mal brewer

Posted by David perry 1 on 30/06/2020 20:01:56: Posted by David perry 1 on 29/06/2020 22: Merlin! That was my engine. Merlin ! Had Super-Merlin ( red cylinder head ) back in the day. Still got a Merlin, it's in a Vic Smeed Ballerina on rudder/elevator, and contrary to my memories, starts easily and runs a treat................Mal.

Martin, my first radio was a 'Fleet' galloping ghost outfit, from Derek Olley. Had a few flights with it, but never really got on with it. After trying unsuccessfully to come to terms with it, in 1968 I part-exed it for an outfit you drooled over, an O.S. ten-channel reed outfit, from Roland Scott's when he was in Bolton. Mind you, mine was second-hand,with 'Climax Servomite' servoes. Fabulous radio, but the servoes were prone to sticking on occasion.I eventually sold it to a clubmate,and bought a new Futaba Digimax, excellent outfit, I've stuck with Futaba ever since. A friend of mine had a Space Commander set,I think it was a G45 outfit,was this the one you had ? I never saw him fly with it, he went to work for Aerospace at Broughton near Chester, and was put on maintainance work on the Mosquito and seemed to lose interest in modelling. Mosquito sadly no longer with us. .....................Mal Edited By mal brewer on 30/06/2020 18:07:30

Hi Martin, re. Nigel Rollason, he was the motorcycle racer. IIRC he used the unique Barton Phoenix engine from the David Essex 'Silver Dream Racer' in his T.T. sidecar outfit.I'm not sure, but I seem to recall he won a T.T. race with it, and I think he also won a solo T.T. race, I think on a 125. A couple of my friends used to passenger ( ? ) for him at the isle of man, not both at the same time obviously ! They both lived on the Wirral, not far from me, their names were Donny Williams, who I believe has passed away,although I could be wrong, the other lad was Colin Bairnston, who I used to work with. I'm going back to around the 1980's or so now. I put a question mark after the 'passenger' description, as I can't think of a more inappropriate description, they're hardly a passenger lol. Yes, I lost a Allbon 'Dart' powered flying wing somewhere in those woods, I also had a Junior 60 fly away (free-flight ) and got a right rollicking off my Dad, anyway couple of days later got a letter off some chap replying to my 'Reward if found' label on the model ( remember them ? ) so we went and collected it, my Dad paid the 'reward' to the chap, and all was well..................................Mal

Hi Martin, yes I used to go to Model Mecca in Witton Road during the '50's, it was my local shop, as I iived in Aston. As an aside , I am led to believe that Nigel Mansell was an enthusiastic modeller,and that he used to fly at Sutton Park, I don't know if you can confirm that or otherwise............Mal Edited By mal brewer on 30/06/2020 11:45:56

Hi Martin, I used to fly free-flight from Sutton Park in the '50's. The majority of fliers from there were free-flight, but there was a ( very ) few radio models,all single channel, with massive ground based transmitters,about the size of large biscuit tins, with aerials about 6 foot long,and the 'button' on a wander lead.Rubber powered escapements,a successful flight was a cause for great celebration. E.D. seemed to be the most popular choice of radio,,but I could never afford it.I left Birmingham in 1960 and moved to Chester, where I still live.................Mal.

Posted by ken anderson. on 29/06/2020 09:21:48: my place of worship during the 1960's was a diy/model shop in Blyth Northumberland called "the handyman's" ...they sold balsa and balsa cement and a few model bits and pieces and odd kits.......the lad who worked there called Alan had a motor bike and sidecar and flew his models at Newcastle town moor......happy memories....as a youngin admiring the Keil Kraft jnr 60 in the window....39/6...impossible to afford... I can still smell the new sawn timber in the shop,and a lot of the grown up's all seemed to buy hardboard for DIY job's. ken anderson....ne...1.......6d a week pocket money dept. Bit out on your prices there Ken, a Keil Kraft Junior 60 is listed at 64/5 ( about £3-22 ) in December 1963, a Super 60 was 107 /- ( £5.35 ).............................Mal

Posted by Bob Cotsford on 28/06/2020 23:13:52: While in and around Birmingham how have we missed Bob's Models, Jim Davis Models and my then local, Shirley Models run by Jim Knox(?) then later Mick Forbes. A later addition was Kings Heath Models in, you guessed it, Kings Heath and even later Birmingham Models in Acocks Green. I did mention Jim Davis in Stockland green, as I said he later moved to a big unit in Dartmouth Street,I forgot about Bob's models, but what about Chick ( ? ) doughty ?. There were too many model shops in Birmingham in the '50's and '60's to recall easily.Never went to Shirley models,or even knew of them.I remember a lot of Birmingham flyers,Ray Monks (f/f ), the Hewitt bros (c/l stunt ) Mac Grimmett ( c/l combat ) Dave 'Tubby' Day ( r/c scale and aerobatics ) and many more.....................Mal.

I lived in Torquay in my very much younger years ( pre-teens ) and I was very much air-minded even back then. I remember my Dad starting to build a ( c/l ) Veron Wyvern, which was never completed. However ,I do remember two model shops, one was half-way down Union Street, the other was also in Union Street,but a little way out of the town centre.I seem to recall in was near to a church or chapel.I do recall the shop in union street,( the one in the town centre ) had a Veron Mig-15, or was it a LA-17 with the 'IMP' propulsion unit,which we were try to fathom out what it was.This would have been in the early '50's, does anybody know them or of them, obviously it is highly unlikely they still exist as model shops.............Mal

Posted by Mr Chinnery on 28/06/2020 14:29:09: Going back even further, anyone remember The Model Aerodrome across from Colmore Row and the Cathedral in Brum? I couldn't have been more than 8-9, but it was love/obsession the first time I looked into that big concave (no reflections!) window. My first KK kits from there too with saved pocket money and also my Dad bought me my Albon Merlin there. Yes, I remember 'Model Aerodrome' on the corner of Cherry Street, they also had a 'factory' on Stratford road,where they produced their own-brand models. There was also a couple of shops in Birmingham city centre,forget the name of one of them,but it was near New Street station,and had a model railway circuit in the window,which would operate if you placed a hand on a sensor on the window.There was another model shop nearby,in a passageway opposite New Street station, called 'Kanga Models', which I have been led to believe was owned by Colonel Bowden, designer of some of the ugliest model aircraft ever! There was also 'Model Mecca' on Witton Lane,Witton, and a sports shop on Soho Road Handsworth also sold modelling kit.There was another shop in Great Barr which sold model equipment from their upstairs floor. Jim davis had a big shop of course,and he eventually ended up in a large industrial unit in Dartmouth Street..The shops from around the city were all from the '50's-'60's,all gone now of course.....................Mal

I never use piano wire for making cabane struts, far too hard to bend into identical lengths. I always use welding wire (copper coated mild steel) which I find amply strong. Available in 1.5mm (16 gauge) and 3.2mm (12 gauge)………….Mal

Speaking of Dave Platt, I think that Douglas Dauntless at around 09'37" and again at 10'06" was his. IIRC, he hadn't had chance to test fly it before the Nats. I know it crashed heavily on take-off on its first flight, and I remember seeing him carrying armfuls of matchwood back! Someone had just got the first batch of 5-minute epoxy in the country, and he stayed up all night gluing it back together again! The result is what you see there! Not a man easily discouraged IIRC the Dauntless of Dave Platt was the first scale model to incorporate 'weathering' or 'battle-worn' finishing techniques to a model,as opposed to the usual,at the time, pristine or brand-new appearance of most models.Caused a lot of comment at the time,and of course,changed the process of model finishing and judging.You're correct about the aircraft being virtually written-off on the first day,and being rebuilt overnight,although a picture in the 'Aeromodeller' magazine showed him with four large tubes of 'Britfix' balsa cement...…………………..Mal

Posted by Mike T on 26/05/2020 15:51:50: (and condemned as useless by MvR) What is , or was , MvR ?

Hi Mark. re. cleaning your S-T's, I always used to use toluene, but where you would get it from these days I really don't know.I would assume neat methanol, or maybe WD-40 would be suitable,provided they were dried and oiled after cleaning, preferably with something like auto-transmission fluid, not 3-in 1 oil. I assume you realise these engines only require an oil content of 10 %. I used to buy a gallon of 20% oil fuel, and dilute it with a gallon of neat methanol...…………...good luck with your engines, I'm sure they will be fine...…...Mal.

I can see no reason why these engines should be any less reliable now than before they were stored.I have a S-T 2000 and a S-T 3000 both of about the same age,not run for many years,and am about to put one in an Extra-Wot. Your engines will probably require flushing through,and maybe new bearings,but I would run them and see how they perform...……...excellent engines BTW...………………….Mal Edited By mal brewer on 25/05/2020 13:53:18

Yes, good advice, but don't forget you can also put a reserve price on your listing,which will be the lowest price you are willing to accept. If the bidding doesn't reach this reserve, the sale will not take place...…...………..Mal

Hawker Hunter ??

I used to have a close friend, now sadly passed away at a quite young age of 60, about 15 years ago. Funny enough, he was also an ex motorcycyle racer, and he had an incredibly small shed, which also in a state of chaos.He used to build 3 and 5 cylinder radial engines,using 'seconds quality' cylinder and pistons from Neil Tidey, the 'Laser' manufacturer..Neil Tidey actually attended my friend's funeral. He also used to make incredible retract u/c's for the LMA lads,and did a lot of work for Dr Jeremy Shaw, including fitting self starters to his engines.Another coincidence, my friends name was also Ray (Slack )…………...Mal

Posted by Geoff S on 09/05/2020 21:25:05: . He did the bodywork for the Mini-powered 3 wheeler that was very successfully raced against sidecars in the 70s. Geoff Edited By Geoff S on 09/05/2020 21:25:48 Was that the machine raced by Owen Greenwood? I remember that it was quite successful, mind he was a very good racer. It caused a lot of controversy at the time, and I think it was eventually banned...…………...Mal

The trim bar was used on 'reed' ( non-proportional ) rc. It was used normally on elevator, where control was split between two servos,one non self centering (the trim servo),and one self-centering servo,( the actuating servo ).The elevator pushrod lay about 3/4 along the trim bar,with the actuating servo giving most movement,and the trim servo providing ……er……... trim...…………….Mal

Hi. yes you're quite correct about the 'Aeromaster', it was designed by Lou Andrews. Ken Binks,one of the top fliers of his day,did a kit review of the model in the RCME , and raved about it, I seem to recall it was in the early '70's. The 'Skymaster' biplane, as flown by the Skyleader' display team was a virtual copy of the 'Aeromaster'. the team included Ken Binks, Chris Foss, and two other well known modellers,forgotten their names ( old age creeping on! ). The kit I have is the Great Lakes version,but I have a complete original model here,if anybody is interested in it...…………….Mal

Looks just like the Aero Master Bipe from the 70's ? Flew well no vices . That came with a choice of wing section If memory serves .........…….. The Aeromaster came with a choice of wingspans, 48" or 52", on either both wings, or single pair of wings,and a choice of wing planform, either straight winged, or swept back wings. Don't recall a choice of wing section, though. I have a kit for an Aeromaster here,and can't find any mention of wing section change,although mine is one of the later kits with the radial cowl...…………….Mal

Posted by Peter Christy on 08/06/2019 11:26:12: Yes, I have a few tales to tell about Standard 8s and 10s as well! The one in the picture still runs well, and surprisingly, for a side-valve engine, is capable of 46 mpg!!! (Ford 100E's were lucky to get 20!) -- Pete As far as I can recall,the Standard 8's all had overhead valves,the basic engine was later used in Triumph Heralds. Mind,you are right about the Ford 100E's fuel comsumption,which did use a sidevalve engine...…….Mal

Considering the Mustangs its age its in pretty good condition, everything made from scratch. He was a master at weathering which at the time had not been seen before in this detail (so I have been told). Dave Vaughan was undoubtedly a master of 'weathering' a model,he wrote an article in , I think, Radio Modeller magazine about the technique required.He used artists crayons and chalk,I think,applied mainly with his fingertips,he was an art teacher,I believe.However,the first modeller to apply 'weathering' to a model was Dave Platt,around 1965. The model was his Douglas Dauntless,which astounded everybody when it was shown at the 'nats' in,I think,1965.It was described in the model press as looking so ancient,it positively creaked! Dave crashed the model on the Saturday,and rebuilt it overnight to fly on the Sunday!Can't remember how he placed in the comp,but the model started a trend for all military aircraft to look 'beaten-up'...………………...Mal

Posted by Alan Gorham_ on 07/03/2019 14:54:00: Micromold....I've got a Spit 24 in primer to be a PSS model. It was/is quite a "woody" kit especially in the fuselage but I suppose that helps with longevity! I've also got a Micromold P-51B that's done mucho flying with an old OS MAX 25. They were good kits. Hi Alan, I've had a Micromold kit for the P51B for many years. I foolishly lent the plan to it to a friend,who somehow lost it. I finally obtained a copy of the plan,since when it has sat in its box.I keep getting tempted to build it,it looks a fine model.I have a couple of suitable engines for it,an SC 25,or an OS25 FSR.Should be able to find some suitable retracts for it as well,got a couple of swap-meets coming up in the next few weeks...……….Mal

Posted by Percy Verance on 03/03/2019 18:42:15: Er, Paul, if you move the C of G rearward, I think you might need a lighter engine, or weight at the back end. No, I am right, by the swept wing, the cofg will move rearward, so you need more weight on the front end to balance. You measure cofg at the fuselage, not the wing; Think about it... 'Fraid you're wrong Paul. Percy is quite correct,if the model c/g is further rearward,it will require a lighter engine,or weight adding at the tail...…………...Mal