I always disliked making wheel pants – all that hand cutting – especially the inner spacer – they never turned out the same and often rubbed. Here is a set from 1/16″ sheet balsa that you can glue together and mount in a matter of minutes – a little longer if you want to streamline them. The kit includes enough for two pants PLUS two laminated plywood wheels. Just $4 per kit!
Well, I was right – it was a busy weekend for me. I flew in 11 events, placed in 9 of them; winning 5! That was probably my best single contest ever.
The weather was not perfect, but it was mostly sunny, a bit windy, slightly humid, and hot; in the high 80s. The wind prevented most flights from reaching their full potential. In one mass launch on Sunday, 6 out of 7 planes went straight to the ground on the “launch” command – all because of the wind.
My Phantom Flash #4, built on Friday right before the contest on Saturday, put in some pretty good flights and it won Phantom Flash.
The highlight of my weekend though, was my newest model. I have decided that the next laser-cut kit will be Al Backstrom’s Big Cat embryo. I first became acquainted with this model in 97 or so when it was published in the Windy Sock newsletter. I was publisher of the web version of the newsletter, working with Joe Joseph. My son, Jack, built one when he was 12 or so and it was a success.
He lost or crashed that one years ago, but built #2 last year. He won with that one but lost it, too. He has built a third Big Cat and has won with it, too. All of this success made me realize what a great – and unknown – design this model is and I decided to build a prototype of a laser-cut kit to prove the kit.
On Sunday, I put in a half-power test flight, a full power test flight – and three official flights – and won the Embryo event. This included beating some well-known and capable flyers flying proven designs. I will get the kit assembled in a week or so and it will be offered for $20. This is one good plane that pretty much anyone will have success with.
Check out the build photos here: BIG CAT EMBRYO
Here is a Gallery of the event: McCOOK @ MUNCIE
Preparing for my assault on the McCook Squadron FAC Contest in Muncie this weekend. These four planes are NEW in the past two weeks. Three completed this week, two in the last 24 hours!
From the left, circling clockwise are: Cloud Tramp (for the Cloud Tramp Mass Launch), Big Cat (for Embryo), Phantom Flash, and a tiny Jimmie Allen ROG (for Jimmie Allen!)
Head on over to the AMA National Flying Site in Muncie for a LOT of FAC action on Saturday and Sunday. See you there (I will also be bringing my merchandise)!
A few months ago, I posted about customer Ewart Yong in Singapore. He built a RockyTop Flying Aces Moth that he purchased from us and he sent in some photos.
Well, that Moth flew away. Undaunted, he built another! He sent me some photos (check the Gallery) and a short video of his latest FA Moth. Here is what he said:
“Hello George,
I attach some photos of a rebuilt FA Moth to replace the one I lost previously. I also include a short video of an ROG flight. All supplies – crocket hook, rubber motor, Esaki tissue, DT fuse and nose button (except balsa and wire) were purchased from The Basement.
I built the model from the plans obtained from the Rocky Top kit (purchased from The Basement) but modified the landing gear to a single strut to avoid soldering. I also carved a balsa prop instead of using a plastic one.
Regards, Ewart”
Here is the video:
Thanks, Ewart for sending in the photos!
So you like using gussets to build, but are tired of cutting them all by hand? Here we have the solution! Laser-cut right-angle gussets with the grain running parallel the long side. These are 1/4″ or 3/8″ nominal on the two short sides and can be trimmed, if your angle is less than 90 degrees. Cut from 1/16″ balsa sheet. 100 1/4″ gussets for $1.50 and 120 3/8″ gussets for $2.00. Find them in the Basement, under Accessories/Miscellaneous.
We finally have the ability to cut our own laser cut kits. The first product available is the Phantom Flash kit. It is a complete kit, including 4 feet of FAI Super Sport rubber. The price is right at $12. The post the other day that mentioned my Phantom Flash #3 was built from the prototype kit.
I know that many people build these from scratch. But, in my experience, the pieces are rather complex and are tedious to cut out. So, to save you the effort, we also have a “Parts Only” product available. That is, only the laser cut parts. You will be able to use your own stockpile of sticks and props when you take advantage of the Parts Only for $6.
Or you can buy both together in the Combo Pack for $16!
With a bit of luck, you can expect some additional kits coming out of the workshop and you can head right over to the Basement to buy them!
Team Volare (me and son Jack) again ventured north to Flint, MI to participate in the June FAC contest. The events were a little limited as many people had to rush off around 3pm, so that cut flying a bit short. However, Jack and I managed to pull in 3 Kanones – one for me in Races and TWO for Jack in Scale and Embryo.
It was a good time helping him earn those wins. He had needed three flights in Embryo with about 1/2 hour left in the contest. He put up two great flights and needed a third. The CD was itching to go, as he had afternoon commitments. Jack was all prepped and ready for that third flight when, just as he was starting to place the noseblock in after winding, a single strand on the two-strand motor snapped.
There we were with a fully wound motor and an a couple of stray ends starting to unravel. I had him pull the motor out a bit while I tried to get the lubed (and wound!) motor tied up. Finally, after about 5 minutes we finally got a semi durable knot in the motor. He had two maxes and needed about 1:30 on the last flight to grab first. We walked out to the table, he turned in some hand turns to try to recapture that lost torque, so crucial on an ROG launch. He managed a 1:45 flight, well over the time he needed for first.
Here is a shot of his Big Cat Embryo from last Saturday. Here is a link to the June meet gallery: https://volareproducts.com/blog/?page_id=53&album=2&gallery=14
I know I have been “offline” and not posting for about a month, but it has been a very busy month. At least two weeks was taken up with #2 son, Tristan, graduating from high school – and preparing for his entrance into Michigan State University in August. All of this has taken much, much time.
Additionally, I have been occupied with a business matter that will become obvious very shortly. I am close to making an announcement.
As for flying, below you will see a photo of Phantom Flash #3. I built that during the graduation rush just in time for the June Cloudbusters meet (last Saturday). You might recall that I lost PF#2 at the May Cloudbusters meet on the second of two max flights. I got second that time because i could not make a third flight (due to the loss of the plane).
Well, PF#3 put up one test flight, and 3 official maxes – flying away into the neighborhoods surrounding the park on the 3rd flight. Again, I had to settle for second since I had no plane to fly a fly-off!
I will be building PF#4 very shortly so that I can head south to Muncie for the annual McCook Squadron 2-day event (where I lost PF#1 OOS last year!)
Anyway, look for big Volare/Shorty’s news very soon – hopefully before the end of the weekend!
Finally, I have these favorite products back in stock. I also got a shipment of the KP Ball Bearing nose buttons in all three sizes. There is no price increase – they are 2 sets for $7. Jump on over to The Basement to order yours. Sorry for the delay!
Yesterday, I posted about the May contest, but I forgot to link to the gallery. Check out the photos here: May Contest Photos
