CEF speed contest Design Discussions

Thanks for the revisions Jim. That DOES change a few things on Conquest, but only very slightly!

I hope I don't sound like I'm stirring thing up, that is far from my intent, but are spinners allowed or only the prop nut type? And I'm assuming the plastic spinners that push on over a prop nut are okay either way.

Thanks for your patience!

Mike,
Spinners of any type are acceptable.

Jim

Thanks...

This is an excellent competition but why not split it into two categories to encourage more participants.

The entries for the scale profile were (are) superb and the builds - well some of them look more than time consuming but labours of love.

Why not have a simpler category for building that doesn't have to be profile scale but still use reed engines. A quicker and simpler build with less restrictions, cheeky cowls to hide a grotty engine ....... (and less to worry about when converting to matchsticks!)

ian1954 wrote:This is an excellent competition but why not split it into two categories to encourage more participants.

The entries for the scale profile were (are) superb and the builds - well some of them look more than time consuming but labours of love.

Why not have a simpler category for building that doesn't have to be profile scale but still use reed engines. A quicker and simpler build with less restrictions, cheeky cowls to hide a grotty engine ....... (and less to worry about when converting to matchsticks!)

I think that would pretty much be a Mouse racer, wouldn't it? I'm not completely up to speed on the mouse racing rules. (Sorry, bad pun.)

The scale aspect is one of the things that makes this so much fun, I think.

Finding a real airplane that has the right characteristics for a control line speed plane (Whatever the individual builder thinks those might be) is a big part of the challenge. And of course designing and building something that retains the outline of the chosen airplane, but is optimized to fit the rules and perform the task at hand, really encourages creativity on the part of the builder.

In my opinion, if we were to add another 'class' to this contest it would allow full fuselages and enclosed controls. No other changes, period.

Just my $.02, and maybe not worth that much!  

Mike

Mike,
Exactly what I had in mind when I came up with the contest. If I add a class next year it will probably involve enclosed controls and Tee Dee engines.

Jim

JPvelo wrote:Mike,
Exactly what I had in mind when I came up with the contest. If I add a class next year it will probably involve enclosed controls and Tee Dee engines.

Jim

Yeah man! Now we are talking my language!

JPvelo wrote:Mike,
Exactly what I had in mind when I came up with the contest. If I add a class next year it will probably involve enclosed controls and Tee Dee engines.

Jim

I agree with Cribbs, that would be a great addtion Jim! Sign me up!

When I was a kid, the local library had several modeling books by Walt Musciano. He had several plans in each book, each designed for a specific purpose or event. One plan was a P-63 racer for the "scale speed" event (Seems to me it had a 15 inch wing span and a Fox .59!). I never knew if scale speed was an official event or not, but it sure appealed to me, even as a kid, for the reasons I posted above.

Now, having an 'official' scale speed contest using Cox reedies is particularly nostalgic for me since those were the engines that were most available to us when I was ten! Most of the guys back then were more interested in getting their Jumping Bean to do a loop than speed, but I did try to get something like this going among my friends back then.

Of course that was forty years ago, and I don't have to mow the lawn to earn enough money to buy a piece of balsa wood anymore. But then again, I still have to mow the lawn and now no one pays me...   

Thanks Jim, this is fun...

Mike

Well, I actually have been working on this thing and here is some evidence!

Here is the basic 'kit'. The fin is glued and sealed and the aft end of the fuse is sanded. 3/16" balsa wing, 3/32 basswood stab.


The profile looks close enough...



The cylinder will be outboard of course. Cowling and fairings will enclose the tank.


This thing looks really small when its all put together!


The wing will have the airfoil sanded in after the cowl is built.


And finally; flying over the debris field...


More pics as progress warrants...

Mike

Got the motor mounted and a start on the cowl. Beginning to look like a Bearcat. Well, a flat one anyway...








The engine side of the cowl will be removable for access to the engine and tank. The cheek blocks will go back to about half way on the canopy, I think I'll have room to enclose the tank.

Mike

Another build that is coming along and a treat to be able to see.

Is the engine "built in" now? When the plane is finished, will you be able to remove it?

I ask because one of my creations is going to be an "awkward" engine fit (there is a story being this involving me "running in an engine" and applying another one of my examples of "Do as I say and not as I do!" - there will be a posting!) - I am going to find it difficult to mount this engine and for it to be removable but then that will lead me to difficulties in the build with simple things like fuel proofing and finishing. Can't get the order right in my head!

Nevertheless, the front end is looking neat.

ian1954 wrote:Another build that is coming along and a treat to be able to see.

Is the engine "built in" now? When the plane is finished, will you be able to remove it?

Thanks Ian... Yeah the motor is removable. If you look at the hole in the cowl behind the spinner you'll notice that it is kind of square. That makes room for a long allen wrench to reach down to the motor mount screws. Once those are undone you can slide the motor forward a bit and rotate it sideways and out. I got plenty of practice doing just that while I was finishing the inside of the cowl!

ian1954 wrote:I ask because one of my creations is going to be an "awkward" engine fit (there is a story being this involving me "running in an engine" and applying another one of my examples of "Do as I say and not as I do!" - there will be a posting!) - I am going to find it difficult to mount this engine and for it to be removable but then that will lead me to difficulties in the build with simple things like fuel proofing and finishing. Can't get the order right in my head!

I'm having the same problem with another design I'm working on. It has a pretty small nose and I'm trying to figure out how to get it all cowled in and still be able to get to the motor. It might have to wait and see if Jim decides to go with a Tee Dee class. It would be easier to fit than a reedy!

I "built in" a Golden Bee one time when I was a kid and discovered the problems with that. I'll post if I come up with any brilliant ideas! (I wouldn't advise the holding of breath...)

Thanks!

Mike



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