The much awaited camp started today at the Regional Science Centre at Guwahati. I had spent the last two months mentally preparing myself for this camp. My mentor and guide Mr. Musawir Musatafa and the Project Coordinator of the museum Mr. Vijay Shankar Sharma were by my side all through.

We decided on few basic rules or guidelines for the camp.

Guidelines:

* 3 day camp - 14th to 16th Oct.

* 3 to 4 hours each day.

* Timings 11 am to 1.30 pm.

 *Open to students from Class VI and above.

* All participants would get a complete kit which included EVERYTHING required for making basic   
   Chuck / Catapult Gliders.

* Participants would construct 1 Chuck and 1 Catapult Glider during the workshop and carry
   back a 3rd Catapult glider in kit form, to construct at home.

* The authorities of the Regional Science Centre at Guwahati were kind enough to absorb 50%
   of the fees.

* It had to be made affordable, so we had to offer lucrative fees for the workshop. 3 Glider
   kits + Complete Modelling Kit + 3 day Workshop (Totaling 12 hours) = Rs.500/- per participant only.

* Batch size was frozen at 50 participants on a First Come First Served Basis.

I will try to chronicle the events over the next 3 days as they take place and would welcome any questions or enquiries that follow.

Pictures follow.


VC

Preparations...............

Pic 1 - Stocks arrive - 50 pcs Zephyr and 50 pcs Hunter catapult gliders. Participants will construct and fly the Zephyr during the workshop, They will build and fly the Hunter later. What do I do about an absolute basic Chuckie?

Pic 2 - My 2 trusted Lieutenants Nandu and Dimbo (my Chauffeur) busy at work sanding Simul fuselages into shape. GREAT guys - Couldn't do it without them. Endowed with the 'Can Do' spirit, they are the actual unsung heroes of the show. Both of them can now run basic chuck glider construction workshops. I'm not joking here.

Pic 3 - The Chuckie Albatross takes shape.( The Albatross is available for Rs.50 per piece inclusive of shipping - minimum order is of 20 pieces)

Pic 4 - The Albatross kit.

Pic 1 - The Albatross ARF Kit! She is a beautiful glider and holds a glide for long. pretty proud of this
          one, I am. I designed her myself.

Pic 2 - The kits being packed.

Pic 3 - The Albatross kit.

Pic 4 - The Complete Kit - each participant gets one.

Contents :

1 pc Zephyr catapult glider
1 pc Hunter catapult glider
1 pc Albatross Chuck glider
1 pc Quickfix Adhesive Tube
1 pc CA Glue Tube
25 grams Plasticene putty
18 inches of Silk Ribbon
2 pc 80 grade sandpaper
2 pc 120 grade sandpaper
6 pcs Rubber band - for the catapult
1 pc bamboo dowel - for the catapult

I don't think you need anything more to construct chuck / catapult gliders from pre cut kits.

Day 1 - 14th Oct. 2010

At the very beginning, before I left for the camp, I called up Ashta Sir and took his blessings. he is a person who instills me with total confidence. I can't dream of starting a project without his blessings. he is my good luck charm - we all have so much to learn from this person.


Pic 1 - Started the day by flying my co ax Heli - she performed well outdoors in moderate winds.

Pic 2 - Explaining Aerodynamics.

Pic 3 - Mustafa Sir with his Twin Pusher.

Pic 4 - A bit of boring theory classes in A/C comfort!

We had over 25 RC / aeromodels on display and yet, the Hovercraft attracted the most attention! The twin EDF MiG 29 was a close second.

Pic 1 - Explaining the nuances of the Hovercraft principle.

Pic 2 - What will the Zephyr look like?

Pic 3 and 4 - The Albatross takes shape.................How will she fly?

Pic 1 - The Albatross is ready to fly

Pic 2 - Final Adjustments and Trims.

Pic 3 - Better glide paths and bigger smiles..................

Pic 4 - OK, we got this taped - what about tomorrow?

15th October - the hard work of sanding a near perfect aerofoil, for the Zephyr,  begins at 11 am. Wish us luck.

Good night!

Best of luck VC sir! Once again you have made us proud! Don't forget to tell them about the forum..

Thank you my good Doctor!

www.rcindia.org was one of the FIRST things that we talked about! By the 20th we should be having another 20 joinees (At least) in this forum from North East India!

Cheers!

Great going VC Saab.
In those jump suites, you look like a pilot, straight from the Cockpit training these kids.

Thanks Ujjwaana, I was a de facto honorary IAF staff for 2 days, thanks to a famous Squadron based in UP in 2008. That's all I can say. They gifted me the flying suit and boots. It sure impresses the kids! As long as they gain interest, who cares?!

No questions on this please, I can't answer them.

all the way...

So is there some competition among participants for longest flight etc ?  Do you discuss techniques for prolonging the flight time, thereby illustrating aerodynamic principles in action. I am tempted to take these for granted, just asking out of curiosity

Bang On Sir!

Tomorrow ( actually, later today!), we discuss the aspects of the wing profile and on the last day (16/10), there will be a competition for the longest flight duration.

All the best VC sir,     

We need more people like you, so that the hobby grows in our country rapidly.....   



 

Great initiative VC sir.Great  to find kids in stuff like this.For some unknown reason RC is considered nerdy which it is  not.

Good to see that you are spreading this in the North East.We hope that someone does this everywhere in India.

Day 2 15th Oct 2010 -

Pic 1 -The day started with a demo of a completed Zephyr Glider. That is what the participants
         will begin building today.

Pic 2 - Participants take to the floor.

Pic 3 - Musatafa Sir, explains basic sanding techniques.

Pic 4 - 11.30 am - Participants start the sanding of the Tailplane and Vertical Stab.

Wish i was there too Looks like you used a fighter jet to reach the school the first day. Im sure the kids will love it. Chuck Gliders can be a lot of fun!

Thanks Rajath! Will be posting some more snaps. Tomorrow there should be 52 gliders flying at the same time. Wish us luck!

Magnificent effort there VC. Marvelous 

Congratulations to you.   

Thank you Sir!

Pic 5 : The seniors help the juniors get the aerofoil section right. The Lady in turquoise is my daughter, the T Shirt is mine too!

Pic 6 : Mustafa Sir is mobbed as he painstakingly explains the method of creating the aerofoil section. He is true passionate aeromodeller in every sense. Goes down to the nitty gritties and loses track of time. The best part is his humility, no wonder he garners respect wherever he goes.

Pic 7 : The absolute wonder of the group! She is only 9 years old and refused all help in sanding. Her Tail plane and vertical Stab were amongst the best as far as shape was concerned. To top it all, she is smart, intelligent and razor sharp with EXCELLENT communication skills!

Pic 8 : Participants examine the wing sections that have to be sanded as home work!

All in all, it was a rewarding feeling being with these enterprising youngsters who were all so very enthusiastic about the whole process. I love them!

Nice going VC Sir, 
It is quite tough to conduct such training single handedly.
I appreciate your patience & guts to do so.
Good luck all the way. 

Pic 9 : Mustafa Sir explaining the aerofoil section. Note the young lad in the striped T Shirt

Pic 10 : The young lad in the striped T Shirt - He asked me, "Is it possible to fly a full size aircraft with RC?" I put him on the phone with Majraj who explained how it was done. This guy is Majraj's fan for life!


Thank you Major!

I believe there have been some registrations on the forum from Guwahati, Assam today. These are the youngsters who are wide eyed, inquisitive, keen and need your support. I request the fraternity to please be patient and guide them.

Thanks!

Maharana bhai, I couldn't do it alone. My entire team was there to make it happen. They did all the hard work. I only facilitated the process. I will pass on your compliments to them.

Thanks!

Congratulations VC sir and team! Looks like the camp was a big success! You guys are an inspiration to all of us.. I will try my level best to spread awareness about the hobby in Goa

Awesome VC, great thing going, went tru the whole thread. Congrats 

Some great modelers are in that group of youngsters.

Rock On!

Dear VC,
 

Rao.

 I'm sure this hobby has a very bright future in our country, great going VC sir 

Torrential rains are threatening to wash out the third and final day.....Just 2 hours to go,  I hope it lets up in time......................

Dear VC sir
It is helping me a lot. Today, I will be there on time. If it could be for minimum 7 days, It would be more joyful for us. Can it be Sir?

Himsikhar

Hey welcome to RCI himsikhar

Himsikhar welcome to RCIndia.

A piece of advice,remove your address from your signature.It is very unsafe to post details of your location online.I am not saying that someone from RCI will do anything but the internet is open with many bad guys.

Wow, new members coming in already!! This is good.

Welcome Himsikhar to RCI.
And Hats off to VC sir. Your dedication towards the hobby is absolutely commendable.

Amazing stuff! brother!!
You have really taken the initiative to tunnel this hobby through every youngsters blood stream! kudos!!
I was without any internet for the week
But, after going through this post, I felt like I had to be a part of it too..
Anyways! times! they come they go, they will come some other day...
VC, seriously, I would like to personally congratulate you on this successive step that you have taken and the trouble you must have gone through to make this even a memorable one!

That jump suit looks good! like a collectors item  

Awww! man still can't believe the trouble some people take, to make that little talent come out from the new generation

Regards,

Dorwin..


NB: Still going through the post! 

Thanks a lot for those kind words. They mean a lot to me today. Today is truly a milestone in my life, till now I hadn't realised what this wonderful hobby means to me.

Torrential rains brought life to a standstill in Guwahati today. All the roads were flooded, the majority of the people who stay in ground floors had to be evacuated as water entered homes and first disrupted then paralysed life completely. It is, I believe, being shown all over the news networks.

In spite of that we went ahead with the workshop and brought it to a successful conclusion. Hats off to the young participants and their parents. 45 out of the 50 were present and keen and raring to go! I was overwhelmed.

The Zephyr gliders were completed and flew before we finally ran out of time. These kids were amazing, and it was a humbling experience for my team and I.

Photographs of the final day follow......................

Day 3 - 16th Oct 2010

Upon reaching the venue, I found a sea of smiling faces waiting for me. The weather was inclement, to say the least. Roads were flooded and most of us had to wade in through knee deep water to reach. In spite of such adverse circumstances, we had a 80% attendance. Bravo!

Pic 1 - While it poured outside, the kids got the feel of controlling the MiG indoors. The twin   
          EDF's were deafening in the closed auditorium!

Pic 2 - Explaining the various components like Brushed and Brushless motors, ESC, Tx, Rx, LiPo, 
          Gyro. I have an Japanese Gyroscope top and that made matters crystal clear!

Pic 3 - Wings sanded, wing tips cut, fuselage sanding begins. She is 8 and he is 12 and both of
          them pulled it off with a bit of help from the seniors. Wonderful enthusiasm!

Pic 4 - Since my team couldn't make it to the venue, I called upon the senior students to help
          with the instructions. They did a great job of helping the juniors.

Pic 1 : Empennage completed, now we work on the main dihedral.

Pic 2 : Wings ready!

Pic 3 : First glider of my life completed!!! Watta smile!!!

Pic 4 : Finally the ribbon on the joints.

Pic 1 : All ready but nowhere to fly!

Pic 2 : Lets try and fly the little Heli. She performed beautifully outdoors. Probably because it was
          dead still wind conditions.

Pic 3 : Autograph time. I wish Mustafa Sir was here now. We all missed him a lot today.


Pic 4 : The Champions!


This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Their enthusiasm and big smiles made us forget all our troubles. Even the weather couldn't dampen the spirits. Such groups are the glimmer of hope that assures us that our hobby will thrive for many years to come.

Dear Participants,

For all those who couldn't attend the last day, get in touch with me and let us build the models together. Those of you who have my numbers, pass it around to your friends. Mustafa Sir and I will always be there to help you.

Regards,

VC

Hello Sir,
So you were busy with your Camp. The pictures seem interesting. There were a lot of participants.. That is a really good thing......
Cheers Sir... It seems very impressive... It is quite evident that a lot of effort and hard work has gone into it...

Hi Anam,

Thanks!

Yes the camp was a HUGE success. That's why I haven't been bothering you and the others, even though 6 consignments are yet to reach me from various sellers! get ready for my calls from tomorrow!

Yes sure sir...

One last thing that I feel needs mention here.

I really wonder, would my team and I be able to pull something like this off had we not come into contact with this forum? I doubt it.

The amount of encouragement and support that has come in from all the forum members has been overwhelming. This is a collective success for www.rcindia.org. Rejoice!

Congratulations VC sir on the successful completion of the camp in spite of the weather! Looking at the photos I wish I was able to be a part of it... but then you kept us updated so nicely that I did feel like I was a part of it And I completely agree with you about the forum being a driving force for all of us.. If I hadn't come into contact with the forum all my RC stuff would have been sold off by now and I'd be just another person with no hobby..

xcuse me sir, the 3rd picture of 3rd day of the camp,u said 'he is 9' but sir i'm 12.......

WOW! I thought you were below 10 I have rectified the error. Sorry!

Welcome to RCI naitik ! The workshop pics tempted me too much so building boreas kit now

This thread has been a chartbuster! 2048 views in 4 days. Thanks everybody!

VC Sir,

Subho Bijoya, No one contacted me till date .

However, as mentioned earlier (u see or not i dont know !), I have talked with VC (Not You, but Vice Chancellor) of BE&SU, Shibpur (Shibpur B. E. College, going to be IIST.) to start aeromodeling club and HAM club in the campus. He told me to gather a few students, and he will offer a clubroom and some fund too. As he is from IIT Kharagpur, he become nostalgic during talking and I realized that he is very much interested to start the hobby.

I found RohitGupta of this forum, an first year student of BE&SU of aeronotical engineering and now want to start. Hope your blessings and guidelines I surely got.

Recently, seeing your post about rubber powered model of Aurora, I found the address.

Aurora Model Mfg Co.
16,Shakespear Sarani
Calcutta, India

Thanks

VC Sir...        

GREAT effort and Congrats on the success...         

and take a good nap.. pics n ur posts show u have been working late nights!

 

vc saab great effort

Overwhelming support from the parents is pouring in. One such person Mr. Mallick, Father of the youngest participant Disharee (who is just 8 years old) mailed these pictures. I was missing the Hovercraft demo snaps, and here they are......

Pic 1 : The little wonder takes off

Pic 2 : In flight - awesome shot!

Pic 3 : Hovercraft action

Pic 4 : Air cushion effect is visible clearly

Pic 1 : Ready for take off

Pic 2 : Test flight - needs more plasticene!

In the background in the white shirt, leaning on the car is Laldenga, our forum member who was there to provide moral support in spite of the inclement weather. Thank you Buddy!

Thank you Mr. Mallick for these beautiful photographs.

Dear VC,
I got no words to describe your efforts..
This is truly a marvelous job you are doing in that corner of the country, rain or no rain, your kind gesture in rendering a helping hand to the tiny tots is indeed an achievement and a trophy in your hand!
All I can say is that "you are one hellva guy" completely unpredictable...just some time back you were commenting on our threads and without warning, resurfaced with such an exhibition which diverted all our normal lives on RCI to this very interesting thread!
I have been so busy with work these days that I totally get exhausted upon reaching my crib and adding to the trauma at work, my network card too is with my beloved! hence, the late comments.
I wish you all the very best in all your future efforts and achievements.

A truly great effort!

regards,

Dorwin


NB: Welcome all newcomers on behalf of RCI!
 

Hey man, thanks a ton for appreciating my team and the participants. By the way, the workshop continues unofficially.....meeting a bunch of them tomorrow and the day after to help them build the Hunter! They are an amazing group of kids!

Frankly! you are one lucky guy then!
Living in the lap of India, having the mostest awesomest weather, getting younger instead of older and a hurrah bunch of kiddos who are interested in the hobby..
What else do you need?

We are on to our second camp and the dates are 27th, 28th and 29th Dec. Most of the other details remain the same, including the venue (Regional Science Centre Guwahati).

Just a few changes :

Instead of making a Depron glider on the first day, the participants will make a small balsa chuckie (wingspan 9 inches). This will hone their sanding skills for the Magpie Catapult Glider which they will start constructing on the second day and fly on the final day.

With the weather being wonderful, we shall hold the camp in open air, under a canopy.

All participants will get a chance to fly a micro RC 9074 Co Ax Helicopter (indoors) by themselves. For most of them, this will be the first time that they will hold a remote in their hands. This will also, hopefully, give them a basic idea of what RC is all about. The MiG 29 and Eurofighter shall be powered and used for a flying display.

Wish us luck!

Cutting short.....wow!

Thanks Traxxc!

By the way, The Typhoon Eurofighter has not been featured here, so here goes.

way to go Victor Charlie 

Superb... Some people just keep the hobby to themselves and then there are people like you VC Sir, who take all the time & pain to make sure more and more people learn and enjoy the hobby. I will be going to Delhi and try to get my youngest cousins & their friends into the hobby to start with. I am planning to build some chuck gliders as well to give them but if only time permits. Please let me know if you have any spare gliders... any one will do... I just need to give it to fellas..

I have already build this hobby in my 2.5 year nephew and he can very well differentiate between Plane, Heli, rockets... he is learning to throw a glider and also takes care of controlling throttle of a 2Ch micro heli... I am sure by the time he is 5 he should be able to fly a micro heli on his own.

Camp dates postponed. Not being held as scheduled on 27th - 29th Dec 2010. Fresh dates will be announced soon. Possibly 8th - 10th Jan 2011.

vc sir,i have not been informed about the camp .please inform me the dates.i want to join again.

sir,
 I m  sashi sekhar, I love aromodeling so i bought some planes for my self plz help me out i am bigenner. I stay in rukminigoan, my email id is sekhar_sashi@yahoo.com. my mobile no is 9864192734.I will be very greatfull if u teach me the basic of rc flying.I got skysurfer,j3 cup,2 war bird.
 

finally managed to see VC sir in action.. its very rare Show   ..people!!! dont miss it

one more thing to add.. VC had been inpiration to me to continue the hobby after lots of frustrations and crashes.
I managed to get my first(working) lipo charger from him, and named the charger as "VC charger";
My previous balsa glider was output of his inspiration; one more bird is yet to come >
There is lots more i cant narrate..
He is a guy with you learn something new, everytime you interact with him.He holds some knowledge which cant be found in any tutorial.

Those kids are very lucky to have a Mentor like you..

I just hope to learn decent flying skill and atleast once ill fly with you VC sir..