View Full Version : 1P = 1000W
....where P is equal to Picture and W is equal to Word(s).
Building an engine -- or an airplane -- there are times when I fail to
provide a lot of detail, partly because I ASSUME everyone KNOWS those
pesky little details. Which makes me something of a fool.
How much black-powder makes a safe load.
Rig-stitching uses a net-knot.. or a seine knot, the SAME knot you use
to make the net for a basketball hoop. Or a laundry bag. Or a
grocery bag. Or an abalone bag... And I grew up assuming EVERYONE
knew that stuff because I knew it, as did all the kids I grew up with.
Melting lead to make bullets.
Figuring out how much Wheel-Weight Lead you had to mix with Plumber's
Lead to get a bullet that would be hard enough to NOT lead the barrel
of your Springfield, for which you paid all of $17.95 from Monkey
Ward. (How? You cast your alloy into a .50 cal. BALL then dropped it
from a height of seventy-two inches... then measured the width of the
flat spot. Soft, as in pure lead, your flat spot was as wide as it
could be. Hard, as in pure wheel-weights, your flat spot was a LOT
smaller (Why? Because they add antimony to the lead to give it more
structural strength). So you melt a five-pound slug of Plumber's lead
[which you usta be able to buy at any hardware store] then you add
freshly scrubbed [and DRY!] wheel-weights to the pot. Used your Lymen
ladle to cast a couple of .50 balls, dropped them onto the top of the
anvil [rig a piece of water pipe as a 'bomb sight' so the ball starts
out centered on the anvil]. )
Didn''t EVERYONE do those things?
Apparently not.
Because I get messages asking... How do you...do this...or that.
And I tell them. But sometimes it takes a LOT of typing to tell
someone how to do something because there is never a straight line
between "How do I..." and having the guy actually DO IT.
Hand-propping an engine, 200cid or less... Mother's milk! Meaning
even BABIES can do it!
Welding. You only need a teacher to tell you when you've got the
flame just right. There it is! Just like that! Look at it! How can
you NOT remember it? It's the ONLY flame that does.... THIS... to the
edge of your practice coupon... Okay? And in fifteen minutes OR
LESS, he (or SHE! ...some of the better weldors are females. I don't
know why, they just are ).
See the puddle? Golden little pool. Watch how your perfect flame
creates and maintains your perfect puddle. You are in control of the
UNIVERSE when you can make that puddle, because once it is made, it
can be moved and married and made larger or smaller. RAISE the
perfect flame and the puddle cools... LOWER the perfect flame and the
puddle becomes a crater, is liable to erupt or do other strange
things. ANGLE your perfect flame and see Katrina right there in front
of you! Angle the flame and you've got Tidal Surge! The puddle is
the Eye of the Dragon and you are its master.
How long? Another fifteen minutes or so. Okay, sure; some people,
you show them once, they never forget. Other people, they learn it
like climbing stairs, needing a lot of little steps but that's the
Basics: Flame + Pool. After that, it's just a matter of Practice.
Doing just one airplane? Prolly take you about two weeks, working
full-time.
-Bob
On Jan 4, 12:35 pm, " > wrote:
> ...where P is equal to Picture and W is equal to Word(s).
>
> Building an engine -- or an airplane -- there are times when I fail to
> provide a lot of detail, partly because I ASSUME everyone KNOWS those
> pesky little details. Which makes me something of a fool.
I've taught a college course on Aircraft Systems for Pilots for
maybe ten years now. I found early on that I had to back up a long way
into some basic stuff, since most young folks now have no frame of
reference regarding mechanical, electrical or hydraulic devices, or
even basic hand tools, let alone specialty tooling. I often resort to
using the water-in-a-garden-hose idea to illustrate electrical flow
(pressure, volume and resistance) and have received a few blank looks
from a few who appear never to have fooled with such a thing. City-
bound apartment dwellers, I guess.
So it's not unusual to get questions on really basic stuff. The
problem is to determine how much you really need to cover to get the
most students through without boring the bright ones or dumping vast
volumes of information on them or spoon-feeding the lazy ones.
Students, especially adults, should know enough that they have the
responsibility to go look things up when they don't have enough
background to understand the course.
Dan
Maxwell[_2_]
January 5th 09, 01:16 PM
> wrote in message
...
| On Jan 4, 12:35 pm, " > wrote:
| > ...where P is equal to Picture and W is equal to Word(s).
| >
| > Building an engine -- or an airplane -- there are times when I fail to
| > provide a lot of detail, partly because I ASSUME everyone KNOWS those
| > pesky little details. Which makes me something of a fool.
|
| I've taught a college course on Aircraft Systems for Pilots for
| maybe ten years now. I found early on that I had to back up a long way
| into some basic stuff, since most young folks now have no frame of
| reference regarding mechanical, electrical or hydraulic devices, or
| even basic hand tools, let alone specialty tooling. I often resort to
| using the water-in-a-garden-hose idea to illustrate electrical flow
| (pressure, volume and resistance) and have received a few blank looks
| from a few who appear never to have fooled with such a thing. City-
| bound apartment dwellers, I guess.
| So it's not unusual to get questions on really basic stuff. The
| problem is to determine how much you really need to cover to get the
| most students through without boring the bright ones or dumping vast
| volumes of information on them or spoon-feeding the lazy ones.
| Students, especially adults, should know enough that they have the
| responsibility to go look things up when they don't have enough
| background to understand the course.
|
| Dan
|
|
Maxwell[_2_]
January 5th 09, 01:26 PM
"Maxwell" <#$$9#@%%%.^^^> wrote in message
...
|
| > wrote in message
| ...
|| On Jan 4, 12:35 pm, " > wrote:
|| > ...where P is equal to Picture and W is equal to Word(s).
|| >
|| > Building an engine -- or an airplane -- there are times when I fail to
|| > provide a lot of detail, partly because I ASSUME everyone KNOWS those
|| > pesky little details. Which makes me something of a fool.
||
|| I've taught a college course on Aircraft Systems for Pilots for
|| maybe ten years now. I found early on that I had to back up a long way
|| into some basic stuff, since most young folks now have no frame of
|| reference regarding mechanical, electrical or hydraulic devices, or
|| even basic hand tools, let alone specialty tooling. I often resort to
|| using the water-in-a-garden-hose idea to illustrate electrical flow
|| (pressure, volume and resistance) and have received a few blank looks
|| from a few who appear never to have fooled with such a thing. City-
|| bound apartment dwellers, I guess.
|| So it's not unusual to get questions on really basic stuff. The
|| problem is to determine how much you really need to cover to get the
|| most students through without boring the bright ones or dumping vast
|| volumes of information on them or spoon-feeding the lazy ones.
|| Students, especially adults, should know enough that they have the
|| responsibility to go look things up when they don't have enough
|| background to understand the course.
||
|| Dan
||
It amazes me how uninformed (or just down right stupid) young people are
today. They grow up in a world today with absolutely no exposure to anything
mechanical.
I walked in to an auto parts super store last summer and asked for 15" inner
tubes. Not one person of the 6 or 7 on hand (including the manager), had the
slightest clue what I was talking about. After describing an inner tube in
great detail to the manager and a couple of other totally shocked
by-standing salesmen, I was informed "I would have to look elsewhere, we
never put anything in our tires". They were in complete disbelief that any
such thing existed.
I can't imagine trying to hire a green mechanical engineer today. It must
really be a challenge.
Peter Dohm
January 5th 09, 02:28 PM
"Maxwell" <#$$9#@%%%.^^^> wrote in message
...
>
> "Maxwell" <#$$9#@%%%.^^^> wrote in message
> ...
> |
> | > wrote in message
> | ...
> || On Jan 4, 12:35 pm, " > wrote:
> || > ...where P is equal to Picture and W is equal to Word(s).
> || >
> || > Building an engine -- or an airplane -- there are times when I fail
> to
> || > provide a lot of detail, partly because I ASSUME everyone KNOWS those
> || > pesky little details. Which makes me something of a fool.
> ||
> || I've taught a college course on Aircraft Systems for Pilots for
> || maybe ten years now. I found early on that I had to back up a long way
> || into some basic stuff, since most young folks now have no frame of
> || reference regarding mechanical, electrical or hydraulic devices, or
> || even basic hand tools, let alone specialty tooling. I often resort to
> || using the water-in-a-garden-hose idea to illustrate electrical flow
> || (pressure, volume and resistance) and have received a few blank looks
> || from a few who appear never to have fooled with such a thing. City-
> || bound apartment dwellers, I guess.
> || So it's not unusual to get questions on really basic stuff. The
> || problem is to determine how much you really need to cover to get the
> || most students through without boring the bright ones or dumping vast
> || volumes of information on them or spoon-feeding the lazy ones.
> || Students, especially adults, should know enough that they have the
> || responsibility to go look things up when they don't have enough
> || background to understand the course.
> ||
> || Dan
> ||
>
> It amazes me how uninformed (or just down right stupid) young people are
> today. They grow up in a world today with absolutely no exposure to
> anything
> mechanical.
>
> I walked in to an auto parts super store last summer and asked for 15"
> inner
> tubes. Not one person of the 6 or 7 on hand (including the manager), had
> the
> slightest clue what I was talking about. After describing an inner tube in
> great detail to the manager and a couple of other totally shocked
> by-standing salesmen, I was informed "I would have to look elsewhere, we
> never put anything in our tires". They were in complete disbelief that any
> such thing existed.
>
> I can't imagine trying to hire a green mechanical engineer today. It must
> really be a challenge.
>
>
While there does appear to be some merit to your basic complaint--that most
people under about thirty, and who have grown up in major cities, have no
experience in building or repairing anything--they were also right that you
were looking in the wrong place unless they also install tires on split rims
or on wire wheels.
Nearly anyone in a tire store would have known about inner tubes and their
basic sizes--which I believe are a little like the sizes of sweaters and
socks. They would be a slow selling item in most places, and would probably
need to be ordered in; but they will be in use as long as there are wire
wheels and split wheels.
Peter
P.S.: I was going to just let the earlier, and related, matter drop. But,
there are two common fomulations for wheel weights; and the clip-on variety
do have a hardener added which is usually atimony. Lin-O-Type alloy has
much more antimony, plus tin for better mold fill-out, and does not shrink
during while cooling; but does have other quirks.
On Jan 5, 6:26 am, "Maxwell" <#$$9#@%%%.^^^> wrote:
> It amazes me how uninformed (or just down right stupid) young people are
> today. They grow up in a world today with absolutely no exposure to anything
> mechanical.
On the other hand, if I have a computer problem those young
guys come and fix it and look at me is if I'm totally clueless.
Dan
On Jan 5, 7:28 am, "Peter Dohm" > wrote:
> Nearly anyone in a tire store would have known about inner tubes and their
> basic sizes--which I believe are a little like the sizes of sweaters and
> socks. They would be a slow selling item in most places, and would probably
> need to be ordered in; but they will be in use as long as there are wire
> wheels and split wheels.
And even then they will be a rare item for vintage vehicles.
Earthmoving and heavy equipment has been using multi-piece wheels for
many years, but the rings have seals under them to enable tubeless
operation. Sold a whack of that stuff in the '70s.
Maxwell[_2_]
January 5th 09, 06:23 PM
"Peter Dohm" > wrote in message
...
| While there does appear to be some merit to your basic complaint--that
most
| people under about thirty, and who have grown up in major cities, have no
| experience in building or repairing anything--they were also right that
you
| were looking in the wrong place unless they also install tires on split
rims
| or on wire wheels.
|
| Nearly anyone in a tire store would have known about inner tubes and their
| basic sizes--which I believe are a little like the sizes of sweaters and
| socks. They would be a slow selling item in most places, and would
probably
| need to be ordered in; but they will be in use as long as there are wire
| wheels and split wheels.
|
| Peter
It was a PepBoys auto super center, with about 6 maintenance bays and all of
one wall dedicated to tire and wheel sales. I had bought them there before
about 6 months earlier. But since none of the employees present at the time
believe auto tires were ever equipped with inner tubes, they wouldn't even
check their catalogs. I went down the street to a local O'Reilly's.
jan olieslagers[_2_]
January 5th 09, 06:31 PM
Maxwell schreef:
>I went down the street to a local O'Reilly's.
One of these?
http://www.oreillys.com/
Maxwell[_2_]
January 6th 09, 02:37 AM
> wrote in message
...
| On Jan 5, 6:26 am, "Maxwell" <#$$9#@%%%.^^^> wrote:
|
| > It amazes me how uninformed (or just down right stupid) young people are
| > today. They grow up in a world today with absolutely no exposure to
anything
| > mechanical.
|
|
| On the other hand, if I have a computer problem those young
| guys come and fix it and look at me is if I'm totally clueless.
|
| Dan
Then shame on you for not keeping up. These things have only been around for
25 years.
On Jan 5, 6:37*pm, "Maxwell" <#$$9#@%%%.^^^> wrote:
>
> Then shame on you for not keeping up. These things have only been around for
> 25 years.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ummm, well... the PC has only been with us since 1982 but the first
stored-program computer system was installed at the Detroit Firemans
Insurance Fund in 1948.
The Navy of course had been using rather primitive 'computer' systems
based on punched-cards for file storage and vacuum tubes for 'memory'
since 1941 and by the mid-1950's such systems were commonly found not
only at shore stations but afloat, on certain classes of Supply
ships. My own involvement with computer systems dates from 1956 and
there were plenty of old hands in the ranks by that time.
When I retired from the Navy in 1976 it was the first time in my adult
life that I didn't have a computer to play with :-) So I built one.
As did a lot of other ham radio operators. The CPU was an Intel 8080
chip, for which I coughed up $300 and change... and had to wait about
six weeks for it to arrive. My first 'memory' card had a whole 1k of
8bit memory.
By the time the PC came along I had a fairly comprehensive system,
running dual 8" floppies with a Tarbell cassette for back-up. I/O
was, initially, a Teletype but that was replaced with a keyboard and
CRT. It wasn't until Intel introduced the AT platform that the
industry finally caught up to what amateurs were using.
As a point of interest, I'm still fiddlingwith it, although I seldom
bother with the software. Too dull (and too time consuming). Younger
hams still find it a lot of fun (fortunately) and have come up with
some remarkable plug & play interfaces, allowing you to simply plug
your ham radio into a suitably configured computer terminal. On the
other side of the coin, in recognition of this market, the
manufacturers of ham radio equipment now regularly provide a digital I/
O module for their transceivers, which often includes an automated
antenna tuner. I know my Yaesu FT-817 can connect me with hams around
the world on virtually any legal frequency... and even aim my antenna
(!!) were I rich enough to own such a thing :-) Of course, it's just
one computer talking to another, from a ship at sea to a ship in space
(!) but by disconnecting all the computer crap and replacing the mike
with a bug, I can still find someone willing to dit-dot there way
through a conversation, be it on bee keeping in Australia to diamond
mining in Canada(!)
-R.S.Hoover
Maxwell[_2_]
January 7th 09, 04:11 AM
> wrote in message
...
On Jan 5, 6:37 pm, "Maxwell" <#$$9#@%%%.^^^> wrote:
>
> Then shame on you for not keeping up. These things have only been around
> for
> 25 years.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ummm, well... the PC has only been with us since 1982 but the first
stored-program computer system was installed at the Detroit Firemans
Insurance Fund in 1948.
The Navy of course had been using rather primitive 'computer' systems
based on punched-cards for file storage and vacuum tubes for 'memory'
since 1941 and by the mid-1950's such systems were commonly found not
only at shore stations but afloat, on certain classes of Supply
ships. My own involvement with computer systems dates from 1956 and
there were plenty of old hands in the ranks by that time.
When I retired from the Navy in 1976 it was the first time in my adult
life that I didn't have a computer to play with :-) So I built one.
As did a lot of other ham radio operators. The CPU was an Intel 8080
chip, for which I coughed up $300 and change... and had to wait about
six weeks for it to arrive. My first 'memory' card had a whole 1k of
8bit memory.
By the time the PC came along I had a fairly comprehensive system,
running dual 8" floppies with a Tarbell cassette for back-up. I/O
was, initially, a Teletype but that was replaced with a keyboard and
CRT. It wasn't until Intel introduced the AT platform that the
industry finally caught up to what amateurs were using.
As a point of interest, I'm still fiddlingwith it, although I seldom
bother with the software. Too dull (and too time consuming). Younger
hams still find it a lot of fun (fortunately) and have come up with
some remarkable plug & play interfaces, allowing you to simply plug
your ham radio into a suitably configured computer terminal. On the
other side of the coin, in recognition of this market, the
manufacturers of ham radio equipment now regularly provide a digital I/
O module for their transceivers, which often includes an automated
antenna tuner. I know my Yaesu FT-817 can connect me with hams around
the world on virtually any legal frequency... and even aim my antenna
(!!) were I rich enough to own such a thing :-) Of course, it's just
one computer talking to another, from a ship at sea to a ship in space
(!) but by disconnecting all the computer crap and replacing the mike
with a bug, I can still find someone willing to dit-dot there way
through a conversation, be it on bee keeping in Australia to diamond
mining in Canada(!)
-R.S.Hoover
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, I was counting from about 82, when the store bought PCs arrived. I
started with an Apple II in 81 or 82, and almost immediately stuck in a Z80
card and went CPM. I was more interested in business software than gaming,
and at the time Apple was still a good bit limited in software choices. But
that enabled Word Star, Super Calc III and dBase, so I was all set.
About the time I was ready to chump off for a couple of 8" drives, I found
my first 10 meg hard drive for $600. Couldn't imagine at the time why I
would ever need any more storage space. Upgraded a few years later to a PC
clone with a 20 meg.
About 87 or 88, I moved up to a 386/20 clone with a 65 meg SCSI. What a
bullet! Had a 40 meg tape back up with tapes about the size of a pack of
smokes. Visited a computer museum in Boston the same year that had an
excellent comparative display of computers from the 50s to present. Started
with a complete computer room all driven by punch cards. Worked up through
the computer that ran NORAD until about 1975, that had two 300k drum drives,
each about the size of a mini-van and containing 6 drums about 18" in
diameter and 24" long. Seemed impossible at the time I was putting 40 meg on
a tape cartridge the size of a pack smokes.
Added a 2 meter packet rig in about 92, but quickly tired of it. Lot more
fun working voice, and all the dial up bulletin boards of the era.
Seems just a few years later we all started struggling with one flavor of
Windoz or the other, and it seems I have just been using them for work or
personal business ever since. The internet has changed everything as well,
but at least it was for the better. I write very little code anymore, unless
it's just something I really need for business.
We have come a long way since 82. I always remember the comparison quoted
somewhere, that if development of the automobile had paralleled the
computer, today we could buy a 12 passenger sports car that would do 300 mph
and get 500 miles to the gallon for about $100. But about once a year,
without any warning, it would suddenly explode killing everyone inside.
Tech Support
January 7th 09, 07:26 AM
Looks like a time for war stories so will jump in and add a few bits
for history.
IBM came out with their PC computer and I bought from a firm in
Dallas a mother board, 1000 resistors, capacitors, etc and a chip set
(CPU was a 8080). I soldered all the parts in and put the chip set in
and didn't work. Testing did not find the problem and company who
sold the "kit' had a testing program you could pay for. Sent system
back to them and they found that they had included a chip that would
not work in their system.They replace the chip and sent back no
charge, their error.
Then went to the Z80 and on into the new chips and accessories. Now
running a 2 cpu built by AMD and is fast enough for me. Have a small
secure LAN and can connect WIFI with LT from house.
Just installed a 22 inch LCD monitor today. So big I have to move my
head to read from side to side :o)
In USAF flew Air Defense Fighters with Radar and attack computers.
Radar steered you in the proper position to attack fire and at 20
seconds to go you held the trigger down and continues to follow the
computer instructions and when the solution was correct in computer it
launched your rockets, missile or atomic rocket.
During the Cuban missile crisis I ran the dias in a 8 hour
shift in the Sage system. First real time computer ever made. 50,000
tubes in the two computers and lots of A/C (40 degrees to cool the
tubes) in the big concrete sector block house that would stand a near
by atomic explosion.
Had some micky mouse computers before the IBM clone but very limited
ability compared to Windows, etc. Ran TRSDOS (Trash DOS) on some Model
II's in my company. Model II's would run CPM so changed to that. I'm
sure many of you went thru the same progression to the current Mac and
Windows computers.
SAC was using punch cards in a lot of their computers as late a 72. I
build their MIS program to brief Commander SAC using punch cards.
I haven't heard yet what was hot at the convention just held in Los
Vegas.
Enough war stories. Some one needs to take the old time postings and
put together on Internet for posterity.
OK, no acro just straight and level :o)
Big John
************************************************** ***************************
On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:35:22 -0800 (PST), "
> wrote:
>On Jan 5, 6:37*pm, "Maxwell" <#$$9#@%%%.^^^> wrote:
>>
>> Then shame on you for not keeping up. These things have only been around for
>> 25 years.
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Ummm, well... the PC has only been with us since 1982 but the first
>stored-program computer system was installed at the Detroit Firemans
>Insurance Fund in 1948.
>
>The Navy of course had been using rather primitive 'computer' systems
>based on punched-cards for file storage and vacuum tubes for 'memory'
>since 1941 and by the mid-1950's such systems were commonly found not
>only at shore stations but afloat, on certain classes of Supply
>ships. My own involvement with computer systems dates from 1956 and
>there were plenty of old hands in the ranks by that time.
----clip----
On Jan 6, 11:26*pm, Tech Support <> wrote:
> Looks like a time for war stories so will jump in and add a few bits
> for history.
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For me the real point of all this is that we ARE tool-using critters.
We already KNOW man can fly. We've got several examples of low-cost,
durable, RELIABLE engines that generate enough thrust to safely carry
loads on the order of 800 pounds.
The AIRFRAME is an example of a structure having optimized ratios of
strength-to-weight. Although the very best materials are expensive,
the cost of materials is not linear with regard to strength. Going to
other-than-optimum materials... giving away perhaps 10% of our
strength... which may also be read as increasing our WEIGHT by 10%...
or reducing our LOAD by 10%.... does not reflect a price redduction
of 10%... what it reflects is more on the order of a 90% REDUCTION in
price.
That is the key point that must be gotten across to people who are
willing to build their own airplanes.
Which leads-in to the second point, which was the original purpose of
this post and the origin of this thread. And that is the fact that
while a person my be willing to accept the facts as stated above, most
of them who are willing to try and build their own airplanes and power
it with a converted car engine LACK THE SKILLS TO DO SO. Which lead
to the billy-dew about a single picture being worth a thousand words
(ie, 1P=1000W).
The EAA hates this idea because it would impact their financial
position. And when the EAA doesn't like something, the 'something'
tends to get a bad press... or none at all :-)
-R.S.Hoover
Maxwell[_2_]
January 9th 09, 03:40 AM
> wrote in message
...
The AIRFRAME is an example of a structure having optimized ratios of
strength-to-weight. Although the very best materials are expensive,
the cost of materials is not linear with regard to strength. Going to
other-than-optimum materials... giving away perhaps 10% of our
strength... which may also be read as increasing our WEIGHT by 10%...
or reducing our LOAD by 10%.... does not reflect a price redduction
of 10%... what it reflects is more on the order of a 90% REDUCTION in
price.
-R.S.Hoover
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I can't speak exactly to the percentages, but it still a very important
point. Same can often be said for the investment in engineering time.
Kind of makes you wonder how long our automobiles would last if they spent
an extra 10% on cost or weight. I just had an 06 Explorer with independent
rear suspension and an aluminum differential case, hang it's tongue out at
90k miles.
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