ron evans

Tosh, the laminate I used is heavier than solarfilm but much stronger. I don't think the P2K soaring ability was effected by the extra ounce or two. 75micons is one of the heavier films in model use, the slope lads use it to cover combat wings to make them bullet proof. lighter film around 40microns is available. My motor is the original, and still going strong, as are the servos. Both of my phoenix are flown through all the aerobatics I can manage (I soon get bored thermaling ) and none of control surfaces or linkages have shown a problem, although with laminating, hinges are strengthened. When I got the 1600, the 28mm motor was very weak. A mate had given me a motor from a crashed blaze, so I fitted that with a bigger ESC. It's about 35mm dia x 35mm long and 1100 kv. Even with the battery as far back as I could get it, the cg was too far forward, so i laminated the tail feathers too. Another plus for laminate is It's easier to keep the model clean. If you fly from a muddy field, foam soon gets grubby, but when laminated the wings stay as white as when new. Ron     Edited By ron evans on 23/07/2020 10:21:54 Edited By ron evans on 23/07/2020 10:34:59

Tosh. my rolls of laminating film were 75microns x 300mm x 150mtr, about 5yrs ago from EBAY £25, given most of it away now, club mates love it. Lots of tutorials online how to use on foam and built up models. On my P2K it really added lots of torsional strength to the wings, and I can only conclude that they were twisting in the high speed dive, the ailerons being ineffective. Another advantage is the film stiffens the ailerons, and forms the hinge, the roll rate was much improved. It would seem most people haven't had this problem, and the three other examples in our club are fine. Just bad luck to buy a duff one. Ron

I had a similar issue with my P2K. In a dive it would roll and tuck out of control, only saved by height, or rudder, or once by letting it roll inverted and pushing out of the dive I went through the same process as you, servos? ...linkage?....gremlins? Comparing the wings on mine to a mates example I noticed that the sun showed through much more on mine than his, and seemed to be of lower density. I bought some laminating film from EBAY and covered the wings with it, and that completely cured the problem. It will now dive from height with a rock steady gradual recovery by itself. I have the CG well back with the battery under the wing to reduce the power on zoom. Every thing else is standard. I've since picked up a secondhand 1600 and given it the same treatment Ron   Edited By ron evans on 22/07/2020 20:07:48

Peter, horrible feeling seeing a model fly away....it's a wonder I didn't push the button through the back of the case, but to no avail.

Only had 2 real fly aways ( o.o.s. lost ) my first rc model and my first electric. Back in the sixties I built a small sc model with a ME Heron diesel and RCS radio. As it gained height I though I had it and then I didn't. That diesel seemed to run for ever, and it disappeared a dot in the sky over the wooded valley, never to be seen again. About 20 years ago I built a 67"model, my first electric, to take some aerial photos. Very little power, but it did the job. Some years later I flew the model again, but half way through the flight control and power was lost. The model flew on across our huge field and into the wooded valley. Despite a couple of days searching we couldn't find it. Then a week later a dog walker spotted it and some of the lads recovered it with no damage. Back on the bench everything seemed ok, so I changed the RX, and tried again, this time keeping it low in a large circle. Five minuets gone by and I let climb a little when it happened again. This time it made a decent landing by itself. Turned out it was the BEC wot dun it, so I installed a new brushles power train, now 1/2 pound lighter and a lot more power It's my favorite hack, and got my B with it. Edited By ron evans on 18/07/2020 11:07:42

Hi Erfolg, thanks for the pics, but the model was finished and flown some time back. See my photos. I too seem to be using WBP varnish more and more. my last build in the lockdown used it with coloured tissue on balsa. A nice hard finish and easy cleanup.

+ 1 for glass cloth and WBP. I've used it on a few models with different types of foam, and it works really well. This hollowed out blue foam fuz was quite flimsy before glass cloth and Wilko varnish, and it takes compound curves easily. The weave is then filled with a varnish/lightweight filler mix and light sanding in between. Balsa wing finished with the same mix. Not tried newspaper with varnish yet.....should you use the Mirror for the left wing and the Sun for the right ? Ron Edited By ron evans on 04/07/2020 11:50:58

After our club shut up shop ( how are you Dai ), I've been watching more tv than usual (I know I should be building). A few days ago I switched over to "Coast" and they were doing a piece on the Mosquito. It seems that when the Atlantic convoy losses were high, they were concerned that a shortage of balsa wood would effect Mosquito production. There was no other substitute at the time, so a German born scientist (can't remember his name), set about creating one. He came up with a substitute with all the strength and characteristics of balsa, which was approved by DH, made out of sea weed. The presenters on the show tried to make some, but ended up with a soggy pancake. They did show the only remaining sample that looked like a block of EPS. Thankfully the convoys were eventually arriving safely and the seaweed balsa was never needed.

In the same club as the o.p. ( hiya Dai ) but I think the patch should stay open. Probably more at risk shopping at Asda than out in the open and keeping your distance. Weather permitting I'll be flying on the mountain top, can't catch it from sheep I hope

I don't think using methanol as a hand wash is a good idea. Read something years ago which said methanol is absorbed though the skin, and prolonged exposure could cause dementia.

Well done Scotland

Scotland have found a way to expose the inner thug of France All teams now have a meeting before a lineout and have a rest before scrums. Should take a tip from league and get on with it. C'mon Scotland

Fully agree, fuse is a no no. I'm sure I read somewhere that modern speed controllers are much more tolerant of battery lead extensions.

We lost the game in the first half, not taking our chances....great England defence. I thought 13 was lucky to stay on the field in the first few minutes with a no arms tackle on Biggar. Some great tries,all round, always playing catchup, great entertainment. Edited By ron evans on 07/03/2020 19:29:43

Dai, I'm sure you won't regret joining the spark side, and you can still play with the oily thing if you get withdrawal symptoms Dick, is your locking switch a home made affair?

Hi Dai, how are you/? Dickw, that looks a fine solution to isolating a high power drive train in a larger model. In my models I only use 3S lipos and the smaller ones just don't have the room for an isolator Once the throttle travel and failsafe are set with the prop off, I rely on the TX throttle cut, keeping thumb on low throttle stick and treat a live model as if the prop was already rotating. Ron

Sorry to hear of your run of bad luck Don, hope it changes after the game I'll try and have a nice day Don. Must be another Ron on the 5S, I'm strictly 3S

OK, the old enemy this afternoon and Twickers a tough place to visit for Wales. Not sure it's wise to field players coming back from injuries, that have no game time. Come on boyos Edited By ron evans on 07/03/2020 09:37:10

Ireland all at sea in their own dead ball...don't let it bounce, two tries down. England dominant in all areas, Sexton off his game, no way back for the green.

Tight game, lost at the end of the first half perhaps. France 10 some player!!

Also mix it with water based poly to fill the grain, then sand most of it away.

Close win yesterday by the U20 boyos in poor conditions against a big French side. Hope the big boys can do as well under the roof this afternoon. Not been flying for a few weeks with all the bad weather....getting withdrawal symptoms

Wet & windy here in S Wales and the only thing of mine to take to the air in the last week or so were three 6ft fence panels that did a bit of free flight. Annoying, but nothing compared to the flooding that people have suffered lately, and sometimes more than once. Ron

I think it was an hour to touch dry and recoat after 4, but some will dry quicker than that. So yes, longer than an epoxy glass finish, but much more user friendly Ron

That's the stuff Martin, easy to use quick to dry and brushes clean with water. I've also tried it on sheet balsa with tissue. and it works well, just watch out for warps Ron Edited By ron evans on 10/02/2020 16:05:17 Edited By ron evans on 10/02/2020 16:07:12