on the cover
Large, majestic and utterly lovely, our lead feature this month takes a close look at a brace of 1/9-scale Canadair CL-215 water bombers, built by Luís Montenegro and José Lumbreras from the Clube Vuelo a Vela Fontefría of Galícia, in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain. At 126” span, powered by twin O.S. GF40 single cylinder petrol engines, both are impressively large examples of the firefighting flying boat and are frequently flown in their natural environment. Turn to page 12, take one look at these outstanding models and we guarantee you'll want one. Photo: Arnaldo Correia
free pro-plans
WEEKEND WREN
Inspired by the evergreen Zaunkonig, Ton van Munsteren brings the classic mini-bipe kicking and screaming into the 21st Century with a handful of design changes and an electric conversion
SUZY QUE
Where pedigree in a retro aerobat is concerned, they don't get much better than a Ken Binks plan. Shaun Garrity introduces a classic ‘60s slope soarer that, even today, gives a very good account of itself
DAS UGLY GLIDER
Shaun Garrity scribbles a brief introduction to help you on your way with Jack Headley's Blohm & Voss BV40 attack glider
regulars
SWITCH ON
Can many hands make ‘Light Scale’ work? We take a closer look at the BMFA's new entry-level scale class, plus club news, an introduction to SAM 35, and more!
COUNTERPOINT
Kits, blingy bits, gadgets and gimmicks. Peer through the shop window at out regular display of tempting new products
ALL WRITE
Readers’ letters. Have your say in RCM&E's gentlemanly equivalent of Speakers’ Corner
GOING PLACES
With spring just around the corner and a few early-season events appearing on the calendar, now's the time to start planning your flying year
R/C MARKETPLACE
Shift those unwanted airframes and splash out on a few new ones, you're worth it
NEXT ISSUE
Show reports, an autogyro FREE plan, a top-end radio round-up, advice on tackling that dreaded first flight, plus columns, kit reviews, news, views and oodles more
reviews
RADIOLINK T8FB
On the face of it RadioLink's T8FB budget transmitter looks entirely unremarkable. Dig a little deeper and what you actually find is a very neat box of tricks. Graham Ashby zooms in
PEPPER
It's fair to say that Aero-Naut kits, with their superb instruction manuals, wonderful wood selection and beautifully produced parts, are up there with the best of them. Expect a glowing review of the company's new warmliner
RCGF 35
Brian Winch finds impeccable credentials and unfaltering reliability in a petrol-fuelled two-stroke charmer
RC-D100 V2
Chargers! Who needs ‘em? …Well, actually, we all do, so if your current unit is showing its age it might be time to chop it in for a younger model. Fortunately, Frank Skilbeck has just the thing
features
CANADAIR CL-215
If, like us, you can't get enough of flying boats and seaplanes, you're going to be bowled over by this brace of Spanish bombers. Arnaldo Correia takes up the story
THE ONE TO WATCH
Weston Park's canny blend of old and new keeps it at the top of the show calendar. Alex Whittaker ponders the secret of its success
SNAP HAPPY
It's true, anyone can take a photograph but there's a world difference between a hopeful snap and a carefully composed image. Mike Freeman explains how to take total control of your shots
FRANKEN QUAD
If you're a squeamish quadcopterist we suggest you look away now before John Stennard dismembers a little four blader in pursuit of fun-scale VTOL
RADIO ROUND-UP
Mid-range radios occupy the heartland for most model flyers and, as such, this is where most of us spend our money, but were you aware of the huge choice?
10 TYPICAL MISTAKES……
That all newbies make. David Ashby investigates
SUBSCRIBE…
…And we'll send you a Fastrax hardened metric hex driver set, absolutely FREE!
DRAGON RAPIDE
Harking back to the days when short-haul aircraft had two wings, flying wires and proper-cosy cabins, Alex Whittaker finds a fabulous example of de Havilland's wooden workhorse
CLASSIC COCKPITS
Who better than Andy Sephton to share his thoughts on the instrumentation and characteristics of the beloved Hawker Fury, and to introduce our latest cut-n-keep instrument panel?
PARTING SHOT
R/C through the lens
columns
JUST-F-FUN
Giddy with tissue-induced trauma, David Ashby parks the rubber one till spring then takes to the water
WIZARD OF OZ
As Brian Winch explains, it's not difficult to freshen up the aesthetics of a well-used engine
ON SILENT WINGS
Simon Cocker boils a bag of beads (as you do) for some polymer- based widget fabrication
WEEKENDERS
With the balsa bashing on his classic Boddington bipe all but done, Alex Whittaker turns his attention to texing
It's an issue you won't want to miss so be sure to pop along to your newsagent or model shop and pick up your copy for just £5.50. Better still, why not save yourself some money over the long run, grab a gift and get your copy before anyone else by subscribing? Don't forget the Subscriber Extras too! If you would like a single print copy, you can purchase one from www.mags-uk.com.
