| The weekend opened on
Saturday 18th and what a change from the first meeting we ever
held! Below is a photo from 1995 when we all first got together.
See more about that first meeting HERE.
1995 RC Hovercraft meeting at
the Hovercraft Museum
This time there were presentations by Mark Porter of
model-hovercraft.com and Kevin Jackson of
Hovercraftmodels.com.
Mark showed the process of choosing
the subject of a scale model. he showed the techniques used to get
to a finished RC Hovercraft that operates just like the full size
craft. He detailed the design and building stages of his most
recent project the BH7. He highlighted some techniques for
construction of the craft body and the skirt. He also presented
some details of the work he has done on centrifugal fan design and
construction.
Kevin Jackson presented the steps
that Hovercraftmodels.com uses in selecting model subjects and the
processes used towards volume manufacture. The presentation
included some video clips of the Hovercraftmodels.com vacuum
forming equipment in action and samples of the new SK5 parts that
are produced for this new kit. He walked through the processes
that was used on the SK5 and detailed how the model had gone from
concept to production during 2003.
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Mark Porter
presents his BH7 design and building process |
Larry Hodgson's UFO craft
The Hovercraft Museum
put on an excellent buffet dinner on Saturday evening and a number
of Hovercraft videos were played on the giant screen.
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Saturday afternoon there
were demos of various craft with Mark Porters SR.N4 standing out
as a giant!
Mark Porters
SR.N4
Also Colin Scott ran his
ElectroCrusier model along with a group lead by Tony
Middleton who had three excellent Griffons built to Marks 1/10th
scale plans.
Larry Hodgson had brought along his
unusual skirtless UFO craft. This model skimmed across the museum
hanger and outside around the SR.N4's as at great speed! A very
unusual design in that is uses brushless motors in two ducts on
either side of the craft rather like a modern day SR.N1. This
setup is a very fast craft but a challenge to keep in a straight
line!
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Sunday
was race day and Hovercraftmodels.com donated the trophies for
both races. Tickets were drawn for placing in two race classes.
First was the F3 race. Rules were all craft must run 600 motors or
less and run on 6 cells. Second was the open class, anything goes!
The course was triangle over a large paved area next the SR.N4
Princess Margaret. On race day a keen wind blew down the course
making it a challenge for all craft as the upwind leg was hard
going. The races were run in sets of participants over 3 races
with a forth and final race for each. Final results were:
F3
Race Final
1.
Fran Oakey
2.
Tony Middleton
3.
Colin Scott
4.
Tony Parsons
Open
Class Final
1.
Fran Oakey
2.
Tony Middleton
3.
Ralph arrow
4.
Larry Hodgson
Kevin
Jackson of Hovercraftmodels.com Presents
the
Hovercraftmodels 2003 Race Trophy to Fran Oakey
Fran
Oakey took away both race trophies in a well earned race over two
laps in each class. He said what everyone was thinking 'its
control rather than speed'. His craft uses a heading hold gyro and
he says it is a big help when moving up wind on the course. |
Fran
and Ralphs 1/10th Griffon 1000TDX
Battle
it out in the open class final
Fran Oakeys
1/10th Griffon Model and Trophies
Plan
for 2004?
So in summary for 2003
a great weekend had by all. The attendance was good and interest
in this growing hobby very strong.
Planning for the 2004
event is already underway and again as this year it will be held
at the Hovercraft Museum. If you have a have your own RC
Hovercraft, are planning to build one this is the place to be.
Don't miss out, plan to be there in 2004!
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