Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)

Tim Hickey Thanks – Slec are legendary. I had a balsa building board off them (and other stuff). It was unusually glued together ends of balsa. Great for sticking pins in. When it arrived a couple of years back it was flat. I was worried it might not stay flay and so stored it flat under the bed. Recently got it out to use and it had badly warped. I started to wish I had laminated it to a board. Anyway, my brother in law has done just that. He is glued and clamped it flat to a thick piece of MDF. It appears to be flat now. I am hoping it stays stable as the idea for pins is a good one. I also got a lot of odds and ends of ply that were great value. Dai Fledermaus Incredibly sad that Vanda and David had to post that. I expect they are overwhelmed with the orders while lock down is on. Its worth reminding fold that every business is under some strain or other at the current time. It could be staffing levels; it could be just operating social distancing in the workplace. I am sure some people do not understand the difficulties facing persons and business during this time. At SWM we have not always managed to clear the bench same day and it is not without trying. Not all the staff are in and those that are work long hours without respite. There are delays with carriers and royal mail. Not everywhere, but it can happen. Many people will think why he is saying that. I understand that, I am not stupid. Generally, people are not stupid, but some are very ignorant of the situation(s) and that is unfortunate. I cannot speak for Balsa Cabin, but its not unusual for customers to be rude to persons in retail. Hopefully, this health crisis might make them realise the error of their ways. At the end of the day there is some life and death, deep serious stuff far worse than a late order. Erfolg Abuse on email is commonplace. The term non proximity method is one phrase I had not heard but I can understand. A very good observation. Your post is excellent. ‘pales into insignificance to other issues of our present times’. Phone’s have been another source of strange instances by none proximity. Several callers being quite ‘strange’ as why the shop is shut? To callers. Very argumentative. Which means staff explain the restrictions and then they just repeat the question. Why is it shut though? Doh.... I put it down to ignorance. But if its not ignorance maybe it is stupidity. Maybe some people are going a little stir crazy. It is still not justifiable to take that out one someone who is just trying their best to do their Job. In difficult circumstances in some cases. Good post Erfolg. Pete Crosby – I said earlier. Slec – are legendary. Ron Gray – Thanks for your support/ Kind words. Glad to hear your package arrived. I’m not at the SWM store and so I have told them about your message and the voicemail. If you need to call them the phone lines are open. Anyway let's keep positive. There's more positive than negative. Lots of good stuff going on. Lots of traders continuing to support the hobby. Steve

Thanks again for all the posts regard business that continue to trade in these difficult times. I think the situation remains unchanged many traders are continuing to offer Mail Order services. The situation still feels many miles away from normal. At SWM we are operating with less staff than usual and this situation presents lots of problems / solutions that would have never been thought off if it wasn’t for the current situation. Take the usually simple procedure off passing a phone to a colleague . Now there’s spraying and wiping down phones before passed to another person. The continual wiping down of surfaces and hand sanitising makes most people appear very Howard Hughes. Keeping 2 mtrs apart sounds easy , but I’m assured it isn’t. On the plus side , support has been good and thanks to all that have been supporting UK traders at this time. I thought a few snippets of information might be of interest . At SWM we have found our presence on eBay to be trading well. That platform has become very busy. Considering the much smaller range of goods we have listed . Kits - from the Vintage Model co, Tony Ray , Dumas , Ripmax Keli Kraft through to the Buckle and Foss kits are all selling in higher numbers than usual . It seems people are taking the opportunity to build during the lock down. Big thanks to all our suppliers for keeping us supplied . Especially Colin Buckle and Chris Foss who will also be facing the problems of lock down. Hi y TV IV We still are experiencing some delays in supply and although most Mail Order is arriving OK with customers , there’s been the occasional delay with Royal Mail and carriers in general . But the delays are very few.! Thanks again, can I encourage MF members to post praise for suppliers that have managed to supply them. Any stories of encouragement welcome.    good night   Steve   Steve Webb Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 06/05/2020 01:24:52 Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 06/05/2020 01:29:28

I learned to fly multi on a Rojair 62 from Alpha Models in Ellesmere Port. I had a second Rojair Cadet to build , better and power more. Mistake. My first Rojair which survived into the 90's training folk , that had a OS Max 40 RC and it was perfect. The second had a 40 FSR and I was at the untidy aerobatic stage of learning. I ripped the wings off it. I think I should have gone for the comet ... LOL. Im posting as this was on the wall of the shop. It was there for years or at least the same kit was. I expect it sold and another was placed there. The day it came to buying it - I went in and it wasnt there and worse. Rojair had burned down. So that was that. I thought the kits were great at the time. Steve

The FS 40 ( one of the best engines OS ever produced IMO) uses the same exhaust pressure adaptor ( some call it a silencer) as the 20 & 26 OS engines. I think the ASP, SC 52 fits. Sometimes the OS version turn's up on eBay. They can go for surprisingly high prices. Have you tried Just Engines? I sold a new one in its packet a few years ago. It was a spare I had and the auction went over £20 - I was amazed and wished I'd bought 20 off them when they were available. LOL. The pressure adaptor ( which some think is a little Muffler) is best left off. It does nothing to quieten the engine as its quiet to start with. Its not high power like later generation OS engines. The FS 40 sets up better and runs better off pressure. FS40 OS - 1982 - First version had a spring needle. Like a control line or stunt engines Needle. Flexible. Later versions had the grey shorter Needle. Like on the Surpass 40   Steve Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 17/04/2020 17:04:46

Posted by Jon - Laser Engines on 10/02/2020 13:56:37: Posted by Martin Harris on 07/02/2020 13:51:04: Is it a Flyte 150? i think so. Some are labelled as such, others arent. KC, in essence they just dont look as well finished. The fins on the front of the head are an abomination, the brass pushrod tubes... They also lack the Laser name on the rocker cover although this could be fudged if someone swapped the cover from a genuine engine. If in doubt, send me a link/photo and i can id it. Hi Jon, Well I have learnt something there! I did not know that was not a laser. Not at first glance, but then I noticed no name, no laser on it. I still thought maybe it was a prototype. I have never heard of Flyte? But does that mean that could be a rare engine. Also - Fake? Surely just a different Manufacturer? But I guess everyone means the advert was fake as it wasnt a Laser? But reading it, sounds like a chap lumbered with shifting engines for a deceased pal. TBH at first glance if he'd asked me what it was I might have said its a Laser. Looks like he's sold it? as the listing is removed. Do you still have any Laser Diesels knocking around? I did hear from someone that you had thought of making the Laser Diesel again. Not sure how many were made? or if that's true. Cheers Steve

Re Webra - I knew they'd been less active like all engine manufacturers, I had not heard they stopped trading. Western UK ED by West I just bought a West 36 Diesel and it appears to look very much like a Webra. When I saw one I just had to have one. Its diesel - They do a 52 also! Sorry had to correct myself. i'll get some pics and report back. Oh.. Western UK - still seem to be listing Webra. As a modeller that enjoys eBay for the odd classic engine. There's always old OS 40 FSR's and Webra's and HP's turning up. Well worth a punt at some of the low prices. Generally gummed up solid when they arrive and once cleaned up, usually the worse issues is bearings. But they can be replaced. Some of the old engines wear very well or should I say don't wear when they've sat in a shed for 40 years. Steve I'm back with photos. One for the Bullet? Get the 52 version They are only available Direct from Weston UK - Allan and June   Steve Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 17/04/2020 15:22:16

Alan H, Chris Walby, Martin Harris (Any one reading this - Model Shop Leeds, worth a visit after the clamp down – a terrific long standing Model Trader). Michael Barclay, I1tofly, Andy Joyce – I’m sorry I do not know the company. When ordering from sites you don’t know, search for google reviews or face book reviews or simple the website having the Padlock in the Url etc BUT… IMO… Drones Direct web site looks professional and it secure etc. Says UK based advice on a 13p per minute number). I just paid £459.00 for my Mavic Mini Fly More Combo and they are £499.00. Not sure about the rest of the prices. Typical I waited months for stock and now I have one and we are locked in home and can’t use it. The website looks genuine to me. Its secure etc. Much to good of a Website to be fake. Martin Mcintosh – I can’t answer your question but this info could be relevant - Generally if items are coming from China some stuff is not reaching the UK. One supplier we have had his parcels to mainland Europe turned back. I’m wondering if Chinese shipping to the UK came via Europe if the same thing would happen? We are on hold on Tony Ray stuff at the moment as he’s had problem in China returning to work and now, he’s not sure his parcels would get to us. Some stocks we are low on. We are the Tony Ray UK distributor as off November 2019. Doesn’t answer your Hobby King question. There’s a few asking about HK – why not mail them and ask? Dennis – see what said. Yep looks genuine. Re Drones Direct Andy Joyce – that’s’ strange, only because I could not select Pay Pal on the Post Code Lottery – just. I would select it and it didn’t work. Coincidence or do Pay Pal have an issue? See how you get on. Lee Damms – Thanks - A new name to me, they do appear to have contact details on the net **LINK** Thanks all! Keep Posting – Support UK traders and they can support the Hobby. Stay at Home and Support the NHS. Anyone else twitching from not flying? Steve

R/C Plane Flyer. It’s quite a cutie. Mini Wot E RayWood and Capt. Kremen Thanks for posting. Good info. Cuban 8 Shop V Mail Order or Mail Order Excellent Post. Thanks for the kind words and support. Shop v Mail Order. Not that it hasn’t been discussed many times, especially in more recent times when the store has been quiet for callers and yet Mail Order has been busy. I mean pre Covid 19 measures. A couple of times in anger I have threatened to close the shop and go mail order only. That usually happens when shop lifting occurs, and I expect many a shop owner would say the same in the heat of the moment. The current Mail Order Only situation has been forced upon us. I must admit I thought this is going to trial Mail Order only. I had no idea if it would work. I have to say it is working. But its hardly a fair trial as No ones going out racing and flying or boating. Or at least very few people are. I’m sure there’s frustrated flyers up and down the UK. What I’m saying is with 90% locked down except for essential journey’s etc the current Mail Order only situation doesn’t sample what it would be like in normal time. Then again are some areas of sales increased. Because modellers are buying things to do. We’ve been selling a lot of glues. It seems to be that Cyanoacrylate and other adhesives are the model trades ‘toilet rolls. What is worth mentioning is when I had the idea for servo shop, the staff at the time were very against it. ServoShop was born from the reluctance to go online selling. Mainly the staff would say how will we cope with orders when the shop is packed out all the time? Where will we put the stock, we are over full etc So, I said – servo’s we’ll trade servos – servo shop. Servos are small, that’s storage sorted. Reluctantly the staff agreed to try it. It worked and the other directors said…. Could we put other things online? So, we did and it’s a good Job we do have servo shop as foot fall in in decline. This current situation  isn’t going to be representative of trading Mail Order, but in some ways it will reveal the problems and benefits of mail order only. Re > A new build project will almost certainly come from an on-line supplier e.g Sarik, Tony Nijhuis, Balsa Cabin or SLEC as a few examples. So many other smaller on-line only companies as well<< It’s great that you support UK business. I believe the decline in UK traders has been felt by almost every model club in the land. Clubs that onetime had 70 members now have 10 or 20 members. This current crisis will only add to Club Problems. Unless the Club has a strong ‘heart’. Thanks for the posts. Steve Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 17/04/2020 14:22:04

Slec and Master Airscrew and a home made one that a pal made me - The home made one mounts to a Black and Decker Work Mate Bench. Its metal channel and blade. Very good. The Slec would have been my favourite until the home made one was given me. The wood pushes through it. I just realised I don't know where it is or I'd have photo'd it. Locked down at the house and it might be at the store. I did get a couple of Perspex CNC cut ones off eBay, I have not found them very good. Not compared to the Slec one any how. Steve

Hi Robin The ASP Diesel It is very different. I am not sure the why and what behind. I picked it up in an Auction and it was listed as ASP Diesel. It could easily be ASP or SC. I think probably the Chinese having go at the Irvine 40 Diesel. It’s essentially a glow converted, but not a home conversion. I’m sure of that as the Carb is around the size of a 20/25 Carb and that would be about right for a 40-size diesel. They use much smaller carbs. Also ‘prototype’ rings true as the there is no ASP logo on the Crankcase. The little circle is empty of Logo. That’s a good crop of ‘different’ engines. The Taipan looks awesome. I completely forgot the Hi Max four stroke. Lovely you have some nice memories. I know what you are saying. I lost my Father a few years ago and I have fond memories of certain engines or aircraft. Brian. MVVS Fabulous engines. I have a couple of Diesels. Excellent quality engines. Paul – MDS Hi I hope you are well? The RMS was the next chapter in MDS history. Because distributors in the UK and Europe had shot themselves in the foot by putting out inferior quality products under the MDS name initially, the Robbe / MDS label was not enough of a move to change minds of modellers – Regard MDS quality. The Robbe MDS was a massive improvement on the early MDS ‘Gold’ tops. It was too late and MDS had become the Lada of the engine world. Jokes such as them only being good for use of a paperweight etc. It was a little unfair as the Robbe MDS’s were very good. Yes I really said that. Peter - Interesting stuff. experimental Heli’s missed me/passed me by, but its mighty interesting stuff. Pioneering you could say. Hi Barry, Hope you are keeping well? Hope everyone else is also. I see what you mean regard combat engine comparison. I think your quite correct. Perhaps they took inspiration from that? The Enya 41 Four Stroke Diesel I have in my collection, but I don’t have the 36 Version. That’s a very rare one. I think we only had 2 or 3 of them in the UK. I am not sure they ever ‘occur’ again. I have no idea why they didn’t just make more 41’s. I made a mistake as if I’d known they were going to be so rare I’d have snazzled one. The prices would over £400, maybe even £500 - I can’t see them ever being available again. That’s 41D and 36D Enya Engine 36-4CD DIESEL AL-CHRO TN Features: AL-CHROME Cylinder and Piston Specifications: Displacement: 5.89 cc Bore x Stroke: 21.0 x 17.0 mm Weight: 403g w/muffler, plug Power: 0.6 HP Rev. Range: 1,800~9,000 rpm Suitable prop: 12~14?8~5 in. Suit. Plane weight: 2.0~3.5 kg I'll try and find a picture. Here's a rare and much sought after engine. Its a Beno Schlosser 05 - a 1/2 cc . Its probably more powerful than many 1cc diesels. This is the RC version. Which is Ultra Rare. I love Schlosser. I purchased this one off the late David Owen in Australia. He was Beno's agent. I think it cost me over £200 by the time I was taxed importing it. It felt like a massive amount of money in 2007. Beno's engineering is second to none. Its up there with the Olivers. But I was always a little Disappointed regard the throttle arm. Its a JR servo horn cut down. I expect if there was 20 or 30 RC versions , it had to be done that way. Its was already a an expensive engine a bespoke arm manufactured would have cost even more. I expect he did not want to make a metal arm as he would have heard stories of metal to metal noise. For me I would have prefered it. That's all for now. Very interesting thread for engine fanciers. Steve

Part 1 MDS Early 90's from the other side of the counter. Adding to the MDS postings. I first heard of them when the Ripmax Rep Produced Polystyrene Boxes with MDS 40 and 61's in them. They were very drab, dirty white boxes. I looked at said... No not interested. He said you will be when you hear the price. Retailing at £25 each. I was interested. We did a better deal and sold the 40's at £15.99 and the £61's at £19.99. It was crazy. We had a table stacked about 8ft high in engines. People bought them in 3's and 4's, This was what I called the 1st wave. They did not run that well, fitting an Enya or OS carb with adaptor ring tripled or quadrupled the price. But to some people getting them to run was the Hobby. The ones that came back and there were many the Ripmax Rep Swapped and when he ran out of swaps, he credited us with goods for the duff engine. Often leaving  us the engine. They didn not want them back. I gave a few away to customers that has tamed them and got their's running.  Extra discount asked for often resulted in, do you want a free engine... The returns were often unrun, new. Just people heard how bad they were and brought them back. I heard many years later that that first wave of engines were engines produced just to keep workers busy many years before Ripmax purchased them. Part of the deal to get them to produce a new range was Ripmax taking the first wave. It seemed were never produced with sales in mind. BUT - Ripmax were planning something better for MDS. The Robbe MDS. Ripmax must have gone in with Robbe as a Black Box with Robbe Logo , Ripmax Sticker Engine appeared along with some Polysterene Box 15 R 's with tune piple ( and these worked! They had no carb, venturi only. The Miniature Aircraft Factory ( Dave Lowe and John Redmond) produced a F16 model to go with the 15 R and they sold loads - I used to swap engines for kits. The Robbe MDS were a finer looking engine. No longer as cheap, but still very economic compared to even Chinese engines. There was a 18, 25, 36 ( might have become a 38) 40, 48 and 60 - I can't recall the pricing but lets say it was £35 to £50. But still problems. Carbs again. But these were much better machined. It seemed to be a Disappointment to Ripmax as they had redesigned the Carb I was told. Then customer service ( in those days a chap called Gary R) started issuing us with little rubber o rings for the NVA if I remember correctly. It cured most of the problems. They needed 10% Nitro and a good plug. The one they came with was terrible. But a viable engine. Unfortunately lots of bad experiences gave the range a terrible name and I don't thing they ever recovered, but as they had another face lift things improved even more regard engines, but not sales... Part 2 another time.   Steve   Good Night and Stay Safe,. Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 15/04/2020 23:55:19