The real Ron Truth

still pretty stupid to release a press statement that just confuses people into thinking its a scam.

Ive got the db pup. Lovely to build and fly. Zenoah g26 petrol powered. Lovely.You need weight up front and also reliable power. Ive never had a glow run as reliable as the zenoah. Tick over is stupidly slow and it never ever ever dies on you. Speak to Eddie at DB as they do a wing retaining kit that allows you to convert it to split wings and take it apart easily. Mine fits in a citroen picasso but its tight given the huge stab. BUSA kits are excellent, good instructions, good quality kit. Mick Reeves are part kit, part make it up as you go along! very scale but very hard. Ive seen good builders give up as they find the scale build very taxing. If you want more info or photos, just email [email protected]  Try Glenn Torrance kits for other 1/4 scale ww1 stuff.

ARTF tends to involve very light laser cut building that can save a lot of weight off a conventional build.  The problems come with longevity and abiltiy to suffer ( ?!!) a bit of hanger rash and abuse.

For  the record, DB is probably one of the most approachable UK KIT companies period. Many Thanks for your help eddie with my 1/4 scale pup queries that you so kindly helped me on even though I bought the kit secondhand.  Faulty products are not the problem, but how they are resolved that matters.   Now enough of this sillyness, breaks over, back to building!!!!!

Go on then, put my name down.....

Timbo,  I suppose its good to learn a new language but your right, the instructions are awful.  Im just suprised by such schoolboy errors and genuinely poor parts. Does anyone actually build the model before packaging and selling it in order to iron out these bugs?

 Ive always built models from kits but recently got talked into a nice little Green Models ARTF tiggy moth for an sc30 fs. Lovely scale detail, lots of accessories but as I started to build, the errors and mistakes have started to annoy me given the £120 price tag.  - Dreadful instructions resulting from the usual chinese/engrish translation. -Hinges not aligned,resulting in the split elevator not aligning.( Ive got to rehinge the elevator and fashion a joiner to stop the 2 halves moving out of sync. -Slightly warped fuselage. - Hardware packs of very poor quality inc the softest most undurable connectors and brass lookalike adjusters I have ever seen.They actually snapped whilst adjusting!!! Is it me and what should I do? crack on or bin it?

whew!!  At least I can now blame interference for my poor flying on 2.4!! I was short of excuses since converting to 2.4.

David is right, your rights as a consumer are the same, its just the practicalities of returning a product to the seller if its faulty. Just because you bought it at a show might not help if they are based overseas or some way away from home.

mick reeves sells pre pinked solartex in every width you need.

I recall watchdog giving them hell from the start for this idea, so maybe a reminder is due?

Just to update anyone interested  The great news was abandoned when I realised the plans which I had been following had so many errors, I got fed up redesigning the damn thing. Good news is that as a result of this thread, I was contacted by a kit cutting company designer who is looking to laser cut a series of large vintage kits in designs very similar but obviously better than you know who.  So far we are looking at a gullwing spook, large 90 inch span keil kraft southerner, a version of the answer/super scorpion and an enlarged vic smeed mamselle. All laser cut and accurate. Ive seen the southerner and whilst not traditional in construction, its self jigging and very easy to build. More to follow including a lookalike majestic major and suprise suprise, a new improved great news!!!  Keep your eyes open vintage fans!!!!

John, You pay, as does an affiliated club to join the BMFA . In turn they get the benefits of such affiliation. In turn the BMFA regulate and promote model flying. Any club thats affiliate MUST prescribe to promoting the hobby not acting like a private club that wont encourage new members. I ve been on 2 waiting lists for 2 years for heavens sake!!! My 'number of times' is well in excess of 30-40 times as the route I cycle goes past the club site and yes Ive been there all days if the week not just saturdays... Get rid of the stragglers, young OR old ( you refer only to old gits for some reason) and get more novices flying!!! The only altenative is that I carry on flying illegally occasionally using clubs fields whilst no ones there??

Cant bear rc graphics. Superb quality.

I was 3.

the range of those cheapo models is very low, less than 50 metres  for some. Its only illegal as it clashes with other recognised frequency users and wont crash a model on 35mhz.

Matt,  At the front of the wing, 2 braces sit either side of the lower spar flush with the centre section bottom. They notch into the ribs and should reach out far enough to touch the next rib , preferably notched into it. At the back of the wing, its one brace behind the spar. If the notch is too small, enlarge it a bit . If too large ( allowing for the spar to sit in there as well), pack it out with some spare balsa. The key is to get the braces flush to the spars as thats where the strength comes from. Once covered in epoxy it will be solid.

WW1 is it? I would die for a 1/3 scale Fokker DR1 from Glenn Torrance Models. Oh thats nice...

why did you have the model in the bedroom?  your asking for trouble!!. I did once ask if I could hang my 1/4 scale pup over the bed to give me something to look at but strangely she said no....

The sad fact for a lot of model retail shops is that the owner is often a modeller and not a businessman. OK they can advice you on the best kit but many have no idea on how to serve customers, retain loyalty or even close a deal. Even though my local shop is excellent for kit building, the owner wont offer any discount or even try to get you a product quickly even though I spend £thousands a year there. Hes an appaling businessman and only survives because  there is no real competition for kit building supplies for miles. Online buying is very quick, reliable and easy. So many businesses need to work with the internet and not against it. If real shops want my custom then they need to show its worth the visit and that I will get good advice, not someone who just reading the box lid contents to me or sit reading behind the counter. That makes my blood boil!!!

This has made me glad to have a local model shop that stocks a lot of the small stuff and is a font of all knowledge when it comes to building. All hail " Mainly Trains and Planes, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire!!!!".  Once I dealt with Als Hobbies and had to deal with Snr. All he was concerned about was HIS profit margin and not me returning a faulty model. Compred to SMC or Pheonix models in Devon, they are a poor third.  Might explain how jnr can afford to spend so much cash on his models.....

Merton, Can you give me more details on this technique? Ive always used solrtex but its cost is making me look elsewhere for cheaper alternative. How do you heat shrink the covering etc......

The sad thing is so many clubs are run like a small social group and have no intention of managing waiting lists or encouraging new members.  Considering these clubs are often affiliated to the BMFA, why does thr BMFA not take a more active role in ensuring spaces are available to new fliers?

 So far Ive waited 2 years to join 2 local clubs to me as they are " full up". Is there a record out there? Whos waited the longest? Sad thing is the main local one to me, ( Winchester) seems to have 130 members of which only 6 fly. I exagerate but the number of times Ive gone to their site on a sunny saturday and found no one there is beyond a joke. Should clubs actively remove non flying members?

Al's Hobbies sometimes has the Barnash and probably others, if enough people ask he will make sure to stock them. And then double the price knowing Als hobbies!! Consistently the most expensive retailer Ive ever known.... maybe another thread ....