Dave S.

So you're still learning to fly, and have decided to start model building with a scaled-down version of a world-championship class scale model? Good luck, you're going to need plenty!

I don't give them time to get cold, off the charge, into the model, out of the door and they're in the air in less than 60 seconds. Can't beat country living!

David - not sure about this year, we haven't made any arrangements for the annual trip over, but when we do come it will certainly be to that area, as my father lives in Eastbourne, and seeing him is the main reason we come.   Must admit that even this old die-hard hasn't had a whiff of glow fuel for over 6 months now, all my flying this year has been electric.

Yes, the 617 is sold as full range, so I guess I'm worrying about nothing. Just one of those 3 a.m. random thoughts that wouldn't go away. I'll find something else to worry about now! 

Probably a silly question, but is the the range of the 2.4 ghz systems as good as the 'old' 35 mhz? I was resurrecting an old 2 metre leccy glider yesterday and installed my Futaba 617 2.4 rx, then overnight started to remember that this light glider (was 700g, just lost 50 g in the lipo conversion) frequently gets very high and far away (absolute limit of eyesight) and I always had control with the old gear, will it be safe to fly at extreme range with 2.4? I expect it is the tiny aerials that make this old modeller a tad suspicious!

I'm sure I have that magazine somewhere...but as the mk2 wing is currently pinned to the board, I think I'll stick with it! Thanks, though, I'll look it up.   Retractable slats, eh? Hmmm.....

BTW, you mention using micro servos in the wing - personally, I would never   use them in anything IC powered as the feedback pots are very fragile. Fine in low vibration environments, like electric models or gliders, but never in an ic model

The ballraces help to make the 3001 more reliable, I have had plenty of them in use for years, never a problem. I am sure the torque will be enough for a scale model, as you won't be using large surface deflections. If you really need more torque, then consider a 6v rx battery, or even separate supplies for rx and servos (I have a gadget upstairs for that, optical isolator that also allows different batteries for rx and servos, you can have it for £20  if it's any use to you).    

David, surely that rather nice Spitfire I saw you flying at Hastings last May wasn't electric, was it?

The main thing you need in a model like this one, Andy, is reliability, so personally I would go with a recognized brand, not some far-eastern cheapies. If you are using Futaba radio, then you can't go far wrong with Futaba servos. Standard 3001 on most surfaces, maybe splash out on the the cheaper digitals (3152) for rudder & elevator.    Cheap servos could prove to be very expensive when they cause the premature demise of a model that has taken much time and effort to build.

There was an informative series recently in Aeroplane Monthly on using Google Earth to help locate lost planes, crash sites, etc. I think the ground is pretty well covered.

Five flights today in near perfect conditions - bright sunlight and very little wind, with a good covering of snow on the ground. Considerable turbulence from the differential heating of snow covered ground and trees, buildings, etc, though. I actually saw the surface of the road today, been hidden under ice for some months now.

I'd be surprised if anyone who has tried Profilm/Oracover (same stuff, different names in different areas) would want to go back to using Solarfilm. I used Solarfilm for at least 20 years, but since discovering Oracover, have given away the rolls of Solarfilm I had left - it really is that much better.

It'll be interesting to see how TN copes with the challenges offered by the Lysander; there was a time when it was considered impossible to make a flying model of it.

Almost summer-like here in Finland as well, 5 degrees above zero and barely a breath of wind. Just had two flights and now recharging for two more. Still have to wade through the best part of a couple of feet of snow, though.

Isn't the Attila the smaller version and the Hannibal the larger one? I didn't know they were still available.

I recently bought a set of the Deans style Ultra connectors from Giant Cod and my clumsy soldering has yet to melt them (and yes, I am using them!). I have them only in a small, low current application (3S, max current measured at just under 20 A) and they work just fine. Bit tricky to disconnect with cold fingers, though.

Thanks, Timbo, quite a relief!

Surely bec and lvc are completely different things, one supplies power to the rx and servos, the other cuts the power to the motor to preserve the power to the rx and servos when the battery is getting low. Then again, I'm new to this electrickery lark, so ma well have got it a about f.

Thanks for the links, Ton. The kits do look good, I just need to decide whether I can face another kit yet (prefer to build from plans).

Last summer I was getting six 10 minute flights from my Wot 4 (5 servos) after which the 800mah rx pack needed around 300 mah to be full again. I don't know what a 'smartguard' is, but either it is wrong, or your pack is faulty.

Hi Ton,   Interesting range of kits there - can you tell us more about the construction of the warbird series, I was hoping to find some pics of one or two during construction. Are they completely sheeted, so suitable for traditional as well as modern covering methods? I was amazed to see they are listed as suitable for the Typhoon 15/10 as I have had one of these in regular use for the last 5 years, great little motor on 3S lipo.   I assumed the models would be hand launch/belly landing but some seem to have landing gear, is this just for static or flying as well?   So many questions, but interesting kits are rare in these ARF dominated times.   Thanks!  

My magazine has, amazingly, remained intact despite my move abroad in the mid 90s. Now have about 75% catalogued on the computer, and still have all of the free plans with the mags. The main collection goers back to 1970, but with a few gaps in the 90s and 00s (?) as I stopped buying them for a while.   The Dick Ohm Special ought to be electric powered with a name like that!

Trudged through a couple of feet of snow for a couple of flights from the end of the garden, bit of fresh air and a change from building for half an hour.

There was a 40" Shoestring plan in Radio Modeller March 1973, designed for a .15, but the only ½A racer in my list is Dave Day's 'Dick Ohm Special', 32" from RCM&E of February 1975.   Hope it helps.