Paul H
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Posts posted by Paul H
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Hi Guys
It's me again, Paul, Chair of the BMFA's Centenary Planning Group. Our aims are very simple, 'Celebrate the past and look to the future.'
We are the oldest National Model Flying Association in the world and have a rich heritage to celebrate. I have a letter on my workbench (once a home to balsa now paper!) from a long time SMAE member born in 1922. He built his first model aged 8 and in 1939 he started a model flying club with the help of a local shop. In the war he was posted to the Aerodynamics Department of the Royal Aircraft Establishment conducting tests in wind tunnels and the flight test section, no doubt heavily influenced by his model flying experience. Post war his experience fed back into the SMAE and model flying. We also have the SMAE membership card numbered 02 for A E Jones who was one of the founding members of the SMAE. These, and others are the pioneering giants on whose shoulders we stand and our centenary exhibition at Buckminster will be a unique opportunity to see models and artefacts from the past century.
But what about at a local level? There is some great advice and wisdom in this thread and in the Club Guide so all I would say is please don't let our centenary pass without doing something to celebrate model flying, be it large or small do it safely, free of undue stress and above all have fun. Create good memories and share the joys and frustrations of model flying with family, friends, neighbours and the wider public in whichever way works for you. In this way we will look to the future and secure model flying for future generations.
I look forward to hearing of your adventures and please use the BMFA Face Book and send articles to Andy Symonds. Thank you.
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Hi everyone, I chair the BMFA's centenary planning group so it's great to see this thread develop. The hope of the planning group is that clubs, associations and informal groups will take the opportunity learn more about our history, encourage new folk to our sport and above all take the opportunity to celebrate model building and flying. I really look forward to seeing whatever model is chosen and hopefully flying en masse.
Great stuff.
Paul
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Slope soaring in Norfolk for obvious reasons is a bit limited but try the cliffs at Hunstanton in a NW wind. Head towards the Old Hunstanton side of the town beyond the old CG/Lighthouse. Hang gliders use this site and it as a busy area for walkers and dogs so caution is needed. The cliffs at Mundesley/Trimmingham/Happisburgh can be good where there are open fields behind. Beware the cliffs in this area because of the erosion and risk of collapse.
West Runton between Cromer and Sheringham above the car park can be good but walk a little way towards Cromer to get clear of any people. Again coastal erosion is a risk. There is a cafe here. if you have a lightweight sloper try the dunes between Sea Palling and Waxham which can be good in light winds but a limited landing area. Avoid Winterton and to the west as there are 100s of seals and their pups which are protected despite people getting too close to them. Suffolk has cliffs running south from Dunwich but access isn't great and there are nature reserves.
It's not great soaring but possible in the right conditions. Hope this helps.
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Hi Wilco, the SMAE as a legally constituted company was created in 1922 and remains the legal title to today. The working title of BMFA was created some years ago on a 'Trading as' basis to be more explicit as to what we do i.e. model flying. Jim Wright and Martin Dilly wrote a really good history of the SMAE/BMFA which summarises the past 100 years in the June edition of the BMFA news if you are interested.
Paul
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Hi Matt
Great to hear your thoughts on how we can celebrate the SMAE/BMFA Centenary next year. We have a number plans being worked up at the moment by a working group and it's encouraging to know that your thinking is the similar to our own. More information will be become available in the lead up to 2022 but our aim is to celebrate the past 100 years and look to the future including raising our profile and encouraging newcomers into model flying..
Paul Hoey
Chairperson: BMFA 100 planning group
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Thank you JD8 for your compliments on my ED Bee Tomboy. Esaki tissues is a very nice Jap tissue available from Mike Woodhouse at **LINK**. The mylar is 10 micron and then the tissue is laid over the airframe dry, sprayed with water and whilst wet doped with non shrinking dope and at least 50% thinners then several more coats when dry to build up the finish. The test on the wings is hand cut black Esaki tissue.
I’m sure your Veron Cardinal will fly great. Bit of right thrust, CG under the spar and nice flat flying surfaces. We have several Tomboys in our club. Some are heavy and some are a bit wonky and some are heavy and wonky but they all fly.
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Last year was the 70th anniversary of the ED Bee Mk 1 when there was to be a celebtratory event at the Modelair weekend at Old Warden in September but the weather was awful and I didn’t go. I had built a Vic Smeed Tomboy powered by an ED Bee Mk1 for rudder and elevator for the event which had its maiden flight yesterday. It is covered in mylar and Esaki tissue with a suitable yellow and black scheme. The engine hadn’t run for many years but started easily and held a bumbling setting for gentle climbing to join the 2 local Bizzards.
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As ever a great read and this month excellent reporting on the Nationals in particular the scale events by Alex Whittaker. Just a comment on the reference to a competitor being hit by a model and air ambulanced to hospital. I think this may be referring to the gentleman competing in CL combat who had a coronary episode. 2 of the other competitors administered first aid before medical assistance arrived. The BMFA spontaneously held a collection and a good sum was raised for the Air Ambulance from competitors and spectators. Thankfully it was subsequently reported the gentleman made a good recovery which I very much hope continues.
In the Chuck and Duck a gentleman was hit by a wayward model and went to hospital and, to the best of my knowledge, returned to Barkston after a precautionary overnight stay. Robert Armstrong’s letter on page 32 describes well the dilemma of FF in large crowds of people and associated risks.
P
Edited By Paul H on 28/10/2017 10:07:10
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Kit built Acro Wot with Laser 70, epoxy glass fuselage covering and Oracover on flying surfaces. Carbon canopy laminated from homemade plug and mould. Weighs 6lbs, Hitec servos and Futaba. Test flown yesterday - 2 clicks of right aileron. Flies beautifully.
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Personally I favour Esaki tissue, it has wet strength and when used with mylar is very durable. This is how I covered my Tomboy. Mike Woodhouse does a guide on how to do mylar/tissue. You may also find this helpfulhttp://www.gryffinaero.com/models/ffpages/tips/mylartissue.html#
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Try Mike Woodhouse at Free Flight Supplies. See https://www.freeflightsupplies.co.uk/index.php/products/lightweight-covering-materials
You could also consider mylar and Esaki lightweight tiss which works very well.
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How about a Vic Smeed Tom Thumb which is a 22" version of the Tomboy. Quick and easy to build if time is short
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=677
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On the theme of Dunkirk an excellent book has just been published called Dunkirk Air Combat Archive - Operation Dynamo 21 May to 2 June by Simon Parry and Mark Postlethwaite. It is a collation of actual combat reports and statistical information from a number of squadrons. The photos, many from German sources are truly evocative of the air battle. A moving and salutary read.
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The Chinook has been busy - it was over Norwich the other day
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This is my 1/14 (22" span) Scale Sopwith Triplane built for the RC Scale Indoor Nationals. Weight is 143gms but a few finishing touches are needed including setting the CG and flight tests. The CG should be fine with the radio all up front. I have never attempted anything like this before so am not really confident it will survive flight tests so plan B is a very simple Keil Kraft Piper Family Cruiser for the flying only class. The Tripehound is based on N533 flown by Raymond Collishaw in July 1917 and the Black and white picture is a recreation of the only surviving photo of this aircraft. -
Hang in there Martin, I suspect you might share the feelings I have occasionally of desperation and a strong desire to chuck it in the bin but once I push through confidence starts to build again. My learning curve on this project is very steep not least because time is against me. Definitely a case of if I was going there I wouldn't start from here but you live and learn and the challenge is (sort of) enjoyable
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Very impressive Andy, a great build and encouraging if not a little daunting to see the entries starting to emerge for Shawbury. My Tripehound is now covered and awaiting painting, detailing and rigging. But because I think I won't have time to get it properly sorted I have a plan B entry in mind of a much simpler kind which is more likely to fly steadily.
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Too late for ailerons, not least because I think they would drive me mad. Planning the RC installation and all the rigging points not to mention the instrument panel, Clerget engine and other detail has been a trial. I think I have actually built at least 2 Tripehounds given the number of times I have made a trial assembly and then built a final version sometimes at the 3rd attempt. Still to work out the wing loading, probably too scared to. Thanks for your encouragement though Danny.
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Hi MartinYour build looks great and has me seriously worried, rib tapes and stitching! I am building a Sopwith Triplane from the Aerographics kit for the Indoor RC Scale Nationals having never tried anything of this nature before. The airframe is all but complete and I have started covering, doing 6 wing panels today. Like you I have bought my Electronics for motor, rudder and elevator from Micron, good advice and service. Target weight is 150gms
I am sceptical that I have done the right thing and may quickly build a simple high wing model which is more likely to fly well. Good luck with your build.
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3 years ago I crashed my nearly new Crescent Bullet when the ground wasn't as low as I thought it was. Since the remnants have skulked in the corner of the workshop. Guilt then took hold this autumn nudging my conscience into accepting I shouldn't start the winter build until I had rebuilt the Bullet. So much like Trigger's broom the original now has a new wing and no doubt next time a new fuselage. Anyway it is ready for the winter. The original is the yellow and red version the rebuild is blue.
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I have had some cut vinyl letters delivered today from Lee. I know he has just moved premises but he responds to e mails and because I am not in a hurry any delay from normal service has not been a problem. I have used Pyramid models several times and will continue to do so.
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Is it time to revive the autumn is here.....who's been flying thread? There aren't too many opportunities to slope soar in Norfolk but the coastal dunes work well in an easterly or north easterly. Today was good for Sea Palling although the rain was a bit inconvenient when you wear glasses. Model of choice was a Dreamflight Alula which flew really well.
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I started my new Laser 150 on Sunday for the first time. The starter hardly had time to engage the spinner before it burst into life, after running a tank through and minimal adjustment I flew it gently and without a missed beat. You're not wrong Ernie
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Today was the first run and flight of my Laser 150 powered Xtrawot built from the Chris Foss kit over th past 10 months. Radio is Spektrum and HiTec digital servos. Finish is epoxy and glass cloth on the fuselage sprayed to colour match the oracovered wings etc. The canopy is a carbon lay up from a mould I made from a plug. The colour scheme is based on a full size Extra. Weight is 11.25lbs. First engine run was perfect after an instant start and the following flight was trouble free although I will move the CG back a bit to sharpen up the elevator. Thanks and credits to Chris Foss Neil Tidey and John Harper at Laser, Phil at Fighter Aces and Forum members for advice. 
BMFA 100th anniversary world record attempt
in Shows, Club Events and Competitions
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21 at South Norfolk MFC and one of the members made carrot cake! Really brought the club, friends and family together, helped by great barbecue.