Weekend Oct. 16-18 Report/Pics, at Irvington Field and Skunk Works.

"South Pit Ramblings"

by Alvin Reed

Friday Afternoon October 16 Report/Pictures

I was instructed by Tony to be prepared for another trip to the Secret Skunk Works Factory today. I arrived at the AuroSave to find tire man Thomas going into a work sideline because the tips had been sort of weak today. Then a couple of last minute customers, Rob and Kari, came by to pick up a vehicle.


Arrived at the Skunk Works to find a nice crop of Pecans falling in the Pecan Orchard, sure were tasty. After picking up some Pecans, I went into the shop to find Tony and Wayne looking over the almost completed window install. About the only window work left was the windscreen and Wayne is doing final adjustment of the template. Another new completed detail was a little snap gizmo to hold the side door/window in open position.


Cockpit is looking good. Metal strut wires have been installed on the tail planes and they are very functional. Various methods of adding a touch more weight to front of Cub in order for the CG to be spot on were discussed. The muffler was fresh out of the welding shop with the exhaust extension tube now permanently welded in place.


The cockpit is now finished out with the seats installed and the pilot trying it all out for fit. It was determined that the pilot looked a little too gay for an L-4 Warbird, so some more details were added to the pilot with Alvin finally getting into the project. A skull cap, two days growth of whiskers, and a cigar were added to pilot figure.



Let us hope to not see this full scale tree landing any time soon with Tony's L-4, would break his and the Secret Skunk Works Factory team's hearts for sure.

Plane really looks great.

It don't looked damaged, considering the fact you guys got off lucky..
you did well on it's first flight.

Thank you Russell.

now they have Alvin playing with dolls.

Saturday October 17 Work Party Report/Pictures

There would be no flying today as this was a club work party time for general cleaning and maintenance projects, just as well because it was a little windy for fun flying. An unusually large group of club members showed up for this days projects and a good job was done by all.
Club president Enzo's wife was leader of the group doing a complete cleaning and rearrangement of the kitchen room and equipment. Russell started out carrying around a clipboard but soon got into the swing of things by washing and cleaning.


Tony enjoyed several of the provided breakfast sausage biscuits as well as various flavored muffins. Ken finishes off his morning coffee and they soon got down to work.


Larry started by emptying some trash cans so that they could be refilled with more throw aways. Club member and plumber David located the leak in the field water supply pipe and soon had it all patched back up and drip free.


The spectator benches along front of main pavilion were power washed, repaired, and painted a beautiful shade of cool yellow.


A section of chain link fence along the field entry road was removed in order to provide for better parking lot access and more parking space in particular for model hauling trailers.


Several other projects not pictured were also accomplished and a luncheon of hamburgers, hot dogs, snacks, and drinks was provided for all the workers present.

Good job everybody! Sorry I couldn't be there to help, but I had to work for the people who pay my bills this weekend.

i thought that was sunday. was working around the house saterday to finish up my projects. ooops.

Sunday October 18 Combat Report/Pictures

I got to the field a little on the late side, but does not seem to have been much going on all afternoon due probably to the coolish wind blowing.
I understand the most of the North End regulars adjourned early over to Al's workshop to see some project under construction.
Today was the scheduled monthly ACMA RC Combat event and according to others present, combatants were in attendance and with Frits as event director in Andrew's absence, I don't remember hearing any word of who might have won.

On the way into field, I took notice of the fence removal project accomplished yesterday in order to open up more access and parking.


On around to the front of main pavilion and the good drying conditions had cured the new yellow paint job on the spectator benches.


There was still some evidence of the grass cutting done by novice drivers yesterday in the absence of regular cutter, Jeff.


Russell gave a lecture about the ancient Roman soldiers sanitary procedures, involving a type of cleaning mop used by an entire legionary tent group of troops in their common latrine area.

That'd be novice driver Tony...

I had a couple of good pics to post but for some reason my iphone stopped showing up under 'my computer - camera's' for some reason. There's other ways to get pics off but that was by far the easiest!!!!

Thought a driver might have been corrupt but I plugged up Lee's and it came right up, so it's a problem with my iphone.. Argggg!!

This post has been edited by jonkoppisch on Oct 19 2009, 12:00 PM

I emailed the photos to myself so...




This post has been edited by jonkoppisch on Oct 19 2009, 02:21 PM

Is that "Combat Carnage"?

Who Planes are those?
CRASH & Burn

Nope, before combat..

They tried to hide the evidence but...

This post has been edited by jonkoppisch on Oct 19 2009, 02:17 PM

The carnage looks like a works in progress from CRASH 22's workshop.
I recognize Tiger 2 parts and Fokker three-wing parts and a nondescript wing...
I'm sure we'll see most of it airborne again soon...

I heard a kite had the Tiger by its tail and pulled it down into the ground... I hate I missed it!

And about combat...
The only person who was ready and deserving of the prize is Mike Callen who was the only combat pilot to fly. He waited and waited but no one would take him on...

There were a couple of earlier combat fliers but I think that they gave up because Andrew didn't come....

A couple of the wrecks in the pile were from earlier Sunday... & the kite flight was very exciting!!!

I was standing over at Wes's trailer talking when Robert announced that he was getting ready to pull the kite. Wes said "did I hear him right" (laughing).. Yep, it's Robert!!!! ROFL

Never dull for sure!

You don't know what you're missing when you don't come out to the field!!!

Of course after it's all over, Robert tells me he's got his vid cam in the van....

This post has been edited by jonkoppisch on Oct 19 2009, 05:59 PM

I didn't see that coro-Cub ready at 2:00 to take on Russ and I!

We opted to not fly head to head because flying one-on-one combat is really lame and boring.

This post has been edited by Mike on Oct 19 2009, 06:03 PM

Don't you guys use junk RC planes for combat?

Aren't they all junk?