Jan Huyser

Mode 2 East Anglia East Anglia Instructor

Hi Peter,  30's racer..Now your talking!  I love planes from that era and am actually busy building a 1/4s Gee Bee model "E". (Plans by Mr Brian Rice)  I also built Miss Lizzie. Remember her? I scaled her up some 25% and put a 70fs up front. Sadly this plane crashed to pieces due to loss of radio contact caused by a failed on-off switch.  Also from this era I built and fly Miss Millie, plans from Bert Janson and Mike Keay. And then also my own "30's style" design, very similar to Miss Lizzie. So from me it is a yes to a 30s racer. Jan

Hi to all,  and a very high reving new year to all      Taking balsa to plan, one never really knows for sure how successful your endevours are going to be, until of course, that thrilling maiden flight arrives.    I built this very Bootlace in 2006 and it turned out to be a very nifty and enjoyable model to fly indeed. Turned a few heads in the process. In a moment of weakness though, I sold it in 2007, and very soon  regret having done that. (Like you do...).       From what I read here I am not the only happy customer, so yes, I will recommend this build any day.   Jan                

Hi there.  I too have used and can vouch for Crafty papers, but have also used a "float-off" paper called Lazertran, available from some art shops. Lazertran also is available for either ink-jet or Lazer. I have used lazertran inkjet with happy results.   Jannie

Hello Frank,                      Nice to hear from you. I am indeed glad that you have the ailerons in the top wing as well. I think it is the most important "change". As for the fin and rudder, I think the alterations were purely cosmetic, and I think Bert thought it looked better. (All this corespondence was end of 2006). So yes, I would not worry about it. I will post photos in the Millie gallery of what my rudder looks like.                I like your choice of engine. I really think it is going to add a very realistic sound to the Millie vintage. My engine is a home conversion. It is a 24cc (1.50) petrol two stroke, and goes by the name of Einhell. (Greman). It is out of a brand new leaf blower which I bought at a bootsale for £20.00. I done some mods to it, and then also replaced the carb with a Walbro carb from a 30cc Ryobi bushwacker.               This engine has rear flywheel/magneto, so instead of spacing the engine with mountings, (and thus put more weight forward of c of g), I instead "sunk" the flywheel into the fuselage. Hence the crazy cut-out you can see in the firewall.               My elevator and rudder servos are mounted as far back in the tail as possible, so my "pushrods" are only about 100mm long, made from bicycle spokes. Likewise, the aileron servo pushrods are about 125mm long.                Now due to much more luck than wisdom, my c of g is just about spot on, and I will not require any ballast weight at all. Thing is, I only hold an A licence, so I have to keep the weight down below 14 lbs. It actually weighs 13lb 6oz , but for the weight of the rx battery to be added.                I am really looking forward to seeing photos of your Millie, and your aproach to building. You got me thinking about your requirements for your cowl now, and how it could be done.               Have you done much with the cockpit? Pilot, gauges etc?  Are you going to have wheel spats? I would like to, but have no idea where to get.  Best regards, and stay in touch. Jan              

Hi Frank, I have posted some cowl photos in the Gallery under "Miss Millie", showing my approach to the cowl problem. At the risk of coming across as a "wise guy", I feel it is important that I at least mention the following in good faith. Please ignore if you already know. There is a "mk1" and "mk2" Miss Millie, so to speak.  The original Miss Millie was found a bit wanting on the ailerons, and it is highly recommended that you fit ailerons to the upper wing as well. The tailfin and rudder shapes were also re-visited. Slightly more area on the rudder. These recommendations were passed on to me directly by Mr. Bert Janson, co-designer of Miss Millie with Mr. Mike Keay. Best regards, Jan

Hi Frank, This may be a bit late, but maybe it helps. I am building Miss Millie, about 99.5% complete,and she is just about ready to fly. I fabricated the cowl using a length of 1mm fibre glass PCB material and balsa "wagon wheels", as I call them. Came out very nice. I have loads of construction photos, on the cowl and everything else as well. Best regards Jan