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

Newsletter - June 2005

WRCS Members resplendent in their new uniforms at the Adelaide Races 2005 with Tom Sparke's Laird Turner which won its class
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 28th June 2005 at Tennis Cove, Eastern Valley Way, starting at 7.30 pm.  and the meeting after that is on Tuesday, 12th July 2005

 
FROM THE SECRETARY'S DESK
The most important issue for all members this month is their membership renewal.  Ideally pay your dues at the AGM on Tuesday 28 June at Tennis Cove.  The Committee will be setting up at about 6.30 pm and registration will be completed before the business of the night proceeds.  Hot nibbles and such will be available as in past years.
BUT NOTE, THERE WILL NOT BE ANY RENEWAL AVAILABLE AT ANY HOBBY SHOP. 
The other renewal way is to fill in and SIGN your  Renewal of Membership Form , carefully paste your old key on a piece of cardboard and together with your cheque, made out to WRCS post to :
Peter Barnes, WRCS, 29 Kokoda Ave, Wahroonga,   NSW   2076
 
NOTE PLEASE:
No filled in and signed form   No renewal. 
No key   An extra $50 is required.

You are advised that for the 2005/06 year, you will automatically become a member of  The Cove Sports Club and will be eventually issued with a membership card.  This is a licensing requirement for our continued use of this magnificent facility for our meetings.
At the May monthly meeting, twenty three members enjoyed Garry Welsh’s vast number of stills and videos by Dean Riebolge and Dennis Grech, of the Adelaide Air Races.  Thank you fellas.
Check out the web site for the meeting minutes.
GET TO BE LOOKIN  SOOO GOOD!
Our biggest expenditure this year (about $4,000) was the Club T shirts, in April, in time for the 30 odd supporters and competitors to wear at the  Sensational Adelaide Air Races .  With a minimum order of 100 , WRCS is well in the red and really recommend that members purchase a shirt.  (Most competitors opted for 2 shirts each). 
Why turn up at the field looking like a hobo, a garbo or a refugee from a days gardening? 
There is a very rare few, such as  Ducky,  or  Clarky, (Ron not Peter!) who are always sartorially splendid, and obviously have the class not to soil their garments but I would be killed if I dared to wear anything that couldn’t be oil soaked & left outside with the dog!  I suspect there are others in the same leaky boat.  At least the T shirt gives the Saturday flying a sense of  PLACE ! 
So order yours now from Tom Sparkes/Peter Barnes.  There are all sizes.  Get this item back into the black.
AND PAY UP please, those who have taken shirts from the April meeting and have not returned cash and/or shirts to Peter Barnes.
FEES.
OUR FINANCIAL YEAR is July 1 to June 30.  The audited end of year accounts run from January 1 to December 31.  It is this statement of accounts to December 31 2004, that the Treasurer/Registrar, Peter Barnes, will present to the Annual General Meeting and is sent in to the Dept of Fair Trading for our Incorporation registration.
You have already received the Club’s Invoice (and let it be recorded that Peter should be congratulated for his work in carrying on and developing to a greater depth, the system commenced by the immediate past treasurer, Stan Begg). 
You will note that the Club fees have increased, but next year the incoming Committee ought to consider establishing a sinking fund and a further increase.  Whilst we are non profit, we must be prepared for at least foreseeable future expenditures and some not so foreseeable, but certainly not latent, situations!
PAY RISE FOR SOME COMMITTEE MEMBERS!!!!!
You should attend the AGM if for no other reason than to vote on a motion to DOUBLE the present pay of the REGISTRAR AND SECRETARY.  Being as I will not be at the meeting myself ( I have a wedding to attend) and as the retiring Secretary, I can only commend such a move to at least recognise Peter’s magnificent contribution having come in to the Committee cold, just 12 months ago. 
RAISED WINDSOCK
Thanks to Ron Clark the recently replaced eastern windsock is now about 2.5 metres higher, getting it above the shrub line and into the breeze again. The rule will be IF you hit it you fix it!! 
KEEPIN’ OUT THE RAIN 
One of the first jobs commissioned for this new financial year is repairs, waterproofing and ventilation to the storage sheds which are almost stuffed! Geoff Brown, a student of Kerry Smith, (mode 2) has taken on the task. Geoff has many model building projects afoot and completed. 
ACCESS ROAD 
Meanwhile, Stuart Weir will be touching up the access track with his Bobcat at the top of the concrete hill and along the western end of the field, as he gets time away from his real jobs. 
SOGGY FIELD
The 120 mm in the week commencing 15 May, was the final straw and the water table has finally reached the surface again after several years of drought. On 21 May the day was perfect, but the field was noticeably soggy at the low point about midway between flight line and eastern runway threshold. The creek water was crystal clear and the happy home of the frogs again. 
KOOKABURRA’S COMPLAIN 
The red WRCS pole mounted wind direction, high winged trainer, (generously put together, and up by Mark Connor) was hit by gale force winds a couple of months back and blew off its mount. It only suffered a separation of wing from fuselage. The Kookaburra’s have mounted a laughing campaign to get someone to re-erect it, as they found it to be an excellent hunting platform (remember Minty’s photos?). I promised to ask if someone would volunteer. The 2 parts are in the mower shed.

Finally, thank you to all those members who have helped me do this job and attend to housekeeping matters at the field over the past year.  I hope you will be as supportive to the new Secretary in the event that I am not re-elected.

Brian Porman
WRCS Membership Renewal for 05/06
By now, all of you should have received your personal application form for Membership Renewal. 
Yes, it is a bit more detailed than the renewal letters of previous years, and it may take a bit longer to process, but to fulfil its duty of care to the Club & its Members in areas of rising regulation, security & safety, potential litigation & cost-control, the committee is obliged to expand and tighten club procedures and to update the club data-base. 
Now more than ever to avoid disappointment, it is very important that you take the time to carefully read, digest and fill-in your “Renewal Letter”. You’ll see some tighter rules & penalties about not doing the right thing (eg. not presenting old keys or filled-in forms). Hopefully, this will be a non-event, with every member happy to co-operate fully with a diligent Committee. It would be great if all club members could attend the AGM on Tuesday 28 June to collect their new 05/06 badges and keys. 
However for those who can’t make it, just follow the postal option as per renewal letter. In this case, you may even mail-in your “form, fee & key” before the AGM, and then you’ll get back your new badge & new key a day or two post-AGM. But don’t mail away your old key too soon if there’s a chance you might want to open the field-gate pre-AGM ! 
Happy Landings to all for “05/05”, 
Peter B, 
Hon-Treasurer & Registrar.
PHOTOS FROM ADELAIDE


Left: Part of the pits area. This shows Tom Sparke's "pit" with Col Simpson just behind (possibly the last photo of Col's racing Mustang.
Right: Tom Sparkes and team with the Laird Turner. Congratulations to Tom for winning his class
Left: The Three Muskateers (l-r: Brian Porman; Barry Mason and Grant Furzer ... the pilot) with their T-6 Texan
Right: The Three Muskateers with their "Number 2" T-6 Texan flown by Brian Porman. They are joined in the pic by Peter Sharpe.
Left: Garry Welsh's F4U-4 Corsair prior to its unfortunate "arrival". Garry managed to patch it up but couldn't find a volunteer to hand launch the heavy model, he says this is the best model he has ever built
Right: Stan Begg teamed up with Col Simpson and his T-6 Texan
Left: Tom Sparkes with his "Prize" with his good mate Peter Leaney who was a long time member of WRCS before migrating to Adelaide to live
Right: The WRCS pilots got together for this photo. Don't the new uniforms look great?!?!
CAPTION COMPETITION
Yes, we have all experienced it. 
Col Simpson lost his beloved Mustang in Adelaide, even collecting the pieces was a major exercise as the bits were scattered for many metres.. 
Now, as he picks up the pieces he is heard to mutter:
“ ……………………………………………………. “
As Editor, I will start the ball rolling with:
“As the Mayor of Hiroshima said, what the hell happened??”

As yet we don't have any prizes but one will certainly be found, to be presented at the Christmas Party.
This year's judge will be no other than Col Simpson himself,
All entries must be in by the November meeting, please send entries to Tom Wolf, P.O.Box 591 Vaucluse 2030 or by email (preferred) to editor@wrcs.org.au
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
As previously notified, the Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 28th June 2005 at Tennis Cove, Eastern Valley Way, starting at 7.30 pm.  
Before the meeting you will have the opportunity to renew your Membership and get your new keys from about 6:30 pm, After you complete your renewal, nibbles will be available before the meeting starts 
1.

2.

3.
 

 You must bring along the renewal form sent to you in the mail properly completed and signed, there will be no spare forms available to be completed on the night; 
There will be no renewal through any of the hobby shops, if you don't renew on the night in person you will need to renew by mail;
If for whatever reason you don't bring back your key, you will have to pay an additional $50 to be issued a new key
POSITIONS VACANT
At the upcoming Annual General Meeting all positions on the Committee will become vacant, some of the present Committee members have indicated that they will not seek re-election!!  It is time for each and every Club Member to give serious consideration to joining the Committee in one of the following positions:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Registrar & Treasurer
3 Committee Members
Nominations must be in writing. Forms are available from the Secretary, contact Brian Porman on 9488 9973
SCALE DAY - MAY 2005

 Left: Tom Sparkes with the Laird Turner
 
 

Below: John Channon with Fokker D-VII


 
 

Left: Mark Connors with Bucker Jungman 
 
 
Below: Peter Sharpe with SkyMaster and getting it ready to fly. He had an eventful flight when the back engine stalled and the front engine also went deadstick just on landing. Tom Sparkes was on hand to help Peter with the landing.

Above: David Pound with his Spitfire

Right: Barry Mason with his kit Cessna 182


Below left: Al Zuger with his Edge 540

Left: Peter Barnes with P-51 Mustang, he calls it "Old Faithful"

Below: Ron Clark with his Spitfire

Below right: Dean Shuback with his Extra 300

THE imPRESSive AIR FORCE
Simon Press brought along his "American Collection" to Scale Day


 

All aircraft and artwork were extremely impressive and will doubtless appear as features in future Mags.

FOR ALL EYES!!
What is it about 
WE DO NOT HAVE A GARBAGE SERVICE 
that some Members cannot grasp? 
Tooheys New stubbies, Coke cans, water bottles, busted trainers, oily paper etc. are just some of what someone has to clean up. 
IF YOU BRING IT TO THE FIELD TAKE IT HOME
PLEASE!
Pre-flight Check List 
 from Phil de Tank (aka David Foster)
Recently we've seen several expensive and nicely built aircraft destroyed or badly damaged as a result of ignoring simple pre-flight checks. The following check list should be followed with every model before each flying session.Better to spend a few minutes carrying out these checks than take your pride-and-joy home in a garbage bag. It's preferable to check your model out at home - where there are less distractions - rather than at the field.  Do not fly any aircraft which does not pass all these tests.

Airframe
1. Structure sound, no fractured glue joints, no splits or cracks in wood,  no tears or punctures in covering, correct alignment of wings and tail.
2. No twists or warps in fuselage, wings and tail. 
3. Fuel tank secure, preferably in foam rubber, clunk free to move, no splits or pinholes in fuel tubing.
4. All hinges securely glued in and preferably pinned. Give each control surface a pull test to check.
5. No binding in control surfaces (ailerons, elevators, rudder, throttle arm). Nothing drains a battery quicker than stalled or binding servos.
6. Undercarriage plates securely screwed on. Alignment of undercarriage correct. Nose wheel straight (roll test on pavement).
7. All control surfaces (ailerons, elevators, rudder) centred when radio switched on with controls and trims centred. If not adjust by screwing clevises in or out rather than using trim offset adjustments on transmitter.
8. Balance  with fuel tank empty. 30% of wing chord (constant chord wing, no sweep-back) should be OK. Balance at sides of fuselage with model suspended under wing. Also balance model laterally with model suspended by engine crankshaft at front, base of rudder at rear. Better to be slightly nose heavy than slightly tail heavy - a nose heavy aircraft flies sluggishly, a tail-heavy aircraft flies only once. 

Radio Installation
1. Servos securely mounted (but screws in grommets not too tight), controls (ailerons, elevators, rudder, throttle) move easily - no binding pushrods or cables. 
2. Servo output arms secured with screws.
3. Battery pack and receiver securely mounted and protected in foam rubber.
4. Receiver antenna free of moving control rods, servos and horns.
5. Receiver antenna has strain relief (eg shirt button) where it exits fuselage, rubber band at tail.
6. Control horns firmly mounted and screws tight.
7. All clevises have keepers to ensure they don't come adrift in flight.
8. Servos plugged securely into receiver sockets. 

Engine
1. Glo plug OK (remove from engine and test). 
2. Propeller and spinner secure, propellor balanced and undamaged. Do not use a propellor which is chipped, cracked or split.
3. Engine bolted securely to mount. Mount bolted securely to bulkhead. 
4. Needle valve ratchet  spring tight on needle valve (to prevent needle moving in flight).

Radio
1. Correct model  selected from  transmitter's memory.
2. All control surface travels  correct and  transmitter stick movements give correct control surface movements: 
      * left aileron stick gives left aileron up, right aileron down...right aileron stick gives right aileron up, left aileron down, 
* up elevator stick (i.e. towards bottom of TX) gives up elevator...down elevator stick (i.e. towards top of TX) gives down elevator. 
* left rudder stick gives left rudder...right rudder stick gives right rudder.
* full throttle stick (i.e. towards top of TX) opens throttle barrel fully, down throttle stick with trim up almost closes barrel, with trim down  closes barrel completely without binding servo.
3. All control surface throws correct according to model assembly manual. Preferably adjust via positions of control rods  on servo output arms rather than servo throw adjustments on TX).
4. TX and RX batteries charged. Do not fly with TX battery below 9.6 volts, RX battery below 4.8 volts. 

At the field
1. Range test radio. With TX antenna down, no flutter at 40 metres.
2. Rubber bands new or in perfect condition. Recommended installation - 2 criss cross each side, two fore-and-aft each side - total 8. 
3. Many of the above should be checked before each flight, particularly those visible from external examination, such as condition of wing bands, tightness of wing bolts, etc
 
MOP LARGE MODEL INSPECTIONS
We are pleased to report that David Foster was accredited as an MOP Large Model Inspector by MAS.

CONGRATULATIONS
DAVID
Any Members who wish to avail themselves of this service need to make prior arrangements with David and also obtain the requisite form from the MAS (as David does not presently have a book of forms)
Hello Aerophiles from the UK
I’m back here and in the van again which, much to my surprise since it had been sitting in a farmer’s barn for 5 UK winter months, started at the first turn of the key!  
So far I have done nothing with models, partly due to being busy with other stuff and pertly inertia. But I did pass Popham Airfield the other day and nipped in to see if there was anything interesting happening. Last year I called in and found a Vincent motorcycle rally on and saw more that day than I had in the previous 30 years including this brand new Egli Vincent now built in France for the modest sum of US$50,000! 
There were no bikes but there was a rather pretty looking Tiger Moth but by the time I parked the van and got my camera out it had flown away. Then it rained and a Chipmunk in RAF colours took off and I was about to give up and head off when I spotted a guy opening a hangar door and look what I found! A Cri Cri! The other planes give a feel for the size but it’s when you stand next to it and the spinners are knee-high you really appreciate how small it is! I spoke to the owner, he has fitted 200cc motors that give it a 125 mph top  speed but you have to wear the noise reduction headphones or suffer badly. He said it’s a bit stomach churning doing tight turns as a) it does’em really tight and b) it feels like you are in mid-air not in the plane!

You will notice this gorgeous Staggerwing in the background, what a beautiful design that is. Ah well, back to the van and I must dig out the “electrics” and get them ready for when the temp goes up a bit (it’s been bloody cold recently) and the rain stops. 
Happy flying if you are, 
Mike
 
PLANE FOR BIG BOYS

 

Des Rim has alerted us to a super large model Liberator, photo by Mark Smith.
75 year old Melbourne modeller Tony Farnan has built a 23kg replica of a B-24 Liberator. With a 4.2m wingspan it is believed to be the largest multi engined radio controlled model in Australia.
After a five minute flight at former RAAF Base Laverton it was declared to be a breeze to fly. Seen holding the model are Tony and son Mike.
MEMBERS RECALL THE RED BARON
Thanks to Ron Lucas and Peter Clarke, stories have come in about the exploits of The Red Baron (aka Stuart Leon Harris).
Many members recall the hole that was in the eastern wall of the tranni shed. That the hole was made by a Spitfire model being flown by Stuart, although some of his flying techniques and ignoring of safety issues raised some comment. It was a not too uncommon experience to see a "funeral" of a model flown by Stuart. We again show a pic earlier published in July 2002 of a cermonial disposal.
The late Charles Peake used to tell stories about Stuart, and Alan Place has shared some experiences with him, such as the time when Alan was in Stuart's plane when it ran out of fuel and they had to land in the playing ground of the King's School, Parramatta)but could not take off from there, so the plane had to be stripped down and freighted away at a very considerable expense. 
David Pound tells that about the time of Stuart's demise at the field he was the editor for a few months while Mike Minty went World wondering (how times haven't changed!!), and that he wrote a short obituary in one of the mags shortly after his death around 1987 (but we don't have an archive copy)
David also tells that on the day Stuart died he was flying at the field but left shorty before Stuart collapsed on the field and was  very surprised to subsequently hear Stuart had died. Apparently Mike Medlock tried to resuscitate Stuart but it was hopeless as he was gone, but David remembers that Stuart was flying a Spitfire earlier on that day (and he adds "very well").
I am told that some Members have taken up the invitation and have started corresponding with Stuart's grandson, let's hope we hear some more of those great olden (golden) days.
Stefy Grech flew a flawless flight to attain her Bronze wings under the guiding eye of Club Instructor, Kerry Smith on a perfect Saturday 21 May last. Grant Furzer had put in a bit of time on Stefy (perhaps that could be better worded!) but was cavorting around Canada at the time. In a later flight Stefy repeated the display with a series of dazzling touch and goes and then finished with a perfect landing. All of this missed by hubby who was wrestling with the irrepressible Lauren!

Col Simpson seemed a bit "miffed" when asked if after Adelaide he had any models left to fly  (see the Caption Competition). But the answer is ... No, the reason why Col was not there on Scale Day was because his dearest made some alternate arrangements for the day.

Your Editor got an enquiry why there is not more 9.9 in the Mag? The answer is that rarely does he receive juicy (or any other) gossip. So it is now up to you!!!

 At the May meeting we got to see film of Garry Welsh's unfortunate "arrival" after the impact with the pylon during the Adelaide Races. To limit the damage to being repairable and to be flown shortly is a credit to the builder

There was heard universal comment that from now on all Garry's planes will be blue ... he bought a lot of blue tape to carry out his patching up and has vast quantities of tape left.

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