mal brewer

That advert for 'Astral' kits brings back a few memories.In our house,around the mid '50's,there an Astral kit for a rubber powered Bristol Beaufighter. I believe it was produced during or very soon after the war,as all the printed sheets for wing ribs,fuselage formers etc,were not balsa,but a hard wood,looking back,I think it was obeche.It had a most unusual method of driving the props,whereby the rubber motors ran from the prop-shaft in each nacelle through the wings into the fuselage,where they were tethered.This resulted in each rubber motor being at about 30 degrees to the prop-shaft ! Totally impractical,and I would say,impossible to work.The model never got built,mind, wish I still had it !There were several models in the range,including,I think,a Halifax,all employing this strange drive system.I'm pretty certain they were designed by no less then H.J.Towner,a very well known scale modeller of the time,but how he could devise that drive system seem unreal. Does anybody else remember these kits & models ?,,,,,,,,,,Mal

Hi Colin, just shows what a small world we live in.I must have unknowingly have met Nigel when he was a youngster,as I used to fly at Sutton Park every sunday during the '50'S& 60's,weather permitting..I left Birmingham in 1964,and moved to Chester,where I still live.Incidentally,another local lad from around here,Donny Williams,also passengered for Nigel at the TT...………………….Mal

Hi Colin, sad news indeed.Yes, I knew Nigel was a keen modeller,but I didn't know he was into yachting as well.A friend and workmate of mine ,Colin Bairnston,was his passenger in 83 & 84 at the sidecar TT.He used to ride ( drive? ) the unique Barton Phoenix engine in his sidecar outfit,and he did win a TT with it. He also won a TT on a solo machine,he was only the second person to win a TT on a solo and on a sidecar outfit..I knew he lived in the midlands,as I lived in Birmingham in my younger days,so you tend to follow fellow brummies……….Very sad and a bit ironic that after flirting with dangerous sports all his life,he should meet his end on a model flying site,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mal

I do remember some of Mr Boddey's C/L models. One was a Vickers Viscount if I remember correctly...... Hi Percy.yes back in the day ( around the sixties ) Maurice Bodey (1" D " was a very well-known modeller,and a great friend of mine.He,with his brother,and a chap called Bernie Davies founded the Heswall MAC,which later became,and still is,the Deeside MAC.This was in the Heswall, Cheshire area.He was employed by the Essso oil company,and moved to Nottingham when the company re-located.I used to visit his house every Wednesday for a cuppa and a good old natter,and of course,see what he was building.His models did indeed include the Viscount,which was the first of his designs published.Other models included The Shackleton,Dakota,Northop Black Widow,Halifax,plus several more designs.A great modeller,and a really nice bloke,sadly missed...….

Hi Roger, regarding the fuel tank capacity,believe it or not I used a plastic bottle that used to contain methylated spirits,from what I can recall it was 1/2 litre,which translates to approx. 17-18 oz ( I think ). I never actually timed my flights,but I never ran it dry,despite flying for about 12-15 minutes a flight.These engines are fairly economical on fuel,being quite a low revving unit.You will find full throttle will only be required for take-off and perhaps some vertical manoeuvres,so fuel usage will be quite low...……...hope that helps, but you will be able to get a rough check on consumption when you bench test it...…………..Mal.

So `looking over this mounting and I spotted something I previously ignored. It`s now more obvious and not standard, someone has fitted a nipple for fuel tubing! Thing is why? On a two stroke? Puzzling me! Is this a reconised mod serving a purpose? It may be a similar mod that I did to my engine.The nipple was used to pressurise an extra tank fitted for a smoke system.Richard Crapp described such a system as fitted to one of his models,I forget the name of the model,but it was a biplane powered by a Quadra 50cc petrol engine.Would it have been a Stolp Starduster Too? Anyway,the article inspired a few of us to try it,but with varying results.My experiments were never too successful,mainly due,I think.to the exhaust temperature on a glow engine being too low to produce a lot of smoke.Richard's system,using a petrol engine,was quite spectacular. So the nipple might have been for that,there again,maybe not ?...…...Mal Edited By mal brewer on 13/11/2018 17:42:11

I never noticed any excessive vibration with my st 3000 using the supplied radial mount bolted directly to the firewall. Mind you,you'll need a hefty firewall, mine was 1/2" ( 12 mm ) multi-ply well gusseted to the fuselage sides,and re-inforced with fibgeglass matting.Possibly a bit overkill,but it never came loose! Don't forget to balance the prop,I found a lot of props as bought were well out of balance,could be they're a lot better nowadays,I've not bought one for a while...…………….Mal

Hi Roger, I think you'll find the six bolt hub was made by Don Stothers,or at least he sold them, back around the eighties I think. One other point,don't set these engines too lean when ground testing them prior to flight,you'll find that they lean out in flight due to the prop 'unloading' and picking up revs once airbourne. So set it slightly rich and you'll find it very dependable...………...Mal

Hi Roger, you'll find you don't really need a starter for these engines,they really are the easiest starting engines ever.I ran a S.T. 3000 for aeveral years,all I ever used was a stout glove,nearly always it was a first flick start.You could flick forwards,or a backward flick,didn't seem to matter. Yes, 5% nitro,10% oil is ideal. I always used a 20x8 prop on a 72" aerobatic biplane,a Krier Kraft,weight around 17 lbs. Flew it with ease through any aerobatics,once set up correctly,100% reliable,don't ever recall a deadstick,and never had to touch the needles...……...thoroughly recommended,still got mine,and its going in another model...………...regards,Mal.

Two models stand out, both superb,hard to say which was the better model. First model was a Sid King designed Radio Modeller plan built "Pussyfoot",I built and flew loads of them! The other outstanding model was an enlarged Don Stothers design of the "Krier Kraft Acromaster".I flew it for years,sold it to a clubmate,and he wrote it off first time he flew it. It flew so well I've just built another,it's just awaiting painting..........................Mal

Wasn't it Pylonius who wrote a very amusing article about a Doug Spreng model,I think it was the " Twister",in which he argued ,in a comical way,about Doug's aerodynamic theories. He gently mocked Doug, including intentially spelling his name wrong in a very comical article. Pylonius,(who was he ?) always wrote a very amusing item,and was very clever in his use double meanings.................................Mal

Posted by Peter Miller on 23/02/2012 08:32:49: Tufnol is much, much stronger. IT is made from frabric not paper. There was an engine that used a Tufnol disc valve. Not sure which engine, may have been an ETA 29. the Amco 3.5 bb used a Tufnol rear rotary disc valve........................Mal

Posted by Tony Kenny on 24/11/2017 21:12:39: It's non -alcoholic Question still stands though, why can't light weight twisted metal be used to create an airframe? Not quite twisted wire, but does anybody remember the 'Frog Pioneer',an all alloy model built in a normal modelling manner,but all components,stringers,longerons,wing ribs and otherparts were either light alloy,plus the occasional plastic item,held together with special clips.This was,bear in mind,not an ARTF,but was assembled by the modeller.How successful it was I don't know,I never saw a completed model,if I recall correctly,the price was on the high side.........................Mal

Posted by ron evans on 14/08/2015 12:39:04: This one is Shauns and has a Rand, but generally Fleets came with a Controllaire 'Ghost' actuator. Edited By Phil Green on 14/08/2015 12:59:38 I had a Fleet radio with a Rand LR3 actuator,but it came as a one-piece combined actuator and r/x,but the r/x was uncased,with a separate deac. I part-exchanged it for a second-hand OS ten-channel reed outfit,with Climax Digimite servos,at Roland Scott's original shop in Bolton. That would have been in the late '60's...........Mal

Hi Danny, sorry but you're completely wrong with what you are saying,I can only assume you misunderstood what you have read or heard from other c/l fliers.The bellcrank position is most important to the model,as it is the pivot for the model's flight attitude. The bellcrank pivot MUST be behind the c/g,and the lead-outs should be at 90 degrees to the flight path of the model.Having said that,a small amount of of lead-out sweep-back will do no harm.The further forward the c/g,the more line tension will be generated,and conversly,the further back the c/g,the less line tension,plus of course the model becomes more sensitive to elevator.................................Mal.

Hi Steve, the normal place for a safe c/g position on a c/l model is on the front line position { i.e. level with the front lead-out from the bellcrank}. I think you will find that to be a satisfactory position...............Mal.

1st funfighter 2nd atom special

Hello Mike, the method I always use in similar situations is to glue the first layer in place,and let it dry,as you have done,then to glue the second layer using PVA glue,and to hold in in contact with the first layer using masking tape as strapping. Give it plenty of time to dry,as there is little exposure to the air towards the centre of the lamination....................Mal

Hi Ken, yes, that's Sally B in her earlier 'plain metal' guise,she was later painted into her present olive drab finish due to combat corrosion to her ali. skin........Mal

The late Don Bullock was well-known for 'scraping the deck' many years ago with Sally B..........stunning flying ! He sadly lost his life low rolling a Douglas Invader at Biggin Hill.

Hi Martyn, the Pitts at 72" span sounds just about perfect for your engine.I flew for years a 72" biplane with a st 3000,and it was an ideal powerplant.The model was a 1/4 scale Krier Kraft Acromaster,which weighed about 16 lbs,the power was more than adequate.Point the nose in a vertical climb,it just kept going up.I sold the model to a club-mate,who wrote it off on his first outing with it ! The model was so impressive,I've nearly completed a copy of it........Mal

Martyn, Keith Mitchell of the LMA described converting the ST 3000 to petrol.It was many years ago in,I think,scale modeller quarterly magazine.He used four of them in his Lancaster.It may be worth finding the article,or maybe contact the LMA for information.......Mal

Hi Martyn, fabulous engine,I used one for years (still got it) in a 1/4 scale biplane of 72" span.It never missed a beat,and I could almost guarantee a first flick start.I ran mine on straight fuel (i.e. no nitro) with 10% oil content.You must be careful to set them slightly rich on the ground,as they unload and lean out quite a bit in the air.They will convert to petrol,but I never bothered to do that,as has been stated , they are fairly economical,and the straight fuel with low oil content doesn't cost a fortune,plus of course,they are quite a low-revving engine.........MalEdited By mal brewer on 14/12/2013 23:28:06

Hi Ben, you will be hit quite hard importing from USA,you will be charged import duty,(unknown amount,but normally about 2 1/2%,vat at 20%on the entire cost including postage,plus the royal mail handling charge,which was ,I think,?14 last time I used them.It's not cheap!!..........Mal.Edited By mal brewer on 03/12/2013 21:27:30 Edited By mal brewer on 03/12/2013 21:28:15

Posted by Percy Verance on 11/11/2013 21:28:52: Hi Mal Re the Hampden. The name Peter Anderson seems to stick for some reason........ I do recall reading somewhere that having flown the model competitively for a full season, he'd sold it to someone who then passed it onto a museum. Peter Greene? Are you a Fleetwood Mac fan Mal? Edited By Percy Verance on 11/11/2013 21:33:55 Hi Percy, you're right ,I am ! However,I think you are probably correct in remembering the name as Peter Anderson,I seem to recall that name myself. I also have it in my mind that he actually built two of these models,the first one powered by Laser 70's,and a later,larger version with Laser 100's.Not definate on that,but it seems to be in my memory for some reason.......................Mal.