do your hobbies sometimes...

[LePaul]

The LifeFlight guys are one door down from me at the hospital.  One of the helicopter pilots is an A&P Mechanic and we were chatting about what's fun to fly these days.  He told me of friends he has who swear by these planes.  Well built, great avionics setup and of course the ballastic parachute just in case.

Darn expensive toy...hope to get to that point someday!

[Wolfala]

It pays its way right now from rentals and isn't being beaten up as a trainer. So roughly $30 per hour maintenance reserve for misc crap has worked out pretty good so far. A lot better then the Seminole or Dutchess the club has online.

[gunnss]

Hobbies ARRRG.....

Lets see, there is the 500 ton steam engine,
http://www.nmslrhs.org/

A week of vacation to support the ABIF (I crew for a special shape out of Germany)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuquerque_International_Balloon_Fiesta

The hot air airship I am constructing,
http://myairship.com/hotship/index.html

Steam powered,
http://www.airbornegrafix.com/HistoricAircraft/ThingsWings/Besler.htm

Which ties into the home machinist and casting thing,
http://backyardmetalcasting.com/

all of which influence my writing, (Sold 65,000 words so far this year)
http://www.grantvillegazette.com/authors/Kevin_H._Evans

That takes me to 5 or more SF conventions a year, the next is LosCon in LA,
http://www.loscon.org/34/index.html

Also tied in to the books..... which my writing almost pays for
http://www.webscription.net/

Again Arrgh....

One of these days I'll be retired and then I might have enough time to sleep

Regards,
Kevin or Gunns or somebody

[Wolfala]

Gunns,


Question on that steam powered rig. Was it avgas powered, then the steam cycle kicked in or how was it rigged? Reason i'm asking - our engines run hot as it is, CHTs in the high 300s most of the time. So say, instead of a 4 cycle - add an extra cycle and throw some water in there - flash it to steam and recover some of that energy from the cylinders heat. Run the engine a little bit cooler.

Imagine the only problem would be condensation inside the crankcase - and some power settings you wouldn't want to do it at, particularly when 65% or less where the heat isn't as much.

[Obie303]

I used to have toys and a few hobbies.  Then I got married.

Obie

[gunnss]

Actually it is a pure steam engine. The engine has a high pressure cylinder and a low pressure cylinder, steam is supplied from a Doble style generator.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doble_Steam_Car
the aircraft ran on vaporized fuel oil burning at 3000 degrees that was blown through a coil of water. the heated coil flashed the water to steam powered the cylinders and then was condensed and re used.

In my case I am planing on using two 40 HP engines each with a shrouded prop, and will probably need to run at around 500 to 700 psi. Just for Grins my envelope will be "disk" shaped and be around 60 feet in diameter and 20 feet high. (This will need special burners)

Hot air systems are composed of the top end (envelope) and the bottom end (Basket and burners). The plan is to finish the bottom end first, and so have a better idea of how much the top end needs in cubic feet.

for some one who is currently operating an experimental airship, try this link.
http://www.personalblimp.com/
they are currently flying.
Regards,
Kevin

Originally posted by Wolfala
Gunns,


Question on that steam powered rig. Was it avgas powered, then the steam cycle kicked in or how was it rigged? Reason i'm asking - our engines run hot as it is, CHTs in the high 300s most of the time. So say, instead of a 4 cycle - add an extra cycle and throw some water in there - flash it to steam and recover some of that energy from the cylinders heat. Run the engine a little bit cooler.

Imagine the only problem would be condensation inside the crankcase - and some power settings you wouldn't want to do it at, particularly when 65% or less where the heat isn't as much.

[ramzey]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Er...no. My hobbies are not getting out of hand....

Printroom      99      
EN-EL3n battery pack      22.9
appt book/display cube/vehcile mileage book/cash box      48.2
2-way radios for field      70.35
Business Cards/Brochures      116.89
CD labels and mailers      25.66
Photo Studio Umbrella lighting      77.95
Reflector      35
Muslin Backgrounds 10/2/2007 (4)      193.3
Ink 9/28/2007      52.62
Muslin Backdrop stand      113.7
Sitting stool for portraits      40.5
Frames      211.47
Hot shoe flash cord (Nikon SC029)      103.36
Diffuser      24.95
Tripods (2)      117.06
SB-800 Flash Unit      308
Nicad Batteries for Flash      11.97
Ink 5/10/07      41.37
Nikon D200      1268.00
Battery Grip and Flash card      218
Lowepro Camera backpack      260.35
Flash card reader      19.45
Business lunch with A to Z sports      63.85
Monopod      70.28
External 120 GB hard drive for photo storage      65.99
Ink/Paper 8/2/2007      69.18
Back up battery      47.99
Wireless mouse for laptop      32.99
CD labels and mailers 9/7/07      18.5
Shelves for Studio      347.56
Flash Light Stands      61
Umbrellas (Gold and Silver)      23.84         
Diffuser (Large, 3rd)      24.9            
Ink 10/19/2007      36.98            
Swivel Flash Mounts      29.76            
Sample Portrait Pictures for portfolio      59.55      
Lens cleaning kit      25.9                     
Total expenses for 2007      4539.02   

i don't think it can be counted as hobby expenses, since you earn income from this...........

[Pooh21]

Lets see:
car is soaking up costs in tunings
RO is safely keeping me from spending money on PC games then along came FIFA 07 and M&B but they are $30 combined
Then comes 1/6th scale WW2 guys, Mostly eastern front as WW2 American army have boring as heck uniforms.
And in the spring I am buying a 22ftish sailboat. That will also drink the money up.



And Meatwad why do you have Hentai tentacle pr0n involving small boys?

[lazs2]

arlo... most of the stuff I have..  I have had it for three decades or more... it was cheap back then.  I could probly not replace half of it.  A lot of hot rod parts and guns were really cheap used back then.   surplus guns came in the mail..  stores had em stacked like cordwood and you bought ammo by the pound.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to have hobbies that eat up your time and.. your hobbies don't have to be expensive to eat up your disposable income.   AH costs me very little but eats up 15 or so hours every month for instance.

I would think you would know that unless you have no hobbies.    

I think that most of us spend most of our time just working tho.   I will be very glad to get out.  I just have to decide if there is still room in kalifornia to hide from your ilk and live out my life.

lazs

[Sabre]

Well, let me see...There's my woodworking: currently rebuilding an old oak dining room table, turning new legs on the lathe and working on inlays for the top.

Then there's my music: several thousand dollars worth of guitars, recording studio costs, copyright fees, song-writing contest entry fees, mics. other equipment to support live performances.  This last month alone I probably spent $800.  Next month, I expect to spend another $1000.  And my wife (bless her heart) thought she was doing me a favor when she bought me my first guitar Christmas before last.  Seriously though, I am enjoying it nonetheless.

Between the two of them, there's not a lot left in my "fun budget".  The wife and four kids tend to soak up the rest of my income pretty effectively.

BTW, if you like country music, check out the new songs posted on my web page: http://www.myspace.com/richowen61 .

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by ramzey
i don't think it can be counted as hobby expenses, since you earn income from this...........

Kinda sorta...I pay for my hobby by using my hobby as additional income. It's great when your hobby pays for itself!

[LePaul]

Done correctly, you should be able to write it off on your taxes, too.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by LePaul
Done correctly, you should be able to write it off on your taxes, too.

Yes! I keep maticulous records, receipts, etc. I get to write off a certain sq. footage of my home, along with a percentage of my vehicle mileage. Marketing, free "photo ops" (charitable donations for BSA) etc.  Since we lose our Child tax deductible due to AMT, we make it up with these write offs.

[Neubob]

where's your wife from, Wolfala?

I can't place the accent.

[texasmom]

Originally posted by Neubob
where's your wife from, Wolfala?
I can't place the accent.

You heard her talk from those pictures?