Warringah
Radio Control
Society Incorporated (Incorporated under the Association Incorporation Act 1984) Newsletter - August 2006 |
| Warringah
Radio Control
Society Incorporated (Incorporated under the Association Incorporation Act 1984) Newsletter - August 2006 |
Stan Begg's large scale P-40N Kittyhawk caught in flight at May Scale Day - report inside photo John
Giffard
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The next meeting will be the TRASH AND TREASURE NIGHT to be held on Tuesday, 8th August 2006 at Tennis Cove, Eastern Valley Way, starting at 7.30 pm. The next meeting after that will be on Tuesday, 12th September 2006 |
 AGM
2006After many years of the same faces, it was nice to see some new life injected into the Committee, the following officebearers were elected:
Colin Simpson (the outgoing President) thanked the support he received throughout this and previous years from the outgoing Committee for their hard work in making sure that 2005/6 was a successful year, he also thanked the maintenance team of Grant Furzer, Peter Sharpe, Warren Lewis, Des Rim, Barry Mason, David Hollander and Brian Porman. He especially thanked George Ward for the work on maintaining the lawnmower assets of the Club and David Menzies and Ron Clark for pampas grass control. Thanks during the night were also expressed to Graham Swalwell (Hon.Auditor), Lynette Austen and Stefi Grech (X-mas Party Co-ordinators), Garry Welsh (MAS rep), George Atkinson (C.F.I.) and Tom Wolf (the Editor of your Mag). We wish the new Committee a successful 2006/7. |
If prevailing weather conditions make you uncertain as to whether the event is being held or postponed, please check this Website on the morning of the event. |
 STATUS
ON MAAA CARDAt the MAS AGM, Lyle Broadbelt reported
that the flight status problems recorded on the 2005/6 membership cards
had been rectified as the MAAA records have now been brought up-to-date.
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As a result, it was decided that Members should be reminded that: a. The same rules apply every day of the week, there are no special rules or exemptions for mid-week or any other days. b. Also, all unpleasantness about anti-social behaviour and conduct should be resolved by the Members affected, but if a courteous request for a Member to moderate his/her conduct is ignored then upon written complaint the Committee may need to take action, including possibly the termination of Club membership; c. All engines (including electric motors) are only to be started in the pit area, and definitely not inside either shed. It was even suggested that it was a good idea to only place batteries into the model in the pit area. d. Noise is potentially a major problem and the Club will conduct noise checks on a random basis. If you wish to check the noise emitted by your aircraft to ensure that it complies before the Club's checks are put into effect, Garry Welsh has volunteered his equipment to be used by Members at the field. In most cases noise problems can be overcome by means as simple as changing propellers. e. The article in the Mag about insurance for learner pilots is incorrect (the MAAA rules definitely state that insurance is extended to students whilst being instructed by a qualified instructor). This has been clarified with MAS who will advise in their next Newsletter. f. There was a lengthy discussion about the charging of batteries for electric models which then flatten the shed batteries. The shed batteries are primarily for the charging of transmitter and receiver batteries, and just like the Club doesn't provide methanol fuel for the glow engines, the primary purpose of the charging panels is not for the charging of power batteries for the electric models. The Club is however installing two more charging panels in the next few weeks to overcome congestion in the sheds. |
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Not only that, but if the models face away from the field then fumes etc. are blown all over the pilots while they are concentrating on flying. Recently a pilot couldn't hear that he had a dead-stick because there was a plane just started and revved up right behind where the pilots stand. There were only 5 models at the field at the time and there was lots of room elsewhere in the pits area. A little common sense or courtesy could have avoided the problem. What do you think?? |
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The keys at the field were changed straight after the AGM, and your old key will be totally useless to try to gain entry to the field. Thos who have not renewed should be aware that WRCS has a membership ceiling and we have reached over the 3/4 mark with less than the first month of the new year gone, membership is on a first come first served basis. |
 Peter
Coles of Model Aero
Products has kindly donated
prizes to WRCS over some time, and has again supported us for the raffle
with a great first prize. If you have need for Peter's assistance, he can
be contacted on 9975 5219 or visit his Webpage at www.modelaeroproducts.com
Col Taylor Models of Wagga Wagga has also provided some items for the X-mas Party door prizes. Visit Col's site at http:// coltaylormodels.com We are grateful for the support we received
in 2006 from these suppliers
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2006 Membership Draw  With
the support of Discovery Air Tours who have provided heavily discounted
tickets, it has been decided that this year WRCS will hold a Membership
Draw.
The names of all Senior members current as at 1 December 2006 will be placed into a draw to be held at the Christmas Party on 9 December 2006, the winner will receive a trip for two on the Mudgee Winery Tour, traveling by DC-3 aircraft. Discovery provide DC-3 flights to Temora for the air shows and various other funfilled sightseeing trips. If you wish to have more details about Discovery Air Tours or wish to see what terrific flight packages they have available, visit their website at www.DC3.com.au . |
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 Electric
PopularityAnd then along has come the "Komet" phase of foamies which seems to have really caught on, and they are now flown very effectively by Harry Hubmann, Barry Campbell (pic on left) and others, you can see these guys combating mid-week and physically knocking each other about in the air (without any apparent harm to the foam models). The next phase to hit us is that of the
high standard of electrics exhibited by Zdenek Fryc of Euromodels and Peter
Papas at the May Scale Day.
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Second and third place were selected by Pilots choice with each participating pilot voting for the respective places. The end of the days flying saw the following results ; Perpetual Trophy Winner
- Colin Mitchell SE5a
Mark Connor conducted quite a detailed
flight by flight analysis over a number of factors to come up with the
winner and only half a point separated Colin from Peter.
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by Brian "Jimmy Olsen"
Porman
No, not that sort of sweep! A surf boat sweep.
Warringah Radio Aero Modellers come in all ages and shapes and PETER
CLARKE, although 'getting on', so to speak, is as fit as any
member half his age. He has been surfing since he was a little kid, and
has been a boat sweep for more than 50 years (before that he swam for his
club, South Narrabeen.
Pete was seven when WWII broke out. In 1940 his Dad, in the Australian Army, was killed in Egypt. As a kid during the was, he caddied at Long Reef and recalls how lousy Norman von Nida was. "the Von" gave a zac (sixpence or 5 cents) when the going rate was a bob (one shilling or 10 cents). Pete really wanted to be a jockey but was told that as he had big feet he would be too big, which as it turned out was spot on. Peter was not into aero modelling as a pre teen or teenager. In fact he was nearly 40 when he started. He and Bob Bellyea were the first to sight the Belrose quarry, now our home. But more about that later. Pre marriage, Pete's life was varied but consistent, very much like the rest of us at the same period. Surf/sun/beer/football/dances/etc. Summers -swimming, winters -football. He was called up to grade but did not get a run so he accepted to play in McKay, 1950-53. The contract promised match payment, accommodation and a job. Terrific!! Well, not really. First year McKay hardly ever won and Pete was, in his words, terrible. When queried about his form Pete explained that the problem was quite simple. He was plum tuckered out from the provided job of cane cutting, and/or drunk because the accommodation was at the Pub! The coach fixed that. Accommodation was moved from the Pub, where he and the boys were continually on the turps, to a private home. The job of cane cutting, where any energy left was used to lift a schooner, was changed to a cushy office job. Voila. Energy to burn, but then he broke a leg. One of Pete's pursuits as a young blade in the fifties, was running Collaroy Surf Club Dances. (That's also when the Three Muskateers haunted the place). Dances in the fifties and sixties were the place to meet girls. Where both of you could see what was on offer. Unlike today's internet chat rooms where the girls eventually find out that your 6ft is actually 5ft 9" and a bit! But despite having the inside running at his dance hall, Pete one day chatted up a glamorous brunette on the Manly Corso, the other well known happy hunting ground fro meeting the opposite sex back in those days. The beautiful brunette, Shirley, after the usual courting, thought she could straighten this handsome lifesaver out and finally relented to his proposals and they were married in 1958. Shirley is another of the very supportive WRCS wives mentioned in previous articles. I  n
the late 40's Peter was one of the beltmen in a tragic Surf Carnival at
Dee Why. Pete was a beltman in the R & R race and was being hauled
back with his patient in big seas and choking weed. His mate Merv Fletcher
was ahead in the race back to the beach on another line but it had been
dragged down by the weed. The line men kept hauling and Merv went under
and drowned as he could not release his belt. Peter saw what was happening
but his team had stopped pulling the line because of the extraordinary
amount of weed, so enabling him to get sufficient slack to slip the belt.
The death resulted in the redesign of the belt with a quick release pin.
Pete said he lost several friends to drowning in big seas in his young
days.
"Where is Clarkey?" is a common call, any summer at the field and the reply invariably is "He's with the girls!" By golly he has it made! "His girls" are the South Narrabeen womens surf club boat crew. Oh, he also sweeps and coaches the Masters and B crews. As we said he has been sweeping for over 50 years, and boy you have to be fit for that.  In
1965 he went to South Africa as Captain of the Manly Warringah surf team,
they won two of three tests and participated in 20 carnivals over a 5 1/2
week period.
Pete's first proper job was, wait for it, with Tooth's Brewery. Wouldn't you know it!! But whilst "the Sweep" title has been chosen for this thumbnail sketch, it could just as well have been the "Travelling W*R*A*M"! Peter has been very big in the Tasmanian Government Travel Office, in fact after 41 years he has only just retired this year as a travel consultant to the Innkeeper Hotels and Tasvillas. Pete set up travel offices for the Tassie Government in places such as Singapore, Manilla, Christchurch and Los Angeles. Surfing is "writ big" in Pete and Shirley's lives. So is sailing. Peter had a yacht but always wanted a "Cavalier" and when he found out that Tom Sparkes was selling, bought it on the spot. But whenever he has no surf club or sailing commitments Pete arrives at Belrose on Saturday mornings with his signature greeting - "Good morning Ladies (if they are there) and Gentlemen and Grant!" As mentioned, Pete cam into R/C late, but that was way back in 1972 when he saw some modellers at North Narrabeen. Those are the guys, such as Bob Bellyea, John Piggott, Jack Black who pioneered our Club at its present site which was obtained as a Pemissive Occupancy in 1977. In fact John Piggott was the first to fly at the site. He had attempted to fly his super sixty from the other site up where the 3 hole golf course now exists on Mona Vale Road, but had to abort half way so he eventually flew in from the gate operating from the back of a ute. The gate back then was further along the track.  Pete
told me that Bob Bellyea was managing director at 'Lowes' and one day took
himself off (as you can when you are the boss) to the Lands Dept and perused
their maps. He rang Peter and said "I think I've found a flying site".
So off he and Pete went and together set eyes on a disused quarry moonscape. What you see today is a far cry from what these pioneers faced. Pete credited Jack Black (a Qantas pilot) with most of the bush/tree plantings that rehabilitated the surroundings. Tou can see the extent of that by noting the line of gums back some way from the mown field. So Pete is one of a select few still flying with us who have worked and provided the venue that has been progressively improved ever since. Thank you Peter, Bob, Jack, John and the others. At the time of establishing the field Peter was a Warringah Councillor. This was of inestimable value in getting help in obtaining the occasional large machine or second hand telegraph poles (see the bridge support) etc. Of course the quarry had been used for dumping building materials and we believe a few cars and that explains the amount of subsidence that has occurred. Peter likes the slower old timer models and has always built his own. In fact his first "built by someone else", a second hand model, was only obtained recently. On the day of our chat he had an own built high winged for some relaxed flying. Pete and Mark Rickard are the instigators of the Gloucester Cup which we hope will be repeated again soon. |
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P-40N Kittyhawk  This
plane flown by Stan at the May Scale Day is the third P-40 that Stan has
built, if you are interested, photos of the previous two are on the Club
Website. This one is a model of an RAAF P-40N flown by Squadron Leader
John Waddy in New Guinea in WWII.
The model is a conglomeration of bits and pieces. The fuse is a basic P-40E fibreglass fuse from Model Design in South Australia, modified to the profile of an “N” model by splitting it down the back at the rear, extending by 140mm then fairing to correct shape to allow for fitting the rudder behind the stab as was required. The stab and rudder are from the original P-40 made by Stan some 7 or 8 years ago, the wing is a new wing built up from Ziroli plans with Peter Gow retracts. The motor is the tried and true Zenoah 62cc and the wing span is 2.4m. The all up weight is around the 14Kg mark. All nine channels of the Futaba PCM receiver are used to control the onboard 13 servos:
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 As is said by Graeme Swalwell about model flying: 'What a great way to convert methanol into FUN!" After all the engine problems he's had over the years, Col Simpson was really pleased when he brought his new Super Stearman biplane to the field and his brand new OS150 ticked over on the first flick, but then to his horror he realised that he had left his wing struts at home! At the beginning of July the club's Webpage went down for 3 days due to the fact that inadvertantly our domain name expired, but thanks to the efforts of Andrew Wolf and Ashley Simpson the name was re-registered and service was quickly reinstated. Apologies to all those Members who were unable to utilise the facilities during that short break. Awesome!!!!! Cec Ashley has brought our attention to a fantastic flying display video of a Cathay 747 landing at Kai Tak, (Hong Kong). Best played at full-screen and at very loud volume with the bass on high, just visit http://www.metacafe.com/watch/116564/747_400_landing/ It’ll blow you away……. |
 Prize won by: Andrew Wolf
Andrew Wolf
Colin Simpson
Patrick McGrath
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Kelletts
Hobbies of of 335 Macquarie
St, Liverpool (9602-2333 or 9602-2970; Fax: 9602-6298) have also
supported us for this year.
Extreme
Hobbies of 858 Pittwater
Rd, Dee Why (9971 1977) and 397a Anzac Pde, Kingsford (9662 1025) have
yet again (as in previous years) donated a very valuable prize for the
raffle.
The
Hobby Headquarters of 32/398
The Boulevarde, Kirrawee (9545 1944) email: info@hhq.com have come
on board this year to support us.
