Warringah Radio Control
Society Incorporated 
(Incorporated under the Association Incorporation Act 1984)

Newsletter - August 2004

David Foster with his Bristol Scout "D",
story inside.
MEETINGSMEETINGSMEETINGSMEETINGSMEETINGS
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 14th September 2004 at Tennis Cove, Eastern Valley Way, starting at 7.30 pm.
 
          FROM THE SECRETARY'S DESK
(General Meeting July 2004)
NOTE; Gloucester Cup delay. Only 2 weeks separated the July meeting from the Annual General Meeting but 16 members showed their interest in the running of the club and were informed that the best laid plans for this year’s second Gloucester Cup have been  thwarted  by the parachuting fraternity.  Messrs Rickard & Clarke are now trying to get accommodation and the airfield for late October.  Check the WEB site for news, and let Peter Clarke know if you want accommodation.
Some members walked to the east, 330 KV powerlines along a much upgraded fire trail.  A Dozer is currently parked at this intersection and for as far as may be seen in a northerly direction the trail has been worked on.  It is presumed that they will also go south along the powerline route before working their way out to the main gate.
The meeting resolved: 
1. that a letter be sent to MAAA to find out the latest recommendation on mobile phones in the pit area. 
2. To purchase a SIM card for use as a bulletin board for event days. 
3. To change the web account to  Veritel . 
4a. To accept in principle a safety fence about 12ft high at the pilot line.  (Along the short length of fencing on the right side of the exit/ingress to the field and about 3 metres in length) 
4b. To investigate a suitable material/construction;  Stan Begg volunteered to bring information back to the meeting. 
4c. To defer any discussion about a permanent fence continuing on the western side of the present fencing to replace the star picket fence (with the red safety plastic to save people injuring themselves on the 2 strand wire) until the replacement of the container storage is finalised 
4d. The gap in the star picket fencing is to allow the mower to be taken onto the field, IT IS NOT TO BE USED FOR FLIGHT ACCESS!!
5. To continue Newsletters to all previous year members for 2 months after end of year.
The problem of the mailing lists was discussed, the new Treasurer will investigate.
The meeting also had the first glimpse of the two prizes for this year’s raffle.  They are the choice of either an ARF Piper Tomahawk (77 inch span) and a PICA Cessna 182 kit (86 inch).  First prize has the first pick.. Stefy Grech is in control and will be pleased to take your $10 for 2 tickets.
The new Treasurer, Peter Barnes and departing Treasurer Stan Begg with the President continued [after the meeting closed at 10 pm] until about midnight to sort out the financial batten change.
RACE DAY 2004
This year's event was postponed from 18th to 25th July due to weather, when it eventually got under way the results were:
STOCK: 1. Colin Simpson [287]; 2. Tom Sparkes [310]; 3. Garry Welsh [368]. Three races with worst discarded. Garry did not finish the third race when he strayed into the path of Colin. His model left columbine coloured bits strewn along the field. Colin had the u/c sheared off and a split prop but still managed a slow glide to the finishing line on his last lap with a cut. Peter Barnes and Grant Furzer also competed in this class.
OPEN: 1. Tom Sparkes [259.2]; 2. Tony Vella [267]; 3. David Pound [294.9]. Only 3.2 points seperated 3 and 4th placed Colin Simpson. Tom Sparkes lost the outer third of his starboard wing to Al Zuger who had little damage to show, Tom landed ok. Chris Hebbard, Stan Begg and Monte Udrzal also competed in this class
SPORT: 1. Tony Vella [266]; 2. David Pound [307.4]; 3. Garry Welsh [324]. Only one point seperated 3 and 4, with 4th place Tom Sparkes paying the penalty for 2 cuts in his last race [the first was his discard] where the penalty was 10% of each pilots’ total time time in seconds. Peter Barnes and Grant Furzer also competed in this class.
Given that the adjusted times in seconds are for 10 laps there is not a great difference between the 3 classes.
Monte Udrzal had a total of 10 cuts, all in the Open class. Peter Barnes was next with 7, all in the Sport Class. Colin Simpson, also on 7, had 3 in the Stock and 4 in the Open. David Pound had one cut in the Open and 5 in the Sport Class.
Both Brian Porman & Al Zuger were in the air for the pre milling start of the first Sport event but failed to effect a start.
FROM THE WORKSHOP
- [by bp]



 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Eight years ago Baz  Mulla  (aka Barry Mason) turned 60.  A joint present was purchased by his family, namely a Top Flite. 81 inch (2025 mm) wingspan, Cessna Skylane.  His mates gave him a 61 Super Tigre for the get up and go.Now there are several amongst us that get a soporific almost sexual satisfaction at just looking at the pictures on the box of a new kit!  Well I did say several, and I will not name them. [Hang on a box just fell off the wardrobe onto thrxx keyboard!].
So Baz took some time to get started but he had the wing roughed out before the year was up.  But then the slowdown started and as many can attest there was what looked like a boat on his work table for 4 or 5 years.  This was actually the upside down planked fuselage. 
He had the cockpit kit and navigation light kit and pilot figure all lined up but managed to convince himself that boats might be the go and got involved with a couple of these as well as a couple of arf’s and an electric or two and an old-timer.
Actually the Cessna was getting to be an old timer! 
Then in June he had some type of spiritual revelation and spent some time at a mates place, (Sam) who is a specialist builder of cars [full size], planes and boats. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Baz proceeded to sand and sand and fill and sand, advised by Sam, who then gave the show a coat of paint.
Baz is now adding all the details and was last seen working on how to string the navigation system and had fibre glassed the inside of the ABS cowl and sprayed u/c and was sanding out preparatory to a final coat.
As the photographs show a big transformation took place in June this year. 
The power is now not going to be the Supre Tiger, instead Baz has mounted a 90 Thunder Tiger four stroke. 
It looks great, and we look forward to the November scale day for an unveiling.
 

LARGE SCALE IN EUROPE
Thanks to Kevin Einstein we have learned of fantastic large scale model builders in Europe.


 

Peter Michel, a German model airplanes builder who builds original-faithful reproductions of the most famous airliners of the world.  In his Ingelheimer workshop he has built Airbuses, DC-10, MD-11, the Concorde and the Boeing 747-400. If you are interested in visiting Peter's WebPage, log onto:

 http://www.michel-concorde.com/index2.html







 
 

Gordon Nichol is a well known large scale modeller in the UK who has completed a massive USAF B-52 project. The 8 engines that were needed were provided by Wren, to see the development of this model you can log onto:

 http://www.wren-turbines.com/news.htm
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

AND A SITE LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME

And thanks to Dennis Grech we have learned of "the mother of all model sites" from nearby NZ:
 http://www.homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/
WRCS CHRISTMAS PARTY

4 pm on SATURDAY 11th December
(dinner served at 6pm, keep your ticket to hand it in!!)

We again are catered for by McGoo’s Spit Roast with lots of yummy food.

Adults $20; 
Children 5-12 $10; 
under 5 FREE

Enquiries and Tickets available from Stefy Grech

Raffle tickets are also available from Stefy, first prize is a pick of:
ARF Piper Tomahawk (77 inch span) or a PICA Cessna 182 kit (86 inch)
Tickets are $5 each.
THE BIG BRISTOL FLIES AGAIN!
by David Foster, photos by Rod Jamieson
The Bristol ‘Scout’ Biplane, designed by F Barnwell, first appeared in 1914. It was a neat single-seater powered by an 80 hp Gnome engine, which gave it the high maximum speed of 97 mph. The wings had fabric-covered wooden main spars and ribs; the fuselage was wooden-framed and fabric-covered. 
The Scout was intended primarily as a reconnaissance aircraft, the early models being unarmed, although some pilots carried a rifle or a pistol. A few machines had a Lewis gun fitted to fire forwards and outwards beyond the airscrew arc, others had a Lewis mounted on the top wing to fire over the airscrew. Some pilots used to drop clusters of steel darts on to the hapless enemy troops in the trenches below. What a terrible way to die!
The Bristol Scout went through several stages of development, and the final version, designated ‘D’ appeared in December 1915.
My model is a quarter scale (2 metres wingspan) Bristol Scout D. It was constructed in 1988 from a Model Aviation News plan. Built of balsa and ply and covered in nylon, it is powered by a Super Tigre 2500 with a home made muffler folded up from brass sheet and silver soldered.  The plug for the fibreglass cowl was an aluminium saucepan. I remember spending a week touring homewares shops before I found one of the right size and shape.
The Scout flew very nicely, with no nasty vices. It was mildly aerobatic, performing loops, Immelmans and rather barrelly rolls with ease. I flew it many times at SRCS Kellyville, the club I belonged to at that time. I even took it down to the Mammoth Scale Rally at Shepparton on about six occasions and one year won the Best World War I award.
 
 
 

Shortly after joining WRCS in 1997, while flying the Scout at Belrose, the engine cut just after takeoff (no doubt set too lean) and there was nothing for it but to crash land in the bush. 
When I retrieved the model I found that one wing was extensively damaged, two of the cabane struts were broken, the firewall pushed back and the undercarriage was bent out proportion. I put the Scout on a rack in my warehouse as a repair project for ‘when I retire’. In the following years nothing was done to the model - I suppose I kept putting it off  because I was a bit daunted by the amount of work, particularly the re-covering and painting required.
A couple of months ago I got to thinking that I'd like to go down to Shepparton for the Rally in mid-September this year, not just a spectator but as a participant. But what to fly? I immediately thought of the Bristol Scout. I got it down to have a look at what was required but concluded it was beyond me, particularly the painting. Me and spray painting just don’t get on. Fortunately my good friend Jim Masterton came to my aid, with his building, covering, painting and soldering skills. In the space of a couple of weeks Jim had the Scout as good as new. Thanks a million, Jim!
First I had to have the model re-certified (it weighs a tad over 7 kg) then we were ready to fly. A week’s delay sorting out a problem necessitating the fitting of new fuel tank. I was a bit apprehensive about flying it again, but I needn’t have been -  the Bristol took to the air with gusto, just like it had done seven years ago. I have flown it several times in the past few weeks  and every flight is sheer pleasure. Both the Scout and I are looking forward to our return visit to Shepparton, plus many more flights at Belrose. Look for it at the Club’s Scale Day on September 26.
HONOURARY MEMBERS
At the AGM the Members of WRCS were delighted to offer Honourary Life Memberships to Alan Place and David Rose after their long-standing relationship with the Club. When notified, they each wrote a letter of thanks to the WRCS Members, with Alan writing:
"My last model flight was in 2002, and it was with reluctance that I decided to retire from the hobby which gave me so much pleasure for 20 odd years. However when one becomes and octogenarian there is not just gratitude for survival but realization that the body is trying to tell you something about giving it a fair go."
And David wrote: "You may be assured that we will take this decision of the members as an indication of their warm feelings towards us both and we intend to be frequent visitors to the field both to enjoy the models and to continue the many friendships we have made over the years".
This is the first time such Membership was offered, sadly in the past many of our long-term Members passed away whilst still financial members and before such honour could be bestowed on them. 
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU GUYS AT THE FIELD EVEN IF YOU CAN'T FLY!
USEFUL TIPS - [bp]
This tip is thanks to the Townsville Aeromodellers Newsletter.  
EPOXY CLEAN UP.
Isopropyl alcohol can be used to thin or  reduce  epoxy glue.  Upon the evaporation of the alcohol, the epoxy will attain nearly all its original strength.  For clean-up, acetone is typically used as a  solvent  which cuts the epoxy and eliminates its gluing action.  Acetone however, is toxic and has a tendency to build up in your system.  Not only is it toxic but it stinks, especially pungent inside the house, if that is where you model.   So get rid of that acetone. In its place try using plain old table vinegar!  According to the TAN it works better than acetone!
Stefy and Dennis Grech have lost the Stuka Room to Lauren. We are all delighted for them.. Here's a bit of luck!! Grant Furzer brought along the first completed production line "Plagiarist" for its maiden, and found that the rudder wasn't working too well. After landing an close inspection found ... you guessed it ... a metric and imperial push rod and clevis being mixed up!! Had it been on any other control the model would certainly have come to a sorry end. 
DISEASE PREVENTION
contributed by a Member
Miss Bea, the church organist, was in her eighties and had never married. She was much admired for her sweetness and kindness to all. The pastor came to call on her one afternoon and she welcomed him into her parlour. She invited him to have a seat while she prepared a tea. As he sat facing her old pump organ, the pastor noticed a cut glass bowl sitting on top of it, filled with water. To his shock and surprise, in the water floated, of all things, a condom! When she returned with tea and cookies, they began to chat. The pastor tried to stifle his curiosity, but soon it got the better of him and he could no longer resist. "Miss Bea," he said, "I wonder if you would tell me about this?" and he pointed at the bowl.
"Oh yes," she replied, isn't it wonderful? I was walking downtown last fall and I found this little package on the ground. The directions said to put it on the organ, keep it wet, and it would prevent disease. And you know ... I didn't have a cold all winter!"
CFI Corner
by George Atkinson
Many of you already know me, and know that I am passionate about certain aspects of our hobby. To be specific, the safe enjoyment and promotion of our hobby. The best way to promote and enjoy flying is to do it safely. I certainly have a better day when everything goes to plan; nothing breaks or worse, crashes.
The very last thing I want to see is any one injured. 
This brings me back to the safe enjoyment and promotion of our hobby.
Many challenges exist that must be overcome before this can happen. One of the most basic that is often overlooked is attitude. 
What Attitude is that?
In the general sense of aviation, the term attitude is used to describe the angle of the nose of the aircraft. However, today I would like to briefly discuss the more basic concept of safety as an attitude. 
In the world of commercial aviation, safety includes behaviour based on attitude. 
Now I can hear many echoes of “there’s nothing wrong with my attitude” or “ I’ve been just fine doing it my way for xx years”. In many cases, that is true, however, times are changing. Bigger planes (and helicopters) with bigger, more powerful engines are available. 
The popularity of ARF’s, and the ever increasing affordability of these higher performance aircraft, requires us all to ensure that we lift our standards to match the performance of our aircraft. 
New pilots will watch what the old (that should read experienced) pilots do and begin to copy it.
What is the standard you set for yourself, that others follow ???
Is it safe? For you? For other pilots? For spectators?
Does everyone enjoy what you are doing?
The answers to the above questions is very dependent on your attitude.
This article is not intended to be the last authority on this subject. It is, however, my intention to raise the level of awareness and stimulate discussion. I welcome all positive discussion on this and other subjects.
Flying Tip
Regardless of the level you fly at now, set yourself small goals to achieve each flight. It could be landing on a particular spot, completing a more scale like take off or landing, a more axial roll, a rounder loop (or two). The examples are endless. Simply attempt to do something better than last time.
 

Congratulations
to the following members attaining the standard required for their respective wings:
Fixed Wing Bronze –  
Fixed Wing Gold –   
Helicopter Bronze - 

 
Helicopter Gold –   

 Mathew Royde
Shane Austin
Harold Hubmann, 
Brad Jan
Ian Kennedy
Jonathon Wongso
A LETTER TO A MOTHER
contributed by a member
A mother enters her daughters' bedroom and sees a letter on the bed. With the worst premonition, she reads it, with trembling hands:
"It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm telling you that I've eloped with my new boyfriend. I found real passion and he is so nice, with all his piercings and tattoos and his big motorcycle. But it's not only that Mum, I'm pregnant and Ahmed said that we will be very happy in his caravan in the woods. He wants to have many more children with me and that's one of my dreams. I've learned that marijuana doesn't hurt anyone and we'll be  growing it for us and his friends, who are providing us with all the cocaine and ecstasy we want. In the meantime, we'll pray for science to find the AIDS cure, for Ahmed to get better, he deserves it. Don't worry Mum, I'm 15 years old now and I know how to take care of myself. Some day I'll visit you so you get to know your grandchildren.
Your daughter,
Judith
PS: Mum, it's not true. I'm at the neighbour' s house. I just wanted to show you that there are worse things in life than the school report card 
OUR POMMIE MATE IN THE UK!!
Greetings from deepest Hampshire in the sunny UK – yes, it has been really sunny! (but in the covering email he says: "Well, it’s not models but it is planes! Greetings from a now very rainy UK. Mike")
The Wayfarer’s Walk is a seventy mile walk through some of the most beautiful parts of Southern England. It starts at Inkpen Beacon near the border of Berkshire and Hampshire and goes to the coast at Emsworth. Keen young things, and I guess some older ones, stride the length with their tent and backpack and enjoy every minute of it – I can think of a lot better ways to spend my time and effort! But, I wanted to see it so I opted for a book by Barry Shurlock titled “Pub Walks along the Wayfarer’s Walk” which contains 20 circular walks, each one along part of the WW, and starting and finishing at a suitable hostelry. I figured all I had to do was drive the van to the pub, persuade the landlord to allow me to park in their car park and get on with it – and it worked! I have done 11 of them so far and in case you are wondering what this has to do with model aircraft the answer is nothing – but I did find some interesting full size ones.
 
I was driving to the next pub and passed through the village of Steventon. On a bend, only a few yards from the road, was a brand new shiny yellow Piper cub!
I screeched to a halt and wandered around it. It was clearly a Cub but a bit strange, it looked a bit like an L4 because of its extra glazing around the cabin, the cowling looked like a Super Cub and it was fitted with metal ailerons and flaps – strange.
 
I went into the adjacent hangar and found two guys working on a couple more. Their English wasn’t too good but they explained there were 16 of them to be done and there was a load more in the hangar behind. I wandered round the back and into the hangar, whew! There were not 16 but certainly a load of dissembled Cubs, all in Israeli markings. So that explained their origin and when I went back to the fitters I managed to understand that they had been bought from the Israeli army where they had been used for training and were anything between 25 – 40 years old. In the UK they are being stripped, inspected by the CAA and, when fixed up, recovered, painted yellow and will be sold on the private market.
So if you want a different look for your next Cub model how about an Israeli trainer? Me, I shall continue travelling until I can get back to flying again.
Mike
KISS ME, I'M IRISH
(IF YOU KNOW A BETTER ONE THEN SUBMIT IT ...)
Paddy and Mick worked together in the factory and were both laid off. At the unemployment office, Paddy was asked his occupation. "Panty stitcher  .. I stitch the elastic in ladies' panties," he replied. Being unskilled labour, Paddy was given 100E a week. Mick replied,  "Diesel fitter", and since this is skilled work he was given 200E a week. When Paddy found out Mick was getting 100E a week more than himself, he was furious. He stormed back into the unemployment office and demanded to know why his mate was getting more moolah. 
The clerk explained that panty stitching is unskilled work, whereas diesel fitting was skilled work. "What damn skill???" yelled Paddy ... "I sew the damned elastic on the panties. Mick puts them over his head and says, 'Yep, diesel fitter'".

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