Article idea

[David perry 1]

I havent read anywhere anything about the process of bringing a new ARTF foamie to life.

 

We all buy and fly these things and we are either complimentary or derogatory about so-and-sos latest design, but HOW are these things created, then made and sold?  Whts the life of one? How many do they sell? Whats the factory like?

 

Could be a fascinating article.  

 

If you need anyone to go to China to investigate, I'm free.

 

David 

[Allan Bowker]

Nice idea David, I've often wondered about the factories that churn theses out.

[birdy]

sounds good, but it has the potential to make a very expensive article...

[David perry 1]

I dont think Graham would really have to go to china.  There must be any number of UK agents for these people who could tell him and provide a few pics.  The guys from Horizon, Ripmax, JP etc etc MUST have been out there. Someone must have been.

 

D 

[Mowerman]

If Graham wrote to the manufacturers in China they may be willing to provide the information as a P.R. excercise.

Worth a try, whats to lose?

[Simon K 3]

Posted by David perry 1 on 18/08/2010 13:41:04:

I havent read anywhere anything about the process of bringing a new ARTF foamie to life.

 +1  Sound like an interesting article.

[ericrw]

mind you it will be in Chinglish !!

[David Ashby - Moderator]

The UK distributors we've spoken to seem reticent, we've had vague promises but nothing has ever materialised and the feedback is that Chinese business' aren't enthusiastic and would worry that they're giving away trade secrets, production techniques and future release info to their competitors. 

 

I'm not sure what it would show us in reality. I'm told that the factories vary incredibly. Some are so clean you could eat your dinner off the floor and some, sort of......aren't 

Health and safety considerations can vary too.  

 

The people I'd really like to speak to are the ARTF designers/developers, just to see how experienced they are and whether they can really fly all that well. Whether they really do fly all their RTF foamies as tail heavy as their instructions always seem to recommend. 

 

We'll stay on the case. 

 

[David perry 1]

Posted by David Ashby - RCME Administrator on 19/08/2010 07:54:19:

 

The people I'd really like to speak to are the ARTF designers/developers, just to see how experienced they are and whether they can really fly all that well. Whether they really do fly all their RTF foamies as tail heavy as their instructions always seem to recommend. 

 

Thats what interests me too David.

 

 

D 

 

[Tim Mackey]

The people I would like to "speak to" are the ones who put together the so called manual!

On reflection, they probably havent left kindergarten yet

[Lee Smalley]

david wrote " Health and safety considerations can vary too"

 

what from "barely pay any notice" to "have no idea what your on about mate, here just hold that 3 phase cable while i see if it lights this bulb"

 

somewhere in the middle of our H+S system and theres would be nice!!!!

[Tim Mackey]

LOL

[Erfolg]

I am pretty sure that expanded polystyrene moulding. is done by using pre-expanded polystyrene beads by steam (at low pressure). This swells the beads, but is not sufficient to cause the beads to adhere to each other.

 

A metal mold is then used to pour the beads into, until filled. Low pressure steam is is injected to cause the beads to adhere to each other.

 

The mould is then cooled with water (via built in cooling channels).

 

The mould can then be opened, the moulding ejected. An issue relative to injection moulding, is cooling fast enough to satisfy the production manager, as the material does not transfer heat readily, hence cooling is not as quick as say ABS.

 

It was not high tech, many of the components we (as consumers) pay a lot for, the business would be payed a farthing (not legal tender then) per unit, which could be a multi cavity sprue, or a single component. Packing type materials were typically low cost, as I would consider our models to be..

 

This is how it was done some 40 years back, when I briefly worked (pay and opportunities were lacking) for a plastics company. They produced injection, transfer, compression mouldings, extrusions. Site now a housing estate.

 

The art, was in designing the moulds (although routine to those in the industry), methodologies in managing the moulding process and any after moulding treatment, such as water immersion. The general principals every one in the industry knew, the rep for the moulding chips, would and did supply all manner of information how to actually do it, solve an issue. Ranging from storage, moulding, after treatments etc. Not really that high tech, but then again, how much would you provide data to a competitor, actual or potential.

[Frank Skilbeck]

Posted by David Ashby - RCME Administrator on 19/08/2010 07:54:19: 

 

The people I'd really like to speak to are the ARTF designers/developers, just to see how experienced they are and whether they can really fly all that well. Whether they really do fly all their RTF foamies as tail heavy as their instructions always seem to recommend. 

 

 

 Not all designers are the same, the foamys I've had from Alfa, Multiplex, E Flite and Dreamflight had the c of g pretty spot on. The instructions and design of all of these was first class as well.