SOME FOLKS say that if you keep your
nose to the grindstone and your shoulder to
the wheel, you’ll most likely wind up with a
bloody nose and a sore shoulder.
Joe Martin, a modeler from Ventura
County in Southern California, called me on
October 30, 2000, with a request for help in
securing a new flying site for his club: the
Conejo Valley Flyers (CVF).
On September 11, 2009, the following
letter and pictures showed up in my e-mail.
The story spans nine years. Some of the
initial participants are no longer here to
enjoy the ultimate success, but everyone
who was a part of the near-decade-long
effort of the CVF to secure a first-class
flying site can take pride in the fact that
because of their tireless effort and unstinting
belief, their goal has come to fruition.
The quest to get the land upon which the
field is built was the subject of a previous
article. The culmination of the club’s effort
is described here. It’s about the group effort
that got the surface on the runway.
This is information many clubs can use,
especially if they are looking for a relatively
low-cost, eco-friendly, hard surface for their
runway. It’s a story of the inquisitive minds,
inventive nature, and “can do” spirit of
modelers who really want to fly!
“It is important that we give credit to
the club members who persevered even in
102° heat, willing to work until the job was
done.
“We used a product called SoilTec, a
synthetic material formulated to be diluted
with water in various ratios (we used a ratio
of 7 to 1). It resembles Elmer’s glue in both
sight and smell.
“Aside from the creative equipment
designed and built by a fellow club member,
the biggest problem we had was bringing
water to our site because we have no
running water available. Wes Minear
utilized his pickup truck, transporting our
water supply in 50-gallon drums.
“The following items were needed to
accomplish each step and task for our new
runway:
“1. Water
“2. SoilTec (currently used by the
National Forest Park Service and
eco-friendly!)
“3. 50-gallon spreader (designed/built by
Wil Trautmann)
“4. 500-pound roller (designed/built by
Wil Trautmann)
“5. 4 x 6-foot soil sifter/grater
(designed/built by Wil Trautmann)
“6. Push brooms
“7. Snow shovels
“8. Fines (sifted dirt/soil with no rocks)
“9. Elbow grease and back-bending labor
“The devices used, while not patented,
were as follows. Our sprayer unit is
approximately 5 feet wide with a 50-gallon
feed barrel, pressurized with a small 12V
battery-powered air compressor. After the
SoilTec material is diluted (the viscosity has
to be compatible with the sprayer being
used) it is then sprayed on the swept and
compacted dirt (fines) and allowed to soak
in for about 3 minutes.
“After the soak time, the filtered dirt,
minus the rocks, is deposited onto the wet
soil and allowed to cure for about 5 minutes
more, which is then followed by the 500-
pound, 5-foot-wide roller used to compress
the dry fines into the SoilTec.
“The result makes for a flat, smooth
surface hardening after 24 hours. Care must
be taken that only dry fines are under the
roller since any of the moist material will
adhere to the heavy roller.
“The final surface produced is hard
enough to drive a vehicle on, water
repellent, and is biodegradable, eliminating
the expense of any city/county permits. The
cost is relatively inexpensive compared to
concrete and or asphalt. We purchased two
50-gallon drums for $913 plus $152
shipping.
“The 100 gallons of material gave us
approximately 6,000 square feet of
coverage, depending on the soil saturation
rate. Our runway is 400 x 50 feet, which we
plan to finish as soon as more funds become
available. Our first goal is to cover an area
200 feet long by 30 feet wide.
“Wil Trautmann’s old-time technology
and ‘git ’er done’ contributions to the club’s
new runway and field is highly appreciated
by all fellow club members. Many thanks to
Wil.
The 50-gallon pressurized spreader designed
and built by Wil Trautmann.
“Wil designed and built a wooden
support frame using 2 x 4-inch boards,
inclusive of a steering device and four
wheels. He also designed and built an
attachable/detachable spray bar, which,
under pressure, delivers an even stream of
the diluted SoilTec material.
“On the topside, Wil created an
ingenious funnel device allowing for quick
and easy filling.
SoilTec can be very sticky and messy.
“Attached to the top of the spreader is a
small 2-horsepower, electric pump
supplying pressure to the tank. As seen in
the photos, once the spreader was put into
operation, it was quite effective!
Wil’s 500-pound compacting roller.
“Wil used the shell of a Teflon-coated
standard water heater, filling it with a
combination of sand and wet cement. From
his background off the farm, Wil constructed
wooden bearings on each side, and then
attached a custom-made aluminum handle
for pushing/pulling purposes. The roller can
also be attached and pulled behind a vehicle.
“Equally as creative, at first glance the
sifter reminds one of their childhood days,
making a Soap Box Derby vehicle to go
downhill using ropes connected to a front
steering column. The main structure
constructed of 2 x 4-inch wood, with
horizontal supports covered by some of
Home Depot’s finest wire mesh. Wil also
incorporated a swiveling scraper to help
smooth the surface as the dirt was being
filtered; it automatically neutralized uneven
build up of the ‘fines.’
“I’d also like to recognize Marcel Gillette
who, to our good fortune, does this type of
work for the government as his means of
livelihood. His guidance, expertise, and hard
work have saved the CVF thousands of
dollars!
“Wes Minear deserves recognition as
well. As our new club president, he has given
countless man-hours, personally dedicating
himself to helping to make our project a
success.
“I could recognize many other individual
club members, but in an endeavor such as
this, it takes teamwork to make it all happen.
If I had but one phrase to best describe the
Conejo Valley Flyers, it would be team
players.
“The contact at Soiltac.com we had was
Hailey Balcaen, telephone (307) 630-3791,
ext. 3209.
“And now the noses and shoulders are
forgotten. Flying at a great field from a great
surface is the order of the day.”
