Nightflyer

When I first took up rc flying in 76 a couple of Hastings club members had built Unicorns iirc one was HP61 powered the other Webra 61. Both models flew beautifully and looked nice in the air. I have plans and will build one sometime as an electric conversion. Will follow this build with interest.

I quite agree. I have used them and very slick service indeed for me.

The Tempest is something I could be very tempted by seeing as I have an FW190 already plus a Tony Nijhuis one at some point. Tempest always has appealed.

Started out originally in 1976 being bought a second-hand set of Skyleader Clubman in the days of 27MHz AM, then took over my dad's Futaba M series also on 27. I then got a se of Sprengbrook 35MHz modular gear, but in 1986 reverted to Futaba with a set of Challenger before getting FF8 and used Futaba gear until 2017 when I switched to Spektrum. I have no real dislike of Futaba as the quality and reliability has been great and used it in my car racing from days of club racing to European and World championships. I also used it in my model boats. There was two reasons for the switch. Fed up with all the different formats over time buying new receivers and receiver crystals in that era. Secondly, as a club instructor many newcomers were using Spektrum.

Personally I have several MDS engines of sizes which have in general been very good. There was a period when they got a bad reputation because of the grade material used for the O rings on the carburettor that would react with the fuel. At the time Ripmax replaced the O rings if I remember correctly. Myself personally I had no problems but then I also ensured that my engines were sealed properly especially around the carb body and main needle.

3.5 inches under each tip

Boiling is in my experience the best and to keep its application local I use an old flannel or dishcloth that i soak and place on the affected area. One of my local club members had a crash recently and one wing panel had several dings. One very major one too, and I was able to remove all of them this way.

Great job Roy. Not only on completing the model, and that it looks great, but also looks great in the air.

The Crossfire was a beautiful flyer in its original format and in the day of similar flyer to the Aerojet and later the Easy Street. All three designs with modern lipo and brushless set ups will be transformed and be better. I for one would build a Crossfire. Good luck Pete relaunching the model.

Wow long time since I have seen a Big Wig. Back.in the mid 70s I was in the Hastings MFC (Hastings and District as it was known then) and a couple of members had these. One being Merco 61 power the other Webra 61 power. One was modified not only that it could drop an Action Man parachutist whose chute didn't always open, but was also used as a Toffee Bomber in its day. Great model and very interested in the electric conversion. Keep us informed of flight tests and whether incidence change helps.

Personally I take no great delight from Ripmax current situation. They have been key in the UK market for so many years, but having seen Graupner disappear a few years ago we should really be mindful how challenging it is for organisations large or small. That said its good to hear the news regarding Futaba and J Perkins.

Did get some flying in instructing one of my local club members learning to fly but also flew my trusty old Simprop Excel electric glider that is now a 25 year old veteran but still enjoy it. Also maidened a small 1.2m scratchbuilt electric glider 2s 850mAh pack and brushless motor having modified down thrust. Was really pleased with it.

I have had mixed feelings about Merco's since start of model flying in the mid 70s. So at the time a number of members in my local club had Merci powered cl and rc models. I had Merco 35 Black Streak which was notorious unreliable runner and no was not set up as it was looked at by everyone. However it eventually led to loss of a model which put me off the engine. It was not until a couple of years later that a change of carburettor actually sorted the engine out.

Mine was a Keil Kraft Sportster easy build rubber powered model in summer 1974 when i was 8, which led to my having a Cox 049 powered PT19. Which was my first cl model which eventually met its end in 1975, and my first rc model was a Truline Custom Executive in 1977.

Personally I had used Model Technics fuels since my early days of flying in the mid 70s on for aircraft, and model cars indeed competing not only nationally but at World and European competition level without any issues. Choice of fuel is often discussed not least because some manufacturers engines perform better with one fuel or fuel manufacturer than another.