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I like Bruce!.............at least he hasn't set his bone dry flying field up in flames with fireworks..........

Sorry KC but flogging a dead horse.

My new Xfly Twin Nova. I believe it's discontinued by Xfly in Europe and I got one of the last stock from Kings Lynn Models. It's now been taken on and rebadged by Multiplex. Flies great, not needed any trim, just a bit of elevator mixed with the flaps.

Here's what I do... Set top end Let engine idle for a few secs Open throttle briskly If the engine pops and splutters, it's too rich - close the low end slightly (these changes need to be really small) If the engine sort of revs but gets there slowly, it's too lean - open the bottom end slightly Repeat until happy If it transitions rapidly, no struggling, no pops and splutters - congrats!. If it's fresh out of the box, or you've done the 'blow down some fuel tube' exercise, it won't be far off. If it's a new engine, be prepared to repeat after a few flights. Other views and methods are available. P.S. I'm assuming you know the location of the screw to adjust.....

Had a bit of a break to try and get some flying in. The weather hasn't been helpful though. A bit more work on the fuselage and the wings started. At this size it really does need operating retracts.

Here's some more of our photos from the recent Lleyn MAC PSSA event held over the weekend 8-10th July - big thanks again to all who took part! 🙂

Running out of time before we’re off on holiday, but I’ve done a bit of work on the cockpit and put an instrument panel together using Tony Bennett’s 3D printed parts. There are variations and I don't have specific information on the Spanish plane’s detail. Also I note that Airfix show it as black, not natural aluminium. This will do for starters, I can alter it. Tony included fuselage framing in his printed parts, but the difference in the fuselage structure of the model makes them impossible to use accurately. However, the restricted view inside the cockpit with a pilot in place probably reduces the importance of a lot of detail. I will certainly at least use the guns though. I’ve painted inside with cockpit green, not knowing what else to do. Tony did a nice job of the seat and I’m using that. I’ve emailed David Banks to enquire about a pilot but had no reply yet. A while ago I bought a 3D printer and did a few test pieces, but didn’t persevere. I’m in the process of setting that up properly now, so if necessary, I’ll make my own. Otherwise, it’s a case now of waiting for the book from Spain and the paint from Fighter Aces.

Apart from the BMFA recommendations not to overfly people, livestock and buildings, It is common safety sense not to overfly these, yet some people chose to do so, for example airports. Now, as requests not to overtly have been ignored, radio operated and GPS sensitive equipment will be jammed. As the equipment flown senses loss of signal, it should land, and cannot return home due to GPS jamming, And the recovered craft will be used in evidence. Jamming is not indiscrininate, but is focused at a prescribed range around protected areas and can be adjusted from 100m to 2km. I for one would not chance being airborne.

Ok been waiting for a decent westerly blow. Today everything lined up so went for a trial flight that turned into a very enjoyable 3 x 20 min flights. A bit of a trek to get there (1.5k) but was greeted with a strong westerly, 18mph gusting 25mph +. Weapon of choice a 46" Wildthing for the first outing due to its robustness. First launch straight back over my head. The only ballast I had was a 75g lump of lead which luckily was just enough. Second launch a little further down from the lip and she was away. 20 minutes later a landing was attempted - 3rd time of asking using the dead spot between the two lips. I wouldn't want to risk an expensive plane as getting it down is a tight challenge. There is a grass field behind over a wall and wire fence which is not really practical to use regularly. 2nd and 3rd flights both of 20min just as enjoyable. I could comfortably traverse 150m in both directions and with few trees on the lower slope lift was strong with little turbulence. Sorry no flying pictures (no hat cam or 3rd hand) but a view from further along shows the spot and the second is the westerly view out across the Vale of York. Gliding club is a good mile+ to the south. Summary - big smile, long walk, good afternoons flying and next time bring a friend for company.

I believe that the gentleman who shot this video is an American engineer who is currently working in England, probably for Rolls-Royce. If so this would explain why he was invited to this event twice. All of the aircraft in this video were originally fitted with Rolls Royce engines. There are some fine colour schemes which might inspire the next project! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jBPP7GbXxM

The harder the ring and liner the longer the run-in but the better the seal🦭

This video may help. It’s an OS but the method is basically the same. Only please wear a glove at all times on starting https://youtu.be/74dskloEMFg

Ignorance being no defence in law. Anyone using airspace has a responsibility to check notams.

Hopefully it’s not being shipped through Dover at the moment

PM sent.

No problem Maurice. I will dig it out for you.

I have just won an EBAY bid for a job lot of these mags and It's said to include the Sept/Oct 2000 issue, so I may be able to scan the article for you when they arrive. Actually I looked on Ebay after seeing your request for the issue and there it was listed amongst 32 issues! So I put in a bid immediately and nobody else bid! I thought others would bid as these magazines are rare and collectors items now!

Is there some particular article you need? Or do you need the magazine and plan? There are several collectors of this magazine on this forum and a copy of the article migth be possible but most collectors won't want to part with the magazine!

I used to watch his content on youtube but no longer do. His chip on the shoulder attitude and deliberate attempts to antagonise everyone seems counter productive. Also for someone who claims to be a safe and responsible flyer he does/promotes an awful lot of really stupid things. You cant claim to be a safety advocate when every other video shows your best mate decking another model that was barely airworthy to begin with.

Now I’m worried!

Not too sure what difference Brit 'votes' will do to help save their film prop control tower. I would have thought that it needs Kiwis (and probably the locals) to get on board to help out?

Thanks EarlyBird, I hadn't seen that report, or noticed the comment in TN's build notes. I had thought it odd how much the fans are angled upwards which, since they're behind the c of g, I suppose must push the tail down and the nose up under power. I'll watch out when I eventually get a chance to maiden mine, and incorporate the suggested mix if the behaviour is a problem. Thanks too to Ingolf Steffensen 😀

Teesside MFC is the closest, about 10 minutes drive. Large flat field, owned by club. Need at least an "A" to fly solo.

Yes please Colin. I'm still waiting for your article. I love the Seafang/Spiteful. Cheers Graeme

Looks like a Dark Nights Fix-Up 2022/23 candidate to me - she’s a beauty!

Except for many of the athletes it's not a hobby, it's their livelihood. And I don't think you'd get tens of thousands watching us fly our planes for a number of days. Think of the furore if the authorities did nothing and a terrorist flew an explosive drone into a packed stadium; the minor inconvenience a few are facing for a few weeks would pale into insignificance......

Interesting article from arstechnica, it shows how there was argument and debate about warming/ cooling long ago. At school I was definitely told an ice age was coming, now pretty well proven incorrect. So, as I said, scientists effectively push their own agenda -then and now. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I wonder what will be said in 10/ 20 years time. It is interesting how nations view things differently. Under Merkel, Germany saw nuclear as dirty and had previously planned to close down nuclear power this year (now delayed), so pushed gas as a 'greener' solution with Nordstream 1&2 (now regretted), France considers nuclear to be green and are to build new nuclear reactors there -pulling back some on planned investment in UK nuclear. Norway are 'green' with 90%+ hydro electric power and claim 99% renewable (depending on which report), but are happy to supply gas to other countries. Sadly UK allowed companies from other countries to own our energy suppliers, France, Germany, Spain. An example French EDF, now state owned, supply 20% of UK electricity, that could be used as a threat to us this winter as Europe battles with shortages. Apologies I've gone of topic so will stop, get off the soapbox and get my coat.

I too remember the summer of 1976. It was belting hot for weeks and we had real water shortages. I do wonder about the global warming and whether we are just emerging from the last Ice age. I think about all the billions and billions of tons of coal we have burned on the planet since the industrial revolution and I wonder why it's only now becoming an issue? I also wonder why I'm being taxed in so many varied and different ways so that oil companies can blame me for any climate effects. Did you know that BP one of the most profitable and poluting companies in the world paid about $100 million to an advertising company to shift the blame from them to us ordinary individuals. As part of this campaign they invented the phrase "Carbon Footprint" and started shifting the guilt. They spent $millions surpressing so-called green energy and they have more influence and spending power than most countries have. With the UK estimated to be 1% of the global contribution to greenhouse gases I think we need to stop the guilty feelings and as individuals watch out what all this is costing us. I'm not saying we should not do our best to help the planet but I do think we need to point the finger where the multi millionaires are, who have done the least good and the most harm; sometimes deliberately just fpr a quick buck. KB

My Double Trouble and ASP61FS. No cowl yet - to be fitted when: a. I am happy with the engine / model match b. engine is tuned. Can't be maidened until our landlord cuts his wheat crop 😞 Think I'll finish my P47 next (have stolen the engine from my MiniPlane for the DT above...)

Now, I know I’m more than a little late to this party but having seen Harry’s Alpha Jet in action on the Orme I fancied building one for myself. Having read through the build logs on here and with much guidance from Phil and Harry along the way I now finally have one ready to fly. I won’t go through my entire build as it’s obviously very similar to what’s gone before but here are a few photos anyway… The weight of the original glider was 72g. I used flat carbon strip where I could and rod where space was at a premium. I used 190 micron mylar hinge for the elevators and ailerons but found the width as shown in this photo was way too much, making the hinges too stiff so I subsequently cut them down to something in the region of 4mm wide. I used a carbon rod to locate the front of the canopy and magnets for the rear. I found the elevator linkage hoop required a good width to ensure the two brass levers didn’t foul at their full extent of travel. (The gap between the two brass levers varies through their travel due to the effect of introducing anhedral to the tailplane). AUW with all the radio gear but prior to any paint was now 97g. I sprayed the plane initially with a clear plastic primer, followed by a few thin coats of white acrylic primer before applying Tamiya matt white acrylic which then brought the weight up to 101g. Now I was ready for some colour and of course I needed to find a different colour scheme to what’s gone before. As seems to be my way of late I ended up choosing something difficult! The Portuguese Air Force ASAS colours. I lightly sketched the shapes onto the primed surface using a soft 6B pencil until the proportions all looked about right and then masked up, spraying red first, followed by the green and then black. I used Tamiya matt acrylics and my new spray gun and compressor (Thanks for the recommendation Harry). There was much touching up of paintwork along the way, partly due to a little paint lift and bleeding under the tape in places but also due to the translucency of the white and red colours in particular. I also found the matt white finish difficult to keep clean during the whole process. Another first for me was making my own waterslide decals although this did require much assistance from our daughter in the Photoshop department. I have to say they went remarkably well and I’m particularly pleased with the chequerboard finish around the nose, something I had previously thought I would have to do by hand using either paint or a Sharpie. Once the decals had dried I then gave everything a couple of light coats of clear satin sealer which should hopefully give it a little more durability against any knocks or scrapes, time will tell. Weight at this point now 114g Prior to any paint I thought I had the C of G something close to the 78mm from L.E. figure but subsequently found I needed to add a couple of small masonry nails up front to bring it right meaning my AUW finally is 118g. Not the lightest but not too shabby given the amount of paint! In hindsight maybe I should have tried to install the elevator servo further forwards as Harry did with his and thus negate the need for the nails. All I need to do now is get out and fly it, I hope to be able to maiden it in the coming week or two in readiness for the next PSSA event on the Orme. Phil 🙂

Hello Peter glad to see you are back at it. I feel a bit guilty as ii’ll be the beneficiary of all your effort 😀 Keep up he good work. Mike

Hi Allan, Yes our ESC are not the same as your average ESC. Firstly they use a 32bit processor, unlike most of our competitors who have the cheaper and slower 16 bit processors. This means our ESC's are more efficient and can deal better with high RPM motors as in EDF applications. Secondly I have personally tested our ESC's with a battery length of 1M and have had zero problems. Our manufacturer has designed around the old problem buy better design and the use of better/more resilient components.