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Showing content with the highest reputation on 16/06/21 in all areas

  1. I'm not Welsh but I was for for a couple of hours tonight, brilliant!
    2 points
  2. John's right about excessive elevator movement when combined with a reward CG. There have been a number of younger flyers who ive helped over the years who have learnt to fly and moved on to fun fly type models and with max control movement .They then turn up with a scale model and often won't listen when you advise reducing movement of control surfaces. The words that echo most at the crash site are " I did say............."
    2 points
  3. After some challenges, I finally got the Warbirds Replicas Yak 3 airborne today. This is actually the third attempt, rather embarrassingly. The first failed attempt was entirely my fault. The second was a nose over that dislodged the motor mount. As our strip was mown today, it seemed worth another go. Success! Much less drama today although there are some trim issues to resolve. Other than that she flew well and looked great in the air. Big thanks to Richard Wills and Paul Johnson for the help and support. You'll struggle to find better kits, better supported.
    2 points
  4. Seeing the big bipe , it reminded me that I flew my Snipe at the weekend after 52 years in the making , but only got phone shots!!
    2 points
  5. UStill getting used to it. Insignia later in the year. DB Giant Mannock. Evolution 33gx, 20x6 Aerostar, nylon and dope covered with NATO green 2k paint. 25lbs
    2 points
  6. Yesterday saw the passing of my flying buddy of over 20 years, from when he taught me to fly R/C on a patch of common land in Newport Pagnell, we both had Twinstars and had jobs that meant we were finished by 11am in the mornings (the good old days!), i was single at the time and we would fly till the sun went down. This was in the days before brushless motors and lipos, we both joined the Old Warden club and stood out like sore thumbs, look out, here come those electric guys as they all flew glow models and looked at ours with suspicion. Gradually our models got larger as motors and batteries improved and soon our models were out performing the glow ones at the strip, we ended up flying at a few of the Warbirds fly ins at Coltishall, Scampton and Barkston Heath, me with a 10ft span Electric B17 and John with his beloved similar sized petrol powered Westland Lysander. Over the last 10 years John had suffered numerous health issues which meant the assembly and managing of large models like that were not practical but he continued to enjoy his model building and flying back at Newport Pagnell close to where he lived. About a month ago he was diagnosed with an untreatable form of cancer and given a few months to live, unfortunately the end came sooner than we had all hoped and he passed away at home yesterday evening ?. He was a real character and i will miss him greatly, we had some memorable times over the years and i will be a bit choked when i go to Wings & Wheels in just over a week as we would without fail spend the whole day together looking out for bargains at the bring and buy and wandering in and out of the trade tents. He would always stop for his favourite bite to eat, a pulled pork bun and we would grab a couple of 99 ice creams to wash them down. I will miss you John, hopefully you are somewhere now where you can fly all day and the sun always shines with light winds. Sorry for my ramblings, i just had to put my feelings down..............
    1 point
  7. Thanks everyone I had no idea it was known by another model number so I searched for that and I am now with instructions. I appreciate all your replies many thanks to you all . Derek
    1 point
  8. Covering is going well.
    1 point
  9. I said that without moving my lips.
    1 point
  10. Living in South Norfolk it’s quite a long way to the nearest decent slopes, unlike when I used to live in Sussex! But I do fancy the flying bomb version, controlled by a FW sitting on top!
    1 point
  11. generally an aft c/g should not be a cause for a crash and it should be controllable even if its very unpleasant. The issue tends to come from excessive elevator rate combined with the aft c/g. Add to that the startle factor, stress of a maiden flight and the eyes of onlookers, its not an easy situation to recover. I notice that often maiden flight takeoff's are done the same as the pilot would do a normal takeoff and this often means its hauled into circuit quite early. This is not a good idea in my view and only adds to the workload. I always aim to takeoff (at slightly reduced power, 70-80% to keep the engine on my side) and then just fly dead straight for at least 10 seconds. Gentle rising climb, wings level, touching nothing but the gear retract switch if its a warbird to clean up the airframe. This gives me a small amount of experience with the model before i do a turn and if i feel its needing forward push on the stick during my climb then that is very valuable information to have as i can gently lean it into a turn. I had this very experience with my sea fury maiden as it pitched up sharply right after takeoff. I needed considerable forward pressure to keep the nose down and while this was ultimately the result of an incidence issue, the result was the same. My high rate was over sensitive so i went for low, held the nose forward and off we went. This is why i always set my elevator rates just above and just below the recommended minimum. If its tail heavy and a bit of a bucking bronco, hitting low rate can help quite a bit. I am also used to flying with my sticks off centre as most of my models are scale and so are impossible to trim 'hands off' at all times. More than anything i think this is a big help and when teaching i always give students the model out of trim and expect perfect circuits, takeoff and landing. Why? because when they start doing their own maiden flights it wont be in trim, so learning how to fly a model out of trim is a valuable skill. Also if its miles out, you might not want to take your fingers away to hit the trimmers. Without an assistant to do it for you, landing with it all the sticks sideways might be the only choice. To be honest though, watching videos online of 'tail heavy' models spinning and crashing, most are elevator travel related and have less to do with the c/g than people think. this is often made clear when the pilot just stops touching the stick and the model nips along nice and straight. Its like with overheating engines. If an engine overheats and stops, it must be lean...more often, the cooling is rubbish and the tank in the wrong place. The knee jerk diagnosis of these things often sends people down the wrong path.
    1 point
  12. Hi all ! To start the next part (front section ) , i first need to remove the parting board that borders on that part. This uncovers the upstanding side of the first two parts of the fuselage moulds .This upstanding part will serve as a parting board for the next mould . The marbel imprints are still filled in the left mould because i tried some plastic half spheres instead of metal balls. Just need to remove them to see if they are up to the job... The time left was used to make the parting boards for the nose hatch opening. The gaps between the plug and parting boards will be filled with plasticine for sharp edges. I hope this clears some questions ? If not :shoot!! x
    1 point
  13. Hi, The stub axle is perpendicular to the wing bottom as seen on the control horn image. Carl feathered in his motor mount on the wing . I can see how it looks like it is mounted perpendicular to the wing top. The motor mount detail is shown on the plan. I hope that helps. Rgds, Shaun. (the designer)
    1 point
  14. Actually we finished 39th overall out of about 55 starters, but we won the four stroke class!
    1 point
  15. Hmmm.... As a potential B or C holder, if you can't fly the manoeuvres in company of other flyers, I would question your readiness to take the test or be contemplating an imminent attempt. The test involves flying several different manoeuvres but you are allowed/encouraged to position for each one in your own time so practicing a "schedule" is not necessary. Your ability to fit in with other flyers is something I'd expect you to be able to demonstrate - checking airspace and informing others of your intentions is an integral part of the tests.
    1 point
  16. Had a successful day, so better share these. These are all models i have completed this year, and very pleased with. The Chipmunk is an old Airsail kit i acquired online, had much fun building. Flies on 5S. 'Glassed fuse, and Ceconite wing/control surfaces. All the old comments of a brilliant handling plane see to be true, flies very well. The small Spit is from the Dark Nights thread, (TN 46"). Possibly my current favourite model after about 4 flights since rebuild. The big Spit is a Brian Taylor, (https://www.sarikhobbies.com/product/supermarine-spitfire-2/) I acquired it 90% built, and have completed it as shown. The plan had fixed gear, but have managed to get retracts into it. A pointed rudder (cause i prefer them) and even clipped the wings!* (purists look away now), and to make another change from RAF camo, made up some Russian markings. Glassed all over (except Ceconite elevator & rudder). 6S for power. Had it's maiden today, it certainly flew, and despite it's weight (probably around 5kg) seemed to fly well, and landing speed wasn't excessive. Some minor things to sort, but the signs are good, so i'm much pleased. (And it might be obvious i can't be bothered with cockpits!) *I kept the the solid balsa tips that i cut off, and made a removeable fairing to go on their place on the wingtip. I can change between fullspan and clipped wingtip at leasure when ive got it dialled in. (Much like the fullsize!) Not for any useful purpose, other than to say I can, and compare the handling.
    1 point
  17. Depron TSR2, in the first version I tried to cram two 50mm fans in and had to stagger them with a shared efflux. The result was disappointingly weak . Second version I widened the fuselage to give each fan a proper thrust tube, re-using the flying surfaces and forward fuselage. Much improved thrust and a forty five degree take off, however it was a bit of a struggle after that probably due to the small wing. MK3 will be with an enlarged wing. photos by Steve Firth
    1 point
  18. My latest maidened yesterday. A Warbirds Replica Spitfire MkIX adjusted to a later MkI / II version
    1 point
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