Re: [RCSE] Not a hi-start story but.....
OK, I'll chime in as well. I started this aero modeling hobby with model rockets in the 80s. In 1994 I got bitten by the RC bug with the intention of flying RC rocket gliders. I had built, flown, crashed, rebuilt, etc. a Spirit of 76 and a Skeeter. So I was finally ready to actually boost some RCRGs. My first RCRGs was a scratch built from a set of plans. Model was about 40 inches in span, wooden pod and carbon aero shaft boom, built up fully sheeted wing. Spent about a month on it. Powered by a D12. First flight. I wave to the guy with the launch controller to indicate I am ready to boost. He gives the count down. Motor ignites, gets about 2 feet off the launch rod (this was before I had a lunching tower for these things), and the motor explodes into a huge fireball (known as a "CATO" in the rocket world. Rare, but occasionally happens). Bits and pieces EVERYWHERE. Servos blown to bits, the whole works. As it turns out, a buddy of mine got this captured on film. There is this awesome "Death Star explosion" type photo of bits of burning propellant, bits of the balsa pod, bits of wing, and bits of RC gear in mid air. Worst of all, the photo was published! It was sent to the NAR's (rocket version of AMA) magazine and was included in a section similar to the part in MA where people send in pictures of their newly built creations on display. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format
[RCSE] Not a hi-start story but.....
Thanks for the hi-start stories. I've had my share of inverted drag races down the field so reading these doesn't make one feel quite so ridiculous. Not really in the hi-start category but perhaps the most egregious modeling mistake was made when first starting out in soaring (~ 1971). I had just flown away my first real TD ship (a Boucher Bros design - rolled plywood fuselage, dihedral std clas R/E. Forgot the name of it but it was last seen thermaling towards the Angeles Forest north of SBdo. If anyone ever finds it there's an old Kraft brick in it. I miss the plane, don't miss The Brick). The next plane was a challenge - a semi-kit Diamant. Basically you got a glass fusleage and a set of wing plans and that was it. In grad school at Riverside in married student housing (little WWII shacks left over from March AFB) the little back room was my office, shop, etc. So the Diamant wing started to go together back there from sticks and sweat over a period of about a month. Everything was carved from balsa and spruce and it was all from scratch. Finally the day came when the wings structure was done. The pins were pulled, the wings were popped loose from the wax paper and plans, and I held in my hands one of the most beautiful geodesic creations I've ever done. Each wing half was about 55 inches in span. The room was so tight you could barely turn around with them. I called to Adele to come and see this beautiful work of art created by my own clumsy hands. She was busy out in the kitchen and told me to bring them out there. So I turned around, mindful of the space needed to clear the walls - and promptly walked through the 30" door frame - rendering the Diamant to a bit under a 2M class wing. - Dave R PS - It was subsequently repaired and flew beautfully for many years. Still have the fuse. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format
