FilmBuff

No response - so I thought I'd try and bump it up the list again!

Looking at designing a home brew DLG or Electric version. Most kits seem to use a composite construction method. Is this a foam core and glass cloth with resin? What foam? Rohacell? XPS (floor underlay)? What resin? Thin epoxy? Back in the day I used Tufcote fuel proofer on 0.6 ounce glass cloth on balsa sheet cores.

Thanks guys - the Orange stuff does look like excellent value - I'll make a sample purchase!

So, I bought a second hand but never used DX6i tranny for £70. It does not have a receiver - so my next "ask" is to get some opinions on what's a good Rx. I have read some reviews on "Orange" products, and many mention that they keep loosing the bind. Do Spektrum do a small, light Rx? First port of call for this gear is an Elf DLG, so the Rx has to be small. All help appreciated. Edited By FilmBuff on 22/12/2017 09:45:51

Quick update. New boiler fitted without problems, house is now too hot as the more efficient boiler and flushing of micro bore system has given the rads extra oomph! Will be turning the boiler water temp down in a mo. And the installer was an aeromodeller! Anyone know Robin Lamb from the Banbury club?

OMG, some sad tales here! I've run diesels for 10 years without any issue, or so I thought. Car is running fine but I've noticed it's about 5% less efficient on mpg. Might hAve to brave a trip to the main dealer. Boiler being fitted as I type. 😊

Posted by Bob Cotsford on 13/12/2017 11:58:42: I used to have a 25+ year old Ferrolli unit which was also obsolete and I kept it going for a number of years with spares off E-bay and internet suppliers. Finally I had enough of it and spent a similar amount (~£1800) having a Worcester-Bosch condensor boiler installed. Best move ever. It really is saving me a lot on the gas bills, I wouldn't swear to 20% but the engineers who installed it said their measurements of the old and new units were 70% and 98+% respectively. FB - I too can't wait to see the end of 2017! Yep - I reckon in 5-6 years time I'll be quids in! Thing is even if the fan had got replaced - the guy would have to do an emissions test (like at a car MOT) and he bet his van that the boiler will fail. New boiler will have a 7 year warranty too. Edited By FilmBuff on 13/12/2017 12:51:35

Posted by trebor on 12/12/2017 19:36:50: Ouch! Was that a new boiler then ? A couple of years ago our boiler went kaput on New Year's Day. I had a hangover, cold, guests staying over, no chance in a engineer coming out. Turned out to be the bearings on the exhaughst fan. I got it going in the end It's the fan that has gone. That would have just been £350, but it's obsolete and no spares are available for the boiler - so it's a straight swap with an A++ rated condenser job. The "good news" is that this is much more efficient and should cost 20% less to run.

Posted by Don Fry on 12/12/2017 19:32:38: I so wish. Then again, that you have the ability to pay these bills. Respect. Really had no choice! I'm about to place two of the spare bedrooms on AirBnB

So after a leaking roof repair last week (£450), a mis-fuel of unleaded into a diesel whilst on the way to the NEC on Saturday evening (£295) and now the boiler going kaput on the coldest day of the year (£1,850) I'm hoping that's my fill of bad luck. Merry Christmas!

Posted by Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 01/12/2017 13:35:51: Yes - as the person who does the renewls for our club and deals with membership issues I have to say the BMFA Club Portal has been a real plus. Credit where it is due it s a step forward and a great benefit to those of us charged with this task - much better than the old sticker system! BEB PS See, I can find positive things to say about BMFA

Goodness me! More grumpiness from the forumites!

Posted by Tony Harrison 2 on 25/11/2017 13:44:37: Firearms enabled us to protect our "civilised society" against armed aggression many times. Firearms enable hundreds of thousands of citizens in the US alone to protect themselves, their families and their property against the depredations of criminals - in the great majority of cases without a shot being fired.Until 1920 we could acquire and use any guns we wanted (yes, including automatic weapons) without let or hindrance from police or the State - and gun crime was at much lower levels than today. The freedom to own guns is fundamental to political liberty and a free society: governments which suppress this right are illiberal. No government which does not trust its citizens to own weapons ought to be trusted by those citizens. I own rifles and shotguns - and used to own a succession of semi-automatic pistols. I regard myself as civilised. rgds Tony What utter nonsense!

Unfortunately, this thread has resulted in people lining up in the usual partisan lines - and I include myself in this! If you're a believer, you don't need any proof. If you don't believe, no amount of proof will be enough. Every opinion/fact from one side will be countered by opinion/fact from the other. Can we declare the NFC a success? Probably too early to tell, in my opinion. Should we be supportive - or at least stop throwing rocks at it? Yes, in my opinion. Should people really worry that the £25K sponsorship would reduce subs by 75p per year? They need to get a life, in my opinion. I'm trying to find a quote from Granny Dryden...   Edited By FilmBuff on 24/11/2017 08:33:55

Posted by kc on 23/11/2017 14:41:41: Why did the BMFA ever get Buckminster if it's not big enough for the Nationals? Surely the last thing aeromodellers want is for the NFC to be used for Corprate Events! If we have to pay for it we want to use it whenever we want and the weather is suitable not find some overpaid executives and their hangers on having a 'jolly' at the taxmans expense instead of being used for it's proper purpose. Corporate stuff has ruined motor racing and numerous other sporting events - people spending their firms money have replaced real enthusiasts.. Edited By kc on 23/11/2017 14:43:44 Mmmm "NFC should not be used for corporate events"? Why would you want to cut off this sort of income and marketing opportunities? Makes absolutely no sense at all. I'm working at Anglian Water in Huntingdon - and we hold project meetings down the road at the racecourse. When I did a project at RAF Chicksands in Bedfordshire we used to hold breakfast meetings at Old Warden cafe. At home, I enjoy a very pleasant coffee and cake at a Buddhist Monastery. Best thing NFC could do is get a decent coffee machine, some snacks and good cakes and get the cafe open to the local community. Properly done, it could generate really healthy income and play a key part in raising awareness and building stakeholder engagement. Sport (especially motor sport) without sponsorship and corporate support would be taking it back to the 1970s where well meaning amateurs ran the show and used hay bales as crash protection. Football was played in miserable stadia, pitches that were mud baths by the end of October and terrible crowd safety implications. Whilst not quite the same with the NFC, sponsorship and diverse revenue streams are to be welcomed and essential to its success - not seen as a weakness in the business model.   Edited By FilmBuff on 23/11/2017 17:07:46 Edited By FilmBuff on 23/11/2017 17:10:15

Posted by Frank Skilbeck on 01/11/2017 16:35:04: Don't get the older Dx6i the mixing is very limited, also if you fly electric 4 servo wing gliders (or aerotow your gliders) you'll need at least 7 channels. Is that because the throttle stick is used to control variable camber?, So I need another proportional channel for motor control? Edited By FilmBuff on 01/11/2017 17:25:47

Thanks for your responses guys!

Looking to buy a 6 Channel Spektrum set - mainly to take advantage of the numerous BNF and ASX 3 models in the market. I fly electric and gliders exclusively. Will also be good to have flight modes and four servo glider wing mixing. I have always found Futaba to be 100% bullet proof and reliable, so welcome thoughts on: Which set to go for Reliability and ease of operation Differences in programming logic from Futaba Can it do my wish list? Any hints and tips All help greatly appreciated!

Ah - that old chestnut. I use the RentalCars site and try and stick to brands like Avis, Budget Europcar etc. This year I used Sixt and no issues too. I always pay for Excess Insurance before the trip and always take photos of the car and the mileage reading with my phone before driving off, and again when returning. If I find anything before departing, always insist on it being recorded on the form. This year I had the transponder in the car to automatically pay road tolls. Sixt took a credit card swipe of 75E to account for this. When I checked my statement they had taken 19E during the trip and refunded the rest. I had an email from them last week saying that I had additional charges of 6E (with itemised journey details) as they had not received them from the toll company in time. Just checked my account and that too has been taken out correctly. I have been stung in the past - so it's always buyer beware!

Posted by Stevo on 23/10/2017 07:39:07: Not to suprising that the Admins aint keen.. All I really ask for is just a confirmation that someone has read the post and found it helpful, and is following. It's not that hard. Likening it to FB and poularity contests is not at all helpful. I agree Stevo. This should just be basic functionality on any type of forum. But nothing will change, I guess. And don't get me started on the antiquated process you have to go through to post a picture!

@StuartZ I agree - Husband's Bosworth is just up the road from me too! Much cheaper and I guess gliding is my RC modelling spiritual home. 5 day course for £695 with 20 winch launches and 5 aero tows looks like a very good deal. And a guarantee to solo price of £1,250.

Thanks @Denis. It won't be lack of funds that will hold me back. It's freeing up the time at the moment. I plan to throw in the full-time towel in 2-3 years time when I'm 58!

Posted by Ian Jones on 13/09/2017 20:19:45: You've got choice of a couple of Spitfire T9s you can have a go at there too! Saw that - but eye-watering expense!

Posted by Frank Skilbeck on 14/09/2017 08:32:36: Re the MPX plugs, if you want to mount them you can add these , but I don't know if they are available in the UK Edit - found these and these too. Thanks Frank - that's good content curation!

Just back from an amazing experience with 2Excel Training at Sywell, flying an AT-3, which seemed smaller than some of the models on the show circuit... At the briefing, the instructor declared that as I can fly models he'll give me control "just after take off". He was true to his word. Bob retracted the flaps and told me the plane needs a bit of right rudder in the climb out and that I had control! A few words about speed, climb rate and using the trim wheel until the stick went light and that was it - a practically hands free climb to 3,000 feet. Once achieved I trimmed for level flight and trouble free progress to Rutland Water. This became interesting quite quickly as we entered in RAF Wittering air space! Bob dealt with the chatter from ATC and I was soon flying 360 circuits both ways around the reservoir. We turned for home and tracked 210 to Pitsford and ultimately back to Sywell. Bob took the stick for the final circuit and landing - which he did using a cut and glide technique - with the engine just idling. A great experience, and I was glad I had left my credit card at home! Some observations from me: Flying around really is very easy - it's just the take off and landing that's the problem! The FPV view is very different - I became lost very quickly! Having a knowledge of model flying really helps. Back stick in the turns, understanding role of elevator and throttle etc Without the headset on - it's very noisy! A great experience and I will seriously consider going all in and learning to fly once I can get out of my crazy hours rat race job and go into semi retirement!