Tony Harrison 2

I like the idea of air-filled instead of foam, and SLEC has some at 88mm diameter that would suit, at a fair price - but so far as I can see, their postage charges start at a basic five quid... rgds Tony

Thanks Nigel - the plane in question is electric, so no fuel-decomposition problems. I don't know who "JP" refers to...? rgds Tony

Gentlemen, thanks - I should have said the wheels were for a high-wing trainer weighing around 5-6 pounds. The standard as-fitted wheels are about 60mm and I think they're too small for a rather lumpy grass field. Will check out those SLEC wheels, Dad, and the HK ones Don. rgds Tony

I can shop around for myself, of course, but right now I'm after some lightweight wheels around 100mm diameter - three required. They don't need to be flash, just acceptable quality/appearance and not too expensive. Any recommendations? Thanks, Tony

Hi Peter. Me neither, in general: most war films range from mediocre to cringe-making. The best I know were made either during WW2 or shortly after. As I've said elsewhere, IMO the series from a few years ago, "Band Of Brothers", is an exception. But re Americans, my late father used to cite a Hollywood film about Stilwell in Burma (never seen it, forget the title) which he claimed ignored the 14th Army and suggested Burma was retaken from the Japs by Americans! He was out there himself, and decades later was still incensed about that film. rgds Tony

1. I have avoided seeing "Dunkirk" precisely because I doubt very strongly that I could enjoy it, distracted (as would be inevitable I'm sure) by infelicities of acting, characterisation, anachronisms etc. My son is badgering me to watch "1917" (both my grandfathers fought in that one) but I'm reluctant to do so for similar reasons. 2. You echo others in saying BoB was influential in a useful way. I genuinely don't know, but I'll take your word for it. 3. Music! Can't recall the BoB soundtrack, though Ron Goodwin was an honourable creator of musical scores. But in general I hate the music that accompanies war movies! It's pompous, blaring, cod martial, clichéd, derivative, unoriginal, and (IMO) deeply annoying. 4. Yes. Years ago I was for a time a lecturer in a FE college, teaching mostly 16-19 year olds, and their historical knowledge was frighteningly stunted. Just about everything before the time of their birth (or even more recently) was contiguous with the Stone Age, just a great lump of "The Past" when everything was rubbish and old fashioned, and nothing interesting happened. The kids were very shaky about WW2, confusing it regularly with WW1 or even the Battle of Hastings rgds Tony

I'm in no hole, Peter, except perhaps in your imagination. You fail to address my perfectly fair points in a polite manner. I suggest you reconsider. rgds Tony

Interesting, thanks. A friend of mine awaits with interest the Hurricane 2-seat conversion I believe someone is doing - he'd like a flight in one, especially since his wife's father flew Hurricanes (later P-47s) in WW2. rgds Tony

I commented negatively because I didn't think much of the film, and still don't! I was (and remain) disappointed because I'm a lifelong enthusiast for both aviation, and the cinema. So when the two come together, I watch with particular attention. I'm surprised you think the BoB film was that influential, including an effect on warbird preservation; admittedly I don't follow that particular business closely (though I had a flight two years ago in a 2-seat Spit IXC out of Lee On Solent, absolutely terrific) but the film was a long time ago and I'd imagined warbird restoration took off (!) only in the past couple of decades to any great extent. I love aircraft, and it was chiefly poor eyesight that stopped me from being accepted to fly in the RAF many years ago. I also love the cinema. I didn't like BoB, for reasons I hope I've made clear. rgds Tony

Your criticisms and assertions are curious, and don't seem to bear a clear relation to what I wrote. Is it necessary to have experienced aerial combat before commenting on the credibility of a feature film on the subject? If so, I'd guess that every film reviewer in the world who wrote about "BoB" was unqualified... Similar can be said about anything remotely specialised - interstellar travel, submarines, flower arranging... It's very silly to suggest that I presume to "know better" than such as Stanford Tuck ;I've read Larry Forrester's "Fly For Your Life" along with a great many more WW2 fighter & bomber aircrew memoirs; I've known friends of my (RAF) father who flew combat in WW2; my RAF uncle flew many different types before & after WW2; an old friend locally (died some years ago) flew fighters including air cover on the first North Sea raid against Tirpitz in Norway... So I know enough about the subject to comment intelligently, thanks. I also know a fair amount about photography, still and movie. I've been interested in aircraft & aviation since boyhood. Two years ago I had a flight in a 2-seat Spitfire IXC out of Lee on Solent... The BoB film did not convince. Guys like Stanford Tuck did not make the movie - they advised. The aerial combat scenes were not credible. I don't think they could have been at the time, and it would still be challenging now. There, I've said it again. feel free to disagree, as others have done - but please don't insult my intelligence. rgds Tony

I'm not sure about that. Prior to the release of "The Lord of the Rings" I was extremely doubtful, as a long-time fan of Tolkien's masterwork; but the CGI worked wonders, extremely impressive and convincing. Things have moved on a lot since "Godzilla". Problem with WW2 films even in the 1960s is/was the shortage of "real planes"! Even at the time, I found the aerial fights unconvincing. And most WW2 dramas suffer from a sort of ponderous style, with big-name actors distracting from the narrative credibility instead of adding to it - "The Longest Day" and "A Bridge Too Far" being prime examples. The only WW2 drama I can think of that is credible, very well acted and superbly directed is "Band Of Brothers", IMO a masterpiece. I can think of no air-war movies that are even acceptable, let alone good. WW2 documentaries are a different matter. rgds Tony

Is that the 1960s film? Saw it a very long time ago, and frankly I wouldn't wish to see it again. I suppose computer animation could make a difference, but otherwise it's simply not possible to create a credible WW2 film about air warfare - it wasn't possible in the '60s, as I remember all too well - those BF108s masquerading as 109s... And let's not forget - no, let's forget travesties like "633 Squadron". rgds Tony

I have the Dremel Versatip, very well made, use it quite regularly for soldering - ideal for precision application to heat-shrink tube as well, plus other small tasks. rgds Tony

Thanks chaps, useful advice, filed away for reference. In turn I might mention an Ebay supplier from whom I've bought (non modelling) fastenings/fixings for a few years, excellent service - "Spalding Fasteners". rgds Tony

I have in the past had such items from Modelfixings, but I wonder if there are additional suppliers to be recommended? Right now I need some hex-socket machine screws & nuts, M3, about 30mm length; and short (8-10mm?) countersunk M3 screws (pref hex socket) to hold an electric motor onto its mounting plate. rgds Tony

Thanks Frank - to remember this useful tip I need to print it out and stick it somewhere prominent... rgds Tony

Thanks for the kind words, chaps. Back into the workshop tomorrow, with renewed confidence now that everything works. Best, Tony

Brian, I pulled the receiver from another model in which it had worked fine, with very little use. And EB, yes, I tested the rig the other day, and the control servos worked fine. It was indeed just the throttle which didn't. Dan and EB, I know I had a very sound (I thought) reason for connecting the ESC into the "Battery" channel on my AR410, but I just swapped it onto Ch1** - and bingo, lift off, motor whizzing around... Which makes me feel extremely thick, and though such a daft query has wasted people's time I am very grateful for this support - and I've learned a couple of things too. Now I know the setup is fine, I can proceed to fit an extended bulkhead into this old-ish Seagull Arising Star, supplied complete to its former owner with a OS 46 2-stroke, to give the Turnigy motor proper clearance. Then it's off to see Stan Yeo for a couple of props... I know this model has been electrified by other folks, and I think this setup will work. Glad the motor's fine and I don't have to shell out for another... Again, thanks and apologies for wasting people's time when I'd made a daft mistake. Tony **Ch1 is marked something like "Data" which is confusing...

Chris, Dan, Denis et al - tried the trim thing, including the reverse-throttle trick, again with no result - same experience as previously. I think I'm following the advice correctly. Took the throttle trim right down to zero in stages, reversed it, - still nothing... Hmmmm.... rgds Tony

Understood Denis. Off to the workshop again... rgds Tony

Ah, the trim buttons - I hadn't any idea they were relevant to anything except flying controls. Will try this and report back. rgds Tony

Sorry Chris, I don't understand: how do I perform this "trim down" thing? rgds Tony

Thanks EB. No, I hadn't, so I just went through your procedure. Same result as before... rgds Tony

Kit: Turnigy G25 motor (710kv/600w), 4S/3700 battery (freshly charged), Turnigy ESC Plush-60A (UBEC 3A/5V ver 3.1 DC 5.6V - 26V), Spektrum AR410 RX, Spektrum Dx6i TX. I power up the TX, connect battery, hear usual 3-tone "ready" tones - but the motor just sits there giving a single bleep every 2 seconds or so, accompanied by a tiny twitch. No response to throttle movement. Naturally I've swapped the ESC/motor leads around in various combinations, but the response is the same. The Turnigy ESC instructions show various "error" tones but not the single tone/2 secs I experience. They also talk about programming the ESC via one's TX but I can't find how to do that - not sure the Dx6i is sophisticated enough anyway. What blindingly obvious thing am I not doing? Or what might the error(s) be? I've checked the battery and it's recording 16.62V which seems healthy. Any advice gratefully received - Tony

Thanks Graham, but I must insist that I'm not confused, just slightly perplexed that what I thought was a fairrly simple query has morphed into a technical argument at what seems like postgrad electronics level! Speaking of which,I'm educated beyond first degree level myself, though certainly not in electronics, and reasonably proficient with practical stuff - but just as I don't need a degree in marine biology to go fishing, I suspect many of the finer points discussed here are not strictly relevant to getting my plane into the air... It's interesting in its way, but sort of reminiscent of medieval theologians arguing the toss about the precise nature of angels. Still,I've learned a few things - thanks to one and all. Tony