Lindsay Todd

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

Ever closer to first flight, paint finish now well on the way, still a bit of cutting back to do but going for that well used look. The prop shown so far is just one hanging around and is only a 9X6 but the eventual is likely to 11-12 inch so that will mitigate a bit of the thrust / drag issues The battery sits right behind the motor in the cooling duct, actually a nice feature and gives easy access. Gyro? how very dare you sir, this will be a white knuckle ride! Linds

Since the weather has impacted progress i have been getting the model finished off with heavily weathered paint finish, more of later, but had some fun today making up a little seat and dashboard arrangement from the scraps books Linds

Well its not exactly comparing apples with apples is it, something like the Beechcraft Bonnanza might be more appropriate and proved to be a very efficient design despite a very low profile fin area disguised in its V tail layout so we have to be conscious of that. I bow to your knowledge of low drag coefficient slope soaring but this design is not about efficiency it is a caricature design, it has many compromises, it should be challenging and that's half the fun.

Basically with a high wing deep fuselage there is a high degree of roll stability, this is a good thing but can be too extreme when we push the design envelope and can induce over stability causing other issues such as lack of roll and adverse yaw. Anhedral decreases roll stability or put another way increases roll performance to counteract the induced stability of the high wing deep fuselage section so increases maneuverability. In very simplistic terms but that is the basics. Plus I just like the look! Linds

I think the camera angle is making the V tail area look worse than it actually is but there is no doubt I am sticking my neck out a bit with this one. I think it will be one of those moments when if it actually rotates on take off then it should be ok, Thanks for all the comments. Linds

Always look for interesting pilots for new projects and came across these two fine chaps at a car boot - perfect done quite a bit of work on the wing now and ready for covering heat shrink fabric to the open structure and glass cloth and acrylic resin everywhere else, hopefully just a few weeks before ready for test flights should be interesting. Linds

All valid points Shaun, except the inverted issue, but then if we want something different then we have to challenge the accepted norm. Quite a lot of math's actually sits behind this design and as we all know the truth will out when we put the science into practice. the whole concept here was not about designing an efficient aircraft but something that was fun, in such cases hi drag (Fokker Tri-plane) can be fun and challenging but not the best design from a drag perspective. In fact if you consider many of the WW1 types there is much comparison in surface area, drag and fin and rudder size. This is a compromised design else we would have another pattern ship - very boring to my mind. Thanks for the input, the truth will be evident after initial flights, maybe it will have an incredibly stable inverted flight performance after all - love the challenge! Linds

Century Bell 47G in yellow, all i have is a You Tube clip no photos but selling was one of the dumbest things i ever did.

A way over due update, this was not a joke design and now progressing nicelywhen nearing test Apologies for the poor quality image, taken with old camera i keep in the workshop but shows Skybug now in quite and advanced state of construction. Its good to have fun sometimes with something totally off the wall. I will up date again when nearing test flights and if all goes ok could be a plan feature? Linds

D7 is about 56" span, and has had a few motors in over the years but started life with an OS60FS