Random musing from a bored Phred

fredvon4 Tue Aug 09, 2016 4:19 pm

I have an internet buddy I have not yet met...who is building me a plane. I not going to name him as he does NOT have the time to do this for many folks

That said..I have become very good e-mail, phone, and forum friend with this younger guy... a lot like many of my CEF acquaintances

Some of you know I got hot for Combat and spent a ton and asked a mizzillion questions trying to get back to competition then the MC accident killed all those dreams

My buddy was a serious RC guy of most disciplines and Helicopters; doing that insane 3D chit with them--- but some one got him interested in Control Line...as normal, he scoffed and was incredulous that a airplane on a string could possibly be any fun or challenge

They had him try it..yep..FIGURE 9..Then another...Then with hand holding some what controlled flight and by the end of the day solo...lazy 8s and some mild stunts...HOOKED!!!!

Lots of folks think CL is simple and too easy...not so..

You MUST build well...you Should try to build light...you must bench trim... you must have a well running power system......you must learn to trim and control the plane...you must be healthy, in shape and desire to BEAT this screaming tethered toy in to total submission... and when all is done---- YOU must be able to laugh your butt off at that Figure 9 vertical arrival...it is a part of the experience

Like me, my friend is a CL flier of one in his metropolitan area.... and must travel goodly distances to play airplane with other old kids

After awhile he got real good at building, flying CL stunt, speed, racing and other just goofy playing like Bi-Slob crap on wires...he also is a 4 stroke nut but has learned his way around our 2 stroke single speed engines

Recently (well not really) he was and is interested in combat... in conversation he recounted the exact same problem I encountered,,,the cost of entry is high and the sources are far and wide with no one stop shop or any real compendium of current information

I decided my previous efforts were worth paying forward -----and I am trying to set him up with my 1/2a fast and Big block fast stuff and hopefully getting him hooked up with the right mix of F2D .15 engines and planes

He and I will meet first time early Sept in Lubbock Texas, where I will introduce him to Riley Wooten and about a dozen world class combat modelers..Rudner, Stubbifield, Hurey, Mears, and some several others escaping my old brain right now

I think we both have plans for the Tulsa Glue Dobber Nostalgia Combat in early Oct. I am sure I can get him up to one of the next two Bladder grabbers near Seattle... will be fun to see if my buddy can use his younger reflexes and eye sight to compete well with these grizzly old (do it in their sleep) aging combat fanatics

My buddy is a member here and I will let him decide if he wants to out himself...but the truth is t does not matter...here on CEF there are many of us who pay it forward and that aspect makes this site great

Cox .049s ARE the very beginning for a great many of us...no so in MY particular case...it was my dad's 1958 ignition McCoy 29 or 35 I forget... but MY first engine was a Cox Baby Bee....and I STILL have the right index finger scar!!!

Kim Tue Aug 09, 2016 9:42 pm

Yep...what it's all about !!!

Ken Cook Wed Aug 10, 2016 3:55 am

Fred, I find it pretty funny when you mention you found it hard to enter into combat due to high cost. That statement is entirely misleading to those interested. If money is this gentleman's concern, why would he want to enter F2D? One can enter speed limit combat and have a plane with all the accessories ready to go for $130 a plane, engine and lines. Speed limit while a non official event at the NATS is flown all over the US and Canada. Fast combat is only flown in two places in the US and really is only special to those that fly it. You also don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on a Nelson to fly that event either. 1/2 A is no different, I have competitively flown against many with ball bearing Cyclons, Profi's etc and won using Norvel's. I have done the same using TD's. That was probably the worst engine choice I could've used but it was what I had at the time. Speed limit combat is the least inexpensive to enter. If one has never even flown the event, this is where you start. ANY engine can be used assuming it can fly within the parameters of the timed speed allowed. Buying items such as props that are readily available is key, many want the state of the art Ukranian items which is essentially a waste of money because it will get ruined, it's hard to replace, and it costs a lot. If one stuffs a ball bearing engine and you fire it back up, throw it away because you just trashed it. This is what makes speed limit enjoyable due to the use of plain bearing engines. Stuff it in, flush with fuel , change the prop and your back in the air in 1 minute. I have never successfully put a ball bearing engine back in the air without ruining the bearings after a ground strike.

fredvon4 Wed Aug 10, 2016 8:59 am

All great points Ken and we have had that discussion... however there is no combat fast or slow in his local area out 150+ miles.

AND I should have made it more clear that we are trying to get him set up to fly his first combat event at the James Mears Memorial...F2D and getting all the stuff in a short time frame with no local beg, barrow, by options

For now he has been self practicing with Phil Cartier Hackers and Gottcha streaks

He is very interested in learning and the next event to attend is F2D in Lubbock with many of the worlds top pilots.
Most of his supplies and kit will come from Yaro and some borrowed /loaned equipment

To play slow combat you are correct, it can be done inexpensively.... but then only if there is any slow combat to go to

To fly combat in 1/2a fast, Big Block fast or current F2D up near Seattle, down to Lubbock, or over to So Cal and be competitive...requires several planes, practice time, props, fuel, bladders, good lines, and good engines...and of course a lot of air time alone and WITH an opponent

A guy who has done that over many years has slowly acquired the needed bits and enough spares and back up stuff to play all weekend if not early eliminated... To travel 1200 miles with one of each bit of kit is not really a good plan... yes it is done and many have a blast just going....Others would like to be ready to be competitive and win

All the events he and I have ever been to and observed, all the pilots had 5 or more planes with dedicated engines in each class of combat they enter...My buddy will not have that amount of equipment until he gets his feet wet and figures if or if not he can be competitive enough for the expensive travel and shipping to go play where the play is happening

fredvon4 Wed Aug 10, 2016 1:50 pm

I do want a lot more of you to try combat as well as ANY other form or model plane flying...very selfish reasons

You want to do RC..easy... and can be very expensive to exceedingly cheap

You want to do competition RC or CL pylon/speed/racing... not so bad...but to beat any current champs...expect it to be costly in time and money

You desire to be good at RC pattern or CL stunt... good and well trimmed equipment and PRACTICE...can still be done competently on a small budget.... for CL a hand me down Ring Master and well worn Fox engine can still command 420 to 520 point flights and bring home hardware for the mantel...IF you can fly a decent stunt pattern with the near zero cost airplane

You love airplanes and want actual SCALE models.....way cool, I too love the effort...no big bank required, BUT you must have dedication and TIME to make EVERY rivet the EXACT same distance away, and have very good creativity and finishing skills...there are some so well done scale models out there that except for the controls, you would have a hard time telling they are a model

Perhaps you want the Adrenalin rush of 120+MPH combat...bring your banker

You want to just explore and have fun with Slow combat...too easy... speed limit is, or can be, inexpensive.

Nostalgia combat can be, and generally is, a BUNCH of non competitive fun

BUT if you think about combat at the Nats, or getting selected for the World USA teams..well.... the time, equipment, travel, and effort will be a bit pricey

All that said...having fun with ANY RC or CL aero modeling discipline is as cheap or as expensive as YOU desire based on YOUR goals

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Random musing from a bored Phred

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Re-reading my reply to Ken's post

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