Conference vmszoo::rc

    Re: .-1,
    
    You betcha' I've heard of oldtimers.  Several of my best R/C buddies
    are heavily involved in this facet of R/C.  In fact, I have an 80"
    Playboy Senior on the bench right now needing only the wing finished
    to be ready for flight.  (Gotta' kick muh'self in the a** and get
    this bird completed.)    

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

    I wish I knew how to spell a "Bronx-Cheer."

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

Old Timers are probably the fastest growing facet of our sport. The last Oz 
Nats had in excess of 150 contestants in the three categories, one of the 
largest events.

Old timer is controlled by the Society of Antique Models (SAM), they have 
chapters in most countries including the US, I could probably find an address 
if you are interested. 

Models are required to conform to an age criteria of the original plan.

The three events are "Texaco" which is a time duration event with a limited 
fuel allocation based on model weight, motor type, motor age, etc. The winner 
is determined by the flight time and the closeness to a landing spot.

Duration is basically the same except it is a timed engine run as opposed to 
limited fuel allocation.

2cc is the latest of the events, I don't know too much about it except diesels 
appear to be the go.

I can go through my rule book and get more detail if any body is interested.

John.

    John,
    
    I wouldn't know if it's the same in Oz, but SAM rules in the U.S.
    are going through a period of turmoil; wing-loading requirements
    are being increased (supposedly to decrease the number of planes
    in fly-offs), many/most/maybe all "non-conventional" building ma-
    terials, e.g. foam [ribs], carbon fiber, etc. are being outlawed,
    etc., etc.  A move toward more authentically built/powered models
    appears to be underway; I believe scaling (up _or_ down) is also
    being eliminated.
    
    At any rate, I bring this up only to suggest that a visit to yer'
    rule book would likely prove fruitless, owing to the state of flux
    SAM rules appear to be in presently.   

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

Likewise Al, the Oz geriatric modellers (sorry old timers) are going through a
bit of turmoil. Our main problem is that the event is becoming too specialized,
it was conceived as an event for the "general modeller" low key, fun and
unspecialized, in that form it is extremely successful. Today because of the
height some of the models are reaching the older modellers or those who look at
the world through the bottom of Coke bottles have severe difficulty seeing the
models at the end of the climb out. Models are lost quite frequently. The fun 
aspect is being replaced by serious competition to the dissatisfaction of the 
majority of competitors.

The push at present is to impose a minimum wing loading to limit the altitude 
and make the model conform to the original plan in building technique as well 
as appearance.

John

RE .5
>    many/most/maybe all "non-conventional" building ma-
>    terials, e.g. foam [ribs], carbon fiber, etc. are being outlawed,
>    etc., etc.  A move toward more authentically built/powered models
>    appears to be underway;

Is authentic radio equipment also required?? :-)

   Actually, i've got one. It's about 1930s vintage and was made in
   England. I don't remember the name of the mfgr. but it has a single tube
   transmitter on 27MHZ (crystal controlled even!!!) and a single tube
   regen. receiver driving an escapement (single channel). As far as I know
   it's never been flown and I sure don't intend to as it's more valuable
   as a conversation piece/antique than flight hardware, and i've got this
   vision of turning on the base unit/w 9' whip antenna and shooting down
   everybody in sight (1991 it's not). 

G Schrader

    Re: .-1,
    
    No, vintage radio equipment is not required though some of the diehards
    like to use it in the name of total authenticity.  The same is true
    of engines, though modern engines are penalized via shorter engine
    run times.  Most serious oldtimers run antique engines or authentic  
    replicas of same.  My 80" Playboy Senior is powered with a Super
    Cyclone .61 on spark ignition.  

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

    In that case, does anyone want to buy my old F&M single-channel
    escapement radio?  27MHz, probably still works!  Over 20 years old.
    
    Never been crashed ('cuz the plane it's in has never been flown).
    	
    	-Bill