Lack Of Flying This Year

Sorry, no new birds. The .40 scratch build I mentioned is also an airboat. Just finished sealing it and every spare minute I get I will be working on getting it done. I will try to post a picture of it Sunday night. But beware, it is not finished.

Good to hear things will work out!

You can fly RC with a simulator using a tablet or a computer. You could try your hand at RC
something simple that requires no pit man as in CL unless you use a launch stooge perhaps.

I do the old string and pin trick to launch mine for roll out but I mainly fly RC so hasn't been an issue.

Cheers,

Thanks for the compliments and advice. I do fly smaller electric foamies. I guess I better start putting wheels on things.

NEW222 wrote:Thanks for the compliments and advice. I do fly smaller electric foamies. I guess I better start putting wheels on things.

Good news concerning your Dad! He's a lucky man both; health-wise and also to have a caring son in you.

Nothing wrong with putting wheels on a model airplane.. I don't know of many "full-scale" that would get off the ground without them!

A Roddie "quick and dirty" cheap method.. (you may already have everything you need)

A simple inverted V-strut made of 3/64" (.047") music-wire can be slipped between the engine and firewall of an .049 reedie-powered model. Make your axle-bends (3/8" to 1/2") and maybe make some wheels using plastic "checkers" or "poker-chips". Drill hubs using a common 1/16" drill-bit. (3/64" would be ideal if you have one..) Wheel-retainers can be made from sheet-tin cut into small discs. Place them on a wood-block and pierce them on center with a push-pin.. so that they push-onto the axle tightly. (push-on using a piece of sm. rigid tubing.. or something to avoid poking your finger/thumb.. maybe a metal dinner-fork) Use them on the inside and outside of the wheel-hubs.. especially if your hubs are oversize for the axles. This will help them to track straight.. as well as keeping them from "buffeting" in flight.

You say that you're working on a "pin-stooge".. EXCELLENT!! Linking the airplane up, can be done in a variety of ways. A "quick and dirty" way (especially if you have no tail-gear..) is to drill a small hole through the bottom tail of the fuse and thread a string through with a loop on the tag-end to engage the pin. Simple.. and very unlikely to cause any interference with the elevator-horn.

"All" of my models have pin-stooge-links.. whether it's a music-wire tail-skid with a loop formed on the end.. or (one of my personal favorites..) a wood popsicle stick/tail-skid with a hole drilled in it.. a large-size line-connector placed between a tail-wheel and it's strut.. whatever works.

Your dad would love to see you flying as he recuperates.. I'm sure! A little Pee Wee or Babe Bee powered model can be flown almost anywhere! Make up a set of 20-25 foot lines.. grab him a lawn chair and have some fun!

I should practice what I preach...

While my lack of flying is all about the weather, I see that you have a much bigger challenge.. and sounds like your dad will get through this and you and your dad can have more years of being kids a few hours here and there...a good thing

watch your old man closely the first few weeks... by pass surgery has many complications (mostly from the post op drugs).. you see any issues with him, skin color, not bath rooming regularly, lethargic, slurred speech... ( I am sure doc said what to look for)... get him to hospital ASAP!

My Father in law just had that same surgery a few months back and had bad complications from the blood thinners... almost lost him again

Not intending to add to your stress levels... but you get the idea...he is your only father...
Our prayers are out there for you and family

Thank you all again for the help, tips, advice and prayers. It is greatly appreciated.