[thechat] Build Your Own C-17
Luther, Ron
ron.luther at hp.com
Thu Jun 17 10:41:56 CDT 2004
Bob Davis asked:
>>You know this guy, Ron?
Welllll, not him, specifically ... but guys like him? Sure.
I've met some of the "home grown plans - build it yourself" R/C folks.
I've met some of the "I have to pull it in a trailer because it's too
dang big to fit in my vehicle" folks. The folks who have to start the
motor(s) and taxi to the runway because the plane is too big and heavy
to carry over to the field.
I think the biggest one I've seen in person was a 'Piper Cub' looking
thing that had to be about 8 feet from nose to tail. It was kinda scary.
(Other folks were saying that guy left the 'big' planes at home that day!)
Actually Bob, I'm more surprised the 'mechanically gifted' folks (like
yourself) aren't on this bandwagon ... have you *seen* the technology
available for R/C these days?
.. Carbon fiber chassis
.. completely adjustable suspensions; camber, caster, toe-in, etc.
.. not merely oil-filled shocks - but re-fillable shocks so you can
change the viscosity damping to suit local track conditions.
.. Re-packable wheel bearings
Just crazy stuff.
On the gas side, it's not just single cylinder 2-stroke motors anymore.
Nowadays you can get 4-stroke motors, flat twins, flat fours, diesels,
ducted fan (jet) motors, even Wankel motors! IIRC, my brother was
recently showing me some price lists for bolt-on 'roots' style
superchargers.
Electric is almost as crazy with hand-wound brushless motors and such.
Somebody (Team Rum Runner?) recently set an electric r/c speedboat
record at 120+ mph. [I think they had a meet at Lake Conroe last year
... about 45 minutes from my office - but I missed it.]
These days it seems to be a more of a cost effective way for motor heads
to play with fancy technology than a hobby for toys.
RonL.
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