Chris Walby

From 2014 it looks no different to me, BBC or the Met office if the data is taken from 13:00 hours sample data (min, average and max wind speed)...unless you can see something I can't?

06:00 am weather check! Runway looking good and just getting a trim for tomorrow Going flying now with the FW190

Had a cracking 6 days up at Longhorsley LMA event and could not see the point driving past Buckminster (+ 2 hours to get home) only to head back up tomorrow so stopped off and will camp until Saturday.... then its Baldock scale day on Sunday 🙂

Report from Buckminster 🙂 Cloudy, light rain and rather blowy. Will head out at 10:00 and try a bit of electric flying...if it calms down I'll get the FW190 out. Looing a bit like a admin day until things improve (sun is trying to beak through as I type). Forecast (Met Office) suggest improvement towards the weekend. I think the DR1 will be left in the hanger, but Dual Ace and possibly the Cub should be okay on Friday.

Postcard from Northumberland as I am attending the LMA Longhorsley weekend fly-in (actually got there Wednesday!) great bunch of ladies and gents with fabulous hospitality. The Dual Ace (twin 70's) has had a good thrashing almost every day and the icing on the cake was the re-maiden of the of the Balsa USA cub with an FT200 in it. Mr Doughnut got al the way up here and then twigged I only the 18 x 8 off the Eurobat (Jon did say a 20 x 6 would better suit it) and right result Arthur (visiting flyer) gave me a 20 x 6 prop. Result Took off with 3/4 throttle, cruises on half and can low and slow on quarter throttle + what is surprising to me is how adaptable the engine is..from fast and furious in the Eurobat to pootler on the cub.

Why don't you go for a Cambria fun fighter, modern design, laser wood pack and known standard electric conversion. Details can be found on Facebook (Darren) Guess it depends if you want traditional or modern take?

Two options spring to mind from lots of shall we say bitter experiences. Dollies, don't bother unless you have good power to weight ratio and the model has a benign stall (worst thing you can do is let it off the dolly if its doesn't have enough go to climb (a bit) and gain air speed to gain control. If you are prepared to retrieve a dolly then the bungee is a better option in my book. Pretty much guaranteed rapid acceleration in the right direction until the control surfaces become effective. The Vulcan I look after has very poor thrust to weight ratio, pusher props and is very heavy (IIRC 6kg) so a dolly, bungee with 25Kg and 20m long, pulled out close to 40m gets the man hold cover, sorry Vulcan into the sky. Now there is an alterative and no doubt some will say you don't need it or its cheating or something else, but it works for me and others that embrace technology. I have an SU47 that has a good few issues (power to weight, floppy wings and some plain weird flight characteristics), which means we hand launch a 2.5 kg model and it sits somewhere with enough AOA to miss the ground and accelerate to controllable air speed or not. Now I might achieve this just about 50% of the time without damaging the model, but if I use an RX with gyro and Safe (or equivalent) for a 5 degree climb out then the success is much much higher. Once the model is away and up to speed, switch safe off and try and fly the unruly beast! PS - the critical factor is power to weight and every time I repair a model...it gets heavier!

Very hash there Kevin...it does come with a spares box 🤣

Change of plans, incomplete models and flying is all getting in the way, but I have managed to move the G30 out and the FT200 into the Cub so if all goes well it should be at Buckminster! PS Weather permitting I'll be coming down from Northumberland and be at Buckminster from Wednesday (camping) + some others camping from Thursday so if anyone is around and about then pop in.

I find Deans very inconsistent, some tight and some that will fall apart. GNB come with XT connectors so and moving towards that form the EC3/5's that seen to be on the general way out

The space ship was absolutely fabulous...it flies, but without apparent wings ! Thanks for coming up to the oily end of the runway, although I think I'll stick with 1, 2 or 3 wings 🙂

Well what a difference a day makes! Saturday being cold and a bit windy and then Sunday with next to no wind and bright sunshine all afternoon. Good to chat with ACE and Ron + a few others and of course big thank to the guys that gave me a R clip and spare prop for my DR1 after the wheel fell of on the take off run The Dual Ace with a pair of Laser 70's go a good few flights in (might have been the only IC twin there?). Ron, I didn't think the Revolver was too loud, but then again its never going to pass 82dB, but sounded sweat all the same.

I am with David and Ron and personally I would never fly an electric without taking the lipo out and measure its capacity post flight. With exactly the same reason I use a hand pump and count the turns to fill, refill and empty at the end of the day. For me its an absolute requirement as I fly either twins or models that have glide ratios like manhole covers. Plus I think its poor form for any sort of forced landing to say you ran out of fuel (electrons or liquid) as the reason when it could easily be managed with telemetry or previous experience. In the big scheme of things, my largest tank (not in the largest model) takes about 50 turns so about a minute max? so hardly delaying the impending flight. Use one pump and carry a spare (prevents sods law of the first packing up!).

Much better weather than yesterday up at the flying field and as the models had been checked over and a thumb dialing flight with the GTC it was time to maiden the Habu. Now E-flight say its 4S to 6S however with our length of grass it was never going to leave the ground on 4S A bit of hunting around and 45 minutes later bringing the 6S lipo out of hibernation the maiden was on. Much better progress down the runway and a nice gentle climb out, plus a bit of trimming and it flies really well. The T33 was hand launched and flew well, I think it may benefit from moving the c of g back towards the manufactures recommended position, A fellow club member has one and ended up with his C of G 30mm forward (where I maiden mine). I had an unsuccessful left hand lob so I need to work on that or fit a gyro for launching, but it does fly well.

Thanks guys, yes its a JST....Mike I did think of that until I get to the retract controller and then the std servo plug won't fit.... PS I really don't like making these up so just buy the ones with a short lead and then inline solder/heat shrink sleeve.

Attached to the other end of my retract. Either male & female plugs or extension leads don't mind, just need half a dozen. Ps the look like a normal servo plug, but two wires only Thanks in advance

Probably wrong, but I thought higher nitro allowed a wider state of tune (more tolerant of miss tune) and produces more power (in the right conditions!). I was told when purchasing a model with a Super tigre G30 to use no nitro as they don't like it (model came with 2 gallons!). I now look like an fuel depot as I have an ASP that runs 10% nitro, fuel with no nitro, and both Laser normal and low oil....TBH I'll be glad to ditch the non Laser engines and just move to the low oil.... PS - I bought a model with one of those pesky petrol engines, TBH I'll never run it and just stick a Laser in it, so that makes an empty can that will not get filled!

Artto, I think you are over thinking this. Clean and dry matting surface with a little silicone sealer will be more than sufficient IMHO These are close fitting machined surfaces They are not under any significant pressure They are staggered and not just a flange so less likely to leak anyway At worst the oil will leak out so I doubt anything will get in!

Only my opinion and I am sure others will have something to say! Learn on a high wing trainer, so don't really need stabilisation (especially as we are coming out of winter). I have used stabilisation if its above 10 constant gusting +20 mph with the buddy lead as it just takes the unpredictable bouncing about out for the trainee. Other club trainers would probably not be there or fly, but I like to keep a consistent training program and not encourage fair weather fliers! Safe, has its place and for me hand launching difficult models (2.7kg SU47) is a great boon, but what I would say is in practice there are two things to consider You have to be very practiced to recognise you have lost control and more importantly able to find the assigned button to press...before the ground meets the model Flying in safe is really weird as you have to hold the stick over to maintain say a set bank angle, now you might be able to unlearn this with a trainer, but it will be really hard with something more sporty! IMO the best way to learn is with an instructor and a buddy system, it should be the cheapest and maximise flying time as opposed to repair time! Lastly I am a great believer in flying different models to gain experience, but in the early days of flying one model is best until you have gained reasonable experience (take off circuit and land) before trying something else. Looking forward to your assembly of the ARTF...you may find later on the term ARTF is interpreted in a very different way by some manufacturers!

John, IIRC some people are are staying off site or just turning up for the day. Its what ever suits you really. It will take me an hour and a half to get there and with two dogs its only fair they get a walk and watch me put the tent up. Only my advice, but if in doubt contact Manny and book your pitch, IIRC you don't pay a deposit and it just helps them work out if one man and his dogs are due or lots of caravans! The Beer and Warbirds meeting last year had the camping field full and they had helpers on the entrance to assist with getting people/vehicles in the right place. Check out the BMFA Buckminster camping web page for rules and guidance, but other than that I can't think of any special rules, apart from it does not have to be a Laser to fly on the other days....oorr I had better go an wash my mouth out with castor...

Just an idea, if wingspan and fuselage size are an issue how about a biplane or triplane? Lots of drag for the engine to pull against, nice big cowl to get the radial in and some super low speed passes to listen to as you mooch about. ☺️ Ok my DR1 wings are a pain, but I didn't build it that way and in fact 10 screws and that's it assembled is hardly a lot of faff.

Thanks for the update Jon, I'll have my two collies (no opposable thumbs, but quick learners) so we only need you and the boss and that makes 5! The rest will be a bonus. On the tuning demo good idea, but only if you have time as you have enough going on anyway. PS As I am special needs (tuning a twin) gets my vote and I can supply my FT if that helps.

Just in case people are still firming up plans, as opposed to me running around trying to get models ready for this and Model Air! I asked Mannny yesterday (BMFA Buckminster) about camping and flying and I am sure he won't mind me posting his reply if it saves him having not to repeat himself. The Tuesday and Wednesday is an Achievement Scheme Committee hosted Fly-in, so attendance is open to all, could also be useful if you have any attendees who fancy a go at an A or B Cert. There’s nothing booked for the Thursday so its just an open flying day. The Saturday is practice day for the pylon racing on the Sunday but it is actually designated as open flying so everyone has to take their turn and all disciplines mix in together. Sunday is pylon racing so no other RC activity. So, in summary, pilots attending your event can arrive early to camp and fly and could actually fly from Tuesday through to Saturday, camping is no problem for pretty much any number of nights even when there is other activity taking place (the only time we close the campsite is when we hold larger student/educational events). If the weather looks ok I think I'll head up Wednesday afternoon, fly Thursday, Friday and Saturday and head home Sunday...even with that lot I doubt I will wear any Lasers out! Hope that helps

Best of luck with the build good to see you using SLEC (pass my regards on to Chris, Tina and the team). SLEC have assisted me a number of times with drawings to short and full kits over the years and their service is absolutely top notch. PS - don't forget to ask Chris to add all the notches, holes etc that help later on with your hardware installation, much easier Chris doing it on the screen/laser cutter than later on!

Links don't work for me 😞