The Tale Spinner
Newsletter of the Tri-Area Flyers

 http://webpages.charter.net/russpetersen/

(AMA Charter Number 4063, Radio Controlled Model Aircraft Club)

April 1, 2002, Volume 3 Issue 4

Meeting Minutes:          (Next Meeting: April 9, 2002, Excapees RV Park)

                                        3/12/02 Meeting of the TriArea RC Flyers

President Wylie called the meeting at the SKP Clubhouse to order at 7:00 pm.  In attendance were Wylie, Anliker, Dantzler, Fitch, G. Smith, Greene, Nodell, Takata, Oaks and Benjamin.

The minutes were read and approved and the Treasurer’s report showed a balance of $3087.06, comprised of $2695.56 in the bank and $391.50 in fuel inventory.  The only expenditure during the month was $40.00 to AMA for annual dues and insurance.

The list of new member applicants was reviewed but no prospective members showed up. The club membership is now at 40.

There was discussion of replacing our shed with an 8X20ft container, which could store our extra mower as well as the regular equipment in a secure manner. It was pointed out that a separate locked compartment could be built inside to store the fuel supply.  Wylie agreed to look into the purchase of a container and check with Roger Short to see if he will agree.

Bruce Scot has agreed to put on an engine clinic at the next meeting so an effort should be made to have a good turnout.

Grant Smith reported that he is building a new frequency board that will require all flyers to insert their AMA card into the appropriate frequency slot.

There were no real crashes during the month but Anliker agreed to hold the trophy as a result of a minor, unavoidable mishap to his Ugly Stick.

Anliker and Takata provided cookies and the meeting was adjourned around 8:00.

Submitted by Bill Anliker, Sec/Treas.   

(Editor:  Grant Smith kindly took some pictures at the last meeting which I thought might go well to supplement the minutes section of the newsletter.)  Here they are:

Hi Russ, Attached are three photos from the meeting this month. Bill was the recipient again of the coveted trophy, although there were other worthy candidates. We had two show and tell planes: Wylie with his "Baby Pacer" from Aerodrome and I finally finished my G17 Staggerwing Beechcraft. Grant Smith

Gadgets and Gizmos: by Russ Petersen

I don't know if your house accumulates those small plastic yogurt containers like mine does, but if so, here is a use for them that can help but help keep the top of your bench organized.  I used ten of the things and organized them in two rows of five each.  I fastened them to a scrap piece of plywood that is 6" X 15" and fashioned a handle out of other scrap.  These are Yoplait containers which work well for epoxy bottles and the like.  They can have the top cut off a little to hold two containers of acrylate glue as well.  If you are not clear about this I have included a few shots to help.

Hi guys,

I wanted to tell you about our visit to the Port Townsend Aero Museum recently.  My wife was taking pictures of it for a guy writing a magazine article and I got to go along for the ride.  You may have read about it in the Leader.  They've been around for about a year now and have several aircraft, some finished and some in the process of being restored.  We talked to the guy who's running the operation, a retired airline pilot, and he's really doing a great job getting this thing going.  There are lots of folks, ranging from school kids to seniors, helping to restore the planes, and apparently getting as much out of the experience as they give.

Anyways, they (the museum) need all the help they can get, and I think our RC club should do whatever it can to help them.  For starters, I was wondering if we could provide a link on our web site to the museum's website, http://ptaeromuseum.com.  Second, we could let our members know, via the newsletter, that the museum is out there and is for real, and could use whatever help the individual members of the club can provide.  Third, I have a handful of museum brochures, which I would like to leave on display at the hobby shop, if that's okay.  And fourth, (and this is a little more dicey) I'd like to explore any ideas anyone in the club might have regarding fund-raising activities to help the museum meet its financial needs.  Even with all volunteer labor, restoring old airplanes still requires a certain amount of money, and it would be a worthwhile cause for our club, along with providing good PR for us if (when) we ever need to find a new field.  I don't have any specific fund-raising ideas myself, but just spreading the word would be a start, and then we can see what develops.

Let me know what you think.

Kit and RC Product Reviews and Comments:

Building the NORTH STAR mfg. by BALSA USA.
By Dick Benjamin

I was introduced to this model at a float fly in while visiting a cousin in Southerland Oregon two summers ago. My cousin Bob told me he knew of a great place to watch
the local Model airplane club fly, and drove me a few miles east of his home to one of the most beautiful recreation lakes I have seen in a long time. The lake is owned by the city of Southerland and is maintained as a Park.  Low banks surround the waters edge making it ideal for float flying.

The local club was having their annual float flying and pilots and their planes had come from Idaho, California, Washington as well as from Portland and other surrounding Oregon townships.

The weather was CAVU and nice and warm with little if any wind. As you might expect there were many nice planes represented. The largest aircraft was as nice a flyer as its spectacular size. It was a scale model of the WW two KINGFISHER with at least a 144" plus WS. A 108" J-3 Piper Cub, several Stinson 108 Station wagons, one with a beautiful reddish purple covering, three Mauls which I thought made very nice float flyers and one won top honors, a nice trophy and the Blue ribbon. Judging was made for awards by points earned from static display as well pilots skill. The meet was well governed and regulated. I was impressed and enjoyed the two-day event.

Of the 50 plus aircraft represented, one was my favorite in looks and flight characteristics. There were two Balsa USA "NORTH STAR'S" One was powered by an OS .40 the other an OS .46FX.  Although takeoffs seamed a little long, about 300'ft. the water was very smooth most of the time; the aircraft was stable in high speed as well as very slow flight. Rolls and inverted the plane seamed solid as a rock. I took many pictures at the meet and came away determined to make this plane my next project.

When my North Star Kit arrived I was still building an other model so I had to wait a little before starting as when I began this hobby I made a pact with myself not to start on a new model till I was completely finished with the one I was building.

I was assured by the literature from Balsa USA that the North Star was easy to build and would build fast. WELLLLLL where have I heard that before!!! As the instruction recommend I started by building the wing. It builds first right side up then you turn it over and complete the process. But, alas. the wing ribs don't line up on the plans when I turned the wing over. The left wing and the right wing are not the same length. I call Balsa USA and I am told 3/8" should not make much difference. Soo, I start on the fuse. and to my horror I discover that there is less curve in the right side of the fuse than on the left. Another call to BALSA USA!! This time I spoke to the headman who informed me the plans in my kit were Xeroxed and might be a little off. I told him that at the very leased I was entitled to accurate plans and since I had half way finished the fuse he should send to me the corrected plans and the parts for a new fuselage. Building this plane has been an experience and has taught me to check things we mostly take for granted. Although the new plans were the same as the old, I knew how to compensate to build the rest of the aircraft. I have not flown the plane yet as by the time I finished it due to the delays, the weather had turned bad. By the time you read this report my NORTH STAR should be a seasoned flyer not a hanger queen.

PS   The BALSA USA people were very helpful and apologized for what happened.

(Editor:  This month we are beginning a series of monthly articles by Bruce Pyles that will outline the modeling interests and backgrounds of club members.  We will place emphasis on newer members, to help everyone get acquainted, but Bruce will also be visiting with some of the members who have been in the club for awhile.  Our goal is to see that everyone in the club is presented, as least one time every two or three years, so when Bruce calls or approaches you at the field, please be helpful and give him some interesting information about who you are and how you are interested in our hobby/sport.)

Member: Mr. Jim Tolpin  (360) 385-5247. Has lived in the area for over twenty years.  Jim has a strong interest in electric planes (Park Models) at the moment.  Currently he has a glider and a Tiger Moth ready to fly.  Jim recently flew near his home, but he has yet to fly at the club field.  Jim, along with several other parents currently are teaching a model building class to younger children, who, with any luck will be flying their rubber-band powered planes soon.  Jim hopes to start an R/C Modeling group in the Port Townsend High School for those would be interested. 

Member: Mr. Earl Yim: (360) 437-2058.  Earl’s interest started when he was young. He built and flew a plane powered by an Olsen 60.  Later Earl earned a private pilots license and has flown "full size" planes for many years.  Earl received his university education from USC and has a degree in Chemical Engineering.  He was a civilian contractor for the Navy and also worked in an aerospace engineering division where he participated in designing missiles and rockets.  Earl also worked at Union Carbide before retiring at Bell Aero.  His motivation to participate in modeling at this time is his grandson who he hopes will follow him in the hobby.  Currently Earl is building an Eagle 2, 40-size, and he is looking forward to receiving some instruction at the club field and to soloing his trainer.