SIMON CRAGG

Brilliant! Just sent this to all our chaps. Sure to be discussed in our club dispersal on Sunday. Fantastic effort, well done all concerned.

Well done Bonzo, always enjoy your videos.............remember the Vulcan?. Please be careful when getting your helper to hand launch. Recently had a club mate nearly chop the top of his finger off doing the same!.

Test session with six members (out of eleven who purchased this years club model), made it to the start line. Then the FUN began!

These are my new "Go To" Lipo suppliers: https://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/4s-lipo Great Lipos, great price and great service!.

I had one of the original Ken Stokes versions. Went like stink on an Irvine .46 and Weston Power Pipe! Sold it on, as way to fast for me at the time.

Our club have got a Boomerang trainer and converted it to electric. One of our members looks after it, and charges the batteries etc. He is Mode 1, but has rigged up his system so the student is on Mode 2. We always teach on the lead. Students are encouraged to purchase something that is suitable as a first model, and to also get a second TX and lead so they can learn on their own model as well as the club trainer. We have found that some beginners can become to reliant on the club trainer. Turn up, fly, go home. We try and encourage beginners to start flying their own model as soon as the instructors think they are capable. Anyway, having a dedicated club trainer (and somebody good enough to look after it), is one of the best things we have done in recent years.

I had one of these many moons ago......a great fun model which was very popular being so radical!. However, with an OS .25 / tank / servos of the time (large / heavy), it was a bit of a flying brick. If I had to build one again, it would be electric, keeping it as light as conceivably possible. At the time, there was a glut of these early foamy models, another one was the the "Stratos", designed I think by Hanno Prettner. Sliding servo tray as there was no computer mixing as such, went well until I went inverted and the 4 cell 600mah Nicad pack fell out!. Great seeing pictures like this. Funny how I can remember the finest details of models I built in 70's to date, ...............but I can't remember what I did yesterday. Good luck with the model, and I look forward to your flying report.

As far as fuel goes, put whatever £ in an envelope you think fair, and give it to your instructor. He will be very grateful and choose his preferred mix of fuel.

Brilliant, thx as always chaps! Safe flying Simon

Thx, realised that after I had typed it!. Its the "Mailed Fist" logo found on the fin of a variety of aircraft of the era. Harrier etc.

Thanks Denís, but I'm really looking for something a bit bigger to fit a 50" wingspan airframe.

I am in the process of finishing of a Royal Navy version of the Sea Vixen. I am having difficulty finding the "Mailed Fist" logo found on the tail fin. Ideally I would like to find a stand alone image that I could download and print off. Can anybody help please? Thx. Simon.

Recently I had a sudden urge to purchase a decent "Pattern Ship" and after much trawling of the the internet, came up with the FMS Olympus F3A. At the time (a few months ago), it was either on back order or out of stock, and projected to be £340 when it did appear. So back to my favourite source of models.......Facebook marketplace. Within a week, I had found an "only flown twice" version 2 for £160. Which apart from the usual minor hanger rash was as new. It is more capable than I ever will be.........very pleased. As for building, eleven of us have been constructing the Bill Kits BIG FUN throughout the winter, and by and large, everybody has enjoyed getting back to basics. Great value at £75.00 (Bulk Buy). So cheap(er) models are about, if you look hard enough!.

My last order of Lipos came from https://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/ . Outstanding communication, prices and delivery. My Lipo "Go To" store from now on. All other items from AliExpress and Bangood.

Bagged or not, its still a great read and has survived where many others have fallen by the wayside. Am I biased?. Well, my photos were deemed good enough for "Parting Shot", so I'm a happy camper at the mo!.

Graham, it was a while ago but they came from our friends at AliExpress £10.00 for a pair.

Call me old fashioned, but in my experience it is crucial to have the two antennae at 90 degrees to each other (Futaba). I have seen several models come to grief with the wires just bundled in with the usual myriad of servo / lights leads in the bottom of the fus. I always try and keep them away from other leads and slid into a suitable small plastic tube, glued to the fuselage.

Due to the dire weather, the closest we have got to flying recently has been the static judging of this years club model, the Bill Kits "BIG FUN". Eleven were purchased and eight made it to the start line. Some more complete than others, and not sure where that red trainer came from!. All in all a good club night with much discussion as to modifications etc etc. The plan is to fly them at regular fun events throughout the year, with a winner declared next December.