David Balogh » Craft

Back to the flight story

David Balogh — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 17:41:00 +0000

It rained this weekend, and I have not flown the plane since after fixing it a while back. However, when I fixed it up, I reinforced the fuselage structure around the wing area where it cracked in two, and I readjusted the elevator so it wasn’t crooked. I also added a bit more weight to the front to balance it properly. M and I took it to the park and tried it out, and wouldn’t ya know it, it flew nice and straight! The first couple takes were ok, but once we moved to another part of the park, I launched it, and the thing flew a good 60 feet or more straight on! Since then I haven’t had any other chances to fly it, perhaps this week.

Things to talk about.

David Balogh — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 09:05:00 +0000

OK OK, I’m late and totally slacking on the blog! Well, sorry to say, but things have been a bit nuts lately. So, I will make a list of things I need to talk about.

1. The plane, its crashes, repairs, and new flights.

2. The dead guy. Actually, Margaux does a great post on that, so go check that one out (Midge’s Mind).

3. Bloc Party at McCarren Pool! Good show, kinda. Fun place to see a show, sound was a bit whack, and the singer in Bloc Party kinda screwed up too many times for my taste.

4. Upstate trip. Wanted to camp, got rain again. Oh well, we ate a load of food, enjoyed company with M’s parents, and mine as well for the first time with both of our parents for dinner. A very enjoyable vacation, despite the rain.

5. Back to the grind. All hell seemed to have broken loose since taking a couple days off. Alas. Margaux is cramming to finish her jewelry, I’m working on a Halloween feature for Cityguide in Flash, and have taken up some freelance web maintenance work, which has taken my free time.

6. Broken stove. Ugh. We had an issue with our gas yesterday, which was just because of new meters, however it ruptured into a gas leak in the stove, and now needs to be replaced.

Ok, back to work!

First Flights Plights

David Balogh — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 20:39:00 +0000

A week ago I decided that it was time to dust off the 10+ year old model-making skills and build myself a balsa airplane! How much fun hanging out in the studio with Margaux, crankin the tunage and building while she creates jewelry. We went to Jan’s Hobby on the Upper East Side, and had a wonderful time checking the store out. I ended up with an old competition balsa wood plane by Guillow’s. This company has been making these models for decades, and really haven’t changed much throughout the years. My dad in fact built many of the same planes I did as a kid. Anyway, you’d think I would forget how it was to create one of these beauties, but it all came back to me. Lil rusty here and there, but in the end as you can see it came out pretty good!

The big test was tonight however, when Margaux and I took it to the park across the street and test flew it. First flight went great, short but sweet. Second flight lost the nose cowl mid-flight, but the plane took off beautifully. Third time the plane ended up in a tree.

YUP. A tree. ARGH! Just like the good ole days, flying in my backyard as a kid. So M and I shook the tree, to no avail. Then M tried to climb it (I boosted her up), to no avail. Then we looked all sketched out as we broke off a branch from a close-by fallen limb, and brought it back to the tree to hopefully nudge the plane, to no avail. Next attempt, MY turn to climb the tree. I wasn’t leaving without this thing! I got a lil boost from M, grabbed a branch lifted myself up and got that lil bastard out of the tree! I flew it on down from up there, and then jumped out. AH! YAY!

Only 2 small holes in the tissue, otherwise we’re good to go! Next flight will be in a bigger park, no trees. Oh but man, it was fun to be a little kid again with Margaux. The only downfall of the night was when I came back home and had something in my eye, which didn’t go over so well with yours truly. Finally after a good 15 minutes of struggling, I got it out. Alas.

I’ll keep you updated on the next flights. Hopefully they’ll go a little smoother.