F3 Building Clinic video -

[dave_beardsley]

Hi all –

I just watched Paul Naton’s latest video, the F3 Building clinic. I’ve been building and flying contest ships for years – didn’t think I “needed” the video, but its always nice to support a guy like Paul – and since I’ve got all his other videos I figured what the heck… I should order it.

Boy am I glad I did! He built the model in the video just as I would have, but I learned ~5 new tricks or different ways of doing things I’d not thought of before. One of them will be a huge time saver on my next build. If all I’d gotten out of it was that 1 tip, it still would have been worth the money.

Radio Carbon Art now has 3 videos I consider “must haves” to any new (or intermediate) soaring pilot. The F3 Building clinic, The one on how to tune / setup your sailplane, and the Secrets of thermal Soaring. If you were brand new to the hobby, or stuck in a region with few other pilots to seek help from, these 3 videos can be your guide on the road to successes.

I’ve heard some pilots say Paul’s a little “dry” to listen to…. Well…… DRINK COFFEE before you pop in the tape if that’s what it takes! These videos are worth every second!

Dave

[vol-haut]

I’ve heard some pilots say Paul’s a little “dry” to listen to…. Well…… DRINK COFFEE before you pop in the tape if that’s what it takes! These videos are worth every second!

Dave

Its that psychedelic music that puts me to sleep every time I try to watch Secrets of Thermal Soaring. What happens at the end, does Paul catch a thermal? :)

[Andy W]

I agree on the two other DVD choices (bought them myself recently) - so for an electric model pilot (F5J and F5B) would there be much value in getting this one too?
..a

[Jurgen]

Its that psychedelic music that puts me to sleep every time I try to watch Secrets of Thermal Soaring. What happens at the end, does Paul catch a thermal? :)Actualy, nobody knows :)

....
I’ve heard some pilots say Paul’s a little “dry” to listen to…. I have some of his DVD's too, they are well worth the$ ! Yes some Dave Thornburg factor injection would be lovely :)

I got Phil Barnes DVD's too, he's spaying/inhaling so much 3M77 troughout the movie thus making those enevitable spaced out bloopers :) . Cool to not delete them.

Jurgen.

[Paul Naton]

Thanks for nice comments Dave.

I'll be the first to admit I'm no born TV MC, but hey, that's not what you buy the DVDs for. Being in front of the camera is the hardest thing you will ever do! I'm getting better but I'm no talent! (the talent reserved for flying)

Anyway, the building techiques I show can be applied to any composite /mouldy of any size, electric F5 stuff too. All these planes have the same basic assembly details and subsystems. The F3 Clinic emphasizes good modeling skills from basic to expert stuff, with "mouldycentric' tutorials.

If anyone has any questions about the content, post them here and I will try to answer them. There is a new trailer online at the F3 web page:
http://radiocarbonart.com/Pages/F3main.html

Thanks ---Paul Radio Carbon Art

[dave_beardsley]

I think many of the videos on the market will be valuable to all types of flying. Especially, some of the Radio Carbon Art series.

After re-watching a section if the Performance tuning DVD, a light went off in my head. I was able to finally diagnose an issue on one of my 35% aerobatic models. That’s a far cry from a typical TD sailplane, but so many of the techniques and concepts are universal in there application to flight setup that it worked on my big plane!

As an experienced builder / flyer I often think "... I don't need that" - I'm glad I've decided to re-focus on some of the basics. Much of the stuff I'd forgotten over the years. Now when I'm at the field I see many VERY experienced pilots forgetting simple setup stuff that pelages their models performance for weeks.

ah... and yes... Paul does catch a thermal or two in the video on thermal hunting. Thankfully he dose it fully clothed... unlike the old Thornburg video :)

[mdennis]

I'm with you Dave.

I have a bunch of his videos and after watching the F3x video I decided I had to have his Performance Tuning for Gliders video.

He's a great guy to talk to and freely shares his knowledge. He also made me a killer deal on DVDs to replace my VHS tapes.

[becsta]

Paul,

Once again, yet _another_ must have DVD! I've just ordered five DVD's from you.

I'm so looking forward to these ones, especially the F3 Building Clinic!

Cheers,
- bec

[Jurgen]

... unlike the old Thornburg video :)After having Paul's great dvd's i wonder if Thornburg's film is still available somewhere somehow.
Jurgen.

[dave_beardsley]

I'm not sure if that old video is still available? It was a GREAT video back in the day. Turned the lights on in my head for sure. I've got the book too - also great, and some of Wurt's old papers on the "river of air" kicking around someplace.

The nice thing about Paul's video is it kinda pulls all those concepts together at once. It’s actually a lot to take in - especially in one session. My son and I watch the Thermal Hunting video about 2 - 3 times per contest season just to stay sharp.

a Video on Launching and landing would be a hot one too. That was a "buzz" topic for the magazine when I was writing. I've been lucky to learn from some of the best, be cool to see a video that wraps all that up too....

Dave

[mdennis]

When I spoke to Paul the other day he hinted that he had a video about to come out on search and thermaling techniques. It should be another must have.

[Andy W]

He already has a thermalling video..?

[mdennis]

He has one about thermals, but as I understood it, this one is about thermal duration flying and not so much about how thermals are formed and what they look like.

Perhaps Paul will be kind enough to drop in and give us some info on what his next video will cover.

[helibasher]

Paul,
Great video, just got my copy and I watched it as soon as I got it. One question did come up, you showed installing the wing servo frames with CA, I would have thought that JB Weld or epoxy would be a better choice. Why did you choose CA? Weight savings?
CG

[Paul Naton]

CA or epoxy works for the servo frames. JB weld is over kill for this sort of application. Epoxy micro ballon mix works well too. If you are sure of of your frame position and have dry fitted the part well, you can use CA but your repositioning time is SHORT. Epoxy/balloons gives you a few more minutes.

If the linkage or surface ever took a big hit, I would rather the servo frame crack loose from the skin. I have seen instances were the servo was so well bonded that it took out the wing skin instead of popping the mount.

If you have a 200mph plus DS machine perhaps the JB weld might be the call since theres a good chance of flutter and other surface battering effects.

Using CA in that shot was more a matter of time constraint as I did not want to wait until the epoxy went off before moving on to the next section.

[Paul Naton]

As far as the next DVD, can't reveal much, but it invloves a 4 times world soaring champion whose name is NOT Joe Wurts.

Let you imaginations run wild boys.

Paul

[Jurgen]

Mike Tyson ??

[serpnt_flyer]

Paul thanks for the great vids. Just wondering( didnt see it listed ) if either the proformance tuning or your new high proformance vid had sections on control serface settings? New to 4 servo wings and could use some help.

[Paul Naton]

I would go for the Performance tuning DVD. It has a more detailed section on 4 servo wing setups. The F3 clinic take a more mechanical view of things.

If you have any more questions, post them here.

Paul Naton

[OVSS Boss]

Paul, after this weekend, you should be getting lots of calls from some guys from all over yelling D V D into the phone. Your support of the World Soaring Masters was great and it brought a great laugh on Saturday PM. Thanks again!

I will be calling, Marc