Richard Putnam 1

I have an old Acro Wot it has been stored in the loft space and the wing has been flattened! It has cracked on the centreline. Could some kind soul tell me the dihedral measurement , with one wing flat on the bench what is the dimension of the opposite wing tip from the bench? many thanks, kairos

Hi Phil, just to say my talk to the radio c lub went off without a hitch. Best lecture they had ever had! So obviously I was very pleased with the result. And a lot of it due to this thread. Some of the professional blogs on line were way off the mark but reading your comments and a few others and the links I was able to get my head round all the concepts. Many thanks to all who have contributed to this thread have learnt a lot. Many thanks Best 73 Richard. G0ILN

Hi Phil, I have a feeling you have had articles in some of the magazines? Your website is amazing In the late fifties I was into CL combat RC was out of my league but we used to try free flight and had hours of fun with Ebenezers. Our engine of choice was Oliver Tiger for Combat flying and then I got interested in girls ,that was the end of aeromodelling ! Until retirement . Back to the present day and my talk. I had booked one of our older members to talk about the early days of RC but unfortunatly he has family commitments and can't make it. But I have more than enough info to fill the hour and a half slot. 73 Richard

Thanks all for your replies. thanks Phil for your ideas Yes I remember the Wood and Douglas kists. I was going to talk about diversity I will add Redundancy to the list. Our LiPo Batteries servos etc. I have also made up a simple slide show. Then some helicopter flying followed by fun on the simulator. Richard G0ILN

Hi, can some one tell me what mode our 2.4 GHz transmiters use? is it FM, AM,double side band supressed carrier? nowhere on the internet can I find the information. I have even contacted Spektrum they were very polite but refered me to their Q&A page. A block diagram of the Tx would be a help. And Why, because I am giving a talk to an amateur radio club. Thanks Richard

Nothing like having your own field Chrisie, I am sure that makes us all envious ;o)) Martin thanks for the tip regarding the examiners notes . Mike we seem to have gone full circle? My club has an examiner who I have only seen once at the flying field in about eight years! (OK so he has to work for a living). I can go to another local club and get advice from their examiner but my point was that I wanted to find advice on my own behalf and only when I feel confident would I approach an examiner. Richard

Hi Danny and Andy, Thanks Danny for your words to allay my fears it does not matter how old you are there always seems to be one more exam! ( I wouldn't have it any other way). Our club hasn't any "B" qualified flyer's who use the field on a regular basis who I can ask. Andy , thanks for finding the series by Andy Ellison. The series was published in 2008,Jan,Feb,April, June ,July & September. I am sure I have the copies some where. I will have to look them up. Thanks again, Richard

Hi Danny, I get the impression that the B test must be a lot smoother and cleaner than the A test. I would have thought someone would have made a video of the test maybe even from a classroom perspective with a few flying shots to show the standard required. Tips on flying the maneuvers how to answer the test questions. I have read the routine from the BMFA hand book but it does not bring the test to life. To bake a cake you can read the recipe but to watch the chef cook the cake on TV gives you a lot better insight as to the finished product! regards Richard

Hi, Has anyone found a video of the above test? Surely someone must have posted a B test video! Richard.

I think we are winning! For what it is worth here is my solution. 1/ Reinstall 2.5-3m from Phoenix web site Direct-X popped onto the screen for updating. Which I did. Adobe Reader 9.3.4 popped onto the screen for updating . Which I did. 2/From the prompt on the Phoenix program, update to 3q. and it installed .hooray. 3/ From the Phoenix web site installed the latest Beta program. All I need to do now is figure out how to to get the program to recognise "Mode two" And I will be up and running.

Hi Terry, Still no luck. I have tried turning off my anti virus program but still I can't load the latest updates. Give me a few days and I will come back to you. Richard.

Hi I am running Phoenix 3p and want to upgrade to 3q. I have windows 7 on my laptop. The down load sort of works but will not install. Press the install button and the screen goes blank and a couple of minutes later Phoenix program appears without the update! I have tried shutting down the anti virus program but it didn't make any difference. Any help would be appreciated. Richard

Anyone wanting to see the Multicopter video (January 2012 bottom of page8)   The web address is e-volo.com NOT e-volvo.com   It is definitely not a car!   Great mag keep up the good work. RichardEdited By David Ashby - RCME Admin on 16/12/2011 10:25:10

Hi Andy, Jim is the best person to speak to as he has built a 28% 64" wing span Miss Lizzy. . I want to use the Flair aluminium cowling so the fuz has to be 28%.   I was thinking of a slightly smaller wing say 62 x 12" chord . I am going to use a Enya 60 Four stroke. If that has not enough grunt I have a couple of 60 two strokes knocking around or maybe even buy myself a 70 or 90 FS! ( Saito 90? whoo wake up Richard)   How about some photo's Andy to give me some inspiration?   Jim what size chord have you chosen for your 28% model? Regards Richard.  

Very impressive Mario have you still got both models? I tend to only replicate a model when my thumbs get twisted once too often!   I still haven't started my Miss Lizzy yet. The plans are all scaled up and the building board is clear. I had this notion I didn't want to start until I had made up my mind what Transmitter system to use . Well I have crossed that hurdle and gone for Spektrum DX7. So there is no good reason why I do not make a start. Now wheres my rule?   Richard.

Hi All,   Well I have managed to open a picture in Turbocad. I opened a Photoshop image PSD.   Photoshop opens over Turbocad but the picture is inlaid into Turbocad and Photoshop although open has a blank screen. Click on Photoshop to close it and you are left with the picture embedded in Turbocad.   Ok so far ! but the size of the picture has changed it is now enormous! Sorry but I have a couple more questions. 1. If I over draw the picture I can't see what I am achieving. 2. I can't find a button to turn off the picture to see what I have drawn. (Maybe I need to use Layers?   Richard.

Hi Danny, Yep . My version has the insert Object or Picture. But a picture or object just ends up as a very small pix-elated block . That cannot be read.   There is also an Icon at the top of the screen that is an insert button but it gives the same results. I am going to reinstall the program and see if that clears the problem.   I don't think I can insert a jpg with this version of Turbocad. Does it make any difference what the bit rate is 16,or 32?   Richard.

Hi Danny,   Thanks for the reply. My picture is 16 inches X 11 inches Resolution 240 pixel/inch.   My turbocad is sold on Amazon as TotalCad. but it is an old version of TurboCad 1.0   Circa 1996 . so the program is quite old but runs perfectly OK. Richard.

Hi,   I have started to get to grips with Turbocad. But I am having problems inserting a picture. (Photo of an aircraft I want to trace round).   I am using BMP format but when inserted in turbocad it is very small and pixely so small you can't see what the object is. What am I doing wrong?   Richard

In answer to Rex " Does no one do a range check with the motor running". I do on electric because it is easy. But on I.C. I have to bow my head. No I very rarely do a check but maybe I should do one more often.. What about metal to metal vibration causing radio interference. Because it it is talked about I am sure it is a fact. But I just don't get it. I have never heard or seen the science to back it up. I do make sure I never have metal to metal linkages just to be on the safe side. Richard.

Hi, The more this thread goes on the more interesting information comes to light!   I had forgotten all about full range checking . Not a bad idea. I would never have thought of using the servo movement to clarify that all was well or the fail safe movement.   It is funny that you mentioned Maynard Hill ,Peter as there is an article on him and his altitude records on page 62 of February 2011 RCM&E! He had to have a heater in with the receiver to keep it warm it cut in once he was above 15000Ft.. the record was set in 6th September 1970 at nearly 27,000Ft.and the record still stands. Imagine doing a range check! Long walk!! Richard.

Hi Nick, Ok . Thanks for your advise and many thanks to all the contributors to this thread. Much appreciated. Regards Richard.

Hi Nick, Good thinking. I will do it. You mean between the receiver and the ESC? Do you know how many turns and what ferrite ring? or I suppose any model shop would know what ring is required. Richard.

Thanks all for your suggestions. I have checked the manual and on line and in both cases Futaba recommend range checking with the antenna fully down. Only on one range of Transmitters is there a need to leave the antenna extended for range checking. Maybe the antenna extended by a few inches goes back to the days when the transmitter cases were made of steel or aluminium? I must admit extending the antenna another 3-4 inches makes all the difference when range checking. As I said earlier I think my electric planes are causing some of the problems. So I am going to take the scientific approach and log each plane as I fly it. Along with checking who is flying at the time of the range check check. First of the last resorts, Send the FF7 back to Futaba. And of course probably the bestresort of allgo totally 2.4 Spektrum DX7?

Hi, Thanks for all your help. I went flying this morning with no problems at all. The transmitter is relatively new so hopefully no issues with the printed circuit boards or the crystals. One area that you have hit upon is electric models. I have a Futaba 6EXA 2.4 so I think I will put electric models on 2.4. Something that has just occurred to me is that when range checking I leave the model in the pits and walk away with the transmitter. , Thinking back an old timer once said walk away with the model and leave the transmitter in the pits. The point being there is usually some one flying on 35MHz when I am doing the range check may be I am getting swamped by their signal. (I know it should only happen with adjacent channel s that should interfere but some of our flyer's transmitters are pretty ancient!). Today with only three lonesome souls out in the freezing weather I was the only one on 35MHz and as I said no problems also it is an IC plane. Many thanks for your replies it certainly got the little grey cells moving. Richard.