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Showing content with the highest reputation on 13/11/24 in all areas
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Beautiful weather here today so a second and less nervy outing with Minsi 3. Fortunately our club chairman was there with his camera again.7 points
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Took advantage of a rare sunny and still afternoon to get a few flights in with my Warbird Replicas FW190. After an early landing gear collapse (due to a far too fast approach) I was a bit nervous after the gear rebuild, and have been belly landing it. However I took a brave pill and have now had about eight flights landing on the gear and I’m starting to get comfortable with it. Need to get the gear doors/fairings back on now…7 points
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Another JP150 has reached the finish line (after a long start/stop/start build) and is ready for its maiden flight. Built to plan and finished in FighterAces glass cloth and resin with LifeColor paints, which has added a little weight resulting in an AUW ready to fly at 6.5lbs. Canopy from Steve Davis @ Vortex Vacforms UK, pilot and ejector seats by Andrew Meade @The Printed Parts Factory. Model is finished as a 79 Squadron RAF Tactical Weapons Unit trainer based at RAF Brawdy in the early '80s - a scheme we've not seen modelled before either at this or the smaller original plan scale!7 points
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The north Kent sea cliffs beckoned yesterday. The NE wind was measuring 50mph on the very edge too, so they went straight up when you let go 😁6 points
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The good weather continues and it's enabling me to tick off maiden flights that have been intended earlier in the year, but the dreadful summer weather didn't let happen. A bright sunny day with zero wind led to a decent turn out at Kerloch with nine of us getting some flying in. Main item of business for me was the long delayed maiden flight of my Flightline P-38 Lightning, a 63" span ARTF twin, 4s1p 5000mah pack with all the bells and whistle (and flashing lights). I also got a second flight of my Dornier, in rather better conditions for photography, with a nice sky. The Dornier was good as gold and I'm really enjoying flying her. After my customary wee fella flights, including my PZ Mosquito I put some bottle building flights in with my Balsacraft Spitfire PRXIX, before committing to the larger twins. The P-38 tracked nice and straight and climbed out with no drama, the gear retraction and gear door sequencing cleaned up the model and it flies really well, nicely stable and predictable. My prior concerns about orientation were largely unfounded and it felt quite comfortable in a number of banked passes and circuits for Derek to get some in flight piccies. Then took her up a few mistakes high to check out the potential for tip stalling, which was a non-event and trying out the full flap setting, which did give a small pitch down movement. Gear down and a dirty pass, before getting into the landing circuit and all was nice and comfy. Tyro P-38 pilot then committed the cardinal sin, as pointed out in the wartime training film. Off a decent approach I mistimed the flare and the nosegear hit, rather than settling on the mains - snapping the leg like a carrot. Not a difficult repair -and I think I actually bought a spare set of gear when I got the model - but it left the Lightning in an undignified nose down position.😮 Plenty of other flying going on from other flyers - Murat was flying his trusty and striking WR FW190 and escaping from a dolly that didn't want to let go, leaving it just at the edge of the field, plus his cartoon foam Funny Cub, whilst Jim's scratch built 70mm edf Hawker Sea Hawk is back performing well, following extensive repairs. All in all a grand day out though -the forecast is good for the rest of the week and I'm clearing my backlog of models to maiden at a good rate.6 points
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You've both given your advice, the O.P and everyone else is free to choose which to take. So give it a rest please, or open a thread of your own to continue.5 points
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Hang on Ron, isn't that part of the pre-deadstick ritual, offering up the nose of the aeroplane to the Gods, to make sure that they are paying attention? Then, the next time the nose is raised, during the take off, the deity known as Propstop, the God of deadstick landings, knows to stop the engine.5 points
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I joined another Wednesday gathering at Norman Park, Bromley, SE London. Virtually windless with plenty of blue, and the sun showed itself.4 points
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Just returned after another solo afternoon at the patch. There was a very gentle breeze blowing in but it still managed to confuse me! Still, got in some much needed peactice and some manoeuvres have definitely improved. It was such a lovely sunset I even posed the Anthem for the picture.4 points
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Not sure if theres any interest in this sort of thing here, but lets give it a try 🙂 I'm partial to R/C sets that are unusual, small or just old - so when I was given a most unusual, quite old, and tiny transmitter I was well chuffed 🙂 This is a really neat little set from the 1980s made by Cannon, at the time I believe it was the smallest, lightest R/C set commercially available. It paved the way for small, light, full-house ½A models and tiny RET models like the 16" span, Cox .020 powered, Ken Willard 'Cannonshot' biplane. For comparison, here's my Kraft which you'd say is a conventional size, the small World Engines 'Talisman', the really small Cannon and a recent 2ch homebrew. The Cannon outfit was kindly donated by Mel Duval and was originally on the American 72Mhz band (not an option in the UK) but as it happens, the main PCB was badly corroded, so I didnt feel guilty modifying this one! Its been converted to 2.4ghz as usual using my humble 'lockdown' FHSS project code. The simple controls suffice as my conversions dont use transmitter 'model memories' - all my configuration settings, such as reversing, mixers, etc are stored in each individual receiver, appropriate to the model its in, so I can fly any model with any transmitter without making any changes or model selections. Transmitter "Model memories" are obsolete! The Dunham sticks feel nice after a spray of Electrolube, I had to swap out one faulty stick-pot, the aileron, which, being the 'busiest' control seems reasonable after 40 years, but overall its a remarkable transmitter. A 'nice' transmitter 🙂 As you can see the converted set works perfectly and will be flying again for the first time in many years at our next slope-soaring session 🙂 Cheers Phil3 points
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Mostly a workshop day today, having done a lot of flying in the past week, but with such a lovely sky late afternoon, whilst some glue was drying I also took the opportunity to take my Pico Stick, which didn't fly indoors on Sunday, for a trial flight in the garden, taking advantage of the very light winds and fading light to recapture some of the joy of dusk flying from many years ago. slow and steady cruising around. Bloomin lovely👍3 points
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The Pope was out for a walk in Rome when the strap of his sandal broke, he looked around and across the street was a shop with M. Cohen Shoemaker above the door Any port in a storm he thought and went in " Can you mend my sandal?" "Certainly your holineess" Sewed on a new strap " There you are , good as new" "What am I owe" "For you no charge" "Bless you" and the pope went on his way The shoe maker thought this could be good advertising, phoned his friend the signwriter and got a big sign above the door M. COHEN -COBBLERS TO THE POPE The next day the catholic butcher next door had a new sign too KNACKERS TO THE CHIEF RABBI3 points
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Yes, something along the lines of: ”We offer up before you this noisy oily beast in the hope that you will see fit to help guide it safely through the air. Oh, and by the way, we’ve thrown in a few sacrificial fingers to help sway you”3 points
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At the risk of opening up the old can of worms, imo if tuned correctly on the ground there is no need for this and the anecdote above gives another good reason why not to do it.3 points
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Also posted this on my build notes in the scale section. Jerry Bates Plan F6F 96’”, Saito Fg 90 R3 radial for power. First impressions are of a well behaved warbird. Trainerr’esque wing area and huge tailplane combined with a modest weight (16.4kg).3 points
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2 points
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I am now the owner of a Golden Eagle but it is missing a couple of parts, annoyingly it's the plan and the 3mm ply sheet (and two of the four pieces of shaped wood but that's no issue). (one of the few images online) I will see if I can obtain a plan from MFA although I'm not holding my breath. Also I will be able to make up the 3mm ply parts from the image. It did also come with an MFA Panther IC motor, brand new in box but I again looking online I can't see very much about them at all. My question is if anyone has the plan for this please drop me a message and/or if anyone has any experience with the MFA motors what are they like? If they were rare and worth anything I would happily sell and go for an OS (or similar) second hand .40 instead.2 points
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On two more sleeps to maiden day!! 😑 zzzzzzz .........2 points
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Think I'd be inclined to look into the CG position before down thrust (shouldn't need it) and expo adjustments. Balance at 30% of chord from LE to start with - what are the recommended numbers, might be way too far back? Couldn't see exactly, but the elevator movement you have is already very little which makes me wonder, especially how all over the place it was. Removing the undercart would only move the cg even more aft. Not good with the large elevator surfaces. Nice little fun model that should zip about easily with no probs once sorted but not very substantially built for your rough patch.2 points
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2 points
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Perhaps RCM&E might re-introduce 'SPECIAL' issues that have been missing for some years now. And featuring some of Peter's many articles and plans.2 points
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too true. with the greatest respect to the BMFA, they arent engine manufacturers and as with most people who write articles, run shops, make youtube videos they are enthusiasts working from their own experience without specific technical training or expertise in a given area. As i know myself, they probably also know that anyone who dares to question the old ways is immediately persona non grata. Consequently there tends to be an industry trend towards telling the people what they want to hear as most are impossible to educate. in any case, the nose up test is utterly pointless at best and downright dangerous at worst.2 points
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I’ve seen this old can of worms on here before, and it’s something which has always been (and still is) practiced at our club, in accordance with the BMFA Members’ Handbook (updated August 2023), Section 13.5(i) “After starting the engine and allowing it to warm up, check that the pick-up from idle to full power is satisfactory. Hold the model with its nose pointing upward at a steep climbing angle for ten or fifteen seconds and check engine operation at full power. If the engine falters or cuts it is usually set too lean and must be re-tuned. Repeat the test until the engine runs correctly in the nose up attitude. If this is now considered to be incorrect, maybe it should be removed from future editions of the Handbook.2 points
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You don`t need relays or anything else, that`s what the amps I sent you are for. Just remove the limit switches from the amps and wire in yours. Forget trying to use a servo amp because retract ones are simple on/off switches, not proportional.2 points
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I've noticed that it's the engines that are fiddled with and with their noses held up to the heavens that seem to stop. The flyers who start their models easily, with a quick flick, briefly throttle up and then carry the model to the flight line to take off, without that ritual offering, seem to fly the whole flight with no issues, land and repeat.2 points
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Hello, Here are a couple of pics with the decals on. I'am working now on the decals ,such as grounding point,fuel,misc etc If somebody already have those decals i would be pleased to have a digital copy Regards from the netherlands Cheers Pascal2 points
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Let’s not get too carried away. I think we should respect that everyone has a right to an opinion and to respond robustly but I’ve had to edit the previous post as it was just too personal.2 points
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Slow progress but at least it is progress. Motor mount is on motor fitted Esc installed and battery tray fitted . next up fit remaining wing servos and join wing sections also fit landing light and nav light with covers.2 points
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I’m in agreement that it should be removed, it’s a hangover from days gone by when that was the ‘norm’. Times have moved on and so has understanding (well for some it has).1 point
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Nothing done last night. I had a PC built which arrived a couple of weeks ago which has been sitting in the box untested. I thought I'd better get it hooked up and try it out to make sure that it was working before too much time passed. Got it linked up with windows 11 and downloaded some software for some equipment that I will be using on it. All went relatively well with the exception of a bit of editing hardware for a Blackmagic speed editor which is ongoing. Everything other than that seems tickety boo. So dismantled it all and it's sitting in its box again awaiting it's permanent installation in the shed. So with that done and my mind at ease ..... irs time to hit the shed again so I'll be carrying on as above in my last progress post. ..... more vents and Ply lining. Catch you all later. Toto1 point
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Voyager 1 & 2 are still working after 47 years and are still in touch - even if the communication "latency" is something over 20 hours each way 😁 Dick1 point
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I seem to remember, maybe badly, the reason for doing the nose up test was control line models to ensure the engine went from ‘4 stroking’ to ‘2 stroking’ as the term used at the time basically checking the engine would lean out in a climb.1 point
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Head tracked FPV just got easier with the new FPV Goggles L and GM series gimbals from Caddx. Previously it has required a separate head tracking unit fixed to the side of the FPV goggles and plugged into the radio transmitter trainer port to send the head movements to the receiver which sent the signals to a pan servo and a tilt servo in a 3D printed gimbal holding the FPV camera in the cockpit.1 point
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I’ve just ( well 5 months ago) been given a brand new crane lorry for work. DAF, 32t gross, 420hp and auto box. I hate it🤢🤮. I suppose it is ok for only doing long motorway work but multiple deliveries OMG it’s useless. The full auto mode keeps trying to change up all the time, even nearly full 1/2 way up a hill. They’ve taken all the low end power and torque from the engine by giving it a more acceptable eco rating. Luckily there is an “eco off” mode and a manual mode. BTW my old MAN 360 ( manual box, long stroke engine- excellent torque) did 14mpg…..this new eco lorry - 7mpg. I told my boss I didn’t want a new vehicle!1 point
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My wife worked for the Post Office in the 1970s, she was part of a group that was computerising the stores system. As part of the process she had to visit a large P.O. depot which stored, among other things, thousands of Trimphones. The Trimphone storage area was restricted access with strict limits on time spent in the area due to the radiation emitted by the tritium in the luminous dials.1 point
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No outdoor flying since Sunday, despite the weather - family and indoor flying, which always makes me laugh. The indor flying! Had another call from the RAF about our NOTAM (for 7.5kg+ models to exceed 400'). They kindly said as we had activity yesterday (1 flier), they'd make sure their 2 Typhoons and a Grob Prefect would avoid us by at least 5k. Very polite these RAF bods. My wife calls them "my new best friend" as they've called twice in under a week.... not so sure the airbase where the Hawks come from falls into that category! Walk dogs at first light, then charge some rx batteries I think....1 point
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1 point
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Hi Chris - I'm sure that I'll enjoy the Lightning - it was a joy to fly and looks fantastic in the air. I'd seen that previously there had been issues with the elevator horn working loose, so I had drilled a small hole and have a bolt go through the horn, secured with an outsize nylon washer on top of the elevator. It's barely noticeable once treated with a dab of paint, but I wasn't happy just trusting to the glue. The Dornier was built for me by my pal Jim. It's a balsa and light ply crutch, flying in formation with some shaped blue foam block, conventional built up balsa wing and tail surfaces, with the transparencies supplied by me, vac formed over 3D printed forms. Flies like a big trainer and I'm delighted with it. Totally hooked on twins after this past week.😎1 point
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I've got 2 Mascots, one still original I built as a first RC IC model in the early 90's. another same scheme just newer as the old one is rough, and also have a brand new kit in box I bought for £10, including covering. I actually made a another one, years ago, a copy with built-up wings, extra 2 inch of wing span and flaps. Flew well, but decided to sell it - which I regret as it was a one-off and unique.1 point
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For gluing Correx to itself I have yet to find anything better than EvoStik, after first keying the surfaces and then cleaning with nail varnish remover. Other than that I also use hot-melt glue for sticking Correx to itself and to plywood spars and formers.1 point
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First job is to swap over the rudder servo arms The shorter one was removed and the longer one dug out of my spares box. Not a long job and the longer arm fitted to my satisfaction. Interestingly this improved the maximum EPA from 30 degs +/- to 55 degs +/- !! In the meantime I found my setting up instructions for my long gone Aeroworks 50cc Edge ( what a great plane that was until I totalled it many years ago). High rate throws for the rudder was recommended at 35 degs +/-( 3D 45 degs +/-) I set my SW edge at 35degs +/- on the rudder as an adventurous starting point. I set the elevators at 26 degs +/- using my iPhone gauge ( Aeroworks was 20 degs +/- 3D 40degs +/-) The ailerons I set at 25 degs +/- (AW also 25 degs with 3D 40 degs +/-) As indicated I have balanced the CoG at the mark shown on the fuselage (above the wing spar) as a starting point but I fully expect that to change when I get used to her performance. I may to tone her down bit too, but time will tell. 30% Expo on all surfaces recommended, but for 3Ders (not me) it's 60% Expo. There is nothing else left after checking all bolts but to do the maiden flight. Friday might be a possibility if the weather turns out as forecast.1 point
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I've managed to order a kit after Glenn sent me a PayPal invoice so I'm not sure of the issue is fixed or just worked around, looking for to building it though, I bought the plans last year along with some Wot 4 mk1 plans from Chris.1 point
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Cold and murky at the patch but a nice breeze in a good direction. Well mannered on the ground and in the air after a short run and still at only half throttle. Four or five clicks of down trim needed and a couple of left aileron and all was good. I probably need to reduce the elevator throw by a fair bit but otherwise I got the sense of a lovely flying warbird. Cloud base was so low I didn’t fancy a loop and was content to do some circuits a roll and a couple of slow 1/2 flap down fly pasts to feel out the approach and landing. The slow speed handling with the huge wing area and tailplane is a new warbird experience for me and she came in like a dream using very little of the patch. Happy days. Credit to our club Chairman Chris for the photography. F6f Hellcat 1/5.3 scale 96” span AUW dry 16.4 kg Engine - Saito Fg 90R3 Jerry Bates plans Slec/Belair laser cut parts Stencils - Flightline Graphics. Cowl & canopy- Fighteraces1 point
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1 point