Timmo

Thanks to all for further thoughts. Gangster – they were a great group and I was made to feel very welcome but they are very much a power club, mostly but not exclusively, flying large petrol engined aircraft. I like the sport of thermal hunting, that's what interests me. On Sunday, weather permitting, I'm going to go back to my old club which is a bit further to drive but at a location that I much prefer. The club has an electric and gliders only site as well as a second site for flying power. I always enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the gliding club. Radian models seem to be getting harder to track down but I have found a supplier although I'm in two minds about just buying one. I think I should perhaps get Aerofly running on my computer first and see how I enjoy that before I dive back into the real thing and further expense. I write that having had to unexpectedly having to spend cash on my that has left a bit of a hole.

Thank you to everybody – lots to think about and consider. To clarify a few comments that I made; the local club I visited were very welcoming however, they are primarily a IC power flying club and that's not really my thing. The club I belonged to years ago had a glider and electric field and a second location for anything that now includes jets. I liked the atmosphere of the glider part of the club. From memory they were flying Futaba, JR and Fleet but mainly Futaba. The power club I recently visited – a couple of members told me they switched over from Spectrum however, I think almost to a man they were all using top-end radios but I guess flying big 1/4 scale warbirds is never go to be at the cheaper end of the hobby.

After a break of 25 years I'm getting interested in the hobby again. I used to fly thermal soarers – 2 channel only although even then the club was seeing more and more electric gliders and more reluctance to lay out the bungees. Coming back to the hobby I've been doing lots of reading and feel that the Radian Glider (the standard model not the XL or UMX) is the model that I think I'd enjoy the most and that is also appropriate to my lack of experience. Having spoken to the members of a local club they pretty much advised me against Spectrum radio gear to due brown-outs and only one of them from about 25 was using Spektrum. The advice was to buy something like the Hi-Tec Aurora 9 channel or similar, Futaba and JR were popular. At this point I'm not willing to spend circa £300+ on a radio. My current view is that I may be at least two, if not more, years away from really needing a complex radio although I appreciate the extra functionality and being able to have flight modes and mixing that a more complex model allows. I thought a 5 or 6 channel radio would be enough before I start spending too much cash. Am I right in thinking that if I buy the Radian model and Spektrum radio I can literally assemble, switch on and do a test glide but if I buy a non Spectrum radio I need to buy and replace the installed Rx but that I would be able to use the pre-installed servos, or do I need to replace those as well? What would you advise a beginner to do bearing in mind that I really want to see if I take to the hobby before spending lots of money? I should add that I really like the idea of the Flight Apprentice as a power trainer so again the chance to bind and fly using Spectrum appeals. I am however, concerned about the possible lack of reliability of Spectrum. My local model shop told me that they use the brand and have no problems although they also sell other makes. I also intend to buy Aerofly (Mac User) and will be using the Tx for that as well. Your thoughts and advice would be most appreciated.

Thank you everybody for your responses, I'm really grateful and have taken John up on his kind offer to use parts of his non runner to restore mine. Edited By Timmo on 11/02/2016 12:13:22

I always put it down to build quality. My original 1.3 was so easy to start.

Thanks for that thought – as you write there must be hundreds lying idle. I have an English built original Mills 1.3 and it's been a great little engine but I've always found the 0.75 rather trickier to start. I never used it in flight beyond hand launching to check CofG and once repaired I'm hoping it'll improve with use.

Robin, Thank you, this is great information. I think I'll try the chap in India first.

Bert, Thanks – I'd not considered that option but I will if I can't find one in a reasonable time frame.

Hello all, I've become interested in the hobby again after a break of about 25 years. I used thermal soarers with the Newmarket club but now live closer to Royston and understand there is a club there flying at Nuthampstead. Last summer I visited the site but there was no flying going on and I've not returned. Are there any Royston members here who could tell me a little about the club. Thermal soaring is my primary interest and I strongly suspect that I'd need help learning to fly again after such a long break. Thus far I've not spent (wasted!) any money and was really for advice.

I'm looking for a prop driver to get my early 1980's India Mills 0.75cc engine back to working order. Although Ripmax list spares on their website none are available – the site is years out of date. I've contacted Mike at Model Aero Services but he was unable to help on this occasion. Can any body help or steer me toward any other possible sources? Currently my only option is to keep an eye on ebay for a non-runner to plunder. Thanks in advance.