JB Nisley

Making the Case for a Glider to be Your First Aeromodelling Project

February 28, 2023March 7, 2023 by JB Nisley, posted in Glider Drawings, Gliders, Posts

New to Aëromodelling? Consider building a Glider. Our newest Webpage for KCFreeFlight.org lays out a strong case.
Click this Web Link to find out why . . .

Why Fly Balsawood Gliders? — A Nostalgic Nod to David Higgins’ Lifetime Glider Fascination —

If you’re contemplating entering the fascinating hobby of Aëromodelling, an excellent place to start is to simply build a GLIDER. Doing this is a good introduction to the basics of model building. It’s not too expensive compared to other things, nor should it have to burden you with using up a great deal of your time.

David Higgins who is the subject of Why Fly Balsawood Gliders? points this out . . .

“A very convincing argument for choosing a glider for your first Aëromodelling project can be spotted in a rare 1911 photograph below of a group of boys “dressed to the nines“ watching the winding of one of the rubber motors typical of model aëroplanes of this early era.”

Notice that most of the eyes of the group are intensely focused on the wound motor and possibly wondering if it will break. 🤔

That is—except for . . . . one.

YES . . . . IF YOUVE SPOTTED THE CENTER LAD AS NOT FOLLOWING SUIT (pun intended 👔)—YOU’RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. 🤗

IT LOOKS AS IF HE’S NOT AT ALL INTERESTED IN THE MOTOR WINDING ACTIVITY AND WHETHER IT WILL BREAK OR NOT, BUT INSTEAD IS PROUDLY LOOKING AHEAD HOLDING A SMALL GLIDER—and most likely it’s one that he just finished building not too long ago. By his expression, one would think he’s trying to signal to all of us that before too long it will be HE that will be the center of attention winding a FABULOUS FLYING MACHINE of his very own making.

Building a glider not only will introduce you to a new skill set in working with Balsawood, once it’s finished and you begin flying it, you will have the opportunity to see how it flies and most likely will want to learn ways to modify its flight pattern to behave like you want it to. In this process you will gain useful hands-on experience with model aircraft in general. These essential building blocks of learning that you’ve gained will serve you well in this hobby as you build more complicated models.

TIP: 😉See our HISTORY OF HAFFA section of this Website
to learn about the early 1900s Twin Pushers.

Webmaster’s COMMENTS by Jb Nisley:

The photograph featured in this Post was scanned from a photograph on page 56 of a book from my (Jb Nisley’s) personal “Aëromodelling Library.” titled “THE SECOND BOYS BOOK of MODEL AEROPLANES”, a cover of which is shown below. Copyrighted in 1911, the copy I was fortunate to obtain on the Internet was printed in 1914 and is in close to mint condition. 😊

Cover Photo of
THE SECOND BOYS’ BOOK of MODEL AEROPLANES Francis A. Collins – Copyright 1911 published 1914.

Inside front cover showing position of hand written note dated Christmas 1918.

To my surprise I was delighted to find a hand written note in pencil documenting that the original owner received this copy four years after it was published as a Christmas present in 1918, as documented in a hand written pencil note handsomely penned in cursive lettering, as the closeup clearly shows. (Is Cursive a lost art? One would hope not . . .😔)

I can only imagine a young Ed’s joy that Christmas morning December 25, 1918 for not only being fortunate enough to receive a wonderful book about Model Aeroplanes, but given the historic date I can only hope that he was old enough to realize and to relish the relief of having one of the deadliest global conflicts in history, THE GREAT WAR (as they knew it then) come to an end a little over a month prior. Now we know it as WORLD WAR I.

One takeaway from all of this is that the name of the lad that’s holding the glider in the group photo above or for that matter the names of all of the others that stood patiently for the motor wind has unfortunately been lost to history. For what it’s worth, and maybe it’s not that important, is that I actually do know the name of the youngster who held in his hands the book I now own. I am sure he cherished the time he had with the book as much as I will . . .

I would prefer to think that as Ed grew up in the early 1900s he built many fine model aëroplanes that brought joy to him and others around him. I would also like to believe that he started his Aëromodelling hobby by building a glider.

DETECTIVE RENZ’S CASE FILES are now being SOLVED !!!

February 19, 2023February 19, 2023 by JB Nisley, posted in Aeromodelling Tips and How-Tos, Glider Drawings, Model Airplane Drawings, Posts

Unfortunately for way too long there’s been a file cabinet out there chocked full of Aëromodelling information waiting to be made public to the evermore increasing numbers of modellers world wide.

NOW THERE’S HOPE !!! 😎

Two lone HAFFA Members, Detective Sergeant Jeff Renz and his Webmaster Assistant Jb Nisley, have pledged to search for and uncover rarely seen valuable modelling advice on a number of Aëromodelling fronts.

— PRESENTING —

Aëromodelling Detective Jeff Renz’s Case Files

PLEASE CLICK THE LINK ABOVE and also NOTE that THIS NEW WEBPAGE LINK has now been located on the NAVIGATION BAR above.

CASE FILES previously having been laying dormant for decades HAVE NOW BEEN SOLVED and converted to PDF files for the general public’s scrutiny. As time allows, more of these files will become available to all Aëromodellers clambering for QUALITY HOW-TOS and INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDES applicable to this growing Model Airplane Hobby.

SO FEEL FREE TO INVESTIGATE FOR YOURSELF 🔍
OUR TWO CASE FILES 📁📂TO DATE JUST WAITING FOR YOUR METICULOUS EXAMINATION. 🤔

As always — Warm Thermals.

Regards,

Master Sergeant Aëromodelling Detective Jeff Renz
and his Webmaster Assistant Jb Nisley

Huge Dilemma Concerning David Higgin’s Overhead Bin Packed Full of Airplane Model Drawings !!!

January 22, 2023January 23, 2023 by JB Nisley, posted in Gliders, Posts

What’s a Webmaster of an Aeromodelling Website to do about a Jam-Packed Airliner Overhead Bin full of Model Airplane Drawings belonging to David Higgins?

Create a new Web Page of course !!!

BE CAREFUL !!!

Be sure to open that OVERHEAD BIN SLOWLY or a rush of
MODEL AIRPLANE DRAWINGS will SPILL OUT !!!
WE WOULDNT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN —
NOW WOULD WE?

We now have a sizeable backlog of Dave’s drawings he’s either drawn himself and or collected from others from the numerous years he’s been engaged with the Aeromodelling Hobby—and now they seem to be camping out in an undersized Airline Overhead Bin!
What’s a Webmaster to do?

HERE’S OUR ANSWER!

Click on this link to a newly created Webpage
that will provide enough STORAGE for these JEMS!

David Higgins’ Overhead Bin
Aeromodelling Drawings & Plans

(You can also click on the image above.)

YES—DAVE’S AT IT AGAIN.

We thought the best place to deal with these was to create a brand new storage unit in the form of a Web page especially designed for Dave called David Higgins’ Overhead Bin — Aeromodelling Drawings & Plans. We think that you will agree. As time allows we will be adding more “Additions” to this page at regular intervals.

I seems in most cases—a great number of the drawings that he is providing have a personal story that goes along with them which only adds immeasurably to the charm. In some cases he includes additional insight into the model as well. Often he has personally constructed the model—having designed it himself or made modifications to an original design, He describes his experience with having flown it, and has advice as to its trimming aka flight adjustments. In some cases he has chosen to completely redraw the model using his CAD software to his liking, which in most cases is an upgrade to the original design.

The drawings on this Web page will be downloadable as PDF files so you can print them on your computer or take the file on a flash drive to a printing service for your very own (to scale) copy.

Also note that in the future you can easily get back to his new page as it is nestled immediately under the Web page link to his popular DAVE’S GALLERIA OF GLIDERS Web page shown in the Main Navigation Menu located at the top of this page. It will be the first link in the “Sub-Menu” if you hover your mouse over the “GALLERIA” link. (Try doing that now. 😉)

So—stay tuned as more drawings get added
to this crazy page! 🙃

Thanks for viewing,

—Jb— Webmaster for KCFreeFlight.org

P.S. — If you like the new page or this Website in general, tell your Aeromodelling friends where to find us and as always — Warm Thermals.

A Guide to Winter Solstice

January 4, 2023January 4, 2023 by JB Nisley, posted in Posts

Here’s a Web page I stumbled upon recently while searching the Internet. I believe this is good reading for everyone including Aëromodellers as we start the new year.

You can access this Web page by clicking the URL link below the Graphic or the Graphic itself.

Enjoy.

Signed,

—Jb — & the KCFreeFlight.org Staff

A Guide to Winter Solstice:
Reflections & Rituals for Embracing Renewal

— Winter Solstice Aëromodelling Poem —

January 2, 2023January 4, 2023 by JB Nisley, posted in Posts

by Jb Nisley

Winter Solstice Aëromodelling Poem

May the year’s SHORTEST day and alas—LONGEST NIGHT

bring solace and comfort to Aëromodellers—amidst all the light

of their MESSY workstations—which some may say might

be a bit undersized and somewhat too TIGHT.

It’s the stated goal of this MODELER, at the end of this night

to successfully complete the work needed—with all of my MIGHT

to FINISH THIS MODEL PROJECT—long overdue

And by all means, CERTAINLY, to get it done right.

Now—where is my GLUE?

Yes—having to work in such a LIMITED SPACE,

of disorganized, cramped and spewed about space

brings tears to some modelers and others FRUSTRATION.

But it’s this lack of some tools—and disorganization,

plus lackluster placement in a questionable location

that really calls out for—I’m sorry to say—intense SCRUTINIZATION.

For just about any olé casual OBSERVER

would obviously make the case with intense fervor

The simple act of viewing my modeler’s workspace

would understandingly and knowingly—PEG IT A DISGRACE!

So to you—I must PARAPHRASE
to further my case . . .

“May the year’s longest night bring hope to all modelers

amidst the dim LIGHT
of messy workstations in the short RACE
to finish their models in spite

of their MEAGER cramped space.

—Oh what a calamitous SIGHT!”

But what may come of a few hours TONIGHT

may turn out to be
for a great many to SEE . . .

a thoughtful made object

that MAY SOME DAY TAKE FLIGHT!

My patched together model AËROPLANE

won’t stand up to any Flight Contest Judge’s standards for models they EXPLORE.

Among the myriad ailments it’s got is two cracked ribs, torn & missing tissue,

plus MIS-ALIGN-MENTS GA-LORE!

With a touch of sadness—I have to admit,

More than likely it’s rotten, at least to the CORE.

It can be quite TELLING, gazing on it right NOW . . .

that a feature article of a future Aëromodeller’s magazine—even partially based on THIS . . .

would be turned down quietly with an editors’ VOTE TO DISMISS,

and as for the rest of the STAFF it’s for certain —they wouldn’t ALLOW.

So alas there’s much to do before it’s the SPRING.

Clear the SPACE to Re-join the RACE . . .
to enter this year’s Flight Contests—I’m making my case.

There’s TOOLS to sharpen, RULERS to line up, blades to cut with & glue bottles to UNCAP—

(This all must happen before I dose off—in a much needed NAP!)

Propellers to carve & rubber to TIE—much to be mended and . . . . “My—Oh my Gosh—MY!”

Awaiting the anticipated Spring Season—only short months away

would be CRUNCH TIME for the all important “Tall Grass Trimming Step”—COME WHAT MAY.

For those of us who may not have a CLUE—this would be the process to get it perfectly aligned and quite TRUE!

The reason for “TRIMMING” is simply because

after it takes off and flies on it’s own

as with all Free Flight Models they’re out there ALONE.

There’s no onboard TINY PILOT to silently correct,
any flight issues with air turbulence, low visibility or to choose it’s own PATH,

it must deal with everything—including down-drafts,

plus a long list of items courtesy of Mother Nature’s stern WRATH

so all of its defenses must be built in advance,

to help turning radius’s, steady climb rate—all the time at a glance.

There’s something called CG we refer to as Center of Gravity,

fussing with this by all accounts absolutely . . . . is a noteworthy activity.

Its’ adjusting down & right thrust to force it to turn right—plus eliminating the stalls,

a lot goes into this but this is not all . . .

You must look at wing and stab incidence—so all of this is no coincidence—to get it to fly.

Again I must say what I said earlier . . . . “My—Oh my Gosh—MY!”

And last of all its considering the ideal motor size & fixing prop pitch

And let’s also not forget . . . figuring excess weight you’re forced regrettably—to ditch!

We trim them to fly in circles to come down in our fields,

but failing to happen—small motor bikes proceed,

in search of our lost aircraft— but never guaranteed.

We spend thousands to track them to help in the cause,

because employing bird dogs are useless this day

as aëroplane models are certainly not prey.

So if one would think about that for a moment
to which Flight Directors & Contestants should certainly give pause . . .

to think only about flying their planes in low winds

which would invariably delay—
and as a result a slight postponement !!!

But if this was the norm we would never have fun,

because here in the Midwest it’s always a bit breezy
which never can be totally out-done!

But once TRIMMING is finished with a little help from your PEERS,
your fledgling new BIRD should take flight
among your crowd’s loud CHEERS.

So finally Spring arrives—but it’s still a tad COLD.

Nevertheless I’m taking her flying.

Should I be so BOLD?

So off in the dark of the we hours to my duffel bag I wander

to retrieve my precious trusted (must I say expensive?) RUBBER WINDER.

I reflect now in darkened silence this SOLSTICE reminder,
and know that the following days will exponentially grow LONGER. Hurrah!

So amazingly enough just about then

when the horizon becomes bright
with the early morning’s sun’s light,

it occurs to me that I must ponder,

just how many turns must I wind for the rubber

to accomplish my goal of setting my creation
into the illustrious wide blue yonder—for my observation?

As it awaits its winding atop my Winding Station in the early dawn

I can’t help but being explicitly drawn,

to thoughts of earlier modelers having similar tasks

but they had no road-map or directions to follow,

all their efforts were mostly gleaned from experience

which for us current day Aëromodellers it’s almost impossible to grasp.

In addition my newly conceived model aëroplane . . . . reminds me of the way

all YESTERYEAR PIONEER FREE FLIGHT AËROMODELLER must have encountered,
all the JOY & MIRACLE of UNAIDED FLIGHT in their day.

No remote control doodads for me.

No batteries to charge.

No flight control gimmicks or even slight worries.

It’s basically a rubber motor I rely on—as I wind peacefully away
in the warm morning sunlight and absolutely no hurries

with little or no flurries, on this glorious day.

I take in the beauty of what’s surrounds me—the Land and the Sky

in its simplicity. Oh the scenery—what a sight!

Back to counting. I settle on a number close to half a grand.

It seems to be enough for the first time—as she’s leaving my hand,

YES—five hundred winds—turns out just about RIGHT
for her long-time-a-coming RATHER MODEST “Maiden Flight.”

As we look ahead at our growing Aëromodelling Hobby,

for ‘23 . . .
there seems to be plenty
of World Wide Newcomers ALREADY.

As while these numbers increase—there’s something I’d like to say PUBLICLY.

There’s UNQUESTIONABLY no harm in controlling all ASPECTS
of your model in mid-flight.

—In fact there are ADVANTAGES.—

But for me it’s the EARLY AËROMODELLING PIONEERS
that have proven to me and others of all LANGUAGES,

that for all of these years since the DAWN of unaided Model Aëroplane Flight

it has been RUBBER POWERED MODELS that have gotten it RIGHT.

Happy December Northern Hemisphere Solstice and may the
2023 Aëromodelling year begin on a Peaceful note for the World
and may all your Model Aëroplane Flights be successful this year.

Looking forward to longer days & more “flight time.” 🙂

And for those in the Southern Hemisphere—relish your Summer!

Jeffrey B. (Jb) Nisley — Webmaster for KCFreeFlight.org

KCFreeFlight.org Website Reaches 20,000 Views on December 16th, 2022

December 16, 2022December 17, 2022 by JB Nisley, posted in Posts

Cecilia says —
HIP-HIP-HURRAH !!!

To reach 20,000 visits for the year is certainly a Milestone for this Website. Many thanks to YOU—one of the the faithful 8,424 Site Visitors so far this year for your interest both in this Website and Free Flight Modeling in general.

It seems that Aeromodelling as a hobby has indeed taken off again (pun intended) not only in the USA but Worldwide as well. I say again because I believe there is a real resurgence in people now desiring to fly and watch free flight model airplanes in flight. 🙂

One surprising thing that this Webmaster has noticed the past few years is the gradual rise in the popularity of one of our KCFreeFlights.org’s Web pages. That would be none other than a “Crazy” page titled Portable Building Boards and Modeling Pins.

Following the Stats for this page over time has revealed an interesting trend these past several years. The number of visits for this single Web page has invariably followed very closely at 10% of the total number of visits for the Website—at least for this past year.

Take a close look below at a screen shot taken of the Stats Chart for KCFreeFlight.org—captured December 16, 2022:

(And yes, I happened to catch it right at the 20,000 mark—much like we like watching an Odometer turn to 100,000.)

If you look closely you will find that the “Portable Building Boards and Modeling Pins” Web page had 1958 visits, which works out to be almost 10% of the site’s 20,000 visits alone, and at the same time beating the entry to the website’s HOME PAGE’s visits by 203 !!! When the Web page debuted in 2017 the total number of views only garnered 191 but in the following year it ballooned to 756 which was just shy of a 400% gain and has since steadily gained in popularity. Here is the original sketch I used as my Cutting Sheet when the page first appeared in 2017:

And here is the Downloadable PDF Sheet for building your own set of these Building Boards now in 2022:

Portable Building Boards Ceiling Tile Cutting Pattern.pdf
Click on the link or the thumb nail image above to download and print all you need to know to make these boards!!! 😉

Since taking over the website in 2015 when it was titled FlyHAFFA.com, to today where the website is now called KCFreeFlight.org—it has been an interesting and fun journey. Myself and the staff here definitely owes a large part of its success by you the Site Viewers that continue to supporting us, and in a large part the younger generation of modelers that has embraced this

Long Standing and Enormously Interesting Hobby of Ours Called Aeromodelling.

Thanks again for your support,

Jeffrey B. Nisley (aka Jb) – Webmaster

Jeff Renz – Adviser and Editor

HAFFA Member Suman Saripalli launching Paul Morgenroth III’s
Altimeter “Hybrid” Electric Battery Powered “Phoenix Bird.”

2023 — The dawn of a new day for Free Flight Aeromodelling has begun !!!

P.S. People ask me about the spelling of Aeromodelling and if it is correct or not. Turns out that Americans like the spelling Aeromodeling while the rest of the world prefers the spelling Aeromodelling.

I prefer to go with Aeromodelling. 😀 —Jb—

Visit our “New” Web page

December 15, 2022December 15, 2022 by JB Nisley, posted in HAFFA Events, HAFFA Meetings, Posts

Although not really “New”—the page we’re talking about has undergone a series of transformations lately and now sports a new title of“MEETINGS & EVENTS.” To access, click this link or find it above in the Navigation Bar.

THIS IS THE PLAN FOR THE PAGE:

Conveniently split down the middle—on the left side of the page is titled “OUR NEXT MEETING” and talks about the next HAFFA Business Meeting. All the relevant information is there including the address and a Google Map located at the bottom of the page to plan your trip.

ON the Right side is the “EVENT CALENDAR” and for all intents and purposes shows the current month and two additional future months with activities that are pertinent to the Heart of America Free Flight Association aka HAFFA.

— ONE OTHER THING WORTH MENTIONING —

Notice that there is a “Winter Party” entry in January. We are inviting all HAFFA MEMBERS and Friends who would like to attend. So stay tuned . . .

JUNE 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) Free Flight BLOG Post

May 29, 2022June 16, 2022 by JB Nisley, posted in Posts

If you’re a fan of Twin Pushers like I certainly am—believe me you’ll like this month’s Post !!! You will find that this month’s Op-Ed takes a slightly different departure from the normal “Op-Ed” format in that it’s an Op-Ed / Short Story. For the first time ever, JB Nisley, the author, brings to our Aeromodeling community a “History of Stooges Document” that hitherto has never been attempted before—let alone researched. In this “Fictional Fable Epic Tale,” Nisley not only delves into the subject of Stooges, but offers a more suitable name for our “Most Trusted Model Airplane Rubber Winder Stand.”

Nisley, also introduces in a clever way how this month’s “Twin Pusher Winding Platform” supposedly came to be. So treat yourself to this unique story especially written for us AEROMODELLESTS and stay tuned for an ending you DID NOT SEE COMING !!! 😀

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG JUNE 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

Welcome World Wide GLOBAL AEROMODELLERS and LOCAL HAFFA Members !!!
JB NISLEY’S AEROMODELLING OP-ED / SHORT STORY – JUNE 2022 1
AEROMODELLING WHAT’S NEW IN OUR WORLD? – 6/22 2
JEFF RENZ’S POST NOTES Blogger/Editor in Chief 2/223
THE LATEST AEROMODELLING TIP – JUNE 2022 4
CASEY BALDWIN’S Free Flight Legacy Continues JUNE 2022 5
JB Nisley’s “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” Closing StatementJUNE 2022 6
Don’t MISS OUT on the many Aeromodelling RESOURCES our Website has to offer !!! 😀

Viewing this page using a MOBILE PHONE?PRESS THE BUTTON to return to this MENU.

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG JUNE 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

JUNE 2022 1

Interestingly his month’s Op-Ed happens to be a departure from the traditional Op-Ed format. Here is an original short story that I’ve written in good faith that both speculates about the hitherto non existent “History of Stooges” and at the same time provides an introductory glimpse into the rich lives of Casey Baldwin and Alexander Graham Bell and their world at the start of the twentieth century more than a hundred years ago.

Dive into this alternate fictional world where it’s Casey’s own son Patrick A.G.B. Baldwin that invents what we now unwittingly and wrongly call “Winding Stooges“.

In some ways this is an introduction to Marty Welch’s 1923 Twin Pusher Winding Platform presented this month as it provides a basis for its own History.

Click the thumbnail below or the link to access the PDF.

JB’s JUNE 2022
Op-Ed / Short Story – The History of Winding Stooges and the Baldwin’s Winding Station.pdf
Author: JB Nisley
Blogger/Webmaster

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG JUNE 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

AEROMODELLING WHAT’S NEW IN OUR WORLD?
By JB Nisley 6/22 2
Shown for the first time is the First Complete Free Standing
Twin Pusher Winding Platform—93 years After Don Burnham at age 14 won the 1929 Junior Division, Outdoor Competition, at the 1929 Nats in Detroit with his Twin Pusher design—still popular today.

Pictured above is JB Nisley’s 2018 A-Frame Twin Pusher which was designed in 1929 by Don Burnham at age 14. Sitting safely atop Captain Marty Welch’s 1923 Twin Pusher Winding Platform—its duel rubber motors are ready to be safely and efficiently wound.

Later this month or the early part of July, Marty’s 1923 magazine article featuring this Winding Platform will be published complete with detailed Drawings, Assembly Instructions and a Materials List. If you’re serious about A-Frame Twin Pushers—this platform, made entirely of simple 1x2s, would absolutely provide a valuable tool for your continued Vintage Flying Machine’s success. Signed, — Jeffrey (JB) Nisley 😀

Captain Martin Welch
He was captain of the Esperanto in 1920 when it defeated the Canadian schooner Delawana in the first International Fishing Schooner Championship Races in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
He also was the
*Captain of the American*
*fishing schooner Eslie* who lost
to the Bluenose in 1921. Read more about me in JB’s June 2022 Op-Ed / Short Story.

Ahoy Matey! — I’m a friend of Casey Baldwin, Captain Marty Welch, and one of the fictional characters in JB’s JUNE 2022 Op-Ed / Short Story this month. I’m the one that Casey Baldwin designed & built this Winding Platform especially for.

I enjoy everything there is about duel propeller Twin Pushers and folks around here say I’m quite the seasoned competitor at the local Aeroplane Contests when I’m not aboard a Saltbank Fishing Schooner. Casey, to his detriment, prefers to avoid assembling and learning to fly Twin Pushers to this day. (His loss by the way.) 😦

Believe it or not I’m a big fan of Harry Houdini so I dabble a little in magic myself so get ready as I show you some amazing things about this Platform !!!

Shown at right is the Winding Platform’s business end—the aft end that holds the two propellers. You will see two “L” shaped wood “Sliders” made of 1x2s facing inward that are held in place by only 4 thin rubber bands each spaced evenly if you look closely enough.

If you look even closer you will see a slanted 1/16″ piano wire “peg” on each slider that are used to hold the propellers of the A-Frame Twin Pusher in place.

Front end close up - Marty Welch's 1923 Twin Pusher Winding Platform — Rear of Platform Showing Pins to hold
the Crocket Hooks of the Rubber Motors.

Both of these L sliders with the slanted pegs make it possible to adjust the spacing between the pegs to accommodate different sized Twin Pushers. Below is a close up of one of these assemblies to better show you how these work to hold the propellers down on each side..

If you stare long enough at the wound rubber motor’s crocket hook above that’s placed over a slanted metal peg—you will notice a thin rubber band fading in and out—revealing where it’s placed in order to hold down the Twin Pusher’s right propeller in this case.

Shown at left is the simple but effective system used to hold down each of the Twin Pusher’s right and left propellers safely to the platform.

MAGIC ANYONE? 😀

This is accomplished by the use of a single rubber band stretched over the peg and atop the rubber motor’s crocket hook.

An explanation of how this was done as an Animated GIF is explored in
this month’s JUNE 2022 JB’s “Message in a Bottle” Closing Statement below.

Close-up of the “A-Frame Retainer Rope” Hold Down

If you look closely at the forward end of the Twin Pusher Platform (aka rotating T-Bar)you will see that the top of the A frame is securely but gently held in place with a length of 1/4″ manila rope 21 inches long which I call the “A-Frame Retainer Rope.”

**This is the forward part of the platform showing the underside of the rotating T bar.** The raised T bar positions the Twin Pusher at a slight upward angle—thereby allowing the winder to wind the motors safely away from the model. This is a useful feature if the motor(s) decide to break if wound beyond their breaking limit—actually not an unusual situation especially in the heat of the moment preparing for a mass launch or competition type tournament !!!

The above photo also shows a better view of the fish netting, which greatly contributes to
the nautical theme and at the same time—adds greatly to the utility of the platform.

Above is another view of what I’m calling the pivoting “T” Bar located at the forward end of the Platform. Manila rope is simply glued to the wood structure where it’s needed. Notice the forward placed black rectangle shaped object in the middle. This object is actually two strong magnets that are attracted together to hold and tension the single rope holding the A-frame in place which is called the “A-Frame Retainer Rope.

Removing the Twin Pusher from the Platform after winding is super easy!

With this quick three step system, this process can be performed literally in seconds while gently but firmly holding the model in one hand and using the other to release the two rubber bands from the crocket hooks and lastly pulling the magnets apart releasing the “A-Frame Retaining Rope” from the Winding Platform. 😉

The fish net surrounding the platform is a great place to toss things needed within reach such as your winder, other tools, notebook, clipboard with scorecard or even your lunch!

You will be winding one motor at a time on opposite sides of the platform so no need for a double winder. A single winder with a counter is ideal.

GIF Animation - TP Winding Platform in Sailors Ditty Bag - HISTORY OF STOOGES - Casey's Free Flight BLOG

Here again is a bit of “MAGIC” courtesy of a GIF animation JB produced using GIMP showing how the Platform folds in two making it compact enough for transport inside a Sailor’s Ditty Bag.

In lieu of an authentic Sailors Diddy Bag, a cloth laundry bag with a drawstring will suffice.

It’s nice to know that for a seemingly awkward looking device—when folded up and secured by the four manila rope “guy wires” that are used to secure it to the ground—it’s a simple matter to carry it upside down by its pole. In addition a huge bonus is that for the most part it won’t tip over if it’s on relatively flat ground, even on grass.
😀

Note: When folded this platform’s base takes up only a 14″ by 14″ square footprint and when stored in its bag shown above—it’s a breeze to throw in your vehicle or to store in your garage in the off season. When you go to use it simply unfold, stake down with 4 tent stakes you keep in a separate case, and you’re set up ready to wind—no assembly of the platform is required.

Please note that this Winding Platform has purposely avoided the use of the term “Stooge” in its name as Stooges came out in the 50s—so it would not be in the spirit of the models built in this era of 1910 to early 1930s.

Because It is made entirely out of three #2 grade Pine 1 by 2s ( 3/4″ x 1-1/2″ actual dimension) this Platform is not out of the reach for most AEROMODELLERS. One coil of manila rope 50′ x 1/4″ is all you need plus some other materials makes this an affordable project.

Front View of Captain Marty Welch’s 1923 Twin Pusher Winding Platform with Don Burnham’s Twin Pusher ready for winding.

This is the first one of the four (4) new “Stooge” designs that Jeffrey B. (JB) Nisley will introduce sometime in 2022. You can find out more about Marty and his Winding Platform in this month’s JB’s JUNE 2022 Op-Ed / Short Story. The first of the foursome is a “Winding Platform” and the next three will have “Winding Station” in their names instead of Winding Stooge. This is in keeping with the desire to eliminate the word “Stooge” and in turn transition to the more respectable phrase “Winding Station.” 😉

Proper credit needs to go to Gene Wallock for his wonderful Twin Pusher article titled
GENE WALLOCK – TWIN PUSHER BUILDING AND FLYING TIPS which provided the inspiration for this platform. Gene’s article truly has been a great source for ideas when I was building my own Don Burnham A-frame Twin Pusher from a Short Kit.

This must see monthly feature brings the latest news, events and articles pertaining to Aeromodelling. If you have something to share, and it’s worthwhile and/or newsworthy, we will see to it that it’s published on this blog, or alternatively will provide a web link to it. Use our CONTACT FORM at the bottom of our CONTACT US web page and briefly let us know what it’s all about in the comments section. If your article, Photo(s) or both are approved by our staff, we will initiate an email exchange so that your article and accompanying photos will be published. No business offers or ads please. If you’ve become a fan—check back here often and tell your friends where to find us. 😉

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG JUNE 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

JEFF RENZ’S POST NOTES
Blogger/Editor in Chief

2/22 3

Observation by
Jeff Renz

Last fall JB and I discovered something quite amazing and useful when winding the two Twin Pusher Motors on Nisley’s Burnham Twin Pusher while using an earlier version of Marty’s Winding Platform.

It turns out that if you are lucky enough to have a counter on your winder you’ll have a simplified time of winding the motors plus it’s way more easy to keep track of the number of winds.

LET ME EXPLAIN . . . . if you, let’s say, put 1000 turns on the right hand motor clockwise, naturally your counter would show a positive number of 1000 turns.

The left motor however also needs the same number of turns but this time it needs to be wound counter-clockwise. Voilà !!! — You can use this to your advantage !!! So—without a second lost—if you switch over to the left motor, and leave the counter where it is (now 1000) and start turning the crank counter-clockwise, you then will be winding it backwards as it counts back down to Zero again amassing a total of exactly 1000 turns!

How convenient and easy to keep track as both motors by this process will have had exactly the same number of turns every time! 😀 Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy as the saying goes !!!

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG JUNE 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

THE LATEST AEROMODELLING TIP – JUNE 2022 4

SUSTAINABLE TENT STAKES
This idea courtesy of JB is used in conjunction with the Winding Platform showcased this month in JB’s JUNE 2022 Op-Ed / Short Story. The definition of sustainable is “able to be maintained at a certain rate or level.”

Here’s a better looking and in my opinion a more durable or sustainable solution to the commonly available “Plastic Tipped Tent Stake’s” tendency for the tips to bend easily and as a result end up broken. 😦

Tent stakes are a necessity when it comes to holding down tents of course but in our case also “Winding Platforms.” Our Winding Platform utilizes four (4) ropes that function as “Guy Wires” to keep the Platform upright, steady (without twisting), and securely held down so the platform can carry out its intended task of winding rubber motors. The “Guy Wire” ropes terminate at the ground with tent stakes that are driven into the soil with a hammer.

Shown here and in the photos of this segment are the type of tent stakes that I recommend. They can be purchased inexpensively at Walmart individually (orange) and are priced at $1.34 each or a Package of 6 (green) for only $4.99 at a Harbor Freight store close by.

I’ve found that the plastic tips of these types of tent stakes tend to bend and ultimately break when it came time to pull them out of the ground with the claw end of a hammer—especially when the ground was dry and hard. To avoid all this I went to a metal alternative—a 3/8″ wingnut commonly available at Ace or other Hardware Stores.
Ask an associate where to find them. 😉

Left to right (1) New Tent Stake (2) Tent stake bent after repeated removals from the ground. (3 & 4) Wingnut Solution.
Example 4 shows the simple HALF HITCH knot that is used for the hold down rope.

At left are four examples of tent stakes. The 2nd to the left tent stake shows where the plastic has a tendency to bend and ultimately break. My solution shown in the left two examples is to replace the plastic tip with an Upside Down 3/8″-16 Wingnut which is epoxied directly to the head of the aluminum “spike” that makes up the tent stake. 😀

Gluing Directions: The photo above and at left shows the aluminum spike with the plastic end removed—replaced by the wingnut as pictured.
Epoxying the Wingnut to the Spike is a 2 Step Process.
Step 1 — In one hand hold the wingnut tightly to the head of the spike and Super Glue (CA) around the top perimeter gap to fill in the space between them. Let this dry for approx 10 min or speed up this process by spraying with CA Accelerator.
Step 2 — When the CA has set, turn the stake around so that its pointed end is straight up. The next step is to epoxy the wingnut to the stake. I tend to like 4-6 hour epoxy as the longer the cure time, the stronger the joint, however 30 minute epoxy seems to be strong enough. Mix equal parts of the A and B epoxy according to directions and carefully transfer (Drip) the mixture into the space between the wingnut and the spike in order to make it solid using your stir stick. Now place this assembly inside a large disposable plastic drink cup and scotch tape it at the top to vertically hold it in place while it cures. Let it set for several days before putting it into service and it will be a long time before you even need to think about having to replace it. 😀

Complete steps 1,2 and 3 and you have yourself a HALF HITCH. Another loop around (Step 4) gives you a DOUBLE HALF HITCH which if the knot is soaked in ***Clear Elmer’s Glue*** — all you really need is the single HALF HITCH in my humble opinion.

USE A SIMPLE HALF HITCH FOR THE TIE DOWN ROPES ON BOTH ENDS.
As for the rope’s end knot shown in the photo above and to the left, I’ve found that a very simple over hand knot some people call a HALF HITCH will work just fine. (BUT HERE’S THE SECRET.) Go ahead and soak all of the fibers of the tightened knot while it’s still on the stake with Clear Elmer’s Glue so it won’t stand a chance of loosening and coming apart! I’ve tried this successfully and it works like a champ. It’s super easy to do—and again like MAGIC—no one I know would ever be the wiser !!! 😀

– — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — –
How to Submit a LATEST AEROMODELLER’S TIP
Use our CONTACT FORM at the bottom of our CONTACT US web page to provide us with your email address so we can set up an email exchange that allows us to obtain the article and the photos you may have that describe your tip. The photos can be simply attached to your email. If you would like—show us a photo of you with your friends showing or using this tip. You don’t have to to live in the United States or be a HAFFA Member to participate. If approved by our staff we will publish your TIP in a future Casey’s BLOG POST. Thanks. Your TIP will be much appreciated !!! 😀
– — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — –

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG JUNE 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

FREDRIC WALKER (CASEY) BALDWIN.
A FREE FLIGHT LEGACY CONTINUES. — JUNE 2022 5

This month’s Op-Ed, JB’s JUNE 2022 Op-Ed / Short Story, serves as an effective and fun way to get a slight glimpse into the very exciting and interesting world Casey Baldwin Alexander Graham Bell, and others in their orbit experienced during the time period between 1908 up until the mid 30s’s. I can only guess at the day to day life of these very interesting and fun loving people. From my reading they lived very noteworthy and rich lives. This short story also in some ways “Invents the History” of what’s behind the design and making of “Captain Marty Welch’s 1923 Twin Pusher Winding Platform“ that is presented in this month’s BLOG Post so be sure to not miss out on this lighthearted fictional tale. Signed, Jeffrey B. (JB) Nisley

— If you haven’t already checked out our sister Site here is the info —
Casey was a member of Alexander Graham Bell’s AEA—a group of early Aviation Pioneers. —
To lean more about Casey and the AEA, visit our Sister Site PHOENIX / AEA and specifically the “Into the Air” web page on that site to find out about the AEA and Casey’s significant roll in this Group of Aviation Pioneers. — Note: Both of the above links will open a new tab in your browser because you are going to a different website. TIP: Remember that you can zoom in on the photo above if you choose to view this page in your mobile device a.k.a. cell phone.

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG JUNE 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

JB Nisley’s “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” Closing Statement JUNE 2022 6

This month after doing some research on twin pusher models I want to direct your attention to an article on the AMA website that showcases the winning A-Frame Twin Pusher Don Burnham designed and built in 1929. The name of this article is Don Burnham’s 1930 A-frame pusher.

If I may, I would like to quote directly from this article: “At the age of 14, Donald C. Burnham won the 1929 Junior Division, Outdoor competition, at the 1929 Nats in Detroit. He won a trophy, $200 cash, and a trip to Canada and Europe. Besides these perks, he also published his A-frame pusher design in Carl H. Claudy’s 1931 book Prize Winners’ Book of Model Airplanes.

In all honesty I think Don would have not expected that his design would be “modernized’ in the form of a laser “Short” kit and sold to the general public through something called the Internet. It was I (JB) in 2018 that purchased one of the “Short Kits of his prize winning design in 2018, almost 90 years later and in a new century. From Don’s perspective at age 14, there were no laser cutting machines anywhere be found. In fact I think he would have been astounded !!! 😀

One of the reasons I bring this webpage to our viewers front and center is that, just like the real person character Pat, in my Short Fictional Story is that Pat in 1935 (age 15) would be almost the exact age as Don Burnham when he won his 1929 championship at age 14. As a “Senior” model builder I sometimes am surprised how young the model builders seem to be in the photos of the Twin Pusher Era of say 1908 to the early 30s.

My “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” for May is an actual quote from the article i have a link to above. The publisher of the book in a letter thanking Don for his “kind words regarding the book.” the letter ends with:

“May your next model fly farther and longer than all the rest!”

Author’s Observation: Here is another example of the notion that it was the distance the plane travels as well as the time spent in the air or “flight time” that was important in judging early contests unlike today where flight time is the only consideration.

As to the “Magic” that my story’s character, Marty, suggests in the first segment of this post—there really is no magic here as this was simply an image saved in a file format known as GIF, GIF images can be saved as an animated GIF file which is what I did. They can be animated and at the same time have a relatively small file size, especially if they are small. Unlike many of the animated GIF images you’ll see on the Internet and on your smart phone that are over-the-top garish and tacky, the gif images for my segment are way more subtle and actually educational in nature. These animations were made using a free to the public photo editing program called GIMP and surprisingly not that difficult to produce. In my case it was time consuming to get the animation to look just right, however.

My advice to users of GIMP designers and webmasters that want to try this is—is to seek out a video online that shows how it’s done. I recommend the YouTube video How to Create Animated Gif’s in GIMP. This was the actual video in which I learned how to make animated gifs. Prepare to spend some quality time to master this “tool” so you can add this to your bag of tricks !!! Believe me, your time will be well wourth it !!! 😀

DISCLAIMER: Photographs used in this BLOG, the KCFreeFlight.org, and PhoenixAEA.WordPress.com websites are for educational purposes only. There is much we don’t know about the amazing life of Fredrick Walker (Casey) Baldwin. There is a portion of the content on this blog currently and will be in the future that will be purely speculation & guess work on the part of our staff as to the details of his life and things he might have contributed that there is no historical record to ascertain if they could be true or false. In no way are we wanting to rewrite history. A good example of this is that he might possibly have been a great Aeromodeller and built model airplanes. 😀 It will be the sole intent of any speculation or guess work concerning Casey in this BLOG, the KCFreeFlight.org, and PhoenixAEA.WordPress.com websites to be positive and not to harm his legacy in any way but instead inform & educate the public of his contributions to Aviation in general and to the Aeromodelling world in particular. — Signed JB Nisley and Jeff Renz

Thank you for reading our JUNE 2022 BLOG POST.
If you’ve become a fan—then tell all your Aeromodelling Friends.
Thanks,
Jeff Renz Blogger/Editor in Chief & Blogger/Webmaster JB Nisley

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG JUNE 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

Be sure to check out the many AEROMODELLING Resources this website has to offer by CLICKING on all the menu items found on our KCFreeFlight.org website’s Navigation Menu at the top of every page of this website. 😉 Thanks.

MAY 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) Free Flight BLOG Post

May 21, 2022June 1, 2022 by JB Nisley, posted in Posts

We believe we have an excellent Post for you this month, however apologies are in order for not getting MAY’s Post published until near the end, but as they say, better late than never. Nevertheless please don’t skip over this one and go to June’s! 🙂 June’s op-Ed will be noteworthy because it takes a rather major departure from a normal “Op-Ed” in that it is in an unusual “Op-Ed / Short Story” style format. What is believed to be the first time ever, its subject matter will be the “History of Stooges” that hitherto has never been written before—let alone researched. So stay tuned for a good 10 pages of a “Good Read,” and well worth your consideration & time. : D

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG MAY 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

Welcome World Wide GLOBAL AEROMODELLERS and LOCAL HAFFA Members !!!
Did you know about “FLIGHT MAGAZINE”? 🙂 MAY 2022 1
TIME for an Aeromodelling INTERMISSION BLOG BREAK MAY 2022 2
THE LATEST AEROMODELLING TIP – MAY 2022 3
CASEY BALDWIN’S Free Flight Legacy Continues MAY 2022 4
JB Nisley’s “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” Closing StatementMAY 2022 5
Don’t MISS OUT on the many Aeromodelling RESOURCES our Website has to offer !!! 😀

Viewing this page using a MOBILE PHONE?PRESS THE BUTTON to return to this MENU.

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG MAY 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

MAY 2022
. . . 1
Were you aware that there was an “Aeroplane” Magazine devoted to early flight in existence as far back as 1909?
Answer: It’s TRUE!
The name of the magazine was FLIGHT !!! 😀

The magazine is simply called “FLIGHT” and the proof is on sale of all places— a Website on the Internet described as an
“Antiquarian and secondhand
bookshop located in Edinburgh’s Old Town.”

“The listing for this magazine is titled: Flight Magazine No. 1019 (No. 27 Vol. XX) – July 5, 1928 (The Aircraft Engineer & Airships)

Quoting from the description of the listing:
‘Flight’ (now Flight International) was founded in 1909 by Stanley Spooner as ‘A Journal devoted to the Interests, Practice, and Progress of Aerial Locomotion and Transport’, and is the world’s oldest continuously published aviation news magazine. Flight first appeared on 2 January 1909 as the official journal of the Aero Club of the United Kingdom (later the Royal Aero Club).

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG MAY 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

TIME for an Aeromodelling INTERMISSION
. . . . Also Known As a BLOG BREAK !!!
😀 Article by Jeff Renz — with JB’s assistance 2

Click to see “The Legend Of The Bluenose“ YouTube Video

SIT BACK AND ENJOY THIS VIDEO ABOUT A FAMOUS CANADIAN TWO MASTED SEAFARING SAILING VESSEL—THE BLUENOSE.
If you liked the above video—you’ll enjoy Bluenose 100. The 100 stands for the Bluenose’s 100th Anniversary! Ironically, there are 100 photos in this video. “I didn’t plan for that, it just happened.” says Fiona Wimber.

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG MAY 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

THE LATEST AEROMODELLING TIP – MAY 2022 3

A Solution to How To Dispose of Exacto Blades Safely

Our LATEST AEROMODELLING TIP comes to us from long time HAFFA Member Mike Schmidt. Both Mike and Jeff (JB) Nisley are alumni of the University of Nebraska’s Architecture program. (They surprisingly both enrolled in this same program in the 70s and 80s.)

“We’re no strangers to #11 Exacto blades because we spent a good deal of our waking hours building architectural models cutting building parts out of gray colored chipboard.”

The Use of a Spice Container to Dispose of Used Exacto Blades is our Latest Modelling Tip of the Month.

Using Mike’s Tip—JB decided to paint the spice container in Rustoleum Hammered Spray Paint to help it blend in with the assortment of office supply items and tools scattered about his workspace. Capable of successfully painting plastic parts which incidentally does not need a primer step before hand, is an easy fix to also coordinate unmatched items purchased in a thrift or second hand store. (Often they are made better than now-a-days.) Also plastic storage containers that help organize clutter also benefit from the matching color.

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG MAY 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

FREDRIC WALKER (CASEY) BALDWIN.
A FREE FLIGHT LEGACY CONTINUES. — MAY 2022 4

— If you haven’t already checked out our sister Site here is the info we introduced last month. —
Casey was a member of Alexander Graham Bell’s AEA—a group of early Aviation Pioneers. —
To lean more about Casey and the AEA, visit our Sister Site PHOENIX / AEA and specifically the “Into the Air” web page on that site to find out about the AEA and Casey’s significant roll in this Group of Aviation Pioneers. — Note: Both of the above links will open a new tab in your browser because you are going to a different website. TIP: Remember that you can zoom in on the photo above if you choose to view this page in your mobile device a.k.a. cell phone.

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG MAY 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

JB Nisley’s “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” Closing Statement MAY 2022 5

This month after doing some research on twin pusher models for my upcoming short story I want to direct your attention to an article on the AMA website that showcases the winning A-Frame duel propeller Twin Pusher Don Burnham designed and built in 1929. The name of this article is Don Burnham’s 1930 A-frame pusher.

If I may, I would like to quote directly from this article: “At the age of 14, Donald C. Burnham won the 1929 Junior Division, Outdoor competition, at the 1929 Nats in Detroit. He won a trophy, $200 cash, and a trip to Canada and Europe. Besides these perks, he also published his A-frame pusher design in Carl H. Claudy’s 1931 book Prize Winners’ Book of Model Airplanes.

In all honesty I think Don would not have expected that his design would be “modernized’ in the form of a laser “Short” kit and sold to the general public through something he couldn’t image, that being the Internet. It was I (JB) in 2018 that purchased one of the “Short Kits of his prize winning design in 2018, almost 90 years later and in a new century. From Don’s perspective at age 14 when he won, there were no laser cutting machines anywhere to be found. I think he would have been astounded !!! 😀

One of the reasons I bring this webpage to our viewers front and center is that, just like one of the characters in my fictional short story, Pat A.G.B. Baldwin in 1935 when my story picks up,, would have been aged 15 at the time, almost the exact age as Don Burnham when he won his 1929 championship at age 14. As a “Senior” model builder I sometimes am amazed at how young the model builders seem to be in the photos of that Twin Pusher Era of say 1908 to the early 30s.

My “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” for May is an actual quote from the article where I have again included the hyperlink here: Don Burnham’s 1930 A-frame pusher’s article. The publisher of the book in a letter thanks Don for his “kind words regarding the book.” His letter ends with:

“May your next model fly farther and longer than all the rest!”

Author’s Observation: Here is another example of the notion that it is also the distance the plane travels as well as the time spent in the air or “flight time” that was important in judging early contests unlike today where flight time is the only consideration.

Thank you for reading our MAY 2022 BLOG POST.
If you’ve become a fan—then tell all your Aeromodelling Friends.
Thanks,
Jeff Renz Blogger/Editor in Chief — & — Blogger/Webmaster JB Nisley

CASEY’S (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG MAY 2022 CASEY’S (KC’S) FF BLOG MENU

Miss Tile and Mr. Pin Announce Update to our Building Boards and Modeling Pins Webpage!

April 11, 2022April 12, 2022 by JB Nisley, posted in Posts

Miss Cecelia Ceiling Tile and Mr. Marvin Modelling Pin are delighted to announce to all our Readers of Casey’s (KC’s) Free Flight BLOG and visitors to our HAFFA Airplane Model Club’s website, KCFreeFlight.org, that the NUMBER ONE VISITED WEBPAGE WAS:

Portable Building Boards
& Modeling Pins
SURPRISED? WE WERE !!! 😀

Along with announcing a long overdue update of the page—we’d also like to point out that the number of visits to this webpage for last year, 2021, was 1.459 overtaking the website’s HOME page’s 1366 visits by 93.
This surprised all our staff at KCFreeFlight.org. For the most part it would normally be extremely unlikely to have what is considered an inconsequential page overtake the website’s main “HOME” page which is the portal where most visitors enter the site.

The Portable Building Boards & Modeling Pins webpage had humble origins when it was created back in 2017. My hunch about using white or carpenters glue to “laminate” two layers of ceiling tiles back to back paid off handsomely as it has become the preferred way to make Portable Building Boards for those who know about this method.
Prior to this the advice was mostly simply to use drywall or “Sheetrock” ( Sheetrock is a specific brand of drywall sheet.) Also ceiling tiles of course, and Balsa wood sheets. But now-a-days who wants to use precious balsa wood for this purpose?

Another interesting bit of information concerning the Statistics of last year is the number of visits garnered by another popular page of our website called Dave’s Drawings which was 1,173 visits.

Click the LINK Above or the Image to go to this Webpage.

Also impressive were the actual number of pdf downloads of Dave’s Sweepette-Ette-14 Mk. II CLG (Catapult Launched Glider) at 336. Now these were downloads of the drawing Dave made but if only 10% of these actually made it to the flying field, there are 36 of Dave’s “Progeny” if you want to think of it that way. The Flip DT (Dethermalizer) System (with Instruction sheet) for gliders is another coming in at 131 downloads. So the staff here believe that our site is starting to be a Go-To place for glider drawings and other useful AEROMODELLING Resources. 😀

Before I close out this post I thought it might be helpful to discuss what white glue or carpenters glue is because IMO it’s probably the most important ingredient in making Portable Building Boards. The Definition of what white glue and it’s uses are:

“Polyvinyl acetate (PVA, PVAc, poly(ethenyl ethanoate)), commonly known as wood glue, white glue, carpenter’s glue, school glue, or Elmer’s glue in the US, is a widely available adhesive
used for porous materials like wood, paper, and cloth.”

“I like to use a woodworkers glue under the name of Original Titebond found at Lowe’s which I think is your best bet. Bottom line is that my research shows that a Lowe’s 16 oz bottle at $4.38 is as competitive price per ounce as you are going to find anywhere.”
— JB Nisley — (price quoted as of 4/11/2022)

A breakdown of my research is as follows: (Yes—I’m a true AEROMODELLING Geek.) Surprisingly the available options for Elmer’s glue at Walmart are more expensive per oz. than a Lowe’s 16 oz. bottle of Original Titebond Carpenters glue currently at $4.38 which works out to .27 per ounce. Mostly it’s the fact that Walmart does not carry the product in the 8 or 16 ounce range. Plus I think that Carpenters glue should be your first pick over plain white glue because of possible added strength and the cost difference is not that much. Most likely the remaining glue you have left over could be put to good use in the future. Plain white glue will work, however if that is all you have. 😉

There is one other option that I have come across, that being an 8 oz. bottle of “white glue” at the Dollar Tree stores at $1.25 which comes out to about .16 per oz. (Yes, haven’t you heard? they upped the $1 price to $1.25 😦 ). Its a great option for other modeling tasks but IMO doesn’t have the quality that Elmer’s or Titebond has. It’s nevertheless great for many applications where quality is not an issue.
(Note: All prices above were quoted as of 4/11/2022. Your prices may vary.)

Thanks for reading through this post and as always —
“If you’ve become a fan, tell your friends where to reach us.” — Jeffrey B. (JB) Nisley —