Wine Country Flyers Model Aircraft Club Forum

Racers,

The 2013 racing season is upon us! Please take a moment to participate in the poll above. We are considering some minor tweaks, but nothing earth shattering. Keep in mind that only people who have raced will have a vote counted. You need to log in to vote. If you can't log in, or do not have that ability, please call or email Steve Cole or myself and we will add your voice.

First, the season will remain two points series. Second, we are considering dropping the plaques for both seasons, and instead putting the money directly back into the kitty for race winnings. Maybe an single plaque for the overall series winner? Thoughts?

Another thing to consider is that the new T-28's from Horizon have a new motor that may or may not effect performance. Further testing will need to be conducted before any determination can be made. Does anyone out there have a new plane/motor that they would be willing to let us do some static testing on?

Racing participation continues to be strong, it looks like we are going to have another great season. Participation in the Dog fighter class has not been stellar however, and it is being considered to drop, hence the poll.

I for one am a proponent of running 3 classes and 4 rounds. With the way it is now, it is not uncommon to not races everybody not only on race day, but throughout the season. This will help bring parity to all classes. More racing!

I will also attempt to build a spread sheet matrix system. I will bring my laptop and cell card to the field. We can build a table to generate matrices, tabulate points and keep track of finishing order. Then it can simply be emailed at the conclusion of the race for publishing to the web site.

We would love a new class, or a variation on the ones we have now. It was decided that for the first half of the season, we would not introduce any new classes for two reasons: one, time to get a new plane together for a March start is tough for some people. Two: We need more ideas and input! Please comment below and once a general direction is figured out, we can do another poll if necessary. Some ideas:

Durafly Warbirds?
3 cell EF-1?
"Super" Reno 450?
Others

Endurance or Team race. We have kicked this idea around for a while, but it never seemed to gel. Steve and I are committed to making this happen. We want this to be a fun for all, semi-serious event. Some things to consider:

How many laps? 100-200?
Teams or individuals?
Mandatory pit stops?
Fly multiple classes together?
Minimum/maximum number of laps on each class?
Figure 8 course for the T-28/Corsair classes?
Other ideas?

Guys, please take the time to comment on this stuff. The more feedback that is presented, the better job the club can do to make the racing as successful as it can be.

Reserved for results....

My Mig-28 has the new motor in it. You'll need to take the secret Comrade oath prior to testing.

Deal.  ;) Thanks Jerry.

Guys,

It has come to my attention that at the end of last season it was decided that the 2013 season would not be split into two. I had not realized that, sorry for the confusion.

The 2013 season will consist of a single points series with throw outs. The number of races is not finalized, but we are shooting for the same as last year with an additional "special" event thrown in. It was our intention that if a new class was introduced, we could add it at the mid season break. With one single season, nothing is preventing us from trying a new class at any time. All we need is a good direction and 3-4 guys to try it out.

Thoughts?

Hi Racers !
            Want to welcome everyone back to another great season of racing!  I will put forth my best effort to make things run smoothly. This will happen with help from Red , Tony and the rest of our racers.:)
          First we need to determine what we will be flying this year, to make it fair, please cast your vote.
As far as EF-1 goes, there are more ARFs on the market now and the price has come down some. I had a thought for a class, it would be to mod the EF-1 to run slower for those of you that want the faster speeds. It could be as simple as a prop change or battery.
             I believe this would give the aircraft multi purpose, if later, you want to go faster  (and who dosn't want that) it can be done with a simple change. My two cents.
   
     Thanks

           Steve

Steve,

I really like the idea of an "into" level EF-1 class. 3 cells and 9x9 prop may work. It would be a good stepping stone after Reno 450. when folks are more comfortable with bigger planes and going faster, a battery and prop change gets them into the next class. We should do some testing. Anyone else interested in this? We could call it EF-1 lite.

My thoughts on the T-28/Corsair class are that if you have not taken a championship in that class you should be able to continue racing there. As for the new motor issue it's racing purchase a new one and bolt er in if you think they're better! A balanced prop and new motor makes the difference. I was changing out my 450's out after 3 races. I still believe that there is a void as far as a next step after T-28/Corsair. There should be a Parkzone warbird class after that (no foreseeable shortage there). Let's hear it?

Good input Tony, thanks.

I'm thinking that I should finally get off of my can and race this year.  But I have to admit that the discontinuation of the T28 concerns me.  I wouldn't have an issue up-engining mine to the current standard if she hadn't finally succumbed last year.  But in my case I need to start from scratch.

It wouldn't be the end of the world to buy a new T28 and race it for only a year but before I do I'd like to hear more about the other Parkzone warbirds.  If that is likely to shape into a class then it would factor into my decision.

Thoughts on that?  What's the forecast for T28?

Koh

Paul,

The T-28 has not been discontinued, only the grey/blue Air Force version & parts. The white/orange version is still available. I doubt they will discontinue it until they have a replacement available, and even then will continue to support it for two years with parts. This is Horizons' typical MO. My guess is that this class will survive at least this year, maybe longer.

All,

On another note, Thunder Tiger planes are still available if you do some searching. A buddy at work just bought 3 P-51's from Hobby People on-line to race this year.

 

There are 4 Parkzone warbirds that would be fun to race I think. The new Corsair 15 size motor 44 inch wingspan 30 amp speed controller 3 cells, The ME-109G 43.5 inch wingspan 15 size motor 30 amp controller, The Spitfire 43.2 inch wingspan 15 size motor 30 amp controller, The P-47 42.5 inch wingspan 15 size motor 30 amp controller. All but the ME-109 can have retracts! 9.5X7.5 stock props and a 3 or 4 cell. I made a speed prop for my Spit and it does 83 MPH with a 11X12 APC!

Lots of great reading here!

A few things I've taken away from the posts are:

Having classes we're pilots have to "hunt" for long lost airframes doesn't really make sense?

Having classes for airframes you can't get parts or support for really doesn't make sense?

It seems like T-28 is settled (for now).  As well as EF1.  What needs to be settled is what's in between.  Possibilities are:
Reno 450
Dogfighter (as it is now)
Dogfighter (slowed down)
3cell EF1
Parkzone Warbirds
Cosmic Wind (looking for Reno 450 speeds?)
T-28 Expert

Add your thoughts please!

I think the Cosmic Wind would make for a great class. Some of the plusses are -

Reasonable speeds (haven't flown one yet but sounds in between T-28 and EF-1)
No hand launching
One-design airframe in 2 colors
Exisiting 3 cell LiPo's from other classes can be used.
Airframe parts readily avalable from a local hobby shop.

I have purchased a Cosmic Wind from Jakes Performance Hobbies. ;D Because I will be testing it for a possible new class Jake Gave me a Awesome Deal. :o Thanks Jake!!! The Idea was to try and get a plane we could drop our 450 or dogfighter gear into. I don't know if we can get the speed we want with the 450 but I will bring a few different props to kick around with. If props don't work I'll try something bigger. The recommended motor is roughly 480 size. Maybe the dogfighter setup with a 9x9 prop. Got those coming out my bum.  ;D
    I  like the Cosmic Wind idea. Same idea as the dogfighter. A one airframe class using a spec motor is very appealing to me. It comes down to pilot skills not airframes. However, the more people in a class the better. More people to dice it up with. After talking with a few people they could go either way. Cosmic Wind or Dogfighter. I want to race the class with the most people. I've been doing 450 for 6 years now and want something new so I still vote for 4 classes.  What do you guys think about that?
      I hope to have both the Cosmic Wind and the Proud Bird out on Sunday. Hope the weather clears up.  :)

Adam 

Sounds cool Adam, I'll be there to check it out.

    Got started on the build and thought I would point out somethings. The motor mount will fit the 450 and 480 but would take modifying the mount to fit the eflite power 10.  :( We'll see what the 450 does and go from there. Also the way the push rods are done they have you connect the long push rod to a short one via to setscrew collet's. Might want to do something there as I think it is a weak point.
  The rest of the plane is great. The finish on the fiberglass fuse looks like glass. I had to do some heat gun and iron work on the wings and tail but that's pretty normal. I'm looking forward to see what this Cosmic Wind will do. 8)

Adam

Hey All,
    Just wanted to say the build is going a little slower than I thought. I got caught up doing some family stuff and won't have the cosmic wind ready. >:( I hope to get it done in the next few days and maybe fly sometime this week. Sorry I could not get it done in time for testing this weekend.

Adam

Racers !
             I will make another attempt to get this posted, the last couple of times did not work so well. Ok this is the breakdown with some provisions.

        T-28/Corsair
                           There has been some concern about airframe and motor. Some of you have been already racing the new motor this past season with little or no difference to the outcome of the race. The newer motor can be purchased at Jake’s . The airframe and parts will still be available through this year.
           
          Reno-450
                          This is a tough one, most of the planes we race in this class will no longer be available. At this point there should be enough to get us though the race season. We are looking for a new platform that would accommodate the motor and radio gear we use now.

          Dogfighter
                           At the end of this last season there was only one Dogfighter left. I thought it would be easy not to have DF  this year but it seems there is still interest in racing this class. I don’t want to leave anybody out . My provision would be that we slow them down a little to make it more appealing as a step up class to EF-1. We may gain a few more people in this class.  It  was the same three racers  most of the year, I would like to see more. Lets race them, if attendance dwindles we will make change at that time. Maybe EF-1 lite. It is EF-1 on a 3-cell, it works well. Just a thought.

           EF-1
                  No change
   
     So it will be 1 season with 4 heats this allows a person a better chance to catch up if you miss some races. T-28, Reno-450, Dogfighter, EF-1

 All comments welcome.

  Steve
       
   
   
   
                  


                        

Lets race!!

   The races will be on the 3rd  Sunday of the month ;D

Sorry to toss this into the works, but I just found out about it ...

Coming soon from Mulitplex:
The Razzor is the latest in the Multiplex line of compact, electric racing planes whose modern looks and demanding agility command the skies. Built with Elapor foam and carbon-reinforced wings and tail, this lightweight aircraft maintains robust, structural strength while zipping through the clouds with incredible precision and maneuverability. Its large fuselage hatch allows handy access for easy maintenance while the removable wing provides compact transportability. Armed with a high-performance brushless motor and efficient speed control, the Razzor is the quintessential racing air machine. Fly on the cutting edge with the Razzor!

This will be an RX ready set-up.  It has wheels!  I tried to post a photo, but it wouldn't let me ...  Check out the JPH facebook page for a pic.

Interesting......it's little!

Any idea when the 2013 Rules and Schedule will be posted?

The Racing starts on March 17 (third Sunday). The Only conflict I see would be Maybe Fathers day and the weekend of PCAM Airshow. That we Usually do the following Sunday. As for Fathers Day I don't know. As for the rules I believe they are the same as last year except for the prop in dogfighter. Steve and Red were gone this past weekend so hopefully we can get it picked this weekend. ;D

Adam

Adam,
            These issues were discussed by the race team at the last board meeting Steve and Phil are working on it.

Has a prop been selected for the Dogfighter Class?

I'd love to get some practice with the race set-up this weekend.

It's going to be tough to slow them down with just a prop change. I say run the 10X10.
This is racing afterall, lets go fast! ;D. There are 2 other classes that have a slower pace.
Just my 2 cents.

Can't wait til round 1!

Looking forward to next weekend!  I've been saying that I'll race this year.  Here's testimony to my commitment.

Not sure how long she'll look like this, though.

Koh

Hey Paul--If I bring my "War Weary" T-28 over will you make it look like yours only in red ??
John

Heya John

It would be a lot easier to make mine look like yours! ;D

I can put a coat of paint on for you.  Got red in the cupboard.

Koh

Brian Young says he's ready to take on all you guys !!!

Hi Racers !
            Want to thank Adam and Wylie for testing the new prop set up for Dog Fighter class. So we are going to run the 10X7 APC prop for Dog Fighter class. This change was to encourage a few that were on the fence about racing in Dogfighter. The goal is participation in all classes and if a prop change is what it takes I am all for it. Adam and Wylie purchased some 10X7 props that will be available Sunday morning. ;D

      Thanks
             Steve

Question for the race officials - our T-28 is flyable but has a pretty good chunk of foam missing from the front part of the wing. Do we need to fill this with foam or can we just shape some plastic sheeting to complete the airfoil. Want to make sure this doesn't disqualify us. Thanks.

Lots of fun yesterday. We'd like to try the dog fighter class next time, but I couldn't find the specs on the website. Do we get the stock Multiplex Dogfighter RR (with the modified prop) or different specs?  Also does it matter which battery we run? Thanks.

Andrew,

The rules are stock airframe, E-Flite power 10 outrunner, 3S battery and I'm not sure what the current spec prop is. I'm sure Adam or Jon will chime in. Give it a shot, the faster classes are a lot of fun.

Red

That was alot of fun.  And thanks to everyone who came out early and pitched in to get the field looking great.  We got the pits cleared of weeds, the run way blown off, and quite a bit of runway smoothed out.

And speaking of the runway, was that a sign of supreme proportions yesterday?  When we got there at 0900 the wind was nasty.  While we were vacillating over whether or not to postpone the race, the wind picked up a huge piece of the runway and flipped it over!  Happy to say that we perservered and that it turned out to be a nice day afterall.

Looking forward to next month!  And happy to say that Nemo still looks like this after my first foray into pylon racing:

Koh

Ben, Right now we are running the 10x7 prop. 2250mah 3cell is what we use, Anything bigger and it won't fit. So Power 10, 3 cell batt, stock airframe (except paint), 10x7 prop, 2 1/2" spinner. I will let you fly mine to see if you want to do it. When are u coming up again.

Adam

Thanks Adam, very generous of you. We went ahead and built one over the weekend, and took a few test flights. Looks like we'll be up next weekend to test it on the course.

Sweet!

Just wanted to let everyone know that on the home page under the racing tab are all the specs for the classes. The only change is in the Dogfighter class with 10x7 prop.

The points from the April race have been posted!

-Jon

The May points are now posted. The lowest round score has been dropped.

-Jon

The points update for June has been posted!

Ben and I wanted to wish everyone luck next week. We're on the East Coast this month and won't be able to race. See everyone in August!

The July points update has been posted!

-Jon

EF-1 Heat #3 from the October make up race. Be sure to watch full screen and in HD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkmEZ6Rjptc

The current points have been posted! Don't forget about the race this weekend!

-Jon

Some GoPro footage of the last EF-1 race of the day from the North Pylon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrP6LqJYZCw

Brian Young and I racing very close with the Dogfighters. If you listen closely, you can hear us touch on lap 9.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGrDfs0s45Q

The same EF-1 race I posted from this month, this time at 1/2 speed.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk7lsqBLbTs&feature=youtu.be

Here's footage from the south pylon during a EF-1 heat with Steve Cole, Jake and Tony McDonald, Wylie Walters and I at the October 6th race. I will post it at 1/2 speed next.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr77qxSsvXw

Half Speed from the South Pylon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p_rJXijN4s