Conference vmszoo::rc

1519.0. "European Chronicles #1 - IN RCSD May issue" by COWBOY::DUFRESNE () Tue May 04 1993 08:47

Gang: 

This the first in a series of articles due to start with this month's 
issue of RCSD. 

Comments welcome!!

MD
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    European Chronicles
     by
    Marc Dufresne					Copyright 1993 
    Domaine de Belle Croix
    17, rue Albert Camus
    77330 OZOIR-La-Ferriere, FRANCE

    Tel/FAX: +33 1.64.40.12.24

    TITLE: No, No... East, man, Go EAST!!

    Europe, 1992, The Single Act, Maastricht, German re-unification, The 
    opening of Eastern Block...

    These items filled our lives over that past 2 years, standing on
    their  head a lot of things we took for granted. So, when I was
    offered an  opportunity to leave the US and work in Europe, I
    jumped at it, fullfiling a  long held dream. Location: Paris,
    France. The arm twisting lasted about  2 seconds. 

    When I called up RCSD to have them change my address, Judy asked me
    if I would like to write about what I encountered in Europe (The
    planes, the  equipement, the contests, the way people take to the
    hobby). "Anything  that I felt would be of interest to RCSD
    readers", she said. 

    I'm just one of many: Loves to build. Loves to fly. Build'em,
    fly'em,  break'em, fix'em and fly'em again: that's my usual style.
    Mostly fly for fun. Go to a contest every so often. Latch up with
    some friends. Usually end up at the bottom of the roster. Maybe
    break or loose a plane in the  process.

    So I hope to report on what I see, as a ordinary modeller,
    discovering a completely new environment. Comments, ideas on
    possible topics will be welcome.

    The expectation is that I will be here indefinetely. I've had to
    think hard about what to bring and what to part with. Homegoods are
    relatively simple. All the electrical stuff gets sold/given away: It
    won't work here. Furniture can come, if its worth it or fits: Houses
    here are smaller. When it came to  gliders and associated gear, this
    was confusing, somewhat. 

    I knew, from scattered readings that frequencies were incompatible.
    And that for gliders, the Europeans seem to favour the big stuff
    (3-4 metres). I got in touch with the French Aeromedeling
    Association (FFAM). The they told that as far as frequencies were
    concerned, France has two sets; 41 MHz and 72 MHz.



    72??? Could it be that...Naah... no such luck. The frequency
    increment in  France is on even number (72.000, 72.020,...) while
    the US one is on odd numbers (72.010, ...). OK - so change the
    crystals, you say. I'd seen some discussion  on this on my company's RC
    Electronic Bulletin Board (BBS) and I got the sense this was really
    a pain. And since my gear was not all that great, I said "Hey - 
    When in Rome... Lets get some of this European stuff!"

    So I pack the airframes (An ANTHEM, a PULSAR and an ORCA), spare
    parts, hand  tools, books, the kitchen, CD's, clothes, some
    furniture and give the rest away. Well, not all of it: I sold the
    car.

    Paris: 11M people packed in a circle 50Km in radius. Freeways
    everywhere. Congested freeways. Mass transit is extremely well
    developed. Paris underground is like swiss cheese what with the
    metro, the urban rail system and 5 major intercity train stations
    packed with 300Kph TGV bullet trains.  Wonderful food. The arts.
    This place I'm going to like! 

    Anyway, spent a week looking for a place to live.  Found it in a
    quaint,  typical looking (to a North American) town on the outer
    eastern periphery.  Major feature: A garage, that I can turn into
    a workshop.

    Impressions so far: Its impossible to get lost in this country.
    There are signs everywhere to tell you where you are and where to
    go. There are city plans  posted on billboards at major
    crossroads. Forget about the North American  cardinal road signage
    system (North-South, East-West). You are told about what is the
    next town(s) up the road. YOU are expected to know that said town
    is in the direction you want to go. A map is a definite asset to
    get started. After that, put the map away and follow the signs.
    Works everytime.

    The road system is excellent condition and people drive fast
    (130Kph is not uncommon). I've been passed by VW Rabbits doing
    150. The BMWs and Mercedes come at you from the rear at 180/200
    Kph with headlights blazing: You bear  right and hold on tight for
    the shock wave. Motorcyclists abound, always go faster than you
    and will pass on either side. Their life expectancy, I've been
    told, is low. Gas cost $5 a gallon. 

    In the same vein: everything is more expensive, thanks in part to
    a VAT at 19% on everything. But the quality is also higher. With
    that quality comes sophistication, either in compactness, features
    or simplicity of operation.   

    Which leads us to my first visit to a hobby shop. Finding one in
    my area took  some doing. I had to raid the newstand twice for
    airplane model magazines. In  France there are three, covering all
    topics. One of them list FFAM club activities as a public 
    service. Also useful to find out about hobby shops, at least those
    that advertise. Everything is grouped by area or departement. I
    live in the Ile-de-France area (Paris and vincinity). I found this
    hobby shop about 35Km northeast from where I live. It was the
    closest, short of going into Paris (congested, no place to park
    and probably more expensive).




    So, in about 45 minutes, taking the tourist road, I end up in this
    other quaint typical french town, looking for a hobby shop. Being
    Saturday, its congested, and there is no place to park. So much
    for that idea. Finally, I park  french style (ie dump the car
    wherever  you can, except where there are yellow lines. Park there 
    and you get a (expensive) ticket), squeezing the  car between two
    trees, on the sidewalk, on the church plaza in the middle of 
    town. Now walk to find the store. Its a hole in the wall, run by a
    guy that  knows everything and has at least one of everything,
    ...if you are into power. 

    Gliders, I asked. "Not around here. Most activity is either South or
    North of  Paris" comes the reply. Odd, since I drove through
    beautiful open farmland,  seemingly ideal for thermal gliders.
    Hummm. Must be missing something. 

    So, we talk about radio gear instead. 

    Most the radio gear in France is imported from Germany. Notable
    exception is Hitec. I'm looking for the high-end stuff, so we talk
    about the German stuff. There are four suppliers, most of which
    partner with a japanese source. You have Graupner/JR,
    Robbe/FUTABA, Multiplex and SIMPROP/Sanwa.  So you have two
    offerings: The standard box as we know it in the US with all
    options integrated or the European tray, very extensible and
    extremely flexible with its software package. To put it an other
    way: with the box, what you see is what you get. With the tray,
    you get to see how much you can get. Generally, the box is
    considered "for sportmen's use" while the tray is for the
    serious/expert hobbyist.

    Keeping with the philosophy of what you see is what you get, the
    box is typically sold as a package (Tx, Rx, 4 servos and charger).
    The tray, on the other hand is sold "a la carte", usually Tx, Rx,
    no servos, maybe a charger and battery pack, but mostly not. No
    charger and battery pack you say? Useless you say? Well not quite,
    'cause you will be offered a selection of battery packs for either
    the Tx OR the Rx, to fit your exact needs. Ditto for the charger.
    Also the top of the line model may not have all channels
    configured (ie the tray you buy is 9 channel capable but what you
    buy may only have 6 channels configured. You buy additional
    channels or mixer as you need them).

    Where the tray really shines, it's in the programmability. A top of
    the line system by MULTIPLEX can store up 99 models. Graupner goes
    a different route with specific program modules by type of aircraft
    (F3A,B,C,D or E). Each module can store up 30 models.

    One other thing, you get complete, detailed technical data about
    all the components. This goes for the box as well as the tray.
    I've read a couple of magazine reviews. The article comes complete
    with  "10x8 colour photographs with a paragraph on the back of
    each" as the song goes. They will go as far as to open the Tx and
    the Rx and analyse the techology inside!

    Price? The tray is going to cost you more, about 25-30% more than
    the comparable box package.

    By now, I've got an armload of catalogs and getting the impression
    that modeling here is SERIOUS stuff. Very sophisticated. Very well
    thought out. Like everything else I've run into. So we move on to
    ergonomics. 



    I'm an infirm. That is, I'm trained wrong. I fly throttle on the
    left (Mode 2) while everyone here flies throttle on the right
    (Mode 1). Then there is the business of what you do with the
    fingers. With a box, you drive with the thumbs on the sticks and
    use the fingers to work the linear slides on the side of the box.
    With the tray, you drive with the index (or combination
    thumb/index), controling the linear slides (up to four)located 
    BETWEEN the sticks with thumbs. And not to mention the pushbuttons
    ON TOP of the sticks. Now I understand why the neck strap is a
    mandatory item here. You can't work the tray otherwise.

    The guy on the other side of the counter ends up trying to sell me
    a FUTABA PCM 1024, "for compatibility". Me, I'm interested by the
    other ones, especially the Graupner MC-20 and the MULTIPLEX 3030.

    I leave the store with my pile of litterature, dazed & glazed.
    "Now why is the European stuff so sophisticated? Even the Vision
    looks cloddy and doesn't cover all the bases." The market demands
    it, but why? I guess the next step is to find some local glider
    freaks and get educated some more. Looks like I'm also going to
    have to re-learn how to fly.

    Continued next month.

       -END of text-
 

    Welcome to real RC.
    
    E.

    Welcome to Europe!! I have friends living in OZOIR-La-Ferriere - what a
    coincidence! In fact they are over here in England at the moment.
    
    I look forward to more of your chronicles.
    
    Brian
    

Just wondering...

I usually get my copy of RCSD by now. Has anyone gotten their copy or am 
I the only one left out?

Nope Jimbo, you aren't the only one. I haven't received my issue yet. 

-Lamar

    I got a FAX from Judy Slates. RCSD went to mail May 6th.
    
    md

In case anyone else heard the name Wylie Tx (where RCSD is) on CNN this 
morning about all the tornadoes, I just talked to Jerry and Judy and 
they're fine. The tornado (15 touched down in the area) veered off about 
a mile and a half away and hit the town marina pretty hard. Judy was 
pleased that people would be concerned and check. I let her know I'd 
pass the word around electronically.

My RCSD arrived in today's mail