John Lee

Are you thinking of the Mazda MX-30 R-EV? I've got one on order, due to be delivered next month to replace my Kia Soul EV. It should suit me perfectly, 95% of my journeys will be within the electric range with the other 5% being able to be completed without the need for recharging.

I think mine (long since gone) we’re from QuickUK. Your best chance is probably Eddie at Helebitz, he specialises in buying old helicopters & breaking them for spares. https://af9f81.35.ekm.shop

Agreed, the technology certainly exists & is being developed every day. The active safety systems in new cars have optical, sonar & radar sensors to prevent collisions and 'self driving' capable vehicles have taken this to a new level, detecting threats at a considerable distance.

Agreed. My view in responding was to argue about my own activities - 'conventional' model flying and let those who have other interests put forward their own case. So, for example, my response to Q14 was simply: 14 Should CAA implement Remote ID (Opportunity 11) and why? Definitely no Please provide detail on why you have selected your answer:: This answer is for recreational model aircraft flying only, I recognise the need for remote ID with other aerial activities. Remote ID for model flying, particularly from established model flying sites, is disproportionate and wholly unnecessary... at least that way my opposition will get into the pie chart for those opposed to all encompassing remote ID.

Welcome Tony I can't answer directly but McGregor/Hobbyplastic still list one DSC lead: https://www.hobbyplastic.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=523&products_id=821&zenid=025s3vgsupiotcpmfrvuuitdr0 If that is not the correct one it may still be worth contacting McGregor/Hobbyplastic. A few years ago I sent them a JR Gyro for repair with a damaged case. It was obsolete at the time and I asked them to scrap it if they did not have the appropriate spare. They fixed it (I think for free, maybe a nominal charge, I can't remember) & sent it back saying they had cannibalised one they had found in their 'bits' box. That box may just have a DSC lead!

Hobbyking sell two versions of the B6. For one they state 'Please note: These items are genuine and carry the holographic sticker of authenticity.' & they sell them for £36.83 https://hobbyking.com/en_us/imax-b6ac-v2-professional-balance-charger-discharger-uk-plug.html and the other is sold as a 'copy' for £24.56 with the statement 'Note: if you would prefer to purchase the genuine IMAX B6AC charger please search for SKU: 9052000068-3' https://hobbyking.com/en_us/imax-b6-ac-dc-charger-5a-50w-with-us-plug-copy.html Which version is sold on eBay for less than £20? I think I'd guess at something even more phoney than HK's 'copy'.

I've just done half a dozen of them using a quality (Knipex) flush faced side cutter which nipped the tags off in a second.

Steve Webb are showing both tractor & pusher APC 6x4 in stock: https://stevewebb.co.uk/index.php?pid=APCLPB06040E&area=PROPS https://stevewebb.co.uk/index.php?pid=APCLPB06040EP&area=PROPS

You should expect about 50%-70% of the RRP. Buyers expect a significant discount as they lose virtually all their Consumer Rights when buying second hand. https://www.radiocontrolledmodels.co.uk/prices-and-valuations

I have also responded on these lines. I've had cries for help from several (all professional qualified in other spheres) Club Members this morning confused with the BMFA's response, describing it as 'daunting'. As a retired regulatory Compliance Officer & full size Flying Instructor the consultation is bread & butter for me and hopefully I've been able to help. But I fear in it's present form the BMFA's response as a template is, let's just say, 'sub-optimal' for the likes of my Club mates.

Good point, well made. I was just supporting Nigel's observation that 'the amount of fliers who want to build was always quite small' and hence the branding of the 3 entities mentioned is all about the Flying aspect. Don't get me wrong, I'm a builder myself, always have been for 50+ years. For much of that period I built because I had to in order to have the models I wanted to fly. But in the last couple of decades that necessity is no longer there. I still build the odd model as the mood takes me but I recognise that I am in a shrinking minority. In many ways I should be a prime candidate for Richard's efforts and I very much admire his tenacity. As Ron has observed, if it was within a Club environment I might be cajoled into having a go but otherwise any of the proposals here will never reach the top of my 'to do' list. Perhaps I'm fortunate, but the cost of ARTF vs building is not a consideration for me. I say this as my personal answer to Richard's Market Research opening question about whether his home grown kits would appeal to me.

True. This is the 'RCM&E Home of Model Flying', we belong to the 'British Model Flying Association' and our local 'Model Flying Club', nowhere is there a reference to 'Model Building & Flying'. I think Model Building is a hobby in its own right, it is one that is associated with Model Flying but nevertheless a separate activity. Great for those that enjoy building but it will have no attraction whatsoever to many for whom the Flying is the beginning & end of the hobby.

I built TN's Gnat & followed his instructions - a couple of blobs of hot glue to secure the fan to the former & a couple of short bits of Scotch tape to attach the thrust tube to the fan unit. I was somewhat sceptical but it all works 100% in practice. No other sealing or fixing. I've had to remove the fan once and it was easy to unpick the glue blobs. A heat gun could be used to soften the joints but I did not find it necessary.

Wilson Lee (formerly YT International) does some superb pilots, very much 'top end' products. Here's his quarter scale page: https://www.tailoredpilots.com/quarter also have a look at his Facebook page (there is a link on the Tailored Pilots homepage) for some of his recent products. Worth a look even if you are not in the market!

Ripmax are still trading under a new entity, they have been bought out of Administration by Amrang Ltd who now trade as Ripmax - see the front page of Ripmax.com. or the extensive thread on the subject on this site. They state that Futaba servicing is still operating: http://ripmax.com/AR_Contact.aspx That said +1 from me for Mike Ridley

Anyone fancy Control Line? This will get you started.......or not!

Thanks for all that @MattyB It was not a thing I was aware of until you started this thread. I ordered one yesterday from the same supplier as yourself, there seems to be a number of sellers located in Cannock which I presume is the same chap mascarading under different names to expand his reach on searches. Like you I chose the cheapest! I have a draw full of what should be suitable servos & motors from my indoor flying days (we lost our hall during Covid & activities were never resumed). Should be a giggle.

👍 Meanwhile That should work 😀. For me, as I already had the Hawk & T33 when I bought the Viper it was a bit of a no brainer when I wanted the gyro for the Viper to see which it mirrored in terms of setup. I recently won some vouchers for Webbie's in a couple of Club competitions, so a visit there to kick the tyres of the new L39 Albatross is in order. For fun per £ it is difficult to beat this range of models, one is invariably chucked in the car for every flying session.

I have the 'Arrows Hobby Vector Gyro (for Hawk) ARRVEC-002' in the Viper. The T33 one has the elevator working in the opposite direction, so is not suitable & I have not been able to find any way of changing the settings.

The model is an Arrows Hobby BAe Hawk 50mm EDF & the board is their Vector gyro. Its settings are operated by a 3 position switch on the 4th channel & gives Off/Stability (auto wings level) /& 'Dynamic'. It is brilliant for hand launches, set Stability & you can toss the model any old way, it levels itself & climbs way. Then switch off, or if it is particularly turbulent you can use Dynamic to dampen the disturbances. Since I retrofitted them to my Arrows Hawk, T33 & Viper with scores of self launches I have never had a single occasion where they have failed to get away cleanly. Turning to Jeti specific on the setup, I have set the Gyro Mode switch 'Required pre-flight position' to Launch (wings level) as well as the throttle arming switch (I use a latching switch) to Off. If you try & switch on the transmitter with the switches in the wrong position the screen shows a warning indicating what is wrong & you cannot operate it until you correct it. Further both the Gyro switch & Arming switch have voice announcements as an additional safeguard. ps crossed with Martin!

Measure twice and cut once!

That is all I build nowadays. Essentially it must be a 3D jigsaw where all the parts fit perfectly, you barely need a knife, and frustration is not part of the equation. I have plenty of ARTF's to meet all my flying needs so the building must be a pleasure in its own right, rather than a means to an end. The last few kits I have purchased to meet this criteria were purchased from Continental Europe having seen them in the German FMT magazine (obtained as part of my Readly subscription, in German but you can look at the pretty pictures!).

https://bmfa.org/caa-call-for-input-review-of-uk-uas-regulations?fbclid=IwAR3Jqm4LPygF86Z4Lni3ZOpAo5NawzARckcNWfBaDzT2ETXZSSDDD7u7Fm0

I moved to Jeti before Harry started his excellent channel. I quickly became comfortable with all the basics but for some of the more obscure stuff I found Jeti USA's videos pretty useful at the time. They tend to be a bit shorter than Harry's & cover specific issues, but you may find them a useful supplement. https://www.espritmodel.com/jeti-video.aspx

If you look through the filings at Companies House you can see that it was pledged as security to a number of different lenders. The 2019 & 2020 accounts show the sales proceeds being received & what they were used for.