Event Commentary – Page 2 – Radical RC Workbench

SEFF 2012

What a great time it was! I’m always quite exhausted with show responsibilities having to go to SEFF only 1 week after returning from Toledo. I have to say however, the salve of SEFF hath soothed my fatigue. A few days into it I was feeling more rested and looking forward to flying. We arrived Monday evening. It was quite windy with substantial flying only in the evening with night flyers, By Thursday it was much better and improving hour by hour. The last 2 days were perfect flying weather. Got to fly the 1905 Wright Flyer in a big space for the first time. I really enjoyed it and look forward to another opportunity. We met and renewed friendships with many. The field now has a lake for float flying and it was active. A large portion of the field was off limits due to containing all the soil removed from the lake being used to bring it up to grade improving the runway. By next year the grass will be in and it will all be usable. Even with this project in mid stream, there was plenty of room for 5 flight lines. Can’t wait to see it and attend again next year. If your thinking of attending SEFF let me warn you up front. It will become a yearly trip for you. It’s nothing but fun from sunrise until you give up each evening night flying. thanks to Mac Hodges for hosting SEFF again at his phenominal flying sight again this year. Thanks to all the Feyetteville Flyers and other volunteers that make the event possible. See you there next year!

Radical RC to Visit SEFF Again In 2012

SEFF Logo

We’ll be at SEFF (Southeast Electric Flight Festival) held each year at Hodges Hobbies and flying field outside Americus Georgia. SEFF is one of the premier RC Flying events in the country. One of my favorite events to attend. Hodges Hobbies is on the field. This is place is RC Heaven. You won’t believe how beautiful it is. The photo below is a bit outdated, there is now a lake to fly from to go along with the golf green quality runway. This place is BIG. I’ve seen a full size Pitts come in and out of this field. The hospitality here is outstanding. Lots of good vendors and one of the best hobbyshops you’ll ever see is on the field. See the SEFF website for information about the show, camping, hotels and any other questions you may have. This event and location are “bucket list” quality. If you’ve never been, won’t you come this year? You wont’ be sorry!

: SEFF View From Aircraft

I look forward to flying my 1905 Wright Flyer many times at the event. We finished it about 2 weeks before Toledo. We needed it for display at the show and didn’t have time to complete another with all the show prep. So, after only 3 trim and balance flights, we had to pack it in for safe keeping.

When you see me on the flight line with the 1905, come on up. You can have a wiggle on the sticks. To me there is nothing more fun than sharing the a Wright Flyer. It flys like a big trainer except that you need to be comfortable flying with your left hand. She likes the rudder. I’ll see you at SEFF.

Find videos of SEFF’s at: Higher Plane and SKS Video.

PS: The home brew beer for the BBQ this year is an IPA.

W.O.R.K.S Buy-N-Fly Fun-Fly and Swap Meet

WORKS FIeld Photo

Carlisle Ohio (map to field). The event date is Saturday June 9, 2012. This is a great group of guys. No reservations are required. There is no vendor fee or landing fee. Raffle is advertised. Bring your own tables and canopies.

If you need further info, contact Randy Hatton – president@worksrc.net.

GPS Geeks: Latitude N 39 35.587, Longitude W -84 20.508

RC Universe Video Post From Toledo 2012

Our newest product shown at Toledo 2012 gets a segment in this event coverage video. Thanks to Ken Issac of Toledo prep was 6 weeks of intensive work for all of us at Radical RC. We had a great show and are thankful for all of you that visited the booth. It’s always a boost to our enthusiasm to be reminded each year how many R/C’rs we get to have an impact on throughout the year. We had a great show and look forward to Toledo 2013. Thanks! Dave

Health of Trade Shows & Skunk Wurks Project For Toledo!!!

I have a strong conviction; if we want strong trade shows, vendors need to make sure they show people something new at the show. In todays world of instant internet communication, the moment some new product becomes available, it’s announced and the word is spread instantly. Back in the day, there was an extra level of excitment when attending Toledo or any other big trade show. It was you chance to see the newest stuff, your chance to get out a couple months ahead of the magazines. Your chance to know what was going on in our hobby. If you didn’t go, you were left behind, perhaps to be stuck behind the news and technology curve for the entire season.

For a number of years, we’ve worked hard to do our part to show people something new at The Toledo Show. It’s every vendors responsibility to contribute to a healthy trade show future for all of us. Our hobby needs healty magazines, healthy suppliers, healthy hobby shops and certainly healthy trade shows.

If your a vendor at a trade show, I encourage you do the same. Are you really so desparate and hungry you can’t hold back on exiting item a few weeks to do your part to add excitment to your favorite show? Think about it.

A recent meeting with national parks officials sparked my enthusiasm to work on a highly requested project. Sorry, can’t tell you what the meeting was about…….. However, you will see it in the booth at Toledo and you’ll want one. I’m very excited to test it out myself. It is perhaps the coolest thing to come out of our shop.

ModelRama 2012 In The Books

Dave,

We had a great time at the Modelrama. It was our highest grossing Swap Meet so far. I’m glad you let us sell shirts during the auction because we had another $200.00 in sales after the auction started. The best selling design was the Jumbo Corsair………

Darryl Iott
IM Screen Printing Co.

Dave:

I just wanted to take a minute and thank you and all the Dayton Wingmasters for the fine hospitality my wife and I enjoyed at the swap meet last Saturday. All the folks we met were so kind and gracious to us, we had a wonderful time. If we didn’t know better, we’d have thought you were all “Sutherners”. Please extend our thanks to everyone who worked to make the event go so smoothly, and to all the R/Cers who did business with us, we really appreciate it, and we’re looking forward to coming back again next year.

Thanks again Dave. Dianne and I look forward to seeing you again next year, or maybe next month at Perry, Georgia.

David McCormick
Dave’s R/C Electronics

Setting a new record again with 174 table reservations and thousands of dollars in auctioned models. Approximately 500 modelers attended from 5 states. The weather was a bit cool at 15 degrees Saturday morning. A perfect day to spend inside hunting new and used RC goodies! We thank you for attending and thank all the volunteers that worked hard to make this event a winner year after year. Mark your calendar for Feb 9, 2013.

2012 Midwest ModelRama Tables Sold Out!

The show tables are sold out. In 2011 we had 138 tables, in 2012 wel have 170 tables of goodies for you to wheel and deal for. And a wonderful auction. You never know what you’ll bag at the ModelRama. Standby reservations are being taken at this time. Usually there are a few no shows. Those tables are released at 8:30am sharp. We’ll do whatever is possible to work you into the show. This is the largest swap for 100’s of miles. The only larger swap meets that I am aware of are Perry Georgia and Hamburg Pennsylvania. This is the place to get your supplies and new models for the 2012 season and a great place to sell off unwanted models and goodies to fund your Toledo run. Be there! See Midwest ModelRama below for the show flyer and all information.

Midwest ModelRama

At last, a model you can really take home! — Models Models Everywhere!

Keep it moving! Keep it moving! — Real Customers Browsing

Midwest ModelRama Details. It’s time to write it on you calendar and plan to attend the ModelRama. It’s held each year in Dayton Ohio and is the largest Swap/Auction in the Tri-State. As you can see from the 2011 images, it’s a show with plenty of shoppers and lots of tables loaded with goodies. Your sure to find new and used ready to flys. We always have a good selection of models from excellent to resto. Also lots of suppliers and goodie boxes galore to root through. Not only a good selection of of used but also new will be on hand. Bring a few extra bills, your sure to find something worth sneaking in the house here. If you’ve got some items you want to clear out, try our auction. We’ll turn that pile of once-loved goodies into cash so you can get what you really want.

3D Printed Aircraft Takes Flight

Springfield Ohio’s SelectTech in September of 2011 reports sucessful test flight of the worlds first privately funded 3D printed aircraft. Designed by Frank Beafore and Beth Galang, flown by Jade Lowrey at Springfields Beckley Municipal Airport. Aircraft is powered and guided by electronics from Radical RC. Powered by Himax brushless motor, Castle Creations ESC, and Kypom Lipo battery. The aircraft was manufactured on a Dimension 22 1200 ES Printer which works by fusing together strands of ABS plastic. The printer can make parts up to about 10″ long. The aircraft is an assembly of many sections. The wing panels are made with ribs, skin with a light cross hatch structure under the skin (a Radical RC suggestion) to allow the skin to be made thin and light weight. In each rib with each panel are premade holes to accept the carbon rod spars. Total printing time was about 5 days.

Generally the 3D printing process is used to make prototype parts to verify designs before making a hard tooling investment. However, SelectTech demonstrates that projects with complex mechanical requirements can be manufactured and put directly into service very quickly.

A story was published in the Dayton Daily News Business section on Nov. 13, 2011.