NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/rec/models/rc/5707

Text File | 1993-01-24 | 5.9 KB | 164 lines

Newsgroups: rec.models.rc
Path: sparky!uunet!usc!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!silver.ucs.indiana.edu!ntaib
From: [e-mail] (Iskandar Taib)
Subject: Re: C/L Combat Beginner seeks help!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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References: <[e-mail]>
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 06:54:07 GMT
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In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

> After a gap of about twenty years I would like to get involved in
> control line >open combat again. My questions are these:

Hello there! I don't know much about Australian Open Combat, but
what I've heard leads me to believe its similar to AMA "Fast"
Combat in the United States, except that .40 motors are allowed.
I don't know if the rules are more FAI like (or pre-'78 SMAE
like) or whether, like AMA Combat, the "kill" wins the match.

> *Engines

Hmmm well, I've seen pictures of someone who flew a Cartier Gotcha
500 with an OS Max .40 FSR. So I imagine any one of the numerous
Schnuerle .40s would work well.

Here in the States most people fly using the Fox .36 Mark VI Combat
Special. There aren't many .36 sized motors out there, but a few
people fly with Nelson's new .36, and a variety of other custom-
built motors like the Hoffelt .36. You will have a much wider choice.
Used R/C motors must abound - the R/C NVAs can be salvaged to be
used as remote needles.

Then theres me. I fly using cheap Taiwan-made .28s on somewhat
smaller airplanes. What I lose in speed I make up in turning abi-
lity. You might try something similar. If you do want to try this
let me know - the plans for my Caudimordax design have been pub-
lished and are available through Model Aviation ie. AMA.

The better deals out there are the Taiwanese .40s - they're cheap and
they can be made to run very fast, if my experience with the smaller
.28s is any indication. They aren't all built the same though. The
best .28s I've found are the Leo (from Indy R/C). The Brat was about
as fast but tended to blow rods. The Royal .28 was pretty slow. I
retime the cranks on all my motors but do not touch the sleeve for the
most part.

You will have a choice between heavy and light .40s - you will no-
tice that some weigh around 9-10 ounces (eg. Fox, OS .40 FP) and
others 11-13 oz. Both can be made to run very fast with a little
extra work.

> What are the current "hot" motors and where do I get them.

If you really want to go fast, money no object, Nelson makes a
Quickee 500 motor. (Actually I hate to think of what this motor
might do to a regular Combat airframe!).

Fuel? Most people in the States like lots of nitro. I usually use
25%, some go as high as 40-50%. The Nelsons supposedly put out lots
of power using 10-15% nitro, however. I assume you will be using a
lot less nitro, which is good - the motors are bigger.

Props? The APC 8.5x6 (or whatever it is) seems to be the "hot" one
right now - people used to use wood props almost exclusively in Fast
since things like Master Airscrews come apart at Fast Combat RPMs.
The Australian Taipan props are quite good, though. Can't get them
cheap anymore though...

Lines? We get it in bulk. Bob Bearden sells it in 1000 foot spools,
I have been selling some wire also (I have one 5000 foot spool left).

Tanks? We use amber latex surgical tubing as is often used for hi-
starts.

Some addresses:

Dox Generix Kits (kits - very good value)
See MACA newsletter address below
[phone]

Lou Scavone (kits, parts)
41312 Memphis Drive,
Sterling Heights, MI 48313
[phone]

Bear Enterprises (kits, wire, supplies of all sorts)
RR#2, Box 70,
Beecher, IL 60401
[phone]

The Core House/Phil Cartier (kits)
760 Waltonville Rd.,
Hummelstown, PA 17036
[phone]

Bob Oge (engine rework)
34W. 883 S. James
St. Charles, IL 60174
[phone]

(Bob can rechrome that worn out piston/liner set from your Hanno
Special just as easily as he'll do it on a Combat motor).

Nelson Engines
121 Pebble Creek Lane,
Zelienople, PA 16063
[phone]

> *Models
> What are the current "hot" medels and whwere do I get plans etc?

In the states the current "hot" model has to be Steve Hill's Arrow-
plane. I'll try to find an address - he sells the plans. It uses a
long carbon arrowshaft for a boom. All the current designs use a
styrofoam wing of about 500 square inches, with about 48 inch span.
A couple people fly using Russian style flying wings. Kits are avai-
lable from a variety of sources - some of the nicest are Lou Scavone's

> *News
> Are there newsletters that cover the topic, and how do I subscribe?

Several places for news. Model Aviation ran a Combat column (Charlie
Johnson just "retired" so they are looking for another columnist).
Phil Cartier and Rich "von" Lopez tag-team a very good informative
column in Flying Models magazine. There are two combat-specific
newsletters out there that you might want to subscribe to:

MACA Newsletter
PO Box 111
Jasonville, IN 47438
USA

(Dues: $15 a year, don't know how much for overseas).

New England Combat News
(I'll post address later)

You might also want to write for this:

"The List"
c/o John Thompson
1145 Birch Ave
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
USA

(A bunch of mailing lists: fliers, hobby shops, C/L product
suppliers, a listing of the national C/L press. Mostly in
the Northwestern United States - for the benefit of contest
organizers in said region).

I guess the best advice is actually to go to a couple meets
and see what everyone else is flying. Thats how I got my start
(won my first match ever against Bob Bearden - and I was flying
a .15! I guess one gets lucky..)
--
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Iskandar Taib                          | The only thing worse than Peach ala
Internet: [e-mail] |    Frog is Frog ala Peach
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