Blood, the real kind......It's been years

rsv1cox Fri Mar 29, 2024 2:44 pm

since I have brought any of the red stuff to the surface. Probably about seventy years since I cut a finger or a wrist by a swinging propeller in my early teens.

As usual being stupid. Age may bring wisdom but it doesn't make you any smarter. Sad

Kind of a long story that entails two identical transmitters. The Parkzone T-28 (another thread) has gotten both me and my son interested in R/C again.

Readers know of my affection for the Navy's AD-6 (later A1) attack airplane, I was in ATKRON 35 in my early Navy days '56/'57. Big airplane with the big Wright Cyclone sitting up front. None bigger. Used in WW2 bombers. The pilots loved them. I have Cox and Wen Mac examples and five Airfield foam made in China R/C models. High quality four channels that are so well conceived and finished.

Anyway.........they have been packed away for years so I got two of them out and charged the batteries (B-25 too but that's another story). The transmitters look identical except one is a four channel, the other six which should have given me an indication..........but didn't. That stupid thing!

Batteries charged and test time. I was kneeling in front of the plane as the front is rather beefy and the tail section not and is subject to damage.

I turned the first transmitter on ensuring the throttle was at zero then connected the planes battery. Nothing! So I tried the second transmitter but forgot about setting the throttle to zero, connected the planes battery (there is no on/off switch) and it just took off inches through my sweats and into my knee. Immediate blood, sweats do not provide much protection. Smeared the blood when I rolled up my pants later cleaned off with 91% alcohol (ouch) revealing three nice slices. Never doubt the power of electrics. Broke off one of the three prop blades.

Notice the now two bladed prop. Sad

Blood, the real kind......It's been years Knee10

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Not giving up I found a Windsor prop with the same specs., bushed it to fit the smaller shafts electric and installed it.. Being careful, notice restraints, I gave it a second chance. Amazed at the power of these electrics, and more so as there is no wobble or vibration.

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Blood, the real kind......It's been years P1017348

Boats13 Fri Mar 29, 2024 4:50 pm

There is supposed to be a safety interlock on the ESC that prevents the prop from turning, until after the throttle is zeroed... none of mine will start until I push it down. It just beeps once. Then when I zero the throttle it beeps three times, to let me know it armed the throttle. I actually make sure my throttle is at least half or full, so it won't arm while I am checking control surface movement. Man, that looks painful, sir! 1994 was my last prop strike. TeeDee .049. I slipped the first flip and it kicked over. I was not paying enough attention. Started right up, when it finished with my finger. I was flipping with my left hand.

Blood, the real kind......It's been years 17117410

Sorry to see that, Mr. Bob.

CT

Boats13 Fri Mar 29, 2024 5:12 pm

Meant to say hope it heals up fast!
How do you like the Airfield planes, other than the mean-ness of them?! There's a fella on evilBay that has a couple of P-40's (my weakness) but he wants $300 for them. It seemed a bit excessive, to me.
I won't fly with the supplied radio and receiver. I would put a frSky stabilized receiver in it and use my MicroStar2000 converted Kraft Single Stick. I've been flying Mode 5 since 1993. Just getting back into it in the last 3 years, slowly. I've been strangely happy with the convenience of electric. But, I dearly miss the smell of nitro and diesel and that scream. Nothing but an Allison or Merlin comes close to that scream of a Cox unloading to MAX RPM in a shallow dive going the length of the runway and pulling up and around again!

CT

rsv1cox Fri Mar 29, 2024 6:33 pm

Thanks CT, healing up fast. Considering my usual injuries it's just a scratch albiet three of them. I'm a stupid but tough old bird.

Yes, I love the Airfield line of R/C airplanes. Especially the B-25 fully equipped, red/right returning lights, super bright landing lights, retracts, name it. I'm no longer in flat Florida and a member of a flying club, here in mountainous West Virginia I have not flown it. Just taxied it around the driveway, lifting it off and cutting the throttle. Still a blast. Just no place around here with room to fly it.

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$300 even for two sounds like to much. I have the similiar sized BF-109 that I bought for around $80 NIB, but I don't think they are still available.

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The AD-6's came in two styles and prices. Both extremely well presented and packed. Notice the difference in the landing gear and the four vs. three bladed props.

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I love this photo:

Blood, the real kind......It's been years A-1h_s10

The "E" symbol in the Navy is awarded for battle effectiveness.

and............I have that same scar, experienced in my teens, also a scary set right over the veins in my wrist while reaching for the needle. I would think that the vast majority of members here have something similiar.

Boats13 Fri Mar 29, 2024 11:06 pm

Bob,
I'll bet there are PLENTY of scars on here!. Every time I read something by Mr Cook, I want to get a finger count! Holy cow, those engines demand the same respect as a chainsaw at full throttle!!

LoL, try $300 apiece!

I agree, the scale accuracy is amazing. Our cutter owned multiple "E'"s for excellence, but not combat. It was proficiency rating from STAN (standardization) Teams. Only earned it for a complete and cohesive response on every evolution from all departments/teams, Engineering, D/C, Deck, Navigation, Aids to Navigation (buoys and lights- setting and maintenance), etc. Part of that was chainsaw use, lol! Clearing land around land based Lights and Lighthouses. It was tough to earn.

Glad you're healing fast. Those three will leave marks!

CT

Oldenginerod Sat Mar 30, 2024 1:46 am

No photos, and no distinguishable scars (because after 48 years of fixing cars full time, everything is scars), But i remember my last prop strike. Trying to start my OS FS-60 in front of a crowd. Started peferctly at home with no-one watching, doing it the recommended way of bouncing it backwards off compression. As the spectators became impatient I ended up rushing the process and forgot about the backwards flip. First "conventional" flip saw the brand new 12" wood prop catch me across the back of my right index finger, taking out quite a chunk. "Nothing to see here folks". Embarassed

(How embarrassing!!).

GallopingGhostler Sat Mar 30, 2024 2:01 am

rsv1cox wrote:I love this photo:

The "E" symbol in the Navy is awarded for battle effectiveness.

Bob, your last photo adds meaning to "taking a dump" or "dropping a load". Reading

Ken Cook Sat Mar 30, 2024 6:32 am

The worst I ever witnessed was at Brodak's. A fellow who was on blood thinners received a cut so bad he had to be heli'd from the clinic. It was bad. This was with a inverted engine and reaching under FROM THE FRONT of the running engine to remove the igniter. The cut looked like it spiraled up his entire arm as the plane climbed up it. Why do people do this ? I see this with regular frequency.

rsv1cox Sat Mar 30, 2024 8:15 am

- Yeah George I would like to know the back story regarding that bomb drop. Viet Nam era, the A1 was very active there.

Yes, healing up nicely. Just to see I reattached the blade with a combination of CA and Testors red. Display only and I marked both sides with a red dot. Centrifical force would send it flying. I think I will nail it to the wall in my workshop as a reminder.

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I still love that model.

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akjgardner Sat Mar 30, 2024 8:30 am

rsv1cox wrote: - Yeah George I would like to know the back story regarding that bomb drop. Viet Nam era, the A1 was very active there.

Yes, healing up nicely. Just to see I reattached the blade with a combination of CA and Testors red. Display only and I marked both sides with a red dot. Centrifical force would send it flying. I think I will nail it to the wall in my workshop as a reminder.

I still love that model.

glad it’s healing Bob , I have not had any prop damage to myself , but have had an exacto knife cut or 3 . That is a nice looking model , looking at one of the real Skyraider pictures here , I had no Idea it was such a big airplane .

davidll1984 Sat Mar 30, 2024 8:45 am

Outch

My poor friend it can't be pleasant, I hope it's not too deep But it could be worse it could be a fingers a hand cut harder deeper you had your pants ??? of course if yes it served as protection in some way and save the worse I am surprised that this happened. Normally a good ESC refuses to start when the gas is not in neutral position

rsv1cox Sat Mar 30, 2024 8:52 am

davidll1984 wrote:Outch My poor friend it can't be pleasant, I hope it's not too deep But it could be worse it could be a fingers a hand cut harder deeper you had your pants ??? of course if yes it served as protection in some way and save the worse I am surprised that this happened. Normally a good ESC refuses to start when the gas is not in neutral position

Thanks David, CT too. I will have to look into that. Differences in electronics between the standard and deuxe versions.

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rsv1cox Sun Mar 31, 2024 7:30 am

This thread gave me an excuse to dig out some of my Skyradiers. The Wen Mac example (blue bomb) is exceptional for quality and fit and finish. Cox offered the Skyraider with standard and blip throttles.