Steven Butler

An excellent addition to the site David, however could we have some dirty smelly noisy 2 and 4 strokes to watch please, all that quiet electric tends to leave me a little cold.   Thanks again for the addition to the site and hope to see you at one of the MMFC fields soon.   Steve

Yes   I believe that was the case, I am very much looking forward to getting the kit and starting the build (first one)   I will do a build blog I think and probably ask loads of questions at the same time. Now all I need to do is get the double garage converted to a build shop.   Steve

Well,   Since acquiring my webbit I have been desperate to try and start my building career but have had to wait until April. I had an sc46 waiting for a new home and I am pleased to say that I have today managed to secure a traditional build kit which I think was produced from tower hobbies. It is a capiche 50 complete with plan, cowl and canopy plus linkages etc for the grand total of £55   All I need to do now is collect it and start glueing.   Has anyone else built/flown any of these models (I think weston uk do some versions in ARTF but the kits are no longer sold)   Any thoughts on this kit/model will be gratefully received   Steve

Ross Has the yak been up yet. I have now had several flights solo with mine and it is great fun. Hope to hear about a maiden flight soon. Steve

Thanks for the replies. I think the engine is fine but just wondered about what difference the different props make with the same engine. How do you work out the power figures from the rpm / propsize and pitch. Is it a known formula or an online resource / table. Anyhow thanks again Steve

Hi all   I have my sc15 ready to go into the webbit and currently have a 8 x 6 prop on it. I have been running it in (on the bench) and I have left it a little rich for obvious reasons. It has had 6 or 7 tanks through now and today I received a tacho so I thought I would go out and see what the engine is currently running at.   The prop I have has been selected using the prop size chart on here (8 x 6). The rpm I have been getting is betwoon 10500 and 11000 with the 8 x 6.   Now when I came in I went on to a model shop website and saw they recommend a 9 x 4 prop for this engine and quote a rpm figure of 16000 (upper range)   Now my questions are   Does prop size/pitch have this much effect on rpm.   Is the 8x6 not the best prop to use and should I try a 9 x 5 or 9x4 to see what results I get.   Is the quoted rpm figure wildly in excess of what the engine will actually do.   The engine seems very reliable, is throttling well and generally seems really good.   Any advice is gratefully received   Steve    

The reason I am recommending phoenix is because that is the system I have used. I do not believe in personally recommending things I have not tried. I am sure the other sims are also good.   Steve

This is my story of how I learnt to fly   I have learnt to fly using Phoenix. I went to the Southern model airshow in September last year to take my son for a day out. I was so impressed with the planes I bought a copy of Phoenis with a DX6i in October. I started to learn helis but was more drawn to the fixed wing after a short time.   On the way home from work in November I popped in to the LMS and saw an Alpha 40 trainer that I had to have. I then started practicing more and more on fixed wing on the sim.   I knew I couldnt just go out and fly the Alpha so I joined Maidstone Model Flying club. Very friendly and the chairman helped me to set up the plane and took it up for the first flight.   I took the controls and was quite competent as a result of using the sim. After two flights I did a landing, after four flights I did a take off and after 6 I did a full flight while my instructor rolled and smoked a cigarette. He then passed me as solo after 7 flights. I had done basic aeros (loops,stalls etc). It would have taken months to progress to solo without the sim.   With real flight you have to have the time off at the same time as an instructor who has to have the time to train you on a day when there arent too many people wanting to fly, if you have a problem with the model flying stops, if its bad weather flying stops. Based on this it is unsurprising it takes so long. The sim however is always there and available in all weather. You do not need 4 hrs in the day to go on it. If you only have a spare 10 minutes you can get a couple of flights in. If you land heavy or crash you just take off again and fly.   It will quickly teach you the muscle memory a beginner needs to fly much more instinctively than you are currently capable of.   My alpha is now up for sale as I have a cougar 2000 and a 120 size yak 54. The cougar was maidened by me a couple of weeks ago and I am able to do loads of aeros with it and it is a HOOT to fly. The yak is much more of a challenge but the sim gave me the confidence to have a go and I took it up solo last week for four glorious flights in bright winter sunshine.   I have been told I should now practice for my B certificate as the instructors feel I an capable of achieving this.   This post is not a boast about the way I fly but simply a demonstration of just how effective practicing on the sim is. It would have taken me all year and probably a few crashes to have progressed to where I am now. My advice is get the sim but try and be disciplined and practice take offs and landings, circuits both ways, then progress to figure 8's low passes etc. You will benefit massively from this and be enjoying the actual flying much quicker than you could imagine. My only issue with a sim (after doing the real thing) is that it is like flying whilst looking through a letter box and it is much harder to orientate yourself for landings etc than doing it for real. They also have tutorials for aerobatics and loads of different planes to enjoy. Also when you have finished with it just sell it on and you will get most of your money back.   I hope this post is useful to you. I think the sim is invaluable to get you going and couple that with your instructor at the club you will have a fantastic summer and will probably be solo before you know it   Steve

I have my kit and accessories and am ready to bodge........ sorry build my first plane!!!!!!

Hi all   I have my plans for next winters project and I have my plans and kit for the webbit. However I want to build an aerobatic plane suitable for say a mid size four stroke engine (52 - 70 size) that I can get started on sooner rather than later. Does anyone know of any plans available for this type of plane and may be their availability.   the kind of things I am looking for are   CAP SUKHOI YAK 54 EDGE 540   Ideally I would do the building with cnc kit but I am not averse to having a go at a scratch build   Steve

Thanks BEB, I have put the 8 x 5 on for now anyway. I hope its not classed as cheating to get the engine broken in LOL   Steve

Hi all I have an sc15 and bought two props today. One is an 8 x 5. And the other is an 8 x 6. I got these prop sizes from the chart on the rcme site. Do you guys with more experience think these will be ok Steve

Thanks Steve,   I like the idea of two servos as well and will do the same. I had only laid out the wood and had not noticed the elevators were joined on the plan.   I am also probably going to fit a closed loop for the rudder as it seems to work well in my yak 54 and cougar (and I already have the bits in the tool box).   Steve

Hi all   What is generally considered to be the best way of setting up the ailerons on the model.   I like the simplicity of having a servo in each wing with pushrods to control movement. But I guess this increases weight and doen not look as neat as having a single servo with torque rods.   Also looking briefly at the kit it appears to have seperate elevators. I am thinking for a model of this size a single servo would be adequate for this control surface. Is it therefore better to link the dual elevators to make a single control surface operated from one servo.   Sorry if the questions are basic ones, I am trying to picture it all working without actually building anything LOL   Steve

I would like to say a big thanks to Steve Webb Models. I called them yesterday about the small missing part and it arrived half hour ago.   Great service   Steve

fair point, well brought out.   Thanks pete that makes perfect sense,   I think I may go with a closed loop for the rudder on the webbit and see where the wind takes me with the elevator (ie see what others do)   All the best   Steve

It will be elevators/rudder for mid size club flyers (not sure yet but probably a plan build), maybe the webbit. I was really wondering which guage would be correct for m2 clevis with a solder joint and z bend at the other end.   Steve

hi all   I am using m2 clevises and would like to know the correct guage of wires to use for control surfaces.   Is 16swg piano wire the order of the day (silver soldered on to the clevis)   If so will this bend ok with z bend pliers. Also where is best to buy the plastic sleeving at the correct hole diameter and length.   Would prefer a local solution (Maidstone) as I dont want to pay the post costs which are high on a single item.   The stuff from model shops is very short and I wanted to use it for elevator.rudder control.   Steve

Hi all,   I have received my kit and there was one small piece missing. This piece was the front part ofthe vertical tail plane that comes down to meet the fuselage. A quick call to SWM and they are sending a replacement (excellent service thank you).   Just though it might be worth mentioning so others can check they have all the required pieces. The only problem I now have is keeping my grubby hands off of it until the 1st April. Still I need to convert my garage into a workshop first so that should keep me busy.   What IC engines are you guys looking at using. I went for the budget option of the sc15. looking forward to April now.   Steve

Just got the webbit and spare wood. Quite daunting for someone who has never built from a plan before. please make sure you all post loads of photos for me as a guide as I have probably bitten off more than I can chew.   Still it'll be a good fun challenge   Steve

Right   I now have the weekend off work and a pass from the wife. I will be up there for the weekend (camping) and will hopefully have my webbit built for the flying there of.   Sounds like fun   Steve

I have now ordered the kit, engine extra wood etc etc   Steve

Hi all   Where is the grrenacre fly in located, looks a great event and have now decided to build the webbit. Hope to get there this year.   Steve

Steve Kent Not bought the kit yet    

Well I am a beginner and have been on the receiving end of a couple of very small inexpensive bits when needed.  That said this week I have received an order for a load of spares (bolts fixings etc) I have also got spare servos and all the tools my models need to maintain them.  I am waiting for 6 FS glow plugs so I will have plenty spare.    I know having this lot has cost me  a bit of wedge but I am sure it will go a long way with more established club members that I have made the effort to equip myself as fully as possible for the days flying.  We can all be caught short but common courtesy should mean people replace what they have borrowed.   Just my view as a newbie for what it is worth.   Steve