Christopher Long 1

Competition? Let us look at those organisations that are covered by the CAA exemption from the 400ft height limit and who worked hard together to get that exemption for us. BMFA: Current annual membership fee £34 – £25 Million pounds of insurance cover. LMA: Current annual membership fee £30 (to join) £20 thereafter – £25 Million pounds of insurance cover. Hardly “almost 50%” of the BMFA subs when joining - a bit nearer if you remain a member. SAA: Current annual membership fee £29.00 – ‘Membership shall be open to all Scottish nationals and aero modellers resident in Scotland. – So that limits who can join. There is insurance mentioned but the cover level is not mentioned on their website. Again hardly “almost 50%” of BMFA subs. FRVUK: Current annual membership fee £19.99 – Insurance as quoted from their website “£5m public liability insurance for all of your RC flying (excluding turbines and engines over 40cc). The insurance covers all electric flying at home or in Europe and flying on MOD land. Yes at last the oft quoted! “almost 50%” of the BMFA subs, allowing for the possible rise of £4 next year – but for much reduced insurance benefits and confusion over what is covered, as it excludes turbines and engines over 40cc, but then says insurance covers all electric flying etc…… So hardly ‘a like for like’ comparison! I can only compare the figures based on this year’s figures as the BMFA subs have not yet been voted on and approved and who is to say that the other organisations mentioned won’t increase their subs for next year as well? When I look at the facts instead of the hyperbole spouted by those with an anti BMFA axe to grind, I come to the conclusion that even if the BMFA subs were to rise by £4 then it is a small increase to pay for an organisation that has done a good job so far (with others ) to protect our hobby. Less than the increased cost of filling your average car with fuel a couple of times (or even once!)!! Edited By Christopher Long 1 on 11/09/2018 16:39:12

I have contacted HK and they have told me that the 50mm EDF unit mentioned will only be available from the global warehouse, so double the cost by the time you have paid postage, VAT and post office admin charge! Is there another source for a 50mm EDF that will do?

The Silhouette Portrait was one of my best buys, I have used it to cut vinyl roundels and letters some as small as 10mm high and also water slide decals using the print and cut feature which I have found to be very accurate. It is a bit fussy on which TrueType fonts it will import (some it won't for some reason). It also imports DXF file so that I can create images and custom text in my CAD programme and then import them into the Portrait's design software - although they do need to be resized as for some reason it always enlarges them, but that is very easy.

According to their website, they have been open since August 2000. As I said they don't stock a lot of stuff like kits, but they do stock glues, tools, fuel, Albion Alloys etc. They do more model railway and die cast models. But I guess if more of us used them they would stock more plane stuff. I found them when I 'Googled' for model shops in Cumbria when we moved here in 2012.

Er - "modellers in Cumbria and North Lancashire had no local model shop" what about Jacksons Models in Wigton? Very much in Cumbria! They stock a modest range of stuff for us Aeromodellers and if asked will order in stuff they don't normally stock. They also give a discount to our club members. I have no connection with them other than as a customer. Link **LINK**

Looking at their ticket calendar there is no mention of the Model show, only' Battle of the Proms' on the 11th August and 'Camper Calling' on the 24th, 25th & 26th August.

Excuse my ignorance - but if you are going to fit a safety plug in the battery lead to the ESC, shouldn't you fit it to the negative wire? I was always told (and taught) to connect the positive lead first when installing a car battery to avoid arcing and possible electrical shorts - won't the same principle (for the prevention of arcing) work for our purposes?

Check your sander, I bought one this morning and after getting home I found that when I unbolted the table to put on a sanding disc the captive nut disappeared into the body, which meant a trip back to Lidl to get a replacement. I checked the replacement sitting in the car park just to make sure that the fault was just a one off, but worth checking!

Looking at the WHOIS page on Nominet the domain name is registered to Solar Film Sales Ltd at the address of Solar Film's factory, so it looks to be above board.

I couldn't help noticing that there seems to be a change in the wing design, in the build part of the video the rear of the inner wing ribs show a taper down to the trailing edge (circled in red in the first photo), but in the 'finished' skeleton view below (again circled in red) the tapered ends of the ribs seem to have disappeared and a vertical strip added instead. I assume that a 'shaped' trailing edge will be added to this before the wing is sheeted? I am just curious as to which solution will be the final one.

Percy, Thank you for spelling my name correctly this time. I don't have a problem with anyone whose views differ from mine, you are free to make comments, but I surely you wouldn't deny me the chance disagree with them, yours or anyone else's in a forum? I do applaud your past efforts and I am sure they are continuing, but you were the one that raised the apparent lack of 'vision' (i.e. looking and planning into the future) from the BMFA in not using YouTube (note spelling) etc. But then to use YouTube you need suitable video(s) to show on it, something you questioned the need for, to quote you "We don't need a film about model flying for pity's sake" .............really!? Again, I fail to follow the logic of your statement. YouTube and Facebook are available for to you to use as well as the BMFA, so perhaps you could do something and show the BMFA how to do it, as you wrote "The hobby needs it's profile raising hugely, now more than ever"? In the meantime, my view is that the BMFA it's staff and volunteers are doing a pretty good job to preserve and promote our hobby and should be supported in their efforts. No organization is without fault, BMFA included, but surely it is for it's members who pay their subscriptions to hold them to account? The good news is that the NFC is a success and the Nationals are back were they should be.

Posted by Percy Verance on 22/11/2017 16:03:45: That's (I feel) pretty much part of the problem kc. Little forward thinking and an apparent lack of vision . Earlier in the thread someone commented regarding the AMA, the US version of the BMFA, using You Tube to it's advantage. Why aren't the BMFA doing the same thing? (It looks as though they are, along with other social media platforms) I also read earlier in the thread that a tv company were making a film about model flying at the new National Centre. They didn't need a National Centre to do that. It could have been done at god knows how many places up and down the country before now (Yep, but it was more than likely that TV company was prompted to do it BECAUSE of the existence of the NFC!). We don't need a film about model flying for pity's sake (Why not - it could be used in schools and at exhibitions etc.). The hobby needs it's profile raising hugely, now more than ever, and the present organisation representing it seems sadly lacking in the vision needed to undertake that task...And they shouldn't be paying a PR guru to come up with ideas. They themselves ought to be doing just that as part of their role...... (The logic of that argument defeats me, - complaining about the 'lack of vision' and then complains about when they do have the vision to get some expert help in an area they may not have any expertise. As a former SEO and Social Media professional for a large organization, I know how difficult and time consuming it is to get right, and there are plenty of examples of those who have got it wrong!) Monumental shake-up needed......... What? Oh, you must mean the organization you are no longer a member of.........................? I look forward to seeing your efforts on YouTube, Facebook, and others to raise the profile of our hobby, and when (if) successful I will applaud you. Edited By Percy Verance on 22/11/2017 16:34:01

Dear Percy (Note correct spelling!), Had my comments been directed at you, then they are probably less worse than your negative implications regarding 'old boy networks' and 'closed shops' to those in the BMFA. However, the freeloading comment was NOT directed at you, but generally in reply to various comments about requiring members of affiliated clubs to be or remain as members of the BMFA to get the benefits that the BMFA bring to the clubs and how unfair it all was. I actually was pointing out that it would be unlikely that any club would allow 'freeloaders' to use their facilities, not that anyone in particular was! Great that you have made your own arrangements, I don't have a problem with it and would never consider criticising an arrangement, organisation or club I am not a member of. Christopher (Chris to my friends).

I am a 'Country' member, partly because we moved and I was not sure which club I would join. The only reason I have not changed that status is that I have not yet got round to it yet, and as I don't feel in anyway disadvantaged there is no rush. I knew what I was signing up for, so no complaints from me. Regarding the lack of voting rights, Country members have not been 'disenfranchised' because you cannot have something taken away from you that you never had! "Disfranchisement (also called disenfranchisement) is the revocation of the right of suffrage (the right to vote) of a person or group of people." There may not be 'overt' insults (they would break the forum rules), but using terms or phrases such as 'closed shop' (which it is not), 'traces of the old boy network' (implying working for themselves for self-aggrandizement rather than us), 'dictate', or even suggesting the BMFA may use 'creative accounting' to mislead members are insults to those (mostly unpaid volunteers) who work hard to support out hobby and its continuation. I fail to see the problem with the requirement that all members of a club that wishes (not forced) to affiliate to the BMFA being members of the BMFA. I don't see the logic of those who say. "why should it remain a condition of BMFA affiliation for their members (or new members) also being BMFA members"? Would any club allow a person to continue to use it's facilities if they failed to pay their subscriptions? No, and nor would they get much sympathy if they then complained of the club being a 'closed shop' etc just because they wanted to freeload on those who do pay their subscriptions. The BMFA affiliation requirement allows the Club and it's members to enjoy substantial insurance protection and benefits at a reasonable cost (and it is a real benefit not 'just words' as one has stated) because it is shared across a large number of members. If you don't want to join there is no obligation, no 'closed shop', but good luck with finding the same insurance cover at the same cost or have access to the same level of support without either joining the BMFA or LMA, but that would your choice, no one else's. Finally, to those who have left the BMFA and then complain that they cannot join a club locally because of the BMFA membership requirement, why not start their own 'BMFA free' club in their area, and canvass for members and arrange insurance cover etc. instead of attacking an organization they are no longer members of? Or, perhaps one should look before you leap.

I live and fly in Cumbria too, but I think that what the BMFA have done with the NFC is great, even if it is unlikely I will be able to visit it often. It was well over due, can you imagine the FA without Wembley, rugby union without Twickenham or cricket without Lords? Having a centre where the our hobby can be promoted and actually take place shows a serious intent to try and improve it's take up and therefore it future. I am lucky that I belong to a club in Cumbria that owns it's flying field, and is not struggling for members either, and we also do have an active model shop in West Cumbria, which if more aeromodellers used it, would stock more than it already does of the stuff we need! I find the negative comments depressing, if people put as much effort into promoting their hobby as they do moaning about those who do, the hobby would be in a lot better state. Unfortunately, in my experience of volunteering or helping to run clubs large and small (not all connected with aeromodelling) is that is often those who shout loudest with their negative comments who are usually last in the queue when it comes to volunteering to help, and first in the queue to complain when they see something they think is wrong! By the way, I thought the BMFA subs went up a £1 (not £3)!

Any news on the missing page 48 for the digital issues, tried to reload the magazine and got the rear cover advert where page 48 should be!

Try this link, **LINK** it loads a page with all the contact details etc.

Seems that list has changed already! **LINK** Fast Lads Performance Ltd Unit 6-7 Wortley Court S75 3LS Barnsley Wheelspin Models Unite 9 Cedars Business Park, Avon Road WS111QJ Cannock Kings Lynn Model Shop Clenchwarton Road PE34 3LW Kings Lynn Apex Models Ltd 182 Dukes Ride RG45 6DS Crowthorne TJD Models Ltd 83 Main Road DA4 9HQ Dartford Slough Radio Control Models 241 Green Street EN3 7SJ Enfield Model Heli Services Belltrees DUBLXXX Ennis, Ireland Blade Hobbies Ltd The Sanderson Centre PO12 3UL Gosport Midland Helicopters Ltd Unit 11 Newton Road LE10 3DS Hinckley Penn Models Ltd 134 Moss Grove DY6 9ES Kingswinford Model & Hobby World (Skerton) 7 Owen Road LA1 2AW Lancaster Freeprawn Racing Co. Ltd Moorhouse Avenue LS11 8HA Leeds The Modelshop (Leeds) Sherwoods, 88 Crossgates Road LS15 7NL Leeds Al's Hobbies 28 Stratford Road MK12 5LW Milton Keynes Gliders & Racing Models Ltd NG24 2DE Newark Western Valley Models 1 Crescent Road NP11 6GJ Newport TMK Trading Ltd Superior Cars NN1 1TB Northampton Pegasus Models Ltd. 88 Catton Grove Road NR3 3AA Norwich Geedee Models Ltd 19-21 Heathcoat Street NG1 3AF Nottingham M.B. Models Oulton Hall Grounds LS26 8ZF Oulton, Leeds Totem Timber Ltd St.John's Road PL4 0PA Plymouth Wireless Madness Ltd Unit 2 Brookfield Street PR1 1NR Preston Radio Controlled Shop Ltd DUBLXXX Rathcoole, Ireland Rother Valley Optics Ltd 21 Station Road S26 6QP Sheffield DMS Racing 418 St Albans Road

Link to suitable inrunner on 4 Max site:- **LINK** Hope that helps.

No problem reaching it just Now!

1. Skywriter 2.SLEC Funfly 3. Grumpy Tigercat

Cool cats don't need wings!

Any good reason that this from HK should not be used? **LINK** Chris