Capt Kremen

Whilst bemoaning driving standards ... It's been a foggy morning in this part of the UK today. What do I see (or not!), cars with no lights on at all, or side/running lights emitting about as much luminance as a match, that's assuming that both are working which invariably these days they are not. Why can't ordinary everyday vehicles, (i.e. not high end makes), have sensors advising lighting failure as well as correct tyre pressure(?) A(nother) safety feature to boast about in the sales pitch perhaps?

I'm about to commence building, (for nostalgias sake), a Cambria Models 'Instructor' 58inch span, trike u/c high wing trainer. Does anyone have an original 'Cambria Models' decal/transfer they could scan or allow me to do so I may replicate the correct decal/transfer for the period circa 1977? (I've already 'Googled' images and haven't found anything there suitable to use). It's a 'Red Dragon' outline with 'Cambria' in black lettering on a white background within an oval shape. If no decal, maybe you have an old kit box with it on e.g. 'Fun-Fighters' series. Many thanks.

Allied to our modelling concerns, anyone see that Japan Air are still having issues with their 'Dreamliner' fleet? In the latest report, ('FlightAware', a Li battery 'discharged/vented' whilst engineers were servicing the a/c on the ground. This after all the effort, monitoring and no doubt $$$$$s spent specifically on these items.

With little or no chance of having a serious flying session outside at the moment, (our field is waterlogged even if it does stop deluging!), I decided to convert some sheets of Ecuador 'Gold' into a model. So with a vintage era model plan to hand, have made a start ... As I cut the sheets and strips, it got me wondering ,'How many of these have been made since the original designer drew up the plans?' For example a 'Junior 60' (from plans), 100s maybe 1000s? Anyone have any ideas about their 'favourite plan build'? Just curious ...

May I suggest at some stage getting an Internet Radio. Why more folk aren't using them baffles me. The portable one I have (Pure One Flow) enables me to go anywhere in my home environs including garage & garden. It has FM, DAB, Internet Radio giving literally thousands of stations from across the world, Podcasts too, Input for MP3, iPlod (if you really must go to the dark side!) and streaming from a music collection on the PC. It runs for hours on its internal rechargeable battery or can be mains powered of course. Absolutely brilliant, I wouldn't balsa-bash without it!

'Let There Be Light' 5V UBEC works perfectly! (Pinched one off a 'big' ESC I have that's been awaiting a new project). Thanks to all for their inputs.

I have a mains power supply, stepped down to 9VDC to supply a guitar effects pedal board 'daisy chain' lead of outputs. (The manufacturer quotes 9VDC @ 3000ma(27W) in their product specs). I have a music stand light consisting of four(4) LEDs. This runs off either three(3) AAA cells or a separate 4.5V source from a step-down wall-wart mains power plug transformer. Wishing to simplify and dispense with the 4.5V transformer plug and utilise one of the spare 9V 'daisy-chain' power outputs, I understand I need to step down the current and voltage to avoid 'blowing' the LEDs. I tried a 10Kohm linear taper resistor pot. This worked but became rather hot! Electronic wizards out there, how, in the simplest, safest & most reliable way, can I achieve 'bright' but not blown LEDs using this 9V power source? The 'electronic gizmo' must be capable of operating for up to 4 hours+ at a time. (Typically Sound Check then Performance itself!) Thanks in advance for any advice folk may have to suggest.

Noticed Hobby King are advertising a 'hard-case' LiPo pack. These are very high discharge (60C continuous and 120C burst). What happens if such a LiPo swells and 'puffs-up'? Curious, as I doubt there's an electric flier who hasn't experienced at least one pack do this at some stage of its life, be it long or short!

As a former resident (and active flier) in Cardiff, I recall that the model shop 'Antics', (used to be near Cardiff Castle now opposite Cardiff Central Rail & Bus Stn.), had a large OS map on their wall which had annotated most (if not all), flying clubs in the Cardiff area. They should have model club information on their noticeboard of who to contact. Above all else, do get insured please.

Merry Christmas All from a waterlogged south!

Wot a lovely day out it would be ....Yes, please David

I have every sympathy for those tragically lost to us whatever the cause. My original post was to highlight the hyperbole and IMHO poor journalistic reporting of this potentially very serious event. Paddy O'Connell, BBC Radio 4 , 'Broadcasting House', Sunday 27th however made me smile when asking the BBC Weatherman, (I paraphrase), 'So what exactly has changed since your report(s) yesterday (Saturday 26th) and that your multi gigabyte computer can tell us new?' The weatherman stuck rigidly to his 'bland' script and gave a typical 'politicians' answer i.e. blustered a lot but said nothing!!!!!

Here on the south coast, (not far from the quote 'Record Breaking Wind Gust recorded at The Needles, IOW), I'm recovering after a weekend of weather news hyperbole. Yes it blew a bit stronger than usual last night, yes it rained a bit too but watching the weather forecasters and news reports prior to events you would think the world was about to end. I am very familiar with using Met Office reports etc. from full-size flying experience but these TV & Radio reports were poor in detail almost 'sensationalist' in their reporting style. Still I expect to see Hugh Edwards despatched in his BBC logoed 'Berghaus' jacket to report from the scene on tonights 6 o'clock news and at least a dozen 'special' correspondants linked in too.

Not bad ... BUT ... why oh why do TV progs, (pick any technical subject), repeat the same clips ad infinitum throughout the programme? If TV crews spend so long filming, I assume there's more than the same 30 second repeated clip available to enable them to show some different footage/angle etc. As for the replaying of the story so far after every advert break ... urgh ... 1 hour programmes can easily be edited down to 30 minutes at most !!!!!!

Like PatMc, I've had LiPo packs from all vendors, (cheap and expensive so called 'superior' brands), used them in Vintage and sports models at very modest current, they've all eventually puffed up. Some sooner than others. Have monitored individual cells, balanced packs, balance charged at 1C or less and stored at 'storage voltage' if not flying, still all brands have puffed. I have come to accept this fact as almost an inevitability. Strange as my EDF high current packs have shown no sign (yet) of swelling despite their 'hard' use. I wonder whether I care too much and should just charge (high rate), fly (high discharge current), and not bother pack balancing other than when attached to the charger. TLC doesn't seem to have paid off for me. Any thoughts experts?

Just to highlight to anyone contemplating the new(ish) Hobby King Bowers 'Fly Baby'.The C of G in the instructions, (if you can call them that!), is a misprint and should read 60mm NOT 80mm as printed though reading in other places, the C of G range could be between 56 and 78mm from the LE of the wing.The Durafly 'Fiesler Storch' & 'Vampire' also have dubious C of G ... recommend move forward.Why can't they 'Quality Control' their instructions(?) Edited By Capt Kremen on 16/08/2013 12:31:44

Ditto ... blank page when trying to read all reviews on the Durafly Vampire EDF. Logged in and tried to leave my review, came up with a blank page. ???? Puzzled????

Brilliant, inventive & creative Goldfrapp music as ever! Their new CD 'Tales of us' is out Sept 6th. (And ...no, I don't have interest in the recording industry!).

Ditto - Not surprised. Overpriced too and staff lacking in customer interest and product knowledge. (Not the individuals fault they were mostly youngsters just after any job). Even plastic kit modellers would find better range, choice and price on t'internet even allowing fpr P&P.

Just having a clearout of model mags etc. and came across a 2010 Ripmax catalogue showing a ARTF 'Gangster 63' (P23). With the recent popularity of other 'classic designs' e.g. Chris Foss 'Acrowot' and the Crescent Bullet, wonder if the 'Gangster' will make an appearence too (or did I blink and miss it?)

Ben B. good point in these cash strapped times to highlight costs and the fact they either omit or at best try not to highlight the price. IF the review does (eventually) show a RRP, (for the kit or product ONLY), it often fails to mention all the additional essentilal required items. OK so much is taken for granted but an outline of number of servos, including recommended type/torque for example so those unaware don't fit inappropriate types. Less description of 'The model comes in a pretty cardboard box' wouldn't go amiss either. I'm not interested in flying the packaging!!!

Having an hour to kill waiting whilst SWMBO went shopping, I browsed all the aircraft model magazines in the local W H Smith. Something that struck me about most, (not all!), was the incompleteness of reviews. To expand ... I am interested in reading a review if (a) I am contemplating purchasing that model/kit/product or (b) already have said item and wish to 'compare notes' and the reviewers experience etc. to learn something new that might benefit my experience in using the product or flying the model. Many flying reports often amount to almost a few throwaway paragraphs no in depth analysis of flying in different conditions, different configurations etc. Some, (not all!), are little more than thinly re-worded distributors press releases. Where are ALL the details? R/C equipment used i.e. Rx, Servos, ESC, Batteries, Show a picture of the actual installation too. The C of G position as flown and any range experimented with. Control throws / rates / expo. Motor & ESC (Electric flight), Props used and others tested. A.U.W. in flying trim. And perhaps a precis review 3 or 6 months later reporting how the owner is getting on, any faults or unusual wear 'n tear that has developed that others might be alerted to and avoid. Finally, I read a few reviews in an overseas model magazine too ... a pity they had to chop down trees and waste it for the paper ... that's all I have to say !!!!!!!!!

Also, is it any good as a 'foam sealer / surface restorer'? I'm in the process of modifiying a Multiplex Elapor model which required sanding the foam surface, adding shaped home-made foam parts. Just about to paint and then apply waterslide decals, will Foam Armour restore a 'roughed' texture to a smooth(er) near(er) original gloss smooth surface? If not, anyone have any good suggestions for a foam surface restorer/primer?

Seems the years have not improved the quality, I (eventually) managed to construct a 'Red Zephyr' many years ago from a Buckle kit. I replaced much of the kit content and worked from the plan to replace many ribs, formers etc., the supplied components were way out. Regret to say I found similar issues last year with the Buckle 'Mini Super' kit. I accept paper plans can shrink, wood similarly but I gave up in frustration at the major discrepancies of fit and quality. Made my own kit from graded selected wood AND, found an original 'Mini Super' plan to work from, again a major improvement. A great pity as the range of plans and kits has super potential as one of the few sources for these types of model. A touch of 2013 CAD drawing and CNC kitting would work wonders.