28th August – All over bar the shouting
Once again thanks to all the parlticipants who came along to Oily Hand 2024. Especially as the weather was looking as if it was going to be nasty. As it was we did have wind and a little rain. Friday was excellent and there were forty odd pilots who who had looked at the weather report and enjoyed sunny calm afternoons flying. Saturday was windy with a short shower and was good for some models, Oily Rags excepted as Andy’s vanished in the wheat crop and he still haven’t found it. By mid afternoon the wind started to abate and the sun peaked through and flying recommenced.
By the time the David Owen Scramble came around the ten competitors who were patient and hung on were rewarded as conditions were perfect. The sun was out and the wind almost still and most models stayed within a hundred meters or so. The event came to an end as the sun sunk on the western hills. 1st place went once again to Jeff Poulsan from Queensland with 872 sec, 2nd Steven Bojec 808 sec, 3rd Steve Thomas 729 sec and 4th Albert Bojec (Steve’s son) with 562 sec.
This was the last year for model of the meet and Saturday saw the usual lunchtime display with eleven Shark 402s and five Vic Smeed Majorettes. Shark 402 first place Jeff Poulsan equal 2nd place to Steve Backac, Richard Jensen and Steve Bojec. Only five Oily Handers managed to bring along their Majorettes. First place John Consadine, 2nd Ron Artist, 3rd Jerry Cashman
Sunday morning started with early arrivals for breakfast at 6:30. It was still blowing windy at 9am when Plank racing commenced. This made flying the stunts in follow on succession difficult with some pilots doing some weird back to back wingovers with their model doing wild gyrations before it decided to behave itself. But everyone got through without any bingles and a number of pilots resorted to their second backup flight. Results –
28th August – The 2025 Themed Model is a BIPLANE
Long time Oily Hand stalwart Col Maybury drew the selection for the 2025 Themed Model at the presentation on Sunday arvo. There were eight different options in the hat and we ended up with a biplane which is a good place to start. So, what now? All you need to do is build a biplane , any biplane (or you might already have one in the hangar), it can be F/F, R/C or C/L – any design, any size and you can scale it up or down and change the design. The over-riding rule is that it must conform to the Oily Hand Day engine formula. You can download it here Oily Hand Engine Formula . On Saturday lunch time all the biplanes will be displayed on the central C/L circle just as we did for Model of the Meet and all participants and spectators will be free to check them out. They will be judged by an expert panel, but the judging criteria will not be known beforehand. Believe me it will not be for the prettiest model – Oh no no no – It will be drawn from the hat just before judging and the judges will be a random selection and not necessarily modellers.
The idea of the Themed Model is that the models will be flown over the weekend. Because that is what Oily Hand is about – flying models – and flying them a lot.
5th August – Model of the Meet?
We are abandoning “Model of the Meet” at Oily Hand. That has been done for ten years now so it is time for a refresh. This year we are going to “Theme” the model, which will broaden the choice and hopefully give everyone an opportunity to build what suits them. In some instances you will already have a model in your stable. The models that fit the “theme” will still be displayed at lunchtime on Saturday but there will be no concours-de-elegance. It will be much more spectator oriented as the variety will be much greater and hopefully a bit out of the rut.
I for one am looking forward to seeing what you come up with. The “Theme” will be drawn and announced at the presentation on Sunday. Not even I will know what it is till then. As a bit of a taster some of the suggested themes are Vic Smeed, more than two tail fins, Cox engine, biplane, pusher, autogyro and etc.
12 July – Link to Cowra MAC’s Davis Weather Station
Last year we installed a weather station at our field. This delivers realtime conditions at the field 24/7. It shows wind direction and speed, temperature (measured & feels like), humidity, precipitation, air pressure, sunrise/sunset along with a basic forecast, graphs and 24hr records.
By installing the Weatherlink app on your phone or other device and then entering Cowra MAC Milroy Field as the station in the search box you can check the weather at the field anytime you like. You can also find other weather stations in your own area and throughout the world.
If you are using a desktop you can see the Cowra MAC weather station here: https://www.weatherlink.com/bulletin/6b850e68-ee27-4cc1-bb21-7188d3371611
13th June
“Out in the blue is where I’ve been I’ve had my feet in deeper things” but now I’m back and here I am – Thanks Jimmy for your 30-30 hindsight. Here are the Oily Hand 2024 Brochure, Pilots Briefing notes, Schedule for the weekend and David Owen Scramble and Plank Racing Rules. Remember you will be required to sign that you have read and understand the pilot’s briefing notes when you register. This is to keep everyone safe and flying happily. Also check both Plank and Scramble rules as there are changes in each for 2024.
24 May – Raffle
Peter Jackson’s little F/F models are highly regarded and sought after. Here is your opportunity to snag one. This year Peter has donated a Mini Madcap with a .5cc DC Dart. There is a story to this engine which makes it a bit special. It came to Peter NIB from Big Kev’s collection and when Peter ran it, like a lot of Darts, it snapped its crankshaft. Our late and great aeromodelling friend Geoff Potter stepped up and fitted one or his hand turned indestructible cranks to this engine for Peter. He has run it and it is a pearler.
Tickets are only available at Oily Hand weekend and will be drawn at the presentation on Sunday.
22nd May – Muffler for the Shark 402
Same as last yer for the Thunderstreak a muffler is allowed on the Shark. But only for the Shark 402. Of course the question arises ‘what about my Thunderstreak from last year?’. The answer to that would be ‘yes’ but only if you had it in the judging line up and flew it at OHDD last year.
19th March – Models of the Meet for 2024
Shark 402 is the control line model. Thanks to Peter van de Waterbeemd who has done a cropped version of the plan which will make it easier to print.
Shark402
The freeflight/radio assist model is the Vic Smeed Majorette. Download the plan from Outerzone on the following link;
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=43
You can find more about these two models on last year’s Oily hand page https://cowramac.com/index.php/oily-hand-diesel-day/oily-hand-diesel-day-2023-fri-25th-sat-26th-sun-27th-august/
Bill East from Aerotech is doing laser cut kits for both models. You can contact him at w_east@optusnet.com.au
25th Jan – That’s an oops by Andy!
Been a bit slack as I have already had some calls about the date and folk wanting to know which weekend so they can get in early to book accommodation. It is 37 degrees outside and humid like up in the gulf country so what better thing to do than stop running that new SAMS 1.25 and hide inside and start composing the Oily Hand Page for 2024
As always Oily Hand is the last weekend of August so that makes it Friday 23rd, Sat 24th and Sunday 25th. As usual you are welcome at the field for early registration and trimming flights on the Friday after lunch. And, of course we will have the billy on. Don’t make it too early as we will still be knocking in marker pegs and zooming around on the mower. Start on both Saturday and Sunday is as the sun peeks over the eastern ridge and brekky is available early both days. If you are around Monday you can have a casual fly in the morning before you head off as the field is open.
Keep an eye on this page as time passes I will add more. The latest information will be at the top and the earlier stuff will still be below it.