I opened this can worms, I hope that means I can help address the excellent
questions brought up by Don Stackhouse.
First, thank you Don for your thinking approach to all this. You have
consistently made contributions to this forum based and reason and fact and
I value and appreciate it.
Issue One: Your assumption is unfortunately incorrect. I do indeed use a
lightweight fiberglass cloth over the thinned elevon. I never thought of
just using epoxy as paint, I might try that (if allowed).
Issue Two: You quoted "Dan, Jerry, et. al., if as Dan stated, "The rules
are to create an even and safe field" endquote. I actually do not know if
the rules are WRITTEN anywhere! We always have a generally understood
etiquette and the pilot's meetings before hand establish the ROE. At SmAC
for example, it was known that some wings are 49.5" wide and others are
47.75" wide, but all were allowed to compete in the 48" class. [Oh my God!
So that's how Mike won!!! I want a rematch.]
Doesn't harping on these technical issues for foamie combat seem out of
place?
The reasons behind the rule from Jerry Craft were not a result of being
"nasty" It was, as Jerry told me offline, To simplify the construction and
designs that would be competed. He also mentioned cost, meaning, that he
didn't want exotic planes created to compete with/against, but was trying to
preserve the KISS method of foamie construction currently used. I respect
that and have agreed to abide by his contest rules in order to participate
in them.
However, I note that foam is becoming very innovative anyway. DAW's big ass
3 meter TD plane is one example, another is the 60" warbirds by DAM and
Patton Aircraft. Mike Robinson scratch built a cool looking 60 foam racer
that shows a lot of promise, but it has a carbon spar buried in the fuse.
Come to think of it, so does my Boomerang, does that mean Boomerangs are
illegal?
Issue Three: Why don't others have this rule?
As the President of the most successful combat event ever held recently
stated, "no one at SmAC ever got hit by an elevon." I think this is
probably why this has never been an issue, and should not be an issue. The
weight of a few grams of elevon is not what I remember when struck, it is
the 30 oz of fast moving foam that leaves a lasting impression in my
forehead.
Issue Four: Not attending the events with silly rules. There are precious
few events that are as fun as a SmaC or CSR. I'll do what ever I need to in
order to attend.
It's all about fun, but it sure doesn't feel that way lately.
Nathan Woods
Temple Hill Slope Squadron
Orange, California
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Check out the THSS Website at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~windrider007/index.html
RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and
"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
