Tag: carbon fiber

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Summer 2020 Updates

Wind Catcher RC is moving! Hurray!

We are excited that we'll be expanding our work space by over 4x. The papers will be signed tomorrow for our new property which will give us 10 acres, three out buildings for the business, and a larger house than what we currently live in. The location for the new property is only a few minutes away from our current house, so the move will be fairly easy, however there is a significant amount of things we need to move. There are several improvements we need to do to the new space before we move in.

Out of Stock?

You might have noticed the website is out of stock on several items. These will be replenished as soon as we finish our move and get settled into the new location. I have a trailer currently completely full of foam that will require processing down to the needed thickness. It is our hope to have all of this done by the middle of September. If you are in urgent need of foam currently not available on the website, please contact me to see if I am able to get it cut for you and shipped out. All colors and densities in larger blocks are sitting in storage or in my trailer.

Any order placed from the website will be fulfilled as quickly as possible and shipped out within 2 business days of the order.

Carbon Fiber

A new order for Carbon Fiber is being placed with our supplier by the end of the week.  I hope to have this order here by October. Carbon Fiber has been taking a while to get here from my supplier due to shipping difficulties because of the virus causing fewer flights from China. If you are in need of a size we currently do not list, please contact me to see if I can get it into the next order.

New Kit - The Gladiator

The Gladiator is the next kit we'll have available soon.  It is currently being beta tested and in the hands of several people. This plane is being designed to be rugged and a great second plane for the newer pilots. The Gladiator is a flying wing with a wide flight envelope to allow for slow flights up to 60 mph. It will fly on a 3s – 1300mah battery on an APC 7x5 or 7x6 prop. The build process should be fairly easy for the new builder and a breeze for those who have built foam planes in the past. We are building this plane be strong enough to withstand full contact combat.  While no plane is indestructible, the Gladiator should hold up well to abuse and easy to repair.

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Operating as Normal

Wind Catcher RC operating as normal.

Starting tonight at midnight, our governor of Michigan issued a stay at home order. Luckily, I run Wind Catcher RC out of our house and work shop behind the house.
 
Last week in anticipation of something like this happening, I picked up another large order of EPP foam from my supplier. I have #1.3 in white and black, #1.9 in white and black, and #2.8 in black (experimental right now). In the next week or two I will process the foam and have more sheets available in the foam section of Wind Catcher RC (click here).
 
If you would like custom thickness sheets of EPP, please let me know so I can cut it for you.
 
We are expecting our latest shipment of Carbon Fiber to be here soon. When the CF arrives, I will update the quantities in the carbon fiber section (click here).

Shipping

UPS stated on their website today that they will continue to pick up and deliver. Here is their statement: “UPS operations are considered to be critical infrastructure by the Department of Homeland Security and will continue to pickup and deliver, even in restricted areas.”
 
As of the moment I wrote this, USPS did not have any notice about service disruptions in Michigan. Please see USPS for up to date information about deliveries in your area.

Still Concerned?

Before the pandemic, I worked out of my house and workshop staying at home 95% of the time. My exposure to the public has always been limited, so for me, this is business as usual at home. If you are concerned about the transmission of COVID-19 when receiving things being shipped to you, please see the CDC’s recommendations. You can also research how long the virus stays alive on surfaces.
 
Shipping your items out might be delayed by a few days due to unforeseen circumstances here at our house, workshop, and in Michigan. I will do my best to get orders out as soon as possible.
 
Stay safe, wash your hands, stay hygienic, and we’ll all get through this eventually.
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Carbon Fiber Sale

Carbon Fiber is on sale from today until the end of August. This is a great opportunity to stock up on all your carbon fiber rods, strips, tubes, and square/square tubes. All carbon fiber are in 1 meter (1000mm) lengths.

Get 20% off your Carbon Fiber purchase by using coupon code:
20%OffCarbonFiberAugust2019

I am new at setting up coupons on my website. Let me know if there are any issues with this code.

I am missing some CF pictures. I plan to get those updated in the next few days.

Visit the following link to start shopping for Carbon Fiber now!
https://windcatcherrc.com/product-category/carbon_fiber/

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Celebrating 1 year in business

1st year anniversary of being in business

See below for our Give Away.

We started selling EPP foam officially on 1 June of 2018. Thank you to everyone who supported us and a huge thank you to all of our customers who helped us get where we are today. Nearly all of our net profits are reinvested back into the business to help us grow.

In the beginning we started selling a few different thicknesses of only #1.3 EPP. Today we offer both #1.3 and #1.9 in white and black. Wind Catcher RC now imports quality carbon fiber rods, tubes, strips, and square tube. We recently released our first kit, an FPVWRA race wing we call the WC Spec Wing kit. In the past year we have done several custom wings from both EPP and EPS. And to top it all off, our very own slicer is being delivered next week.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped us get where we are today. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Thickness Slicer

In less than a week we will receive our very own slicer! We are excited to be able to keep close tolerances and increase our quality in controlling thickness of every slice. The slicing capability of the machine will be from 3mm up to 6″ thick. If you require a custom thickness, let us know.

Custom Wing Cores

In the past year we cut several custom wing cores for people. Tolerances of +/- 0.03″ in both EPP and EPS are achieved using our high tech hot wire CNC. A form for customers to fill out is being developed to help streamline the custom wing core request process. A link for this will be added to the website once the form is ready for use. Our turn around time for custom work is about 3 weeks.

Enter for a chance to win a Wind Catcher RC Spec Wing kit and 50% off an FXT Black Knight VTX!

Join us in celebrating our 1st year in business by entering for a chance to win a free WC Spec Wing and 50% off an FXT Black Knight VTX.

Wind Catcher RC 1st Anniversary Giveaway!!!

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More updates to the site and business. EPS, Carbon Fiber, The Toledo Show, and more.

I have a lot of updates for you. The business was quite busy this last month. Keep reading for more information about the Toledo Show, Carbon Fiber, and more.

Looking for EPP foam and Carbon Fiber?
CLICK HERE to go shopping.

The Toledo Show

I will be attending the Toledo Show.  You will find me on the second floor in the swap meet area.  I am not sure the exact location until Thursday afternoon.   It is my understanding that the tables are first come first serve.  I plan to get there early to get two tables that are side by side.  I am planning to bring a variety of carbon fiber, EPP foam, 24″ – EPS 2412 wings of various chord, and Spec Wing kits.

If you have specific foam sizes and quantities you would like me to save for you, please let me know before the show so I can set it aside for you.  If there are any other special requests, please let me know ahead of time and I’ll do my best to help you out.

Carbon Fiber additions

I am expecting my latest shipment of carbon fiber to arrive on Friday.  I am expanding the varieties that I carry.  All carbon fiber is 1000mm long.  The website will be updated soon with the following sizes:
Rod:  1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm
Tube:  3mm x 1.5mm, 4mm x 2mm, 5mm x 3mm, and 6mm x 4mm
Strips:  3mm x 0.6mm, 4mm x 0.6mm, 5mm x 0.6mm, 6mm x 1mm, 7mm x 1.2mm, and 10mm x 1mm

If there is a size you would like me to carry, please contact me.  I cannot guarantee I will get it, but I can see if my supplier has the tools to make it and possibly add it to my next order. 

#1.9 White EPP

You asked for it, I got it.   #1.9 EPP is now in stock.  Some of you already found it.  Thanks for your business.  I plan to carry #1.9 EPP from this point forward.  I currently only have 2″ thickness in stock, however this Summer I’ll be able to cut it any thickness up to 2″.  More on that further down.

Spec Wing

I am doing my best to release the Spec Wing kits.  It is my intention to have several kits ready by the Toledo Show.  FPVWRA also ordered ten kits for their online website.  These kits will be certified by FPVWRA to be within spec.  I am planning to have several kits at the table in Toledo for sale if all goes well.  My newest design for the carbon fiber spars is working out better than expected.  I have to redesign the 3D printed motor mount.  I have two prototypes being printed as I write this article.  I am also planning to make the winglets a bit smaller and lighter.

I am way behind on R&D due to an illness in our family.  More on that further down.

Slicer

I am purchasing my own slicer.  It will be capable of slicing any thickness between 3mm up to 2″.  I am expecting delivery of the slicer sometime in June.  This means more accurate cuts and I’ll be able to better keep up with demand with any thickness.  The slicer will only be able to cut up to 24″ wide EPP of any length.

EPS

I have a supplier for EPS foam and plan to offer custom cut wings in EPS.  EPS is Expanded Polystyrene or as most people know it, Styrofoam.  It is not as durable as EPP, however the benefits are that it cost less, more rigid, and is lighter compared to EPP.

We are currently negotiating a price. I hope to have this in the store within the month.

Custom Cut Wings

In the next few weeks I will have a form available on the website to help with custom quotes for wings.  Lately I’ve received a lot of messages from people looking for custom cut wings and fuselages.  I find myself answering the same questions often.  I’m hoping this form will help answer the basic stuff and get all the needed information for me to write up a quote in a timely manner.  This should help make it faster for both myself and my customers as well as get the information to my customers as soon as possible. 

As an FYI, I’m currently able to accurately cut airfoil thicknesses within +/- 0.03″ in #1.3 EPP foam.

R&D and Family

R&D is behind on several models.  One of the several reasons is due to my granddaughter, now 8 months old, having cancer.  She is currently receiving chemotherapy and after over 45 days in the hospital was allowed to finally go home last week.  She has ten more months of chemotherapy, if it is working.  I am spending more time with family in support and visitation when I am able which limits the amount of free time available for research and development of the various models I am working on.   Thank you to everyone for your donations, understanding, thoughts, and prayers for our family.  We really appreciate the support from all who are able to give. 

To give you an idea of what I’m working on, here is a list of various kits I hope one day to have available.  This list is in no particular order:
WC Spec Wing (almost finished) – Designed for FPVWRA racing.
Das Krieger – 36″ Wing designed for full contact combat and FPV flight.
Citabria – Slow flying and designed for general aerobatics and FPV flight.
iWonder – My own designed inspired by the FT Bloody Wonder.  Currently 6 prototypes out of XPS have flown great and are a blast to fly.  I need to convert it to EPP and test.
Cub – One prototype cut out of XPS, but has not been assembled yet
Lofty 48 – Very light weight 48″ wingspan designed for indoor/outdoor flying.  Current prototype out of XPS and partially assembled.
Dragonfly – Biplane of own design.  Currently only on paper.  Unique design.
Sky Dancer – 3D plane currently only a thought, but I intend to make an EPP 3D plane eventually.

Wind Catcher RC priorities

Wind Catcher RC is currently a sole proprietor.  I am currently doing everything on my own.  Shipping out products, ordering, and R&D all have specific priorities.  I am getting product shipped out as soon as possible which is usually the next business day.  Ordering new product, answering customer questions and quotes, and sorting product all take priority over new RC plane kits which is another reason I am behind on R&D.  I am working towards being more organized so my time can be used more efficiently.  I recently rented a local storage unit and built one set of shelves.  This is used to keep some of the extra EPP foam, but will also hold other equipment and materials to free up space in my workshop so I can better focus on this business over anything else.

Your Pictures

I am looking for pictures to place on my website of projects you do not mind sharing.  I would like to post what other people are doing with the EPP, carbon fiber, and RC plane kits. 

Website Pictures

I have several new items on the webpage that need pictures.  I expect to get to these sometime in April.  For now, you will see blank pictures for these new items and menus.  Thank you for your understanding.