HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: <Roger.Wilfong@umich.edu>  (Roger Wilfong)
Subject: Re: Insuring your events
Organization: UofM Hospitals
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 21:32:00 GMT

In Article <6398@transfer.stratus.com> "cdt@sw.stratus.com (C. D. Tavares)" says:
> 
> That's the flip side of the question most modelers are asking, which is:
> if you're not active in competition, why pay $40 for the $15 or $25 worth 
> of insurance you need to get access to your local flying field?
> 
I'm not rich and I can think of a lot of other things I'd like to spend
money on besides insurance.  Of course, I can also think of a lot of things
I'd rather do than spend 10-12 hours a day at work.  But both serve a purpose
The former provides a measure of peace of mind that in the unlikely event 
that something goes wrong I'm going to be covered; the latter puts food on 
the table and allows my family to do other things in our leisure time.
Mark Twain once commented that he had done a study of where people die in the
hopes of optimizing his chances of collecting on his insurance.  He found
that most people died in bed, so he went looking for a carrier that would 
provide special coverage for only when he was in bed - no one took him up.
> 
> The NAR, in contrast, doesn't subsidize events with dues -- we make
> sure events are self-funding.  In fact, practically all of them make a 
> profit, which is split between the host club and the Association's 
> general fund, out of which money is allocated to improve member services.  
> In effect, our events subsidize our members, and not the other way around.  
> We feel this is the fairest way to serve our membership.
> 
Hea for the NAR!!!!
> 
> By the way, after 1992 the AMA will be holding the rocketry world 
> championships instead of the NAR.  In accordance with their philosophy, 
> expect them to be allocating yet another chunk of your money to subsidize 
> these events as well.
>
What does that mean?  The last time the world championships were held in the
US was 12 years ago.  The majority of the world championships have been held
in eastern European countries.  Is the AMA planning to field (and sponsor)
a US team for the '92 championships?  Is the AMA going to start holding FAI
rules rocket contests?
 
Actually, holding FAI rules contests is not entirely a bad idea.  I'll 
borrow Andy Tomash's soap box for a moment and say the NAR is not serious
about 'world class' competition (what ever that means).  If it were, it would
not have a different set of competition rules from the rest of the world.
Now back off the soap box.  I am not an advocate of FAI style contests.  Most 
NAR contests are fun - make that 'FUN'.  They are low key, low pressure (try
pylon racing or C/L combat if you want pressure) and a good excuse to get out
side, fly rockets and see old friends.
From: pfeiffer@nmsu.edu (Joe Pfeiffer)
Newsgroups: rec.models.rockets
Subject: Re: Estes Bail-out
Date: 8 Sep 92 15:26:20 GMT
Organization: NMSU Computer Science

In article <1992Sep4.131720.25637@cbfsb.cb.att.com> sxr@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (scott.l.russell) writes:


   Has anyone purchased/flown this rocket?  My son wants to get this one
   so he can use it with his "GI-JOE" men. Will those figures fit? I assume that
   all it does is push the men out with the wadding and they float down
   with their own parachute?

My son and I have built one; haven't had a chance to fly it yet.  Your
guess is exactly right; it's just a rocket with a big body tube, and
comes with a parachute for Joe.

I really wonder about Estes, sometimes; it seems like when they
really, really try to make a rocket easy to build they come up with
some sort of baroque fin scheme that is guaranteed to have a short
life span.  Joel's Leprecaun wound up partially melting the fin
assembly; the fin assembly and motor-lock thing on the Bail-Out also
looks like a loser.  His Wizard, meanwhile, is a very simple design
that was easy to build (with the fin jig).

I'd say if you want to launch a GI Joe, just build something simple
with a big diameter (I don't have my catalog handy, and I'm drwaing a
blank on which models I might be talking about).  You can get GI Joes
that come with their own parachute, too.  On the other hand, the name
and ``intent'' that's clearly present in the Bail-Out marketing helps
make it more exciting for the young ones!

-Joe.
From: bo@hpfcmgw.FC.HP.COM (Bo Viger)
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 16:04:21 GMT
Subject: Re: DOT vs Aerotech & Reloads
Organization: HP Fort Collins, CO
Newsgroups: rec.models.rockets

>Roger.Wilfong@umich.edu writes:
>
>Dot has currently classified reloads as 'flamable explosives'
>
>Apparently DOT is concerned that the cardboard casing around the propellant
>grain acts like the case of a fire cracker to confine the combustion and make
>it explosive.  If this is the case, they are ignoring the large openings on
>either end of the grain which should effectively eliminate any pressure
>build-up.  However, from my stand point, this is conjecture and theory - I've
>never been inclined to light a grain outside of a motor housing so I don't know
>what would happen.
>-------
>
>cdt@sw.stratus.com (C. D. Tavares) writes:
>
>> grain acts like the case of a fire cracker to confine the combustion and make
>> it explosive.  
>
>What a bunch of shit.
>
>S&T has, and we have a video of it.  They burn like road flares.  There's
>a neat effect as the combustion burns through the bottom of the slug, and
>it does a ground-effect number and floats around like an air-hockey puck.
>And that's IT.
>
>Tim Harincar writes:
>
>They burned very bright, and in a shape that reminded
>us of a Japanise fan. Also, it took Thermolite to get them going - a bic
>would'nt do it.

Unbelievable. Your tax dollars at work!

We had a 24mm RMS misfire last weekend, resulting in an unburned, but non-
reusable propellant reload. We placed it (just the propellant) on the road
as far away as the ignition system cord would permit, put a copperhead in
the middle of the c-slot, and a small pile of black powder (from a friend's
ISP ejection reload field kit), counted down (ha-ha-ha), and "launched".

"Phitzzzz" (black powder creates miniture mushroom cloud). Nothing. Couldn't
get it to light. We look at each other, nodding. "Yep, these things sure are
a serious threat to public safety!"

Maybe we shoulda stuck it in the end of a car's tail pipe and heated it to
450 degrees to get it to ignite!!!

Come on, DOT, fine Aerotech, as you probably should, for not working within
your regulatory framework and submitting for classification, but these things 
are barely "flammable solids", and as for "explosive", well, think again.
Certainly, there's no threat of "self-ignition". The ol' UPS trucks' got to 
crash an burn first before these things will go off, and will we even notice
over the excitement of the truck's gas tank going first?

Bo Viger
Tripoli #1864
Newsgroups: rec.models.rockets
From: hrbob@ixstar.ih.att.com (R.E. Wiersbe)
Subject: Boosted Arcas Update
Originator: news@cbnewsb.cb.att.com
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 13:13:57 GMT

I finally got the Prang Film from Bob Kaplow and had a chance to check it out.
Most of the tape is of TV coverage of model rocket launches at the Goddard
Space Center during the 80's. The Boosted Arcas is in there twice, there's a
long segment on the Last Aerobee Flight, and a lot of mishaps and successful
launches from NASA. I would recommend the Last Aerobee Flight for anyone
interested in scale, you get to see the nuts and bolts of it! I think the
interesting stuff would fit on a 30 minute tape, the whole thing needs about
2 hours.

Now for the problem. The slow motion Boosted Arcas portion jitters a lot and
my first attempt at copying was a failure. However, there is someone in our
club that does have some video experience (and equipment) and I plan to talk
with him this weekend. 

When I get the bugs worked out I'll let people know. For those of you who sent
me email, I saved them all and you'll get notified first. Just thought I'd let
everyone know what was up (and that I hadn't forgotten).

Bob Wiersbe	NAR# 44588	hrbob@ihlpb.att.com
From: wbrown@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (Bill Brown)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: L-girder benchwork
Date: 14 Sep 1992 20:13:32 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, California
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: 131.243.192.17

In article <1992Sep14.112732.136@physc1.byu.edu> hansend@physc1.byu.edu writes:

>Question:  I understand this is a great way to build benchwork for 
>something that doesn't have to move, but I wonder if benchwork built in 
>this fashion is rigid enough to stand the stresses of being tilted on 
>its side and moved to another home.  Does anyone have any experience, 
>information, etc., that would tell me whether or not this is true?

I have a couple of sections of l-girder benchwork which have survived
being moved a couple of times with no major damage.  When I built them
I knew that I was going to move them, so I made a minor modification
to the original design.

The joists at each end have triangular gussets sandwitched wetween them and
the l-girder.  These joints are screwed and glued.  This gave the whole
assembly quite a bit more strength - it prevented the whole thing from
folding parallelogram-style.  I made the gussets out of 1/4" plywood.

Bad ascii drawing of one corner follows
     ___________________________
     |_________________________ <- L-girder
     | |   /                          |
     | |  /                           |
     | | / <-    gusset               |
     | |/           |                 |
     | |            |                 |
     | |            |                 |
     | |            |                 |
      ^             |                 |
      |             |                 |
      +- joist      |                 |
      |             |                 |
      |             |                 |
     +-+            |                 |
     | |            |                 |
     | |            |                 |
     +-+-----+      |                 |
     |       |    <-+                 |
     +-------+-----------------       |
     |                             <--+
     |________________________
     |
     |
     |
     |
     |
     |____________________________



Disclaimer:  These opinions are my own and have	    |
    nothing to do with the official policy or the   |  -bill
    management of L.B.L, who probably couldn't      |   wlbrown@lbl.gov
    care less about employees who play with trains. |
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: cb@oddjob.mitre.org (Christopher M. Byrnes)
Subject: Re: INFO on early 1960's Lionel
Organization: The Mitre Corp., Bedford, MA.
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 22:56:05 GMT

In article <1992Sep9.181754.17001@cbnewse.cb.att.com> gotribe@cbnewse.cb.att.com (richard.g.barry) writes:
>I recently came across an old Lionel train set in my parents basement,
>still in the original box.  I set it up for my kids to play with, and
>it runs, but not very well.  (It moves verrry slowly...).  Would the
>reason be: 1) the tracks, 2) the transformer, or the 3) the engine?
Probably all of the above.  The tracks are likely oxidized and are
otherwise dirty from the years in the attic; these should be cleaned
so the top surface of the rails (providing the engine its electricity)
are shiny.  The transformer may have dust on the reostat inside; try
moving the dial back and forth a few times to knock some of it off
(DON'T open it up to fix it yourself, unless you've a licensed
electrician!).  The engine's motor and gears may also need to be
cleaned and lubricated with a light oil; depending on how much use it
originally got, the brushes may need replacing.
>The set consists of a small white engine with a working headlight,
>and 5 cars.  I went to a local hobby shop and he explained to me
>that I had HO tracks for my Lionel train (not sure I understand
>why I don't have the bigger Lionel tracks).  The engine is made of
>metal, the other cars are made of plastic.
During the early 1960's Lionel made HO trains in addition to their
more famous Standard Gauge and `0' Gauge trains.  From your message, I
assume you've got a Lionel HO set.
>The box is orange and white and I would estimate it is from the early
>1960's.  The box even has the retail price sticker on it of $17.95.  I
>understand older trains have become quite collectible - any estimate
>of what this set might be worth?
I'm not an expert on Lionel's HO line, but its my impression that old
HO trains (with the exception of rare brass locomotives, which Lionel
didn't make in HO) haven't generated the levels of enthuiasm and
worth that their Standard and 0 big brothers have.  Since you have the
entire original set, including the original box (DON'T throw it
away!), you may find a collector who specializes in that sort of
thing.  You should get the Lionel manufacturing numbers from the box
and from the sides of the locomotive and cars; an experienced local
hobby dealer and/or collector can give you an idea what a complete
original Lionel HO set is worth these days.

with STANDARD_DISCLAIMER;
use STANDARD_DISCLAIMER;
--
					Christopher Byrnes
					The MITRE Corporation
					202 Burlington Road
					M/S A378A
					Bedford, Mass. 01730-1420

					cb@Mitre.org
	...!{att,decvax,genrad,ll-xn,philabs,utzoo}!linus!mbunix!cb.UUCP
From: macman+@pitt.edu (Dennis H Lippert)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: C&BT reefer kits
Keywords: ATSF, when?
Date: 14 Sep 92 20:44:55 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <20288@drutx.ATT.COM> tom@drutx.ATT.COM (MaddenTC) writes:
>
>Just gained access to this newsgroup, so this may be a FAQ: any
>sign yet of the C&BT Shops Santa Fe reefer kits? They've been
>delayed so long that even the display advertiser in MR that was
>offering them (Express Station One??) has dropped mention of

Rest assured... they *are* coming.

Express Station had the display ad at about the time C&BT was test-shooting
the first bodies... hardly "in production", and they are a big reason why
everyone is so worried about the timing.

The cars are coming.  Those who were at Columbus saw production samples,
kits *are* shipping right now.  They also have new wheelsets and trucks,
and roll like a sumbich. To tell how tight production is, I (who was on
the painting and packing crew a few times at C&BT) have not yet received
a complete reefer to look at.  Chances are that even if I drove out to
the plant to see him, I wouldn't get one, he's working as hard as 
possible to get them out as fast as possible.

That's what I know.  No more, no less.

-Den

-- 
===============================================================================
Dennis Lippert   -   macman+@pitt.edu or macman@vm2.cis.pitt.edu
The "Mac Maniac" operator at the Hillman Research Lab - Univ. of Pittsburgh
"All comments are mine, you'd look like a fool if *you* used them"
From: tom@drutx.ATT.COM (MaddenTC)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: C&BT reefer kits
Keywords: ATSF, when?
Date: 11 Sep 92 22:20:25 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Denver


Just gained access to this newsgroup, so this may be a FAQ: any
sign yet of the C&BT Shops Santa Fe reefer kits? They've been
delayed so long that even the display advertiser in MR that was
offering them (Express Station One??) has dropped mention of
them. I did see the note in the back of MLM a couple of months
ago referring to the last die (for detail parts) being cut, with
kit shipment to follow "soon". C&BT responded to an inquiry by
one of the local hobby shops that the initial production run was
fully allocated, and if they wanted any they'd have to find a
distributor whose allotment wasn't fully subscribed. But not a
word in that exchange to indicate when the kits would be shipped.

Tom "Patience? What's that?" Madden


Thomas C Madden
AT&T Bell Laboratories
11900 N Pecos St Rm 1F10
Denver, CO 80234
att!drutx!tom
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: car@access.digex.com (Mr. Blue)
Subject: voltages of transformers
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, MD USA
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 13:51:30 GMT


I have a simple question:

I've been out of the hobby for a few years, and I notice that now
some of the transformers out there go up to 20 volts..However our
trains operate on 12 volts..why the mismatch? Can you burn out a 
12 volt engine by going over the voltage???? What gives??   

Thanks,
Chris

From: wbrill@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Warren Brill)
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 18:04:54 GMT
Subject: Re: Re: benchwork: a case study
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad

Could someone explain just WHAT l-girder means?  I s'pose I could buy the
books, but I bought a book with 101 track plans and never used any of them,
even though I did use some of the IDEAS.

 
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
o                                          i---i_________________      o
o    Warren T. Brill, a.k.a.          *----|[|]|  #### #### #### |*    o
o    wbrill@hpxxx.fc.hp.com         i_|___/|___|\________________|_i   o
o    wbrill@hpfcso.fc.hp.com       =++()=()=() `========' ()=()=()++=  o
o                                  =================================== o
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: ardie@UIUC (Richard D. McClary)
Subject: Decal removal
Organization: Department of Plant Pathology
Distribution: rec.models.
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 12:12:19 GMT

(REC.MODELS. GROUPS OTHER THAN R.M.RAILROAD-
  Please reply to rec.models.railroad or by e-mail
  to ardie@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu)

	I have a couple of models with MicroScale decals.  The
lettering was applied using the MS product in the red-labeled 
bottle (Hydro-Sol?).  After 2 years, to remove these, can they
be removed with water, or with the Hydro-Sol(?)?  Or, do I have to
plan on a lot of scraping, stripping, re-masking, and a new paint
job?
	NOTE - no DulCoat or clear paint has been used over the decals.
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: Joe.Russ <Joe.Russ@mixcom.mixcom.com>
Subject: Changes at MR
Organization: Milwaukee Internet Xchange BBS, Milwaukee, WI U.S.A.
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 17:30:47 GMT


Yesterday's MILWAUKEE JOURNAL (9/10/92) announced that Jim Kelly has
been promoted to Senior Editor at Model Railroader.
  Joe Russ
  WISE Div., NMRA
-- 
Joe.Russ@mixcom.com
From: mdb@csc.liv.ac.uk (Martin Beer)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: voltages of transformers
Date: 10 Sep 92 09:08:15 GMT
Organization: Computer Science, Liverpool University
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

Anthony Edward Prattico (pratta@rpi.edu) wrote:
> In article <1992Sep7.135130.27545@access.digex.com> car@access.digex.com (Mr. Blue) writes:
> >   I have a simple question:
> >
> >   I've been out of the hobby for a few years, and I notice that now
> >   some of the transformers out there go up to 20 volts..However our
> >   trains operate on 12 volts..why the mismatch? Can you burn out a 
> >   12 volt engine by going over the voltage???? What gives??   >
> >
> >   Thanks,
> >   Chris
> 
> Are you sure what you saw were the terminals for track power> Some MRC Tech II
> packs have fixed 20 volt dc for another throttle or switch machines or whatever.
> Rarely does the actual variable voltage go above 14 volts.

Rectification means that some of the voltage is lost before it gets
to the track.  Some voltage is also lost in the controller.
It is therefore normal to specify a 15-18v transformer, rather than just 12v.
If the lower voltage were used, locomotives would never reach full speed, even
with the throttle fully open.

If motors are fed substantially more than 12v for any significant
length of time the armature coils will soon burn out, and
they can be very difficult to replace.

Some accessories work better at higher voltages.  In the Uk it is quite
common to feed point switches 24v AC so that they behave more positively.
A capacitor discharge unit can be included to ensure that they get
a short, high (about 50v) pulse, and so are very much less likely
to burn out.

I hope this helps.

Martin Beer
--
Dr. Martin Beer,
Department of Computer Science,		Telephone 051-794-3672
University of Liverpool,		Fax: 051-794-3715
Chadwick Tower, P.O. Box 147,           EMail mdb@uk.ac.liverpool.compsci
LIVERPOOL.  L69 3BX. United Kingdom.
From: pratta@rpi.edu (Anthony Edward Prattico)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: voltages of transformers
Date: 8 Sep 92 16:23:38 GMT
Article-I.D.: marcus.PRATTA.92Sep8112338
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

In article <1992Sep7.135130.27545@access.digex.com> car@access.digex.com (Mr. Blue) writes:
>   I have a simple question:
>
>   I've been out of the hobby for a few years, and I notice that now
>   some of the transformers out there go up to 20 volts..However our
>   trains operate on 12 volts..why the mismatch? Can you burn out a 
>   12 volt engine by going over the voltage???? What gives??   >
>
>   Thanks,
>   Chris

Are you sure what you saw were the terminals for track power> Some MRC Tech II
packs have fixed 20 volt dc for another throttle or switch machines or whatever.
Rarely does the actual variable voltage go above 14 volts.
From: mdb@csc.liv.ac.uk (Martin Beer)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: "O" Gauge Buildings
Date: 7 Sep 92 09:22:17 GMT
Organization: Computer Science, Liverpool University
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

Quentin Hordle - Sun UK -  Bristol Senior FSE (quentin@twent4.uk.sun.com) wrote:
> Having recently started out in 7mm narrow gauge, and not being the world's best at building, any form of buildings. I am looking for any possible supplies that supply items for this scale, either in kit or fully built form. Can anybody help.
> Thanks

Ratio were selling some (relatively) cheap plastic kits of a MR signal box
(similar to the old Airfix 4mm one) and an engine shed of continental
appearance at the Guage ) Guild meeting at Telford over the weekend.

If you are modelling in 0 in the UK it is well worth joining the Guage 0
Guild (I can supply the relevent address), and attending their shows,
as every manufacturer with anything of interest is usually there.

Telford would have been a great help to you.  There are meetings in
the South, but I don't go to them, so cannot remember when or where they
are.

Martin Beer

--
Dr. Martin Beer,
Department of Computer Science,		Telephone 051-794-3672
University of Liverpool,		Fax: 051-794-3715
Chadwick Tower, P.O. Box 147,           EMail mdb@uk.ac.liverpool.compsci
LIVERPOOL.  L69 3BX. United Kingdom.
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad