stu knowles

Here's another one ready to go. I have gone slightly off piste with this one. Ufortunately we are away for a few days so the first flights will have to wait

Join the wings and build a box. Stick box to wing. Don't overthink the build, its very simple. Post up specifically where you are having a problem

I arrived at a similar conclusion about foamies a long time ago. I cannot deny their flyability and ease of operation and I always have one available, often carried as a back up model to the main flyer of the day. I find that they are completely without 'soul' and find no pleasure in ownership or flying beyond just keeping the eye / thumb co-ordination sharp. Look along a flightline and they often dominate, all the same as each other. Yuk! When they were as cheap as chips, under £100, you'd be mad not to have one but paying ££££££'s ? Nope. Some of the WR models shown on this forum are amazing. Reasonably priced kit. Kept simple, BP/PVA covering. Household emulsion paint and weathered with a bit of chalk and ingenuity, they look fantastic and there isn't another one just like that anywhere. I normlly fly bigger stuff that takes ages to finish. I broke off the main project to pull together Richard's Tempest. It been really refreshing to build something that moves along so fast. Beats a foamy hands down!

If you were going for a painted finish, BP/PVA gives a very paintable finish which is as cheap as chips. The methods have most recently explained by Ron on this forum in his build of the Warbird Replicas FW190 and Tempest. Its also pretty good as a veneer substitute over a foam core, with or without additional spars. It provides a smooth surface which can then be either painted or film covered

I have both the 1 m and 1.5 m Thing with a 25FP glow and an 32 glow, great models both for haring around or slow flight. A cut down cap from a large bottle of fabric conditioner makes a really good 'jetpipe' to finish off the back of the fus. The larger one has an added foan cockpit / deck. Both are covered with brown paper / pva and then painted

I always flew Thumbs on Top until trying helicopters when I moved to a tray. Initially I found flying fixed wing with a tray very awkward but grew to prefer it. About this time I also morphed to using very long control sticks which had buttons on the left stick (Multiplex) which I also liked for the precision control it seemed to promote. The only down side was the bulk of the tray in transportation and then some TX damage when something fell on the TX/Tray combo. Now I've gone full circle back to Thumbs on Top just because it keeps the TX in its case duting transport and storage. My take on the situation having done all that is that 'pinch' flying is more precise, even better with long sticks, but for general flying Thimbs on Top is good enough. Like the mode 1 / mode 2 debate, its whatever floats your boat.

Just to round this topic off, Here is a photo of the former owner of these engines, Jim Bridgewood from Doncaster in 1956, after winning the Eddie Riding Trophy at RAF Woodvale with his model of the Heston Phoenix, complete with retracting u/c. No radio in those days

Now moved on to a new Custodian. Thanks to all those who responded. regards stu k

Pete Russell, Ian Peacock, Chris Golds, Boddo, latterly Alex Whittaker. all good writers with something to say. I do find that the mags in recent years are not so good, Last month was particularly thin

Yes a sad loss. I never met him but his skills and ability made him a legend in this hobby. He left a lasting legacy with his designs and a space that will be hard to fill. My condolences to his family and friends stu k

CNC Foam wing cutting machines If anyone is interested both in computers and foam wing cutting, I have a CNC foam cutting rig which was assembled by the late Mel Drohan from the Doncaster area. After Mel passed, it came to me to save it from being disassembled. I have no real interest in the computer side so its never going to be used here. I know that it works because the Tyro Major wing core file last used by Mel is still in the machine and it still goes through all the motions to cut cores. Its a home built unit using 3D printed parts and (off the top of my head will cut up to around 30" cores. There is also all of the computer and electronics for a second machine to cut (off the top of my head) 60" cores which was mounted on an 8 x 4 board. This did not survive the relocation process and several of the 3D printed parts broke. I had to take it apart but all the components are there to build a second machine. I don't know where Mel got the 3D files from to assemble to cutter but they will be out there somewhere for anyone else to find. Both machines come with its own Desktop computer, all the stepper motors and transformers etc to heat up the wire. The computers on each cutter have the programme to turn the G code files into that required to move the cutter but the programme to create the G code files was on his laptop and I don't have it. Google Foam Wing CNC programme and there are a few options out there. Located in Haxey, North Lincs (DN9 2**), the smaller machineis intact and was transported on the floor a medium sized van although no doubt it could be carefully disassembled. The larger machine is a box full of components and aluminium extrusions only. Available to anyone who could make use of it. Don't ask if your workshop is an 6 x 4 shed and you cut a foam core once every two years, be practical. But I would be pleased to see it go to someone who could make good use of it. Perhaps if someone is going to take it on, a modest donation to Mel's depandants would be a nice gesture. Pm or post here for more info. Don't ask anything too technical ! regards Stu K

If anyone is interested both in computers and foam wing cutting, I have a CNC foam cutting rig which was assembled by the late Mel Drohan from the Doncaster area. After Mel passed, it came to me to save it from being disassembled. I have no real interest in the computer side so its never going to be used here. I know that it works because the Tyro Major wing core file last used by Mel is still in the machine and it still goes through all the motions to cut cores. Its a home built unit using 3D printed parts and (off the top of my head will cut up to around 30" cores. There is also all of the computer and electronics for a second machine to cut (off the top of my head) 60" cores which was mounted on an 8 x 4 board. This did not survive the relocation process and several of the 3D printed parts broke. I had to take it apart but all the components are there to build a second machine. I don't know where Mel got the 3D files from to assemble to cutter but they will be out there somewhere for anyone else to find. Both machine come with its own Desktop computer, all the stepper motors and transformers etc to heat up the wire. The computers on each cutter have the programme to turn the G code files into that required to move the cutter but the programme to create the G code files was on his laptop and I don't have it. Google Foam Wing CNC programme and there are a few options out there. Located in Haxey, North Lincs (DN9 2**), the smaller machineis intact and was transported on the floor a medium sized van although no doubt it could be carefully disassembled. The larger machine is a box full of components and aluminium extrusions only. Available to anyone who could make use of it. Don't ask if your workshop is an 6 x 4 shed and you cut a foam core once every two years, be practical. But I would be pleased to see it go to someone who could make good use of it. Perhaps if someone is going to take it on, a modest donation to Mel's depandants would be a nice gesture. Pm or post here for more info. Don't ask anything too technical ! regards Stu K

All of these engines now sold. Thank you all.

This engine now sold.. Thanks to all for your interest.

Nice. Gets my vote.