Hear Ye!

The official newsletter of the :
Valley Forge Signal Seekers
Radio Controlled Model Airplane Club
December, 1999
No. 391

Prez Sez
By Walt Pierzchala

The December meeting will be devoted to "show and tell". Bring in your completed or partially completed model. Lets evaluate these various kits.

Our Annual Auction was a success. I would like to thank the many club members who helped with the Auction. Our auctioneers were great and most of the material was sold. I also would like to thank the ladies who ran the food and beverage table. They did a fine job! It is the spirit of cooperation that makes the Club great. Again, thanks to all for their time and effort.

As we approach the new millenium, I would like to have new ideas from the club members concerning Fun-Flys for the year 2000 and any other special activities. Let's make the year 2000 memorable!

From the Editor

Two years ago I volunteered to take over as editor of this fine newsletter. I had a lot of ideas that I thought would help to make the newsletter more interesting to the membership. For the first time we tried photos of our members enjoying our hobby. We ran the "Pilot Profile" for several issues and they also were well received. But the profiles proved to be a lot of work. I still maintain that a good newsletter should have some articles submitted by the membership. Sitting in the pits or on the flightline, I hear interesting talk concerning building, flying, crashing, funny stories, etc. Most of these accounts or experiences would make interesting reading.
This issue will be my last as editor of this newsletter. It's been an interesting and satisfying two years and I'm sure I'll miss it, but it's time for someone else to add their ideas to the mix. Ernie McGauley has agreed to take over as editor, beginning with the January issue. Good luck, Ernie!!

Battery Drain
By Dennis DiBonaventura

Recently I purchased a new plane from a club member that is known to build a very good airplane. It was complete including the radio system and the model was immaculate. I was informed that the battery had been charged and I put a meter on it to double check. All seemed fine. After two short flights, I don't know what prompted me to check the battery once again, but it was in the area where you should not fly again. I went home and recharged it. I returned to the field on Sunday to fly once again. After one flight I checked the battery and once again it indicated a low charge. Well, I knew the plane was about 3 years old and a few other flyers indicated that the battery probably had a bad cell in it.

This plane was a treasure and I was not about to take a chance. I installed a brand new radio system complete with a new battery. As I was completing the installation, I noticed the ailerons were not moving as they should. It looked like the servo was sticking about half way through its normal travel distance. I removed the servo and replaced that also. Hmmm, still not moving as it should. Now I'm not a rocket scientist but I knew there was a problem here. I removed the servo push rods from the aileron torque rod and as I did, I felt the torque rod on the side that was not working properly. You know the part that says as you're building "not to get any glue in the rod". Well, it was almost impossible to move. It would go in one direction but not the other. I worked some WD 40 into the culprit and got it free. Eureka! The real reason the battery was being depleted so quickly was that the stuck torque rod was putting a heavy load on the servo which in turn was draining the battery. God only knows what the load was, that was being placed on the battery from this bulky surface.

This tells us all that the movement of our servos and the ability of the flying surfaces to move freely is of the utmost importance. The first indicator is a hum from a servo. Listen carefully for this tell-tale signal. Make sure when you install your pushrods, that the surfaces you are attaching them to are FREE. I am sure that this plane had free moving surfaces when it was constructed, but the long inactivity most likely had created a gummy situation. So check those surfaces and you may save a treasured aircraft.

Club Dates

Tuesday, December 14........General Meeting at the
Church. 8:00 PM. Bring
your latest project for
Show and Tell.

The "Hawk" Solos!

Are you a student who is a little confused and at times want to quit and try another hobby? Well, we have one person who stuck it out and after a few years of instruction, soloed on Friday, October 29, 1999. Many of use know him as the "Hawk" but most know him as Bill Strobel. He is the gentleman that sits while he flys, usually at the west end of the field. He said he would solo no matter how long it would take and he deserves a lot of credit. Next time you see him out there give the guy a big "congratulations".
Rom Boutin

There is a new bird flying at the Park. The bird is generally recognized as "The Hawk". The IRS (and other mundane groups) think The Hawk is Bill Strobel. All that aside, The Hawk did indeed solo a radio controlled model airplane to the satisfaction of those concerned on 10/29/99. You should have seen the glow on his face. Seeing that face is all the reward any instructor ever needs to justify the hours put into the program. When you see Bill, be sure to complement him on his achievement.
Bud Klopp

Raffle Prizes

Joe Yalove advises that the following prizes have been purchased for December's meeting:
JR 5 Channel Radio
Epoxy Glue
Monokote
Manual Fuel Pump
Center Guide for Engine Mounting
Spray Gun Kit to spray small parts.


Feedback or comments to: Al Campana , HearYe editor
Michael Myers, Webmaster


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