Andy Sephton 1

Just ordered some metalcote from Mick Reeves models. Looks like it's time for some experiments..... Watch this space!

Thanks for the heads-up on metalcote kc. I'm currently building a free flight Blackburn Monoplane which has a shiny aluminium front end. This looks to be an ideal medium to replicate what I'm after and it'll also be a good test of the material before building the Fury. I'm committed to other building plans until the end of this season, but I'll procure some metalcote, try it out late autumn/early winter this year and report back. Getting back to the Fury, I'm currently thinking towards a model for BMFA Flying Only competition with a possible extension to Stand-Off. As a consequence, my model will have as much weight shaved off as I dare and limited detail. I'm also still pondering the power question - electric or IC. I'll maybe have a better idea on the latter when the plans arrive!

I'm well in now, having just ordered the set and three-view from Traplet.....

I confirm that I'm in. I'm aiming for a model that can be flown in BMFA Flying only competition, so there won't be too much fiddly detail. Looking forward to it!

STOP PRESS - there was a major error in the result calculation and Danny did, in fact, get a well deserved FIRST PLACE. May I be the first to congratulate him on here:

The photo says it all:

....and all without RC! Well done Monz, a brilliant job. It was a privilege to be there to witness the event!

It's always sad when a respected friend, modeller and colleague passes away - condolences to family and friends.

I am short of entries for the Scale Indoor RC Nationals on 19th October at RAF Shawbury. There are two similar sized halls separated by a net. Scale FF events will be going on in the second hall all day, including Peanut for the original Peanut Trophy. If you are intending to attend, please get in touch. Entry for the RC event should be by Friday 10th October and I'm happy to accept email entries prior to that date for payment on the day. Note that it'll be entry on the day for the FF events. Events currently planned are: - *RC Scale: static and flight judged to BMFA Scale Rules for the RC Model Flyer Trophy - *RC Scale Flying Only: open to any Scale RC model that is 'indoor legal' (see rule book) and flown to BMFA Scale Rules. Note that both ARTF and scratch built models are eligible and the builder of the model rule does not apply. - *FF Peanut for the Modellers Den Peanut Trophy - FF Open Scale: open to any Scale Indoor FF model flight judged to Rubber/CO2/Electric FF Indoor rules - FF Glider: flying only judged to the provisional rules published last year and appended below. - FF No-Cal Scale: to BMFA Indoor FF Rules *RC events and the Peanut Trophy event will be flown whatever, but further events will depend on the number of entries. Also, and given the current number of entries, there should be adequate time available for fun flying and trimming all day! And now for a request. I am still short of some helpers and judges for the event. Please let me know soonest if you are available and interested in helping out. There are more details on the BMFA Scale Technical Committee website (www.scalebmfa.co.uk) or you can contact me direct via a PM. Andy Sephton BMFA Scale Technical Committee PRO and Indoor Rep.

For what it's worth, here's some maths: Lift = 1/2 x air density x flight speed squared x wing area x lift coeficient You can't do anyting about the 1/2, the air density or the lift coeficient (unless you change the sing section), so you are stuck with wing area and flight speed. The lift must equal the weight of the aircraft for level flight, so putting it another way: Lift at slowest speed you can fly depends on the square of the flight speed (or stall speed in this case) and the wing area. In practice reducing the weight or increasing the wing area will reduce the stall speed, but the effect is a function of the airspeed squared. Put another way, if we double the weight of the aircraft we only have to increase the speed by 1.4 (the square root of 2), if we halve the weight of the aircraft, the speed for level flight reduces by about 0.7. The same relationship is true of we doouble or halve the wing area. The point is, a small increase in wing area and/or a small decrease in weight will have a negligible effect on the stall speed of the model. In oprder to make a significant difference to stall speed, you'll have to make an even bigger diofference to wing area and/or weight. Given your fiigures of 1040gm for the model and 250gm too much, reducing the weight by 250 gm reduces the overall weight by a factor 24%, but the stall speed would only reduce by 14%.

Ha Ha.....nope, still workin on 'em Willowlea.

I'm organising a BMFA Scale Indoor event at RAF Shawbury with John Minchell on 27th Oct. Competitions will include: - Scale Indoor RC Flying only - (A)RTF models - Scale Indoor RC Flying Only - Scratch built Models - Scale Free Flight Flying Only - Peanut Scale - Pistachio Scale - Bostonian - No-Cal Scale The event will run from 10.00AM to 6.00pm in an 8 Badminton COurt SPorts Hall. For more details contact Andy Sephton or John Minchell - contact details are on the BMFA Scale Technical Committee website - www.scalebmfa.co.uk You'll find a copy of the latest BMFA Scale Technical Committe Newsletter on the same site, too......

Many thanks for the kind words and warm welcome chaps, much appreciated! Edited By Andy Sephton 1 on 18/07/2013 08:08:42

Williams Bros used to make pretty good WW1 wheels - http://www.williamsbrothersmodelproducts.com/rc.html - but I would go for the plywood option on the plan without the tyre, then add a ring to the outside made from neoprene or rubber tube.

Like the last poster, I'm new to this forum, but not to aeromodelling. I started in the hobby in 1958 and have not given up since. I flew free flight through my teenage years until I could afford radio gear. That led to several failed attampts at using a McGregor single channel, but my radio flying really took off with the intro of the Futaba M proportional kit in the mid 70s, I gave up radio in favour of Free Flight Scale in the mid 80s but came back in the mid 00s, gaining a B cert in 2008 (I think). I've flown all forms of model aircraft over the years but my main interest lies with small scale models both RC and Free Flight. I fly with the Peterborough, Old Warden and ocasionally Henlow model clubs and I'm an honorary member of the RAFMAA. I'm curently PRO for the BMFA Scale Technical Committee, I organise Scale Indoor Competition for the BMFA and have currently introduced Scale Indoor RC into BMFA competition.