HWDMAC "Hooligans"

Combat League

Introduction

Combat practise takes place every Sunday, weather permitting, from 14:00 to 16:00pm and engine size is limited to a maximum of .48. The no. of fliers is limited to 4 if any spectators are present (8 max. if not present) at any one time, and all Combat takes place in the "danger area" (out in the cornfield).

RCCA Combat rules and Safety standards are used. (streamers are 15ft leader and 35ft main ) where the Combat active zone is beyond the hedge in the cornfield. The pit side of the hedge is a safety no-go area and Combat is not allowed in this area. This area is only used for taking-off and landing.

Cutting either leader or main streamer count as a "cut".

Anyone can join in - see Ian Scottow for details, streamers, etc.

Download 2003 RCCA Rules here :-     (MS Word loaded on PC is needed)

"Hooligans" Gallery

                       Kevin & "Gas Attack"                                                          Ron & "Super Thug"

                       Handle :- "Gasbelly"                                                             Handle :- "Rocket"                         

                       Vincent & "Plastic Spastic"                                                              

                        Handle :- "Heliman"       

                         Andy & "Zoom-Zoom"                                                                Ian & "Kombat Train"

                        Handle :- "Venus Basher"                                                               Handle :- "Baron"

                        Andy &  "Purple Dragon".                                                             Ted & "Lean & Mean"

Detailed Pictures

The Members versions of KT4.

1)   "Kombat Train"  MK4

My original KT4 built exactly to plan and used for Demos and test flying (MDS.40) - I hope it metamorphoses into a .46 like Kevin's !

KT4/2 - flies just as well as KT4/1 but rolls quicker, is faster, and is far more sensitive to controls. 44" span, 10" chord + 2" ailerons and 1/2 mechanical rates, Irvine .46. Glides well.

2)    "Gas Attack"                                                                       

Kevin has deviated from KT4, made the chord 10" instead of 11" (does not include ailerons) and increased the Tailplane/Elevator area. This plane rolls quicker at the expense of a less stable glide. Flies well with an MDS.40. However, my spies tell me it may get updated with an ASP .40. Update - Is that a rudder I see on the latest incarnation ? The ASP.40 has apparently now metamorphosed into a .46 according to legend (or was it Just Engines) ! The latest modification is to shorten the wing span to 44" total.

3)    "Ugly Thug"

2) Ron has also been busy making his "Ugly Thug" (LA.46) - flies well. Due to using 1.7mm drainpipe (instead of 1.3mm), Ron has "swiss-cheesed" his fuse. to save some weight. Otherwise plane is to KT4 plan. The latest modification entails cutting  8" off the wing span which is now 40" only. A little sensitive on ailerons now for me and glide is worse (brick like), but is faster.

4)    "Purple Dragon"

Andy's version of KT/4 with Irvine .46 - definately different ! Wing flutes are in the opposite direction to plan. Leading/trailing edges are taped. Servos are mounted the other way round. Does not seem to affect performance though ! Currently, CG is too far forward, but it will change !

5) "Plastic Spastick"

Vincent's version of KT4 with TT.46 - the expert version. I wish I'd had a camera handy to record his first flight with it - his face was a picture - he couldn't stop beaming and gurgling while flying. I think he liked it - and the airframe did not cost him anything either ! Needs better markings for orientation though !

6) "Lean & Mean"

Ted's version - built to introduce Watton MFC to Combat - TT.42 powered and 48" wing.

Flying Pictures

Left picture shows Thug and Gas Attack having a little disagreement. Right hand shows Gas Attack and Kombat Train having a barney. These pictures will improve - the flying may not ...................................................

Now we're cooking !                                                                                               Combat 18/12/2005

Battle  Scars (2005)

23/10/2005 - These two were done in a mid-air between "Kombat Train" and "Thug" . This is propellor damage. Both lived to fight another day, but......... Short-lived as  it happens. Kombat Train was flown after this with a more powerful engine - the wing folded at full throttle and 100ft - ouch ! (see picture) The mid-air nust have also damaged the spar which collapsed under stress.

04/12/2005 - KT4/2's new wing did not last long ! The prop. damage to the left wing aileron can easily be seen, which tore the servo right out of the wing. The Fuse. is ok - just the wing is history. Must remember not to turn in front of the chased plane - revision of tactics in progress !

Normally, I don't hold grudges ................................................................................

Andy's "Purple Dragon" unfortunately lost power due to a faulty switch. It was ok though - he thoughtfully chose the dung heap as you can see by how far the fuselage is buried ( vertically on left). Engine was ok but the battery flying forward did the real damage, taking out the throttle servo and fuselage - must remember to use double-sided tape and double zip ties next time !

League Table

Season 2005

Session Reports 2005

09/10/2005

Having had a couple of practise runs, this one was a four way dogfight, with Vincent and Glenn borrowing a plane to try it out. We had approximately 6 sessions and the overall winner was Ian with 4 cuts (who 's done this before ?), Ron 1. Kevin's plane with an MDS.40 is not fast enough to catch Vlad-2, so was at a disadvantage. Ron's constant loop tactics will not work forever. Kombat Train and Gas Attack are well matched currently. Rumour is that Mitch is also interested ?

23/10/2005

Managing to get in 4-5 sessions before the rain came in, Kevin has upgraded Gas Attack with an ASP.46 and is by far the fastest plane today, getting one cut. Alex and Ian had a spectacular mid-air (see picture) which halved Ron's undercarriage (what do you need that for anyway ?) and chewed Ian's wing - KT4 also hit the ground vertically which broke the firewall - no real damage then - both will be ready for next week. Neither Gordon or Andy could stay long enough to take part, shame - 6 way would have been a blast  ; still - there is always next week. Alex joined in for one session and enjoyed it - another convert ? I think KT4 needs a faster engine - It's getting competitive all of a sudden ! Does cutting you own streamer count as a cut ? According to the rules, this does not count, regardless of what Kevin thinks ! You could, of course, also reduce your elevator movement !

13/11/2005

Testing the replacement KT4/2 with an Irvine .46 improved the top speed by about 20%, at the expense of strength on the wing. 4mm spar is not strong enough to withstand power dive and pull up (large G force) (ask me how I know ?) Will modify the plan and re-publish, as with a .40 it is ok, but not strong enough for a .46. New KT4/3 and Irvine carburettor needed.

Only 3 "Hooligans" today but the sessions (5) were fast and furious with some very good flying - I think we are improving slowly. Tactics are definately improving. No more aimless flying past - much more tail-chasing and evasive action scenarios. Kevin's "spy in the sky" technique has been rumbled. I seem to remember Gary Powers had a similar problem with a U2 ! His plane was not "on-song" today, so Ron and I stood a chance of getting cuts from him. No mid-airs and no crashes either. As Kevin has now bought his own streamers, we will have to keep two eyes on him to stop him cheating !!!!!!!!!!!!

20/11/2005

No Sessions due to lack of Combatants. Couldn't have anything to do with the previous week - could it ? Someone  who will remain nameless, prefers flying Helicopters on a Sunday as well as Saturday - bad karma !  Peter now has Ron's old "Super Thug" trimmed out, so maybe next week could see 4 or 5 participants ?

04/12/2005

Only three of use today as Ron "forgot" to bring his plane ! - what a lame excuse. We only had one round today as the "mid-air" bug got me again. Having just flown and trimmed KT4/2, my wing got lascerated by Peter and I took his lhs dowels out. He managed to land (just) but my wing had the left aileron damaged and the plane went into an uncontrollable spin - into the ground. Woops - another wing writen off ! - see picture above.

11/12/2005

No sessions due to Club Hamper competition and Ron used the same excuse twice ! Seems that Ron has got his priorities all wrong again. What Training ? is there anyone left to train ? Does he mean Combat Training ? Peter's plane has developed Rx trouble so at least he had a valid excuse ! Only Kevin and myself had serviceable aircraft. Andy test flew his "Purple Dragon" and it performed well. Maybe we will get three in the air next week. New wing for KT4/2 worked well but needed triming - engine needs tuned also. Helps if you can hear what you are doing !

18/12/2005

Had 3 rounds this session with 2 cuts and some great 3 way fun. Until Andy's switch threw a wobbly in the last round and full throttle dived into the ground. (see pictures above) Still, it was "softer" than most of his others ! Ron cried off again with "illness" - blaming fish and chips does not count Ron ! It's amazing how rusty you get ! Ron is going down the list whereas Kevin is progressing fast. Combat definately needs a minimum of three participants to make it interesting ! Next time there are only two of us, must remember to do the balloon bit ! - Kevin - remind me !

And the winner this season was ................................... me !    ........boo- fix etc. etc. Never mind Kevin - there is always next season.

Season 2006

Battle Scars

21/05/2006  -  Slight mid-air - Vlad-2.1 on left with Vincent's KT4 on right. 2x Fuselages, 1 wing and 1 silencer required. Vlad-3 will appear in a different guise !

League Table 2006

Session Reports 2006

With all the close season threats/boasts/building of super weapons out of the way, it's time for the serious stuff to start as soon as the weather changes for the better. I'm taking my title rather seriously and have 6 weapons (2 x generation 3 weapons never seen before by the opposition, but already tested) ready for the coming Combat season. Now if I just take out "Gas Attack", I should be home and dry ....................................................................

16/04/2006

Had two great sessions today before the rain came in. Got 1 cut from Kevin in the first session, but got torpedoed by Ron on the second session. Lost the engine out of mine (new firewall needed) but found it in the cornfield. Ron's fuselage is somewhat scarred and broke his rear mounted carb. needle. Great fun until rain called a halt to proceedings. Looking forward to the next session. Reminder - must stay out of the "Rocket"'s way - that is the third time one of his planes has taken out mine - hmmmmmmmmmmm - I wonder if he realises it's the streamer he's supposed to be aiming for  or is it just an eyesight test needed ?

23/04/2006

Absolutely brilliant sessions - the best yet - very close dog-fighting, many incidents, and many near cuts as well as one for both myself and Vincent. Session 1 started with a cut to me from Vincent. He then flew round and collected the floating streamer with his wing and landed with it ! (he will do anything to save a walk into the cornfield) Session 2 included a cut to Vincent from Kevin. Session 3 was uneventful, but very closely run thing. Session 4 included a head-on mid-air between Kevin and Vincent - both KT4's continued to fly however and were landed successfully. The wing tips touched tearing out the servo arm and rod from Kevin's plane and leaving a gouge mark on the underside of Vincent's wing. Vincent's plane went for the ground, disappeared first behind the tree, then the hedge, then re-appeared climbing out over the barn. Vincent's wing moved sideways 45degrees and it still flew ! Kevin decided his plane was not responding very well to ailerons, so was landed - just as well - he had no left aileron movement at all ! More combatants please !

21/05/2006

Had 3 very good 4 way sessions until the 4th, which ended in my hitting Vincent's KT4 from behind and side, when he applied the brakes just as I was about to catch him up. Vlad-2.1 was history and KT4's fuselage was also history. Some re-building necessary. No cuts though, unfortunately.

League Table 2007

Session Reports 2007

15/07/2007

Vincent, myself and Kevin met up for a couple of sessions before the rain came in. Vincent got one cut off me - he's improving ! My plane seems to lose aileron authority going left when flat out - think servo(s) need investigating ! Need the biggest improvement in the weather !

Session Reports 2008

Unfortunately, the Weather has been so poor as to preclude any sessions so far this year. Still, have 5 planes ready just in case !

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