RICHARD WILLS

Ah , the repeat offenders are coming out from under the couch again . Listen , Ive sweet talked Phill into doing a batch , but I'm warning you now , there wont be another run after that . So please , no bleaters or whiners after the event . Think of it as an upmarket Aldi offer 😁

What a lovely little chap . Ive stood gazing at the one in Hendon many times . But I couldnt remember the difference between 32 and 42 < Doh ! 😕 I took my Anorak off and everything . Guessed it was an engine thing then got it wrong .

Good fun that . I stumbled on one (14) . More interesting was that my wife got 13 . Bloody good show !

I wouldn't do a commercial long nose because most don't like them . It would just be for my amusement .

Very tidy Jonathan . Its not a race , so enjoy the journey . You can't compete with the retired guys when you're still working and fettling the family . I'm sure , like a lot of us , its quite therapeutic . The other advantage of being near the back of the pack is that you can see everyone else trying different colours and ideas . When I can get a building slot with Phill the kit cutter , I will get some more 190s made . Although all of my designs , I'm proud to say , fly well and have no obvious nasties like tip stall etc , sometimes all the stars come into alignment . The Fw190 is one of those . I can honestly say it is the best flying of all of my single engined warbirds (the Yak is also close ) Its kind of like the old Ford Escort Mexico . The individual parts are average . But when you throw them in the same pot , magic happens . If I do a second one for my self , I will do a long nose 190D . It may fly even better because the fuselage is longer, meaning even better directional stability . Dave B1 is pricking up his ears !

That is another story entirely 😉

I think the point of my post has been slightly misunderstood . I didnt really intend to start talking about 110 retracts , which were made bespoke for the Warbirds 110 and that particular production run . The post with pictures of my Tempest and 190 was about the fact that Paul has geared up to make retract packs for the two D Day fighters . Gilly was previously bemoaning the fact that there are no more WB 110s left to buy , so I said it was simply down to there being insufficient demand . I am not really touting for 110 customers but I would probably be able to do a run if the numbers cam up a bit higher . The 110 is 72" span and runs on two 4s 3300 packs . It flew really nicely and had no vices as far as I could tell . Ron got a lot of missions in and I had over 100 on the original built many years ago with four strokes . The thread was (I believe ) one of the most viewed on the forum . Pauls 110 is a thing of beauty and he led the build on line .

I'd like to do a small run of 110s as I really liked the model . Need a few orders to make a run worthwhile . Current wood prices would also make them around £240 rather than £180 . In the mean time , Ive fitted some wheel doors on both of the D day fighters. Now I dont have to worry about prop strikes I might try a 3 blade prop on the 190 . I have to say that they are both easy to land on wheels . Paul Johnson is still creating retract packs for anyone interested .

You could do a nice line in dolls house rolling pins .😉

Well done Geoff . I'm really liking the look you are going for . I really miss my P51B even though I still fly the blue nose D version . They are almost different aircraft to look at because of all of the subtle differences . When you've finished I will no doubt be inspired to make another one !

You've done me proud there David , Your Tempest looks exactly like mine . I think they have a "workman" like look about them , as if they can really be used on all occasions . I hope the Tempest goes on to be as popular as the 190 as more come off the production line . Once people realise that they are very difficult to stall and consequently easy to land (even with retracts ) , the extra work involved in sanding the wing will become academic . I am going to create a new website in a month or so , which is long overdue as the old one has pretty much stopped working . The new site will initially only have 190s and Tempests , plus the usual accessory options . We need to swell the numbers to make future designs worth doing so people like you going to events and actually showing them off helps tremendously . I will also be asking for reviews and pictures of customers (our lads )models so that newbies can be reassured that all of the above is attainable . Both of the models (and the La7 ) look superb , so thank you for supporting WR and flying the flag .

Looking fab Chris . I dont know why more people havent had a go at Tony's Beau . I dont bother varnishing Chris . My Heinkel 111 is five year sold at least and matt finished in B and Q with chalk weathering . I dont let rain get on it but otherwise take no precautions .

This one was spotted at the West London Fun fly In , Brian Seymour who campaigns the wonderful Macchi 202 on a regular basis , took a picture and presumably chatted with the owner . I tried to back track through the various 190 threads to spot the model but it's like a spider web now with threads everywhere . I might be wrong but I think it may be David Orrells . We have five "Daves" so its not easy ! Anyway , it looks fabulous, so come on Dave tell us what response you got at the show 😁

Excellent work Simon . I did a similar tailwheel mount using a coat hanger wire . I also like your "gills " in 3d print . Nice touch . Can I buy it back ? Cracking pic here by Leccy and Murat BTW

I'm guessing around 78" ? Am I correct ?

I'm going to apologise for re posting these pictures from Murat and Leccy on Tuesday . As they were on a different thread , you may have missed them . What a fantastic shot , superb positioning and photography . Well done lads !

I C what you've done there Stu , very clever . 😁

Wheel doors can be fickle . We arrived at the brass block system , because it is simple and robust (and there were no 3d printers twenty years ago !) The brass blocks do allow the doors to twist off sideways if you run into long grass . Previously, fixed doors simply snapped . The oscillation that sometimes happens is to do with airflow as Ron suggests. The first fix is to warm the doors with a heat gun and bend a slight concave on the inside mimicking the bottom airfoil . By bringing the leading edge of the door closer to the wing skin , it will reduce the airflow in the gap . Secondly , drill two tiny holes in the door further down , just above the wheel and then , going through the holes , tie the door to the leg with florist wire or a re bent paper clip . Don't try to rebend the leg to get the brass block off . It will probably snap at the axle . If you want to get rid of the brass blocks , just take the screws out , push them to the top of the leg and silicon them in place . To be honest , it's worth sticking with the proven system for a bit as its worked for so many years . Although , if Ron comes up with a better version after extensive testing , then happy days . 😁

Looks nice Ron . If you pull up a similar angled image of the Dynam Meteor (V3 Version) , they have a very similar style . Maybe its just a bigger brother ?

I really like that . Excellent work and a very friendly flier . You can tell that with that very light wing loading , even a retractable undercarriage wouldnt be a problem . Perhaps build a second wing ? Just a thought .

Graham . With the cost of balsa being a factor on sheeting larger models, can you expand on your experiments with adding a hard skin to either depron or foam board ? Traditional balsa and brown paper covered models are very robust , so how would the chaps make their foam skinned models as tough ? I know you have tried various off the shelf products .

Thank you for that summary Brian . It is very kind of you to say so . It has been a big episode and I have to admit , two designs in quick succession has been quite a grind . However , I have really enjoyed seeing the models come together in all of their various colour schemes . I am impressed with how everyone , from seasoned old hands , right through to our excellent (and trusting !) newbies have coped with the kits , which are essentially "first production run models " . It is fabulous how we have all jumped to the rescue if a chap stumbles, with helpful and well meaning suggestions . As we said at the beginning of this thread , if we want more kits in the future , it is no good going to the shed with your own stash of balsa and old kits and pulling the ladder up . I get a big kick out of seeing you all succeed with my designs . I make them to fly and consequently use my prototypes every week, because they are fun . There are problems to face in the future . Balsa is very expensive now , so I will try design around that issue , but on the other hand if we all buy and build only one model a year , is that expensive ? Given the time we spend building and flying our creation probably amounts to a couple of pence per hour and of course , what value do you put on those moments after a great flight , when somebody says "where did you get that mate ?" "I flippen made it !" Buy second hand foamies and enjoy them, but like someone else's children or dog , you will never love them like your own . What value can you put on that ?

Pussy Cat ? 😁I don't think Grumman did that one .

Looks brilliant Brian . I am so impressed with the level of finish with the 190s . Lots of variety in the colour schemes which is also inspiring for the next wave of builders . I like your trim tabs . Nice touch .

You can do a lot with a 2litre Coke bottle . Have a look at a chap called Julius Perdana on you tube . I imagine that a P47 Thunderbolt canopy is pretty close in shape. Belair do a 70" Ziroli P47 which would have a similar canopy .