Safety Comes First
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW About Using Paint Strippers: I made a trip to a dermatologist to get help for a stubborn skin condition that I had developed on my hands. For months prior to the visit, my fingers felt swollen, they itched continuously, they cracked, and they peeled. Despite using lotions and creams to treat what I though was dry skin, nothing seemed to provide any relief. The doctor asked me several questions about my occupation, activities, hobbies, etc., and the conclusion was that I might be sensitive to paint strippers that I used on my Pattern airplane and coffee table during the winter. I used appropriate protection (gloves) when doing the work, but what apparently irritated my hands was collecting and throwing out (without using gloves) rags that were soaked with stripper.
Safety Comes First
THE WEATHER'S PERFECT in Florida as I write this in early May, and many clubs are taking advantage of cool temperatures by conducting scheduled and unscheduled events throughout the state; I had an opportunity to judge Pattern events during a contest at Pensacola. There's nothing like sharp pilots demonstrating what Precision Aerobatic flying is all about: grace, power, beauty, agility, and money were a few thoughts traveling through my brain as I watched several contestants. What a graceful sport! With all of the high-tech equipment, not much is left to chance - just to skill!
Safety Comes First
Heli News is an excellent newsletter forwarded to me each month by the members of the Cascade Model Helicopter Club, Everett WA. Dick McKenna is the editor. Grabbing my attention in the August 1997 issue was a peculiar and unfortunate story regarding a helicopter pilot who, while out shopping one day, caught his pants on fire, and had to remove them in a hurry. How does one catch his or her pants on fire while shopping? "Jumping" Jack Flash provides the answer: "My cordless Dremel tool recently died and I had diagnosed that two of the Ni-Cd cells were `toasted.' Unlike the fully plastic covered cells used in our RC battery packs, these batteries were the typical `cordless appliance' type, i.e. covered only with a thin cardboard tube around the outside, and crimped over on the positive end to afford a minimal amount of insulation protection.
Safety Comes First
Out Of Control: When I arrived at a nearby flying field recently, I saw modelers running for cover as an airplane went solo (no one was in control). The rather large model was on its fifth or so circuit of the field when the onboard battery went dead. After another 10-15 rounds with no one in control, the aircraft landed near some vehicles, but no one was injured. Discussion with the pilot while he picked up pieces indicated that he probably left the receiver battery on while driving to the field. He didn't check switch position or battery status with a voltmeter before flying-strike one. When asked by one of the people who dove for cover why he didn't check his battery before flying, the modeler responded, "What are you worried about? You're insured!" - strike two.
Safety Comes First
SINGLE-STICK vs. Dual-Stick: In my November 1996 and May 1997 columns I mentioned differences between single- and dual-stick radios, provided a few reasons why some modelers feel that single-sticks improve safety (decreased learning times, improved control accuracy), and asked for mail from readers who have had experience using both. One theme came in loud and clear from the single-stick crowd: Singles are much easier to use, are perceived to be safer because of effortless hand-eye coordination, offer decreased learning times, and feel better. Hence, when used exclusively, singles were associated with fewer mishaps because of the absence of cross-control requirements associated with duals (commonly known as "dumb thumbs").
