IanN

If you're enjoying your flying then stick with what you're doing. It's always been the case that some peeps seem to have an aversion to anything stronger than a gentle summer's breeze. I've had some really good days at the field either on my own or with just one or two other like minded souls on days that - with the appropriate model - were perfectly flyable I enjoy the social aspect of the hobby on the nice days, but it's also true that less chatting = more flying!   Edited By IanN on 06/11/2016 12:12:52

Yes, MHS took them on when Galaxy Models went under Always thought they looked liked good value, and in the main they seem to be recommended by those who have built them

Posted by Den Moran on 06/11/2016 10:02:21:   What about you, are you thinking about doing it? If you are thinking about passing on it, would you consider selling the plans/edfs etc/ I'm definitely keeping the EDFs for another day, and am hanging on to the plan for now. Vague thoughts of maybe using the outline for a depron version having seen how well this (slightly smaller) one goes and looks **LINK** Traplet's pricing seems unusually miserly. Absolutely no discount on the full set - canopy, cnc pack, and plan. It's exactly the same price as buying those three components separately. As you're in no rush you may want to bide your time. They occasionally do discount offers, and with xmas coming up there may be something in the pipeline. Alternatively if you can wait until early next spring/summer Traplet often do discounts at shows they attend. I looked pretty closely at the two I went to this year and am sure they didn't have any of the ME262 bits at those. However, if you decided to go ahead and were planning to get to one of the shows it may be worth calling them in advance of that, and asking if they would do a discounted ME 262 set for you Good luck!     Edited By IanN on 06/11/2016 12:01:19

I've dug the plan(s - 4 sheets) out. Happy to photo any aspect of it. If that would help in your decision pm me your email adress

Den, hi if you mean the Phil Noel EDF plan I've got that one. A pair of EDF units came my way and I quite fancied this so took a punt and bought the plan, but other projects have since moved ahead of it in the queue. Be aware there is a serious quantity of cutting involved and unless spending hours of cutting out a vast plethora of quite intricate parts, very few the same, floats your boat I'd say the cnc pack would be essential From memory there is a bungee hook shown on the plan and I think I'm right in saying that it doesn't show retracts or flaps, but I'd have to dig it out to be 100% sure. Very happy to do that if it helps, but won't be able to get to it for two or three days Have you seen this? **LINK**

Posted by Peter Miller on 04/11/2016 11:46:01: When I mentioned the metal tank to a club member he was horrified.. I don't know why. When we were young you could only get the Keil Kraft or Veron tanks. They cost a lot of pocket money and never fitted what we were building so we quickly learned, burnt finger by cut finger how to do it.   Great to see that being done again. Back in my teenage control line years we did this all the time. I don't recall any great level of tuition - my dad gave me the iron, some metal (iirc, a few old KK fuel cans to cut up and clean), a couple of pointers and left me to get on with it. The results weren't particularly aesthestic - rough as a badgers backside in fact. But you know what? By and large they worked! Might have had the odd leak to seal occasionally, after that first submersion test, but I don't recall one ever going badly wrong - and they certainly never failed in use Almost certainly not as hard as peeps might think     Edited By IanN on 04/11/2016 12:32:50

Yes, was very pleasantly surprised when that item came up. Very well presented, very positive and impressive coverage

1/ Kwik-Flis 2/ Striker 3/ Astro Hog

Posted by McG 6969 on 01/11/2016 23:32:14: But than, on the other end, as you stated in your profile, what about your "ambition to stop drooling about the "next" project, and instead to actually finish all the "nearly" completed models in my shed"? ... Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR CV Control Edited By McG 6969 on 02/11/2016 00:08:01 Well, I actually do finish quite a lot of them, but then find that whilst I have been doing that I have somehow managed to acquire some more new and different "nearly" completed models which fill that gap. And I never stop thinking about the next project. Isn't that a perpetual state of being for modellers?

Posted by Paul C. on 01/11/2016 22:37:50: Hi John, my thoughts on the fli derivatives is just vote for fli and you can build any of them. It's a bit like Ballerina last year when folks build big ones, small ones and foam ones. just my thoughts but I am happy go go with the flow. Paul. Exactly that

Posted by McG 6969 on 01/11/2016 22:53:38: Hi Martyn, As I already mentioned twice in my posts/answers to Ian, your work on the subject is really not relevant to my reaction, nor your dedication and abilities. I could only wish mine were at your level. What I was worried about is the ‘timeline’ to get everything ready for a potential MB 2017. That’s all I was concerned about. Due to my native language, I’m visiting a lot of French forums as well and I found a ‘guideline to contemporary building’ improvements by Christian Chauzit, the - at that time - ‘quite young’ designer of the Baron during the sixties. In fact, he redesigned his own concept with nowadays methods & materials in 2015. It’s amazing to see the different approach with mainly ‘laminates’ of different materials to win some weight and even being stronger. For example, as you seem to have a question mark related to the strength of your bulkhead/nose wheel anchor, why not laminating a piece of 1mm fibreglass (circuit board) or thin aluminium between two thin ply formers? Anyway Martyn, I only wish you all the best with your dedication to this project. Hakuna matata Chris BRU - BE / CTR Improvement Control

John, that looks pretty comprehensive - good job Only thing I'd say is that the Kwik-Fli options aren't "one or the other", imo. You'd probably want to lump those together as "Kwik Fli variants" or "flock of Flis", or summat similar Voting for that would give peeps the Kwik-Fli III (50th anniversary), Flea-Fli, Flea-Fli + 10% and very probably also Martin's Kwik-Fli 40. All either elec or i.c. (which of course would also apply to most if not all other proposals), and also MkIV (Tapered wing) variants available for some of those. Probably gives around a dozen variations on the theme, though all of pretty much identical construction Not that I'm voting for it, of course

Probably getting near voting time?

Why don't you ring your LMS before you set out and ask if they have a kit of your model in stock.If not, take yours along to check what fits (especially if as it seems from the comments above that the bits you need may be a non standard size) If they are worth their salt they will be very happy to talk through the available alternatives, and the pros and cons of each

Chris, hi. trust me when I say that I can be as cack handed as the best of 'em but breaking clevises on the workbench is a new one on me. Don't think I've managed that one yet. I'd be a bit concerned about their fitness for flight, but then again I haven't seen the items in question - and there are presumably plenty of Eflite Apprentices out there getting on fine with the supplied bits and pieces Do you have a local model shop within visiting distance? If so - as it sounds like you'll be needing some replacement items anyway - I'd suggest going there and eyeballing the alternatives (both horns and clevises) that they have in stock. Personally I only use metal clevises in all bar my small electric models, but that's just me

Not heard of this one before. Very pretty indeed. Possibly a bit bigger than most would consider for a second model - but then again, why not?

You are 100% right, but those changes could have been made at any time via their "business as usual" price change mechanisms. Seems a bit odd to put steep hikes through at the same time as a major website overhaul

Also should have said above - but forgot - that the point about voting for the 2017 choice is a bit "off topic" here and probably belongs in with the general "2017 Mass Build" posts. This is, after all Martyn's Kwik Fli 40 thread

I guess the bottom line is that regardless of the rights and wrongs of how HK have carried this out, and what their stumbling blocks have been, it's a given that they WILL get it sorted sooner rather than later, and that this will have been a temporary blip When that happens there will no doubt be discussion re whether peeps prefer the old of the new But surely the biggest issue (fro UK users at least) appears to be the significant price hikes? Maybe I've just been unlucky on the particular items I was after, but seems to be c20% dearer now that pre "upgrade"

Chris, please don’t wear out too much shoe leather on my account, I wouldn’t want you to have to buy a new pair Your post was in response to Martyn’s q re how best to bolt the hardware to F1, therefore I thought it was fair to assume it was that particular specific point that you were referring to. It seems I may have been wrong in that assumption (sorry!) as I if I understand your response correctly I now see that your concern is rather that the whole KF40 “‘project’ might not yet be ‘Mass-ready’ for this winter build.” Ok, no problem with that: its a fair enough q to ask but imo I still think it’s wide of the mark, and would offer the following reasons to support that opinion Martyn designs, draws and builds at a prodigious rate. Look up his Kwik-Fli IV on this forum – from scratch to finished and ready to go in just over three weeks, including own cowl moulding and cutting tapered foam cores. Imo that’s impressive   We know the Kwik-Fli is an easyish build, already evidenced by the original, the Flea-Fli and the Flea-Fli + 10%, all of which have been around for a very long time and built in numbers. The KF40 doesn’t deviate from that proven and tried and trusted construction. Not seeing where there is going to be any problem at all here   There is admittedly the issue of getting test flights in, given the autumnal season that we are now in but …..   Does anyone seriously think there is any remote chance that a KF40 won’t fly well enough? It’s a very well proven design and layout, on which tens if not hundreds of .40 sized club aerobats have been based, or are very similar indeed to   In any case, if for any reason Martyn isn’t 100% happy with it I’m pretty sure he would be the first to pull it. (That would of course still leave the existing Kwik-Fli variants as a potential candidate for selection any mass build - the KF40 is simply an additional "nice to do" option that broadens the appeal of the Kwik-Fli family) Re your more general point “I can’t remember seeing a vote initiated for the MB 2017, so I’m a little afraid that by lack of interest, there won’t be a MB at all this winter”, on checking back I see that the voting for the 2015 MB started on 16/11 and 2016 MB voting commenced on 7/11. So, we’re still in the ballpark for that to happen. I suspect this is where a gentle steer from BEB is going to be needed Edited By IanN on 30/10/2016 11:49:39

McG, re your "you're missing the MB-point of it all" comment I have to say that, with genuine respect for your views, I think that with that phrase it is you who are missing the point - by several miles The Kwik-Fli has been around for 50 years, been successfully built in large numbers, and is of relatively simple construction by any reasonable measure or comparison. It's a perfectly suitable MB project, made more attractive by the wide range of size and power options being proposed, and significantly less complex than a no of others that have been suggested Martyn is simply seeking a consensus of views on one fairly simple aspect of construction in order to arrive at the best solution, and in so doing to get as close as possible the very thing that you yourself are asking for - your " 'ready-to-go' product to attract as much as possible 'new blood' in the hobby." An aspect that - whatever he personally decides on - will in real life in any case vary from builder to builder depending on what hardware they have to hand. What Martyn is asking here is absolutely in no way any different to any of the "run of the mill" qs that come up during the course of any mass build. No plan or build is ever "one size fits all" and whatever plan is published will not (and cannot possibly) be perfect for absolutely everyone. In this particular case, my motor mount may have different hole spacings to yours. The noseleg you bought from your LMS may be a better fit than the only one that I can lay my hands on. Etc etc In a lot of ways, that IS the whole point of the mass build. People share as they go, help each other out, and everyone learns and gains experience

Posted by Martyn K on 28/10/2016 14:28:16: I have a question for the 'E' variant. Assuming a rear mounted motor attached to the front of F1 - normal practice. However, I need to attach the noseleg to the rear of F1 and I am not sure whether a 3mm birch ply former will be strong enough and what method is used to prevent the bolts securing one interfering with the mount of the other. I could offset the noseleg but not really happy with that idea. Alternatively, I mount the noseleg (using saddle clamps) above and below the motor mount.. Any thoughts on this? Martyn Considering that exact same q for a Flea Fli build. Rear mounted motor mounted to front of F1, noseleg mounted centrally - no offset - to rear of F1 with saddle clamps Having been through the "box of bits" and done a dry run over the plan I think it's poss to do that in a way that they don't interfere with each other. If one or more of the bolt holes look too close for comfort, and suggest that F1 might be unacceptably weakened, I'll bend or adapt the upper part of the noseleg to suit

Posted by Wes on 28/10/2016 08:43:39: Bugger...was interested in the Icharger 308 duo from Electricwingman, but it was out of stock at £219 Requested an email notification when back in stock, and now the same charger is £269! Edited By Wes on 28/10/2016 08:44:14 Ditto. The 306B that I fancied is now £169 - was £119 from some sources not too long ago

Hmmm, just been on. The charger I was going to push the button on is now significantly dearer than it was a couple of days back, plus no sign of the promised 5% discount No thanks - deleted the item from my basket and baled out

Posted by Martyn K on 27/10/2016 16:54:37: I have just started proof building the KF3 and KF4 for 40 or electric...Should be finished by weekend.. Martyn (Note: I didn't say which weekend)