Oops

I know this is a last year's thread, but what a good idea making a holiday from RC airshows! I wasn't sure whether to go "all" the way from Sussex to Essex for W&W but you've inspired me.

I've just started getting back into RC after quite a break. I'm sorry to see the website like it is, I'm sure this has been discussed already, but it's generally looking a bit tired. If I go into the review section eg, in the from the readers area, the first review I saw was from 2012, then I tried the magainze reviews area, first review I see is from 2013. Is the website tested well, for eaxmple when I go into subscriptions on my tablet all I can see is a big advert for Carp magaine and nothing else, there's no mention of flying at all. Something fishy going on. The forums are a lot better, quite a few recent messages, but some problem areas, no-one interested in Jets and Turbines to say anything for 6 months? I hope the magaine and website aren't in danger of folding.

Hi Trevor It's a great aspect to the hobby, both slope soaring and field flying which I've done a little of around Sussex. Btw in terms of steady eddy, the last new slope soarer I came across, and who'd walked up the hill, was 80. Marc

I'm such a t**. I last looked at this radio some 4 years ago and didn't know anything about it then. I've just realised that the cable I found marked multiplex and that 've been putting into the din socket on the back of the tx is a PC interface cable. No wonder it wouldn't charge. The radio has been converted to 2.4 Frank. I see what you mean about setting the mah. I've found a cable that is not marked multiplex that has bananas one end and a din the other and once I've verified that it's a correct charge cable for the mpx I'll use that in future rather than direct to battery. I've nimh pack I use eg for flying slope soarers but they are squarish 4-5 AA packs, did you actually find a 6 cell in the same shape as the permabatt? I don't see any signs of the pack being fubared but I'll put it through a few cycles.

Thanks Trevor I'd not seen your post when I was writing mine nice to think there may be hope! I get an implication that maybe I'm charging at too low a rate. I'd thought it safer to do that but as you and Brian will have gathered I'm doing this emprically not on any science . Ok, I will try those suggestions and yes I will def leave for some days / keep a close eye, I did similar with my sulfated pb battery. Marc

You may be right in saying I need a new battery. I'm reminded of a car where I left the door ajar and when I went to test the battery it read nothing. Ie not sub 11v or sub 5v but nothing. Neither my ctek smart charger nor my dc to dc optimate would attempt to charge it so I dug out an old 250ma primitive trickle charger until the v was approved of by the ctek and the battery's been used in the car ever since. I agree with you; I think both the pb and nimh batteries have been damaged but maybe the latter might be usable still. Thanks for the explanation of false peak. On the mpx radio it says the battery capacity is 1500ma and charge is 1490 and the mpx charger still won't charge. I'm going to try with a different nimh charger at .05c and see what happens. Then I guess I'll try a discharge and see if I can any headroom for the mpxcharger to start working and if all that fails replace the battery pack, it' hidroysly expensive though for only 2100ma for 6 cells.

I bought a Multiplex radio via an auction and work and illness meant it was forgotten for 3-4 years. Recently I went to turn it on and it wouldn't then I plugged in the Multiplex USB to din charge plug which would not light up or charge. So I took the permabatt 6 nimh cell pack out of the tx and connected it to my small oldish lipo/nimh overlander battery charger. I guessed at a charge rate of .2 amp and started charging using the manual charge setting of the charger. An auto setting is available but I don't understand from the manual what the difference is. The multiplex manual is fulsome and told me the 7.2v pack is 2100ma and normal charge rate is 210ma and will take 16 hours. It also says that will give 8 hours of flying. It says the radio does not have to be charged when in storage but also says not to allow deep discharge under 5.6v which of course I did. It gives a delta peak value which the overlander doesn't allow me to set but I've another charger that does. After approx 5 hours of charging I was about to go to bed so went to turn the charget off. As I stood in front of it it signalled that the charge was complete! I saw 800 approx on the charger which I think is the number of ma charged? This morning I put the pack back in the radio, a Royal Pro 7 and turned it on. It says 8.2v and flying time 56mins. Why did the charger stop?

No be, mine have a shank, they're bolts. Maybe they're not oem. Anyway I've had enough good suggestions, time now to order. I've actually just switched the rx from spectrum to multiplex (bought secondhand at club auction), being a beginner (club solo but no 'A' yet) I didn't find it that easy but was pleased to get the tX set up, only to find I'm a wing bolt short so I couldn't fly anyway! Posted by Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 11/04/2016 22:14:00: Ignore the screws/bolts thing - what you have are technically screws not bolts! The blade is just a style thing - some have blades - some have knurled end caps - you take your pick. These will work just as well (if you get the right size) as what you had. If you really must have an exact replacement then you'll need to shop around for them - SMC might have them they tend to stock a lot of that type of stuff. BEB

Posted by Ken Rae on 12/04/2016 16:30:15: I have an E Pioneer for sale if anyone is interested, never flown but has the servo's controler and motor! Can I have just the wing bolts?

I've just looked at model fittings. Those white thumb screws aren't the same, what I have are black plastic bolts not screws and were vertical blades on the bolt head. Similar to this: **LINK**

Thanks Bob,. Thumb screws! Great, I didn't know what they were called which has made googling difficult.

I'm not sure if they are metric or if Seagull is USA based. They're unusual in that they have vertical blades for thumb finger on top of the bolt head. I'll have look at that link, thanks. Marc

Does anyone know where I can get Pioneer wing bolts?

Posted by Robin Kearney on 27/08/2015 21:19:43: I have a Multiplex Merlin for holiday flying, both the wings and tailplane split into two, so it packs away into the box it came with. They even sell a protective cover for its box with a carry handle, the box measures 11 x 18 x 61 cm. It won't (I don't think) be suitable for an A test because it has no U/C. But it is perfect for away from home flying. r. Robin, I bought an Artizan but although the wings are ok the fuse looks too large to carry in a rucksack. I'm just been looking at the Merlin which seems very suitable, but it looks like it's a discontinued model, do you know what replaced it?

onetenor: yes, I'm going to use a plastic box (maybe a underbed box) within the rucksack.

I love the box Phil. I think I'll just end up with an under bed box though I'd like to put the plane in a rucksack maybe.

I once built a 60" glider whilst staying (for work) in a hotel in Brussels, commuting Monday to Friday, they kept the room for me over weekends so I could leave it out!! When built and covered I brought it home on a flight with BA.. very happy to help me!.. I can charge tx nimh ok in my room and there's a patio out back where I can do the liposame. Would I be able to do my A test on a bixler / eaststar type or would they be for practice. I'm very impressed you made something in your room particu larly pretty big.

Posted by Wingman on 28/08/2015 08:43:41: Mine fit nicely into a black bag I've broken the fuse on my fusion a couple of times I suppose next time I could stick a hinge on do it would fit in a bag

Posted by John Lee on 28/08/2015 08:38:08: Posted by Phil 9 on 27/08/2015 22:30:20: I am surprised there still are no speciality pack away models. lots of people have asked about such a model There is - in addition to the Merlin mentioned by Robin there is the Multiplex Xeno. A flying wing, it folds in half and has clip on/off fins, fits in its own shoulder bag and can be flown under power or as a slope soaring glider. I got one for tucking into the boot of my MX5. It flies very well but I did not recommend it to Oops as it's not a beginner's model and only weighs 550 - 690grams. That's an interesting mention Phil. As you say I don't want something beyond me. I have an elise (not with me) and I'd wondered what plane I could take in it. I slope soar and I've an sas fusion that will probably go in the well / passenger seat .. though I think I'd better tie it down! Marc

Posted by simon barr on 28/08/2015 08:31:49: Parkzone Artizan.... Wings and tail detach, small enough to carry... big enough to have fun! Just been away and took mine... Glad I did as I managed to visit a couple of clubs. I really like the Artisan suggestion Simon, funnily enough I'd just been reading a 201 magazine that reviews it. At the moment I gave a seagull high wing trainer so the artisan look a a progression from that. I also like the get me safe button idea.

Posted by Phil 9 on 27/08/2015 22:30:20: I am surprised there still are no speciality pack away models. lots of people have asked about such a model I hadn't thought that would be so - ill try searching on airplane in a suitcase

Phil, I'd forgotten about charging LIPOs, and I certainly hadn't thought of lugging lead batteries around! I didn't realise that there were models available where the tail come soff, yes that does sound useful. My home base plane is a Seagull where the wings are in 2 pieces but the tail and undercarriage make it unsuitable. I'll have a look at the pulse and wot.

Thanks Robin, especially for the actual box measurements! Yes, that does look good. I should have saud, I'd ideally like something PNF. How about this? : **LINK**

I'm working away from home at the moment and don't have a car with me, am about to join a club and need to get there by public transport. I'm also beginnerish and need to get my 'A'. What plane would be suitable for pre-A practice (and preferably be able to do the test on too) and would also go into a big rucksack, suitcase or underbed box? I would carry my Tx etc in a rucksack.? Marc

No, no, I'd definitely join, it wouldn't occur to me not to, I'm using the resources of the club after all, how could I not contribute. Yes I will definitely get the A, I looked at it earlier, it will take me quite a time on the paper learning probably, but the flying doesn't look much more than what I was trained to do for my solo.