Mike Rolls

As Steve says, the ability isn't size dependent, but depends upon the aerodynamic set up. All that us needed is the ability to generate enough excess lift over that required for level flight. Mike  @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

I cut a hatch in the top. Made it just long enough to slide the pack in from above and in front. No problems. Like you, I like to disarm ASAP so the hatch is held by a self tapper into a piece of 1/8 ply glued to the firewall and arranged so that it only needs about 2 turns to remove. Quite apart from the inconvenience of using the wing as the hatch, on the AW I don't see that it would be practical without compromising the strength of the U/C mounting. Similarly, locating the pack under the canopy would need a good bit of noseweight unless you have a VERY heavy motor. HTH Mike  @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

The one thing that I don't like about the model is the way the rudder is driven by the tailwheel, rather than the other way round. Whenever I have a steerable tailwheel on anything I build I always have a remote coupling (fancy name for a rubber band) from the fin to the tailwheel. Mike  @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

The video wasn't too brilliant so I found it difficult, for example, to judge how close the model was to those power lines. Also, I don't know what houses, etc., may have been anywhere near. Whether that particular flight posed an unacceptable level of risk, therefore, I don't know. On the general question - first, if you say 'ban such models.flying' - how? Obviously in a club set-up we can sort such a problem out, but as has been said, anyone wanting to indulge in such an activity is unlikely to be fazed by not being able to do it at a club site. Overall, I have to say  - what is the point of such flying? Just dashing back and forth gets a bit boring after about the third pass and very boring after the tenth!  Mike  @import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);@import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

This is becoming home from home week - Hi, Maz Mike  @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

Swissflyer I was interested in your estimated stall speeds. How did you arrive at them? Leaving aside the fact that a stall is the result of excessive AoA (which is why you can generate a high speed stall) the formula I use (which only claims to be a rough guide)  is 5xsqrt of wing loading in ozs/sq.ft - for 468sq ins and 4 pounds that gives 22.2mph.  Certainly 17mph odd seems very low for a loading of just ib 20ozs/sq.ft Mike  @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

Looking better by the minute!   Mike  @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);

Augusto That seems rather a lot of dihedral. Mike 

It's worrying to hear of servo arms snapping. Really sounds like poor quality control letting a duff batch through seeing some folk have had problems, others haven't. The only aspect of the model I don't like is having the tailwheel connected directly to the rudder, which I think is asking for trouble unless the take-off/landing area is very smooth. Mike 

Ron's funeral service will be at 12 noon on Tuesday 26th October at St. James' Church, Bushey High Street WD23 1BD. Family flowers only, but the family have arranged with the undertakers, James Peddle Ltd., 10 Moneyhill Parade, Uxbridge, Rickmansworth WD3 7BE to accept donations in the name of Ron Moulton, with the proceeds to be split between the RAF Benevolent Fund and Harefield Hospital. Mike 

Remembered what I used for cutting jobs too heavy for the Blue Gilettes. There also used to be single edged blades, a bit thicker than the Blues, but much stiffer because they had a back to them - a metal strip which was folded over the non-cutting edge. I didn't discover them until after using the Blues for a few years, then visitng an uncle and aunt I found his razor in the bathroom with these different type blades. I think that they may have been called something like Corrux? Mike 

Posted by Bert on 12/10/2010 09:11:30: Don't leave out Ron Warring, Henry J Nicholls, Dave Platt, Doug McHard and of course Peter Russell.   Bert   Bert I thought that Peter Russell and Dave Platt were still with us. Am I wrong? Mike 

I'll see if I can find mine Mike 

Absolutely - mine has been read so many times it looks decidedly dog-eared, but even though I no longer fly C/L it still gets taken out and read from time to time. Mike 

Very true, John. Mike 

Sad news. Ron died on Friday morning, I am sure that most folk here will be familiar with his name; for those who are not, he has been an enormous influence on model flying in the UK since the late 1940s. He introduced C/L flying to this country and, especially in his days as magazine editor could be found at the forefront of just about any worthwhile development. He will be sorely missed. Mike 

>>Now the decisions, 4s A123 or 3s LiPo, 2300, or 3000mAHr?  Which model do I steal an RX from?  To paint or just go with the stickers?  Why is life never simple<< Steve 3000mAH - have you actually tried getting one in? My Tipple 3S 2300 packs - which are only 4.5" long, will only just go in the battery bay. Mike 

Yes, scalpel blades (No 26 is my favourite) are certainly sharper than any craft knife I have ever used. I don't know if all surgical scalpels are disposable nowadays - certainly many used to be. Mike 

Eric that's made me think. I can't imagine that I cut, say, hard 1/4" sheet with a Gillette half blade, but for the life of me I can not remember what I used back then. Mike 

Augusto Keep it up - it looks good Mike 

Another user of double edged blades snapped in two and a point snapped onto them. Sellotape in those days was a horrid product - the adhesive went all gooey as soon as you looked at it. The idea of using it to make the use of the half razor blade simply never occurred to me. I used to built in the bedroom I shared with my brother - building board on the bed and when bedtime came if the board couldn't be cleared away it went on top of the wardrobe. One night I lost one of the blades whilst tidying away. In the morning I found where it had got to - into the bed and my feet and shins were criss-crossed with lots of shallow cuts and pyjamas and bedsheets had quite a few bloodstains.  Can't understand how I never felt what was happening, although I suppose the lacerations were nearer to scratches than real cuts. I would have been about 10 or 11 at the time. I wonder how  someone that age would be treated trying to buy razor blades today? Mike 

Posted by richard cohen on 29/09/2010 20:18:04: very nice but not as pretty as this......  Anybody else here ever flown in one? Superb experience thundering over the countryside at about 2000 feet and 100 mph. MIke 

Mine is very slow as well at the moment (16:20 29-9-10) Mike 

Electricity is the answer. My ST51 powered Acrowot went best on an 11x6. My current electric version gives equal performance on a 13x8. Suitable drive train choices could use a bigger prop still if I wished (but that would run into the same ground clearance problems the full size designers had). Mike 

I'm another onme who feels that the Spitfire looks much better without wellies. I think (my mind changes with the weather!) that for looks my favourite version is the Mk V (not clipped), as it has that slightly longer nose which I feel looks more balanced than the Mk I/II. The Mk IX nose is a bit longer still but still in good balance. I like the bubble marks, but not as much! Mike