> Hello fellow A-6 competitors,
>
> As you know the indoor contest Board will be voting shortly on a
> proposal to allow plastic covering for the A-6
> models. The reason for this proposal is a belief that condenser paper
> is no longer available.
Jerry,
As the proposer of the rule change, the exact reason for my proposal is
as follows (copied from my rules change submission):
*Logic behind proposed change, including alleged shortcomings of the
present rules.*
A-6 has a 1.2 gram minimum weight. The paper covering requirement makes
it difficult to achieve the min weight due the limited availability of
lightweight condenser paper. Those who have been flying indoor for many
years have personal stocks of lightweight condenser, but new modelers
(who are the target demographic of A-6) will have to use the heavier
condenser paper currently being sold. The new condenser paper is
approximately 1.5 times heavier then the lightweight condenser sold many
years ago. Because of the minimum wood size requirements of A-6, the
heavier modern condenser paper requires the use of ~4 pound density
balsa for the entire model. This forces new modelers to invest in
contest grade indoor balsa to make weight.
My 13 year old son built an A-6 and we needed my personal supply of
lightweight condenser to get his model to make weight. By allowing
plastic, heavier balsa can be used and the skills used in covering with
plastic are directly transferrable to other indoor events such as
Limited Pennyplane, F1L etc. It seems it would make a more logical
progression instead of forcing them to use a paper that is only good for
this one event.
Additionally, condenser covering paper requirements on other indoor
events like Pennyplane, Manhattan Cabin, EZB, and Paper Stick (renamed
to Int Stick) were dropped about 25 years ago in favor of plastic
covering .
> many modelers are not happy with this proposal for several reasons.
> The first is it will wipe our years of records and the second is
> plastic film is not as easy to handle as paper.
This is incorrect. It will have no effect on current records. The rule
change I have submitted does not ban tissue, it removes the tissue only
requirement.
Change from :"The model shall be rubber powered and covered with paper."
To: "The model shall be rubber powered and covered with paper or
commercially available plastic; no microfilm allowed."
So models which are tissue or plastic covered are both allowed under
this proposal. So all records will stand. I have several A-6 models that
I will leave covered in tissue as they are trimmed and fly great. So I
will still fly those existing models tissue covered under the new rules.
As far as plastic being easier to use than paper, that is subjective and
personal preference. Condenser paper sags in high humidity and shrinks
in low humidity high/temps. I recall when EZB was still condenser
covered having to have saggy paper and Akron on the ground so when the
model went to the roof and shrunk it would still be in trim. I had seen
models fly to the top of the hangar and warp and come down only to relax
one they were returned to floor level. I prefer plastic but if you still
like paper then you are still free to use paper as you currently do
under this rule proposal.
> The use of plastic film on the A-6 models will make them harder to
> build which will not support the idea that this class of models will
> bring new people into the fun world of indoor free flight.
>
Once again it is not mandatory to use plastic under this proposal. The
wording does not say the model must be plastic covered only. The
proposal says the model may be tissue or plastic covered.
> So, here is the deal. I have discovered a large inventory of very
> high quality condenser paper which means the basic reason for this
> proposal is no longer valid.
What is the weight of the condenser paper you have found? The ~mile roll
I have is ~500 mg per 100 sq inches. The lightweight condenser I am
referring to in this proposal is around 340mg per 100 sq inches.
>
> IF THE INDOOR CONTEST BOARD REJECTS THE PLASTIC COVERING PROPOSAL
> (IFF-15-5), I WILL MAKE THIS HIGH QUALITY C ONDENSER PAPER AVAILABLE
> FOR FREE!
>
> Here are the details. If and only if the indoor Contest Board rejects
> proposal IFF-15-6 I will provide enough condenser paper to cover two
> models for free. The person requesting the condenser paper must send
> me a letter size self addressed envelope and I will return it with the
> condenser paper.
>
> So there it is. Contact your Indoor Contest Board member and tell
> them to reject IFF-15-5.
>
I prefer people make a decision by the merits of the proposal and not
because they are going to be rewarded for voting a certain way. I have
miles of plastic film yet you do not see me using bribery of free
plastic film to those who ask but only if the proposal passes. I
undersatnd you desire to keep the tissue covering but think that buying
votes is never a winning strategy.
--
Don Slusarczyk
www.DonsRC.com
Home of the Wicked EDF Motors!
Received on Wed Sep 03 2014 - 14:09:53 CEST