Geoff S

I built a Micron transmitter when I first started getting interested in aeromodelling but I gave it away together with the documentation some years ago. I converted it to 40Mhz to use for model yachting IIRC. However I still have circuits and documentation for Micron receivers and you're welcome to them if they're of any use. Geoff

Posted by Peter Miller on 27/03/2016 19:05:07: I think that the reason could be that many installations have the servos tight against each other. If the leads came out of the sides you would need at least a 1/8" gap and possibly more. The Easy Street is very narrow and even the 16 gm servos I'm fitting are tight but I'm having to bring the connecting lead up the side in any case. You are far more experienced than I, Peter, but I've never had an installation so tight that the servos couldn't be separated by a few millimetres whereas I've often had to space servo rails further apart then really necessary just to be able to wriggle the servo in place because the lead and its grommet stuck out. Geoff

I've never seen the point of trainers with just elevator/rudder control. I built my trainer from a kit (IIRC it was a Global SST40?). It was the second model I built and it had ailerons which were never really a problem (unlike the MDS 40 engine I also fitted thinking small glow 2 strokes were so simple it didn't matter which one I bought). I didn't even get interested in RC flying until I was well into my 50s so a youngster like you will find it child's play. My first model was a Precedent Electrafly glider which had a peculiar method of using 2 channels (rudder/elevator) which with a flick of the elevator could switch the motor on or off. That was a bit of a disaster because I built it to use the 2 channel 27Mhz Futaba system I used for yacht racing! I would certainly go for the Easy Glider with ailerons and perhaps build a balsa trainer with ailerons rather than a rudder/elevator Chapter One. I doubt if there's a bad radio out there these days so get whatever 6 channel system takes your fancy. If you're very computer literate then get a Taranis, but I'm biassed. Otherwise, take your pick and be advised by the members of the club I hope you join. Geoff Edited By Geoff Sleath on 27/03/2016 16:55:34

Yes, I like that idea, Steven. Just one notch needed to slide the servo in place without needing to angle it as you insert it. Obviously I can overcome the problem and have done many times but I wonder why the manufacturers all persist in putting the electrical connection in what is often a very inconvenient place. Geoff

The lead always comes out on the short side under the mounting lugs when often (even usually) it would be much easier if they exited the servo body on a long side well clear of the mounting lugs. Geoff

I'm fitting servos into the unflown Easy Street I thought I'd better either fly or sell after having it up in the loft since I built it umpteen years ago. It's a bit of a squeeze and my usual gripe with servos was making it even harder ie why are the servo lead ins always on the ends where they make it harder to get the servo situated between the mounting points? If the wire was on the longer side clear of the mounting lugs it would make life that little bit easier but they never are. Geoff

Posted by Erfolg on 27/03/2016 11:38:43: I am not sure that I approve of bank Holidays, now that I have retired. Firstly, who is working to pay my pension. I worked for 40 years to pay for others. I used to enjoy them, particularly Easter when I always rode the Land's End Trial run by the MCC (the Motor Cycling Club is the oldest motor sporting club in the world). So I enjoyed a few hundred miles on my motor bike over Good Friday night from Kenilworth to Newquay climbing a few 'sporty' hills on the way. These days, in retirement and more interested in toy aeroplanes than motor cycles not quite so much. Still Friday was quite good but there were surprisingly few people up at the field. One of them was our ace Polish F3a pilot whose new own design and built model featured in the BMFA this month. It's a beautiful model with contra rotating props driven by 2 motors with concentric shafts. He says it eliminates torque reaction and the fuselage design makes knife edge performance spectacular. He executed a perfect huge knife edge loop as a demonstration. Geoff

I've been involved in technology all my life (literally, as I was born and brought up living at the family radio/TV business in the 40s and 50s). At my lowest I spent a time designing an electronic fruit machine and I suppose the highest was designing measurement and control systems for aero engine rigs and test beds. So I got involved with micro electronics when they were in their infancy but I've been retired for 20 years so I'm a bit out of touch. I can see the potential for the commercial applications of the various autonomous aircraft and would have loved being involved at the nut and bolts level. Their use has many socially advantageous uses (eg crop or wild life monitoring or surveying) but also many frightening ones (privacy violation, both official and invasive) and their potential for weapon delivery is already being exploited and sadly that can only get worse (the military has huge funding). Yesterday I was flying my DB Tiger Moth for the first time in fairly windy conditions. It was quite scary (in a good way considering how much time I have invested in it) but satisfying. I'm sure in the not too distant future I would have available clever electronics which would be able to carry out the flight far more competently than I ever could but where's the fun in that? The hobby for me is building and flying what I've built. That means 'hands on' at the field rather than on the bench and PC before I take off. So I accept the wonderful programming opportunities my Taranis offers eagerly but I still want my hands on the sticks or there's no point. There's the difference between commercial/military applications and the hobby we all enjoy. And to answer Pete's point (will we benefit or get the brush off?), I fear it will be the latter. Perhaps I'm glad I'm so old it won't make much difference to me? No, not really. I'd like others in the future to have the same opportunity. Geoff

I back my stuff up on a 1 TB USB hard drive. I prefer it to a USB stick because it's less likely to get lost The annoying thing about USB sticks is that they seem to have no easy way to label them. I have several and have to go through each one to find the one I want. The option is to use the 'cloud'. However I'm a bit anal and like to keep my own data where I know it is. I always set up my own file structure on my PC rather than let Windows decide for itself. I suppose it dates from the days when I worked on early microprocessors (MC6800 and 8085) when I didn't have an operation system looking after me. Geoff

I suffer quite badly with cold hands, particularly my right one, which is a problem as I'm a mode 2 flyer. It keeps me from flying when the temperature is in single figures because the cold exacerbates my hand mobility problem. Well, I've found the answer - electrically heated fingerless gloves! I did a search on eBay and came up with these. I used them today powered by a Turnigy 10AH USB battery pack I bought to charge my cycling Garmin, phone, Tablet etc when another power source isn't available. They were brilliant and I was able to fly in comfort in 7/8 degrees for the first time. They are sold as women's gloves and are 'one size fits all' but I have fairly small hands (and before anyone comments, that too ) and they were fine for me. They're better a bit snug, anyway. Even unheated the gloves feel quite warm. After one day's experience I strongly recommend them for anyone who suffers like I do with cold hands. I paid extra for quicker delivery from Holland but the same ones are cheaper direct from China. I think £6.29 is a cheap price for comfort. Geoff

Excellent weather on Sunday at Ashbourne - sun and fairly light winds. I flew my Tundra and Riot foamies and cursed that I'd neglected to take my Tiger Moth. I corrected that error today and though it was very overcast, very dim and cold (8 deg) the wind was light and I flew all I took - DB Tiger Moth (3 more flights), Riot and Tundra. The Tiger Moth flies really well but I had to increase the aileron throws a bit because when I tried a roll it felt like it was never going to make it so I chickened out I need to start playing with props etc to get the best out of the battery (4S 4000 mAH). I'm using a 13x4 but I think a 12x6 may be better. It certainly leaps off the ground quite quickly and big loops are possible. I was playing with lots of touch and goes with the Tundra on the grass patch. Unfortunately the undercarriage seemed to get tangled up with the wet grasscuttings and I lost a spring joining piece somewhere and stretched the spring. I also noticed one aileron is detached from the wing as the foam hinge has torn. Both easily fixed - a bike spoke will be used to manufacture a new link on the u/c and I'll hinge the ailerons (and possibly the rudder and elevator) with Blenderm. Geoff

Posted by Chris Barlow on 20/03/2016 20:26:20 I estimate the new CoG to be about 120mm from the LE/centre so might just go for 100mm anyway? I could make some of the ballast removable if it's too nose heavy. My 58" DB Tiggie has the CoG set at 100mm and the maiden (late December) went well but needs quite a lot of ballast to get it so far forward. Mine's electric but is a conversion from a part completed model I was given so I wasn't easily able to get the battery as far forward as I'd have liked. It's also a pre CNC cut kit and several years old. I haven't flown it since but I'm kicking myself I didn't take it to the field yesterday because the weather was fantastic. Tim Hooper has recently completed a Tiggie for his RCME column but one slightly smaller than the DB and his CoG is a lot further back and nearer to the position of the full size. It's a page or so back from here in the 'New Models' thread. I think your 120mm figure will probably be OK. I'm intending to remove ballast progressively to save a bit of weight. Mine's pretty heavy at just over 3kg - far heavier than than that quoted on the DB S&S web site. Geoff

Posted by Tim Hooper on 16/03/2016 21:19:21: Posted by Geoff Sleath on 15/03/2016 21:59:51: Looks great, Tim. Presumably there was no problem with your rearward CoG. Did you have to add much ballast to get it right? Geoff Hi Geoff, I kept to my CG of 40mm behind the stated one, and it took around 7oz of lead in the nose. I had to add several clicks of down trim in flight, but I think that's more of an incidence issue as the model was perfectly stable once trimmed. I've no plans to alter it at all. tim Thanks, Tim. Just think how much lead it would take to move the CoG 40mm further forward! Not sure how much lead I have in my DB Tiggie but about that much. I did know but I test flew it between Christmas and New Year and found it well behaved. It weighs a bit over 3kg but I think Tiger Moths are happy being what might be considered a bit porky. I tend to set the elevator with a touch of back stick for a first flight because I feel happier trimming out a climbing model than a diving one Geoff

Looks great, Tim. Presumably there was no problem with your rearward CoG. Did you have to add much ballast to get it right? Geoff

Josip, I think it's probably BECAUSE he's only 15 he won. He'll probably fade away once he's out of his teens and starts getting beaten by 'youngsters'. Geoff

Posted by Martin Harris on 14/03/2016 20:08:47: My wife despairs of my hoarding ... There I have an advantage over you. My wife is about as bad as I am though she is a little more organised. I always describe our living style as luxurious squalor Geoff

1" =25.4mm Geoff

It's hereditary, you know. My dad hoarded for the county but his oldest brother, my uncle Willie was international grade. Whenever uncle moved he had to build a huge shed to store all his junk, which included 100s of old cinema seats (he used to own several mostly flea pit cinemas just post war). We lived in a huge property which had a whole top floor of 6 rooms most of which weren't even wired up for electricity and included the shop and a big workshop mostly for the business. There was really no incentive throw stuff out because there was lenty of space to shove it out of sight. It was a nightmare when dad eventually decided it was all too much and sold up to move to a bungalow! btw neither were in the slightest interested in aeromodelling My problems of 'stuff' are trivial by comparison so I don't worry too much. Though I do have a box full of pieces of wood too small to be of any use. Geoff

I wonder how they maintain both 2.4gHz (control frequency) and video frequency connections through all what I assume is reinforced concrete. We live in a 19 century stone cottage and our router WiFi doesn't cover even the next room easily because each room is like a Faraday cage that keeps out all that nasty RF. Do they have repeaters? Geoff

There's a few very good and experienced RC fliers at our club playing with racing type drones on FPV but they admit they're much too slow to compete. They have a lot of fun racing round the patch at low level. I can see the attraction but it doesn't appeal to me - perhaps if I were 50 years younger Geoff

I had a flap mix controlled by a pot on my Taranis from zero to 50% elevator and ended up with 50% which seemed to have a neutral effect on attitude. Interested to see if anyone else has done anything different. The sprung undercarriage absorbs the bounce of my less than expert steep landing approaches too - I need a bit of practice to get them right Geoff

Posted by bert baker on 13/03/2016 09:30:10: I flew my mates one and wanted one, but like lothers have found it was out of stock in UK. With a bit or servo delay and elevator corection I am sure the flap problem could be taimed. If ordering from the Euro warehouse do you pay import duties as well. Not something I have tried myself. Bert As long as we remain in the EU there are no import duties payable from the Euro warehouse because it's in the Netherlands. Mine cost about £140 delivered from there. I'm hoping to try out my adjustable flap mix later today so I'll let you know. Geoff

I sit here nodding wisely and more or less agreeing that they are indeed the work of the devil then I glance at the fuselage of my Multiplex Blizzard stored nose down in a wellington boot beside my desk. Both elevators of the V tail are secured by similar devices. It would be almost impossible to replace them because of the unique double horns specially designed to fit in the foam. Obviously, they've never failed or the fuselage would be in land fill rather than by my desk. I'm pretty sure my foamie Acrowot also has them as well. They seem almost to be standard fittings on small electric foamies and so far I've never had a problem. Perhaps not so good on liquid fuelled models with the extra vibration. Has anyone had a problem with on the throttle? Like everything else they need to be properly tightened and checked. Geoff

I've been able to fly my Tundra at last now the weather's behaving. The first flight was last week when it was still very windy but just about OK. It flew fine and I came in for a touch and go but misjudged just how strong the cross wind was and when I tried to correct the side drift it tripped up, cartwheeled and one of the wings parted company. Totally pilot error but fortunately the damage was quickly fixed at home because the plastic wing location had come unglued. The only actual break was where the wing strut attaches under the wing and a drop of Uhu Por fixed that, too. Not an auspicious start to my ownership but it had handled the wind easily until my dumbthumb landing too close to the edge of the grass strip. I flew it again yesterday and had several good flights including a few touch and goes. The only flying negative is the somewhat violent zooming when the flaps are operated. In fact one YouTube test flight pilot showed that a complete loop could executed without touching the elevator! I'm intending to fly again tomorrow and I've included a variable mix between flaps and elevator controlled by the S1 pot on my Taranis. The mix goes from 0 to 50% elevator depending on the flap position. Once I've established how much elevator mix is needed to neutralise the zoom I'll have a permanent value. Other than that flight performance is great. Inverted is a bit tricky but I'm crap at sustained inverted anyway so it's probably me. Spins are good as are rolls and I also managed fairly neat stall turns which I often get horribly wrong. Lots of power, too. I had about 35% left in my 2200 3S LiPo after about 7 minutes, though I think that could be less without reasonable throttle management. Geoff

Posted by Plummet on 11/03/2016 20:26:54: Yes it was Sutton Bank. The white horse you see on the landing approach is the big giveaway. Flappit (a.k.a. Mrs Plummet) was given, from her colleagues and on her retirement from work, a flight in an aerobatic aircraft, a YAK 52. They did rolls, cubans and other stuff. It was several years ago, but I am not sure if the silly grin has worn off yet. I have just suggested that she do it again for her next birthday, but this time with a video camera. Big silly grin very obvious!!! Plummet I confess I didn't watch the whole video so missed the obvious clue. The climb up White Horse Bank is a bit of a grovel on a tandem and we've only done it the once and it was 30 years ago when we were young, fit and in our 40s. Mind you the old lady is off on an 80 mile bike ride today, which isn't bad for a 75 year old. It means I can't go flying today because I feel the need to be by the phone today with an empty car should anything happen requiring my assistance. She's pretty good mechanically but I worry Geoff