Random Gaming Blogs (2)

I've been in and out of the model helicopter hobby a few times in nearly 50 years, overcoming a divorce, the loss of both parents, two serious car accidents and multiple job changes. I started back around 6 years ago, it was with some very small and inexpensive models that could only help me practice at a slow pace. I've since upgraded to larger models that are more powerful and fly with more authority. The only drawback is the cost... several thousand per model. It's a fact that no serious pilot can get by with only one radio controlled helicopter.

It's not possible for me to dedicate myself to the sport like I want... there are other obligations. 30 years ago, I recall levels of obsession where I would come home from work and practice on a computer simulator for 2 hours, break for dinner and get back to another 2 or 3 hours of practice.
It didn't matter how good I got, as going to competition or fun-fly events I could always find guys who were better pilots... much better. There was a guy who invented an electronic device, patented it and sold the product to a car manufacturer. His company was self sufficient to the point where he didn't have to work and would come to Florida every winter to practice flying at a local field for several hours each day.
Being exposed to that level of talent was incentive to continue improving and never reaching a plateau.

Most of us are flying 'pod & boom' style helicopters at have a fiberglass canopy to cover the motor and electronics with a long tail boom and a few fins. They aren't attractive, but fly great. There is a visual drawback, so we often wrap them in brightly colored sticky tape so they can be seen better when far away.

Often these models have names that reflect the size of the blades, like Logo 700 or RAW 580. 700 indicates the main blade length is 700 millimeters. Others have cool names like Dominator or Whiplash. There is one model that has a full fuselage to look like a real helicopter. Lots of guys have them but not too many are out flying them. Mentioned on a previous blog, a friend buys and sells models and recently picked up some used helicopters in a package deal that he plans to maintain and resell. One was a model called Kraken, named after the legendary sea monster.

I've seen them fly. They are very attractive and easy to see in the air. So, I made my friend an offer to trade one of my pod & boom models plus some cash for his Kraken.
He accepted the offer. Part of the deal was to go through the electronics and make sure all was good. He rewired a few connections because the guy who built it originally wasn't meticulous.

After initial testing, my friend flew it, made a few tweaks in the settings and handed it to me to try. Yes, smooth and predictable.

I've only got 2 sets of batteries that fit this model and this week, I'll order 2 more!
Aye, the Kraken...

I will be joining some single peeps in the Fresno area at the end of this month for a game night. I imagine there will be men there that will bring their chess games because us single introverts like games like that…heady games, so I learned chess in one afternoon.

Ask me if I’m good at it though because that’s a whole other ball game…

I couldn’t understand what a stalemate was to save my life for a bit. So now without the aid of the internet I will try to tell you all what it is in my own words…and someone told me not to feel bad because it’s hard for a newbie to grasp but I want to understand damnit!

It is when the king, if he moves in any direction, will become under attack but he is not under attack until he does so. So the game is a draw.

Checkmate is when the king is directly under attack and when he attempts to move out of the way then he is still under attack. So the game is over.

Am I right or wrong?

Oh lawd.



This is fun though. I’m learning something new.

My own pick for game night though is a game called score four. I played that with a man once. He beat me every time but I had a blast playing that game. It’s like a three dimensional game of checkers. So I will be bringing that one to share.