Gordon Tarling

I'd suggest that you don't waste your time with water - in model sized quantities, it's not visible enough when the model is flying and, as you've found, duration will be very short. I've seen several threads on several forums over the years and the most successful and visible system that I've seen used exhaust smoke piped to the wings and nozzles. Of course, if you're using electric power, Lipo batteries could solve your problem.

Posted by Martin Harris on 31/10/2016 15:45:58: There are laws which apply to anyone - not just club members. If these drones are being flown within 50 feet of people (on or off horses) who aren't part of the operating club or under their control, then they are committing a criminal offence. Martin - it's 50 metres, not 50 feet - a big difference. Basically, they should be keeping WELL away from horses and people and they need speaking to if they ignore this.

Shop assistants wind me up when you walk into a shop and they ask 'Are you alright there?'. I often wonder if I should be at the doctor's rather than in a shop! What on earth is wrong with asking 'can I help you?'?

2 Volts is way too low if you're using a Lipo battery. The figure to which you refer is a 'per cell' voltage and it should really be set around 3.5 Volts, but the exact figure depends on what the current draw is. Try setting it to 3.5 Volts and see how you go - if you think it's reducing power too early, then drop the voltage a bit at a time. The aim is to end up with a battery that shows around 3.7 Volts per cell having rested for a minute or two after a flight. Incidentally, I personally don't like the 'reduce power' setting and much prefer to have the motor cut completely when the low voltage figure is reached, as I've been caught out by it on a couple of occasions.

Trying to access the BMFA website this morning and my anti-virus tells me the website certificate has been revoked and won't let me get to the site. Has someone forgotten to renew their certificate, or is it my system somehow?

As sure as I can be, Percy. From their website a few seconds ago - "Since our move to mainland UK distribution we are now pleased to confirm that all prices include VAT where applicable. Our VAT registration number is GB134 2179 33." Perhaps their office is still in Guernsey?

Percy - 7DayShop moved back to the UK mainland a couple of years or so ago. Still cheap though! I got so fed up with inkjet cartridges emptying before my very eyes that I bought a used colour laser printer from Ebay for £50 - should have done that years ago!

I keep unopened bottles in a ziplock bag in the freezer - I've had some for 2 years or so in there and still good to use after defrosting. For bottles in use, I usually put them in a ziplock bag in my fridge. I've also heard of people who put the bottle into a jam jar that has silica gel in the bottom - keeps the moisture at bay.

I fitted an APM controller running Arduplane in a Raptor FPV-type model about 3 years ago -it all worked well, then I decided to fit the APM into a quadcopter, so the airframe has been gathering dust since.

I use a separate BEC for the gear on larger models - if a retract unit stalls or develops a fault, it could overload the BEC and cause it to shut down - simply not worth the risk. My Hangar 9 Corsair uses this system and has been totally reliable. My Dynam Me 262 on the other hand uses one BEC for everything and I occasionally get a momentary low receiver voltage warning as I retract the gear on climbout, so I assume the retracts put a fair load on the BEC as they retract.

Looks very similar to this one - LINKY

I echo Allan's thoughts. My USA flying friends told me a long time ago to treat a model with a battery the same as you would treat a loaded gun - if the battery is in the model and connected, then the model isn't 100% safe. Thankfully, we don't have the same gun freedom in this country, but the philosophy still applies. All my larger models, where battery access is difficult, use one of Emcotec's Safety Power Switches.

I thought that BT TV was delivered over your broadband connection, not the aerial? Can't find anything on the BT TV website about it coming via the aerial.

Well done Cyril!

I'm not sure why the 747 would have been dumping fuel over land when so much water is so close. Dumping over water is the normal procedure.

A few years ago, I visited a few model exhibitions in Germany and went to pains to question various modellers about use of the swastika. The usual answer I got was that while it is illegal to use the symbol in Germany, it is considered acceptable to show it on a scale model. Some modellers, I noted, were drawing a very thin red line through the swastika, as if to cross it out and a few had made the outermost lines into a square with a thin white line. In this country, do as your conscience tells you. Gordon

Wow! Some fantastic shots there - will have to get the book for the library!

Jez - looks like it's going to be a wonderful model! I don't suppose anyone might know where there's one of these kits for sale? Even a part built one would be considered. Gordon

I usually use one of these You can print either shrink sleeves or wrap-round flags - just brilliant!

I have the Axminster scroll saw, as well as a Scheppach bandsaw. I also still have all my fingers. The bandsaw gets used a lot more than the scroll saw, partly because it cuts a lot faster and has both a rip fence and mitre fence, which make for accurate cutting. Blade choice is important with the bandsaw, with the right one, curves can easily be cut, though probably not as small a radius as with a scrollsaw. Bandsaw setup is also important - lots of videos on YT to show you how. If forced to choose between scrollsaw or bandsaw, it'd be bandsaw every time. Did I mention that a disc sander is very useful, too? Gordon

Interesting, but nothing new there that I can see. Thanks for posting it anyway.

My congratulations to you both! I hope you'll be very happy together. A chocolate wedding cake - just perfect! Gordon

oldgit - I used to feel like you do about using the rudder stick, but what I did was to set up an aileron/rudder mix which I could switch in and out - after a while, I found I was using the mix less and less, so rarely even bother to set up a mix now.

Posted by Martin - RAM Models on 20/11/2015 18:40:38: The staff at RAF Cosford are amongst the most helpful museum staff I've ever had contact with. Always polite/chatty and happy to oblige with over the barrier access where they can. I've even asked on the day of my visit on a couple of occasions and got positive responses. Just to level the field slightly, I had similar courtesy at Hendon when I visited to photograph their Sopwith Pup. There was a chap doing some cleaning on the adjacent Avro 504K and he came over to ask if I needed any help when he saw me photographing the Pup. I explained that I was building a model and he allowed me behind the ropes and left me to it. He even offered to take me into their workshop where they were stripping a rotary, I had to gracefully decline, as it wasn't a Clerget.

Mark - It sure is, but obviously very convenient for some operators.