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Hello all ! First ,with a heavy heart , i need to express my condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Alex whitacker who sudden past away just now ...Even though we weren't friends for years i will miss this man.Whenever i was in the UK for flying or a show , he always came to me to say hi ! Once , i was driving to The Orme with no place to stay for the night , he offered me one .I'm very sorry now i didn't take that offer...It would have been a chance to get to now better ''our'' fotographer ALEX'' AL'' WHITACKER !! Bleu skies , calm waters and the perfect light would be the perfect reward for him. RIP Alex , I'll never forget you. Life goes on as they say so here's the report of glueing the first two wingshells together: I cleaned up the mould halves and the wingshells, gave them a coat of wax and a thin coat of pva to prevent the exess glue sticking to them. Pushed the shells back into their mould and blowed everything dustfree with compressed air ,ready to glue ! I made up 80 gr epoxy resin mixed with 40 gr hardener and a lot of cotton flakes and microballoons to get a non dripping glue and spreaded it with a tipless candy bag over the ribs and every touching point. Nothing left to do then closing the moulds and bolt them together. There is nothing more you can do now ,not even check the fit ,hate it !! After a night curing i opened the coffin again to find a perfect half fouga wing !After a good clean up i'm pleased with the result ! It weighed in at 1286 gr where i expected round 1500gr. clean seams too ! enjoy ! See you later for the second wing !

3rd model maidened in the last month - I’ve been catching up on building which was delayed by bad health last year! This one is an ASH26 from Composite RC Gliders, 1/6th scale at 3m wingspan and mostly carbon fibre. After being set up exactly to the instruction sheet flew off without requiring any trim adjustments. Very happy with its performance in 15kt wind and the wing has both flaps and spoilers which were very effective in slowing it down for landing.

Nice shots Neil 🙂 Latest successful maiden flight in a series for me this morning of my Flightline FW190, which zoomed around quite nicely in the increasingly breezy conditions.

Yesterday somebody told me that Dwarf jokes are politically incorrect, but Hey-Ho.

Alex was a good mate of mine. He always called me, “old man” but we found out he was born the day after me! He said, “ I told you you were an old man”. We had parallel experiences in Lancaster in our student days in the early 70’s. We often met up at various meetings, he reporting for RCM&E and me Model Flyer. His drinking sessions in the command centre (caravan) were legendary! He was immense fun and absolutely useless at remembering stuff! Without Mike Parry to take his meticulous notes he was hopeless so he made it up! RCM&E will not be the same without his enthusiasm, contribution and dedication to get the camera footage and story every month. We were very similar in outlook and our shed habits but I simply couldn’t compete with his output of column inches! To say he’ll be missed is an understatement of the first order. He is irreplaceable.

Hi All, I went up to the attic this morning before it got too hot up there with the intention of removing all of the RX batteries from my models ahead of these high temperatures they are forecasting, they are forecasting for me around the 36 degree mark and thinking if is going to be 36 degrees outside then inside the attic it going to a lot lot more and I got a bit of a surprise in doing so and soooo glad I did. I found two LiFe batteries puffed up with one looking as if it would burst The Nimh batteries all appear fine. The one on the left came out of my Top Flite P40, the middle one is new just for size comparison and the one on the right came out of my Balsa USA Taube. Both batteries are now cooling off in a bucket of salt water If it had bust into flames I could have lost my house and worse. From now on I think all batteries will remain in the workshop in sight Regards Robert

I was deeply saddened to hear that we have lost one of the stalwarts of aeromodelling and an all round great bloke. I will never forget Alex and crash Parry dragging me into the command module (caravan) and forcing me to eat soup, god I was cold, but it was the Nationals after all. Alex probably saved me from pneumonia that day. Alex showed me the ropes as I shared the hallowed cross at Barkston Heath, clicking my Nikon next to your machine gun of a Cannon. I am eternally grateful for Alex's help and friendship over the years. An amazing engineer, great photographer, and the only guy I know that could write 500 words on masking tape, and still leave you entertained. Hats off sir, plain sailing and blue skies. Thoughts to Freda and the family RIP Alex

Difficult to know what to say, such awful news. Alex was one of a kind, irreplaceable.

I was sent this by an Australian friend. The Geography of a Woman as she ages: Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa . Half discovered, half wild, fertile and naturally Beautiful! Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe. Well developed and open to trade, especially for someone of real value. Between 31 and 35, a woman is like Spain. Very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty. Between 36 and 40, a woman is like Greece. Gently aging but still a warm and desirable place to visit. Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain. With a glorious and all conquering past. Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Israel. Has been through war, doesn't make the same mistakes twice, and takes care of business . Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Canada. Self-preserving, but open to meeting new people. After 70, she becomes Tibet. Wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages. An adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge. THE GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN Between 1 and 100, a man is like North Korea and Russia. Ruled by a pair of nuts!

So have got a range of full size Stampe pics to hand and plan to machine some parts soon

Hi All, Recently finished my TN Sunderland and took some photos last night Just for fun I made her some legs and trolly scaled up from the Airfix kit. Wingspan 72" weight: 3.7kg or 8.15lbs Covered in encapsulation film and sprayed with Halfords white primer and Flair Spectrum paint on the upper surfaces Power uses the 4 max setup and a 3s 6000 and plenty of pull on the bench I made some access hatches in the nacelles to get to the speed controllers The cockpit lifts out to get at the battery now waiting to maiden Regards Robert

This weekend's maiden flights - my venerable Vmar Ju52, which has been wrapped in bubble wrap for at least twelve years, but finally took to the skies on Sunday. She flew like a big trainer - loads of wing area and easy ROG - really nice to fly. Picture credits Derek Robertson = thanks Derek!

Gordon , It sounds like you might be under a lot of pressure with your test flight in such conditions . Personally I would try to re adjust the odds. Trying to steer down a narrow runway with tall grass either side and a new and precious model is not a good idea . Not only that , but while the temperatures are this high , the air is very thin and the flying surfaces will stall prematurely . Firstly , wait till the air cools a bit or maybe think about early morning or late evening . Choose a day when the there is a light breeze of around 8-10mph . As you have long grass all around , how about tucking the wheels up and asking someone to launch into wind ? If you use a 2 blade prop the torque will be drastically reduced , but even with the four blade , a 3/4 power launch should be fine . Just dial in a little right aileron and ask your launcher to aim slightly right of the winds eye . When it comes to landing , make the long grass an asset and simply pancake, wheels up , into wind on the long stuff. Once you have the model trimmed and realise how benign they are to fly , your take off issues will sort themselves out . Like you , I would fix the tail wheel , but I would reduce rudder throw to the minimum once i have established that the models runs straight . See , I'm not crazy all the time ?

Chris Foss models are lovely flyers but some of the structure design in the ARTF ones is rather poor I recon. Perhaps changed to ease production. Firm up the the cabane strut fixing to the fuselage by whatever means you can and see how it feels then.

Another loss to the world of model flying. And another loss of a personal friend. 😢 R.I.P. Alex. . . You will be greatly missed.

Stick with it

Alex was 71 like me. No age at all I guess. He looked more worn than me! Too much time messing on boats as well toy planes!

First attempt Got to rework the drawing Brain fade during the drawing and so the brace wire anchor looks wrong It’s given me a food for thought

Hi EarlyBird, thanks again for the help but there must be something wrong with my account. When I log in I am taken to My Account. If I navigate to RCM&E the system expects me to take out a subscription which My Account shows I already have. I will contact Mortons on Monday to sort it out.

Like a lot of others I use Advanced Polyfilla lightweight filler. Does the job brilliantly and easily sanded down without adding too much weight.

Not sure of the fin shape from the photos, but if that is a round solid carbon moulded wing joiner I am 99% sure it is an electric version of the Luna 2 and a later version at that judging by the colour scheme, T9 used to supply it, still got my orange and black Luna 2, good little flyer, mine is a glider only.

John do not fly this model with the original white folding propellor blades, even the revised ones can snap across the root pivot point. Pal of mine had it happen and the out of balance forces ripped the motor out of the firewall actually shearing the aluminium mounting and the ply bulkhead. Twisted up all the 3 wires up to the ESC and pulled that forward out of its velcro mounting in the time it took him to close the throttle. Luckily the bec wire was still attached to the Rx and he could land as a glider. The canopy was popped off 1/2 a mile away when it happened due to the twisting of the fuselage. Took us half the day to find it in the next field. Also it took FMS 5 months to replace his damaged fuselage and I advised him on some quality prop blades which are carbon and will not shear across the pivot holes. HTH John M

All, Managed to escape childcare and got to maiden, Queen Jean. I got 2 flights. She flew on rails one click of down and one click of left was all that was needed rates felt good.... Only one issue she was really lacking in power. I had to use 75%+ power and still would not have been Been able to loop. A climb to altitude was was tricky. 3 min flight had 70% battery left and 4min had 65% left so its not using full power I think? Any ideas

I am stunned. Like everyone else, not sure what words to use to express the loss. My thoughts go out to his family & friends.

Just under £20 for a 5 mtr roll from Rapid. If you prefer ProFilm then better get a mortgage first 😉.

Cyano thin ,medium or thick for all wood to wood. Epoxy for wing joining of foam wings and Deluxe Materials foam to foam or ordinary cyano on polyprpelyne foam . Also use foaming Gorilla glue for some joints that are not as tight as they should be . PVA gets used usually at end of day when glued items can be left overnight to cure. We all have our preferences. Have you thought about using laminating film for covering ? It can look either perfectly clear si milar to glass or like doped tissue if you use the matt type. It's also very strong and applied just like normal film but using higher heat.

Up early and at the field by 07:30 the idea being to get my flying done before the heat builds up. I think I was a bit too early as I had to put a fleece on. The field is green 😲 and the crops have been harvested. Test flew this in the still morning air. Nice start to my day 🙂 Steve

Regardless of whether you stick with the engine you have or change it to another, it will always be worth exploring different props and matching them to the airframe. The effects can be quite dramatic and transformative. Well worth the cost imho. Too many people have decided a model "flies badly" and given up on it, when in fact, some tweaks to prop size, cg, control throws etc could totally transform it. Recommendations (prop size, cg, control throws and so on) are a starting point, not an end point. Fly, note, tweak, repeat. Standard practice in Free Flight and something I think we could apply much more in RC than we typically do.

strange thing happened to me today, someone has just thrown a joss stick at me.....I'm incensed!!

I visited the offices of the RSPCA today. It's tiny. . . . You couldn't swing a cat in there.

Yep - I also use Super Phatic in lieu of CA for wood joints, but I tend to used pins, clamps of weights to hold it in place until it's set. Havent used it in conjunction with CA to held the joints in place.

I use Super Phatic a lot. It allows time to put the joint where wanted. Then hold in place, very light tacking wick of thin Cyno, hold for a few seconds, and no pin, clamp needed, onto next joint.

I’ve become the proud owner of a 1/3 scale Tiger moth It’s a older Practical Scale one and the way the struts and rigging is done is so much easier

Try Super Phatic. It gives you a bit more wiggle time, still goes off quick and wicks beautifully.

I don't use much as it is so toxic even with a mask,,,

Going as far back as possible -better to the first issue!- should be a great reason for many to subscribe, including me!

Steve Holland flies his exceptional scratch built scale replica of the DH.88 Comet G-ACSS 'Grosvenor House' that won the famous 1934 England-Australia MacRobertson Air Race from the United Kingdom to Australia. This model is powered by 2 Zenoah 74s. and in total it cost Steve £5000 in materials to build it. Wingspan: 22 ft Length: 14 ft 6in Height: 5 ft Engines: two Zenoah Z74 twins with trumpets. Each has a 1 1/2 litre tank. Props: Menz 26×8 turning at 6300rpm. Weight: 150 lb

A little bit of a tail-chase video we made on the Saturday. I was flying my DJI FPV drone, chasing Phil's DAM T33 on the slope.

Maidened yesterday - sport scale Morane Saulinier type "N" from Radio Modeller plan. This is the second one as I built the first one sometime in the late seventies. Using the very same engine ,Enya 35, from 40 years ago. 3 channel, all moving elevator as per original.

Second in line was my E-Flite 1,2m P-39 Airacobra, which really lived up to the cliché of flying on rails, with not a click of trim needed. Derek really captured these two models well and I'm delighted with the pictures.

Not new, but new to us. From the swap meet at Woodspring Wings show yesterday, maidened by Child_flyer just now. 54" wingspan. Unknown make, ply frame with thin foam skin. Flies nicely on 4s.

I have just seen on FB the sad news that Alex Whittaker has passed. Another sad loss to the flying community. Condolences to the blonde person and family.

Another great loss to the aeromodelling world. I learned yesterday that the wife of a fellow modeller had died on Monday and then this morning one of the best bosses a worker could have passed a way today so feeling a bit down now RIP Alex