SEN-435 July 4 2000- Independence Day

News and Reports 2000 - second half
SCAT Electronic News 4 July 2000 issue 435 - Independence day


Table of Contents
=================

Open letter to Rubber Flyers from FAI Model Supply
Willard Smitz wins F1A at Denver - Wood
Muscle Wire - Spooner
Looking for addresses - Boutillier
Removing tissue. - Boutillier
Weather link - Lipori
Turbulating Steppes - Parker
Bob McLinden NFFS Publications - Goldstein
Un-stuck with the tissue ? - Gutai

Open letter to Rubber Flyers from FAI Model Supply
==================================================
Author : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



Dear Rubber Flyers:

FAI will be ready to ship new, tested Tan II rubber approximately August
11, 2000.

Please note that we have been advised by the manufacturer to expect a
"significant" price increase.

BACKGROUND: As many of you already know, Tan II Rubber is a mixture of
natural and synthetic ingredients. In the past three months, one of the
synthetic ingredients has not met the ideal specifications in order to
yield quality Tan II as it has been formulated in the past. The factory
has tried several small experimental batches which have proven to be
unsuccessful and have not yielded satisfactory product. These batches
have not been shipped or sold which has contributed to a temporary
rubber shortage.

The factory has recently located an adequate supply of the preferred
material required to produce high energy Tan II Rubber and will be
mixing a new batch in approximately two weeks. To aid in the production
of quality rubber, it has been our practice to not allow rubber to be
mixed or produced during the first week of start-up after the factory's
traditional one week shutdown in observance of the July 4th holiday.

One of the results of the three month's trial and error process, and the
resultant scrap material, is that the CEO has gotten involved and has
decreed that the next batch of Tan II Rubber will be scrutinized from a
total cost standpoint, and based on preliminary information he expects
to pass on a significant price increase. We will post the new cost
schedule when it becomes available. The company remains committed to
produce quality product for FAI and its customers.

We deeply regret the inconvenience of the temporary shortage and
expected cost increase of Tan II Rubber to our valued world-wide
customers.
Sincerely,
John Clapp
FAI Model Supply



Willard Smitz wins F1A at Denver
================================
Author : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hi Roger, Just thought you would like to know:
Willard Smitz put on a clinic with his straight tow glider at Denver. He
maxed round after round while the high teck flyers failed to find the air.
It was fun to see him out there with his pants leg pulled up so he could feel
the air temperature with the hairs on his leg and after the launch see 78
year old Willard roar off on his motercycle at top speed to keep up with his
model.(He dosen't have a tracker). Pretty tough in the Denver mountains.
Well he won F1A at the Denver MMM contest going away. The skill is still
there if we could just get him to compete more often.
your friend and Willards too,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



Muscle Wire
===========
Author : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dear Roger,

I have had a very brief and somewhat fuzzy description of a product I
believe is called "muscle wire". From this description it would appear
it has the potential of forming the basis of a very light servo. Do any
of your readers have any information on this product? If so, I would
be delighted to get more info!

Best wishes and many thanks for your excellent news service.

Bryan Spooner

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Bryan Spooner, Wing Lodge, Wing, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8RZ, U.K.

Tel & Fax: +44 (0)1572 737281 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


[Bryan

I used this in the first electronic timers I made in the early 90's.
The wire is very fine and contracts when current is applied. The length
of the wire depends on the voltage available and the amount of movement needed.
For 5 volts a 3 inch length will give a movement of about 1/8 of an inch.
The wire comes in diffferent thicknesses, all are very thin. The thicker
the wire the more force and higher current draw. A force of over 100 grams
can eaily be obtained.

Now the down side. The wire is very fine and very difficult to see and work.
It cannot be soldered and because of the thickness an electrical connection
is difficult to obtain. In addition it draws a realtively high current, So
nicad batteries are a must. It is theroectically possible to produce
proportional control by energizing the wire with a pulse width modulation
PWM technique. This is the same technique used in RC servos. However
the accuracy compared with a servo for an F1A timer application is not
favorable and could not be used to 'trim' the stabilizer as one does with
servo.

I have seen people refer to it in recent indoor R/C articles. It could
beused for very light servo and some degree or proprtional control
could be obtained. The batteries used in indoor R/C are probably stronger
than those used in electronicm timers for F1B. So could deliver the higher
current. I wouldbe concerned about battery life. While heaver a motor can
deliver a usable force [possibly assisted by gearing] for a lower current
draw.

I have not completely excluded it's use in some future Black Magic projects
but not in the next versions of my timers.

Roger Morrell]

Looking for addresses
======================
Author : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Hi Roger,
Can you pass these questions in SEN?
Congratulations for your great job.

I am looking for two addresses:
- Does Henry NELSON have an e-mail address?
- I am also looking for G.URSCINO, from Italy, who used to produce radio
beacons Döring type.
Thanks in advance.

Good Flying.

Bernard Boutillier. Mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



Removing tissue.
================
Author : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

My method is to brush two times the wing panel with acetone and a large
brush, until it is completely wet. Then pour two cups of acetone in a
large enough trash bag, place the panel inside and close the bag with a
rubber band, leaving some space around to allow the vapour
circulate.Wait a couple of hours, more if varnish has been used.When you
open the bag the tissue will fall by itself. Be sure that the structure
has not been assembled with cellulosic balsa cement, if so you will get
a perfect kit.

Thermals.

Bernard Boutillier. Mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Weather link
============
Author : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



Hi,

I'm Bob Lipori, and I included a link on my website, to your "Weather
Information at Free Flight sites," page. The East coast now has a
viable replacement field for the lost Galeville, NY site, and I was
wondering if you might include weather information for the Barron field,
located At Middletown, NY, in your site. On my page I have included
Barron field updates ( contest flyers, restrictions,etc,) and it would
be nice for the East coast modelers to have a link to the area weather
conditions as well.

http://home.earthlink.net/~rlipori/sky2.html

Regards,
Bob Lipori



Turbulating Steppes
===================
Author : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Roger,

I've been using chart tape turbulators on my F1A for many years now. The tape
is .007 inch tall located at 5% cord.

I ran an simple experiment back in the 1980's that demostarated increase
towline pull with one layer of tape, additional pull with the second
layer of tape (place on top of the first) but no change with a third
layer of tape.

The bottom layer is .062 inch wide and the top is .032 inch wide. I
have aligned the aft edges of the two layers forming a "step" into
the airflow.


Here's the question. Should the "step" be into the air flow or pointed
with the airflow? I'd be interested in hearing the thoughts of the SEN
theoretical aerodynamic experts and the experiences of the seasoned
sportsman.

Thermal, Jim Parker



Bob McLinden NFFS Publications
==============================
Author : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I was just exchanging e-mails with Bob last week and the address is
definitely This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If anyone is having problems reaching Bob send me an e-mail directly at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I will give Bob a call and see if I can help
facilitate the communications. Bob is local to me and I often fly indoors
with him. He is normally very good at replying, but may be out of town or on
vacation.

Tim
[Denver, CO]

Un-stuck with the tissue ?
==========================
Author : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Roger, I didn't see any mention made of re-gluing joints in the replies to
removing tissue. Those nasty solvents have a habit of loosening glue in
addition to removing the tissue. After tissue removal all the glue joints
should be gone over and re-glued as necessary. BTW, what is tissue???
Bob Gutai (The Alien)

................
Roger Morrell