Conference vmszoo::rc

Joe,

The node CSTEAM:: that was hosting DECRCM was decommissioned.

There will be a Gremlin newsletter going out this week with the announcements of
the Halloween (2nd annual? 8^) contest as well as the contest in November in
Rhode Island (the 2 on 2 team contest)

Jim

    DECRCM notes was saved by Jeff Friedrichs. He will attempt, when time
    allows to merge the two notes files so we'll have everything back.
    
    Unfortunately, the annual CMRCM open pattern contest is the same day
    so Eric, Charlie, and I won't be able to attend. Shucks, and I've got
    a brand new Gremlin almost ready to go.

    There is a team Gremlin competition on sunday November 13th in Rhode
    Island. I'll post directions next week. It's at the field with the
    raised "X" runways.
    
    Postage is getting a bit steep on the newsletters announcing this stuff
    so I'm setting up an email distribution of the newsletter and other
    "stuff". I'm asking paper receipients for $3 for next year's newsletter. 
    If you're interested and/or willing to receive it electronically, please 
    send me mail and I'll convert you over. The newsletter is currently going 
    to >200 people which puts postage alone over $50 per mailing.

I just sent out the first electronic copy of the New England R/C Combat Assoc.
newsletter. If you are interested in Gremlin Combat and want to stay up to the
minute on Gremlin happenings (much more frequent that the snailmail version)
send a (free) subscription request to [email protected] stating your name
and email address (and tell me it's to subscribe to the NERCCA mailing list 8^)

I also entered directions for sunday's RI contest in 15.last

Just a heads up for the New England guys... Don't put that Gremlin away just
yet... There might be a south central Mass contest on saturday 12/3. the details
are being worked out. More after the holiday weekend.

Jim

Issue 5
29-Nov-1994
Our electronic distribution has grown to 44

If you would like to be removed from this distribution for any reason, please
send email to [email protected] with the message unsubscribe NERCCA <name>
so we can find your entry in our distribution. If you know someone online that 
would enjoy this newsletter, have them send email stating their name and email 
address and we'll add them and mail back issues.

Current Contest Schedule (please send details of your contests for next year)

Dec 3, 1994	Oxford MA 10am		Ray/Jim CDs (508) 757-5883/765-9998
March 1995	Beattie Field RI	Charlie Hochstrasser

Short notice of contest next weekend! Pass the word

Saturday, December 3rd, there will be a Gremlin contest in Oxford MA with
a pilot's meeting about 9:30am and starting combat about 10am. Directions
follow. Please pass the word to your fellow club members since the paper
copy of this newsletter probably won't get to people in time. There will be
dollar donation collected to pay for the streamers and the contest will be 
run to maximize flying and fun. If the weather is slippery, access to the 
field will be difficult so if there's rain/snow the night before, please 
contact me (508) 765-9998 or Ray (508) 757-5883 between 7am and 8:30am 
saturday morning to verify.

Directions:

You want to head south from the Mass Turnpike exit 10 in Auburn on Rt 395
(this is what Rt290 through Worcester turns into south of the Pike) and get 
off at exit 4, Sutton Ave., Oxford Center, heading west towards Oxford Center.
When you get to the lights in Oxford Center you continue straight through and
go 1 mile and on the right you should find Old Howarth Rd. Continue down Old 
Howarth Rd. for .7 miles looking for a dirt road on the right, lined with 
large boulders. On the enterance there is a gate, it will be closed but 
unlocked, please close it back over when you are inside. Welcome to the Rocky 
Hill Fliers field!

The following is a safety concern discussed at outr last Rhode Island meet.
I also have a couple of articles about a contest in Texas but I'll type 
them in and mail them out another night this week (Thanks Sandy)

Jim,
This story stems from the midairs and seperated engines at our meet on Nov.
13th.  I'm not sure if this is a subject you feel should be discussed in your
newsletter or just discussed among the flyers at the meets.  I'll leave it up
to you.  Thank you. [ed note: I feel information like this needs the broadest
publicity we can give it. Safety is the most important part of our contests]
 
 
SAFETY SUGGESTION
 
 
During the Gremlin Combat meet at Beattie Field, RI, we had two midair
collisions.  The engines from two planes, one in each collision, were
seperated from the fuselage because of broken mounts.  After lenghty searches
both were found a good distance away from the impact area.  These incidents
brought a safety concern to my attention.  That is, the possibility of a
detached engine being propelled into the pits or spectator area.  We try to
keep the planes a safe distance away from these areas and usually do, but
when the wind is blowing toward you, it's difficult.  In the heat of battle
the planes tend to drift downwind (especially the stock class) and before you
know it, they're on top of you and the judge is yelling to "get back in the
box."
 
The two planes involved had similar setups.  The engines were bolted to glass
filled nylon engine mounts which were attached to a square mount firewall.
 Both nylon mounts broke between the engine and the wall, just behind the
rear engine mounting bolts.  If you use this type of setup I would like to
suggest the use of a tether.  A piece of wire or thin cable attached from the
engine to the fuselage, strong enough to keep the engine and fuselage
together in the event of an engine mount failure caused by a collision.  In
the Nov. 13th case, a cable attached from the engine mounting bolts to the
firewall would have kept both engines with the rest of the plane. Another
suggestion I received was to attach a small piece of metal across the back of
the engine cavity using the existing engine bolts.  Then drill a hole about 3
inches back on the underside of the fuselage.  Loop a nylon cable tie through
the hole and around the metal piece on the back of the engine.  This would
work well if you use the conventional mount shown on the plans.
 
Aside from the safety concern is the possibility of not being able to find
the engine.  I can think of a couple of fields that we fly at, where we would
 have had a very difficult ( if not impossible) time finding the seperated
engines.
 
This may have been an isolated, unusual incident but I felt it merited some
attention.  Hope to see you all at our Frosty Gremlin Fly in March.
         ..............Charlie Hochstrasser.........
 
Charlie, This is a worthwile discussion. While the use of the beam/firewall 
mounts is different than the original design, it is being used in the cases
where large engines are being used. We did have quite a time finding those 
engines in the open field. It would have been VERY difficult in CMRCM with 
all the briars. Several people have mentioned doing something similar for
mufflers in cases where the rear portion or entire muffler have come off. In
our case we have spectators and competitors to consider and we need to keep
the scattering of parts to a minimum. I hope contestants will keep this in 
mind for future contests/planes. Thanks for your suggestion!

By the way... what is the date for the Frosty Gremlins in March? (attention 
CDs: we'd like to get dates on the calendar for next season as soon as 
possible so we can avoid some of the conflicts we ran into last year)

The following is the current list of Gremlin contest dates I have. Some of these
dates might change but this is a good starting point for interclub scheduling.

When			Where			CD/contact
Sunday   March 12th	Beatty Field, RI	Charlie Hochstrasser-CD
							
Saturday April 22nd	New Boston NH		Joe Marrone-CD
							(603) 429-0914
Sunday   April 30th	CMRCM Westboro MA	Dan Snow-CD
							(508) 448-0473
Saturday May   20th	Oxford, MA		Ray Mierzejewski-CD
    							(508) 757-5883
Sunday  August 20th	Beatty Field, RI	Charlie Hochstrasser-CD

Saturday Oct   28th	New Boston NH		Joe Marrone-CD
							(603) 429-0914
Sunday   Nov    5th	CMRCM Westboro MA	Charlie Watt-CD

                                                                      

There are two contests coming up in the near term that I wanted to post. I'll be
doing a newsletter this weekend but you guys get a preview.

===============march 12th Rhode Island contest==================
Hi Jim,

Just a reminder about our Meet on March 12th.  If you have any other dates
set for the year, please send them along.  Thanks

Charlie Hochstrasser

Frosty Gremlin Combat Meet
Sunday, March 12, 1995  
Pilot Meeting  9:30 A.M.  Flying starts at 10
Stock and Open classes
$5 Entry Fee per class
Food and Drinks available.

We encourage anyone who has never flown in combat competition before to come
to this first event of the year.  All these people will be paired against one
another in the early rounds, allowing time to get a feel for the competition
before flying against an experienced combat pilot in the later rounds.
Also, during lunch break we will have a Gremlin set up on a "buddy box" with
an instructor, so anyone who has never flown this type of plane can get to
experience how great these planes fly.  Any questions, call Charlie at
401-463-7076.

====================April 2nd Billerica MA contest==============================


 I've decided on April 2 for the contest at the Middlesex County R/C Flyers
field.  It will be stock Gremlin and Open class for all planes with 40 size
or smaller engines (see announcement) I would like to get this in the next
Combat newsletter.   I haven't got final approval from the club but if the
newsletter goes out before our meeting I want to be in it.  I can aways
cancel the contest. Get back to me with final answer about the meeting.  Talk
to you later.  

Announcement:
Combat Contest sposored by the Middlsex County R/C Flyers 
April 2, 1995  at the MCRCF field in Billerica Mass
Two class:  Gremlin stock and Open (40 size or smaller engine)
Registration begins at 8:30 AM
Directions to the field: Take the Treble Cove Rd exit off Route 3 in
Billerica head toward the prison.  The field is directly across from the
prison (appox 1/2 mile from the highway.
For more information contact the CD Glenn Thibeault at  (603)881-7345  Email:
[email protected]

[ed. note: The open class will allow ANY plane to fly and is a concession to the
host club to allow more club members to participate. If you don't want to fly
against planes with wheels or whatever, just fly the "purist", I mean, "Stock"
class. - Jim]

    Jim, can you be sure and post, or put in the newsletter, directions
    to the Billerica middlesex county flyers field. Don't believe I've
    ever been there.
    
    Steve

The directions in .11 are pretty much all you need. The field is right off the
highway and we'll probably head up as a group in any case. We could gather at
LKG to save you the trip to Charlie's

    I guess I should read the whole thing.....huh??????

I have started hosting a new mailing list called rc-combat-lovers. This list
will be serviced by an automated software package called majordomo. I will
initialize the list this weekend with the people currently on the NERCCA
newsletter mailing list. I will send the NERCCA newsletter to this group but it
will also be open for general discussion so I will also keep a "newsletter only"
mailing list for those that don't want the other messages. You can receive the
mail in digest form as well and I'll post all the gory details here on monday.
This list will be a way for non-DECcies to discuss Gremlin and other R/C combat
issues outside the notesfiles and usenet news groups (since not everyone has
newsfeeds available) via email. I expect a discussion of the definition of a
"stock" Gremlin to happen initially (due to some questions raised at last
weekend's contest in Rhode Island.

    
       The mailing list sounds like a good idea.
    
    
      Re: "Stock Gremlin"
    
          Like the 1991 radio issue, I can't believe people are still
    discussing and arguing about this 3 years later! The Stock Gremlin
    design ( including .25 non-ball bearing engine ) has remained the same
    virtually from the Gremlin's inception, any modifications are just
    that, modifications!
          Heaven knows, no one loves modifying Gremlins more than I, but
    I also don't expect to compete with the modified Gremlins in a "stock"
    IROC type combat event! The unlimited class allows a bit of flexibility
    regarding the engine for those who feel they "need" it.
    
          I think all that needs to be done is to have someone measure a
    "factory" gremlin and write up the specs. The only vairation would
    be to account for manufacturing tolerances, ie;
    
                - 48" wing ( =/- 1/16" ) 
    
                - Stock airfoil / planform / no sheeting
    
                - Decide on 1 1/2" or 2" ailerons
    
                - 2 1/4" spinner
    
                - Measure fin dimensions and area and create a template
             
                - Measure and declare angle of fins ( +/- a couple degrees ) 
                  ie; Jack Z's fins would NOT pass
    
                - Measure fuselage length, and tray opening
    
                - decide on a tank size ( 4 oz, etc )
    
                - Determine the minimum and maximum weight
    
                - 1/2" Pine leading edge
    
                - no "extra" pieces, ie; nose fairings, servo tray covers,
                  etc.
    
                
            
    
    
          The only decisions to be made by the builder are: 
    
                - computer set up / servo tray
                                                             
                - what brand 4 oz tank to use
    
                - what brand .25 non-ball bearing engine to install
    
                - what brand/color of covering to use
    
    
         Enforcement: Scout's honor, any obvious discrepencies can be
                      called out by any contestent and the CD can
                      disqualify the contestent.
    
    
                            END OF STORY!
    
    
      or.... you can endlessly debate this one with people who "need to get a
    life! "
    
                                                FLAME OFF! :)

    
    
           OOPS, almost forgot, the engine mounting method.... One of the
        most important controversies....
    
    
         Stock Gremlin fuselage shape / 1/4" ply motor mount cut out in
    shape of template provided ( This is a SAFETY issue, as this type of
    mount has proven itself in "COMBAT" ! :)
                                            
         

>        <<< Note 1631.16 by WMOIS::WEIER "Keep those wings spinning!" >>>
>                           -< Got me "wound up"! :) >-
...
>      Re: "Stock Gremlin"
...    
>                - 2 1/4" spinner

Eric advised me last weekend to never put a spinner on a combat gremlin!

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
################################################################################

    
    
        I disagree, all these "rules" could easily fit on one page "double
    spaced" and be included with every kit ( or given to people who want to
    make thier own kit ). They could also be easily enforced, as 90% are
    visible to the naked eye. Without some level of consistency, Anarchy will 
    reign, and arguments will never stop!
    
        Re: Spinner. Why did Eric reccommend to not put a spinner on a
                     combat Gremlin?
    
        FWIW, I couldn't care what spec is set ( ie; spinner, hub, etc ),
     just pick one. Something needs to be used to conform to AMA rules.
    
        
    
               

Caffeine is the low man on the speed chain 8^)

My feeling is that if we put everything down to this level of detail, we'll have
people trying to get away with stuff. I think specifying a stock kit built as
specified, should cover it. The Gremlin in question was obviously modified. The
CD didn't call him on it so it got let in. It's the CD's job to enforce his
rules. Want to have another go around over reverse taper wings? You can shorten
the fuselage which saves weight...

I have always used a spinner to save my needle valve assembly when I nose it in.
I do like the "must be flyable to get landing points" rule. Dorks and broken
engine mounts cost time (if the person tries to swap it in between rounds) and
aren't really "skillful".

let's save this discussion (which we've been over in here quite a bit) for the
non-DECcies that haven't seen it before on the mailing list next week.

jim

    
      One more, and I'll stop. I am in the middle of doing Budgets, so I
      need some place to blow off steam! :)
    
       
    
      1. Basically, if you look at the distinctions (rules ) I listed,
         thats what they said: Build the kit according to plan.      
         All I tried to do was call to folks attention the areas that
         people tend to wander from the plan. 
    
      2. Reverse taper wings, shorter fuselages, etc are NOT as supplied in 
         the kit, so NO they should not be allowed, again, just build it
         according to plan. Again, if you want a modified Gremlin build
         one, but if you want to fly in the "stock class", build the kit 
         as supplied!
    
      3. The list would be useful for the few folks that DON'T buy kits,
         and make their own. That way they don't show up with a 46" 
         wing/reverse taper/balsa fuselage/single fin/ sheeted/glassed 
         wing/plastic engine mount/version, and then say: Gee, NO ONE TOLD ME,
         WAAA! WAAA!
    
      4. Where we tend to get into trouble is when we start having
         philosophical discussions regarding whether a mod. makes any
         difference to performance, etc. Instead of engaging in the 
         conversations, and go down ratholes, it just needs to be declared
         that the fact that it's different disqualifies it. This
         makes the rules, and the CD's job MUCH easier.
       
      5. You need some level or rules ( again, in this case, build the
         kit as supplied, will do it ) to prevent things like engines
         flying off of fuselages when they get midaired because someone
         decided to use a "traditional" firewall/ plastic engine mount
         assembly. This one really blew my mind when I read it in one of
         the newsletters a few months ago!
    
    
        The reason I am bringing this up is I CAN'T believe this hasn't
     been declared and "just handled" a long time ago! 
    
        There, now I will coam down and go back to sleep...ZZZZZZZ :)

    Well, I won't be in Monday, so I'll say my piece now.
    
    I agree with Dan. There is ABSOLUTELY no need to have any discussion
    whatsoever.
    
    There are already several AMA "TYPE SPECIFIC" events on the books. In
    each case, you either fly the plane AS SPECIFIED or you don't fly.
    Gremlin combat isn't any different.
    
    However, the problem we're having exists because we don't have any
    National organization or governing body that set's the rules for
    everyone. We don't have AMA approved rules that "everyone" would be
    required to follow.
    
    Therefore each CD is his/her own governing body and we have rules
    variations. I think the best we could hope for is to have the New
    England area clubs "agree" on what a "stock" Gremlin is and live with
    that.
    
    Otherwise, the disagreement over the rules will do nothing more that
    destroy Gremlin combat. "I don't like Rhode Island's rules so I won't
    attend their contests". "Well, you don't come to OUR contests, so were
    not coming to YOURS".

    The issue in Rhode Island was that Finn Arnold (the guy set up at the
    far left end of the pits) was allowed to fly his modified, single fin
    Gremlin in stock class. He's the guy that flew the .48 four stroke in
    open that had little fuselage on it. He's one of two people recently
    that want me to change the Gremlin design to be more like theirs. I'm
    hoping these two will speak up on the new rc-combat-lovers mailing list
    I just set up this morning. (the other is Jack Z.)
    
    I'm also hoping that other people can field some of the "why" questions
    that I get constantly. "Why don't you allow built up wings?" "Why not
    allow a .40FP in stock?" (because then a .28-.32 falls into the range)

    Ah, ok. I didn't realize Finn was in stock. Probably because I never
    flew against him. 
    
    I think the CD messed up there. A 48 isn't a plain bearing 25, four
    stroke or not.
    
    When you can literally hold the thing at arms length, pointing straight
    up, and just let it go, you've got a LITTLE more power than a 25.
    
    The only thing I know of different with Jack Z's Gremlins is the fin
    design. I don't see any particular advantage there. Actually, I don't
    see any particular advantage to only having one fin, and it MAY be a
    disadvantage.
    
    Built up wings??????? Well, they'd probably break up quicker than a
    foam wing. In fact, they may break with something like a wing "slap"
    where a foam wing would keep in truckin. IN FACT, where I still use
    balsa leading edges, I've had several occasions where I've caught a
    streamer on my wing and the string has cut right through the leading
    edge. However it stops at the foam. I would think, that with a built
    up wing, if the string get's through the leading edge and get's
    "inside" the wing, there's a good chance that the streamer will pull
    the wing appart. Again, I would look at it as more of a DIS advantage
    than advantage. They may be a tad lighter, but I'd be interested in
    seeing one fly to determine if there was any advantage there.
    
    By the way, I think we have an opportunity here. People seem to look
    to you (Jim R.) as the "official" authority on what's legal and what
    isn't. Probably due to your involvment with "producing" Gremlins and
    the creation of NERCCA.
    
    You could take somewhat of a "bold" step and publish in the newsletter
    a statement something to the effect that NERCC was created to be a 
    forum for combat enthusiasts AND to create the rules by which Gremlin 
    Combat can be conducted in a safe and enjoyable manner. As such, HERE 
    ARE THE OFFICIAL NERCCA RULES.
    
    Yes, no, maybe...............
    
    Steve

    Hi Steve. Working BOTH days this weekend? 8^(
    
    Finn flew in both stock AND open. The .48 was in open. He had a 2.2 lbs
    .25FP powered Gremlin as well. He replaced the fiber tape with a balsa
    strip inlaid into the foam. He replaced all the kit hardwood with balsa
    (spars/leading edges) and he cut significant PVC from the fuselage. He
    also snapped and spun in, breaking the plane in the first round. He's
    pushing me to modify the stock kit to be similar to what he's done but
    I didn't see a benefit where others spun in and were still flyable.
    
    Jack hasn't built his version of an "updated" Gremlin yet but it has
    come up in our "jet" conversations (about 10 hours of meetings so far).
    
    I'll try to put something together in the next day or two describing
    "stock" and what's allowed. Perhaps a minimum weight to keep people
    from cutting corners? Without Finn telling me, it would be difficult to
    tell his modifications. I think some of them are a mid-air safety
    concern and I'm looking at it as a liability issue.
    
    (Just in checking email)
    
    Jim

    The Gremlin contest scheduled for April 22 is CANCELLED.
    
    Sorry to have to do this, but I'm not able to do it that particular
    weekend.  I looked at the schedule Jim posted, and there are so many
    coming along in the next two months, I'm sure this one won't be missed.
    
    I will still plan to do one in October.
    
    Regards,
    Joe

   HALLOWEEN GREMLINS IN COMBAT

	Gremlin Contest, Saturday, October 28, 1995 at the Flying Eagles 
	field in New Boston, NH.
    
    Registration will start at 8:30 AM. Pilots meeting at 9:30.  Contest
    starts at 10 AM.
    
    Rules will be the same as we used at last year's Halloween contest.
    
    Streamers & string will be supplied
    
    Two classes: stock and open Gremlins
    
	This is a Sanctioned event; AMA membership is required and radios 
	must be Gold Stickered

    $5 entry fee per class.  Free admission for spectators & helpers.
    
    Prizes and certificates will be given for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
    finishers in each class.
    
    Bring your own food and beverage.
    
    Directions:  
	From the South: Use your favorite method to get to Rt 13. The
    New Boston field is several miles north of Mont Vernon center, and when
    you pass the Barss variety store on the right, you are almost there.  Go
    about 1 1/2 miles further north and turn left on South Hill Rd.  The
    entrance to the field is about 1/4 mile in on the left.
    
	From the North: Use favorite way to Route 13 South.  Go thru New 
    Boston Village.  Turn right on South Hill Road which is about 1.8 miles 
    south of the village.
    
    
    Any questions, just call one of us.
    
    Joe Marrone, CD             603-429-0914 
    Alton Ryder, Assistant CD   603-673-1776
    

CMRCM contest this sunday at the Westboro field.

Charlie Watt will be CD. I'm assisting. 

I should be there between 8:30-9am to set up and register. $5 per class with
first launch at 10am. Bring your longjohns. Temps are forcast to range from
21-43F!

Brrrrrrr...

    re: "Gremlin Invasion" at CMRCM Sunday
    
    Well, here's one humble observer's opinion: 
    
    I haven't seen that much carnage in the air since the "12 O'Clock High"
    teevee series was still in first runs!
    
    Cheers to all who participated - you guys put on one hell of a show!
    Just remind me to wear a hardhat (who *was* that guy that buzzed the
    pits?!) and bring my scuba gear next time!
    
    I can see why you schedule it this late in the year: it gives you all
    plenty of time to either reconstitute the fragments - or opt for
    reincarnation (when you can't find enough remains to repair! ;^)
    
    Congrat's to the winners and survivors (wait - maybe those are the same
    guys!)
    
    The Peanut Gallery's "Outstanding Sport Award" went to Kay F...
    (They found enough working parts to build a-new, Kay, and the engine 
    still runs like a top!) Next time, Just Say No! ;^)
    
    Special thanks (again) to mentor Steve S. for my son's first
    stick-time. Nothing like an ear-to-ear grin from a 15 year old to warm
    you up on a brrrrr cold day! Muchas gracias!
    
    /dave (still thawing out, thanks!)
    
    (ps: If I don't make it to tonite's CMRCM meeting it won't be for lack
    of trying. I got a date with a neurosurgeon Tuesday morning to repair
    my back and I'm attempting to get all my deliverables cleared before
    Monday evening and 2 weeks of laid-up-time ain't gonna help that =8^O)...

Yes, Mucho thanks to Kay Fisher for being a VERY good sport.

See, I got into the final flyoff via a midair with Wayne Field who had the
least damage but I managed to nurse my plane along until Wayne was down (last
fuselage down rule) That put me in a 3 way tie for 2nd place with Andy Barber
and Charlie Watt. After several offers of wings and backup ships, I asked
(imposed?) on Kay to use his ship in a flyoff against Jack Zimmanck as the
designated target. Keep in mind Jack wasn't in the running. With 15 seconds
left in the round after a tight battle, the inevidable happened and we
midaired. This time there wasn't enough to keep airborne and it went down
mostly uncontrolled into the pond. When we got to the pond, Jack's was on the
bank almost, one of Kay's wing panels had floated to the opposite bank and the
main chunk appeared to be stuck in the middle. With several attempts at
throwing a plug wrench tied to winch line to try to grapple it, we were lucky
enough to tangle the streamer line and drag the plane back to shore. The engine
was drained and fired up to clean it out and dry it. Kay will have a flyable
Gremlin in exchange (to say the least)

Andy and I split 3rd place... we got our entry fees back!

Jim (the humbled)

    Geesh Jim, ya gotta stop borrowing planes!!! :-)
    
    

Hehehehe 

Yeah, you'd be aware of that as well...

Good to see the good turnout yesterday. 12 in stock and 4 in open. I need to
get the schedule for next season arranged. We've gotten commitments for 2 At
Beatty Field, 2 at Heli's angels, 1-2 at CMRCM and one in Sturbridge where I'm
flying currently. Let me know what's planned for up north when you can.

    
    
    
    Someone has to video tape this stuff, sounds wild.
    

We have video tapes of some of it. It loses something on tape. We got a midair
on tape up in New Hampshire last year but it wasn't as impressive on tape.
There's something about the spread of pieces and the delayed thwack.

Where are you located? We should get you to one of the events.

    
    
    
    Since I'm in Georgia I don't think I'll be going to any events.
    
    

    Not so fast, Gremlin breath...
    
    There has been a surge of popularity in some areas of Georgia recently.
    I'll check my lists and point you to some clubs. You never know...
    
    
    Check your 6!
    
    Jim

    I got my complamentary copy of RC Reports yesterday and thought the
    write up on the Gremlin was pretty good. He certainly spoke highly of
    it and gave it a big thumbs up as far as a buy rating. The only thing
    that bothered me a little was his opinion that RC combat was a kind of
    fly by night, flash in the pan type thing and it probably wouldn't
    last. He gave his favorable recommendation based more on the fact that
    the Gremlin was a fun airplane to fly, rather that anything to do with
    combat.
    
    Gee Jim, maybe you could send him another kit and suggest he get a
    friend to duke it out with. Maybe he'd change his mind then. 8^)
    
    I was also interested to see Gordon Banks letter regarding the slime
    ball tacticts being used by another model magazine to try and keep
    people from advertising in RC Reports. If they have a web site, I think
    I'll blast them (the "other" magazine that is).

Well, I can't complain about the review. The mention of combat puts a lot of
people off so the statement that it's a fun plane to just fly can do a lot of
good. I'm seeing a boost in orders from it. I was just pleased they chose to
built it stock. They did receive multiple kits.

missed Gordon's letter. Didn't have time to go through the entire magazine
yet. Frank Weston has been pretty active on the R/C Soaring Exchange hosted by
MAN. He's taken a lot of flack for some of his comments. I think the net will
help some of these manufacturers get back to their roots and realize customers
are more than statistics and checks.

Jim

    Ya, I believe it was MAN that was the culprit. The letter was right
    inside the front cover in "letters to the editor". Seems when people
    were calling MAN to inquire about advertising, MAN's marketing
    department was telling them that RC Reports hardly had any
    subscription base and was loosing that etc. They said that RCM was just
    a catalog with no substance (even though Clarence Lee's engine clinic
    column is a regular part of the mag.) They said that the AMA'S Model
    Aviation magazine was nothing but a newsletter for it's members.
    
    When Gordon had an attorney speak to them, the publisher of MAN
    basically said that because they had appologized that they considered
    the matter over with. They don't want to talk about the lost
    advertising they cost RC Reports. It was a really poor response anyway.
    
    Know what their web address is off the top of your head????????????

airage.com and the Editor is Tom Atwood. They gave a similar talk to me but I
just blew it off as bluster (there is some truth to the other two but I feel
Gordon has some real punch in the industry) MAN is pretty uppity on
advertising. Minimum is almost $200/month so you have to look at where it gets
you.

    
    
    Could someone tell me what the rules of combat are?
    Just trying to picture the dog fights in my head.
    

We fly 3 or 4 minute rounds from a flying start. We define a "box" in the sky
where the planes should stay for safety reasons. 20 feet of string with 20
foot crepe paper streamers ties to the tails of the planes. THE OBJECT IS TO
CUT THE STREAMER (sometimes important to remind people) When a cut occurs, the
round is over. If no cut occurs before the time runs out, we've been using a
landing contest as a tiebreaker for the round. Any manuever can be used and
"mixing it up" is encouraged by the peanut gallery. Some people like to fly
high, some like it in the weeds. It the streamer is shed, it counts as a cut
since the streamer might have been partially cut previously.

Scoring recently used:

2 points for a cut
1 point if your opponent doesn't stay in the air (DidNotFinish)
1 point if you're airborne last after a midair (last fuselage down)
1 point if you're closest to the spot on landing.

Well, the first Gremlin contest of the season has been scheduled for saturday
April 13th in Sturbridge. I'll be the CD and it will be the typical format.
The site is a closed landfill cell with a gravel pit as the nearest neighbor.
It's just down the road from the Roy Rogers on Rt84 where we've met in past
years to go to the WRAM show. Within 5 miles of exit 9 off the Mass turnpike

Directions and times forthcoming on the rc-combat-lovers list and my web pages
(after the weekend)

Jim

    Does anyone have a current list of scheduled gremlin combat contests,
    and if so, can you send it to me????????   Please?????????
    
    Steve

<              <<< Note 1631.44 by SNAX::SMITH "I FEEL THE NEED" >>>
<                         -< Looking for contest dates >-
<
<    Does anyone have a current list of scheduled gremlin combat contests,
<    and if so, can you send it to me????????   Please?????????
<    
<    Steve

I just checked Jim Reith's web page.
Nothing scheduled.
Looks like a lean summer for Gremlins.

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
################################################################################

    Jim must be up to his *sshole in alligators these days - Gordon Banks
    even let loose with a zinger in Jim's direction in the June issue of
    RCR...

Yeah, I saw that too!  Wonder what happened to generate such ire from 
Gordon???  Hey Jimbo, care to shed any light on this attack?

-Joe

    I was "speaking" (well, listening mostly) to Ray this Sunday while
    slamming my Gremlin around (literally) and Jim Reith's name surfaced
    with some apparently good news: Jim's wife quit her "outside" job and
    Jim has trained her on the foam cutting system, and she's now banging
    out cores again. Ray got 3 wing sets and 2 full kits delivered in the
    last week or so...
    
    Ray also thought there was a combat meet scheduled for the near future
    down in Sturbridge, and was hopeful that Jim might get a meet together
    for Westboro before the snow flies...
    
    As there was nobody else flying on Sunday afternoon (?) Doug and I were
    playing tag with our Gremlins for a few tanks, really tearing up the
    joint, until I finlly lost the "stupid airplane tricks" competition: I
    *thought*  I was over the runway on a low pass but was actually about 5
    feet south of it - so into the weeds I plowed at full speed. The "rapid
    deacceleration" sheared the front nylon screws and  made a paint
    stirrer out of the prop, but otherwise no real damage. I have to
    remember to carry more nylon screws (plus something to extract the
    shanks with) if we're gonna make a habit of this ;^)
    
    /dave

    fwiw: For those not on the mail list mentioned below, here's the latest
    status from Jim Reith. I'm picking up a couple of wing sets and will
    review how well his wife learned to run the cutter ;^)
    
    /dave
    
From:	US1RMC::"[email protected]" "Jim Reith"  5-SEP-1996 06:02:22.43
To:	wrksys::tatosian
CC:	
Subj:	RA Cores update and pictures

Dave,

This is the message I sent out the to rc-combat-lovers mailing list when
Rose took over. Since then turnaround has been under a week, even on custom
stuff from stock airfoils. I've also added pictures and movies of the
cutter in action to the web site and will have a quote form in place
shortly. Pass this info along as you see fit.

>Just wanted to let people know that I was still alive and (barely) in
>business.
>My day job has been keeping me from core cutting for close to a year now
>and it
>doesn't look to let up anytime soon. Recently, my wife has taken over the core
>business and is getting things back in shape. Lead times that had been 8 weeks
>are coming back under control and people with back ordered kits and cores are
>being contacted and shipped. Several orders have gone out over the past week.
>If you want to check on a specific order, send email to her at
>[email protected] The more information you can provide about the order, the
>better we can track it down. Sorry for the delays and missed opportunities. If
>you'd like your check returned (they have sat with the orders, uncashed) just
>let us know. The good news is it's coming under control and we should be able
>to get back to the 1 week turnaround on standard products, soon. The prices
>will remain where they've been since 1992. Thanks for your patience.
>
>Enough commercial. Dave Walter put together a photo exhibit on the contest
>held
>in Sturbridge in April. While it still exists on the CRRC website
>(http://www.ultranet.com/~crrc/), I've moved a copy to the customer supplied
>photo section on my websites to remain for a while. This was Dave's first
>Gremlin competition and he seemed to enjoy himself. We still need to flesh out
>the rest of this year's schedule. Anyway, go to
>http://www.racores.com/~reith/racores/index.html and look under the Gremlin
>section for the customer supplied photo section.
>
>Jim ([email protected])


+---------------+-----------------------+-------------------------------------+
| RA Cores      | [email protected] |  Affordable, computer cut, custom   |
| P.O. Box 863  | or  [email protected] |     foam wing cores by modelers,    |
| Southbridge, MA 01550                 |            for modelers             |
| (508) 765-9998 (email preferred)      |                                     |
|     http://world.std.com/~racores/    |   Home of the R/C Combat Gremlin    |
|  or http://www.racores.com/~reith/    |                                     |
+---------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
    [IP trailers deleted]

    
    From:   Jim Reith[SMTP:[email protected]]
    Sent:   Thursday, April 03, 1997 6:34 AM
    To:     [email protected]
    Cc:     Rob Merenyi
    Subject:        4/6 Sturbridge contest reminder/directions
    
    Sturbridge Lawn Darts season opener
    
    The Sturbridge Lawn Darts will open the Gremlin season with a contest
    on
    Sunday April 6th at their closed landfill site. The contest will start
    with
    a pilot's meeting at 9:45am for a 10am contest start. The gates should
    be open at 8:30am and test/trim flights will be allowed at that time.
    Entry
    fee will be $5 per plane/class with the proceeds split among top three
    finishers in each class.
    
    The Sturbridge Lawn Darts flying field is located at the closed
    landfill
    cell. To get to the field get off at Exit 1 from Rt 84 and turn into
    Mashapaug Rd. which turns off the road the exit ramp drops you onto
    (this
    is the road next to the gas station by the Roy Rogers) and turn right
    about
    200 yards in where the road takes a sharp left. Follow this road all
    the
    way to the end through the residential area until you pass through the
    gate
    for the recycling center. The road dips at this point and the field is
    on
    the right as the road goes back up the hill. If it isn't too muddy,
    unloading is permitted on the field but all parking must be along the
    side
    of the road.
    
    CD note: Since we got a reported 30" of snow in the area and the
    temperatures have had it melting pretty aggressively, I would strongly
    suggest boots as the footwear of the day. The weekend forcast looks
    like it
    should be a beautiful day with the rain coming in sunday night/monday.
    If
    
    the weather is questionable, I will leave a cancellation message on the
    answering machine (or grab it personally if I'm home) on the (508)
    765-9998
    line.
    
    Don't forget the Lazy Loopers event 4/20 (directions and times the week
    before)
    
    Jim - CD
    
    
    
    
    
    

    First off, the Gremlin Combat meet at the Lazy Loopers club was an
    unmitigated blast! 15 pilots/25 Gremlins, both stock and open classes,
    and it was a thrill-a-minute with lots of cuts, foam-shattering
    midairs,  one "spike", and some amazing aerial feats (eg: one guy got
    into a flat spin, recovered at weed-top level, climbed back up and
    wrapped his opponents string around his prop shaft, scoring a cut while
    entering another spin!)
    
    We were gifted by Mother Nature with a "10" of a day after a week of
    cruddy weather, and we all made the most of it. And our own Steve Smith
    managed to win the Stock Class on points, beating The Evil One in a
    borrowed bird (one of mine - it was the least I could do!) after Eric
    tried to whittle the competition down by mid-airing anyone he couldn't
    cut ;^)
    
    Second: Jim Reith has gotten the rain-cancelled April 6 meet rescheduled 
    for Saturday May 17 at the Sturbridge club/landfill site. The rain-date 
    will be Sunday May 18 so there's a reasonable chance for this one to 
    actually happen.
    
    And the Hallifax meet will be held on Sunday June 1, format tbd as this
    is an "open" meet with other designs included.
    
    Build 'em light!
    
    /dave

    I've been looking for time to do a write up on the contest, but havn't
    been able to find any yet.
    
    The contest was an overwhelming success with the best turnout I've seen
    in quite some time. My thanks to the Lazy Loopers club for hosting the
    contest, and to Wayne Field for CD'ing the event.
    
    Quickly, my first flight was against Jeff Karish who was flying in his
    first combat contest and I managed to get a cut but blew the landing
    point. Second round flight was against the EVL-1 himself, Eric
    Henderson, and we knew from the start we would be showing each other no
    mercy. In about the first 2 minutes of the round, we have made several
    good moves on each other but neither could manage a cut. Somewhere
    during the third and final minute of the round, we had started to come
    down low and I was on Eric's six. The problem was, I was a "little"
    closer to his six than either of us realized. I turned hard right going
    for his streamer, and Eric turned hard left going for mine. A split
    second later, it was snowing foam. We hit X on and I removed Eric's
    left wing, and he removed my left wing. Eric won the "last fuse to the
    ground" rule and took a point for that flight.
    
    I had pretty much figured I was out of the contest at that point as I
    don't have a spare Gremlin, but through the extraordinary generosity of
    Dave Tatosian, who let me fly his Gremlin, I was able to get my third
    round in. I flew against Dave Walter and managed another cut plus
    landing point. With the 3 points for the round and 1 point for the
    landing, I edged out Eric for 1st place by 1 point in the stock class.
    
    It was also a tight battle in the open class with many heated rounds
    and some darn fine flying. George Danis got into a spin which, with
    Gremlins, is usually fatal but managed to recover about a foot from the
    ground. From there he went on to get a cut only to have his opponents
    streamer sting wrap around his prop shaft and kill his engine and put
    him into another spin. George not only managed to recover from the
    second spin, but make it back to the field and grab the landing point.
    There wasn't a person present that didn't applaud that flight.
    
    In the EVL-1's second round open flight against Finn Arnold, they had a
    VERY aggressive round going when all of a sudden the foam was flying
    once again. Eric litterally center punched Finn's Gremlin and it
    exploaded into many pieces. It took several people about 15 minutes to
    find the fuse. Eric, however, lucked out and only broke his spinner and
    prop. Sometimes that happens.
    
    Those are basically the highlights. The EVL-1 took first place in Open
    and Second in Stock. So, the HTA's kicked butt and we all had a hell of
    a good time. Thanks once again to Wayne Field and the Lazy Loopers club
    for having us and a special thanks to Dave Tatosian for risking his
    Gremlin for my third round flight.
    

    Anyone interested in a writeup (with pictures) on the Lazy Loopers 
    Gremlin meet can point their browsers at:
    
    http://www.ma.ultranet.com/~crrc/photos/llgrem.htm
    
    Within this page there's a link to another (shorter) description at:
    http://www.ma.ultranet.com/~warch/review.htm#apr20
    
    And don't forget the meet the meet this Saturday at 10AM in Sturbridge
    at the Lawn Darts flying site (Jim Reith has a reminder at:
    http://www.racores.com/~reith/racores/gremlin_contests.html#May_17_97
    
    and if you work your way down the page you'll find his directions to
    the Lawn Darts flying site.
    
    /dave

    In utter contrast to the wonderful weather we had a couple of weeks ago
    at the Lazy Loopers combat meet, the meet at the Sturbridge Lawn Darts was
    visited upon by insane wind, drizzle, and a sky that killed depth 
    perception. Seems to go with the territory down there - I've yet to 
    attend a meet in that neighborhood where the weather cooperated.
    
    On the other hand, we did have a bit of excitement to enliven the
    meet...
    
    We had around 10 pilots show up, 8 stock class and 2 open. Rather than
    run the 2 open Gremlins against each other all morning, we decided to
    combine all 10 planes into one contest. Seemed reasonable enough.
    
    The wind was particularly intense, making launches "interesting" to say
    the least - too interesting for two birds which failed to achieve level
    flight and broke out their motor mounts on impact during the match. It
    also made landing points "fun": with the "spot" located about 20 feet
    upwind from the edge of a rough tarmac strip, many Gremlins incurred
    various forms of damage when dropped short on the pavement. Others
    managed to cartwheel in when an ill-timed gust flipped them over. 
    
    And actual flight  was challenging as well - upwind legs were painfully
    slow (at its worst, the stock birds struggled to make any headway at
    all), while downwind legs were traversed in a flash.
    
    Thus between the wind and the sky, it was a miracle to get a cut - and in
    fact only 3  cuts were achieved through the four rounds flown. On
    the upside, the same conditions dramatically cut down on mid-air
    collisions, with only two mild impacts occuring, neither resulting in
    damage beyond a wing crease. 
    
    My four rounds varied between ugly and bizarre. Using the same "beater"
    that had been creamed three times last fall at the same site (and that
    Steve Smith used to sew up the Lazy Loopers meet) I managed to pick up
    a landing point on the first round, never coming close to a cut. In the 
    second round while lining up for landing at half throttle I got caught 
    behind a line of trees on the other side of the field and flew into a
    downdraft, dropping the plane into the top of a tree that appeared to 
    be about 20 feet tall. 
    
    No matter, I took out my "better"  Gremlin for the last two rounds,
    figuring we could easily retrieve the first plane after the match. In
    the third round with the lighter/quicker plane I hooked up in a fierce 
    battle with the points leader of the day. We were really tight upon
    each other, flying in close to the pits, when I became aware of a strange 
    sound from directly behind us. 
    
    At first I thought someone was running up a large model in the pits,
    but the sound included a whine - a turbine whine - quite unlike
    anything I've heard at an rc field. And it got very loud quite quickly
    - in just a few seconds it built to a level  much louder than any model
    airplane engine...
    
    And just as suddenly, the source of the noise filled the sky over the
    field and shook the ground: A FULL SCALE A-10 "Wart Hog" tank killer,
    engines maxxed out in a thunderous roar, made a maximum performance
    turn at tree-top level directly over the flying site! YOWWWEEEEEEE! 
    
    Absolutely AMAZING! This screaming gray monster came over so low I was
    certain it was going to smash our planes to atoms! Scattering
    leaves/birds/and my wits it completed a full circuit of the field and
    headed away with wingman in tow, leaving me breathless, shaking, and
    wondering if I could get my plane safely back to the ground...
    
    We flew out the round and after my opponent had come up short on his
    landing I immediately went dead stick at major altitude. In a
    not-too-shabby exercise in energy management I was able to plop my
    plane well within the landing circle, at which point I nearly collapsed
    into my chair to let my frazzled nerves unwind!
    
    [It turns out that the A-10 jockey owns the local hobby shop and flies
    for the National Guard, and is known to make the occasional low pass over 
    the field to buzz the club members.]
    
    My jangled condition persisted into the last round, when I took my eyes
    off my own plane to watch my opponent barely pull out of a wind-driven 
    dive. Directly in front of my plane. WHOA! PULL UP! 
    
    I almost made it - all I needed was about one more foot of air - but as 
    I pulled through the bottom of the turn the elevons made contact with
    the ground, which pitched the fuse forward, sheared the prop blades
    off, and  skidded to a stop on the grass. Put some good grass stains on
    the belly of the plane, but otherwise no damage. Basically, I got lucky.
    
    So a "rookie" took the day with a cut, DNF, and couple of landing points, 
    and two other pilots tied for second with a cut each...
    
    As for my treed Gremlin - which was dutifully responding to control
    inputs to its sister all afternoon - the tree turned out to be well
    over 100 feet tall - as it was located down the slope at the edge of
    the landfill that the flying site sits astride. We tried to throw a
    line over it to no avail, then Jim Reith tried to drop the tree with a
    chain saw that was so dull it would have had a hard time cutting
    salami...
    
    So I made a dash from Sturbridge to Stow and back to fetch my chain saw,
    and then proceeded to do a bit of thinning in the woods. Eventually we
    got that tree to drop, with the Gremlin ending up underneath the crown.
    I figured the worst, that the flight kit was smashed to bits, but 
    amazingly, it was quite nearly intact - with only a small bite missing 
    out of the wing.
    
    A hunk of foam, splice of LE stock, a few scraps of film, and  a recharge 
    to the battery pack, and this battered Gremlin will fly again...
    
    Gremlin Combat - You gotta love it! ;^)
    
    /dave

    In stark contrast to the wonderful weather we had a couple of weeks ago
    at the Lazy Loopers combat meet, the meet at the Sturbridge Lawn Darts
    was visited upon by insane wind, intermittant drizzle, and a sky that
    killed depth perception. Seems to go with the territory down there -
    I've yet to attend a meet in that neighborhood where the weather
    cooperated.
    
    On the other hand, we did have a bit of excitement to enliven the
    meet...
    
    We had around 10 pilots show up, 8 stock class and 2 open. Rather than
    run the 2 open Gremlins against each other all morning, we decided to
    combine all 10 planes into one contest. Seemed reasonable enough.
    
    The wind was particularly intense, making launches "interesting" to say
    the least - too interesting for two birds which failed to achieve
    flight and broke out their motor mounts on impact during the match. It
    also made landing points "fun": with the "spot" located about 20 feet
    upwind from the edge of a rough tarmac strip, many Gremlins incurred
    various forms of damage when dropped short on the pavement. Still others
    managed to cartwheel in when an ill-timed gust flipped them over. 
    
    And actual flight  was challenging as well - upwind legs were painfully
    slow (at its worst, the stock birds struggled to make any headway at
    all), while downwind legs were traversed in a flash.
    
    Thus, between the wind and the sky, it was a miracle to get a cut - and 
    in fact only 3 cuts were achieved through the four rounds flown. On
    the upside, the same conditions dramatically cut down on mid-air
    collisions, with only two mild impacts occuring, neither resulting in
    damage beyond a wing crease. 
    
    My four rounds varied between ugly and bizarre. Using the same "beater"
    that had been creamed three times last fall at the same site (and that
    Steve Smith used to sew up the Lazy Loopers meet) I managed to pick up
    a landing point on the first round, never coming close to a cut. In the 
    second round while lining up for landing at half throttle I got caught 
    behind a line of trees on the other side of the field and flew into a
    downdraft, dropping the plane into the top of a tree that appeared to 
    be about 20 feet tall. 
    
    No matter, I took out my "better"  Gremlin for the last two rounds,
    figuring we could easily retrieve the first plane after the match. In
    the third round with the lighter/quicker plane I hooked up in a fierce 
    battle with the points leader of the day. We were really tight upon
    each other, flying in close to the pits, when I became aware of a strange 
    sound from directly behind us. 
    
    At first I thought someone was running up a large model in the pits,
    but the sound included a whine - a turbine whine - quite unlike
    anything I've heard at an rc field. It got very loud very quickly
    - in just a few seconds it built to a level much louder than any model
    airplane engine...
    
    And just as suddenly, the source of the noise filled the sky over the
    field and shook the ground: A FULL SCALE A-10 "Wart Hog" tank killer,
    engines cranked to a thunderous roar, made a maximum performance
    turn at tree-top level directly over the flying site! YOWWWEEEEEEE! 
    
    Absolutely AMAZING! This screaming gray monster came over so low I was
    certain it was going to smash our planes to atoms! Scattering
    leaves/birds/and my wits it completed a full circuit of the field and
    headed away with wingman in tow, leaving me breathless, shaking, and
    wondering if I could get my plane safely back to the ground...
    
    We wobbled out the round and after my opponent had come up short on his
    landing I immediately went dead stick at major altitude. In a
    not-too-shabby exercise in energy management I was able to plop my
    plane well within the landing circle, at which point I nearly collapsed
    into my chair to let my frazzled nerves unwind!
    
    [It turns out that the A-10 jockey owns the local hobby shop and flies
    for the National Guard, and is known to make the occasional low pass over 
    the field to buzz the club members. Quite the bonus for the visiting
    combatants.]
    
    My jangled condition persisted into the last round, when hot on the
    tail of my opponent I took my eyes off my own plane to watch him barely 
    pull out of a wind-driven dive...Directly in front of my plane. WHOA! 
    PULL UP! 
    
    I almost made it - all I needed was about one more foot of air - but as 
    I pulled through the bottom of the turn the elevons made contact with
    the ground, which pitched the fuse forward, and sheared the prop blades
    off, leaving the bird to skid to a stop on the grass. Put some good
    grass stains on the belly of the plane, but otherwise no damage.
    Basically, I got away with a stupid move...
        
    A "rookie" took the day with a cut, DNF, and couple of landing points, 
    and two other pilots tied for second with a cut each...
    
    As for my treed Gremlin - which was dutifully responding to control
    inputs to its sister ship (same channel) all afternoon - the tree
    turned  out to be well over 100 feet tall - as it was located down the
    steep slope at the edge of the landfill that the flying site sits
    astride. We tried to throw a line over it to no avail, then Jim Reith
    tried to drop the tree with his chain saw that was so dull it would have
    had a hard time cutting salami...
    
    So I made a dash from Sturbridge to Stow and back to fetch my chain
    saw, and then proceeded to do a bit of thinning in the woods.
    Eventually we got that tree to drop, with the Gremlin ending up
    underneath the crown. I figured the worst, that the flight kit was
    smashed to bits, but  amazingly, the entire plane was quite nearly
    intact - with only a 3" bite missing out of the wing in front of the
    spar, matched to the limb it had failed to slice through.
    
    Although I could repair that wing with a chunk of foam and some film
    scraps, it was already seriously overweight, so it's destined to be
    retired. 'Twas a good wing, surviving many bounced landings, a major
    turf dive during low-pass playtime, three mid-airs, and a spiked
    launch...
    
    Gremlin Combat - You gotta love it! ;^)
    
    /dave