Samantha Walker handle from Randy

[Steve Hines]

Samantha and I talked with Brett at the Nats, about the handle we got from Randy. From what git out of the conversation, is that Samantha fly's with her pointer and pinky fingers. Did a little sanding and add balsa to the top and bottom then wrapped. Now she is able to fly the 62oz SV11 back to back to back flights without waiting 20min between, for color to come back to her fingers. This is nice handle.

[Steve Helmick]

Yup. Having a handle that fits your hand and is comfortable is very important. While I got my CF core almost direct from the source and did the rest myself, I'm very happy with mine. It doesn't fit everybody. Looking at the pictures, you'll see that the balsa grip is "designed" to be asymmetrical and keep the thumb located consistantly. That's why I'm a believer in the handle kit. I gotta sweet-talk Chris & Alan out of a few more CF cores, or maybe get Randy Aero to import some as "kits".  Steve

[Steve Hines]

We added balsa top and bottom so it did not cut in to her had. Made sure the center was just a little concave so she had a little more pressure on the out side fingers. When we got it like she wanted it , I harden the balsa with CA and rapped it. Now I will get two more, will try the thumb thing, will see how she likes it. Thanks for the pictures.

Steve

[Brett Buck]

We added balsa top and bottom so it did not cut in to her had. Made sure the center was just a little concave so she had a little more pressure on the out side fingers.

     As I mentioned at the NATs, the pressure on the fingers is actually critical. Ted discovered that a long time ago, but you can make very small corrections by just squeezing the muscles in your finger.

       Brett

[Motorman]

Are those brass eyelets epoxied in?

[Steve Helmick]

3/32" OD brass tubing filed nearly flush on mine...flush on the imported ones that Randy Aero sells. Thin CA'd. I was wondering if my .055" wire clips would fit, but they do ok. Actually, the micrometer says the wire is .054".  I guess that makes .0085" clearance enough.  

I watched Chris and Alan bustin' out a batch of the handles that were going to Randy the weekend that I got my CF core from them. They used thin CA, so I used thin CA. They used 5-minute epoxy to put the balsa slabs on, but I didn't have some, so I used 30 minute. I didn't get to see that part, so asked. I put 2 coats of Z-poxy finishing epoxy on mine, but I think they put a spritz of dope on and then wrapped with the grip tape. Chris posted some pictures of his, with 1/16" balsa filler to make it fit his hand. I had some concerns about that falling out just before an official, so I revised the balsa parts quite a bit. Steve

[Steve Hines]

Thanks again Brett for the help every year at the Nats. There is so much I don't know about all this, and when Samantha has a problem it hard for me to come up with a solution. It nice to go to the nats for all the help we get there. Just bet everyone wish we show up with things working.

Steve

PS. Thanks to everyone who helped, and for the one that may wish that they have not gave me there phone numbers.