Erfolg

I was interested in what is Gorilla Glue? It turns out to be a Polyurethane adhesive. There are many other brands available in the UK. I am using "Elch Pro" by Henkel, via Screwfix Direct. I have used others, "Woodcare" was one from the local timber merchant, they all seem as good as each other, as far as I can tell. Strangly B&Q etc. do not seem to stock this type of adhesive. But Gorilla Glue does have a certain ring. Which reminds me of a product that one of my son in laws bought, when I asked him to buy some Polyurethane adhesive for a job I was doing for him. This may be censured but is an actual trade name. What have you bought I asked. "Sticks like Shit" he said. What did you say? "Sticks like Shit". He then produced a canister for a hand gun, and that is what was written on it, the a suplementary message "For Trade Only". Could not get the stuff you wanted he said. I thought this appeals to the naughty boy in many of us. As a adehsive, not great, just like "No Nails" Regards Erfolg   When he returned from shopping 

I have decided to do a blog. Why, is the question I cannot answer. So what is Weiss Kaninchen 2, it is a rebuild of Weiss Kaninchen. Why you may be asking. Because I crashed the first! The original was a +1.6m glider/sport model using a 480 motor with 1200 Sanyo Nicad. It was underpowered, but respond well to flaperons and elevator control. The stall occurred at about 40 feet, pulled out quickly at about 45 feet. So what is the rebuild. 1. To be a sport model, capable of loops, fly byes etc. 2. More power and lighter battery 3. Small enough to take to Scotland, when visiting my daughter (N0. 1). 4) To be prettier than original, to look something like the Club 20 Darra and similar pylon racers. It will not be a pylon racer though, probably not enough power for one thing, light wing loading for another. 5) to use the surviving parts, Wing, tail plane, and err that's it! This build will emulate the Douglass Dauntless not! It will be built with the knowledge I will crash it, the major question is when. The build quality and finish will aspire to reach the average ( if possible). So when will I start, today. I have got out my lining paper, drawn with great precision, my vision. I have calculated all relevant features as you would expect from a Bsc(hons), CEng, MiMechE engineer, yes you guessed it (must buy milk for breakfast). I will keep you all posted (must get back to pulling drains, up to DPC now, the kitchen extension, or east wing, moves foreword with the speed of a ruptured duck, on crutches). Erfolg the Baumeister  

I spoke to the friendly post man this morning (Lunch time really, and not completlley unfriendly). I asked is the post back to normal now. Hmmmm, a lot of back log he replied. How long will it take to clear, I asked. Do'nt know came the reply, only allowed to carry up to a certain weight, he said. He added the advertising bumf has management priority. What has happened to parcels, I enquired. Depends on class he said , as he disapearted down the road.  Are my goods in the Post Office I wonder. Or on their way to Ireland for destruction. That's what happened to a parcel a relative sent to me. A suspicious (need to read Government report on how much better the post is now, and is the envy of the rest of world, before I explode). Erfolg

Avoidance of Vat is permitted if the cost of the item excluding post is below £18. However if above, the postage cost is included in the vat assessment. I have been told by a customs official (in the past), that HM Customs do not like personal imports. They are time consuming, reduce the effective vat rate, per collection. Also if the numbers were large the burden on the department would be great, requiring more officials (that's what they like to be called), the opportunities for the importation of drugs would increase due to the work load. Better to discourage private individuals, and deal with large importers with large shipments and create a safer and more tax efficient collection strategy.  So I guess the delays I am experiencing are not usual, new to the game, you see. Erfolg

Since the demise of my local model shop I have been purchasing more of my requirements by post. From British suppliers, I receive most of my purchases overnight or no more than three days. Except when the Post Office is on strike (UK), then curiosly things take obout 7 days, allowing for strike period.  From the US, I have had things within 3 days.  However it is my purchases from Hong Kong, that leave me perplexed, They have taken over 4 weeks, if I get them. A few items have never arrived (after 6 weeks).  Some have suggested that HM Customs do not like foreign purchases, and take measures to ensure delays or losses. I find that hard to believe (almost).  What are other modellers experiences? Regards Erfolg 

I have not built one. Have the plan, just could not work out which carton was used for the cowl. If I knew, iwould buy the desert, gain a few pounds and build the model Erfolg 

For gap filling either micro ballons brushed into the joint with cyno wicked (capillary action) in or polyurethane (a bit heavier) Then again I realy try to avoid gaps. Erfolg

Where is NI, my daughter lived in Inverness for a year (great place, hell to get to, by road, plane to expensive and the train far to slow), now lives in Aberdeen. Its not the wind that I find a problem, it is the cold and rain (very cold in winter). Great place to live though. Regarding power winch, I put golf trolley wheels on my own, I also had a microswitch cut out operating in conjunction with a tensioned arm (adjustable). Mainly used in Gorrila mode though. Still a pain to put out and take in. Electrics are far more practical these days and possibly cheaper (if budget equipment is used). Regards Erfolg

I thought Alipatic glues are a PVA, but more brittle and harder. I have not seen the Alipatic glues outside of a model shop, who are the brand names, that can be purchased on the "high street" (for those of us without a local model shop). I also use cyno, but do not like the smell, nor the mess it makes of my fingers if I get some on me (which seems to happen to frequently). Also tends to be brittle. Regards Erfolg

I do not think that there are that many bungee launched gliders any more. Of those remaining, some will be using solid (square) rubber, others bungee cord (that cotton covered multi strand rubber stuff). Competion flyers use power winches. So what happened to the model guiders. Some gave up due to age etc. the rest went electric. I became electric, so much more convienant, than putting out and taking in that bungee. I now welcome still air days and evenings, no longer the bane of my life. Regards Erfolg

I am curious, I use Overlander, whose plugs are they using and are they compatible with any one else? Regards Erfolg

I decided today to undertake my own test with water based varnish I took to peices of blue foam (off cuts), and covered them with the varnish, placed a peice of model span on one , and light weight glass cloth on the other. I then worked the varnish through each covering and left to dry for one hour. I then repainted the surface with varnish and left to dry (instructions said four hours between coates, what the  !!!!). About 2 hours later, I tried to remove the coverings, they were both attached fast. Finish is fine, without rubbing down. I used Wickes, Interior Varnish. The question I now have is it good enough for my purposes. How does it compare with Epoxy resin and or Poly C?  I do not know about Poly C, but I can compare with Epoxy. I normally use Z- poxy, laminating resin, although i do have others. Varnish will take more coates to give as smooth a finish (varnish not as thickn). The materials appear to be attached as firmly as resin. Certainly more convienant (wash brush out in water). The cost is attractive, £7 for 750ml. Any comments from others? Erfolg 

Has any one tried water based fast drying varnishes as an adhesive. I have used them as a protective finish, where they work fine. Do seem thin though, compaired to resin. Erfolg

Lew What is Poly-C? Regards Erfolg

The following time line, is truncated from Wikipedia, "jet engine time line". If Frank was not British, would he hailed as the true inventor or a major contributer to the jet engine.  The leadup (1791-1931)  1791: John Barber receives British patent #1833 for A Method for Rising Inflammable Air for the Purposes of Producing Motion and Facilitating Metallurgical Operations. In it he describes a turbine. 1884: Charles Algernon Parsons patents the steam turbine. clearly describing the gas turbine. 1903: Ægidius Elling builds a gas turbine using a centrifugal compressor which runs under its own power. By most definitions, this is the first working gas turbine. 1903-1906: The team of Armengaud and Lemale in France build a complete gas turbine engine. 1917: J.S. Harris patents a "Motor Jet" design 1921: Maxime Guillaume patents the axial-flow turbine engine. Although sightly different in form, the design is significantly similar to future jet engines in operation. 1926: Alan Arnold Griffith publishes his groundbreaking paper Aerodynamic Theory of Turbine Design, changing the low confidence in jet engines. going on to mathematically demonstrate that a practical engine is definitely possible and showing how to build a turboprop. 1929: Frank Whittle's thesis on future aircraft design is published. In it he talks about the needs for high-speed flight and the use of motorjets as the only reasonable solution to the problem of propeller efficiency. 1930: Whittle realizes that the compressor of a motorjet could be powered by the turbine, and quickly designs a complete jet  First steps (1933-1938) 1933: Hans von Ohain writes his thesis at the University of Goettingen, 1934: von Ohain hires a local mechanic, Max Hahn, to build his a prototype of his engine design at Hahn's garage. 1935: Whittle allows his patent to lapse after finding himself unable to pay the £5 renewal fee.1936: von Ohain is introduced to Ernst Heinkel. 1936: Junkers starts work on axial-flow turboprop 1936: A stationary gas turbine is installed at the Sun Oil refinery March, 1937: The Heinkel HeS 1 experimental hydrogen fueled centrifugal engine is tested April, 1937: Whittle's experimental centrifugal engine is tested September, 1937: von Ohain's Heinkel HeS 1 is converted to run on gasoline1937 1938: A small team at BMW builds and flies a simple thermojet. They turn to true jet engine design. 1938: The Heinkel He 178 V1 jet testbed is completed1938: The Heinkel HeS 3 "flight quality" engine is tested. This is the first truly usable jet engine. The engine flies on a Heinkel He 118 later that year, eventually becoming the first aircraft to be powered by jet power alone. 1938: Wagner's axial-flow engine is tested at Junkers.   1939, Flight A stationary gas turbine is installed in a new electrical generating plant in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. A 2,200 horsepower gas turbine is built by Asea Brown Boveri and used to power an experimental train BMW's team led by Hermann Östrich tests their axial-flow design. Bramo starts work on two axial-flow August: Heinkel He 178 V1 flies for the first time, powered by the HeS 3B.

Blue foam is one of my favourite materials for making turtlenecks, wing tips etc. However finishing is always a problem. Tissue and dope is out, due to the foam melting when in contact with many common solvents, i.e. dope, cellulose thinners (acetone). Iron on films need to be handled with care (in my experience).  How do other modellers finish blue foam models. Regards Erfolg

I use all the above as I perceive the appliability. Just a few extra words, I intend using long life cyno in future, although ordinary cyno is a good substitute for Zap a dap a doo, when it is almost off, ie has thickened. From time to time I use Polyurethane adhesive, it is gap filling, water proof, sticks to almost anything. But does need moisture to iniate the cure. There are to many brands to mention, some slightly different. I also use contact adhesives ie Evo-Stick, since it has gone water based, not as strong, but does not attack foam. If I have it, or have need for it, does influence what I use.  PVA is the must have! Regards Erfolg

Lee Look on the internet for glass covering, there are a number sites you can find, which deal with Epoxy glass covering. Some detail methods which do not require vacuum bag techniques, may be considered old fashioned, they do work, do not necessarily increase weight disportionatley, and provided a good finish. Although time consuming. They nearly all describe a wetting out process, using to much resin, than either removal with kitchen towels  or a squegy of some type, or scraping with credit card (defunct ones work as well as your current issue, and do not mess up your card holder). Often there is then a filling process later, to give a gloss finish. Like many things, there are many ways to skin a cat (or Jart), they all work if done patiently, and a modicum of care.

Jetsome You start to make me think, can Spain be that more dangerous than the UK. Having been in a Head on crash, knocked of my bike from the side, rear ended twice, all in the UK, yet in Europe, no accidents. I had a look at the EU road Safty website, the risk of injury quoted is UK 500 per 100,000, Spain 280 per 100,000 miles traveled, yet Britain  has 6 road deaths per 100,000 and Spain 12 per 100,000 population. It appears Brotains roads are the least efficint in the EU, Km per Hr and the British travel less distance than others. I personaly believe, the difference in safety between each country owes as much to perspective and the point of veiw we wish to adopt. I feel no more safe in a the UK with its safety Warriors, than in Spain (or most EU countries) with there far more pragmatic aproach to safety. Erfolg

I would ask if the Spanish are so irresponsible, do they have more accidents than we in the UK? I would guess they are roughly comparable (making allowance for Government spin). We in Manchester have now had the community police stand and watch a little boy drown, Health and  Safety you know. The Chief Constable defend the inaction. A police constable who arrived later, thereupon dived in to do a search, has been questioned on the advisability of his actions. In many countries failure to take reasonable action to help others in distress is a criminal offence (eg France). Never mind the excuse of Health and Safety needs to be observed  Soon the fire service will only respond to a fire after it has self extinguished. Has the Health and Safety pendulum swung to far? In many areas no, yet in many others it is a curse.   

In the case of building a turbine, I get the impression that there are many claiments. It would appear that the Swede did actually build one, I looked on the Stockholm museum web site, there is a picture of what perports to be the machine. It does not say anything about if it worked though. It would also appear that Brown Boveri (Swiss Engineering company) built a gas turbine to power a German Steel companies Open Hearth furnace. Supposed to be to ineffient to be practical. Of course Von Pabst appears to have built a working Propane powered jet engine before Whittle built his. I am beginning to think that this is really a Alexander Fleming (penicillin). Logi Baird and Dyson, type situation.   Fleming did not discover the medicinal properties of penicillin, Baird did not discover or develop the Electronic Television, nor did Dyson invent the cyclone.  Although granted a patent in the UK, (although John Barbers patent predates Whittles) I wonder if he would have got one in other countries? I am also beginning to think that being British in a war situation may have helped, building up his claim.  I am now really puzzled what Whittle really did, although I acknowledge he contributed ( certainly to the allied cause), it would be nice to acknowledge the others if appropriate (particularly Barber, we seem to owe a lot to the clergy).  Erfolg

I think Terry is possibly an experienced free flighter, when models were very carefully built. Being lazy and less skilled, I use water to swell the fibres back up, a light sanding to smooth everything back down again. Depending how I am going to finish determines what I do next. 1) With film just iron on the material, covers a lot of sins, does film. 2) If tissue covering, a bit of talc in the dope, fill in the dents, the rest is covered in a thinner talc/dope solution. When dry, sand right back, then cover with tissue. 3) If glass covering, dents filled with micro ballons and resin. When dry sand back. Cover with cloth using resin. I do not use any other systems, so have no further techniques. I very rarely look for a perfect finish, my poor after build care, my tendancy to crash at some point, seem to make it all a waste of time. I think this is particularly true for older scale models, many full sized planes are not super finished, unless in a museum collection etc. Regards Erfolg 

Postscript Before I identified the right charger for me (I am only intersted in Lipos), I saw a short piece in the BMFA Magazine. It is for a Gadget which cycles through your individual cells (within the battery), providing details on the voltage (plugs into the charging socket). It cost about £7 from BRC, works well. It confirmed what I suspected, in that the charger somtimes trips out before the full charge or balancing is completed. If that happens I just restart the charger and the balancer takes the battery to full capacity and balanced. Erfolg

David I must congratulate you for the Safety Video on "Model flying in the Community" or "Safe Flying in Tunnels", which has been showing in the "video section". The video clearly demonstrates how we can interact with the community, bring our hobby to those who would otherwise be unaware of the capabilities of model aircraft. careful selection of the location makes sure that audience cannot escape. I am now making my plans to fly through the "Mersey Tunne" Within the next few weeks I will be ready. I will use my Helicopter, as I think this will be marginally safer. Being able to go from the hover to 30mph. I now only crash every 10 to 20 minutes, which should see me through the tunnel, without a major incident. If I choose peek time the maximum number of people can see the incident, the event could make local news, or the national tv news. Think, what would it do for modeling? Seriously I hope the stunt shown, was actualy arranged with operators of the tunnel. Where have all the safety missionaries got to? I expected a tidal wave of condemnation, thousands of words expressing displeasure, and statements of irresponsibility. I have my theories as to the lo key response. Regards Erfolg PS. May be I could do it blindfolded.     l

I think Johnathan is almost certainly right, a waste of time. As a Professional Engineer, I had an active interest in Heat Engines and theory. Having gone around the Science museum and from my own practicle experience, I am convinced me that most theorectical gains are never achieved, the museums are full of models of compounding engines, regenative heat exchangers etc. which never delivered the improvements hoped for, or were to maintainance intensive to keep running efficiently. I have been told in the past, just keep it simple, do the basics well and copy anything that actually does work (not just claimed). May be I have been lucky, but i have not suffered the overhating problems that i have observed by others. I use a Watt meter and keep the right side of the component rating. Heat in this instance is wasted energy, do not try to recover it, avoid generating it as far as possible. Regards Erfolg