Example Article
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Below is an example of a simple Microsoft Word document that started as a Blank Word Document with absolutely no other formatting, following the Checklist for Each Article specifications (Checklist location). It is set up using all margins set to 0.5 inches, Times New Roman (or Times) font, and the font size is set to 10 points. The lines are single spaced with no tabs and the Return key is only used at the end of each paragraph or caption. There are no tables or columns. The photo captions are written starting with the photo filename. Photo filenames should be changed to (starting with) the two-digit Figure number, then the brief name, ending with the last four digits of the original photo filename (for reference). After the new photo filename, list the Figure Number, the actual caption, then the photographers name.
This is not a long article, but because it uses six photos, it fills a full page, as can be |
seen in the finished page following these instructions. Note the figure numbers were not used in the finished article because in this case they were not needed. The author photo was not used because his photo appears with that of another author (on page 22 of Issue 174). Sometimes these exceptions are necessary to fit everything, and get the detailed photos to the largest size possible, but all the information is needed to be sure we get everything correct as the author intended.
This article might have been more effective had it been written as a photo/caption article with a brief introduction, then more of the copy written as a detailed caption for each photo, with a brief conclusion. In any case, this kind of quick-to-read article, with lots of photos is very effective and more likely to be read than one with all words, and no photos, or only one photo |
Photo/caption articles are ideal for sharing building technique, sail tuning, or another skills. It is helpful to start with an outline of your technique; take the photos needed to explain your technique; then write detailed descriptions of what each photo is showing. After that, your introduction and conclusion paragraphs allow you to fill in anything not suited to the photos.
Do not worry about being more skipper than author. Write your article as you would speak it to a novice skipper, and our valued Copyeditor will fix any grammar that might need fixing. The goal is to share your skill with the rest of us, and send in your content so it meets our Specifications necessary for print. Always use our Checklist for Each Article to be certain we can use what you send |
Building a Footy Cassette
Building a Footy Cassette
by Peter Jackson, photos by Peter Jackson
Footys are pretty small boats, so it can be difficult to mount internal electronics inside the hull. Roger Stollery, though, came up with an ingenious way to avoid the problem. The idea is to mount all the operating controls on a removable hatch cover. Not only is the cassette convenient for accessing the electronics, it also makes it easy to have a spare cassette, which is easily fitted as a replacement if problems arise during racing (see Figure 1).
01-Cassette-0125.jpg. Figure 1: Cassettes are interchangeable. Peter Jackson photo.
it took me a long time to adopt the system of cassette housing of the electronics on a racing yacht. The main problem in my mind was the lack of waterproofing of the servos; however, using the system developed by Roger, this has proved unfounded.
Using the cassette concept, servos are mounted from underneath the hatch cover (cassette plate) and poke through the plate. One servo arm then connects to a rudder arm, and the other connects to the Stollery power arm (Figure 2 and 3).
02-Cassette-0118.jpg. and 03-Cassette-0119.jpg. Figures 2 and 3:Topside and below deck; a completed cassette. Peter Jackson photo.
The power arm is a unique feature, which allows the use of a nine-gram servo for sail control. There’s not much torque in a nine-gram servo, but the power arm makes the best use of it. The wire power arm is curved so that the sail-control sheet will move freely along the arm as the servo sheets in and out. At the power arm’s most forward position, the sheet is fully out for downwind work, and the end of the sheet (fastened to a clip or ring) moves to the outer end of the arm. When sheeted in on a beat, the arm points to the side of the boat, and the sheet moves in to the servo end of the arm. The movement of the sheet to the inner end reduces stress on the servo, thus permitting a micro servo to do a big job. An additional nine-gram servo is used for rudder control (Figure 4).
04-Cassette-0121.jpg. Figure 4: Power arm and rudder control. Peter Jackson photo.
The servos are attached to the bottom of the plate by means of hot melt glue, which is placed all round the servo, thus creating a waterproof joint. It is also a good idea to insert the receiver in a balloon, with an elastic band to close the balloon mouth. To further waterproof the servos, a small “O” ring is placed over the output spline; then a foam ring, impregnated with silicon spray grease, is placed between the servo arm and the “O” ring (Figure 5).
05-Cassette-0123.jpg. Figure 5: Waterproofing the servos. Peter Jackson photo.
The cassette is fixed to the deck with black electrical tape. Some brands seem to stick better than others, so be sure to test the adhesion before you venture out on the pond (Figure 6).
06-Cassette-0120.jpg. Figure 6: The cassette taped on deck. Peter Jackson photo.
Here is what it looks like published.
Meet the author
Peter Jackson is a retired Chartered Engineer of the Aeronautical type, and he has built model aircraft since he was eight years old. He came to sailing about six years ago and started to design and race Footys. He has branched out to larger-boat classes in the UK, but his primary passion is with these little Footys, which take an inordinate amount of skill to sail well. With his good friend Peter Shepherd, Jackson organizes and runs a model boat club and attends all of the open Footy Events in the UK.
06-pj picture.jpg. Author photo: Peter Jackson.
by Peter Jackson, photos by Peter Jackson
Footys are pretty small boats, so it can be difficult to mount internal electronics inside the hull. Roger Stollery, though, came up with an ingenious way to avoid the problem. The idea is to mount all the operating controls on a removable hatch cover. Not only is the cassette convenient for accessing the electronics, it also makes it easy to have a spare cassette, which is easily fitted as a replacement if problems arise during racing (see Figure 1).
01-Cassette-0125.jpg. Figure 1: Cassettes are interchangeable. Peter Jackson photo.
it took me a long time to adopt the system of cassette housing of the electronics on a racing yacht. The main problem in my mind was the lack of waterproofing of the servos; however, using the system developed by Roger, this has proved unfounded.
Using the cassette concept, servos are mounted from underneath the hatch cover (cassette plate) and poke through the plate. One servo arm then connects to a rudder arm, and the other connects to the Stollery power arm (Figure 2 and 3).
02-Cassette-0118.jpg. and 03-Cassette-0119.jpg. Figures 2 and 3:Topside and below deck; a completed cassette. Peter Jackson photo.
The power arm is a unique feature, which allows the use of a nine-gram servo for sail control. There’s not much torque in a nine-gram servo, but the power arm makes the best use of it. The wire power arm is curved so that the sail-control sheet will move freely along the arm as the servo sheets in and out. At the power arm’s most forward position, the sheet is fully out for downwind work, and the end of the sheet (fastened to a clip or ring) moves to the outer end of the arm. When sheeted in on a beat, the arm points to the side of the boat, and the sheet moves in to the servo end of the arm. The movement of the sheet to the inner end reduces stress on the servo, thus permitting a micro servo to do a big job. An additional nine-gram servo is used for rudder control (Figure 4).
04-Cassette-0121.jpg. Figure 4: Power arm and rudder control. Peter Jackson photo.
The servos are attached to the bottom of the plate by means of hot melt glue, which is placed all round the servo, thus creating a waterproof joint. It is also a good idea to insert the receiver in a balloon, with an elastic band to close the balloon mouth. To further waterproof the servos, a small “O” ring is placed over the output spline; then a foam ring, impregnated with silicon spray grease, is placed between the servo arm and the “O” ring (Figure 5).
05-Cassette-0123.jpg. Figure 5: Waterproofing the servos. Peter Jackson photo.
The cassette is fixed to the deck with black electrical tape. Some brands seem to stick better than others, so be sure to test the adhesion before you venture out on the pond (Figure 6).
06-Cassette-0120.jpg. Figure 6: The cassette taped on deck. Peter Jackson photo.
Here is what it looks like published.
Meet the author
Peter Jackson is a retired Chartered Engineer of the Aeronautical type, and he has built model aircraft since he was eight years old. He came to sailing about six years ago and started to design and race Footys. He has branched out to larger-boat classes in the UK, but his primary passion is with these little Footys, which take an inordinate amount of skill to sail well. With his good friend Peter Shepherd, Jackson organizes and runs a model boat club and attends all of the open Footy Events in the UK.
06-pj picture.jpg. Author photo: Peter Jackson.