Robin Coombs
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Everything posted by Robin Coombs
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Thanks Timbo. Well, that was the catalyst I needed. I have been thinking of subscribing to RCM&E for a while but the exchange rate puts me off a bit. 15 to 1. Todays rate has dropped to about 10 to 1 so I bit the bullet. Also I have just found out that my job is secure for at least the next 3 months. All I have to do now is "gently" bring it to the attention of the Minister of Finance. Cheers Robin
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WOW, I can''t believe it. Many, many thanks, RCM&E. First time I have won anything like this. Looking forward to flying it. Robin
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African Sunset Clouds over Mozambique
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The 2009 Photo comp
Robin Coombs replied to David Ashby - Moderator's topic in All Things Model Flying
That Connie is magnificent. Saw one standing at ORITA last week as we were taxying out. Probably never fly again, though. Robin -
Hi Phil Your wheel overheating reminds me of a trip to the Kruger park some years ago. I had a 1975 Mercedes 280 SE. This is quite a monster weighing in at a ton. Going down a mountain pass there is a tunnel mid way with a sharp bend after it. As I braked for the bend the pedel went to the floor. Panic!! Mercedes is not renowned for their hand brake but I pulled it sharpish. This did little to the retardation so I put the gear selector into 2nd. Its an auto box. With the corner rapidly approaching I put the selector in low. The gearbox objected but took the strain slowing the car sufficiently to allow me to pull over into a lay by. Once we came to a stop I got out to find the front left wheel on fire. Wow, get some water, fast. What had happened was that the brake cylinder had stuck and the heating of the discs caught fire and melted the hydraulic brake line. I had to travell the next 120 kM without brakes. Progress was very slow after that. Robin Edited By Robin Coombs on 23/06/2009 12:33:48 Edited By Robin Coombs on 23/06/2009 12:34:38
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We get those a lot here followed by a hail storm. As soon as I see them I put the cars away, just in case. One year it was so bad the hail stones were as big as oranges and went straight through the wings of a 747 at JIA. Awsome to watch but rather painfull to be out in. Robin
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I had a Triumph 750 twin Thunderbird. Heavy as hell but a joy to own, apart from the oil spills. Ran into a little old lady who jumped a stop street. End of bike and my front teeth. My first car was a Ford Prefect "Puddle Jumper". When you went uphill in the rain you had to stick your head out of the side window to see where you were going as the wipers were vacuum operated and only worked when the throttle was off. Going round corners was fun due to the transverse springs. Body roll was somewhat excessive. Never mind the rod operated brakes. Such fun. Robin
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Hey Chris. What happened to your leg? I know the feeling. When I was working in Uganda I had a nasty accident and broke my leg just above the ankle. Clean break, damn painfull. Took 4 days before I got treatment then had to sit in a wheelchair for 8 months. It was very frustrating. Hope you recuperate fast. The patio story will definately help the morale. Robin
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Hi all I had to fly to Phalaborwa for a meeting yesterday. Took off in thick mist but after sitting in a small cramped seat for an hour and ten minutes the Pilot, after 3 attempts, returned to Johannesburg. I could see the ground clearly from the window but, obviously, he could'nt. Very low cloud. Prob about 500 feet AGL. Pity I left my camera at home as I could have taken some great cloud pics. We are into winter here so not so much flying. I hope it clears by next month as there is a large scale day at Swartkops AFB. Must make that one. Cheers Robin
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The 2009 Photo comp
Robin Coombs replied to David Ashby - Moderator's topic in All Things Model Flying
My Super Stearman on a low pass My Corsair waiting for a slot. -
I just received this pic There was an unfortunate incident near Krugersdorp over the weekend. This plane collided with an LDV. Fortunately no serious injuries. No other info. Robin
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This one was taken from outside my model workshop. Shed on the left with the door open. Robin
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Taken from the flight deck over the South African Lowveld (Kruger Park) Storm clouds at home and again I just love cloud formations. Robin
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I lived in another house 12 years ago that had 2 resident ghosts. My youngest Daughter actually saw them. An old man was sitting on the toilet one night & she ran into our room for the rest of the night. A visitor saw a young boy walking down the passage on another occasion. Needless to say we don't live there any more. The house that I now own is, fortunately, spirit free. Apart from those in bottles, of course. Robin the spirit chaser, er drinker, er oh whatever.
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Hi Phil, I had a similar incident about 20 years ago. I was outside working late at night on one of my cars and my dogs were unusually skittish. As i walked out of the workshop I saw the lead light literally hanging in mid air outside the car. I went all cold, packed up all the tools and went straight to bed. The dogs would not go near that spot ever since. I dont live there any more. Robin the ghostbuster.
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There is a lot of hype about this energy saving. What most people do not realise is that these energy saving lamps are fluorescent and introduce harmonics into the system. These harmonics are very small BUT when enough of them are in use it can become quite substantial causing damage to motor windings. I am referring to household motors such as fridges etc. The older the motor the greater the chance of damage. This, in turn, increases the demand for new frides etc so helping the total enocomy by providing more jobs. This is not much consolation to the poor money starved consumer who has to fork out for a new fridge. In South Africa the power supplier, ESKOM, insist that all new industrial projects and all motors being repaced must be of the premium efficieny type which cost some 30% more than standard motors. The increase in efficiency is only about 1 or 2 % so the return on investment is not all that good. It's not the emissions from industry that is destroying the environment, it's just that there are too many people on the earth breathing out carbon dioxide. No real solution to that problem. Birth control doesnt work in 3rd world countries. WRT low voltage garden lights, I switch mine on the HV side (230V). The current is lower so the switch is smaller and the transformer is off when not in use. Cheers Robin
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DB Sport And Scale - Cirrus Moth
Robin Coombs replied to Martyn Johnston's topic in Build Blogs and Kit Reviews
Hi Danny and Eddie. That is a really good installation. I built the Corsair some 10 years ago when the "learning curve" was a bit shallow. The internet sure helps a lot with the transfer of information. I used Sullivan Gold n Rods and the instructions were a bit vague. They just show a bit of rubber at each end. Things have improved a lot since then. Cheers Robin -
DB Sport And Scale - Cirrus Moth
Robin Coombs replied to Martyn Johnston's topic in Build Blogs and Kit Reviews
Hi Martyn. I was reading about your intention to use snakes for the elevator. I did that on my Corsair but during take off the snake "bent" in the middle leaving no elevator control. The result was a 30 degree dive into a tar runway. The fuz was badly damaged and the wing broke in half. This was at the SAAF public Warbird day so was very embarrasing. It's repaired now and I have used a pushrod for the elevator. I have done the same on my Typhoon. Good luck on the rest of the build. Building is so much more satisfying that ARTF, is'nt it? Robin -
Hi Terry I had a similar experience when I was living in Uganda. The Malibu Stork is the ugliest and most ungainly creature you have ever seen BUT when he finally gets airborne it is a sight to behold. They pick up the thermals almost immediately and just soar higher and higher. I found out that the reason they do that is to get to higher altitude to cool down from the intense heat. Regards Robin
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Wow. Looks like a cool show. It needs Java so that may be yr prob. Cheers
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Hi Terry I met a very good witch doctor in Uganda. Claims to have good muti but tastes worse than the coffee that the Marines can't have. He suggested some strange methods to "fix" my broken leg. I passed on that. Robin
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Yea, I thought so. My late friend & mentor, Syd Seear, used to fly Mosquito's and Beaufighters during the war & told me a similar tale where he was returning to base and came accross a Fokker Wolf, also out of ammo, who saluted him on passing. He was sure that would be the end. Amazing some of the things that actually happened at that awfull time.
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I came accross this little story & thought that some of you may enjoy it. It's too big to put here so here is the link. Basically it's a WW2 survival story. http://www.snopes.com/military/charliebrown.asp
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Hi Phil OK, I just tried my hand at posting pics. I have made an album called "Heinies Warbird Day" Last Sunday at Barnstormers. The weather was pretty awfull but sunny. Cheers
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