Lindsay Todd

Very sad news, Peter was a true inspiration and will be sadly missed by all. Lindsay

I delayed posting as it is like losing friends. My association with Webbie.s has been on many levels not just as a customer but supporter, reporter, and contributor almost since they first opened in 'the small shop with the stock'. Working in Frodsham myself many a lunch break could see me walking the five minutes to pick up bits and pieces and a friendly chat with the crew. I know this will have been a most difficult decision and wish AL, Steve, Aidy and all the team my very best wishes and thanks for there fabulous effort and contribution to our hobby over the years which has so often gone over and above the norm. They should all be very proud and will remain life long friends. Linds

Since the first flight i did need to resolve one major issue and that was ground handling, it was none existent and way beyond acceptable. The answer was a complete revised design for the two front axles as did not want to loose the look. This took time to figure out although the end result is pretty basic, sometimes the brain cells just don't align. Eventually I realized I needed a steering set up so two center pivot points and a servo connection was required. The end result is two aluminium folded strips drilled to take 4mm wire axles, a link bar on one side and direct servo linkage on the other via a ball link. A bit of fiddling to mix a 5th channel to the V tail rudder channel and we have a result. Ok, no suspension and direct link may risk the servo gearing without a servo saver head which I will fit if the loads seem high. Time for some taxi trials and more flights. Linds

Very much hope to get there this year as has been a while Linds

Yes contact Manx Model Flyers, there are some great sites all around IOM, I have been going over every year bar covid foe the last 30 years nearly, over this year for 2 weeks soon, one of my favourite spots for slope soaring is The Stacks between Port Erin and Dalby on the west coast and has a lay-by quite close. The club used to meet on Wednesday Nights at the Craig Ny Baa pub on the TT Course just north of Douglas. my ASW28 out over the Irish see at the stacks Linds

The model is a Micro Made Models Olympian 40, nothing to do with Dave Smith Models, that is just a sticker that has been put on. Very similar I believe to the Irvine Tutor 40 for which you might find more details a little easier but the airframe looks to be in fair condition. What are your issues?

What rate of roll would you say you have? At full deflection you should be getting a very rapid (Blurr) rate of roll, if too slow though it will show up every little error in your inputs. Linds

I Have the latest version, actually a review with the Ed but it is a very neutral airframe and have had none of the issues you describe so it does sound like something is amiss. I would suggest revisit the basics as something simple can be overlooked so easily. Also just be sure you are not inadvertently adding some rudder or elevator when your roll one way or the other, very easy to do with a sensitive airframe. Also just make sure the motor is secure and you don't have a subtle amount of offset thrust coming into play. As Brian says you get the best out of an airframe when it is correctly trimmed but I am surprised by the issues you have had. Which version did you get, was it the Pro RR ? Linds

Not the best image as it had some rubbish behind which had to be edited out but finally got airborne having waited since last November, a couple of trims and a bit more exponential on aileron but not to bad a test flight. Need a better day, brighter sky and can get some proper pics done. Linds

Thanks for the insight guys as I said not to familiar with RCV so always good to get direct feedback. I will bench run before I use on the model anyway just to check set up etc but sounds like all should be ok. Its not exactly my first model of this type so very familiar with radial cowls and cooling issues etc. Hopefully we'll get a dummy engine in place to assist and possibly help with balance as obviously most of the radio and electrics are all shoved up the front end, bit of a squeeze at this scale, so much easier on a 1/4 or 1/3rd scale job! I do intend to complete as BEB intended, a good friend, colleague and much missed. Linds

Hi Jon, BEB went for the RCV 58CD, not an engine i am particularly familiar with but from memory tended to have capability to throw a larger than average prop and good torque curve through lower rpm range. All part of the rotary valve arrangement. Any info always useful. Linds

My only reason for bumping this blog from BEB is that following his passing I acquired the model and has sat boxed in the workshop awaiting an opportunity to complete. Now in fairness I was not even aware of this blog and only came across it whilst seeking some information about the model on line. It seems that some bits have gone astray but nothing too serious all the major components are still there and included the RCV four stroke motor that Dave had selected. Now as a friend, colleague and fellow club member I will endeavor to get the model completed and flown in the near future to complete the blog in tribute. Linds

Very neat build Stephen, glad to see you back at it, jeep up those quirky designs:) Linds

Yes there was a smaller version as I had one, I think around 52 or 54 inch span, i had an Enya 46 4stroke in it and painted up in the colour scheme of Kermit Weeks 'Weeks Solution' (see pic of full size) flew very well and a friend at our club had the bigger 72 inch version with i think a ST2000 in it, again flew very well.

I have a DLE20 RA rear exhaust in the cupboard all ready, just need to find time and space. I was actually thinking of another Pitts at the time but the slightly longer fuselage of the Skybolt should make the flight characteristics slightly less 'skittish' whilst still being very capable of all the gyroscopic manoeuvres, that's the theory anyway. I was thinking of a repaint in the Toyota livery of Brian Lecomber's Piitts S1-T from the late 80's/ early 90's just for sentimental reasons but I actually really like the black and gold once I opened the box so that will have to wait for another time. Linds

I have one of these to build and will be getting a DLE 20CC, seems to be a good combination Linds

So much better, another job done! Linds

Finally back on the Blenheim, the longest build blog in living history i think now, but i am getting close. Quite a few reasons for delays but the bottom line is some other projects both model, work and home are out the way and with our flying field more suited to paddle boarding I might as well crack on. A few changes have been made including a further decision relating to the wing panels and fixing. I have now finally made a decision and re cut the wing such that the centre section and nacelles are fixed permanently to the fuselage and the outer panels now attached just aft of the nacelles. sounds like a massive job but was actually a straight forward amendment and just makes life easier in so many ways. The wing fillets have now been blended which now looks so much better, next job is really to start on some surface detailing, fit glazing, mold the rear turret and then deal with general installation of radio and engines so there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. Photo shows wing cut and bonded to the fuselage with aluminium tube spars but pre filling and fettling of the wing fillet, see how horrible that looked! Lindsay

I built one of the original kit versions when they were quite new back in 99/2000 so 24 years old now and still going strong, i have mine powered by a Zenoha 45 and i think Neil had a laser 180 in the prototype. I would say mine has adequate power rather than excessive. The only issue I had was when the model first flew it need excessive down elevator trim which i believe was a plan fault which was subsequently corrected. The model flies like a dream so enjoy. Photo courtesy of the late great AW Linds

Ideal day for a test flight all complete checked and ready, final motor configuration updated to an Overlander thumper 900kv throwing a 14x6 prop at just under 400 watts and an all up weight of just on 4lb. An hours trip down to my test flight site, and a further check over and all the static shots done. with no more excuses left i lined up for the first flight, good acceleration, V tail rudder working fine, up to flying speed and eased back on the elevator As the model rotated it was clear something was wrong with the ailerons so with an inch or two off the ground i chopped the power. On inspection the left hand aileron servo had stripped its gears and explained the sudden loss of feel, any further and it could have been far more serious but so frustrating as from the photo above it was so nearly there but we can't yet claim a successful first flight. On the plus side, I was able to satisfy myself re power, rudder and elevator authority. it will be a couple of weeks now before i get another chance but this is what test flights are all about and just grateful the brain was able to react so fast to something having happened so suddenly. The servos were a couple of mini Hitec mini nylon gear items, I will upgrade both i think even though the load has not been the route cause, might have got knocked in transit and the cold will not have helped I guess. Linds

logic is usually the best way, thanks for your input. Linds

Ok just swapped the motor with another from a good set up and getting the same problem so i am thinking the problem now has to be with the esc rather than the motor. I guess the next job is to check solder joints tomorrow, possibly re solder, then try alternate esc before committing to replacing the esc. Linds

thanks Andy will look into that. Linds

Hi bought one of these motors looking to run on three cell lipo, once connected checked everything was running correct without a prop and all seemed good then fitted an 11x4 apc prop to check watts and the motor would not even turn over just sort of pulsed on the power. i did find that if i flicked the prop to spin then turn the power on the motor ran but this is an absolute no no i my mind. has anybody come across this problem before, batteries are fully charged 3cell 50c checked and ok. Linds

Hopefully this next week I can get the remaining work done and then get a final weight and assess the power setup properly, i am hoping to run on 3 cell lipo but there is space for 4 cell if required but the model has not been on the scales yet and the CG may need a little assistance in the nose as I want to be slightly forward of the mathematical position at least for the first flights. Hopefully we can be in excess of 125 watts per pound with a 11-12 inch prop. I have a 710watt 900kv sat on the shelf ready pending final weight checks, i am hoping just over half that would be enough. Linds