============================== May 2004 =================================

The next club meeting will be at the Jack-in-the Box in Moscow at 7pm on Tuesday, May 4 (contact club president Dave Walker for information (208) 882-9180 or e-mail dwalker@uidaho.edu).

• Planning for Spring Picnic, other?
• Bring any new or interesting planes, engines or radio components, or tip/techniques that you’d like to share.

Dave Walker (President) presided at the meeting. Dave read the minutes from the last meeting. Minutes were accepted as read.

Dave Walker reported that the latest revision of the layout of park included moving the baseball diamonds to the area directly across the river from the runway. The runway is now oriented diagonally across the flying field, but the orientation needs to be changed so that takeoffs toward the west will be south of the big tree located west of the flying field, rather than north of the tree as it is now.

Just a reminder that club dues are due. Also, to fly at John Sawyer's field you need to be an active AMA member for insurance coverage. Make sure Colleen has your AMA number - bcbum@aol.com.

Colleen Bumgarner (Secretary/Treasurer) reported to Dave Walker that the club bank account has about $3100.

Dave Walker received the following information: the club that has sponsored the Puyallup model exposition for many years has decided to stop sponsorship. The future of the event is in doubt.

Dave received announcements for two sponsored by Valley Aeromodelers of Yakima, May 15 and 16. See Upcoming Events below.

Mel Colvin, Bruce Bumgarner have been handling rolling and mowing the runway at Sawyer Field. Please consider becoming involved in a field maintenance committee to spread the load of keeping the field usable on a long term basis. Contact Bruce Bumgarner or Dave Walker.

Mell Colvin reminded us that there is a need for a fire extinguisher at the field. Joe Bolden (safety officer) will investigate.

Howard Hosick is in the process of moving to a new home and brought in a couple of large boxes of model supplies to sell - everything from covering materials and building supplies to engines.

Byron Stevenson will be printing more of the club business cards that were available at the mall show. Cards should be available at the next meeting.

Dave Walker and Joe Bolden showed the internal construction of an ABC (Aluminum-Brass-Chrome) engine and discussed the proper steps to break in and operate a ABC engine for maximum power and long life.

Dave described the construction of an ABC engine: aluminum piston, brass sleeve with chrome plating. To ensure a tight seal, the sleeve is tapered so it is 3-5 thousanths smaller diameter at the top with zero clearance at top-dead-center (TDC). At operating temperature (350-375 degrees F) the sleeve expands more than the piston, giving the proper clearance at TDC.

Break-in of an ABC engine is different from a ringed engine. A ringed engine requires 1-2 hours of rich running to properly seat the ring while providing lots of lubrication. An ABC engine requires only 30-45 minutes running very slightly rich at high throttle. This is best done in short runs (about 5 minutes), allowing the engine to cool completely between runs.

Joe Bolden passed around an infrared temperature gage used to monitor engine temperature. The gage is held close to the engine pointed at the glow plug and registers the temperature without actually touching the engine. A high head temperature (above the 350-375 degree range) indicates a lean condition - immediately richen the high speed needle a few clicks.

In cold weather a new ABC engine should be preheated with a heat gun before starting. This expands the sleeve (and make the engine easier to start).

An ABC engine will be sensitive to humidity and may require slight carburetor needle adjustment to compensate.

Fuel for ABC engines should contain 20% oil with 2% being castor oil. Since most available fuel has only 16-18% synthetic oil, Joe has a formula for calculating the amount of castor oil to add to bring the total oil up to 18%. For example, 3.2 ounces of castor oil should be added to one gallon of 18% fuel to get to the 20% total oil.

ABC engines are designed to run at high throttle. Wear increases at lower throttle settings as the engine cools. One characteristic of ABC engines is a somewhat higher idle speed than ringed engines. This is due a lack of crank case pumping pressure at low RPMs. If your ABC engine becomes unreliable at idle, it may be worn out.

Ringed engines are better for cold weather. An ABC engine can be operated in cold weather by blocking enough of the cooling fin area with aluminum tape to get it up to operating temperature. Remember to preheat ABC engines in cold weather and allow to come up to operating temperature at high throttle.

Joe contacted model engine expert and columnist Dave Gierke. He said that the ideal model engine should have a hybrid construction: a ringed ABC engine with reduced taper.

Upcoming Events:

May 15,16 Zillah, WA; Volcano Fun Fly; Class C at Ben's Strip; CD: David Turner, 17311 6th Ave. Ct E, Spanaway, WA 98387, (253)829-9329, Email: datjst@mcn.com; Sponsor: Valley Aeromodelers #561. Entry fee includes dinner on Saturday night. Breakfast and lunch is available for purchase Fri, Sat & Sun.

May 15,16 Zillah, WA; Volcano Fun Scale; Class A for 520 at Ben's Strip; CD: David Turner, 17311 6th Ave. Ct E, Spanaway, WA 98387, (253)829-9329, Email: datjst@msn.com; Sponsor: Valley Aeromodelers. Entry fee includes dinner on Saturday night. Breakfast and lunch is available for purchase Fri, Sat & Sun.

Go to Northwest Region Events to see the Boeing Hawks web site for the schedule of AMA sanctioned events in the Northwest.