Trevor Chadwick

Wow, that was fast. Two minutes twenty nine seconds for a reply into my inbox. Many thanks for the link Andy, that is brilliant. Much appreciated. Trevor.

This month's magazine (May) has an article detailing a very useful 'Memory Jogger' check list template. It says that the file can be downloaded from this Model Flying website, but I can't find it ! Has anybody managed to find it please? I hope they haven't forgotten to put the file in...... Ho ho. Many thanks, Trevor.

I've long wanted to go to the Electric Indoor Masters in Barnsley after reading the show reports in RCME. Can anyone advise me which day would be the most entertaining and interesting? I can go on either the Saturday or Sunday, but not both. Many thanks, Trevor

Hi everybody, I've just had some brilliant customer service from T9Hobbysport, and as I'm normally so fast to complain when things don't go right, I feel obligated to pass on this better news now as well. I bought a Taranis transmitter last June from T9Hobbysport, and after looking on the Internet for programming instructions, made a quick decision to leave this until the dark winter nights as it was totally different to my Spektrum DX8. Consequently, it is only recently that I finally got around to programming the transmitter. With the help of some YouTube videos, it wasn't difficult at all. However, there was a very intermittent fault where "Tx Antenna Problem" showed on the transmitter screen. The transmitter still seemed to work fine, and the servos moved as required, but obviously I dare not fly an aircraft in case anything went wrong. A quick phone call to Richard at T9Hobbysport produced the instant offer to exchange my transmitter for a replacement brand-new unit. I would have been perfectly happy for them to have sent the unit off for repair under guarantee, considering that it was seven months since I bought it. I went along to their premises in Bradford, and got the replacement unit, and some very useful advice about Sbus wiring. Very many thanks to Richard (and Dave on the counter). Much appreciated. I dread to think what might have happened if I had bought my Taranis from HobbyKing…. Cheers fellas, you've got all my future business! Trevor.

A very smart build indeed, and I look forward to hearing how it flies. Smart colour scheme, nicely covered.

Horizon UK have always been superb with me. If I need a new plane or some equipment, I make HH my supplier of choice !

I've bought lots from Hobby King, and only had two faulty items - two servos costing $1.99 each (about £1.30). Considering that I can remember when servos cost an arm and a leg, what was I thinking of when I ordered them? Actually, their $3.99 servos are excellent.......

Hooray, at last I'm in a position to give some first-hand advice. I've used both the Minicraft and the Proxxon disc sanders. The Minicraft came from Squires (link is in the previous contribution), and it was a good unit, at a reasonable cost. It worked well, but was a bit noisy. I had it two years, and then it burnt out whilst I was sanding some scroll-saw cut ribs (quarter inch ply) to shape. To be fair, I was giving it some welly sanding the fuselage ribs to shape, and it probably wouldn't have burnt out if I had taken it a bit easier. I then bought the Proxxon unit, ( at much more cost, around £140, I think). This is obviously a better unit, as you would expect, but is it worth the extra money? The first thing I noticed was how quiet it runs. It just purrs along, and I can leave it running in between sanding jobs. The Minicraft had to be turned off each time, as it was quite noisy. The Proxon is more powerful (140w vs 100w) and has a larger disc (125mm vs 75mm). I certainly feel that the Proxxon is less likely to burn out when working hard. It also has a vacuum cleaner attachment for collecting the dust (which works well, but it is noisy having the old J. Edgar running, so I don't use it). You can buy the Minicraft from Squires for £46, but that doesn't include the 12v transformer and speed control unit. You need the Minicraft Bench Sander kit for £65, which includes the lot and comes in a rather fine plastic case. The Proxxon has the speed control unit built in. When I bought the Minicraft sander, the standard of my builds just rocketed up! I don't know how I managed without it. You really do need a disc sander to build with precision. There is nothing wrong with the Minicraft sander, and I was very happy with it. However, if you can afford it, and plan to make lots of models over many years, buy the Proxxon. To quote the Rolls Royce salesmen "The quality remains long after the price is forgotten". I wish I'd bought one a long time ago. Best regards, Trevor

Wow, that was a fast reply! I'd looked at that photograph in a previous post of yours Danny, but I couldn't work out the fastening method. With the benefit of your explanation though, all is clear. I'll put a photo on this thread when it's finished (not too long, I hope) Very many thanks Danny, and best wishes to all for a very Merry Christmas. Trevor

Inspired by this thread, I've started the process of separating my Puppeteer fuselage into two halves. I can see from the photographs how to mount the screws which hold the two halves together underneath the fuselage, but I can't work out how to hold the top of the fuselage together, and accurately located. Has anyone solved this problem please? Trevor PS It's electric powered with an E-Flite Power 60, 4000 mAh 6S batteries.

Thanks very much Andy. Your web link to MDS Supplies took me direct to their Cameo page, and I notice that further down the page on the LHS is a link to Cameo vinyl supplies of the correct width of 300mm. Brill. It's also good to hear that accuracy is not too critical when cutting from bulk material. Many thanks to both you and Lindsay - I'll let you know how I get on once my Cameo arrives ! Trevor

That's very good, thanks Lindsay, MDP do indeed have a very large range of vinyls. Unfortunately, the minimum roll width you can buy from MDP is 610 mm (just over 2 foot), and the Cameo takes material 300 mm wide, I believe. Do you cut the 610 mm rolls down to 300 mm wide, and is it very critical to be accurate? Advice much appreciated. Trevor

I also looked at the Cameo recently, but decided not to buy because I couldn't source any self-adhesive vinyl of the correct width for the unit. Would you know of a good source, as I would very much like to give this a go for better graphics on my somewhat boring models ! Cheers, Trevor

Stuff me, 2280 feet is high Dean. I'm not sure my eyes can see that far, but I'll have a go. The 3D view is different to what I get when I use the @trip PC program - I'll try and register with Google for this. I've been playing with the I GotU on bus and car trips, and it seems very accurate. Thanks to Chrisie for the original lead - for £20, it is brilliant...... Trevor

PS How interesting, a colon symbol and a P turns into a Smiley !

Thanks Chrisie, you gave me the clue how to change the camera icon into an aeroplane icon on my GPS tracks on Google Earth. There doesn't seem to be a way of changing the icons via the program settings (or if there is, I can't find it....). Instead, navigate to Crogram Files/Mobile Action/aTrip/Templates. Once there, find the aircraft icon, copy it, delete the camera icon in each of the eight template folders, paste the aircraft icon in place in the eight folders instead, and rename them "Camera". Not an elegant way of doing things, but it works a treat. Many thanks once again Chrisie. Trevor

Does anyone know how to change the default location icon on the I-GotU GPS plotter Google Earth map (it's a camera icon) to the aircraft icon seen on Chrisie's picture, shown earlier in this thread. An aircraft icon would be so much better ! Thank you, Trevor PS What a great gadget, for under £20......

Very many thanks to Chrisie for the information about the I-GotU GPS tracker from Maplins. What a useful device this is, and so easy to use. I wanted to check how close I was flying to farmhouses near the flying field (not very close) and how close to power lines (far too close......) Dead easy to use on the old puter too, which is a huge bonus these days. Cheers, Trevor

Wow, that was a fast resolution to my problem !  Many thanks to all who replied.  Rather than get the transmitter modified by Horizon, I think I'll buy a new outfit and take advantage of the current offer by buying two extra receivers and getting two free. Cheers,  Trevor

Could anyone advise me please whether or not a Sprektrum DX7 transmitter from America is legal in England, or not ?  I've tried contacting the BMFA to see if the insurance is still valid, but could not get a reply.  If not legal, I'll have to buy a new set (it's a good time to buy, I suppose, with the two for one receiver offer...) Very many thanks in advance for any advice.  Trevor