Danny Fenton

Hi Michael, you could trace the starboard wing onto tracing paper, then build from the back of the tracing?

Hi Terry, I have had trouble with my shiny new J'EN 57 so today flew my WOT4 with a thirty year old OS 40SR freed up with the heat gun, it ran like a top! it would not run for more than a few seconds on a nice new OS8 plug so stuck the 30 year old plug back in! it then ran a treat, now if I can only identify the thirty year old plug so I can get some more. I have heard that boiling engines in antifreeze cleans them up like new, I have resorted to oven cleaner, how did yours clean up Terry?

Hi Shaun, I wouldn't worry about the weight too much the hurricane wing can handle it, its a very thick chord. The YT hurricanes come out at around 13lbs and they are only slightly larger 72". If you haven't got flaps and you are restoring the wing it might be worth fitting some, it will make the landing much slower. All of the glazing on the hurricane canopy can be made from flat panels, ie no compound curves, a bit fiddly but worth the effort, I look forward to seeing some flying pics

Here is the SLEC balsa stripper, I think there has been a bit of a problem with the fuselage jig, nobody makes the quality one referred to in Alex's articles any longer, shame because I wanted one of those. http://www.jperkinsdistribution.co.uk/detail.php?JPNO=5509365&activepage=2&Navmain=Accessories&subcatname=SLEC If you find a good fus jig let us all know, including Alex LOL

Hi Maurice, forty size electric is not going to be cheap, even nothing special, then you have all the gear that surrounds electric, ie chargers, batteries to charge the batteries, wattmeters etc etc. An OS46La might be a much cheaper option to be honest. Good luck and let us know how you get on :)

Hi Shaun, I didn't think Mick did a fibreglass Hurricane, his 80" is built up fus with foam wings, although he does a fibreglass fus spitfire of about the size of your hurricane. Does yours have foam wings? YT do a 72" hurricane with glass fus, but yours has the wrong molding details for one of those. Very curious...

Stick square open bracket URL close square bracket at the front and square open bracket forward slash URL close square bracket at the end Shaun. http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l92/winchweight/Cosford016.jpg http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l92/winchweight/Cosford010.jpg Looks a bit like a Mick Reeves, but too small...

Thumbs, my index fingers are busy playing with the other switches.

Just a quick update on the Tenergy charger. I ordered one of these plus the mains charger to match from All-Battery.com the distributor in the States. The cost was: $81.99 for the LiPo charger $19.99 for the mains adaptor $67.68 for shipping $39.32 duty on arrival to the UK $208.98 Total or in beer vouchers £105 There is a lesson here, I am not so sure it was the deal I had hoped for, make sure you investigate all the hidden costs...... To make matters worse I was short shipped the Mains adaptor but charged the duty! all-Battery.com are sending another, I am just waiting for a second customs bill.

Ahhh Steve gets slowly drawn into Tony's Cellar, never to be seen again......

36 volt DeWalt batteries, Lithium-Ion technology, not quite as light as LiPo but much more durable. The guys in the States are using them.

I was with someone at the weekend who was playing with a new type of cells and he was charging in ten minutes, whats more these cells do not catch fire and are very difficult to damage, so the technology is around. I like the idea on a pleasant evening of tucking my model and Tx under my arm and walking to the park just down the road, having a quick flight and then wandering back. I think I am drawn to IC for the same reason that I dislike gas BBQ's LOL

Hi Tom, As you can tell I have taken a bit of a plunge on the electric stuff and much of what I discussed I have now bought. It is not cheap despite what anybody tells you. When I fly IC I have a tranny, a plane, a chicken stick, and a glow battery. However once you have the electric gear I can see the argument (sort of) I bought a small 130Watt brushless motor and ESC, £15, a 3s1p Lipo £37.99, a lipo charger for $60, 3 mini servos £15, a mini Rx £19, prop and adaptor £5, connectors £3, Wattmeter £25, I haven't yet found a battery to charge my pack at the field, and finally a pile of assorted balsa and plywood (way more than I need) £25. I will knock together a "little Sue" from a free plan I have. I will let you know how it goes.

Hi Richard LOL I know what you mean, you ever tried to float a laser! Anyway about your Mills, old diesels can't die they just get easier to start :)

Hi Peter, in the air, its usually pootling about at 1/3 rd throttle. Until I have run another bench run, I wont know for sure, you know what it is like when you are flying, time passes quite quickly and my estimations may be totally wrong. I do know that when it stops it starts again first flick, (once on the ground) and the first occurence the tank still looked 7/8 full! I ran a subsequent flight with no cowling to ensure it wasn't overheating.

Antony thanks for your comments, the reason it isn't interference is because the failsafe is set to do certain things should a glitch occur and I remember setting it to leave all controls in the same position ie HOLD until the signal was strong again. Anyway due to an error on my part I had reconfigured the throttle whilst setting up the buddy box to HOLD so if it had a glitch the throttle would hold rather than move to idle. I have changed it to idle on interference again now. No towers or anythin in that area, and no others having trouble. I think it is fuel feed issues, either insufficient pipe pressure or pipe diameters, I will try and run it on the bench soon. Cheers

Hi Malcolm, thanks for your thoughts unfortunately the clunk is fine and feeds with tank in all attitudes, also the pressure and fill pipes are notched and clear of the top of the tank. The first thing I did was pull the tank to make sure I was actually feeding the carb with the clunk line (we have all done it LOLOL)The engine draws fuel and stays sweet with the nose vertical for a good thirty seconds. I had a nagging feeling the failsafe was perhaps causing the engine to throttle back as I have the PCM configured for no change on all channels on loss of signal except throttle which is set to drop to idle, as maybe, just co-incidence it seems the throttle cuts all occured in the same area of the field, perhaps a glitch? alas it was not this. I will try the standard pipe as opposed to the quiet pipe. I get the feeling that the tank is not getting pressure as quick as the fuel is being drawn but that should show up on a bench run. The tank by the way is a 10oz and should keep the engine running for 20 minutes if not longer. If the neighbours are out tomorrow lunchtime I may have a play.

Hi Peter interesting that you have added to your thread on the J'EN just when I am seeing a problem LOL I agree as the engine has become more run in the main needle has gone in a further 1/4 it now is happy at 1 1/4 out. the slow jet has been leaned a third and picks up cleanly. The idle is nice and it starts first or second flick if the plug is dripping with fuel. My problem however is that it will only run for 4 minutes at a time. I am still investigating why, it is not the fuel lines nor the tank or vents, nor the plug or overheating. I was suspicous of the pressure feed from the pipe to the tank as the nipple is very small. Peter are you using the standard or super quiet pipe? I am using the super quiet.

Hi Malcolm thanks for that, I will give it a go. There is no sign of leaking oil etc just a blackened stain as though the exhaust parts are vibrating against each other. I will try and re-create the problem on the ground, and if succesful will perhaps leave the vents open on the tank ie no pressure, for the level engine test bed this should prove my hypothesis. Any body else have any experience with a lack of back pressure??

I don't know how everyone else did at the weekend, I could only manage Sunday morning. 3 flights but trouble with my engine, it will run for almost exactly 4 minutes then cuts. My initial thoughts are that the tank is not pressurising, though I cannot see why as the plumbing is all fine. The exhaust components after the pressure nipple are not sealing completely despite dismantling and re-assembly, this may mean insufficient back pressure to the tank, I will try to re-create the problem on the ground, and maybe try some car exhaust sealer. Other than that enjoyed my flying, though my eyesight is proving to not be as good as it was LOL

Hi Malcolm I completely agree, there is a warning in the BMFA safety docs that say repeated use of the buddy/sim socket can lead to Tx motherboard problems, I am not sure what this is based on but it may also be worth noting.

Hi Malcolm, I believe that with JR's PCM9XII you are fine using the Tx with a sim with the aerial down as you do not turn it on, the new 2720 is the same. It may well be common with all JR's

Hi Terence, I think it depends on the plan and the designer. I have a Brian Taylor plan for the Mk1 Hurricane and the drawing has so much detail. Brian has obviously done a mountain of work and development to get the drawing where it is today. I do not think those plans are overpriced. But I do know what you mean, as some plans are really vague, give little detail, and quite frankly once purchased and you see how certain problems are dealt with I have commited the drawings to the shelf. Only to be built in a re-designed manner. It would be nice to see A4 versions of a plan so you could see how the designer tackles the subject BEFORE splashing out for the full drawings. If publishers are worried about copyright leave off the ribs or bulkheads.

Hi Norman the Wot 4 can be fast i have a J'EN 57 in mine, and at full throttle it is ballistic, but saying that the design of the wing on the Wot 4 is such that it will fly very slowly indeed. It will potter around at 1/3 throttle really nicely.

LOL funny you should mention the yard arm, I am off sailing my Laser tonight. I am not sure my wife would be quite so pleased at acquiring planes at your rate. Its been good to chat, and thanks for your invaluable help Cheers