I know this has all been covered (somewhere in vastness of the internet) but I wrote a super simple application to write my Date and Time TAG.txt file for me. I thought I would share it for those that are interested.
I have had the Spy Gum camera since the early days and still use it. However a good friend of mine game me a brand new Keychain camera (green tinge to the lens) and I am thrilled — so much easier to place on the planes. Anyway, after dinking around with different Date Time files (none worked including the one in the instructions that came with it). I found one that worked:
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim text As StringBuilder
Dim dt As DateTime
Try
dt = DateTime.Now
text = New StringBuilder()
With text
.AppendLine("[date]")
.AppendLine(dt.ToString("yyyy/MM/dd"))
.AppendLine(dt.AddMinutes(1D).ToString("HH:mm:ss"))
End With
If File.Exists("TAG.txt") Then
File.Delete("TAG.txt")
End If
I noticed a series of links to video clips today showing up on my Twitter feed from the AMA — Burt Rutan at the 2010 AMA Expo — Cool! I was riveted by his home video and photos of his research and development. As well as some of his RC building and testing.
I have had the good fortune of attending all 6 of the annual Arizona Electric Festivals held at the Arizona Model Aviators AMA field in Mesa. It is something we all look forward too each year. I have had the pleasure to see some of the same faces coming back year after year from all over.
The festival has evolved a little over the years. It is as large as ever, but we seem to see less and less of the kit plane vendors and designers each year. In years past we would always see Pat Tritle, Charlie Mansano, Mountain Models, and a few model kit inovators — none of which were with us this year at the AEF. We still have JTechLaser who had an awesome display of their laser works and products. It was awesome to see Steven’s Aero there with several new kits including some control line planes that would be interesting as RC planes.
Though there was tons of good looking planes, awesome pilots, and smoking deals by many of the vendors, there was nothing that jumped out at me this year as something I had to have or drew great interest for me.
I compiled a video of some of my photos and video clips. I loved the noon-time demo — the Yellow SU29 and the Red Yak 54 (flown by Ryan Archer) were highlights for sure. The green jet near the end was clocked at 162 mph the day before by radar in their speed run compilation. Overall, it was awesome and would not trade it for the world. I am already looking forward to the next.
On October 20th, 2009, the sky was grey with scattered clouds and the adrenaline was pumping. Tom Mansell was able to maiden the ¼ scale Stitts Skybaby with a large crowd to boot. The plane took to the sky quickly as Tom put plenty of space between the plane and the ground to get it all trimmed out. After a few minor adjustments and taking out the rudder mixing, the plane flew really well despite It’s 44oz flight weight. The attached video contains footage of the maiden flight and some from the next few days. What a pleasure to watch this plane fly.
Tom based this model on RCM plans that were drawn up by Pat Trittle. Though the dimensions and airfoil are similar to Andy Clancy’s Skybaby, there have been many changes that mostly include structural reinforcement that will support the 300 watt motor. Tom designed the rudder to be more like the original full scale plane and added ailerons and extra ribs to support the ailerons. The bottom wing has been greatly reinforced to support the widened landing gear. This thing tracks very well on the ground. Though Tom referenced the RCM plans he has created an entirely new airplane here.
Tom framed up the plane after having JTechLaser.com laser cut his parts. He then handed it over to Steve Mueller (a dedicated scale builder) to finish up the Skybaby. The local response to the plane has been amazing and it sure is something to see in person.
Tom is making plans to make the kit available under Mansell Models and will probably be available in the next few months on BlueSkyRC.com.
Here are some of the statistics on the finished plane:
E-Flite 480, an APC 12X6E prop, a Turnigy 40amp ESC, a 3-cell 11.1 volt 2200mah Li-poly battery, and 4 servos for the Rudder, elevator and one for each set of ailerons.
One of the best things about going out to the local field is seeing all the new and unique planes that come out of the local creative minds. Just when you think just about everything has been done with the GWS Slow Stick, something totally unique shows up. Rus Carlson, of Mesa, recently brought out to the park one of the most modified Slow Sticks I have seen to date (if you can still call it a Slow Stick). Rus was given a very small section of the center wing of a Slow Stick by one of the other locals (thanks Ev) and he was told, “let’s see if you can use that for something”.
Using Depron and thin plywood and a little carbon fiber, Rus has built a low-wing rudder elevator trickster park flyer. It rolls like it has ailerons, spins like a tornado and floats in like a butterfly. We even got to see him fly it through a hula hoop the other morning.
You will notice the Fleet Biplane Trainer he has designed is a typical Pat build with a scale air foil wing and this one has ailerons on the bottom wing. The wingspan is 42 inches and the horizontal stabilizer has an air foil. It is expected that the air foil tail will provide more lift and allow the CG to be a little more aft on the plane. As true to Pat’s design it is modeled to be super light and with close scale detail. Pat’s kits are often designed to build and fly similar to fragile rubber band powered planes and this tends to be a bit bothersome for many park flyers that like to throw the planes around. The great thing about the kits being a short-kit is you can build it to the way you fly it. It is common for modelers to ad plenty of plywood, carbon fiber, and add ailerons to his designs — if it is not designed for it. I simply love the looks and design.
First of all, I want to thank Jim Wagoner for sharing the great article posted the other day on how to prepare files for a laser cutter. I have learned much from Jim and actually pickup on QCad because of his recommendation. I have to admit, I have tried AutoCad and a few others, but keep coming back to QCad — perhaps because it is the one that I have the most time on. I have had as much fun designing radio controlled airplanes as I have had flying them.
One of the things that slow down development on a drawing your aircraft are the precise placements of lines and intersects or a simple thing like equally spacing 1/8th inch square sticks around a curved fuselage former. I plan on doing up some demo videos here that might be helpful to others on aircraft design here in the future. Including scale design from drawings.
In the mean time, I have found some videos that cover some cool little tricks that are not always obvious to the QCad user. Though this author of this video is a bit dry I do find the content quite useful and helpful.
Ever get frustrated finding a good motor mount for a stick mounted planes? Yes, I have felt that frustration recently as well. One of my favorite stick mounts is no longer in production – the E-flight out-runner stick mount – (Temporarily out of production). I was shocked to find out that you cannot get them. I was constantly being told by the Hobby Shop… “they will be in next Tuesday”.
I have never really been satisfied with many of the stick mounts I have seen anyway. Aluminum that does not fully go around the stick, or the mounting plate is too flimsy. After talking with Jim Wagoner of JTechLaser, I discovered he had been working on a combination motor mount / battery tray for Slow Sticks laser cut from 1/8th inch plywood. I told him I am in! After sharing the files back and forth I think we have three solid prototypes and a few other options that will work well with the mount.
As most Slow Stick users have discovered, the perfect location for your battery pack seems be just behind the motor and in front of your wing. This motor mount fits that bill. I am currently testing a mount on my Steven’s Stick and on my buddies trainer Slow Stick. The Slow Stick has suffered some typical nose-in landings as he is learning to fly and there was no damage to the mount.
I also like the fact that you can use your motors X plate for the mounting and if you do suffer from a major nose-in landing that the motor mount will hopefully give before your motor does.
Plans are being made to have the mounts available on BlueSkyRC.com – simple and affordable. There will also be an option without battery tray. For now enjoy the Sneak Peak!
The GWS Slow Stick is probably the most versatile Electric Platform. People that have been flying for years continue to fly their old trusty Slow Sticks. I still have my first one and I fly it with my camera. Yeah, I know… everything has already been done and said about the Slow Stick, but in the last few weeks I have been able to help test fly the tricycle landing gear platform and found that it has some appeal.
Some of Slow Sticks coming to the local field are modified with tricycle landing gear and steerable nose wheel. Most are using after market Slow Stick parts from MillenniumRC. My first thought was… “why”, but after test flying them, I see the appeal though the ground handing is terrible – don’t expect to drive it around on the ground and not have it top over on a wing tip. However, having the nose wheel is a huge benefit for a hard landing and will probably save you several props if you are still in the learning stages. People flying cameras may enjoy it if they are pointing the camera out the side or the back of the plane. Taking photos and video out the front will be obstructed by the nose wheel. I also found the steerable nose wheel not very effective on the grass or dirt. It handles decently on a hard surface though.
Pros: Fun to fly, great for touch and goes, and may save you some props on hard landings. It looks cool too.
Cons: Poor ground steering (stock Slow Stick does not steer well either) but who wants it on the ground?, tips easily on the ground. Wheel obstructs forward video and photos.
One thing that would probably improve ground handling would be a wider main wheel stance. If you enjoy flying the Slow Stick and want to try something just a little different, give the tricycle landing gear a try.
There always seems to be ONE at every field… well, in this case, there should be! Ev Knutson, also known as the field clown that always manages to get everyone smiling and laughing with his antics and funny hats. Often rewarding other pilots at the field with custom made T-shirts that tell the exploits of the individual pilots. Shirts like, “Poop Happens” — a pilot that has repeatedly flown his planes into the water treatment plant sludge ponds each time retrieving his planes to fly another day. Other shirts display a favorite plane of the pilot with their local made up field titles, like Certified Trainer, Top Gun. Today I was awarded a T-Shirt from Ev with a Fokker DVII on the front with a list of field jobs (that he has given me).
It is people like Ev that make going to the field every day fun. Today he was talking about how all of us sitting up there are here serving time… “what you in for?” — “oh, 3 to 4 slow sticks and a mutliplex… and you?”
If you don’t have someone around your field like this, then maybe you should get one. It always makes things interesting… or we can lend you Ev.
