Oh man... Anything like this happen to you?

[Qs-man]

First, I know this doesent actually belong here, but I gotta blow some steam...

I have been in a stage where I have been changing from FF to micro R/C... I have had one FF model, an Earl Stahl Mig-3 on the make for a while and last weekend decided to finish it up and start figuring out what micro R/C plane to build. Well anyway, this is a normal tissue covered balsa frame plane. I worked on the covering and detailing the whole weekend and decided to give its maiden flight on manday evening.I even carved a pretty decent 3-bladed prop for it
Well on monday evening I was there on our driveway just letting it run along the ground with a few winds on the rubber to try to see what it would act like and see if it needed a little trimming before its first toss...
Suddenly from somewhere behind me this black "thing" fly past my shoulder, and before I could do a single thing it had attacked my slick lined russian beaty totally smashing it. The damned nabour cat had gotten interested of the wiggling model and had snooked up from behind... I have never really liked cats... and now even less!
-The worst thing was my wifes and her friends reaction... They thought it funny! :(
Saying that I should look around better... in my own fron yard!

Well, thats the end of my FF modelling (probably not completely) and now I am trying to find a RC backyard flyer I can attack the cat with ;)

Just had to tell this to the world... I guess at some point I will think it funny too time will polish the memories I guess...

P.S. I think it would be nice to get some kind of "just talk" area where to change experience etc if this is not the place.

Mister murphys best friend :)

[erickkr]

Joel,
My experience wasn't quite as bad as yours, my plane was at least repairable, but several years ago we had a little mutt. He was a fiesty little guy and I had just finished an R/C trainer and left it on the sofa while we went to the store for something. When we got home that DA-- dog had gotten into the trash and scattered it all over the house, and had found my plane sitting on the couch and decided that it would make a good chew toy. Most of the fuselage was intact, but the tail feathers were shreds and he had somehow chewed the motor right off the plane :mad: Like I said I managed to repair it, (although, I might as well have started fresh, it would have been easier), but the dog was gone the next day. "There is nothing new under the sun, Horatio", just variations on themes :)
BTW, there IS a forum called 'Reader comments' or some such that is for anything that you want to say, at least if you're not cussin' or flamin' someone :D
I also am WELL acquainted with Mr. Murphy and his laws.
;)

[ 08-16-2001: Message edited by: Ken ]

[gjohnson]

Our cat dissapeared a year ago, but he never cared about my planes. In terms of people laughing, I've been there. When I first started flying in our neighborhood I wasn't the best pilot yet, so would sometimes hit a tree. Everyone likes to laugh and make fun if you crash. When you do a perfect flight they have less interest. Must be the stock car racing effect or something. Even handing the transmitter to a laughing neighbor (who used to fly private planes) and saying would you like to see if you can do better doesn't seem to work. I've developed an attitude that if I don't want to be laughed at if I crash I shouldn't fly in the neighborhood. Flying at home is so convienent that I just ignore people when I've crashed and go get another plane from my workshop and fly it.
--Gordon

[jimwalker]

I remember one time I was flying a slimer years ago and I had an audience of young kids. Well I lost control of my labor of love and rekitted it on the concrete due to radio failure. One of the kids asked, "Did you do that on purpose??"

Out of the mouths of babes....

[flyingbuddy]

In cat behaviour, they only know one game, KILL! When you think about it, that is exactly what they are doing when they are "playing."
My recommendation is to find someone with a big petrol powered r/c helicopter. That cat would not dare attack it, but if he did...

[redbaron47]

Joel,

Some very small revenge... I don't like cats. One early AM I was flying my Bleriot III over a field and spotted a cat stalking the periphery for something to kill. I buzzed it a time or two and it ran into the overgrowth. No biggie, but I felt pleased that I had at least inconvenienced it a bit.

RB

[Jim]

Cat's aren't my favorite creature either...

I say, build one big enough to take the cat for a ride in, maybe a pattern ship powered by an un-muffled .91 or something. Duct the exhaust into the cabin area (where the cat will ride) and make sure there is a lot of clear window area (to enhance the visual effect).

Now catch the cat, place him in the cockpit and take him up for the ride of his life. Wring him out good (negative g's are good, and lots of 'em). After that, I'm guessing, it would be highly unlikely the cat would bother your models again! :D

Just a thought, It's late, I'm sleep deprived...

Jim