Mike L
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Everything posted by Mike L
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Thanks Bob, much appreciated
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This is the maiden landing of my Gloster Gamecock, fast (too fast probably), lots of up elevator on touch down. Later discovered veering to right was sticky wheel. I get about 50:50 success rate with landing and it not nosing over, which is very frustrating. I know elevator is certainly a key factor but can't decide if approach should be slow or fast. DIrect into the wind is equally important as well. I have a Gladiator and the plan emphasised a low flat approach, I dont think it made much difference and still had the desire to nose over. Won't post that one, cos includes bad language at nosing over point. Although we have a "flat" site area its pretty rutted which doesn't help. Edited By Mike L on 08/03/2011 14:41:50 Edited By Mike L on 08/03/2011 14:47:43
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Hear Hear to Bert and Ken with regards to maintaining standards and decorum. Some other forums (namely international ones) can get out of hand; on one somebody referred to my Xtra wot as "scratchbuilt" and it nearly caused a riot. As the builder and owner I was very upset by what ensued as I do this hobby for fun. So mods please keep up the good work.
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Life expectancy of an RC airplane
Mike L replied to Anders Ostlund's topic in All Things Model Flying
Djay thats pretty intense flying. I'm over in Qatar and we get to fly every weekend, like you say most folks here are flying foamies or artf and longevity is not that long ie under a year. The only artf I have is a wot 4 which is 14months old and 70 plus flights and is holding up very very well. I've seen one month old kyosho's losing their covering so add exhaust fumes and the end is nigh. All my other planes are plan built or kit built. Oldest is a Mick Charles Valiant purchased in 1988 finished in 1992, flown 1993 and still good to go, recovered once and on second set of foam wings but its hasnt had a hard life. My xtra wots is over 10 years old and got loadsa hanger rash, finished in epoxy and glass cloth and still solid. Re engines, unlike Djay I always put after run aka transmission fluid after a weekend sortie and have SC's Saitos and Moki running well after years of service ie 10 plus. Usually retire them cos I feel sorry for them.. real technical decision making process there. At the other end of the scale, no pun intended, there was my 40 size Spitfire which lasted 2 minutes into its maiden following a stall. I'm not a thrill seeker flier so dont usually pile them in stirring the sticks. As has been said before no hard and fast rule but you can get very long service with well maintained engines and gear and well built planes. -
Xtra wot is the larger acrowot.. two words to describe my 10 year old one.. ...luvly jubbly! (scuse the spelling!) still flies great with Moki 135 upfront. Edited By Mike L on 19/02/2011 17:36:02
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Is It Just Me?
Mike L replied to Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator's topic in Flying Field Reports and Chat
The time to worry is when you arrive at the flying field and can't remember what you are there for..... -
I must echo the sentiments of the above. I remember going into Mick Charles first model shop about the time he was World Scale Champ, I could hardly speak in awe as a young teen. As BEB says sadly a generation is moving on having enthused a younger generation (not so younger now!!!) . I only hope the next generation coming through will eagerly thumb the magazines and books we still go through. I'm not convinced, I don't think our legacy will be as strong as the one left to us balsa, tissue and dopehead (ok so I now use solartex) traditionalists! Not being cynical, just bowing to a much more multi facetted hobby that exists today.
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Just have to add my support for Just Engines, I live in Qatar and they have always been top notch in helping me even if I'm not buying anything. Well done Jenny. Edited By Mike L on 21/01/2011 04:44:28
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The Biplane Thread
Mike L replied to Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator's topic in All Things Model Flying
I am just about to start building the Fairey Swordfish from the Traplet plan (?!?), I have the Fairey Alabacore plan which shows folding wings. I want to incorporate this feature into the Swordfish without the chance of the wings folding in flight!! I can modify the Albacore details although I will be messing with someones design. The notes on the Albacore plan state the rigging is functional but the rigging ties between the struts which is part of the wing that folds ie doesn't tie back in to the fuselage. So I am a bit concerned here. I suppose what I am asking is if I fix two metal brackets to the the A) wing spar and B) in front of the trailing edge (obviously reinforced) and use a 4mm dia piviot, will that take the loads, which is basically what the Alabacore shows. I know Richard Crapp did on his large Swordfish but its way out of my league. I dont fancy taking a year (slow builder) to build only to see it do an impression of a heli autorating back to terra firma! Any thoughts, advice, comments would be appreciated. Thanks! -
I dug out the CAP and BT plans for the Gladiator, although I dont know if the CAP kit follows the plan. The BT plan is 1/4 balsa spars with webbing both sides of both spars. The CAP plan is 3/16 balsa spars with full depth 3/16 centre section spars and no webbing. You can draw your own conclusions. Like you I assumed designer knows best , I don't make these assumptions anymore. I would assume if you replaced the 3/16 spars for 1/4" and added webbing it should give the wing suffcient strength. Fortunately in my case when the top wing folded followed by the bottom wing, the plane just about autorotated into terra firm and the U/C took the force of reentry. No damage at all apart from my ego. On a positive note it was doubly satisfying to rebuild the wings and actually get it flying really well. As an aside this is the predecessor to the Gladiator, the Gamecock, just finished a few weeks back and flies just as well. From the Gordon Whitehead plan. Edited By Mike L on 09/12/2010 15:11:18
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A white horse walks into a bar and orders a pint. Barman says " thought you would have ordered a whiskey, we have one named after you" . Horse replies " what, Eric?"
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Martyn, its funny you should mention the wing collapse, and here I must make a confession, my Gladiator started life from the CAP plan, but after 4/5 flights the wings folded up. Not best pleased I ordered the BT plan from which I made new wings. I married up to the CAP fuselage but using BT wing indices and mounting method. With a Saito 91fs the Gladiator flew (still flies) like a trainer. Glad to know after all these years the wing folding may not be down to my building! I was tempted to build a 72" version but settled on the 72" Fairey Swordfish from the traplet plan for my 2011 project.
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Has anybody built the Swordfish from the MW plan, the 72" version? I am thinking sbout this as next project.
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Man goes to his Priest and says "Father, I think my wife is trying to poison me." The Priest says "Dont be silly, let me speak to your wife." He comes back a while a later and says to the man "I've just spent three hours talking to your wife.... take the poison!"
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The Biplane Thread
Mike L replied to Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator's topic in All Things Model Flying
Agree with Allan, I had a Gladiator from the BT plan and it was like the Gamecock, you need all the power to get them up, but can poodle around at scale speed once up, (awesome sight and sound!!), but they don't float once the power is cut for landing. Having said that I have a DB tiger moth (71" span) weighs 71/2 lbs and that does float! Obviously a few more pounds and smaller span makes the difference, but all machines are stable enough for my limited skill. -
The Biplane Thread
Mike L replied to Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator's topic in All Things Model Flying
This is my Gloster Gamecock from Gordon Whitehead plan, just finished and had maiden flight last week. Saito 91FS power upfront, 11Ilbs all up and flies well. -
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mean't to say "couldnt find a mirror.." typo!
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Phil Ha ha just popped in to look for inspiration for next project, just finshed Mr Whitehead's Gamecock and found the Brian May video - great song, just had to put down the balsa knife and plug in the les paul and crank the marshall up... could find a big enough mirror tho. Nice one. Goes without saying that the missus and kids are away. lol!
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Shaun Brian Taylor plan has zero thrust either vertical or horizontal. This is a great flier, built one years ago. enjoy
