Model Aeroplane Notes

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 99, 29 April 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

Model Aeroplane Notes

Quite a few inquiries have been received seeking information as to the type of machine used by Mr. A. Hobday, jun., in his record-breaking flight of 18 minutes 54 4-5 seconds recently at Feilding. It is interesting to note that the successful 'plane is an old friend under a slightly different guise. The model was a "Grey's" design spar model, originally made by Vernon Grey, of Auckland, as an indoor duration machine. The cleverness displayed by Mr. Hobday in converting this to a successful outdoor flyer may be judged by the following description, which i quote in full, just as I received it. "Dear Propeller,—Re inquiries mentioned in last week's notes for particulars of A. Hobday, jun.'s, outdoor spar model and weather conditions during record flight, the model was a Grey's design (plans and particulars of which appeared in these notes on December 17, 1932) of slightly stronger build, the wing being sprayed with water and tail boom in line with motor stick. The bearing i was made from 27 S.W.G. wire wound four times round 24 S.W.G., the front lead then being bent back so that both down parts litted flat against the front of the motor stick. The bearing was turned against the torque so that the propeller spindle was running at an angle to .the motor stick, thus giving a sharp turn which prevented stall, for three strands of. £in rubber were used with oin overlap, being hand wound 1000 turns. Weather conditions: Air, still and warm. Above about 30ft thistledown indicated a good rifting current. At 12 J minutes the 'plane was directly overhead. It then drifted slightly south, and was returning when it suddenly tilted sharp, nose down, and landed quickly about 150 yards from the launching point. The model steadily climbed in small circles to about 7jooft to 800 ft and remained at about that height until its sudden dive down, which may have been due to the fact that the rubber became detached from its hook. The propeller was made from a block of balsa Oin x ljin x -Jin." It is interesting to note the novel means employed to get the turning movement of the 'plane. In discussing this with some advanced flyerg, the other day it seemed that quite a lot of drag would be obviated,, by using this method, particularly in indoor models, where the rudder 'has to be given a very large angle in order to get the machine circling in a small space.

CLUB NOTES, The Chriotchurch Modei Aero Interclub Committee conducted, a field day in North Hagley Park on Easter Monday. Representatives of the three clubs connected with the committee —the "Star" Model Aero Club, the Canterbury Model Aero Club, and the Society of Model Aero Engineers —competed. Members of the Avoii6ide Model Aero Club also were present. The morning was warm, with light northerly aire, while the model events were being flown off, but towards noon a gusty nor'-wester began to blow and air conditions deteriorated. There were numerous retirements from the hand-launched fuselage event, owing to breakages; and, as the wind persisted, the r.o.g. fuselage event was abandoned. There was a splendid line of twelve scale models for inspection bv the I judges. It had been intended to award ] points equally for construction and dura-

tion, but the judges found tlio work so even that tlie scale events were decided on duration alone. A great deal of interest was aroused by the appearance of two compressed air motor models from the workshop of the Stace family. The competitions, in which duration was well below normal owing to the adverse conditions, resulted:- — FUSELAGE MODELS. Hand-launched. A. .7. Dacombe (C.M.A.C.), 00, OS, 07 out of sight: av. SSsec 1 W. Forrester (C.M.A.C.), St', 4S, 50; av. oOsec- - I. Ken' (S.M.A.C.). 54, 32. ■!<>; av 4-lsec 3 V. Gurther (C.M.A.E.), 87 30, 28; av. 32see — F. G. Stanley <C.M.A,E.). 50, 27. unfinished — M. Cook (S.M.A.C.), 24, 39. 21 : av. 2Ssec— D. Grilfen (S.M.A.C.), 35, 13. unfinished — SCALE MODELS. Monoplane. VV. Alexander (C.M.A.E.), av. Sssec .... 1 Biplane. W. Alexander (C.M.A.E.), av. 33see .. 1 L. Matthews (C.M.E.E.), av. '-Msec ....... 2 K. Cashuiore (S.M.A.C,), av. l'3sec 3 Auckland.—The Auckland Model Aeroplane Club held an all-day outing at One Tree Hill, and a full programme of competition was held. The day was windy, but oil the whole the flying was quite good. Scale models and fuselage machine were in evidence, and the new r.o.g. board was appreciated. Waikato Winter Show. —There will be a series of competitions both for flying and for workmanship at the forthcoming Waikato Show. Full details will be given later. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. N.C., Otahuhu, writes that he lias just started on model aeroplane building, making a commencement with the soaring glider.—Good luck, Noel, may you have seme fine flights, S.J., Paekakariki, writes, asking for the plans of a Bristol Fighter and a Nieuport "Baby Scout." The plans of the Nieuport appeared in these notes on February 25 last. The Bristol Fighter plans I hope to publish soon. R.O.G. stands for rise off ground, R.0.W., rise off water, and H.L., hand launched. J.S., Auckland, says he has built the S.E. 5, the Southern Cross -and the Nieuport Baby Scout from the plans appearing in these columns. He keeps the plans in an old exercise book for handy reference. A.E.C., Dromore, states that he has built the Southern Cross model and has timed it to fly 40 seconds. This is jolly good flying for a scale model. S.J.McK., Te Kuiti, wants to know details of liquid to use in a rocket plane. Can any of my readers help out this correspondent. 1 confess that the onlv rocket planes I have had any experience with were powered with i ordinary rockets. They did about three loops in quick succession and then crashed, so, could hardly be called successful. V.G., Pufeeatna, and A.M., Hawera. Plans of the Southern Cross have been posted you. Note. —I receive a number of inquiries fqr plans that have appeared in back numbers of the model aeroplane notes. Most of these are available to any yf \ my readers who desire them. Send 2d in stamps and an addressed envelope to Propeller, C/o the "Auckland Star," and they will be forwarded you.

Double Crochet (see diagram D). — This usually requires to be worked firmly, evenly, and with medium tension. Make the required length of chain. First row: Miss two chain stitches (draw a loop through the next chain stitch, then draw a loop through both the stitches on the hook.) Repeat these bracketed instructions to the end of the row; 2 chain stitches; turn. Second row: Note the two chain stitches at the turning of the previous rqw forms the first stitch. (Draw a loop through the next double crochet; draw a loop through both stitches on the hook.) Repeat bracketed instructions to the end of row; 2 chain stitches; turn.

Repeat the second row for the length required.

Two different effects can be obtained from the above stitch as follows: — No 1, Diagram E, shows the flat surface. This is produced by inserting the hook for each new stitch through the two threads forming a chain along the top edge of the previous row. No. 2, Diagram F, is an example of the ridged surface. This is produced by inserting the hook for each new stitch through the back thread of the stitches that lie along the top edge of the previous row. I think we will finish at this point this week, girls. You will find that by studying the diagrams carefully the first crocheting lessons are simplified very considerably. Don't forget to write to me if you are puzzled over any of the points mentioned above.