Nick Dainton

I found the 11/32 brass tube easy enough to obtain, the carbon rod was difficult to get hold of in that size (8mm) however I managed to get of 8mm fibreglass rod from http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/ Normally it comes in one metre lengths, but he kindly cut it down to lengths of no more than 14" for easy posting, and it is a lot less expensive than carbon, and almost equal in rigidity and strength as carbon, and a lovely snug fit inside the brass tube. 

You know when you get one of those `eureka moments! (or equivalent) My mind was far away from model aircraft and all of a sudden the answer came about the canopy...........and of course it`s all in the plans as everything is, just needed to look a little harder. Brass tube and not the rods are `glassed` to the top of F4 & F5 the rods are off course passed through the canopy and tube and into the wing roots. My assumption without looking properly was that the rods were to be a permanent fixture on F4 & F5.

Well I`ve spent the last few weeks on a very interesting build of the Westland Lysander, it is now waiting for me to make a choice on which motor for electric power? I elected to do it the hard way and manually cut out the parts using a jigsaw upside down in a workmate. Using photocopies of the parts spray tacked on to the wood, this was obviously more time consuming, but that is not a commodity that I am short on these days, and there is the added satisfaction of almost a complete build. The 6mm for F4 & F5 was accomplished by cutting these out twice from 3mm ply and joining. Wash out was `left out`, because there is the option to do that on the plans, and I wasn`t sure of my abilities to get that right! I have yet to send for the canopy and wheel spats, but that is imminent. I would like to make the canopy removable, but as the wing support rods appear to go through the upper part of this, then I am unsure how best to accomplish this, or make out of balsa in separate sections to enable access to the parts of the fuselage that I require (if that makes sense?)

. Well the build of the Lysander is progressing along quite well. I have been keeping a close eye on weight as I go along, and at the stage I am now, all wings and fuselage covered, radio gear fitted and working, undercarriage in place.............it comes in at exactly 4lbs, which should put me in a better position to choose the power pack. it would seem that it is going to be difficult to get a definitive answer, I have spoken with many people, and their answers just `muddy the water` a little more. Based on what I now know the aircrafts true weight is (and will be) can anyone `input` their thoughts before I take the plunge?

Hi, I am currently about half way through a build of the 66" Lysander plan from RCME. Originaly it was to have a four stroke 48-52 engine. But the useability, less mess of electic power is causing a rethink. Could you advise on motor power, suitable prop size, and battery power for this aircraft. All up weight is to be around 6lbs,   thanks , Nick