An International Tomboy Competition You Can Enter

The Tomboy is a popular old timer model, designed by Vic Smeed with plans published in 1950 which quite a few members in our club build and fly them regularly. But now there is more, an international competition (I’ve put the rules below) that anyone can enter from the comfort of their own flying field!

We’ve got 3 members (Allan, Glen, Fred) actively flying in the comp and others building a Tomboy to take part (Greg). Below is a report from Glen on their progress so far:

So far, Fred, Allan and I have been putting in a few flights for the 48” wingspan diesel class (6cc of fuel, diesel motors of around 1.5cc) though Allan is also working on the electric class, with one flight to date but has now built a new weapon – that very light model he had with him this morning. There is still time to get some decent flights in as the comp runs until end June.

Our times so far have been less than outstanding:

Fred Burman – 

12/2/23 (10.15 am) 3 (minutes) 39 (seconds) 

2/3/23 (10.00am) 2.21; (10.20am) 4.27; (11.25am) 4.10

Allan Laycock –

10/2/23 (11.20 am) 1.31

2/3/23 (11.20am) 2.27 (This attempt using an earlier electric Tomboy) 

Glen Newbown- 

5/2/23 (10.00am) 4.41

10/2/23 (11.30am) 6.01

2/3/23 (10.15am) 2.47: (11.13am) 8.26 

This last & longest competitive flight to date was greatly assisted by getting into a boomer thermal, but intentionally spiralling down out of it when it started getting too high. Once I dropped out of it however, it didn’t take long to come down. More guts next time?

Greg’s Tomboy is also just about ready to go I understand, and maybe we can coax a few more to have a go – noting that more than one contestant can use the same model. 

Cheers,

Glen.

Glen Newbown, 19 May 2023

A 48 inch span Tomboy by Allan

Tomboy Comp Rules:

L’AQUILONE SAM 2001 
TOMBOY RALLY INTERNATIONAL POSTAL CONTEST 
01/07/2022 – 30/06/2023
We wish to present this
 ... 

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Cows At Tharwa

Some of the mowing folks saw evidence that the farmer has cows in his field adjoining our flying strip but yesterday it was very obvious! The entire strip on the farmer’s side of the electric fence was covered with cow s*%t and there were hoof imprints all over the place on the strip.

When I was packing up after flying I raised the electric fence to its maximum height in the (vain?) hope of discouraging them from coming onto our field. It looked like there were about 50-60 cows waiting to eat. read more

Crisis averted…!

In the last few weeks, I’ve come to the awful realization that I’ve run out of storage space for planes! This is not good, as I’ve still got a long list of planes to print.

My wife’s suggestion of retiring some planes (as absurd as this seems) was starting to look like a reality.

But then I had an epiphany. Why get rid of planes, when my storage system could be completely re-designed to make it more efficient.

I spent a few days thinking about a better storage system, and decided to model it on the system I have in our living room for displaying my micro balsa RC planes (see photo). Two of the main criteria, other than being able to fit more planes, was a system that allows easy access, and that can be adjusted to suit the size and number of planes.

I decided on storage racks that are hung from aluminium tubing, which can be slid along the tube to suit the planes sizes, and have holes for the hangers, which can be re-positioned up and down, again to suit the size of the planes.

The early signs are very good. A rough estimate suggests I can fit at least twice as many planes – the old ‘system’ stored about 17 planes, and the new system currently has 34 planes, and there’s still room for a few more. Plus, it seems like the planes are much easier to access.

Now….it’s time to plan the next planes to print and assemble! read more