Malcolm Fisher

I've never had a "proper" covering iron. At first I used the ordinary domestic iron until spouse complained about coloured marks on clothing. ? since then I have used a small travel iron which has always worked well for me. Temperature is measured using a Coverite thermometer which IMO is an essential piece of equipment when using this sort of iron. Malcolm

Many years ago and article in Aeromodeller gave a recipe for etherless diesel fuel. From memory the oil used was modified rape seed oil and the mix was 20% oil and 80%paraffin with an addition of up to five % of , I think, IPN. Starting was a bit difficult but helped by using a prime of normal diesel fuel. Again from memory engine ran a bit hotter than with ether fuels and compression needed to be slightly higher. I remember that with ether fuels compression needed backing off a bit once the engine was running and not doing this seemed to do the necessary for the higher compression of the etherless fuel. My engines run on this mix made my C/L models of the time somewhat faster than with conventional fuel and started more easily when still hot from a previous run. I believe the article was by an industrial chemist called Robert Dulake. Will try to hunt up the rape oil modification if anyone is interested. Malcolm

I've had bifocals for over thirty years. When I asked my optician about varifocals, I was advised against as the varying bands of different focal lengths were very narrow and as my major problem was astigmatism they would most likely not be suitable. A couple of other people I know have tried varifocals and couldn't come to terms with them and reverted either to two pairs of specs or bifocals. Malcolm

My introduction to R/C was with a single channel Super regen Mc Gregor radio so I could only fly if no one else was around. I used a glider - modified KK Chief a a slope soarer. Later graduated to two channel gear and still with slopers. When I started with power, I couldn't land with power on so always flew the tank dry and landed dead stick as that was what I was used to doing. Never been worried about dead stick landings ever since but did eventually learn to land with the engine still running. Malcolm

Would like that one

Another chance to inspire grandchildren

Put my name into the hat please.

Another attempt to interest the grandchildren

Would save me quite a bit of time with a couple of my transmitters.

Can't win if you don't enter

Will it give me a headache?

My wife had one of the frequent calls about problems with her Windows computer. She said hers was a Mac and got an apology. Some time later a similar voice called and I answered the phone this time. The caller claimed to be from Apple Mac and had evidence that my Mac had been severely compromised. I told him that I didn't have a Mac to which he replied that he had the details of the machine registered to me and that my wife had asked him to call me. In the past saying one had a Mac always made these callers hang up so it would seem that they are changing their tactics to try to gain access to computers whatever type they are. Malcolm

Would be good to get a grandson interested. Malcolm

I have an ancient treadle operated Hobbies fretsaw - can be quite therapeutic. For some operations I'm lazy and use a bandsaw. A note of caution if using a coping saw - the teeth are quite big and can easily cause damage if cutting thin materials. Like Peter Miller, I remember well cutting out printed KK balsa parts with a broken razor blade. Never had the wherewithal to re-sharpen them and often had stains on the balsa created by red stuff leaking from one or other of my fingers. Malcolm

I resurrected an old Chief not very long ago and used some paper designed for use with inkjet printers or other machines. I used PVA as adhesive and sprayed the paper with water before applying it. When dry I used a water based satin clear varnish as at the time i didn't have any dope. I am pleased with the result and the "varnished" paper seems pretty tough. Haven't yet managed to get it to my favourite slope site so don't know how well it will stand up to that. The original model was for single channel rudder but I added an elevator when I acquired a two channel radio. For me that made a huge difference in my ability to control the model. Malcolm