Danny Fenton

I can't find them Antony, are they in the same album as the previous lot??

Just been nosing around the gallery that hurricane looks the business, you are nearly there! Is it a plan build, or kit? What markings is it going to wear? The Camel looks fab, and an interesting provost, not modelled often. The Lanc is awesome, I bet that has some presence in the air. Peter, you might be right maybe we should be carted off somewhere, but I guess there are only the three of us reading this anyway LOL and I am not sure I could be seen in an anorak......Irvine flying jacket perhaps?

Excellent Peter you are spot on, Jack Hawkins starred as Group Captain "Tiger" Small PO "Septic" Baird was a Hurricane pilot in the film Angels 15. I cannot find any pics of his plane though, so will have to see If Amazon have a copy LOL. I know what you mean about drawings and studying them LOL maybe we should both get out more!! Walts I don't know the Warbirds version I would be interested in some pics of your build too.

Stop it Walts! I am trying to stay away from the build, I need to get back into scale building before I tackle the Hurricane LOL Just got some drawings of a Tipsy Trainer, was going to do that as a refresher, however the drawings are not very complete unfortunately and don't include ribs and tail sections. Instead of a refesher in scale building is more like a refresher in scratch building! Yes I am on RCMF "Septic" I had a scan through that thread before ordering the drawings, glad you reminded me though haven't been on for a few weeks ought to catch up. Thx

Peter you are so right!!! I have studied the drawing and it is full of information, cut throughs, little assembly drawings etc. The more you look the more there is. Well worth the money. Funnily enough the mouldings (Cowl, Spinner, Canopy) arrived this morning direct from Brian. I ordered through Bob Holman, he passes on the details to Brian who ships direct, saves postage. I must practice restraint LOL

I might be wrong but I think on yachts the prop is locked when sailing as it gives less drag through the water, different medium but same principle

Thats good news David, how about making it available all year, so as newcommers join us they can be pointed at the reference? Don't tell me you already thought of that LOL

Peter, just thought I would let you know that my plans and laser cut bits arrived from Bob Holman today. 19 days was the travel time from San Bernadino to Staffordshire. Fortunately Bob shipped by Parcel Farce and it didn't get snagged on Customs so no charge - Hooray! Not as big a bundle of bits as I was expecting, but all the fiddly bits by the looks of it. The hard bit is to not get started! I have a couple of other plans to do first so that I am not rusty when I start Sidney Camms finest.... Let us know which plan you go for and where you get it from?

Hi Angus yes, I think it was a prop strike following a bad swing on landing. Nearly hit a helicopter! My father originally bought it from Doncaster Aero Club in the early 70's I think, and restored it. No electrics back then. no radio, no navigation, hand swing the prop! Interestingly it was flown from the front seat, those were the days LOL I am not sure if the RAF used the Cub/L4 they had the Auster. But I am sure somebody on here will know differently. I have just found G-AISB its gone to Europe and been re-registered. Shame that as it was one of only three G-AISA,B,C Dad used bits originally from "C" to restore his G-AISB, I notice that G-AISB crashed a couple of years ago and suffered wing damage, but has again been restored. Thanks for your interest, sorry, for the essay LOL

Hi Martin, Unfortunately I fly with a JR PCM9XII and when used in a buddy box scenario it has to be the Master. I have thought about buying another radio as you say, but I really cannot afford anymore than I have already spent, a Wot4, J'en 57, and the JRPCM. I am so tempted to go and find a friendly farmer and just go and fly!!

No worries Aslan and thanks for all the useful information, hope you continue to enjoy this fascinating hobby - cheers

Hi Aslan, I flew for more years than I care to remember on Mode II and they weren't trainers, so I don't really want to re-learn. I have messed around with a simulator and my skills all seem to have come back fairly rapidly, a bit like riding a bike LOL I did try the simulator in mode I and don't get on at all, my instincts are with Mode II. If push comes to shove, I will pay for some Mode II instruction at one of these training schools that are springing up just to get the A cert and then I can fly solo again. It is slightly frustrating, but I shall remain patient the better weather is approaching as are the longer evenings.

I wish I was, unfortunately I haven't flown for years, pre certificates. The club I have joined have a strict no A cert no fly solo. I fly mode II and there is only one guy qualified to assist me on that mode, the whole of the Midlands seem to fly mode I LOL so at the moment no flying at all :( I don't intend to fly that much in one session, at most 45 minutes total power on time, but you never know....... Do you advise cycling the Tx and Rx batterries from time to time? Thanks for your advice, and time, it is very much appreciated.

Hi Aslan, thanks for that, thats re-assuring, I don't think the servos are at the expensive end of the range shall we say. And also thx for the information on voltspy, I will do some research. The Rx pack that came with the system was 4.8v can you up the voltage, doesn't the receiver complain?

Thanks Martin, I guess the thing that worries me is the battery drain. I have read a few people have fitted some sort of monitor for the receiver battery, anybody recomend a type or manaufacturer?? I have fitted a 4.8v 1100 mAh battery, any suggestions as to the safe voltage to fly??

You are welcome Antony and Spence glad my ramblings made sense LOL I know what you mean Angus, finished the Wot4 nearly a month ago and what with no mode II instructors and horrid weather I too am bored. Have ordered some plans. 1. a Brian taylor Hurricane plan, with laser cut bits from Bob Holman in the States. 2 A nice big Tipsy Trainer plan (84") caught my eye, my Dad and I used to fly in his restored Tipsy trainer G-AISB when I was younger so found memories. My father also spent ten years building an Andreasson BA-4b bipe, which was sadly destroyed during a landing mishap on its maiden flight, so I had to order a plan of that. Talking of Cubs, Angus, you might want to do a search on a Cub he and I also used to travel the UK in G-BBYB, its still around.I think its been badly burned and restored at least twice in its history, I would like to find a nice plan for that but so far they are nearly all for the J-3. let us know what you find?

Hi Aslan they are JR539's they arrived new with the rest of the equipment. If you move the trims then the buzzing can be reduced on one and stopped on the other. If you move the servos using the TX sticks they go silent. Its as if the centre point of the pots is noisy and causing a slight hunting.

Hi Gang, my take on this is that a larger diameter prop swings slower, which means it is more efficient. The thing that alters the speed the aircraft will reach however is more to do with the pitch of the blade. A coarse pitch of say 8 or 10 means for each revolution the prop theoretically could move 8 or 10 inches forward. a prop of pitch 4 would move say 4" with each revolution. The drawback with the higher pitch is that it is like putting your car in a low gear the airframe will not pick up speed well, but will go faster (eventually) So it is a balance between the diameter, and the pitch. A trainer shouldn't need more than a 6" pitch, that will allow it to accelerate well, but top speed will not be too fast to manage. The other thing is an over large prop acts like a flywheel for the engine and means that a really low idle speed can be maintained. This is useful for landing, as a slowly spinning prop creats loads of drag, much more than dead stick. I used to run a 13 x 4 on an OS 40 in a WW1 biblane it would burble around all day without the usual scream of a two stroke.

Hi Vincent thanks for your thoughts, two of the four servos buzz when not connected to anything ie no linkages, so I know it isn't that. I have used the two noisy ones on the throttle and rudder as I can survive more easily without them if they fail, than aileron or elevator.

Just coming back to the hangar after a few years away on the dark side (sailing). I don't remember my old Futaba servos vibrating or buzzing when at rest, however with my new JR when my servos are idle/centred some of them buzz until moved away from centre, then buzz again when returned/sticks released. Should I alter the centre point to stop this or just not worry, does this generally indicate a duff servo?

It must be very difficult for magazines to reach its audience, on the one hand there are balsa bashers with decades of experience, and on the other there is a constant flow of newcomers all wanting the same basic set of answers. I congratulate the magazines because in general they do manage a happy medium. How about a supplement updated and published yearly, like a 13th magazine that contains all the favorite topics, that newbies, or those of us returning could pick up for a heads up?

Sorry Barrie am not familiar wuth the 3810, I did struggle with my JR PCM 9XII for a while but got the hang of it in the end. I wouldn't say the JR menus are intuitive, but fine once you are used to them. What are the specific areas you are having trouble with?

Great stuff Antony, well done

You aren't alone Angus, I am being descended on by relatives, so no flying for me either......

Thats interesting I thought the dead stick part of the test was actually simulated ie throttle back, you did an actual dead stick? No wonder it floated LOL Well done