Martin Fraser

I was in Chard a few years ago and popped into their museum to find an interesting display of steam powered models by John Stringfellow and William Henson Open this link in a new window - John Stringfellow | Chard Museum Cheers, Marty

Hi folks, David & Robin - you're bang on! My friend acquired this model ages ago from from his friend (that built it) but he stowed it away in his loft thinking one day he would do something with it. Anyway, he's been back up there and look what he's found, yes the PLANS! So now I've got CoG info and much more. Many, many thanks gents. Regards, Marty

Morning folks, A friend of mine has given me this model and we're not sure what it is. Wing span is 74" and it's about 48" long. Despite its size it feels quite light. There's no power plant with it but It's been IC powered. I've got a Saito 56 that would physically fit but not sure if it would drag it along. Any pointers much appreciated.

I managed to knock my NX10 off the bench once and the grab just handle pinged off. I might be wrong but no antenna connections were evident.

Hi Philip, I've sent you a message on the BMFA classifieds.

Hi folks, I’ve had it with the Saito 120 3R powering my Seagull Yak 54 (61" wingspan and AUW 4.5Kg approx.) I’ve tried to get some decent power out of it but it only just achieves level flight. After two crashes, one tip stall on finals resulting from it cutting out and one overshoot into the long grass ripping off the U/C for the same reason. So I would like to make use of some 7s x 5800mAh packs that are doing nothing, a YGE HV120amp esc and if possible a ACE RC OBL50/05 500Kv motor. I’ve done a static run with it running a 15x6 prop and the watt meter was showing 34amps. It was making a reasonable breeze but I would like some vertical performance. Would a bigger / coarser prop give me more thrust and would the motor cope? Nothing got warm on the test run. Many thanks, Marty

Hi Jon, On the ground runs I was getting 9500 RPM on a 14x6 prop which is pretty much what Saito quotes in the manual. Anyway, after quite a few hours in surgery with new ply frames, sheeting, covering and a new cowling it's all fixed up - apart from a power plant. I shouldn't say 'plant' really! Fortunately the Saito came to no harm as did its prop probably due to soft ground and the crumple zone of the cowling so Paul I'll bear you kind offer in mind 😂 Cheers, Martin

Oh dear, how sad never mind. 🙄 Despite my best efforts to get my Saito to drag the Yak about at a decent lick, I think I'll convert it to electric. Prior to this sudden arrival, it flew ok ish but needed full throttle most of the time and wouldn't go anywhere near vertical. It seemed very slippery on previous landings so on this flight I chopped the throttle earlier as I was just coming out of a banked turn and lining it up for the strip. Yep, the engine cut out and a classic tip stall resulted, made all the more embarrassing having just attended a talk given by a senior club member and pilot of full size aircraft on - Banked turns! So I'm looking for recommendations for an electric motor. If possible to take a 7s lipo (I have 5 x 5800 doing nothing) that will give me good aero performance. Cheers, Martin

Hi Ken, Some very useful and interesting info in Peter's findings regarding dihedral and flying characteristics. His Saito 125a is quoted as 2.2hp and it 'hops off the ground' so I'm beginning to wonder if my Saito 120 R3 is going to have enough oomph. Anyway, many thanks to you and Peter for posting. Cheers, Martin

What about the BMFA national centre? Camping on site or there's a very nice hotel in the village of Buckminster a few miles away. The Tollemache Arms (tollemache-arms.co.uk) And - it's always calm and sunny.🙂

I've been tinkering on with the build and because of the Saito's architecture, I've decided to mould the nose section and the engine cowling in GF. Maybe it's the camera but it looks too big but it's as per plan. These are just the plugs to make the moulds. I will provide some hard points for their attachment.

e Martin Fraser 38 Replied: 5 minutes ago Hi Ken, Yes the plan is a bit sketchy here. I've made up some brass L shaped plates that I've silver soldered to the ends of piano wire. As you can see they form the attachment points to the T nuts in the wings and the diagonal bracing wires. These struts will be clad in beech and given a streamline section - they should be strong enough me thinks. I think I've resolved my fuel tank access problem, through the firewall via a removable panel that I'll seal with silicon. It will entail an engine out job if I need to get to it but hopefully no surgery!

Wow, that looks great. Does Peter have a build blog anywhere? I wonder if he will maiden it this year. Thanks for sharing the photos Ken.

Hi Ken, Unusual paint scheme, NZ navy maybe? I wonder if he's hinging the wings? Cheers, Martin

Hi Ken, Yeah, that's what I did as it saves the plans a bit. Cliff's model looks great - nice scheme! I wonder how many Swordfish have been built from his plans? I was down at the Navy Wings hangar at Yeovilton a few years ago to look at the full size and spotted a model of one up on top of a container but I could get to it unfortunately. I served there as a young air mechanic in the early 70s and the historic flight's hangar was just a 100mts from ours and I didn't pay that much attention to the old 'String Bag' but when they wheeled the Sea Fury out everyone downed tools for the start up and subsequent flying display. Now 50 years on I can appreciate what an amazing aircraft the Swordfish is and what it achieved in the hands of true heroes. Enjoy the Tempest build but save some balsa for the Swordfish. The sun is out so I'm off flying now. Cheer. Martin.