eflightray

Posted by David Tayler on 27/10/2019 21:06:28: I have been making models for indoor flying out of 2mm Depron. Recent internet searches for more supplies have been fruitless. Does anyone know of a good source of 2mm depron. Preferably in the UK. Thanks ,David Edited By David Tayler on 27/10/2019 21:07:03 What part of the UK David ?  I have some 2mm x 1000mm x 350mm white Depron sheets, but it would be a PITA to package and post. The nearest 'happening' to me is the Bwlch slope soaring site, (20 minutes away), if you know anyone who visits there it could be passed that way. Ray. Near Swansea.   Edited By eflightray on 29/10/2019 13:40:27

But what does static thrust tell you about how a plane will actually fly ? I will declare right at the start that I feel static thrust measurement is not that important, and have for a very long time. It may be handy for a 3D model that is expected to hover, and climb vertical, but then you will be selecting a suitable prop for that type of model. More important, in my opinion, is 'pitch speed'. Prop rpm x pitch. You can increase static thrust by increasing prop diameter, and dropping the pitch to keep within the motors current rating. But you can easily lose out on the required speed the model may require. Most important is the right prop doing the right rpm to fly a model how you want it. Different type of models require different power requirements. You may get the similar thrust measurement from a small high pitch prop or a larger diameter low pitch prop, but they wont fly the plane the same. I know a lot of people make/buy thrust rigs and do tests, but unless you know all the parameters, plus why and how you use that information, I would still say - get a tachometer, (you should already have a wattmeter), and look at what types and sizes of prop are generally used on various types of model to make them fly that way. Ray.

You could consider the aerodynamics of full size aircraft, but from a model design point of view, if you run the aileron all the way out there is a greater chance of it's leading edge catching in the grass and getting damaged or even torn off. The wing tip protects that from happening with an aileron that stops short. .

Foxfan. I have always built wings flat, easier to build and see if there are any warps, twists etc. The stall tend to be in the low end speed range, (unless you consider high speed stalls, never managed to go that fast and pull a tight turn). The heavier the model, the the greater the wing loading, the higher the stall speed, so I have always built light, plus there's the advantage of needing less power. To me, adding wash-out where you don't think it's useful, is similar to reducing the wing area and lift capability. If the outer part of the wing isn't adding to the lift it just seems a waste. Now if someone built a really heavy model, high wing loading, and needed to fly fairly slowish to land owing to a short runway etc, then adding wash-out may add a slight safety margin, then do it by all means. I have never been a follower of build strong, (heavy), to survive crashes, or add a bigger engine to make it fly. I build to survive flying, not crashing. Seems to have worked for me for many many years, both IC power, (30+ years), and electric power, again about 30 years since giving up IC, plus some experience in free flight, it all comes in useful. But that's just me, many fliers have different ideas that work for them. The thing to do is always try something different to learn and gain experience of what suits you. Ray. Edited By eflightray on 14/09/2019 19:16:09

Alternative would perhaps be, - don't add wash-out so the whole wing is lifting better, (you are not wasting the outer wing area and making flying inverted riskier), and most of all, learn to build lighter, , and don't fly near the stall speed. Seems logical to me. Ray, (72" Spitfire with no wash-out) But I should add, I don't make 'scale' models either. Edited By eflightray on 14/09/2019 13:29:50

My 72" Depron Spitfire came in at 7Lbs - 2oz flying. No worries about stall speed and tip stalling. Ray.

I built the Tony Nijhuis 72" Mk V Spitfire from the free plan, but used Depron and electric power. Still my favorite plane to fly after 7 years of use. It does fit in a normal size hatchback, (wing removable, and easy assembly). To me bigger planes are so much more enjoyable to fly, (and easier to see), don't necessarily right off going bigger. Ray. It would have landed slower, if I had remembered to lower the flaps .

Just my opinion, but don't bother converting IC power models to electric. You end up with a compromise. Go straight for models designed for electric power only, and if you're a builder, consider some of the many fun, and profile scale models, designed and built using Depron foam, (it's also much cheaper than balsa). Forget the, "It has to be oily, noisy, and made with balsa" stuck in the past club members. Show them what can be achieved with electric power. Ray. (60+ years of building and flying, 30 with IC, 30 with electric, I wouldn't go back to IC) Edited By eflightray on 25/08/2019 14:46:01

One of my pet hates is watching the driver in front of me talk to the passenger by always turning their head to took at the passenger when talking. One of my late wife's pet hates was TV presenters who can't talk without waving their hands about. I hate to think what they are like when driving and talking. It's a good job most all of us are perfect drivers .

Many many years ago, (nicads and brushed motor), I did some thrust testing for I think it was my first electric model, found and used a prop that gave the best thrust. The plane wouldn't fly much beyond a sinking powered glide. Eventually it dawned on me, (Please excuse the the following, I'm not singing it). 'Thrust - It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing ....'. for swing read rpm, for rpm read pitch speed. I'ts the right prop turning the right speed (pitch speed), that flies the model how you want, not just how much static thrust it measures. Ray.

Makes you wonder how many people will jump in their electric car in the morning, and try to drive away with the charge lead still attached. Recent tv program showed a few people try driving away from petrol pumps with the hose still attached to their car. .

Prop damage happened to me quite a while back, the frightening thing was the spinner was actually hiding it. Electric power, APCe 15" x 8" prop, plastic spinner. The prop clipped the grass during take-off, the sort of prop ground strike that can happen when taking off with a tail dragger. The only reason I checked the prop was because it sustained slight tip damage. It was not until I took the spinner off I could see what had really happened, the split was on both blades. Ray.

Penderyn, I'm not too far away down the A465 in Neath, fly electric. There is a model shop across the A465 in Skewen, Neath Abbey, called Fish 'N' Things. Ray.

My criteria were, does it look good to me ? (I don't care what other think, plus I need to sit low to the pedals) can I live with the interior, dashboard, controls, infotainment ? do I enjoy driving it ? (I love it, in sports mode it's real fun) most importantly, can my models, including the big ones, fit in the rear with the rear seats down ? is the price acceptable ? (actually it had a £1000 off if you had a test drive, total just under £22 Gs) will I help saving the planet ? (don't really give a darn, if the whole of the UK changed it would still be infinitesimal affect on the world). My answers were yes. So I bought a Hyundai Ioniq hybrid. I get 56 mpg with a fair amount of lead foot driving, I don't have to even think about range.   . Edited By eflightray on 21/07/2019 20:15:01

How many forum member actually go online and post, probably similar to how many model club members turn up and fly. It's generally 'the usual bunch'. The same names, (or people at the field) keep appearing. There are those that do, and those that don't. Often they don't because they have other, possibly more important things ?, to do. To some, flying and club activities are important, to someone else's, their private life style is more important, (wife, kids, jobs, dogs, etc ). Yes, I'm one of them, I rarely post in this forum, I don't go flying as often as I did, I actually find other things to do. One point about the '28 days only', isn't cutting the grass and digging holes, (crashing) classed as year round agricultural work Ray, club of one, it suits me and my life style.

Just looked on the shelf above my computer - Futaba FP-T5N Tx Challenger 35 MHz Spektrum Dx7 Tx (an early one) 2.4 GHz JR x-347 Tx (with Corona 2.4 GHz module) Twister Hawk Tx 35 MHz (that counter rotating blade helicopter, somewhere) Top Ranking Tx 27 MHz (Fly Dragonfly helicopter, somewhere) Shouldn't have moved that last one, dust everywhere. 27 MHz is probably fairly interference free now there's no CB radio, .

A picture -- .

Lovely nostalgia, the Swift, Scimitar, Hunter, Javelin, Gnat ........ when kids could recognise and name planes. .

A quick look on the web found --- Panel System, Sheffield. They do 'Floormate', also if you scroll down their page to the 'Full Product Listing - Modelling Foam' they do a 'Blue Craft Foam'. Still not exactly cheap. Ray.   Edited By eflightray on 27/03/2019 10:23:26

This is a google images search on hlg glider plans (HLG = Hand Launch Gliders,) - HLG glider plans (hopefully it will work), there are loads and loads of model plans free to download off the web, many are in .pdf format and can be scaled to whatever size you require. .

There are a few 'different' gliders. Are you looking for a free flight glider or radio controlled ? Do you have a flat field to fly or are there hills and slopes ? Do you want a hand launch, (just throw), tow line, or catapult launch ? There can be differences in the design, and how you would like it to fly, they could influence an suggestions. Not trying to be awkward, just trying to get an idea of what you want to give you the best chance of a success, and a good introduction to modelling if this is your first model. .

One more reason why I'm glad to be a genuine country member,with my own 'club', and can set any rules, regulations I feel are suitable. So far there is only one rule - Fly sensibly, and enjoy it.

Though for a moment someone might be resurrecting the old original Orion Sadly not. But it was a looooong time ago. Ray.

Posted by David Mellor on 17/03/2019 08:57:41: .................................. But it doesn't seem to be attracting much interest on this forum full of aeromodellers! Why is that? Probably because it's on RCGroups in the VTOLs forum, where Ran does most of his experimental work. He also did a large vtol 'Ring Wing', large enough to fly another model through. .