Unusual hazard for control line .

[keith varley]

At our field there is a tradition to always fly on Jan 1. This morning it was very foggy .The temp was about 1 or 2 degrees below freezing.Dave McCheyne put up the first flight with his electric Saturn.It wasn't in the air more than one or two laps when he found that   the lines where locking up.Soon it was obvious that the leading edges of the wing where also icing up. By flying constantly up and down he managed to keep the lines unstuck ,just enough to prevent crashing and then when the time came , he managed to land it in one piece. Scary thing. He scraped the ice off the lines and got a big snowball .There's always something new to learn in this hobby. Keith

[Fred Underwood]

So there is a down side to no vibration, you have to de-ice 

[Steve Helmick]

So there is a down side to no vibration, you have to de-ice 

Exactly so. With IC, the vibration and castor oil fog completely puts a stop to such nonsense.  Steve

[Jim Kraft]

Fox 35 deicers work well.

[Randy Cuberly]

Sounds like you need to electrify the lines and leading edges also...

Randy Cuberly 

[don Burke]

So there is a down side to no vibration, you have to de-ice 

Just put an out of balance prop on it!

[Randy Ryan]

When its that cold out check the dew point, if its within 7 degrees of the temperature you have icing conditions.

[Chris McMillin]

I remember a few years ago Al Rabe was flying in freezing rain but I don't recall his lines sticking. The model was a mess with all of the ice, though.
Chris...

[john e. holliday]

I have flown cable lines in icing conditions with no problems.   Had ice on the plane when I landed.

[Randy Powell]

I don't have the problem. I don't fly when it's that cold.

[Randy Ryan]

I have flown cable lines in icing conditions with no problems.   Had ice on the plane when I landed.

I would suppose it would matter how long you flew straight & level, it is conceivable the lines could freeze together though it seems unlikely to me.

Good point Randy, I don't either!!!

[Joe Yau]

It was not a good start for the new year for sure.. 20"13"!   unless if you're flying Monolines maybe.   The ice built up on the LE actually made some planes flys better according to one of the flyers there.  But the ice built up on the lines was a big problem.  (see pics below)  The real flying didn't start till around noon time tho.. when the ice started to drop from the trees around the field..  we knew it was good to go.   But strangely no one flew their Electric ship other then Dave..   I had a good flight with my piped Saturn.  There were d-bat combat matches action as well..  Both 2nd & 3rd circle were quite busy till around 3pm.  so it turned out o.k. at the end.  


Dave's Saturn with ice on the LE:



Motor Cowl:



Mike's Twister:




.015" lines.. looks more like 18 gauge wire:

[Brett Buck]

I would suppose it would matter how long you flew straight & level, it is conceivable the lines could freeze together though it seems unlikely to me.

Good point Randy, I don't either!!!

   If it's less than 50 degrees, I can usually find something good on TV! I used to fly in the cold/snow but I never had anything like ice buildup.

   Brett

[Mike Lauerman]

We had a time getting Fox .35s lit in cold weather! This wing icing seems out of reach.

[Tim Wescott]

When this came out I read it in an academic "this won't ever happen to me" sort of way.

Today I went out flying.  We had sub-freezing weather and fog filling the Clackamas river valley in Estacada, where my RC club flies.

I could see the ice collecting on the lines.  It wasn't bad enough to affect performance (at least that I could tell), but it was definitely there.  And after I landed, I had ice on the leading edge of the wing and landing gear, much like your picture.

And as I was flying, the lines thrummed, with this low frequency hum that I've never experienced before with control line flying.

[Ward Van Duzer]

Old Garden State Circle Burners say prime your Fox .35 with RONSONOL (sp?) lighter fluid.

W.

[Andrew Borgogna]

"If it's less than 50 degrees, I can usually find something good on TV!"
Brett I could not have said it better.  I don't even like American Football, but I would rather watch that than fly in weather where ice builds up on the wing.  But then again I'm a "weather wimp" from Southern California.
Andy

[Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach]

Just a thought but if your adding castor oil to the fog, would your plane fly faster cause its flying thru a more slippery environment?  Perhaps you speed guys need to be thinking about this!

[john e. holliday]

Old Garden State Circle Burners say prime your Fox .35 with RONSONOL (sp?) lighter fluid.

W.

The older heads in the Flying Eagles used to tell me the same thing until I caught them refilling he little despenser out of a can of fuel.   Of course back then we had those big ugly squeeze bulbs and the lighter fluid can was easier  to prime with.   

[john e. holliday]

Well don't let my fuel know it is no supposed to run when the temps are in the 20F degrees.

[MarcusCordeiro]

Just saw on the news about the cold temperatures moving towards the southern states that don't usually get that kind of weather...
New York is just freezing!
I guess it's bundle up, it's going to be a cold one!!

Marcus

[Steve Helmick]

I don't often bother with the weather news, but it was supposed to be 31F at the Stunt Ranch in Deer Park, WA. That's not bad, considering what it could/should be. It's about 50F here, so Brett would be ok in a parka. It's sweatshirt weather to us, T-shirt weather to Alaskians (sic) and Canadians. Except for the pesky drizzling, so throw on a windbreaker over the sweatshirt. And don't forget the Fox 'at.  Steve

[Tim Wescott]

You put on rain gear when it's just drizzling?  Jeeze.

[Steve Helmick]

You put on rain gear when it's just drizzling?  Jeeze.

Heavens no! The Fox 'at is the important thing to remember. Everybody needs a shower once in awhile.    Steve