Rob Barrett

Forget the website Jaques - Phone, E-mail and Fax all work perfectly and the service from SLEC is, in my humble opinion, second to none ! On the contrary try e-mailing a well known model shop in Huntingdon - I have done on numerous occasions and they can't even be bothered to reply (not pnce, ever !) ! Well done SLEC 10 out of 10 from me ! "Un-named Huntingdon Shop" 0 out of 10 from me ! Rob 

Hiya Dave and great to hear from someone else in the same boat as me (albeit you're clearly a more seasoned modeller than me - I'm a virgin !!!)  I've got as far as buying (and making) some tools, I've purchased the balsa etc.. (incidentally SLEC are absolutely fantastic !) and I've got the plan photocopied at my local Prontaprint (so I can cut it about without fear of ruining the original - this has allowed me to turn the plan upside down and iron the lines onto the balsa !). I've also sourced a canopy from the RCM&E plans service (plus a second, albeit a clear one, from a top guy I discovered on e-bay !). Just started cutting the balsa and have already got a few pieces of the jigsaw ready to fine finish. Still more balsa to cut but this isn't all as easy as Mr Hawes makes it sound ! Even a simple plan like this poses a few 'beginners problems' for a novice like me !   My big problem is simply one of time - I'm currently finishing my training with a view to my BMFA A test very soon and along with a young family (of which my 10 year old is also learning to fly with me !) theres just not enough hours in the day ! I can fully understand why so many people go for ARTF's - todays lifestyle makes these a better option particularly if you want to actually spend the max. amount of time flying ! Maybe I'll feel differently when my first model is finished - assuming it flies of course ? By the way I haven't actually sourced the power train etc.. yet ! All the best, Rob PS Perhaps we can swap / show some build photos, on this site ? 

Cheers Flytilbroke - I think we can all now safely say this forum should act as a real beginners guide to gluing. Thanks everyone, Rob. 

Many thanks Adrian - this is all very, very useful and helpful to me. Also big thanks for re-directing irrelevant threads away - I was getting fed up with e-mails advising of new replies only to find them of no relevance at all ! Kindest regards, Rob 

Thanks Andy but what about the weight issue - my guess is PVA glue is pretty heavy in comparison to cyano ? What sort of time would you, personally, allow for PVA glue to fully set ? Cheers, Rob

Cheers Timbo - you always seem to be one of the 'always helping sort' on this forum - thank you. Ironically purchased some cyano today and guess what ? Its Zap a gap ! Got all my balsa from SLEC today too (what a great company they are!) ! Almost ready to get started with my EZE-Fan / FIRST balsa model build - excited but nervous !!! Rob PS Got an "Excel" razor saw which came with a nice little mitre block - just hope the spiggot is metal and not the cheap plastic variety ! 

Thanks Ivor but is there a rule with cyano eg so many drops per cm / inch ? How long do you leave this to set before you re- work ? I'll check out the Exacto's - I've already come accross a range called MAXX and another called EXPO but I'm unsure how good they are - if anyone had experiences, good or bad, I'd love to know as I'm off to the shops later this morning ! I know in the past I has some cheap modelling knives (small blue plastic box set of 3 x handles and about a dozen 'magnetted in' spare / different blades) and they just broke due to a 'crappy' plastic spigot belween the stem and part where the blade is held ! Can you recommend a good cyano ? Thanks again, Rob

Thanks Timbo. Does the CA need to be spread fully along one or both joints ? Is this stronger and lighter than epoxy ? Cheers, Rob

Hi everyone, Just about to start on my first model build, this weekend, and have decided on the above RCM&E plan. Collecting the balsa in the morning and canopy due anyday but (and please forgive my ignorance) can anyone recomend a specific glue which will do the job but help to keep the weight to a minimum - I've previously 'caked' my 'trainer plane' in 5 min and 30 min devcon epoxy for many, many repairs butsomehow I think I need to be a bit more careful with this build ! How much should I use ? Also can anyone recomend a good razor saw and mitre block ? Any help or information would be very gratefully received ? Thanks to you all, Rob "the beginner"

Anyone else on here who can offer any advise / suggestions I'd love to hear from you ? Maybe other builders of this model can share their experiences ? Thanks and kind regards,  Rob 

Cheers Tim - so the 1700 battery would be your choice then ? Anyone else on here who can offer any advise / suggestions I'd love to hear from you ? Maybe other builders of this model can share their experiences ? Thanks and kind regards,  Rob 

Hi everyone, I'm having a go at my first ever model build and have chosen Nigel Hawes EZE-Fan (I seem particularly attracted to Nigel's range of models and have collected as many of the old RCM&E plans as I've been able to beg, borrow and steal from all over the place !). I see BRC Hobbies have several 'packages' available - is there any reason why I shouldn't go for the £69.99 set up which includes the 2200 battery ? If I go for the £59.99, with the 1700 battery what will the main differences be - interested to hear what everyone has too say regarding speed and flight times as a comparison between the two ? Sorry if this seems a daft question but I'm pretty much a novice all round - particularly with regard to electric flight (which all seems complicated and frightens me to bits !) ! Cheers, Rob PS Also seriously looking at Nigel Hawes (old) 30" Tucano, 30" BAe Hawk AND 45" Tucano. The months / years have rolled on since these plans / articles were written so can anyone please suggest a more modern electric 'set up' for all 3 ? Maybe BRC are the people to buy everything from, in one foul swoop ? PPS Yet another question - sorry ! Re the EZE-Fan what are the EXACT servos used and where can I source these from ? 

Hi everyone, I'm having a go at my first ever model build and have chosen Nigel Hawes EZE-Fan (I seem particularly attracted to Nigel's range of models and have collected as many of the old RCM&E plans as I've been able to beg, borrow and steal from all over the place !). I see BRC Hobbies have several 'packages' available - is there any reason why I shouldn't go for the £69.99 set up which includes the 2200 battery ? If I go for the £59.99, with the 1700 battery what will the main differences be - interested to hear what everyone has too say regarding speed and flight times as a comparison between the two ? Sorry if this seems a daft question but I'm prety much a novice all round - particularly with regard to electric flight (which all seems complicated and frightens me to bits !) ! Cheers, Rob PS Also seriously looking at Nigel Hawes (old) 30" Tucano, 30" BAe Hawk AND 45" Tucano. The months / years have rolled on since these plans / articles were written so can anyone please suggest a more modern electric 'set up' for all 3 ? Maybe BRC are the people to buy everything from, in one foul swoop ? PPS Yet another question - sorry ! Re the EZE-Fan what are the EXACT servos used and where can I source these from ? 

Thanks Allan. I'll contact Ian although it may be a week or so as I'm going away ? My biggest problem is, as a novice, exactly what is available and in what sizes ? Shame their (SLEC) website isn't 100% operatioonal really - unles they perhaps do a catalogue or brochure ? thanks, Rob

Thanks everyone but I've now located an e-mail address and am now already communicating with them - for info. their e-mail address is:   [email protected] Now talking to a guy called Gary and as everyone keeps telling me B R C Hobbies really do seem to be a good company to deal with. Early signs are this shop will be one I will be dealing witha lot, in the future - what a refreshing change ! Too often we only hear the bad things ! Give 'em a try and see for yourselves ? Thanks again. Rob. 

Thanks Allan but I think you may have mis-interpreted my reply or more likely I wasn't very clear ? I haven't actually tried contacting them BUT did drive past a couple of years ago now and as I say I didn't realise they were actually a retail outlet but instead I thought a wholesaler / supplier direct to the model shops ? Sound like I'm wrong - I hope so anyway as they sound perfect and Watton is only 30-40 minutes from me, too ! Cheers again, Rob  

Thanks for the reply Shaun and you're quite right - I did mean BRC Hobbies. I appreciate your assistance however, as stated in my first post, I've already tried messaging through their website and my message was just bounced back - I couldn't actually find a direct e-mail address on the site ? Can anyone help with an e-mail address ? Thanks, Rob

Hi, I'm in the process of starting my FIRST ever build and thought I'd have a go at July 2007's EZE-FAN, by Nigel Hawes. Can anyone PLEASE supply me with an e-mail address for Brian at B R H - I've tried contacting him, via his website, but my message has been bounced back ? Any help with a 'full package' electruic set-up would be much appreciated, from anyone or everyone ? I really want to produce a 'standard'ish' version and then progress onto a second 'superfast' version ! I'd also love to see some pictures of RCM&E's readers versions of this great looking model ? Thanks, Rob

Hi Allan, Thanks for taking the time to reply. Unfortunately SLEC's website is still under construction but can I just ask - can you just pop in and buy from this company as I thought this was just a warehouse / wholesaler / mail order only company ? I'm desperate to buy from someone who can advise on balsa weights and maybe even someone who's happy to take a little time to help me go through the plans and form a 'shopping list', if you like. I'm finding the different weights / qualiities of balsa a hard one - I guess there's a lot of low quality product suppliers out there that I need to be wary of, is there ? Sounds easy to the experienced guys but difficult to know where to start for a novice builder, such as myself ? Thanks again,  Rob 

I fancy a play with the RC PlaneMaster so have just taken out a years subscription to RCM&E, through this website. Can't be bad all magazines delivered to my door (live in a small, secluded village !) for the same price PLUS a free flight simulator for the children (and me of course !) ! My only concern now is that the Royal mail strikes continue and I don't get my magazines ? Just reading this thread I really hope my FREE GIFT is Mode 2 and not Mode 1 or it'll be no good to me at all ? Rob PS Check out Sussex Model centres website - these simulators are reduced from £46 to £20 - assuming this is the same ones ? 

Good evening all, I'm about to have a go at my first build and thought July's EZE-FAN maybe a good introduction for me. I've seen the addition photo's on this website and read the forum so all I need to do now is start spending ! Can anyone recommend a GOOD model shop, preferably in the North West Norfolk Area where I can go and source all the balsa in one go ? I really want something of a good quality. Thanks, Rob  

Attention Mr Graham Ashby BIG THANKS Graham Envelope gratefully received today (enclosing the Nigel Hawes Bungee / Launch article / plan from March 2003 RCM&E. This is really kind of you and I'm extremely grateful. Once again the forum saves the day ! Kind regards, Rob B.

Good evening all, Can anyone point me in the right direction for: a) A company who can supply vinyl plane graphic sets / decal kits ? b) A company who can supply taylor made (or maybe even 'off-the shelf will do ?) canopies. Thanks to everyone, as usual, Kind regards, Rob

Thanks again Graham. Also interested in purchasing back issues of RCM&E from May 2004 and July 2004 - do your back issue archives go this far back ? What a great site / magazine......... Rob

BIG Thanks Graham I've e-mailed you, as requested. Is this just an article or a plan as well ? Talk soon....... Kind regards, Rob