Twisted Sticks September 2006 Newsletter

A new runway

I feel fortunate knowing that we now have a new North South run way to use.  One of our intrepid members pioneered its use last month.  Seems he was flying with an old nylon prop and it broke apart mid air.  He landed the airplane in the middle of Inman Road!  That’s right you can’t see the new runway from the field as it’s over the embankment but I’ll bet if you want to use it Barry will give you lessons.  Using your airplane of course.  

A new approach pattern

For this approach you will have to talk to Russ about how you are supposed to do it.  He hasn’t quite got it down yet but with your airplane I’m sure he give it a go.  Lookin East toward the tree line there is another  gulley.  This approach is to fly between the cheese slicers at the South side of the field and go down into the gulley as soon as your past the street, pop up the plane bank it and land.  Nothing to it except Russ cut it a little too long and flew into the bank. 

I shouldn’t have to say this but the above has all been tongue in cheek. Fly safe.  Don’t land on the roads, don’t fly in between the cheese slicers (electrical wires) and stay out of the gullies.  In other words don’t fly blind, if you can’t see the airplane you can’t control it. 

Kit Building

We’ve got quite a few new members, some of whom may never have built a kit before.  Here is a build thread for a SIG LT-40 kit.  If you haven’t ever built a kit this thread on RC Universe has a ton of photographs and good techniques are shown.  I know that ARFs are easy but building your own, is in my opinion a basic part of this great hobby.  Building provides me a great sense of satisfaction.  Now half of my planes are ARF’s so don’t get the idea that I feel anything is wrong with owning ARFs.  It’s just if you’ve never tried to build a kit this thread may get you started.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3439708/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm

If you want a web site devoted to building model airplanes here it is.  Model Airfield has most of the answers to any question you could have concerning building.

http://www.airfieldmodels.com/ 

If you are interested in building scale models look at RC Scale Builder.

http://www.rcscalebuilder.com/

Dave Platt videos are the answer if you want to learn how to scratch build an airplane.  Scratch building in this case means making your own plans and then building the airplane.  I use the term plans building if you are building from plans.

www.daveplattmodels.com/

Plans 

Brian Taylor, Dennis Bryant, Jerry Bates

http://www.bhplans.com/scale.htm

 Nick Ziroli

http://www.ziroliplans.com/home_frameset.html

 Vanguard Vancouver (Vance Mosher)

http://www.pacifier.com/~vvancou/

 Free plans

http://plans.rcmodell.hu/

Basic tuning of a 2 stoke engine.

 In the same vein if you don’t know how to tune a 2 stroke engine.  Here is the basic procedure for a 2 needle carb. ie the low speed needle is in the center of the throttle barrel.  Most OS except for the LA series use the two needle carb.  Magnums, GMS, Tower, Thunder Tiger Pro series Super Tigre and K&Bs do too.

 First you must set the high-speed needle valve.  After the engine starts and is warmed up open the throttle to the full open position.  Unscrew the main needle by turning it counter clockwise, if the engine slows, it is on the rich side of the setting, slowly turn the needle in clockwise (turn an 1/8th to a 1/16th of a turn and pause for 5 seconds) until the pitch of the motor is at it’s highest or use a tachometer.  It’s very important turn it back three or four clicks or a minimum of 2 to 300 RPM.  Running it at the maximum RPM will be too lean in the air and will damage the engine.  I usually run mine 400 RPM less than peak.

  If the motor speeds up, it is on the lean side of the setting, continue unscrewing the needle until the engine begins to slow. Now you are on the rich side of the setting, slowly turn the needle in until the desired mixture is achieved as described above.

  Fine tuning the idle mixture (only after the engine has been broken in).  This is the screw in the center of the throttle arm.  You can get it close if it’s completely screwed up by taking apiece of fuel tubing and connecting it to the carb inlet.  Then blow into the tube and listen to the air escape at the throat of the carb.  You want to set the idle screw to the point where you just hear the air starting to escape.  Remember the idle screw affects the carbs performance throughout the lower half of it’s RPM range and anytime you adjust it you’ll need to readjust the high speed screw. 

  Always adjust the idle after having the motor wide open.  This burns off any fuel that could be in the crankcase.  Close the carburetor barrel slowly until the lowest possible speed is reached without the engine stopping.  Go to full throttle after about 10 seconds of idling. If the engine gains speed slowly, the idle mixture is too rich. If the engine stops, the idle mixture is too lean. Turn the idle needle clockwise if mixture is too rich and counterclockwise if too lean.

  The engine will accelerate from idle to full throttle smoothly and instantaneously when properly adjusted. The engine may not idle well at a low setting or accelerate, as quickly until it is has some run time on it.