The Wright Stuff

Posted by gangster on 23/07/2018 12:48:16: I finally bought Futaba when I went 2.4. 6j. Whilst I was disappointed because I bought the 6 instead of 8j but also there was no proper rechargeable conversion (according to Ripmax and the LMS). I think one of the reasons that personal preference applies so strongly to transmitters is that we all have different habits, wants and needs. One person's 'con' is another person's 'pro'... This is a good example. I think dry cell batteries are the best thing since sliced bread in the 6J. They last me all year, don't appreciably self-discharge, and I have no faff of charging them. They won't suddenly die on me, and if they run low, I can just pop to Wilko's instead of having to find a dedicated model shop... I wouldn't go back to rechargables even if I could... and won't buy a new transmitter that can't be run on dry cell batteries!!!! So there!!!

Goodbye and thank you to a true gentleman and hero. May you always be remembered. I, too, read 'First Light' and found the honesty and humility contained in the pages truely sobering. [Please can I very politely request that a mod correct the spelling of his name in the thread title? It seems disrespectful, somehow].

Posted by MattyB on 18/07/2018 12:39:36: Posted by The Wright Stuff on 18/07/2018 12:16:28: Oh my god we are going around and around. A model aircraft is an unregulated drone, at present. Yes, we could be badly affected, but times change. The world evolves. We need to adapt and evolve too. It could be much much worse. The fact that it could be much worse does not mean we should just lie down and accept it. Not suggesting that at all, Matty, sure we need (needed) to make ourselves heard. BUT, we should consider our current position to be a privilege not a right, that is all...

Oh my god we are going around and around. A model aircraft is an unregulated drone, at present. Yes, we could be badly affected, but times change. The world evolves. We need to adapt and evolve too. It could be much much worse. Think of this for a second. I could regard myself as an exceptional driver. Maybe I have 20/20 vision, lightning reflexes, superior intelligence and outstanding awareness. I am responsible and I have a genuine reason for my journey. But I am still subjected to the same 60 mph speed limit on an A road as everyone else. How insulting to be treated the same as the drunk boy racers who are out joyriding!

I imagine that there will be a degree of common sense involved. Much like speeding in a car. There are precision and accuracy limitations on any measurement technique. You are unlikely to be prosecuted for flying at 405'.

They were going to call it 'a little bit windy', but it got voted down...

My wife had a minor car crash a couple of years ago, and (here's the really weird thing), it wasn't a Friday nor the 13th. How bizarre is that?

Posted by Kevin 216 on 16/07/2018 10:59:33: You had me wondering for a while Percy so as I used to regularly fly Lufthansa or Qatar airlines A340-300 decided to check their seating plans Lufthansa have no row 13 they simply miss the number out. Qatar do have a row 13. Perhaps the German know something we don't! Different cultures have different 'lucky' and 'unlucky' numbers, so airlines will tailor their numbering system to the expected passenger demographic. The number 4 is unlucky in Chinese, for example, since it resembles the Chinese word for 'death'...

Posted by bert baker on 16/07/2018 13:10:16: Ok,, off to the naughty step I go I'll join you, bert. Just hang on a minute while I get me coat...

Posted by gangster on 16/07/2018 12:25:34: Do you need to hold the nose up on electric models? Also should electric models be balanced with a fully charged battery? Absolutely. If the model climbs, the electrons have to go uphill, so the power drops. If anything, the nose up test is even more important than with I.C. And it's also very important, as gangster says, to balance with a fully charged battery, since the weight will decrease as the power leaves the battery (amps are surprisingly heavy if you catch one and hold it in your hand). Of course, if the battery becomes accidentally reverse charged, then its weight actually becomes negative. In extreme cases, such batteries have been known to actually escape the earth's gravity altogether. If this happens, you run a risk of collision with a black hole, which could destroy the observable universe...

It sounds like you need to upgrade to 35 MHz in order to access that extra functionality...

Brilliant defending from France. If only they'd done that in 1940...

Posted by Percy Verance on 14/07/2018 10:09:00: I can't think of any reason not to have a seat row 13 Kevin. After all, whatever might happen to row 13, will happen to the rest surely? It is a risky business, sitting in a metal cylinder being propelled along by exploding chemicals......... I'm not superstitious, but I accept that the existence of triskaidekaphobia means you can't simply ignore the 13th. There are many ways for 'self-fulfilling' to manifest itself. A very very good reason to not have a seat row 13 is the administrative hassle of people wanting to avoid it, change seats, or have meltdowns because of their fear. When you consider that, I can't think of any good reasons to include a row 13...

Ag-a-doo-doo-doo, push pineapple, shake the tree...

Posted by Jon - Laser Engines on 12/07/2018 16:21:03: Its a pointless test that dates back to the early days. With modern engines that have considerably better fuel draw and/or are pressurised its really redundant. Jon, what do you mean specifically by 'early days'. All the OS manuals appear to recommend pointing the nose 15 degrees up (as opposed to vertical). I always like to try to reconcile difference of experience - it's the scientist in me, I guess, but is it possible that (due to your experience) your engine tuning is generally pretty good to start with, whereas there may be some benefit to the 'nose up' practice if it is grotesquely out of tune (or badly plumbed)...

The art of multitasking: how to fly a wing, while simultaneously playing 'rock-paper-scissors' and also using Fleming's Left Hand Rule to figure out the electrics for his next project.

It might depend a little on what you want to use the bench for, and what you want to protect it from, but +1 for just using something sacrificial. Plasterboard is good for pinning into... Card / newspaper perfectly adequate for paint splashes... Otherwise, cheapish plywood, mdf, hardboard or chipboard, as above. You could seal it to make it last a bit longer...

Strong with this one, the force is. Erm... 'swish'.

It really does come down to the laws of economics, though. Supply and demand. As long as we keep buying them like that, they will keep selling them to us like that. I lost a wing in flight on my beloved Black Horse Speed Air. The fuse speared into the ground and the wing gently fluttered its way down for seemingly a long time afterwards. Upon investigation, the wing was still firmly bolted to the wing bolt plate - which had come away from the fuselage. This sort of specific fix is fairly easy to rectify once you know to look out for it. +1 to Ron's excellent advice, above.

Indeed Peter, but we all make mistakes. A general comment (not aimed at Peter or anyone else in particular) that I have been bottling up for a while, but now feel the need to say. There seems to be a certain amount of condescending glee on the forum whenever someone is asking for help and perceived to be wanting to progress too quickly. It isn't just this thread, it happens quite a lot. I'm sure that most of the time it isn't even intentional, but I worry it puts new forum members off. All the advice is based on experience, and is very good advice, but there are more constructive, less superior and less abrasive ways of getting it across. It only happens with the flying aspect. Not other topics. If someone asks for help with choosing glue, there is never a sarcastic response about learning to use Pritt Stick first. If someone asks for help with designing electric set-ups, there is never a sarcastic response about going to playschool to learn maths. There is no criticism in build blogs suggesting that the modeller is wasting his time. So why the attitude when it comes to the flying bit? Surely if we value our own advice enough, then we will be motivated to put it across in the manner in which it is most likely to positively influence the person at which it is aimed? Ironically, I'm aware this may not be taken in the positive spirit in which it is intended, and I apologise in advance if I'm being too harsh, but I care about the hobby and its future as much as anyone, and I cringe whenever I see these threads turning nasty!

Posted by Paul Marsh on 10/07/2018 20:14:50: You have to avoid the ground first then work upwards... If you have trouble landing and taking off, reliably, then 3D is the last thing on your mind. Best to get the basics, then able to fly the plane where you want in any condition, wind, snow, etc then if you can do that without breaking models, then next is aero's. True enough, but is there any suggestion that the OP has trouble with take-offs and landings? I apologise if I missed it, but I read it as he crashes whilst practising the specific 3D manoeuvres, but is a competent flyer otherwise...

Posted by cymaz on 10/07/2018 17:05:01: Posted by Percy Verance on 10/07/2018 15:55:37: And absolutely no disrespect meant chaps, but surely the old timer modellers had jobs, wives and children? The working week was also longer back then, with (usually) a 48 hour week being worked. But I understand that people seem to have less time on their hands today despite all the labour saving gadgets we now have in our homes. Edited By Percy Verance on 10/07/2018 16:06:35 PV, I would say that the working week is longer now...big shops are now 24/7 and someone has to staff them. I have to work some bank holidays, I have to work every other Saturday. SWMBO works every bank holiday Monday and every Sunday...this gives us precious time together if there is a flying show to get to. Sunday to a lot of people is just another working day. I agree with all of that, and perhaps could also dare to suggest that back in the day, the household chores, bringing up children, and shopping and cooking was largely the wife's role! But to put a more positive spin on it, perhaps we can agree that the time availability can be function of time-of-life? As a teenager / student, there is plenty of time (if no inclination). The mid-20s to mid-40s can be hard. then when the kids leave home, back to the balsa! Perhaps what is happening is that more people these days are 'bridging the gap' with ARTFs and minimal time commitment, as opposed to taking a break from the hobby altogether. This is certainly how I see myself, and once the kids are school age and independent, you won't see me for balsa dust!!!

Fortunately for this particular model, the Grim Reaper had forgotten his scythe...

Ian demonstrates how to fly on mode 11.

Bruce, fantastic post, particularly the last two paragraphs. I have young children, my wife works full time, I take what time I can for aeromodelling, but sometimes half an hour per week is 100% of my free time. At times, I travel: then I have to conduct my hobby from a hotel room. Listening to some people, it seems you are not a proper aeromodeller unless you planted the balsa tree yourself. Edited By The Wright Stuff on 10/07/2018 14:10:58