My new sparky for VSC

[Andrew Borgogna]

This story goes back 5 years to my first VSC; I watched the ignition guys and thought to myself I can do that.  I flew antique ignition free flight and was fairly good at it.  Anyway the following year I took a plane to VSC with an ignition engine and got a serious reality check.  Don Hutchinson, Joe Gilbert, and Jim Kraft offered non stop help and I did manage to almost get a complete Old Time pattern in.  Well I went home after eating a large slice of humble pie and made a promise I would return but this time I would come prepared.  This past year at VSC I had the good fortune to share a banquet table with my good friends Joe Gilbert and Jim Kraft and I decided the time had come to do it again.  

At home I had almost new Super Cyclone .61 replica engine from F/F days and a new in the box Humongous.  I contacted Jim Kraft and sent him the engine to check out; he did his magic and pronounced it "Very Good".  I started work on the Humongous, this being my third one it went together quick.  I also decided to go new on everything, I had coils and spark modules but I wanted all new.  I contacted Don Hutchinson and he sent me out two new units.  I also contacted Woody Bartelt and order a couple of new coils.  Woody is very well known in the ignition F/F world and I have gotten stuff from him several times before.

Well the project is ready to fly and hopefully soon I will start the trim process.  I will let you know how that the process goes.

Below are some pictures of the plane including the spark control assembly I built, it is located under the fuel tank compartment.  It includes one of Don Hutchinson's new spark modules that shuts down if the points are closed over two seconds saving the batteries; it also includes the on/off switch, charging jack and a connector to the battery pack.  The battery pack consists of three 2200mha NiMa batteries.  

To Jim, Don, and Joe thanks for your help and encouragement over the years and if all goes well I will see you guys next March at the ignition circle.
Andy

[Jim Kraft]

It looks great Andy; The Cyke looks so cool on that plane. Sparkers are just to much fun. Awaiting a flight report.

[john e. holliday]

Looks great and seems you are getting serious.   

[Steve Helmick]

I once flipped the prop on a Super Cyke with a worn main bearing, and the spark advanced enough to get some action. OMG, did that ever hurt! That was about 30 years ago, and it still makes me wince. Careful!!!

Good luck with the Hugemongoose, Andy. It looks good and will show up well in the air at Christopher Columbus Park.    Steve

[Dave Adamisin]

Got smoked by an Anderson 65 on spark once. I've been hit many times. That was the most impressive. It broke the 13x5 OS wood prop on my poor little hand. Loved to run that engine though... Oh and the plane's pretty cool Andy..... The H flies pretty well from what I remember from Tuscon...

[Larry Renger]

I have seen the plane in person an it is realy nice!

[john e. holliday]

Andy has always built nice planes from my point of view.   

[FLOYD CARTER]

All you spark ignition flyers.  I must remind you that the little lever sticking out the side is called "Spark Advance". Likewise, it can "retard" the spark.  Starting should be with the spark in full retarded condition.  This makes starting quite safe, because the retarded spark will not cause a kick back.  And when the engine starts, it runs very slowly.

Floyd

[Dave Adamisin]

All you spark ignition flyers.  I must remind you that the little lever sticking out the side is called "Spark Advance". Likewise, it can "retard" the spark.  Starting should be with the spark in full retarded condition.  This makes starting quite safe, because the retarded spark will not cause a kick back.  And when the engine starts, it runs very slowly.

Floyd

That was my mistake. I was having so much fun  thought I was quick enough to get out of the way...... Uhhh nope.....

[Jim Kraft]

My problem is that if I leave the timer loose enough to be movable on Andersons and Cykes, it will retard itself somewhere in the pattern. Soo, I just set it a few notches down from full advanced and lock it with the tension screw. Maybe I need to put stronger springs in the detent, however this seems to work for me, and I usually don't get bit if I set the prop to start up on compression at about 2:00 o-clock. I don't have that problem on Orwicks and Atwood Champions. They seem to stay where ever you put them.

[Andrew Borgogna]

I will keep your recommendation in mind Jim.  The tension on the advance lever seems good but I will keep an eye on it.  I also added a second ground connection from the advance lever to a front mounting bold.  Joe G. told me a couple of years back that the ratchet can bounce a bit during flight and cause a poor ground connection to the points.  So I should have that covered.

Right now I am getting for a contest this weekend, our club is hosting our annual Bob Palmer contest.  That's why I haven't had time to start trimming the plane out.  I will try to get the starting procedure down at home before taking it to the field.  Per Jim's recommendation the first few flights will just be for laps until I have enough confidence that the engine will give me reliable power.  I also think for the first few flights I will fly over grass, the Super Cyclone is very a special engine to me.
Andy