Genesee Valley Aero Modelers

Editor: Glenn Crocker
21 Highview Trail
Pittsford, NY 14534

One of my pet peeves is an editorial that isn’t an editorial at all. For example, one magazine I read regularly has an editorial that just tells you what is in the magazine this month. I don’t know about you, but if I want to know what is in the magazine, I just look at the index not the editorial. I always thought the editorial was a place for someone to express their thoughts or opinions about one or more subjects.

One of my favorite editorials to read is in our AMA magazine, Model Aviation. It’s the editorial by Bob Hunt, the aero modeling editor. He quite often gives me some good insight into things going on in modeling of all kinds, not just RC. Because all I do is RC, it’s nice to learn about some of the other aspects of our hobby. Bob also gets into things about the magazine itself. For example, in the January 2003 issue, he talks about how our hobby has changed because of the preponderance of ARF’s that are out there, and what he referred to as "sport fliers". People who do not build their own planes, but do fly them. The flier that does build his own plane, he refers to as a "classic modeler". Bob notes that because of this change, they have decided to change the magazine to better reflect the needs and interest of their readers.

My goal in writing this little editorial for you each month has been to let you know what’s going on in the club, tell you a little bit about me, and to give you my opinion about things. Hopefully I can do this in a way that is interesting and entertaining, and doesn’t offend anyone.

On a different subject, thanks to every one who brought items in for our club swap meet last month. Things did seem to be changing hands so I think it was a success. My thought in recommending this was to give other club members a chance at items we may not currently want or need anymore. I don’t know if we could call the swap meet a big success, but I think there was enough of an interest to try it again next year.

"Dear Mr. Penguin, I want to get into flying electric planes. I've been told that peak charging the batteries is very important for maximum performance. What's your suggestion? - I M Fried"

Personally, I never use a peak charger on my electric packs. I generally connect them straight to a car battery, and use the "flow" technique to tell when they're charged. In other words, when the metal straps connecting the individual battery cells start to melt and flow, it's a good sign that the pack is fully charged. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

By the time you read this you will have eaten too much turkey, watched too much football done too little flying and will be ready for the Frozen Finger Fly on Jan 1^st. Plan to join us for a great time.

We have had a couple of decent days in November when we could get some flying in but I think from now on we will be flying off the white stuff. Remember that we have an invite to fly from the snow at the RAMS Macedon field on Tuesday mornings. The shelter and fireplace make this a fun morning.

We are safe until spring - the Titusville Terror (Tom Brown) has gone to Florida for the winter. I have already had e-mails from the Moon Port modelers that they are having a little difficulty getting the Yankee out of him and may deport him to the North without his long johns.

If someone has an indoor flying schedule and will get it to me, I will put it in the Newsletter.

The program for our December meeting will be a video of the Skymasters RC Michigan 2000 Float fly.

See you at the December meeting. If you do fly this winter be sure to keep an eye out for the Finger Lakes snow snake.

It is that time of year again. Dues are due by 12/31/02. I will begin collecting at the November meeting.

I will be taking fuel orders again this year. I plan to take orders at the December and January meeting and place the fuel order prior to 2/15/03. The fuel is Red Max Fuel.

The price has gone up this time around (approximately 5%). The price this year will be:

If you need higher nitro or different lube blends they can accommodate these needs.
If you can’t get to the meeting, send your order and check to :

Glenn Crocker
21 Highview Trail
Pittsford, NY 14534

Picked up my HLG for a test glide
and smiling I went outside.
Tossed it around, adjusting this and that.
Flew it out then he headed it back.
Lost my airspeed, as I sometimes do,
into terra firma it helplessly flew.
After stepping back to survey the damage,
went back inside to apply a CA bandage. Opened new bottle, and boy, out it flows,
now my right hand's fingers are stuck together, froze.
Now I'm typing with my left hand to complete this flyer, while my right foot stomps the balsa out of my glider.
Now I sit, one-handed and broken-hearted,
looking at HLG plans, hopefully soon to get started. Now if only I can unstick my fingers before I seethe wife,
I'm afraid she'll tease me for the rest of my life.

Submitted by Sherwin Arculis, Huntsville, AL.

Submitted by Tony Brister, Lamberton, Minnesota.

With the weather turning colder, many of us will be storing our airplanes in preparation for the winter building season. Here are some tips that will make a happy aircraft and a happy flier come next spring.

The Engine: After a day's flying, you should always get the unburned fuel out of the engine. You do this by pulling off the fuel feed from the carburetor, attaching the glow driver, and flipping the prop. The engine may run a little or just pop. When there are no more pops, all the fuel is gone. Next, be sure that all of the fuel is out of the tank. You would not believe the green slimy crud that will grow inside a tank with fuel left in it, so be certain you get all of it out. After removal from the airplane, the outside of the engine should be cleaned off. Block off the carburetor inlet and the exhaust outlet with some wadded up paper towel. Then get an old toothbrush and some engine cleaner (409, Fantastic, Windex, Comet Cleanser, etc.) and scrub the engine down. When everything is clean, wipe it down with a rag. Oiling the inside of the engine comes next. Use Marvel Mystery Oil (The Air Tool Oil) or plain old automatic transmission fluid for this. For two-stroke engines, squirt some oil into the exhaust outlet, remove the glow plug and squirt some into the combustion chamber. For four-stroke engines, squirt oil into the crank case vent, and for the top end, remove the glow plug and lubricate the valve train by squirting oil into the combustion chamber. Make sure your glow plug is removed from the engine. Then use your electric starter and turn the engine over for a second or two. This will distribute the oil throughout the inside of the engine (including the front bearings). Be sure to lubricate the carburetor too so it doesn't get stuck. Put the glow plug back in, and wrap your engine in a clean cotton rag. This will allow it to breath over the winter. Don't put it in a plastic bag because it could trap moisture and cause rust and corrosion.

The Airframe: Build some more wing racks if need be, and store your wings on it. (A recent article in RCModeler magazine shows how to do this). Don't stack them in a pile or lean them in a corner or you'll end up with a warped wing. Hang the fuselage somewhere up and out of the way.

The Radio: Once every month, charge your system overnight. Keep a logbook to record when you do this so you don't forget. Then once every two months, after you do the overnight charge, use an ESV, battery cycler or just run the system for 1½ to 2 hours. Charge the system again overnight. Don't store the radio anywhere where it will get too cold (like in an unheated garage).

From the Columbia RC Club via Contact
First State RC Club
Tim Mihalski, editor
Hockessin D