Stuart Z

Thanks Tony

Well done, it looks great in the air. The landing was long and safe I think, it is clearly a fairly lively model, perhaps with a high wing loading. It was designed to be highly aerobatic so there's not going to be a lot of (read any!) natural stability and landing this sort of plane comes with practise I'm sure. I've now put it in to my "wish list", Christmas seems not that far away and I have an unused OS 55 or 46 I could hang on the front! S

I recently updated my dry powder extinguisher for a new one as I saw the original was some years out of date. Interestingly I still haven't found out where you dispose of old extinguishers as the local council won't let me dispose of it in their tip and told me to take it to the Fire station. The people at the fire station told me that was wrong and I have to send it back to the manufacturer - I can't locate where that might be but seems an awful phaff! Still, I agree with Braddock, VC, anything big is not going to be stopped by a few seconds burst from a typical household extinguisher. S

Chris Very impressive!! S

Chris Take your time to get it just right! S

Hi I heard that the 39's were obsolete and the last batch were "used up" in the Wot 4 Pro. Would be worth asking anyone advertising them if they have any, but my recollection of my 61 was that it was heavy compared to other makes and my Irvine 40 is a weighty chunk. Having said that they are good engines! Thoughts on CA v Aliphatic? I prefer the Aliphatic in the warmer weather as I think the joint is strong and relatively quick drying. It also comes off your fingers a lot easier than "stray" CA. Having said that I completed a Flair Hooligan using CA starting in the shop buying the kit on Saturday morning and being ready to fly by Sunday night. So CA definitely has a place and I still use both preferring the Aliphatic for structural joints (alongside epoxy for bulkheads and the like) and the CA for speed where needed. I suspect the Aliphatic will give strength on less than perfectly cut joints. Not going to be an issue with your Gangster, methinks. S

Getting better and better! Can't wait to see the finished job!

sounds like it will be a good facility if you live near to it but will have limited appeal to anyone else 3 hours each way for me so not a lot of flying time. S

Gangster Seems like a simple solution without committing to buying a 2nd engine at this stage. It will then depend on what experiences Jon has with the 35 before deciding what to do. S

Still looking good to me!

Jon Hopefully the 35 will do the trick and you'll have a gentle low winger that will teach you a lot. My old Gangster, long deceased for reasons I'll come to, was a great plane for aerobatic learning but mine was early in my modelling career and the engine was an Irvine 61' which Irvine changed from ringed to ABC for me, but at the end of the day it was a very heavy engine and had a high approach speed as a result and one day the resident gorse bush stepped out in front of it and the engine ploughed it's way through the bush but unfortunately the Gangster didn't fair so well. Let us know how you get on with the new style Gangster with the 35 and if it doesn't live up to expectations, that's the time to upgrade. As said above, Mick Reeves advertise it for 30-40 size engines and the OS is usually considered amongst the best in all sizes. Best wishes S

I hope you get the 35 AX, I thought they were out of production. At least that is what I'd been told. If you are unlucky then SC engines or try "Just Engines". Sidewinder motors do give you a better chance to direct the exhaust down and away from the fuselage. Uprights tend to decorate the fuselage with nice sticky exhaust spray. Other than that, the aesthetics come into play. Cleaner profile also with the head sticking out of the side.

Chris I've not had a reaction to aliphatic at all. CA near did for me when I was using it in a hot workshop and the fumes got to me. S

Chris Just a quick one, epoxy is removed fairly easily, whilst not set, with acetone. HTH Stuart

Thanks Chris It looks great!

Hi My thoughts are based on the "old" Gangster I had, foam wing job and it would go ballistic on an Irvine 61 with the bog standard exhaust, the new version with the built up structure would surely go well with something less. My guess is an OS 55 would have more power than my old Irvine - depends what you want at the end of the day. If you want to pattern fly then power is important, if you are to use it as a sport plane, I'd probably find something less aggressive. As far as what glue to use, CA will give a fast accurate build. I built a Flair Hooligan and had it covered in 24 hours using CA. However my choice of glue now is generally Aliphatics in the warmer weather, takes ages to set in the winter as I found the last few months, but with summer coming the Aliphatic is fine. If you are going the CA route, you don't need to use the super thin CA for everything and you gain some control. The super fast thin stuff is all a bit sudden if something is not quite right. Just my thoughts. S

Can't wait to see the whole model finished and together. S

Sorry, if this idea is going to cause issues the please, Moderators, delete these few postings. I want this forum to stay healthy and without issues.

ey mPosted by Daren Graham - Cambria Funfighters on 22/04/2017 08:41:58: Hi all, Ive just come across this thread. From what I've seen actually I feel that kit and plan building is on the increase. Availability of kits an issue. Mainly because at present demand will not support a full time wage for the manufacturer. The information Im getting is saying that many would like to build but just need a nudge to get going. Building is a hobby in its self and should be treated as such. That way you dont fall into the trap of saying "I don't have the time or the patients" etc. As a modeller, how many times have you stared out of the window looking at the weather and complained. That's my best workshop time. I can lose myself for hours in the workshop, radio on with a mug of dusty tea. Brexit has had a noticeable effect on me as a kit producer or so it seems. With the increasing cost of buying from europe and the effective demise of Horizon in the UK since their move to Germany. Also HobbyKings well discussed website issues. More people are looking to buy from the UK, and that does include moving over to kits thankfully. So much so that my production time has increased significantly. Long may it continue. Dare I suggest that on this forum, we compile a thread of UK manufacturers that we can refer to when looking for a next kit? Could possibly go as far as what models they put together. As said before, it is tedious wading through page after page of ARTFs. Just a thought.

Phil, That's my formula- plain nut to mount then nylock to make firm. S

Hi Joining this conversation late but my thoughts are that the number of kits available is not great and when I look at shop web sites, the predominant offer is an ARTF. I am looking at a couple of plans at the moment whilst finishing off a Magician which I want to glass cloth and paint. Somehow this appeals more than ARTF. I do admit tyouth to having assembled a couple of ARTFs over the winter as they are a quicker job in a freezing cold garage. S

Hi I had the Hi Boy as a first trainer. Somehow the DB Mascot that I then bought was far better as it was a lighter slower plane. When I' d mastered the Mascot I was better on the Hi Boy. Not sure which vintage Hi Boy I had but it was early 80's. S

Tony, Glad to hear it all went well. Surprised yours felt under-powered but I guess it depends on what you were used to. The Riot does float quite well on approach so gentle landings are on the cards. (Hard ones bend the legs so best to be gentle). You might also want to get a prop reamer, drilling prop hubs is a challenge I would not wish to take on. Model shops usually stock them. S

Tony Excellent news on the maiden. Clearly low and slow in a turn will not go well but you now know and clearly can manage it well. Looking forward to the video. S

Nigel, Coming along nicely and yes, waiting for things through the post is very frustrating but at least you are making progress elsewhere. S