[mtnflyer]

Hi. I'm new to this forum, and I'm a delayed entry into this sport. I've built a few planes and only flown one; unsuccessfully.
Right now I have a SlowPoke .40 built and ready; an Astro Hog 90% ready to rock, and a 1/2A 1922 Stahlwerk IIIb on the table under construction.
My question is: Does anyone do 1/2A Texaco in the west, or for that matter, is there any interest in 1/2A in Canada??? I'm curious, being new, I'm very curious! :

[cassat]

We still fly them on special occasions but tend not to run them daily as the parts are a bit scarce. A lot of the airframes have been converted to
speed 400 electric as well.

[mtnflyer]

Thankyou very much for your reply.
I haven't flown a whole lot, but I have 3 NIB Cox Texaco's, a Paw .049, and a small quantity of other Cox engines; and I like building small planes, because their pretty and fast building. It would be nice to fly them somewhere.
Today, I spoke with Bill Northrop who is the originator of Model Builder Magazine (now defunct). He has 80 years experience and is still going strong. He voiced an opinion that I take note of. Everything is too easy; you don't get what you used to get. He was refering to the ease of the ARF and how the parts are so much less.
I'm a gas engine guy, because I like the sound and it seems to be what I know. When I was a kid, I had a Cox .049 Spitfire C/L. Presently, I own a small electric (an Ecol) and as far as I know, its dead.
Thankyou for your kind reply. I would like to see a 1/2A Endurance event happen. I'm without a club ( although I hear there's one 1.5 hrs away). I'll just keep plugging away, and hopefully get a chance to fly at the local gravel pit.

[bbbair]

Here's a site for you to look at, perhaps you'll be able to find some folks to share 1/2A stories with.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_70/tt.htm

[Ramz]

Originally Posted by mtnflyer

Hi. I'm new to this forum, and I'm a delayed entry into this sport. I've built a few planes and only flown one; unsuccessfully.
Right now I have a SlowPoke .40 built and ready; an Astro Hog 90% ready to rock, and a 1/2A 1922 Stahlwerk IIIb on the table under construction.
My question is: Does anyone do 1/2A Texaco in the west, or for that matter, is there any interest in 1/2A in Canada??? I'm curious, being new, I'm very curious! :

IMHO, electric has all but killed 1/2A. For a very reasonable price, you can have a comparable (powerwise) electric setup that is far superior in many ways (ease of operation, very little noise, no mess, no tuning, much longer flight times, etc) Of course with electric you don't get the smell of the glow fuel and you don't get the joys of tuning a motor so you do, from time to time, see guys with the 1/2A stuff. That being said, SJrcflyer has a .049 powered Ace Grasshoper that he flew at night at the GAFF and it was a riot. 1/2A is becoming less and less visible but it's still around and will be around for quite some time I believe. If your looking to purchase a 1/2A motor, Ebay and the other various R/C related forums are usually the best place to look.

[cassat]

mtnflyer,

Not too much for organized clubs there as you say. Your best bet is to go south to Stony Plain on a Sunday morning. About two miles west and one mile south from the townsite.
Maybe Wayne Mr Jet ! has better directions?

[mtnflyer]

Hi . Thanks for cluring me in those who answered. That was my first question ever in the first forum I've ever joined.
I'm still going to build 1/2A, cause I like'em. Also, I'll check out the club in StonyPlain as wll as the float club I keep hearing about. Thanks

[Dzlstunter]

S.A.M. (Society of Antique Modelers) still runs Texaco events at some of their free flight events. I'm sure you could Google their website and find out if there is any activity near you--and maybe pick up some more recent info about the event, preferred power sources, etc. I know that the guys in St. Louis fly both glow and diesel in their events--but as of a couple of years ago the diesel guy seemed to have an edge. I have a P.A.W. .049 Texaco-powered Anderson 500 which I use for my forum i.d. pic. Good luck, Dzl

[JimMcIntyre]

Originally Posted by mtnflyer

Today, I spoke with Bill Northrop who is the originator of Model Builder Magazine (now defunct). He has 80 years experience and is still going strong. He voiced an opinion that I take note of. Everything is too easy; you don't get what you used to get. He was refering to the ease of the ARF and how the parts are so much less.

Used to be a favourite magazine of mine, I still have some issues squirreled away.

You can still choose not to eat at MacDonalds ... There are still those of us who love to build, I always have at least one scratch build underway and a couple kits. I still cover with fabric and build with wood glue, not because I'm nostalgic or a purtist but the end result is that much better.

Nothing wrong with electric, in fact, there's much right about it. Many aircraft were impossible to model correctly (scale) before electric (narrow cowls etc) are now on my building list since the advent of LiPo/brushless systems.