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Indoor Flying
Shropshire Indoor Newsletter
November 2008
Next Meeting will be on Sun 16th November, followed by 21st December. As I write this there has been another very heavy rain storm but hopefully there will not be a problem with the drainage around the hangar. If there are monsoons this week & you think there may be local flooding in the Shawbury area, I will have contacted the Physical Education staff on Friday and you can ring me to check. Alternatively, you can ring RAF Shawbury on ------------ and ask for the guardroom, they should know if the hangar is shut. I plan to arrive at Shawbury on Sunday at 1200hrs
Goodies
The remainder of the foam sheets will be in the hangar this Sunday and there will be further items for the bring & buy table.
Competition
Remember to bring your winning version of the Cessna 180 to the meeting, I'm not sure how Geoff wants to score the event but competition flights may be made, both this weekend, and during the December meeting.
Safety
Members may wish to discuss the problems becoming apparent with the increase in indoor flying We now have almost unlimited frequencies available on 2.4 GHz, high powered motors and high capacity batteries for 3D and helicopter flyers, dozens of cheap 27mhz and infra red foamies, all of which have provided reliable flying for all. But, the space is not getting larger to allow for this expansion. Last meeting we had some clashes between followers of different persuasions, mainly due to the increasing airspace demands created by increasing model performance. We need to be aware that what worked in previous meetings may need to changes and for safety some limitations on where & what you can fly may have to be agreed. It is becoming apparent that having pilots dotted around the hangar flying differing types of model, which did work in the past, is now reaching the limit. I would be pleased to hear suggestions as to how we can accommodate all interests in the most acceptable manner.
2009
As yet no proposals have been finalised for next year. Two members have said they can help, for a limited time only, due to other commitments, so we will have a discussion during this Sunday meeting to see what is possible.
As a minimum, there needs to be a secretary and a treasurer in place before next year, ideally taking over this month. There also needs to be agreement as to providing a reliable key collecting system to ensure access to the hangar
For my part, I have been told that I will be unable to drive for at least 6 months as I have to have both hip joints replaced, (they will not do both at the same time due to the risk of falling on your face). At the last appointment I was told the NHS will be starting on me in January.
Hope to see you all next Sunday. Gerry Y.
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Shropshire Indoor Newsletter
October 2008
Next Meeting will be on Sun 19th October, followed by 16th November and 21st December. As usual I will try to open up just after 1200 so that everything is ready for the session which notionally starts at 1300. If you are arriving earlier than that, bring sandwiches & a book!
2.4GHz
I understand from my local model shop, which is admittedly small & in the depths of the hinterland, that quite a few of the 2.4 GHz sets returned are actually serviceable but had lost “binding” due to being switched on & off without observing a minimum “on” time of at least 10 seconds. Obviously something to watch with all these new sets arriving. For those who remember the Order of the Irremovable Digit, it's the old finger trouble again. Bring back the basic box, I say!
Goodies
As there will be no further supplies of foam after the December meeting, I will have all the stock with me this coming weekend.
I also should have some small Lipo cells, 70ma.130ma&145ma, some are “Fullriver” 20C discharge capable, useful for indoor FF.
Competition
Just to recap, Geoff has set the following rules:
Build exactly as per plan
You can substitute any wood& you can substitute the prop with any 6 inch plastic.
Noseblock can be removable for stretch winding.
Any rubber you like.
Any tissue can be used, use banana oil (non shrinking dope)
He adds the following:
There are at least 6 different props available.
Suggest hook to peg plus around ¼ for 1/8th tan, lube the rubber.
Geoff has suggested that competition flights will also be timed at the December meeting, as some potential winners have indicated that they cannot make the November date.
Ideas Department
For those who have access to the www. bit two interesting sites for indoor modellers are www.hippocketaeronautics.com and www.aerofred.com The first is mainly concerned with peanut scale. The second specialises in micro R/C and has free plans and video downloads.
Since the closure of Indoor Flyer, I find the best supplier is Micron Radio Control. The carry a wide range of bits & pieces and are very helpful over the phone.
Future Plans
I am off to the Orthopaedic Hospital in Owestry on the 22nd of this month. At that point I should know when my replacement u/c will be fitted. Bearing in mind the timescale rules now applying to hospital procedures it is obvious that I will be out of circulation from the end of the year. I should be able to cover the November meeting and hopefully the December one as well but I will pass that information as soon as I have it. I am not able to take any part in the club after that as I will be off the road & restricted for some time. Currently as there are no applicants for the administration of the club, there are no plans to continue at the Shawbury venue after the December meeting. The BMFA affiliation is not due until December/January, but if the club is to continue at Shawbury as opposed to any other venue, then it will be time, next month, to start the procedure to negotiate a further 12 month licence from the Defence Lands Agent.
As I wrote a couple of months ago, there should be at least a secretary, a treasurer and on or two regular attendees who can take on the job of collecting the keys and doing the open up/close down bit. The Physical education Flight will provide External User Passes to those who volunteer to be “key” members. That requires the volunteer to pay a very short visit to the Flight on a Tuesday or Thursday, normally about 12 o'clock when these passes are issued. Once the pass is given then it lasts indefinitely. There is no need to renew until the powers that be decide to change the layout, this does happen at times just to maintain security, but it's no problem.
The secretary obviously deals with the bookings, the liaison with RAF Shawbury the Defence Lands Agent in Shrewsbury and with the BMFA for affiliation & memberships, etc. All can be done by letter or e-mail, or even old fashioned telephone! The treasurer takes the subscriptions, the casual visitors fees and holds these in a building society account (currently Halifax, but can be anywhere, except Iceland!) All that is needed in payments is the monthly bill from the DLA for the hire of the hangar.
Tailpiece What? Where?
Hope to see you all next Sunday.
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Shropshire Indoor Newsletter
September 2008
Next Meeting will be on Sun 21st September, followed by 19th October, 16th November and 21st December. As usual I will try to open up just after 1200 so that everything is ready for the session which notionally starts at 1300. If you are arriving earlier than that, bring sandwiches & a book!
Safety.
Following my expression of concern in last month's newsletter, it would appear that not many people share my concerns. I spoke to the development officer at the BMFA head office, he says the organisation is aware of the problems, & is planning to talk to the major importers. This will help but there are still the unknown companies supplying some retail outlets.
The general opinion among our members is that as the models concerned are so light there is little problem and there is no need to apply any extra control on their use. I am happy with that especially as the discussion has made people aware of the potential for interference. Perhaps, if anybody has a scanner that will cover the 27 mc band, and is happy to bring it to the meeting, we can see what frequency these models are on, if nothing else, for interest alone!.
2.4GHz
As users will know a small number of early 6EX 2.4 GHz transmitters had been incorrectly coded. Ripmax have decided to remove all early transmitters from use & replace them with updated units. Details of the exchange, via model shops can be found on www.ripmax.com For those without e-mail, please write to 6EX Exchange Programme, 241 Green Street, Enfield, Middlesex EN3 7SJ, giving full name & address, phone number, Ripmax serial number/s of your set/s and details of the model shop you would like to collect your replacement transmitters from.
There was a minor flood at the hangar last week, during the “summer rains”. The water flooded in through the doors and caused some problems. All is now well, I am assured, but I will be telephoning our contact at the end of the week to check that there is no planned shut down for the weekend, If there is heavy rain later this week and the RAF decide the Hangar is not to be used I will know on Friday & I will e-mail all those on the club list. For those who get the newsletter by regular mail, if it looks like there may be concern, because there has been more heavy rain, then I would suggest you ring me on Friday, preferably evening time. (Please note I will not be contactable after 1200 on Saturday.)
I think the risk is low, but there is a dodgy drain outside the door we use & some members will remember leaping across the flood last year! The main event last week was the amount of rain in such short a time, hopefully that will not happen again. For a while at least!
Goodies
There will be some items for the swap table this month, plus some sale items all at amazingly low prices!
The foam supply will also be there.
Competition
Just to restate the rules for the November competition
Geoff has set the following rules:
Build exactly as per plan
You can substitute any wood& you can substitute the prop with any 6 inch plastic.
Noseblock can be removable for stretch winding.
Any rubber you like.
Any tissue can be used, use banana oil (non shrinking dope)
He adds the following:
There are at least 6 different props available.
Suggest hook to peg plus around ¼ for 1/8th tan, lube the rubber.
Change of Organisation
Now is the time to start planning. I would be grateful if the volunteers to run the club from next year would form an orderly queue and I will pass on the information needed.
Tailpiece What? Where?
Hope to see you all next Sunday.
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Subscriptions
I have now managed to get some response from the M.O.D. Probably due to the long delay, the charges for the hangar look like remaining the same, but we will have to pay the licence renewal fees for the new issue All I have to do now is to agree the dates with the staff at Shawbury for the first part of the year. This I will do following consultation with you all, hopefully at the next meeting.
The subscriptions for 2006 will be payable from January and in order to avoid a shortfall will have to rise to £28.00. (This covers the increased cost of postage and administration since we started in 2001) Casual visits remain at £5.00 per day for visitors
You will have seen from the Newsletter that the BMFA annual membership for the coming year has been fixed at £26 for seniors & £14 for juniors. (The junior fee is extended for all those above the age of 18 but who are still in full-time education, for renewal proof for this I will need a photocopy of the appropriate NUS card, or else full senior rates will apply)
For those who renew the BMFA membership through the Indoor Flyers, I would ask you to do so at the next meeting or by post to me, as we must have a minimum of five members renewed before the end of December to ensure that the insurance continues for 2006. (No re-affiliation, no flying site!)
As usual, the BMFA have re-formatted their data base, so I am afraid I will have to ask everybody who wants to fly with the Indoor group to complete a club registration form this time round. Please do this at your next visit. Actually this will help my administration as some of the club membership details are from our original meetings and are now out of date. I do not want to send newsletters to anybody who is not an active member of the club. (Saving your subscriptions!)
So, for those who renew BMFA via the group & wish to subscribe for a year, the cost will be £54.00.
Non BMFA renewals are £28.00
You must have BMFA membership (full, or temporary visitor), to fly on M.O.D. property
Replikits & Indoor competition
You may have noted that a new supplier of kits has arrived. There have been some interesting reviews in the model press, in AMI & in Model Flyer, with more promised for following issues. These kits are “short kits” i.e. no strip wood or hardware, just the plan and printed wood sheets, plus plastic mouldings and canopy is needed. The whole range of Veron kits, Kiel Kraft, some Mercury & even Skyleader, (remember the Comet?) These kits will make a great basis for an indoor scale competition.
I propose that heavy hints are dropped prior to Christmas and that nearest & dearest are informed that it is essential that you have a suitable kit to build for the indoor free flight competitions to be held in January & February Rules to follow but basically:
Stand Off scale judging by members voting for favorite model.
Minimum qualifying flight time. (to be agreed but say 20 secs.)
Highest flight time aggregate from 5(?) flights
Separate award for best scale performance
Competition held over two meetings to provide maximum opportunity to enter, as many models as you wish.
Models to be built from existing (well hoarded!) kits from the original manufacturers or from Replikits new issues. Original drawings & parts patterns, as from Phil Smith are also eligible.
Builder of the model rules apply, proxy flying allowed, indeed welcomed.
Power can be original rubber & prop combination (attracts a 10% bonus if you can make it fly efficiently, probably deserves 50 %!) or any system you want, short of using naked flames in the hangar!
Reasonably local stockists of these kits are currently Steve Webb in Frodsham, see model press for address, and Whitchurch Models located at Green End in Whitchurch, (a few yards from Tesco, useful parking both here & outside the shop).
Full details of these kits are on the web at www. replikit.com I have a couple of these kits underway at present & I will bring examples to the next meeting. I have no connection with the company, in case anyone is concerned that this is a commercial “push” I just think this class of model, returning to the scene, is the ideal basis for some interesting light hearted competition, them we can launch an all out assault on the Indoor Nationals in May/June this year!!
As it is easy to plan something for the free flight fraternity, I would like to hear what the R/C side of the group think would interest them, (apart from Limbo under the wire, you're all experts at that by now!)
Gerry. Y.
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Gasparin News.
For some time there have been rumors that Gasparin has ceased operations & that the supply of CO2 motors would cease. After enquiries it appears that the supply chain has changed. The only source of Gasparin motors in the country is now SAMS, who have been awarded the sole agency. This info direct from SAMS last week.
Gasparin is very involved in micro engineering, for items such as heart valves and similar & as such the CO2 motors are a sideline and supply is dependant on the tasking currently in the factory.
For those who have tried to e-mail him, I am told he answers e-mails as & when he feels like it, sometimes taking weeks to reply!
Free Flight Timers
Information has come to hand that occasionally the timer does not appear to charge up properly. This has been traced to the fact that if you leave the charging unit in contact as you release the operating switch; the charged capacitor can discharge immediately through the variable resistor in the hand unit.
Two solutions, the technical one is to place a diode in the positive side of the capacitor, this will prevent reverse current back to the charger. Many thanks to Bob Rich for the investigation & solution. The non technical one is to withdraw the charger while still keeping the switch depressed (With Scottish ancestry that's my solution!)
I hope to have some more timers assembled for the next meeting, if I can source the diodes they will be fitted. There is little increase in weight with the miniature diode involved, the typical value for a timer & li-poly (80ma) is 6.5gm.
A Pre Christmas presentation to Gerry York from the club membership
Mac Hovers his home brew Biplane
Another home brew depron bi plane this time built and flown by Chriss
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Directions To Sports Hanger
Get yourself on to the A53 Shrewsbury to Market Drayton road , Coming into the village of Shawbury turn Left at the Traffic lights , Carry on down this road for about a quarter of a mile , Past the main entrance to RAF Shawbury ,Then keep an eye out on your Right for a road Named " Dawsons Rough " Turn right down Dawsons Rough and you will see the Hanger on your left . Clearly Sporting a large Sign ..
 Finally a couple of links to specialist suppliers of small models suitable for indoor use .Though its worth bearing in mind that Phil Meredith at Meole Models Shrewsbury .Now has lots of models for indoor flight...
Indoor Freeflight
Indoor RC
Free Depron Plans RC
My thanks to David Earthy For the photographs
Young Daisy Drennan had lots of fun with dads models including this fine " Couger " Peanut scale model ..
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