Bill Michie

I recognise that model and the flying site................ Nice flying model, I just wanted more speed & performance, so retracts & pipes it was! Whoever buys it will enjoy it for what it is, and on a Classic engine too!

Thanks Denis, thought I'd advertise to the UKCAA Members first.................... Will also put it into the normal Classifieds soon! Bill

Hi all, due to ill health, I'm gradually moving over to all leccy powered models for ease of handling etc; so I have for sale, some engines & pipes that some of you may be interested in, as follows: Webra .61 ABC Longstroke (side exh) with Dynamix carb & manifold: £65 Webra .61 Speed, well-used, no box or plug, £35 Super Tigre X .45 (rear exh) with short manifold & matching pipe but no carb (I'll try find one that fits!), £40 Thunder Tiger .46 Pro, w/muffler, boxed in VGC, £45 Bolly EQ 60 tuned pipe (carbon/kevlar, very light), £30 Aly tuned pipe, 60 size, £5. There will probably be more items coming up over the next few months, if there's anything you need pls let me know! I'm open to offers on all items, especially for multiple purchases! I may also have in future, a Picco .60 (side exh with manifold) and one or two OS Hanno Specials, boxed with manifolds, availability & prices TBA. At this time I'm still keeping my two Classic airframes (Dirty Birdy 60 & Curare, both i/c & RTF) though they may be advertised at a future date if I can replace them with equivalents.   Regards to all!   Bill Edited By Bill Michie on 26/09/2017 16:27:30

Very sad news. The Aeromodelling fraternity will be all the poorer for his loss. Steve was a kind, generous, helpful modeller with a great (wicked!) sense of humour and will be sorely missed. Condolences to Sue, Matt, Family & Friends. Bill & Di

Well done on a difficult decision Steve! I'm sure everyone you've helped along the way really appreciates your hard work & effort (I certainly do!) The time comes for all of us to have some quality time doing what you want, when you want, seeing people/going places, etc etc., especially when health throws a curved ball. I can understand your position as am there myself now! Very best wishes! Bill

What a great season's opener yesterday! Many thanks to Martyn, Bill & all involved in organising & running the day. Also, well done to all fliers who attempted the informal one-round "contest" flight; hopefully they all got a "buzz" out of the experience, & learnt something along the way! I'm sure there'll be a report in due course so I won't make further comment at this stage. Regards & thanks, Bill

Best place was said to be on the first high-point of the pipe (for max pressure), though I've found (& have used) several manifolds where the nipple is on the straight part of the manifold after the bend (on the inside of the bend or angled outwards slightly). Fitting the nipple to the pipe results in a long pressure line to the tank also. Hope this helps! Main thing I think, is consistency & simplicity/reliability. Regards, Bill

Struggling to upload pics (Doh!) Weston's also looking into it. Thanks for the suggestions! Bill

OK, will take some pics tomorrow & post. Also a quick Tinternet search for the engine brings up loads of additional photos if you feel like taking a look. (probably better illustrated than I can do!) Thanks & Regards, Bill

Didn't know that, thanks will try Alan.

Thanks guys; I've looked at various carbs I have with engines, but not many fit due to the spigot size being 16mm! Webra .61 carbs are much smaller spigot size. Hoping (against hope!) to try keep it original if I can. Stangely enough, an Irvine 53 carb slots straight in & has similar bore but MUCH less venturi profile. ST.61 & OS .61 carbs don't fit either, at least without a sleeve, so there are other possibilities if I can't get OEM parts. Exhaust likewise as it's an odd shape/size. IIRC, the Perry carbs were fitted to some Italian engines for better throttling & midrange, or matched to Perry pumps. Thanks anyway, I'll keep looking in the meantime. Regards, Bill

Hi all, I have recently acquired a 70's vintage Picco 60 but it's missing a couple of bits & I wondered if anyone could help: The carb is missing the HS needle, it's a threaded needle pressed into an aly sleeve (similar to the Irvine design), probably with an internal o-ring seal. There is no exhaust stub fitted; it's a circular stub with 2 stud holes & o-ring seal; also a matching manifold (similar to the Rossi tubular one, attached with a spring clamp around the cylinder). Would love to run this engine (& fit to a model in due course) & it seems otherwise very good, with monster compression (still a noticeable pinch too). Any ideas or bits? I'm not sure if Rossi or OPS parts would fit or not. Carb has a 16mm spigot with approx 8.5mm bore. Regards & have a great Christmas! Bill

Sweet! Tell us more................ Engine & pipe/prop, how it flies, etc................. Bill

Yep, correct; the earlier RF/SF (long-stroke) OS .61's had a smaller rear bearing, whereas the later ones had a bigger dia (I think, for a bigger dia crank as well as OD). Look closely at the engine crankcase, and the earlier ones have a more noticeable reduction in case dia at the brg position, the later ones show only a very slight reduction in diameter. Bill

Nice photos Sam. See you again soon! Bill

I'd also like to offer a huge Thank You to everyone involved in organising/preparing & running the event. I haven't been able to attend one in a long time so was great to see so many enthusiasts there. Yes the field was very wet & soggy but in spite of that, everyone seemed to have a great time. A special word of thanks too, to both Martyn and Brian B, for the loan of tuned-pipes as some plonker forgot to pack them with the rest of the stuff in the car! It enabled me to have several flights & enjoy the day. The weather was as good as it'll ever be in April too. A great day enjoyed by all! Bill

Regarding the 'Bay Bullet: Note that some of the veneer is cracking & lifting off the wing cores................. Just sayin'

Maybe the best solution is to REQUIRE that ALL R/C fliers are BMFA Members before flying any R/C model. And that they are automatically sent the latest BMFA handbook with a covering letter stating the basic Legal responsibilities. The new questions don't address the thousands of "independent" or "unregulated" fliers, esp at the "toy" end of the market, but as can be seen by various comments, aren't necessarily having a beneficial effect on the Achievement Scheme either. I'll continue to follow this with much interest as it'll impact anyone involved in Training & Examining. Bill

OK I'll bite.................. Here's a few bullet points, based on discussions with modelling colleagues over the last couple of days, including Examiners, Instructors & Club fliers: The overall impression of the Question Bank, is that it is becoming very “prescriptive” and can (& will) introduce a further barrier or “disincentive” to your average Club flier looking at progressing and “achieving” a higher standard; especially at the “entry level” “A” Certs There are considerable concerns that this could quite significantly, negatively affect the Club flier takeup of the Achievement Scheme Tests; OR: There are also concerns, that it is “possible” that the requirements could in practice, be “waived”, questions not asked, or answers given in discussion, etc etc (none of which I would do or condone!) in order to reduce the perceived impact & to avoid “failing” a Test simply from getting one or more questions, wrong; this then would defeat the whole excercise! The content, style & phrasing of the questions raises concerns about whether some of the questions have real value, eg “what does Article xxx state?”, or several others which infer or imply, the Candidate having a good working knowledge of the ANO, CAP’s etc. Answering “parrot fashion” does not necessarily imply good knowledge of the Law! Many questions have multiple answers required, so “one question = 3/8/2 answers, etc Many questions are seen to be not relevant to the average Club “A” Candidate (many refer to “Drone” operation, or FPV, etc) BUT could still be asked legitimately (though not reasonably!) by an Examiner, and a Candidate failed on “lack of knowledge”. It’s difficult enough at the moment to persuade Club Members to prepare for, and undertake, Achievement scheme Tests & the opinion of me AND several colleagues in the last few days, is that this could put a real barrier in many fliers’ way & put them off attempting ANY tests from now on. This will also include of course, the new Basic Proficiency Test Candidates, as they are included in “for all future tests”. (from 31st March). That's my feeling anyhow.

Having just read the latest "Mandatory Questions" in the Feb BMFA News (PP 40-41) I have some thoughts regarding the intention, content,format & style of the questions (which I'll keep to myself for the moment!), especially with my Instructor's & Examiner's hat on..................... What do YOU think & is this worth taking up with "the Powers that be"? Would be interesting to get others ideas, particularly from the Examiners' & Instructors' perspectives.   Best Regards,   Bill Michie   Edited By Pete B - Moderator on 03/02/2016 15:31:27

Merry Christmas for yesterday, hope you all had a great day. Also Best Wishes for 2016; hope to be able to make it to some events next year! Three Cheers for the CAA! Bill

Sounds like a great idea Martyn! I'd certainly be up for that & glad to help in any way I can................. Now here's hoping I can actually GET to one or more events next season! Best Regards, Bill PS: for the guidance of fliers, is there/will there be, a simple manoeuvre description so that fliers can practice the right way? (eg: Outside Square loop: done from the top line as a "bunted" loop, or from the bottom with half-rolls on entry/exit?)

A number of kits still appearing, from the same seller; also some hardware bundles. Several MK kits still available, together with Carl Goldberg kits & other stuff. Hairo is known to some of the F3A guys & I've spoken to him on a couple of occasions. He also has some original MK glass/nylon props. AND a few Asano laminated wood collector's props! (that were THE props in the day if you could afford one!) Worth keeping an eye on, you never know what'll come up! Regards, Bill

I remember a couple of SA fliers using the Aurora in the mid-late eighties...............Beautiful lines & flew very well. Was right at the beginning of the Turnaround era so was really a "crossover" model with ballistic influences, but bigger for Turnaround Pattern. IIRC, was towards the end of "Swept-wing" designs too. Lovely model, you HAVE to make it a Trike Retract model! Regds, Bill

Hi all, I see there are a number of classic MK kits for sale on the Bay: Curare, Joker (.25 & .61), Graphik 40, etc. Starting prices are well high (£250 for some) so it'll be interesting to see what they go for............... Let us know if a Member gets one! Regards, Bill