std. winch/locking brake/mono

[dhauch]

hi guys,
been missing my f3b winch since i took it out of my trailer to install the hands free retriever.

wanted to be able to do cross wind launches, circle tows, some f3b speed runs, and use the mono in wet grass or snow.

so i needed a positive brake to do this.

so i bought another drum for my standard winch to load mono on to.

i rigged up this light spring to the brake arm. there's very little down pressure on the arm.
it almost worked without the spring with just the weight of the arm.

i run the mono over the top of the brake (not thru it).

the drum spools up real easy, with not much friction on the belt at all.

i was using 1.25 mono and the wind was a steady 15-20mph.

hooked up my f3j Victor for it's first flight since last Nov. loaded up the line on my self launch trailer and let her rip.
soon as it launched i got off the foot pedal/power, went up about 100 feet and cranked in full right right, and pointed it to the ground.
(not a very nice way to treat this plane on it's first launch of the year.) :)

came around like i knew it would and started pulling circles, figure 8's, weave way off to one side then right back across in front of me real low kiting it on knife edge with tons of tension.

i was already smiling, it worked like a charm, i have new things to keep myself entertained now. :)

the brake never slipped and didn't let any line out while on tow.

my neck would finally get sore from being on tow, so i would load it up and head up for a huge zoom. life is good! :)

when i retrieve the chute, i prop up the brake arm.

i had to try a launch straight up the line using mono on a new 6v starter, real balls and good battery.
i knew this would be good, and it WAS!!!

i just spin the mono back on it's spool and keep it stored it water.

dh
www.rc-builds.com

[Robglover]

Cool!

[fearfactorfred]

Sweeeet !!! so when will mine be ready ???

[dhauch]

i can make more springs....

dh
www.rc-builds.com

[dhauch]

here's what spring i used.

http://www.mcmaster.com/ part# 9271K66 $8.20 for pkg. of six.

had a friend weld some bigger dia., longer legs onto the springs which gave me the exact spring tension i needed. (that was pure luck) :)

dh
www.rc-builds.com

[fearfactorfred]

David, I liked your trailer before but now I love it ! :cool:

What a great discovery !!! Thanks for sharing !! ;)

Thanks for posting the pic of the drill with spool attachment too. I need to make one for myself. ;)

You think you can work on a retrieval system now ? :D F3B comps are fun but they could be funner if I didn't have to walk back and fourth so much. I might have to invest in a moped. :p

[Ronald Mong]

Dave,

Your Grandma helped you with this modification - didn't she ? ;)

She's pretty sharp, I need her help with my Perfect !


Ron Mong

[dephela]

fearfactorfred,
The answer is SIMPLE:
you need more winches!

Dennis

[dhauch]

Dave,
Your Grandma helped you with this modification - didn't she ? ;)
She's pretty sharp, I need her help with my Perfect !
Ron Mong

Ron, I don't think she'll help you anymore, since you never paid up after shooting landings with her last time.
she's tired of you hanging from her apron strings. :)

fearfactorfred; a moped would work great.
i used to shag chutes with my car when doing speed runs. had a stick with a hook at the end of it, and i would just reach out the window and snag up the chute.

i could get in 20-30 speed runs in a few hours this way.

dh
www.rc-builds.com

[Thermaler]

Hey Dave, have had some time on your hands haven't you? What will you come up with next? The principal is ALAP, "as little as possible" beats the heck out of A SAP!
The weather is getting better but I haven't gotten the van better YET!!
See you and that !@%% Victor soon and I will get a longer flight with the 880 than your Victor at the sod farm yet!!! Two moldies down, one to go ;>)

Joe

[dhauch]

The weather is getting better but I haven't gotten the van better YET!!
See you and that !@%% Victor soon and I will get a longer flight with the 880 than your Victor at the sod farm yet!!! Two moldies down, one to go ;>)

Joe

hey joe!
i'm looking forward to it getting my butt kicked, it would feel good right now. :)
if you don't get the van going when there's a good flying day, let me know, i'll come pick you up.

dh

[Thermaler]

The gut tells me it will be seconds, nothing like a butt kicking.
Thank You for the offer, I'll keep that in mind but I think I need to get it fixed so we can split the drives and I come up to the field just down the street from you.

Joe

[tewatson]

You think you can work on a retrieval system now? F3B comps are fun but they could be funner if I didn't have to walk back and fourth so much.
Retrievers in F3B? Stop it...

Tom

[dhauch]

Retrievers in F3B? Stop it...

Tom

fearfactor; next time out, i'm going to try the mono on the standard winch and hook up to the handsfree retriever.

if that works, i'll be able to get a ton of speed runs in a very short time.

i'll keep you posted.

i'll tell you, there's nothing like repetition when it comes to speed runs.
the more you can fit in a short time the better, at least more me.

(I love not playing by the rules) :)

dh

[dhauch]

Thank You for the offer, I'll keep that in mind but I think I need to get it fixed so we can split the drives and I come up to the field just down the street from you.

Joe

Joe; i have 7 fields to fly at now right close to home, come on up and we'll hit a few of them.

with the trailer & running the turnaround out with my car, i'll have everything set up by the time you get a plane together.

dh

[dhauch]

hey guys,
tried out the www.handsfreeretriever.com with mono and locking standard winch drum & arm from http://superskeg.com/.

got about a dozen launches in and it worked flawlessly.

after launching, i just tapped the retriever pedal a few times to bring the chute to the ground, then after i land, i retreived it in.

i have another remote switch up by the retriever i can use, or i have another hand switch.
need to be up front while bringing it the rest of the way in to keep a eye on things.

wait till you see my next brain storm for the trailer that Rick Bothell is helping me with.

[fearfactorfred]

:cool: Vedy Nice ! :cool: More practicing and less shagging. Can't beat that ! :D I need I want ! :p

[djklein21]

TD winch with mono and retriever,

This would be awesome for sport flying, and learning some F3b basics. The problem with it is you need to learn to be consistent in a competition setting. Learning ballast choices, line sizing, dive in height all with competition gear. If you practise with something else, you will not get the necessary experience to excel in a contest.

I am now focusing on my consistency. Entering the course in the same place at the same height, and flying the same course every time. I want to become a robot at F3b.

I am not even close yet, but unless I use the same equipment I will for competition, the practise won't help.

So Fred, take Dennis Phelan's advice and get more winches and a moped.


My 2 cents,
David Klein

[dephela]

More winches yes, mopeds, no. One foot in front of the other!

Dennis

[dhauch]

yeah, i agree with dave.
if your trying to learn f3b and going to compete, you need to learn a f3b winch, clams, line, ballast, ect...

i've been down that road and learned a ton.

i want to do some speed runs again, but only if i don't have to shag chutes.
so i wanted to see if this would work for me, it does, and now i can play again.

working on one of those new f3b missile right now for myself.

dh

[fearfactorfred]

TD winch with mono and retriever,

This would be awesome for sport flying, and learning some F3b basics. The problem with it is you need to learn to be consistent in a competition setting. Learning ballast choices, line sizing, dive in height all with competition gear. If you practise with something else, you will not get the necessary experience to excel in a contest.

I am now focusing on my consistency. Entering the course in the same place at the same height, and flying the same course every time. I want to become a robot at F3b.

I am not even close yet, but unless I use the same equipment I will for competition, the practise won't help.

So Fred, take Dennis Phelan's advice and get more winches and a moped.


My 2 cents,
David Klein


I'm totally picking up what your laying down and agree 100%. But as a newbie point of view I still like the idea of more flying and less shagging. Not that I couldn't stand to lose a few pounds but I'd rather leave that for day's that I'm not flying. :p I feel that more is better than less right now. I'm know where near the level of flyer that Mr. Klein is but if I were to get in more flying I might be at his level in say a year or two. :rolleyes:

I've been flying sailplanes for maybe a year now and loving it. I just want to be able to compete and walk away with my plane still in one peice. If I can accomplish that for now I'll be happy !! :p

But for now it's (old school) one winch and one foot in front of the other. :(

Fred

[tonyestep]

"....one foot in front of the other...."
=============
The guy across the street from me has a Segway. Now that would be fetching the chute in style and comfort.

[dephela]

I've usually used the time shagging lines to debrief myself on the last few launches and flights, usually speed or distance. Also a great time for checking the mono for abrasions and condition. It's good to be one with your line.

Sport fliers, forget what I just said please.

[superskeg]

"....one foot in front of the other...."
=============
The guy across the street from me has a Segway. Now that would be fetching the chute in style and comfort.
Segway makes an off road model.
http://www.segway.com/individual/models/x2-adventure.php
I gotta have one of those!

[Brian Molloy]

Segway makes an off road model.

Naw, Tony flies off of a sod farm . . . he'll need the golf version (treads) to protect to turf! :D

http://www.segway.com/individual/models/x2-golf.php

[superskeg]

I've asked numerous times over the years if a V belt brake would satisfy the F3B rules and the answer is usually "I don't think so" why not? "I don't know it's just doesn't"

It's been a few years since I asked so I guess it's time to ask again, can a V belt brake be used on an F3B winch?

[dephela]

A V belt would satisfy the rules as long as no line is able to go out. This sounds easy but a it's a huge task! If the "one way device" is going to be in use, wind will probably be high, the line heavy and the tension tremendous. If the belt doesn't hold it, the line will probably birdsnest on the drum as it spins, wasting the line, wasting time to remove/replace it and of course, you've just broken the rules! No slip at all is allowed in the rule or typically by the competitors.

In a competition, there is little spare time, one is either flying or helping a teammate to fly. A problem with a winch, even just restringing is done without stopping the event, on your own time. Someone is going to lose valuable help and with a winch down, launch strategy has to be shifted as fewer lines are available for that task.

An abraded line doesn't have the same strength as line with a clean uninterrupted surface. Line is usually picked to minimize line drag for better launches, that means the smallest diameter for the job. Abrasions weaken the line and it doesn't take much to ruin a section, an entire line.

In competition, we tend to use brand new line as it has great strength for the diameter. Instantly subjecting it to abrasions from a bar laying across it just gives me the shakes!

Dennis