David Ovenden

Deleted my post. It Christmas!

I found this video of a Marutaka Bird Dog with an OS FS120. Flies nicely and seems about the right power to me. Bird Dog video

Mark, I've just got the Bird Dog plan out to look at. From the sketch drawing of the fuselage you can see that there is the fuselage side plus the doubler F25 to glue to. In addition there is the block F36 at the rear plus 2 formers F14 and F15 plus the front of the tailplane will glue to F13. That doesn't seem bad to me. But it would be easy to add some crossgrain balsa sheet infill as has already been suggested by John. The tailplane has reinforcing spars built in. The base of the vertical fin will need to be sanded to a snug fit with the top surface of the tailplane. But there are also the 2 substantial fillets F38 that will reinforce the joint either side. Well-fitting parts properly epoxied into place make an amazingly strong joint. I don't think you need to worry about the structural integrity.

I also have the Marutaka Bird Dog kit waiting it's turn. The plan shows the servos in two different locations depending on the engine used. The plan shows an OS Gemini FS twin which is heavy. The plan shows the rudder and elevator servos way back in the fuselage because of this. Servos will need to mount much further forward if a single cylinder engine is used to get the CG correct.

Yes, those Great Mate stands were/are beautifully designed and engineered. I have one that I bought second-hand at the Southern Model Show many years ago. It always goes with me to to the flying field and, like Geoff's, it is in near constant use in the workshop too. Either for model storage or as an aid when building and repairing planes. Mine is in the original yellow and the paint (powder coating??) seems impervious to 10% nitro fuel. If you are lucky enough to find one for sale - don't let it get away!

As far I can tell there is very little stock of planes or anything else available in the EU or UK "warehouses". Hard to see how HK will succeed without goods to sell. Few people will want to pay in advance for goods that are not in stock.

We'll I'm still using my 125w Henley soldering iron with its original tip. I got it new in 1968!

Very very nice model. Hope you find your engine OK

Well here's a strange thing. I tried to order a King Twin 1700mm plane from the HK UK warehouse. It shows as in stock. I put it in my basket. But its impossible to buy as there is no shipping available to UK addresses. I pursued it via live chat and helpdesk. The answer. You can't buy it because no carrier is able to deliver it in the UK! So an "in stock" item on their website is impossible to buy. The wonderful world of Hobby King!

Hi Pat, I can't speak about HoLEP as this wasn't offered to me. However I did have a TURP "rebore" 5 years ago. (In my case because I had serious aggressive prostate cancer causing the peeing problem) It has worked well, for me resulting in back to normal peeing . No leaking, no infection problems. However, reading up on HoLEP it looks even better than a TURP with less risk of negative side effects. Good luck in making your choice. I'm certainly very glad I had my op which so improved my quality of life.

I can't answer your question Nigel. However, I have several Surpass Hobby motors that I have found excellent.

I have a new pair I can sell you. Pm me if interested.

Saito Mark their engines with a letter stamp underneath the mounting lug. This denotes the coutry/distributor/area where it was initially sold to. Does anyone know if there is a list of which letter refers to which area? For example a diamond with HH in it is Horizon Hobby in the USA. The letters on top of the mounting lug are batch codes showing when the engine was manufactured.

Got my debonder from Tool Station I think

Yes, that's what I have and it works brilliantly. The HP Proliant server PSU is what I have it's an easy mod and provides a top rate powersupply

I had a T.U.R.P. keyhole op. That really worked for me. Pills didn't help.

I'm in the process of moving. Once settled in I'm determined to build the Marutaka Cessna Bird Dog kit I've had for so long. Waiting it's turn. The model is 88" span and 1/5th scale. The plan shows an OS Gemini 120 twin, and the kit is designed around that engine. I have one (happily the later FT120 II version). So that's the obvious choice. Or is it? I also have an OS FT 160 Gemini twin. Same dimensions more grunt. Or a Saito 125 single. Or should I consider going electric? But I don't have a suitable motor or 6s/8s liposuction. What to do?

If its just the strut fixing torn out, I'd glue it (or a piece of plywood) back into the wing.

Don, I'm in France and use JR gear. I have a 9x tx with 35mhz and a 2.4gHz modules. I could use it. Which is cheaper, post to french address or UK one? Could do either. David

I do have an excellent OS Gemini FT120 v2 in its box with instructions. Send me a pm if you are interested

Laser engines being available in more model shops = more sales

Could it be this ?https://ziroligiantscaleplans.com/me-109-warbird-plan.html

A well-known phenomenon in Spring. Rapidly rising sap causes trees to make sudden increases in their height, in the orientation and placement of their branches, and even in their actual location in relation to the runway. It makes flying models at the beginning of the season a tricky business.

We should NOT have to change browsers or open them in "safe mode just to use the forum. Something has changed in the way the forum's website is managed and it's not working properly. Multiple users are having problems. So obviously the website needs fixing not users' computers.

PC, Windows10, Chrome or Edge. Same problem. Also the same problem when using my Samung phone and tablet. Problems only appeared for me when the adverts started.