SIMON CRAGG

Having seen similar over the years, might be worth checking: C/G (To far back)) Wings twisted (Set up the model / wings with an incidence meter) to make sure everything is 100%. Lateral balance out. Check aileron movement & expo is the same up / down. Check for any linkage "slop". Check both the wing servos are the same and producing the same throw / response). Check Lipo not moving under "G". Check tailplane for stability / square and brace if req. Hope that helps!

Not that difficult to understand.........just my opinion and experience with the larger and heavier APC props (in this case 11X4 wide blade) IIRC.

I always advise against putting IC props on electric motors no mater how tempting. I had a brand new carefully balanced APC prop on a brand new Voltiger aerobatic foamy. It ran up nice and smoothly until it suddenly went completely bananas and violently shook the motor / cowl everything out of the front of the model. Luckily did not hit anybody in the process.......never again.

Afraid I have to agree. The whole event was definitely a watered down affair. Huge spacing between the marching groups, and despite being "bigged up" the flypast was a bit of a non event. I realise everybody involved put a HUGE amount of effort and preparation in, but on this occasion not our finest hour.

Basil, I can feel your pain!. Having been down the same road many years ago, the best solution is to to download e.calc and pay a few dollars for the full version. Like most of these things, it looks a bit daunting at first, but if I can master it sure you can. It will answer all of the questions you have, and more without having to purchase endless different prop etc. etc. Have a play with it.......fantastic bit of kit!

Yet another great Video Bonzo, I thought the quality was great!. Having had a go at this myself, a couple of observations that might help you: Make a check list that you can run through prior to flight. As you rightly say......lots to remember. How about gluing something to the top of the "Return to home" switch (I glued a small red plastic ball), so that you can "feel" for that all important switch if it all goes pear shaped and you dare not look at the TX?. Hope that helps. Simon

Purchased £150 worth of lipos this week, ordered on Monday from HKUK and they arrived yesterday!.

Well, good news on both the HFT and eye fronts! Left eye op yesterday, and although the pupil is still dilated, its MUCH better already.......so happy about this, the surgeon was an absolute miracle worker to whom I will be forever be grateful. Got to be VERY careful for the next few weeks, and precise routine of drops etc, Common sense really. Just so glad our insurance covered it at circa £3500 (Private). The Field Target club I have joined is fantastic to say the least!. 8 minutes away, VERY helpful group, lots of useful advice etc. Having purchased a known decent rifle and scope, I am now in the process of pellet testing, and am like a huge sponge, absorbing as much info as I can. The club shoot to SWEFTA rules which are different to HFT, but still brilliant fun. In the process of selling a few "Hanger Queens" to fund the new interest!.

Ok, when trying to access my dashboard it ends up going to an Ionis hosting site. Hopefully part of the work being done to the server.

Looks like the BMFA Website is down or been hacked.

Printed off a load on the pc. Stuck on with Prit stick, can be peeled off easily when the number changes or gets even longer. No damage to paint on a foamy....so win win!.

Well said, I agree 100%. Keyboard warriors, who have not got a real life. Spend their tedious lives making obtuse, uninformed and generally irritating posts just to stir up trouble and controversy. Just ban them.................no loss.

All my small EDF Jets have clear reinforced tape on the belly, and cut down white plastic spoons to protect the servo arms. Screwfix Polyurethane clear satin Varnish (3 coats lightly rubbed down). Coped with wet grass, bit of mud etc. Never had any damage......so must work!

To a certain extent HFT clubs are in the same boat as us. Very keen to get hold of new members and youngsters at a premium. To keep the less able on board, they have introduced the "Sticks" class for anybody who is less able to get up and down to the prone or kneeling position. A major bonus is that they have a "Veterans" class.....that will be me then. There seems to be the usual harmless banter etc. and a LOT of help available. I am hoping to join with a mate, who is very competitive and a good sub 12 shot, so a bit of competition on the cards. Just needs to stop raining!

Probably going to be sticks veteran PCP class for me. Sub 12 ft lbs, no hearing protection required. A bit like modelling when you first start........the range of kit options is incredible.

Many thx for all your helpful comments. I have a doctors appointment in a few days,(lucky me eh?) for ongoing motion sickness (FFS what else will go wrong), and will ask about my cataracts (Thx ED). At 74 its suddenly all starting to go a bit pear shaped. Just about to join a local gun club to give HFT shooting a go....so need to get sorted asap!.

Slightly off topic, but my eyesight is failing, so over the last 6 months virtually no flying. Back in the summer, I was hurtling my electric Havok around the sky when I suddenly realised I could see two models........basically a shadow flying just under the model!. Very disturbing. Tried various sunglasses, no good, Painted the model bright yellow, no good, Went to Specsavers, specs returned for refund as no good, Went to local opticians who discovered cataracts in both eyes, left worse than right, but neither bad enough to operate on! So that's me stuck really, until they get bad enough for op or I give up altogether. Bit fed up about it really.

The MATS models were a really heavy beast, with a Fibreglass fuzz, foam wings and all the wood, bordering on hardwood. No wonder the poor old Merco (run on straight fuel with a dash of petrol, struggled to keep it in the air, They also incorporated a type of ballistic parachute under the canopy. The idea being that in the unlikely event it as hit, a servo would operate a canopy jettison set up. Never....ever, saw it work!.

Whilst in BAOR, I used to book the MATS team when we took the tanks to Hohne ranges. More of a novelty / fun end of shoot event really. Thousands of 7.62 / .30 rounds were wasted trying to hit them.......without success. At least half a dozen piled into the surrounding fir trees. However, there was an upside!. I had to sign to say the MATS team had searched diligently for any downed / crashed models, so they could be written off. From the control tower, I had carefully marked where they all crashed, mostly dead stick. (Merco.61, no exhaust,11x73/4 Kavan blue prop, nice Skyleader push / pull servos etc). I rounded up a few "helpers", and when everyone had legged it, went down range to recover the airframes on many occasions. Say no more!

I was stationed there for three years, many moons ago. Used to work in one of the original hangers. Lots of adventures exploring the derelict control tower, various huts and accommodation. On a recent visit I was gutted to see that the old officers mess adjacent to the parade square, had replaced by a Bookers!. So many memories of the whole airfield. Stunning place back then.

Well done Bonzo, brightened up my day!

Our club comps have gradually tailed off no matter how the Committee tried. We deleted the word "Comp" and replaced it with "fun" to no avail really. Somebody had a great idea for 2025 which seems to have caught on: Members can enter any Chris Foss model and take part in 8 different fun events throughout the year (two attempts, one am. one pm).: Lots of banter and general "fun". Spot landing, Timed flight. Loops. Ground handling round cones. Fastest and slowest Using the Sky Rc gizmo: Flying to a max height Flying to a max speed Flying to a set distance So far a lot of CF models have been rejuvenated, and I managed to find two CF Acro Wots for £45, and sold one for £20. Who said the hobby was ded / expensive /etc.?

A newbie at our club turned up with an Apprentice ARTF earlier this year, and had some success on days when it was not that windy. He struggled as soon as the wind increased. He then had a few lessons on the club Boomerang trainer, which is a well sorted / trimmed / heavier model, and found it much easier. I would suggest that it might be worth you trying a slightly heavier / larger model, which does not get blown around as much.

Having been down the same road many times, how about a compromise? Get the cheapest possible retract units from Hobbyking / AliExpress / Temu / Bangood. Use piano wire for the legs, and any cheepo wheels that fit the wheel wells. Take off as normal, but always belly land the model. I always use cut down plastic spoons to protect any servo arms etc. on the underside of the airframe. I am a great believer in belly landing, especially on uneven grass runways. I have lost count of the times I have seen u/c collapse / get ripped out / drop in a rabbit scrape and cartwheel the model down the runway / cause all sorts of damage. Ok, it does not look as good as a "greaser", but you get to go home with your pride and joy in one piece, and not a bag of bits!.

Did you have any issues when it came to using a "Y" lead on the ailerons? I can see a potential problem in not being able to change the individual senses of the wing surfaces. Or is it a case of trial and error. The motion rc video shows the gear going into an Avanti which I have, but the video was not that clear. Did you use a 2/3/ position switch (I got a bit lost when the video started talking about adjusting the trim to go from a 3 position to a 2 position !), or a dial to control the gain? Thanks for your help.