John Tee

Not R/c related really. I have a single channel model powered by an Indian (copy) Mills .75 diesel. Mine hasn't got the attached fuel tank. My local model shop hasn't had free flight tanks for years and that is what I need. I have one but it is too small and would probably only supply enough fuel for 1 minute if lucky. I tried to convert one of my Insulin syringes but is even smaller. I could use a small clunk tank but not easy to retro fit as the tank bay is now blocked in and would be too high sitting on the ply engine plate and would require major surgery to alter. I am informed that diesel fuel is not good for silicon tubing. I have some yellow tubing suitable for glow, diesel or petrol There must still be free flight supplies available somewhere but does anyone know where?

I've found that the kicker if you use it is what dissolves the foam. John

As Cuban 8 said. Many years ago I worked for British Gas and we had a contract with Body Shop to service their heating system in their vast warehouse. Could be 60 feet up in the roof of the warehouse or in the basement of the office block and it was a requirement of theirs for any lone worker to have "fallen" link (can't remember what they called it) on them at all times in case of accidents. Only proiblem was that if you had to lay down to access a particular piece of equipment and stayed still too long it went off. Body Shop were years ahead of a lot of firms with their safety and working conditions.

Well done Pete B. good score in the circumstances. Two races in a row that my man has been taken out at the first corner. Indirectly today by the same team as last time. So much for predictions, though pleased with my results. Enjoy the month off everyone. John

I had a Makita supplied at work which I thought was pretty good for the use I wanted. Have had several De Walt and the differnce is amazing wouldn't go back anything less now. Well worth the extra. A bit ott for modelling though. Problem with most cordless drills now is the price seems reasonable until you read that the baterries are extra and expensive. John

Well done John S. I had a very bad day getting to and at the field and then my man was knocked out on the first lap. That's life I suppose??

|A belated happy birthday John

Robin thanks for your input. I think that a lot of weight can be removed from the construction and also it was originally powered by a petrol engine with the associated battery and condenser so modern power plants would be considerably lighter making the need to lighten the back end more desireable. John

Matt, No, square section, though there are a couple of braces under the wing crossing from top to bottom diagonally that are 13/16th x 3/6th about 5 inches long each with a half lap joint in the middle with ply strengthening plates, so solid construction. John

Thanks Matt. I will study the plan at a time nearer the build. The basic fus is 3/16 th spruce and I thought maybe 3/16 th hard balsa. I'm not too sure I would have to increase the wood size all round. John

I've been going through a box of old plans that I bought many years ago and found a set for a Goliath which is an early single channel model. I did build this one many years ago but didn't survive an encounter with a very solid fence post in the hedge of the field the club flew from. I'm tempted to build it again but studying the plan virtually all the wood is fairly substantial spruce. I assume that when the model was designed (I think the late 40's or early 50s) balsa wasn't easily available. It is a big model and I wonder if substituting some of the less stressed areas with hard/medium balsa would be a safe modification. It might be too big for our field on s/c but with rudder/elevator/ motor would be a nice sight to see in the air. It's that or the Rudder Bug but the fuselage is a quite complicated build which is probably why I put it to one side all those years ago. Any thoughts would be appreciated. John

Thank you

I'm lost for words. A never to be repeated event. John

Earlybird. I was surprised that it appeared underpowered, as I said it took off at full power in not more than 4 feet like a rocket, but seemed very soggy in the air when I tried to trim it out. Peter has emailed me today while I was at Wings and Wheels to say he had done the mod to the elevator and straightened up the wings with the tailplane. It was flown by another clubmate today and he is happy with it now it has been retrimmed. Thanks for all your suggestions. John

Sorry I can't help with some of the queries. If Peter and I cross paths at the field this weekend I will enquire as to the particular version. All I know from the other day is - it is a foamy and the battery was inside a hatch on the underside of the nose. Roughly under where an I/C tank would sit. John

Thanks for your replies. The model has been owned by the club member from new. Was crashed by another member who was test flying it for him hence the repair. Doesn't look repaired at first glance but not sure of the amount of damage. Didn't think to check the CG today but will get it checked out before he tries again. John

I must be one of the few modellers who has never flown a Wot4 - until today. A new clubmate was flying his Wot4 and appeared to be having a bit of trouble trimming it for straight and level. At full throttle it took off in about 4 foot maximum but once in the air seemed underpowered. After watching for a while I offered to try and trim it out for him. It had a moderate right turn and wanted to climb. Not being able to trim it out I landed it so we could inspect it to hopefully find out what was wrong. He has a 3s 2200 battery which looking at the spec is the reccommended battery and an 11*7 prop - 11*8 in spec. Looking down the fuselage the tailplane was way off square, but was square to the fuselage, but not parallel to the wing. The fus was not twisted so will have to pack up the wing a little. Also the joiner on the elevator had come unglued on one half and the joiner was not straight giving up elevator on the right elevator compared to the left. Is this normal for a Chris Foss kit? as I actually recommended this model to him as I heard they were good for a range of flying skills. I have to say the model has been damaged in the past but the repair has been done quite well by another modeller. Is this model underpowered on a 3s? It is one of the foamy variants but not sure which one. Any advice appreciated, John

thanks john for the clarification. john

Well done to all who got a three figure score. Mine was my worst ever!!! I don't keep up with all the rules and changes in F1 but I thought there was a race time limit of 2 hours. Surely they went over this today? John

Not exactly "badge engineering" but along the same lines. I bought a computer with an Intel I7 processor chip as I thought it was top of the range (at the time 8 - 10 years ago and then read in a computer magazine that the I3, I5 and I7 chips were the same, just that the higher numbers performed more tests before crashing. Seems to have paid off as both laptop and desktop computers have never let me down due to the electronics only mechanical faults. John

Frustrating day. Only 2 predictions wrong and all my cars and drivers scored some points and still only 111 points. Definitely need a kick up the exhaust. John

Well done Chris, Pete and John P. John

On Monday last at 11.33 am I order a Volentex mini trainstar model from Pegasus models in Norwich. Model shown as in stock and order went through easily. At 8.34 pm I recieved an email saying my order had been picked and was being dealt with Tony. Not bad for a bank holiday Monday! Being sent by DHL who duly delivered it today. Must have been during the time slot quoted as I was out and it was waiting for me on my return, (Sister in laws birthday), it was left safely. Well done to Pegasus and DHL. John

Two good (for me ) weeks and now back in my rightful place.???

I'm using a 3s 2900. I can't rember which 4s I used but it may have been 4s 5000 which are quite big physically. If I move the battery forward I lose the strap over the battery as I used one on the overhang of my battery tray not in the middle as you have done. Don't think the velcro would hold on it's own. The lead I added came out with a fair old bit of levering without damaging the foam. Not sure when I can get to the field next as I have to stay in today (after booking a slot following covis system in our club) as we have a summerhouse being delivered for my wife and going out Wednesday to sister in laws birthday lunch so may be next weekend. Weather should be better by then anyway. Looks like I may enjoy this one once I have trimmed it out properly. John