Old Geezer

Such a sad loss - the Wizard was a one off - I always religiously read his monthly words of "Wizdom", even during my extended defection to the dark side. Vast experience leavened with common sense and humour - we're all going to miss him.

Shame about the non-availability of the artf Wot4s - had a look at the Bullet, it does appeal but a) when it first re-appeared the revue published in one of the comics was less than enthusiastic, and b) a Bullet with it's u/c hanging out in the breeze just looks wrong except when landing or taking off ( as does any warbird ) and our patch isn't exactly retractable u/c-friendly*. Anyway, I've promised myself a Wasp now as I've managed to pick up a 2nd hand 32 that should fly it very nicely. * I know some folk will use the retractable u/c to get their pride and joy into the air (like a sailplane's dolly) then pull the wheels up and slide it in dead stick on it's belly, but I get the feeling that eventually it would all end up in tears.

Jeff, I know the feeling ( retired, fixed income, asset rich and cash poor!). If you're looking for a sub-40 sized Hack model, i.e. 25-32 i.c. or the e.p. equivalent, you could do worse than look at Pegasus' website - they have quite a few kits which can be either IC or LiPo powered in that size range, and being balsa with ply doublers and foam wings, they're pretty strong. The Wasp is on my list as it has the look of an old Mick Reeves "Gangster" about it! And if you wanted something a bit less demanding there's always a Uno-Wot. Gurth

Jeff, I've been away from this thread for ages, but in the interim I bought a Blue Wottie. I was never really happy with my BW, yes, it flew alright but somehow it wasn't the same as the larger artf airframes, it certainly "felt" heavier when I flew it and was definitely more difficult to get back onto the ground. I have a dreadful confession to make, I tip stalled a Wot4 - yes, the BW, on the downwind leg ( windy, turbulent - honest ) of the landing approach. Just dropped out of the sky like a grand piano. Fuselage beyond repair - well for me anyway - scrapped it. Wotties are funny planes, each one is different. My first built from a kit was brilliant and tough, and pretty lively on a cooking 40 ( Fuji, Enya etc ), my first artf went really well with a big Axi and a 4s 4500 under the wing ( much much easier to take off the wing rather than the later battery hatch set up ). My latest Wottie was a disappointment despite exactly the same motor - battery - prop set up. Eventually I resurrected an Irvine 46 and hung it on the front of Number 3 - apart from a bit of noise and a smudge of (synthetic) oil No.3 then went just like No.2, if you want to be picky the throttle response is a bit lethargic compared with an outrunner, that's all. Your only problem will be finding an artf Wottie - having flown both the i/c:ep artf and the blue artf ep I would definitely go for the "dual fuel" airframe - and if you go for the ep option, as many watts as you can get, that wing will carry them. If going with a big LiPo you might change the battery mount and load it through the big 'ole under the wing - much easier. Gurth.

Jeff, I've been away from this thread for ages, but in the interim I bought a Blue Wottie. I was never really happy with my BW, yes, it flew alright but somehow it wasn't the same as the larger artf airframes, it certainly "felt" heavier when I flew it and was definitely more difficult to get back onto the ground. I have a dreadful confession to make, I tip stalled a Wot4 - yes, the BW, on the downwind leg ( windy, turbulent - honest ) of the landing approach. Just dropped out of the sky like a grand piano. Fuselage beyond repair - well for me anyway - scrapped it. Wotties are funny planes, each one is different. My first built from a kit was brilliant and tough, and pretty lively on a cooking 40 ( Fuji, Enya etc ), my first artf went really well with a big Axi and a 4s 4500 under the wing ( much much easier to take off the wing rather than the later battery hatch set up ). My latest Wottie was a disappointment despite exactly the same motor - battery - prop set up. Eventually I resurrected an Irvine 46 and hung it on the front of Number 3 - apart from a bit of noise and a smudge of (synthetic) oil No.3 then went just like No.2, if you want to be picky the throttle response is a bit lethargic compared with an outrunner, that's all. Your only problem will be finding an artf Wottie - having flown both the i/c:ep artf and the blue artf ep I would definitely go for the "dual fuel" airframe - and if you go for the ep option, as many watts as you can get, that wing will carry them. If going with a big LiPo you might change the battery mount and load it through the big 'ole under the wing - much easier. Gurth.

Many many years ago I put together a somewhat similar flat plate wing - the Stratos - a Hanno Prettner design, 1&1/2" thick foam sheet covered in wrapping paper, a sliding servo set-up to give elevon mixing and an unemployed cooking 40 on the front. I had the same problem with running out of up elevator, but not only dead stick but also rounding out from a dive under power - the only remedy ( if you were far enough off the ground ) was to push the stick forward to regain some control. Dead stick you are losing the prop' wash over the elevons that give control authority when the air flow has been stalled or the airflow masked by the high angle of attack that you progressively apply to keep the thing flying - in fact the same thing could happen if it was well and truly stalled under power and there wasn't enough height to dive out of the stall, as in slowing down on finals.                                                            R.I.P. !                                                                                                                                                                            Despite the above I built another 4-5 years ago, this time one with a big Axi on the front and a 4S 4000 LiPo driving it, same problems but still enormous fun but at least I now know enough about the idiosyncrasies of flat plate deltas to avoid ( most of the time ) the "E" Stratos biting me. Edited By Old Geezer on 15/08/2019 07:54:47 Edited By Old Geezer on 15/08/2019 07:56:27

Having recently returned from the dark side I was unaware how sharp the trailing edge of a current APC i/c prop' can be as compared with the old nylon and g/f items knocking about the garage in boxes since ( possibly ) the last century when I was diverted from True Path of methanol and castor power. I found out the hard way bench testing a .46 - just flicking the prop' with an unprotected index finger - my finger ran along the trailing edge of the prop' as it came up against the resistance of the piston approaching the top of it's stroke - and I acquired yet another hobby related scar! Happily no stitches needed, but it took some days to heal. Another lesson learned and two quid spent at the LMS for an ugly black finger guard, I'll never try flicking an engine over again without one. Could have been worse - years ago I caught the outside of my left hand and little finger on the tips of a prop' attached to an OS 25FSR turning at full chat - fine scars still just visible - lucky to keep the finger but got the use back in it in a few weeks - but lost all sensation in it for the best part of a year. Still - it adds a further frisson of excitement to our hobby.  Edited By Old Geezer on 09/08/2019 10:22:54 Edited By Old Geezer on 09/08/2019 10:24:33

There's a window open up stairs - you could try a few pebbles to get their attention 🤔 Edited By Old Geezer on 02/08/2019 08:44:02

3000 successful flights, yes, but the article mentions TWO 'arrivals' when a parachute had to be deployed, so we're down to a failure rate of 1 in 1500, how many more have been glossed over in the report. I agree with Gary ( and the reg's that apply to drones in the UK anyway ) flying drones, especially containing if pathological material, over people isn't a very good idea. Remeber, drones, like the tree living sheep in the Python sketch, don't so much glide as plummet.

Sold out on-line 😢 - might be some left in store - all you have to do is find 'em!

If ever there was something begging to be an entry for Antiques Roadshow ( not Cash in the Attic etc. too low rent! ) it has to be this - ok, not really an antique ( not yet ) but the supporting documentation would make it a fascinating 5 or 10 minute item.

I suppose the only way to deal with someone trying to buy up all the ASP or Laser spares has to be a little bit of (polite) rationing like that which occurred round here when there was a petrol shortage - our local chaps put their heads together and agreed that they would only sell 4 gallons at a time - seemed to help.

Having rediscovered the attractions of dirty power ( an Irvine 46 on the front of a rather tired old artf Wot4* ) I was planning to get an artf AcroWot - - Blow! Bother! Bum! So, Plan B - I'm going to have to build one instead of assembling one! I built my first Wot4 years before the ARTFs were available and I seem to remember it was one of my quickest builds ever. It looked brilliant too in antique Solartex and two part fuel Proofer. I doubt that the AcroWot will be much more difficult or take much longer. *My fourth.

The Boss is pretty good about the hobby - as long as I don't let it get in the way of family commitments. I have also found that once you get to between 6 & 10 ( absolute maximum! ) airframes - a one in one out policy contributes to marital harmony, Also her tolerance of me sliding out anything up to five evenings a week during the season to fish the evening rise puts her in a class of her own.

DD - any interest from the gendarmes? On the positive side, if you had made contact with either or both of the vermin and the little dears had suffered anything more than their hair getting ruffled, you'd be the one wearing handcuffs in the back of a police car.

BEB's contribution explains why some of the later artf's have rudders that haven't been tapered, in the way we were all encouraged to build in the good old days. There was me thinking "idle beggars - couldn't be bothered to sand a taper into the rudder, even though they'd done it for the elevators and ailerons". So a silent apology to those teams of Vietnamese and Chinese workers who assemble our toys for us. But, similarly, silent prayer that their designers take into account the average less than billiard table smooth UK patch and design in stronger u/c mountings that won't allow said u/c to be wiped off under the loads imparted by the first less than perfect landing.  (Sorry - just an axe I've been grinding ever since I bought my first artf! ) Edited By Old Geezer on 25/06/2019 23:56:34 Edited By Old Geezer on 25/06/2019 23:57:39 Edited By Old Geezer on 25/06/2019 23:58:30

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Saturday looks iffy according to the Met' Office, but Sunday should be largely dry, if a tad breezy, assuming the public/parking areas haven't turned into paddy fields. Met' Office site seems pretty reliable.

Balanced report of the Committee in The Times, sadly the kicker is in the last paragraph - the Beastly Baroness has obviously either not listened to the facts relating to our models, or had already made up her tiny mind that drones and r.c. model aircraft are one and the same thing. quote: Baronesse Vere of Norbiton, the aviation minister, has said that the registration scheme will increase accountability for operators of unmanned aircraft, all of which pose safety threats. There are none so deaf as those those that will not hear.

Mike - had the same invite, informed that I was "pre-diabetic" and would benefit from their course. Mine started earlier in the year, and I am now 2/3 the way through the course. The course has been very helpful in a number of ways, well worth the time spent.

PatMc - My Doctor put me on Betmiga 25mg, once a day, at night - happily, not for my prostate, but 'cos I have developed ( over a very short period of time ) what is colloquially referred to as a "Sensitive Bladder" - it has been transformative, symptoms disappeared within 1/2 an hour and haven't returned, so you're in with a shout.

We don't have an S.O. either - but any dodgey flying attracts comments from fellow flyers (full time pee-takers all) that ensures there's no repetition! Embarrassing yourself in front of your mates is far worse than a private rollicking from a club official any day of the week. Most dangerous flying is due to a momentary loss of attention/concentration - sadly something that often comes with age, and the majority of our members are of pensionable age - and the pilot will be aware that he has strayed from the paths of richousness before most onlookers. I don't think anyone "goes down to the field" with the intention of breaking club rules let alone intending to fly in an unsafe manner.

I guess I might be accused of cheating, but I use an on board glow driver which is switched on for starting and can either be left switched on during the entire flight or set to switch back on at about 1/3 throttle. No more dead sticks when opening the throttle to go round again - weighs only few grams and cheap at only about 12 quid from HK - then hooked up to a diddy little 2S 800lipo I had kicking about - reliably deals with the previous dry mouth: "will she/won't she" situation, particularly on finals.

Kevin - excellent post, no sound and fury, just very sensible suggestions - the only possible criticism being that something as sensible as that hasn't a snowflake's chance in hell of being adopted.