stu knowles

You've got a lovely pair there James! You definitely have got the hang of this

Geoff, This is not going to end well. Extract the digit and go see a Doc

At the risk of upsetting you, I'd say that that was quite beefy construction. Personally, if sheeting the fus, 1/16 sheet would be more than enough. Your build - Your rules but I'm just passing on the thought

I once had a few flights helping a guy sort out a CAP Beaver. In the end it was OK, if heavy. The landing gear seemed too far forward which led to a lot of weight on the tailwheel, squirrelly take off runs and bouncy landings. It would have been a rave to move it once built in. It would be worth comparing side views with the full size just to see if it has been moved forward for some reason

Shocked at the amount of money that you have given this guy, especially for tuition. My advice would be to have a review of your aquaintances. Fr sky? Rock solid. First Class gear - an opinion based on continuous experience since the brand first came to this country

I had a similar situation. I bought some 'glue for the purpose' from the model shop - but it smelled like Copydex and had a green tint. I found a syringe and pumped the glue under all the loose veneer. Used a roller to squeeze it into the corners and all the loose bits, Let it go off and then rollered it again. (Copydex is a contact adhesive) I also treated a small flaw on another wing with PVA in a similar fashion, let it dry an then ironed it but this way took a long time to dry. If you can get the veneer off intact, the foaming Polyurothane glue seems to be a good means of gluing then back on although you would probably need the foam blanks to weight it down properly

Looks excellent to me. Really like the colour scheme.

Deffo a Kavan carb. As far as I know they were alright. I never liked the Perry carb which seemed to be the aternative at the time, too prone to the hairline slot idle 'jet' getting clogged

401 Posted Thursday at 22:08 The Windermere Model Waterplane Flyers were dancing on ice yesterday at Kitridding Farm. Hi Nic, Will there be any chance of the Windermere Club hosting the open weekend meets again this year?? I have been a couple of times and really enjoyed the opportunity to fly off the lake. Thanks Stu K

Hi David, Do you find the liteply a suitable material for wing skinning? I have been pondering the same question recently. What bit of feedback I have been able to gain is that it might be a heavy alternative to a balsa skin. It has also been suggested that Proskin is good especially as it needs no further finishing. (Not used it myself) Thanks for posting your build(s) always interesting to follow. regards Stu K

Good man. Go for it. I'll be watching with interest. Great choice of model

go away and don't come back!

When you are building your own model, its entirely up to you how you deal with these things. You could fit the simplest hinge - you might need to adjust the mating faces of the wing / aileron to square / bevelled, or you can go forthe most accurate scale representation of the real thing. One will soak up way more time than the other. The important thing (IMHO) is to press on and finish the model in a resonable time scale and in a way that satisfies you. Phil Kent's plans will be heavily weighted towards scale accuracy but it will make no difference to the way it flies and little difference to the way it looks if you simplify it. Get it finished and get it flown. The next build will always be better

Nice finish. Congratulations. Skilled work through and through

Possibly the best build manual I've ever seen. Very clever video

A magnificent design and build project by Don Billingham, made his own retractable undercarriage too. Proper modelling, the latest in a long line of fine models designed and built by him

The local camera club came to our field on their club night. All that gear does make a difference!

Definately a Phil Ramsey Gladiator although with a few non kit specified mods, like to stringers on the o/s of the fus. Flew mine with a Zenoah 20 and no ballast. Rigging / de rigging is a pain unless you have a car that takes it one piece

The OP says LiFe batteries, not LiPo. I'd say thay have been charged on a NiMh or NiCad setting

Sorry can't understand any decision to stop i/c powered flying. I have seen video of turbines bursting into flames on impact but never a glow/ petrol/ diesel powered model. Since Lipos entered onto the scene they are by far the most common cause of unintended fires. I particularly worry when a lekky powered model is lost in a cornfield. If it were to be ingested into a combine and then start to burn then the consequences and potential final bill could easily exceed £250K for the combined harvester alone. If you are going to ban anything at this time of year then Turbines and Lipo powered models are the obvious places to start. As for extinguishing fires, on moorlands it is not uncomon to see fails provided to beat out fires. Probably of more use than a conventional fire extinguisher on crop fires??

Same as JD8 above for me. I would never use a restraint that held onto the tailplane. Its a for too delicate part of the airframe to be subject to such stress - not withstanding that tailplane restraints are by for the most common method used

From an original by Roger Bale, circa 1998, to this:- # I wonder what happened?? To this 121 " span, zenoah 80 power and 38lbs! Strictly non aerobatic, it 'preambulates with purpose' The flag can be raised in flight and the Nav raises his hand to the onlooker In terms of storage and transport, its a bit of a monster!

A very sleek looking model Richard, nice design work

Hi All, In December 1995 the first issue of a new (now defunct) mag appeared with a free plan of Diamond 4 by Peter Hale Diamond 4 Plan40 (flyingscalemodels.com) I was quite taken by the design and have carefully stored the mag and free plan for 27 years! I thought that I might bring it to the top of the list and build it, however, on careful inspection of the plan - there is no centre of gravity position shown. 'Oh shame', said I on making this unwelcome discovery. I was also mentioned in this earlier thread on this forum but the links contained in the thread are no longer active. My best guess would be somewhere near to the apex of the outboard wings but came anyone help with a more definitive answer?? regards and thanks stu k