Nigel Dell

Steve supplies excellent mouldings, I have a ridge recruit/racer fuz he supplied at a very reasonable price, it is a Polyester resin moulding but using glass cloth not chopped mat of the originals so stronger and lighter with an excellent gelcoat, would always recommend him.

https://bamopro.co.uk/ Jon when I needed some tanks made for various engines I contacted this company and they put me in touch with a guy who turned them from nylon and some were acrylic but they did keep some in stock for the ED comp specials etc. so might be worth an email. Sometimes you do see someone on eBay put up replica tanks, can’t remember the name atm but I had a few from him in the past and the ED Baby ones were good, even made a couple a little longer for a s/c radio assist that I needed.

That’s nice Ron, I forgot about these kits, they have been around since the ark. The Mystic is nice with the vee twin, it needs to be shown off!

I think Jon is not too far from the point, I have not had the Roto four stroke but a fair few two strokes both glow and petrol, they had plenty of torque and I put them in a similar league as the larger Super Tigre but seemingly better quality, always reliable, better carbs to the ST S2000/25 and 3000, I usually changed them to OS. I would be interested in the findings of this engine, I know one thing it has to be a better bet to the NGH 38 of which I do have experience. I hope someone has the answers you require.

That is nice 👍🏻

Probably glosstex became available, solartex was always fuel proof but as John says it was given a coat of something to stop it becoming scruffy and easier to clean, my Wot 4 was covered in solartex then sprayed with a coat of tufcote, still got the airframe 😳🤭😂

About 1983 for mine, and I think I was a little late to the party then, I am guessing it was a plan/plan pack earlier than that before it was a full blown kit.

52208 looks like the ptfe pad that goes in the end of the gudgeon pin to me and not on the crankcase.

I would just use an outrunner equal to a 61-90 swinging a prop size similar to the original model rather than going to the expense of large edf’s and the required intake / tailpipe set up’s to get the best out it, it flew ok with i.c. Back then it will be fine with the equivalent electric set up now, no need to over complicate it.

Oh yes, I was taught that many years ago, when first did it I felt it was like hand feeding a tiger! But once I got into the swing (pun intended) of it I was ok. As you say technique is everything.

Hi Ady Mine is the Gypsy as well going in a Miles Hobby Hawk when I get my mojo back, we are in a club of 3 I understand. Simon that is correct, the ‘Gypsy’ version so named as it turned in the same direction as the full size, reverse of normal model engines. I ordered the Fiala props from Bernie at Jeti UK you can order their props in reverse rotation so have a selection to try.

Hi Phil, yes the Astral is unusual, I was given it by a friends Dad to see if I could get it going, who’d have thought we would be modifying them to 2.4, at least it has another life ahead of it not sure if the case is similar mind but anything is possible. This had a battery leak at some point and needed renovation, so I mixed the Hammerstein paints to get the colour and Hammerstein finish of it originally and is faithful to its previous look. My Friends Dad was a Sargent pilot during the war and flew Hurricanes with 85 sqn the went to 10 group near Bath and flew night fighting Hurricanes he ended his war ferrying B24’s from Consolidated in the states to India where apparently he lost the last one! Someone lost the delivery paperwork, he was shot down twice whilst ferrying by FW 200 Condors first time it was a couple of days in the water the last was nearer three weeks but he survived to tell the tail and went on to work in the production of radio equipment and teach. The other Paul Plecan design I would like to do is the Hepcat you can see the linage between the Hummingbird and that.

I have been trying to get back to a building regime after a few years of illness that left me forever tired and in pain, this has become more manageable recently as things improve, there is a lot to be said for balsa whittling for recovery. 🙂 I converted two single channel transmitters with the help of Phil Green’s encoders and have wanted to do this side of the sport for a longtime. I also picked up an Anderson Baby Spitfire on one of my many late night pursuing of eBay looking for the odd and great, have always had a soft spot for the Plecan designs and having kept hold of the free plan of the Hummingbird I thought it about time I produced something, so here she is. the Hummingbird was designed around the Baby Spitfire so it just had to be done. I made a removable module with the rx, battery and servo for ease of installation and take it out for charging etc, it does have a micro switch so charge and go fly for the day then remove when return. I have wanted to make the PANDAS event now I am hoping to do this with a few models I am now planning, next up is the Pal Joey which I have already cut the kit, and am about to cover a KK Outlaw ll which has either 3 channel proportional or single with motor control and kick up elevator dependant on how brave I feel at the time. I have also converted an OS Couger 4 ch Tx ( my first radio) A Kraft 70 also with Phil’s encoders, I have yet to convert my old Sanwa Black Custom, Horizon HS4E and an OS Couger mk2, 4ch. The Kraft is going to control a Phil Kraft Firefli powered by an original Kraft 61 if I can keep this building streak up although I am trying to fit in a Warbirds Replica Me 110 and 109 at some point but am starting small for a quick return atm just so I can feel a sense of accomplishment. Because I had a relapse I had to shelve my large scale Miles Hobby Hawk for the Laser i200 for the moment as I was just looking at it and just not getting far, so baby steps for me for the time being.

Oh do I know about that! I am furiously looking for multiple things in the hope I will find one of them! If putting things away safely were an Olympic sport I would be a gold medalist! 😳🤔🤭😂

If I have limited space and cannot use ball links or clevises then a 90 degree bend with correct size brass or Ali tube glued on with cyano (carefully) which is easily removable.

Me too Phil, went in a KK Ranger, still got it, still runs ok but is pretty worn as I flew to death way back and then my brothers flew it some more!

Roy I can never understand the businesses that won’t take on work because it’s too much hassle, I used to run an in house print department at a architecture/ engineering business, we regularly scanned and copied larger drawings of dubious condition, we even did linen drawings from the thirties, we just used a film carrier of the appropriate size ( an envelope effectively) and it didn’t matter the condition of the drawing of if indeed if parts were missing it was an easy job without any hint of jamming, maybe those businesses are the ones to avoid if they don’t know the basics. Thanks for the heads up as I am in need of scaling up some of my drawings and am not too far from Slough. I miss having the equipment to do this at my disposal these days I particularly miss the high end 3D printers and software we had.

Couldn’t agree more Ron👍🏻

Yes a couple of days later.

I ordered a couple of plans from Colin a couple of months ago.

Hi James How are you my friend? good to see you here.

That’s nice Ady, is it the one of three Gypsy versions of the i200? How was the power in that model? I expect it would be sufficient.

I like the airbrush idea Jon, I have cheap, larger needle airbrushes for applying metal flake that would fit the bill nicely, I will give that one a go 👍🏻

I concur with John, heat the area and apply, I leave overnight a light sanding and apply a second coat and have used the next day without problems, 2 days is fine, poxy finishing resin goes off relatively quickly just don’t expect it to be quick in freezing conditions.

Yes thanks Paul, they have been out of stock of the M11 a right pain.