It is very gratifying when you catch one that really wants to give control line a try, and the smile on there face when they solo. I hope your guys come back.
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: Dave_Trible on March 31, 2013, 06:11:31 PM
Look up the Minors and get an old F2D airplane from them.  If you put a fuselage on that you're in business. 
Howard that sounds like a good thought.  In my case I'm just rummaging through my scrap box for some of the stuff I rejected for higher projects.  Converted combat stuff with 'casual' engines would work great though.

Jim I had a Ringmaster-like trainer for a while all done up in K.C. Chiefs motif. Taught quite a few on it but discovered at a bad moment I had used lite ply for a crank mount.  Tore out the whole center section when son-in-law #2 plowed her in.  Wish I had drawn plans for that. 

Dave
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: James Mills on March 31, 2013, 07:42:45 PM
Dave,
Sent you a PM.
James
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: john e. holliday on April 01, 2013, 05:54:04 AM
Dave, I have a Flite Streak Trainer wing in the shop that needs a fuse and tail section.   I keep thinking of the old Guillows set up and then lay it aside.
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: John Stiles on April 01, 2013, 06:45:14 AM
Hey Dave, get you a few of those "business" type cards printed up with your name and cell# with a picture of your favorite C/L plane; and next time you can almost be certain you'll hear from folks like those again. H^^
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: Dave_Trible on April 01, 2013, 06:57:11 AM
Dave, I have a Flite Streak Trainer wing in the shop that needs a fuse and tail section.   I keep thinking of the old Guillows set up and then lay it aside.
That would work good John.  Sounds like you are like me (until now)- getting up the gumption to just do it.  Jim Lee always has their club Guillows trainer with him (since ? 1912?) and he's a good example.  The airplane itself is just a simple tool and isn't really important or the issue-we all can cobble up something that is reasonably flyable.  It's just getting off the dead spot to do it.
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: Dave_Trible on April 01, 2013, 07:06:58 AM
Hey Dave, get you a few of those "business" type cards printed up with your name and cell# with a picture of your favorite C/L plane; and next time you can almost be certain you'll hear from folks like those again. H^^
John, a very good idea.  An issue we have now is that we used to be able to point folks to a local hobby shop to get stuff and more help.  Now we have to hand them a Rolodex of web sites and be willing to lead them along all the way for the lack of other places for them to turn.  I do think we just have to. 

Dave
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: Jim Thomerson on April 01, 2013, 07:09:22 AM
I always take a trainer to the field.  A while back, I could see this guy and kid getting into their car and leaving the field as I was driving up.  Missed that one.
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: Dave_Trible on April 07, 2013, 07:31:47 PM
Just wanted to show I really am building that trainer.  Won't be long now.  Will use a Mac .19.   It's been a fun build so far.

Dave
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: john e. holliday on April 08, 2013, 05:49:24 AM
Hey Dave did you forget the "3 for 1"  profile you did years ago for the Sky Devils?    Yes I know it was plain looking, but it was a great flying little plane.   Need to dig out plans and build another one. 
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: Dave_Trible on April 08, 2013, 06:19:00 AM
Hey Dave did you forget the "3 for 1"  profile you did years ago for the Sky Devils?    Yes I know it was plain looking, but it was a great flying little plane.   Need to dig out plans and build another one. 
John I did think of that.  I know I'll build more of those for the grand kids stunt training.  Those are longer span, 42" vs 34" here so would fit in the trunk better.  Also this construction is a bunch more robust-yes heavy-to  take learners abuse better.  With luck this one should last as long as I need it to.

Dave
Title: Re: Missed opportunity!
Post by: Garf on April 08, 2013, 07:52:12 AM
John, a very good idea.  An issue we have now is that we used to be able to point folks to a local hobby shop to get stuff and more help.  Now we have to hand them a Rolodex of web sites and be willing to lead them along all the way for the lack of other places for them to turn.  I do think we just have to. 

Dave
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