Steve Ashton

ps. Other thing to watch out for is that you put the wing supporting rod half way so that you get CG in the middle of the fuss and not biased towards any particular wing. The central point is not the fuss end of the wing but is the middle of the holes in the wing for the nylon bolts that keep the wings in the fuss and just a small tip when fitting the nylon bolts/rods, put a small screwdriver etc through the hole in the end of the rod as you fit the rods through the fuss and wing otherwise if you push the rods in too far your going to struggle to get them out again. Another thing is if you go for flaperons, I think it's easier to cut the Y lead up at the receiver end and fit a new plug to one leg of it that matches your RX than it is to remove the Y lead and fit two new separate extension leads. Basically cut the leg of the Y lead that goes to your left wings servo, fit new plug then plug that one into channel 6. Think right 1!! right servo goes to channel 1, left to CH 6 ( I digress but wanted to mentions these things whilst on my mind) Set negative flaps and try them at height just in case there is a large shift in the centre of lift. I'd use as little of the flaps as possible. regards Steve

Looking at the date of your post this is probably way too late, I collected my new diamond 1800 last week and had not seen your post, CG is given as 40-50 mm back from leading edge. regards Steve

Hi Terry, Sorry didn't see you post earlier, yes I was logged in at the time. OK Pete.. Steve

Hi Pete, Yes that's what I mean, when you click on the link for the entries, the next page says for subscribers only, it should be letting me through but it isn't, since previous post I've tried to access other areas of the website for subscribers only and get same result so there is a problem somewhere with the checking of my subscription by the servers. I've been a subscribers since before I won the Harmon Rocket 3 and have been ever since. Harmon Rocket 3 is just about to have C of G checked. regards Steve

Hi David,   Ok it's now an old post now but is anybody else having trouble with the 'WIN' or in fact any pages where you have to be a magazine subscriber? When I access these pages now it says subscriber only which is strange seeing as I am having won the Harmon Rocket 3 a few years back - I know I m greedy!. This has only started very recently and my subscriber number registered here is correct.   regards Steve Edited By Steve Ashton on 17/05/2014 19:36:08 Edited By Steve Ashton on 17/05/2014 19:38:27

Hi Dean, I'm curious how you have managed to get the sc70 to fit on the Rocket? Reason is, that 2 years ago I won the Harmon Rocket 3 from this very website and today I've been looking at various four strokes to use in it and also my Thunder Tiger Cub. Looking at the guide in the rockets' manual, for positioning of the engine, it shows 113mm from the firewall to the propellor driver. All the OS and ASP's I've seen exceed this measurement, have you made any mods so that the cowl will screw down OK on the fuss. regards Steve

My wife rekindled my flying, the model flying was a substitute after having flown k8 k13 k21 k23 full size gliders then slipping disc at work, I ended up not having the money to keep flying. So one christmas the wot trainer appeared, wife also goes with me to the field when nice weather IE not this year! As long as I tidy up and house chores are done for the wife she's happy. Her indoors also goes with me to the air shows but goes mad if I hear a plane and rush to see what it is

I have a neck strap but never used it - read not yet I passed 'A' test last year so for me, having a neck strap and if I did have problems, and needed to pass to the instructor, the neck strap could mean the end of a good plane. So as guide to others in learning stages, if you don't have a physical reason to use it right away then don't.

Sorry to drag what is now an old thread back. My renegade is complete but not yet flown, on the point of the CG I followed the manual and used the 75mm point. I used 90 grams of weight up front and same as Phil, that was with battery in Tank area. I couldn't get my battery nearer the firewall and it be packed in foam, it's sat on top of the tank, there was no room under the tank and think this is because they have beefed up the undercarriage mounting area different to Phils pictures. So as a guide to others it looks like it's curently between 90 grams and 170 for IC based versions. As another guide, I have OS 55ax up front. I'm guessing here that differences will be: Amount of epoxy at tail end and the the wood will vary slightly in density, possibly even down to the servos'. One other thing, I've used the OS alloy domed nut inside the spinner instead of the original OS nut, it's not a lot but thinking about leverage, it all helps.

I fly with one hand - little finger on right stick and thumb of same hand on left stick, left hand is busy holding the bags to put the bits when i crash trying to fly like this. Seriously - honest, I voted thumb and finger but after reading what biggles put I held my Tx and I'm the same, finger area around front of sticks and thumb on top, I'd like to bet the are many variations, bit like flying different modes.

Thanks for the pictures Phil, with reference to the pics, you have put dowels across holding the tank in place, was this a mod by you. I mentioned in my post above that they had glued my framework for the battery and receiver mount which also hold the tank in place. I've broke it trying to take it out but simple repair to sort out. it should have been fitted in at the bulkhead where your dowels are and screwed down at the other end, it was screwed down but also glued. Steve

Hi all, When I run my V3 it says there si an update to V4 do I wnat ti download/install. Part way through downloading it states update failed. I've tried Phoenix as admin, virus checker off, firewall off, uac off and various combinations. I don't want to go through uninstalling reinstalling if possible. I'm not too bothered about in cockpit view as I've used microsoft sims since early 80's regards Steve

Sorry to revive this old thread but it might be usefull to somebody. About 6 weeks ago I fitted new backplate, new O rings to needle and carb to this same 46 LA and my slow running problem was cured, got to have been a leak weakening the mixture. Anyway all is fine now. But it's not going in my next plane, it will stay as a reserve setup just in case.

Hi Big Phil, I've just unpacked my black horse renegade and after having read about undercarriage problems plus what they said in the mag, I looked at mine, there are triangular fillets on the inside of mine and a few vertical posts, plus the ply itself is about 10mm thick, so it appears ok ?? Whilst I was looking at it, I decided to try the tank for fit with thoughts of the problems I had with my wot trainer tank compartment cover. I removed the screws out of the hatch which holds the tank in place and where the manual suggests first fitting the battery and receiver and it wouldn't come out - it had been glued in place. So after a little breaking of it I have a little mod to do. Wondeful start, I think ARTF means almost ready to frustrate. regards Steve

isn't there a spelling mistake in the pole? Shouldn't never be spelt 'not yet'

Hi all who gave advice above, I changed the engine for a 55ax, that runs superb giving me lots of flying time now.   With the intent I'll move onto something else after a succesful A test, what I've done is buy new backplate/gasket set/O rings for the carb and needle, if it runs OK then, I'll pop it back into the trainer and still use it till my funds build up again.   I do have the harmon rocket mk3 begging me to start getting it ready.      

Hi Steve,   They did give me what I thought was the wrong prop, meanwhile I have a 55ax to try, I'm going to run the 46la with an 11x7 a little, if it behaves it can go into the harmon rocket III I won here through the mag/website last year.   The prop they gave me was a 10x5, I knew no better at the time and didn't see the suggested prop in the manual.   I will be sealing back plate and around the carb just in case, there is no evidence of air getting in before the carb fuel intake and seeing as needles have been run through full range one tiny bit at a time, it suggests the problem is not needle setting. I'll just have to seal it and try again.   Meanwhile the ax should get me airborne with reliable running, I can always throttle back or limit end of travel once it's run in.   regards   Steve.

Hi Steve,   The backplate was checked before, I knew it could have been a cause and found nothing wrong, what I intend doing is using gasket sealant around the back plate and the carb is coming off, could be as simple as the O ring, new carbs are not that expensive.   meanwhile it's being replaced with an AX, I do have a home for the LA if I can get it working - see the Harmon Rocket comp last year   The other thing is: I was given the wrong size prop for the LA, today 22nd I've called into the shop to get right sized prop   If I can't get it going I was going to sell it with the obviosu warning about slow running.   The prop thing? bigger may act as a flywheel and seeing as the shop gave me the wrong size I've been up against setting the engine up right.   I'll let you know how it goes.   Steve        

Hi everyone who replied above,   I know this has been a long time coming, the air bleed screw was reset with same result, idle speed so high it would remain flying, no tendancy to even try and drop the nose. Trims readjusted to try and get smooth reliable slow running and no bettter.   Sat 19th, myself and several other with many centuries of experience between them, started with airbleed screw closed and went through full range from closed to it fully open, with engine nice and warmed up.   We spent some 2 hrs, in the end I've decided that with loosing somuch good flying time with this engine that I'm going to replace it either with 46/55 ax or similar irvine.

Hi all,   On my 6EX the throttle cut works no matter what position my throttle stick is in, manual says different. Anybody else with similar problem.     regards   Steve

Hi everybody,   let me strat slightly from the beginning, the first 20 or so flights were good, all of them including slow running whilst landing.   I had a break due to married, holidays and bad weather, maybe around 6-8 wks in total.   It was on returning to flight that I had the full throttle nose up problems, which is why i stripped it down and replaced tubes and cleaned the ebngine out etc, it was at that point I had good fast running and poor slow running, i ignored the slow running at the time because i had been trying to set it up whilst on a hard floor, in other words, no resistance to rolling whatever idle speed i could get it to do, at the time i contacted a friend at the club and was told to ignore it due to it's not likely to try and creep forward on the grass filed at the club.   The clunk pickup: i changed it just to be extra safe in filtering the fuel but I think it's the filter in the clunk pickup thats restricting fuel at the lower revs.   I have read about setting the air bleed screw needle trick and I will do that and report back.   The needle was double checked out by the senior members at the club so I have to trust them as well as what i set it to.   regards to everybody and thanks.   Steve

Hi, yes the back plate is on correctly, I think it's the clunk weight, I've yet to change it back but the slow running problem started when i changed it, crank cover gasket is OK.   regards steve

Hi Mogs, I guess you've measured the output from your ripmax panel with it off load, ie, without plug attached and yes it is 12V, but as Plummet has mentioned it's the current that makes it glow - but I've blown too many plugs (2) before i even flew my trainer using the ripmax that I don't use it anymore,  I use a rechargable clip similar to the piccy above in Josip message.   regards   Steve

Because you've allowed it to get that cold if it did do in your car, if there was much moisture in the air in your fuel bottle it may have condensed anyway and maybe already in your fuel.   I don't yet know what fuel with a lot of moisture looks like?  

Hi flytilbroke,   thanks for reply, nope no sticking problems, carb barrel is very free, there's no binding or complaining from the servos, I can get full free movement from the carb, it's purely a slow running problem and the only thing i changed from before was the clunk pickup in the tank, I have read of others with same problem since i posted here so going to go for the slow running bleed screw but only after I changed the clunk back to how it was.   I'll post back here after I've done that, but that maybe not be till next weekend.