Chris Walby

Off topic, but relevant? Had a motion RC P38 and after flying it a few times in a scale way stumbled across a chap that crashed his on the maiden (Youtube). I did think a vertical climb and hard pull over the top (IIRC) was unscale, but each to their own. There were quite few negative comments and I sort of lost interest as it was a elevator horn failure, but that could have occurred as it decelerated vertically into the ground. Flew the model and it oddly needed quite a bit of trim (missed the significance of that!), then second flight (still nice and scale!) it plunged into a big hawthorn hedge with all leading surfaces extensively damaged and the elevator control horn detached. The point here is that on closer inspection there was next to no glue so it was a batch failure. Might not always be relevant posting, but I might help someone else out

Might be completely wrong, but point 1 Yes the C of G is a fixed point when its measured, if you add weights at either end then the C of G changes So being a FLT operator you forktruck has a C of G, if you pick a pallet up then the C of G moves. Pick an excessively heavy pallet and the C of G will move outside of the FLT wheelbase and it will tip up The C of G does not change for the model unless something changes or moves. Tank emptying, UC that retracts/lowers fore sand aft etc. For IC (as tanks are normally infront of C of G I check C of G with them empty. I have a very tricky foam model with canards which is very C of G sensitive, bad news is the C of G moves over 25 mm reward when the UC goes down (which makes it very lively just when you don't need it!).

Sounds like a great event, well done to all of those that have organized this. Best spend the winter building, sorting and servicing Lasers and British kits in readiness. Will there be any format to the days?

As I am down for two Focke's (honest one is for someone else!) I'll go for decals for both and one of each (red 23 and red 13). Surely I can't go wrong that way!

Happy to go with no manual and Tempest on a different thread. A request to the experienced/speedy builders, could you post your builds on your own threads. The reason I ask is that some threads either wonder off topic or get deliberately sent off course and take up pages of non relevant waffle (generally does not seem as bad recently). In the past I have cut and pasted the relevant posts into a word doc but that is time consuming when positioning pictures etc This way we can all see how others are progressing and can ask questions/get answers as individual builds progress.

Risk of heading off at a tangent, but Buckminster does have a campsite with good amenities so its worth people heading up or back with a few days to spare either side of the event date to make the trip worth while! For electric (quite) flight its nigh on available from dawn to dusk so as long as the weather holds up then the trip should be worthwhile.

Hi John, When I researched the Can Doo there were a couple of reports that it became hard to handle at higher speeds (one of the reasons for making mine) so I have just enjoyed it for what it is rather than explore the upper limit with a tent peg out come! What do you think makes yours more stable at high speed compared with say the Can Doo or other canard types like this?

Probably a topic on its own, but quite a few people I know and myself included set up a rate switch (either individually or Elevator & Ailerons) on a switch (3 position). 50% 75% and recommended throws that way if you get something that's super lively and a flick of a switch you can reduce the control surface throws PS There is an unwanted effect of using low throws via the TX and not mechanically adjusting and that is the control surface becomes more notchy in its travel, so post maiden review how much travel you really want/need and set it up mechanically correct with 100% travel in the TX

Looks a bit like a Can Doo to me. Hard to see...not really apart most people think its flying backwards!

Should be interesting to compare both once finished regarding flight performance assuming I build them the same (weight) and power set up.

I have a pair of 3748 800KV 4S motors out of my foam (wash my mouth out with castor) P38 (used to run 12x7 three blade so 12x8 should be ok for the motor) is that going to be ok? Clearly go for a 2 blade prop if its hand launch. PS the 3 blade set up used to pull 42A if that helps on 4S5500 lipo PPS spinners and decals for all, cheers

Richard, Adjustment of my order! Two FW 190's and one Tempest. The second FW is for a fellow builder of one of the clubs I belong to.

See what Jon has to say, but IMHO you are over thinking this a bit! I have had to take quite a lot out of fuselages and wings to get engines and tanks lined up when inverted and the bottom line is "you only have to do it once". I do prefer engines at 9 o clock from a tuning, priming and tank position, but then I am much less fussed about seeing the cylinder head on the ground (people must have very good eyesight if they can see a cylinder head in flight!). By the time you have a bit of air gap in the tank I think it will be ok and as long as the tank is not too far rearward in relation to the engine all will be ok

Artto, I have been think about this for some time as I fly quite a few twins and was interested in using real time telemetry at events where tuning time is limited. Plus with flying slots its start and go + other noisy 2 strokes making a pair of Lasers (on the down wind leg) almost impossible to hear. Not sure measuring cylinder head temperature will tell you/me much as I suspect ambient air temperature and model air speed will determine the temp, plus if its hot/cold what does that mean? Possibly more reliable with a twin, but probably quite slow to register a temperature change from "normal" Perhaps somewhere on the exhaust might be more responsive? I am now thinking for a twin perhaps a comparison of prop RPM might indicate something going wrong? What are you trying to achieve?

Bit of a tardy update as we flew today while the weather slowly deteriorated into rain by midday, but squeezed 5 flights and three coffee breaks in so a good morning overall. It also included a couple of training flights for Brian with steady improvement. WooHoo coped well with the wind (2 flights) Kingfisher two flights and the T33, just harder to see with the grey sky! A couple of weeks before and after fitting the upgrade kit to the silver P38 it was time to compare, needless to say the improvement in speed is very noticeable (I'' post the technical stuff shortly) And the Acrowot was given a good thrashing and good fun it was

Richard, Put me down for one of each, cheers Chris

Maiden a NIB HK glider with digital aileron servos recently and during bench setting up one would intermittently miss center so replaced both as one was faulty despite checking everything out.. Bit of a pain in the wallet, but I suppose you get what you pay for?

All RX battery packs are always removed (except one bought model that has them (NiMh) fitted under the canopy!) and charged out of model. I also use the RX packs for electric flight so give them a good workout, so if the performance deteriorates I find out at an early stage. Don't like switches so avoid them and fly glow so don't need an ignition battery. Keep it simple, plug it in, fly and unplug it ready for next time.

IMO every post that is not directly related to Laser Engines technical questions should be deleted including this one. Set up a dedicated page for bodging, knackering things and not following manufactures guidance and I'll be the first to unsubscribe from it

No axe to grind in either direction, but just another for excuse for the risk adverse, knee jerk over zealous safety fanatic's to inch further forwards! We have two multistory carparks with EV charges at ground level, then the plan was to move them all to the roofs. Today the talk was to cancel that project and move all the EV charges to a ground level open air carpark with extra extra wide spacing. How many cars in the UK, how many catch fire when parked up....what's the risk and how many people die on UK roads per day?

I totally resent the "Designed By Muppets and flown by Idiots . " slogan, personally I would say my flying technique has a far greater element of muppetry in it! How about "designed by Puppets and flown by Muppets" plus nice to see the boys are back with Sweep measuring out an element of control!

I have found with a number of models that fitting Laser engines produces a pleasant sound, reliable and no added weight in comparison with equivalent 2 stroke. Electric tends to be lighter, but then needs lead to get the C of G so you end up back where the IC boys started. Better take mine out for a fly soon

IIRC mine with a Laser 70 in it and no lead came out at 2.7kg or even perhaps 3kg dry so I am sure you will be ok. IMHO the problem is people stick over large engines and then need to add a load of tail weight and hence it comes out a porker. The consequence is that they land fast and people the complain about braking the UC, beef that up and make it even heavier...and so on. I started off with the C of G forward, but soon moved towards the rear as I think its still conservative, but suites me! PS for landing, don't try and put it down or a bounce will be induced followed by many more!

Wow, not short of elevator then 🙂

On acquiring a new airplane my late wife would ask if I had any that I had not flow for 2 or 3 years then consider a 1 for 1 replacement process? Post crashing a favorite Black Horse model and not being able to find the discontinued version in the UK, she managed to source one from somewhere in Europe as a birthday present. On the flip side when she said she was going to buy a horse then clearly my answer was yes, but only one! PS When she built a Peter Miller Ohman the logical place was the kitchen table...result as that set the precedent 🙂