SIMON CRAGG

Interesting. We are having a committee meeting this week to discuss the club programme for next year. The word "competitions" seems to strike fear into most members, although this year I ran 7 comps for 8 members with this years BIG FUN club model. The members who took part, loved it and asked for similar next year. I think we are going to have one committee member running each type of event on a "Fly-in" basis. So committee member A is responsible for an EDF fly in etc. We will not stipulate a day, rather a month, and try not to cancel any event just postpone. By spreading the organising load, it will hopefully prevent the organiser who usually runs all the events (me),getting to despondent when hardly anybody shows up with a Warbird on Warbird Day for example. Hopefully we will be able to include all the types of models in our hangers, including the "Hanger Queens". We are organising a Christmas Bash and Secret Santa, and a club get together at our hall in November. Formal meetings seem to be going out of popularity, so most issues get sorted out up the patch in the club caravan. We are trying our best to be a proactive sociable club, with the onus on "Fun" in a safe environment. But still will never please all the people all the time!

Thanks Andy, worked a treat. What a really odd set up...still 2022! Safe flying.

We are much the same as any other club in terms of numbers, gradually declining overall. For each new member we have gained (four this year) at least as many have either passed or left the hobby for other health reasons. We have had to increase our subs by £20 to cover the shortfall and increased rent etc. Like most clubs we have a hard core of members, mainly the committee. The trend at the moment is smaller quick models ( EFX Racer / Multiplex Dogfighter/ Havok) EDF's and a variety of foamboard creations. Until HKUK comes back on line, most of us use SMC, Leeds, Inwoods, BG or Ali. All our model shops are long gone. We are lucky, in that we have a club shop in our mobile home on site. This is stocked with items donated by members who have given up and various other sources. Very useful for the odds and ends that we all need from time to time. We have tried EVERYTHING to recruit new members to no avail. The newbies we get usually come via the BMFA club finder. All in all, the hobby is not exactly dying, but is more or less on life support at present.

Is it me or is the BMFA website playing up at present? Tried to upload the weekends A cert pass forms......no joy. Tried again just now, and all sorts of random pages appear! Asked admin but no response as yet.

Essential RC did an in depth interview with a big cheese rep from HK UK a few weeks ago. The bottom line was that the containers to re stock the UK warehouse would be arriving at the end of October. A lot more to it than that, but at least there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Very useful As a winter project, I have just bought a Flair Patriot which has been unflown for at least 20yrs. Needs recovering etc. but a great project for £20!.

I have got the hub / spinner / prop from the FMS Mustang V8 14 X 8 X 4. Might be of use?

For yet another Winter project, I am going to need a few lengths of carbon rod / tube / strip etc. I have lost track of the best suppliers. Can anybody help please?.

Great thx. Just scaled it up to 1000mm w/s. 3542-1250kv motor. Possible club model if I can extract enough enthusiasm from the chaps!

Does anybody know how to increase the size of a plan? Ideally, I would like to double the size and print out in "tiled" fashion!.

Our club model this year was the BILL KITS Big Fun. I had 13 purchasers. Most of them are getting sold on after our last event on Sunday, but the innards could be used on a slightly larger Thunderbob easily. Hard work getting members motivated, even if the project is cheap!.

Great, thanks Ron. Think I will scale it up a bit, but potentially could make a great club model.

Wow, great videos with lots of info. I'd like to have a go at making one from Foamboard. Any idea where I can get / download the plans from please?. Oddly enough, by coincidence several of our club members are appearing with small models similar to this..............and having a lot of "Fun"!.

Great job on the Fun Cub.........looks even better!. At the heart of our hobby we (most anyway), love building models and probably started on Airfix kits many years ago. Some (most?) are from the "Make & Mend" generation, and I personally get a LOT of satisfaction from returning a damaged / second hand wreck to life. A few years ago, when foam models hit the modelling scene, I purchased an FMS Hawk EDF jet. Without going into the gory details, I managed to fly it through the top of a fir tree at about 80 mph. If it had been a balsa model, I would still be picking up match sticks now!. However, I gathered together all the relevant lumps of foam, and with a bit of epoxy and lightweight filler, put the jigsaw back together. It actually flew better, as I discovered a slight twist in one of the wings. So my advice would be, have fun putting damaged models back together again...........nobody really notices your repairs anyway.... and it might even make an improvement to the flight envelope!.

Several Winter projects: 1. Sell "Big Fun" model which has been our club model this year. 2.Buy suitable Edge / Yak / Extra (hopefully second hand), that I can fettle ready for next years comps. 3. Collect just purchased Radio Queen (£30), and sort it out as a club trainer. Always something to do!.

Range checked a T6EX the other day. Bound ok, power down range check ok. Took off and at about 60yds, model completely uncontrollable and turned an 80" wingspan airframe into matchwood. Totalled motor, Lipo and ESC. Fault?...........antennae wire disconnected from board in back of TX..

Been using LifePO4 as RX packs for many years. Work fine.

Brilliant video, and great idea. Wonder what happened to their project?. Something positive amongst all the doom and gloom.

Andy, few details needed please, Foam or balsa / ply? ic or electric? Size? and funds available? If you are prepared to do a bit of work / prep, some good models appear on facebook marketplace from time to time.

Just read that Elmsett? the UKHK base is very busy with large wagons appearing etc. Just ordered a 3s 2200mah lipo from the UK, so they are now taking orders. VERY limited stock at this stage, but only to be expected.

Having built a plethora of foam board models, I would give them a miss as most of them (not all of course) are flat plate and have no wing section as such. Even for an experienced pilot, they are not at all easy to complete any sustained inverted flight. The Wot 4 is a proven design, and with a bit of tweaking will fly inverted ok. However, if you really want the right tools for the job, I would look at a so called "Pattern Ship". These models are designed to fly inverted, just as well as the right way up, and would instil a lot of confidence at your stage. They can look a bit intimidating, but once trimmed they really will fly "on rails". Maybe a second hand model to kick off with? Good luck!.

Agreed, but in the longer term we will, plus they are working on the uk warehouse as well. Not now, not tomorrow, but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel/.

Latest info from our friends at HK. Possibility of HKUK starting up again in due course. BIG NEWS! We're back in the EU with the opening of our new EU WH, plus we're offering 20% discount on all EU backorders in August! Check out the link below for more details. We're super excited to be able to serve our European Union customers directly once more. Plus keep an eye out as lots more stock is arriving over the coming weeks and months. AND, we now have awesome shipping rates and free shipping options too! In stock items at Hobbyking EU: https://bit.ly/3qpgbxg Hobbyking products available to back order from the EU warehouse: https://bit.ly/47tLVSl Free Shipping policy, terms and conditions: https://bit.ly/3QAzuhJ All reactions: 408408

A few of my silver / aluminium finished models P51 / T33, could do with some sections repainted in silver and after a lot of flying a bit of tlc. Up to now I have been using Rustins Aluminium paint to brush on, which gave a reasonable finish. Has anybody found a decent paint which more or less matches the current crop of foamy silver / alloy finished models please?.

Remember Maplins anybody? Wilco's a bit the same on the modelling front........Various adhesives, filler, paint, DIY stuff. A real shame not only for us, but the 12k staff.