Chris Berry
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Posts posted by Chris Berry
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Very sad news indeed. I currently own 9 lasers of varying sizes and id choose those over any of the other 4s glow engines available by other manufacturers.
Is Laser Engines not a viable business in it's own right? Is there someone who is willing and able to take on the manufacturing and or assembly of the engines, to keep the brand alive, as they are, in my opinion, head and shoulders above OS and Saito.
Jon, obviously you're the main man who knows them inside out, is there an appetite to invest or seek alternative options for continuing the brand and of course, more importantly your livelihood?
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52 minutes ago, kc said:
It seems completely wrong that Midland aeromodellers should have to give up their hobby so that foreigners can come to England to enjoy their own hobby.
Perhaps we should have a mass flight - just like the recent 100 year one - to support the Midlanders in protest at this infringement of our hobby ( flying where it's legal of course ) Make sure it gets the same publiicity as the 100 year stunt got!
What we could do in due course and lawfully is an event which showcases the hobby. The world record attempt was a good one and was featured in the press, perhaps more events like that with camera crews present would be good. However, as with most things journalists would turn a story to fit a narrative, irrespective of reality.
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12 minutes ago, EvilC57 said:
It’s not just us. How many times have we seen TV news (particularly on the BBC) postponed because they’re covering a sporting event such as tennis or football. We’re not all sport mad, but it seems the rest of us have to make way for those who are.
Sadly, it does seem that way. I guess we all need promote the hobby and open our doors to more people, easier said than done of course.
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11 minutes ago, RottenRow said:
Let’s imagine for a moment that drones had never been invented. The CAA and police would not have even thought about model aircraft flying being a security issue for the games, which it isn’t.
We have now been ‘lumped together’ with drone fliers (many of whom I am sure also fly within all of the relevant guidelines) and now we are regarded as a possible security issue in the same vein as a minority of drone fliers might me.
With regard to the jamming equipment that has apparently been installed in certain locations, as perfectly legitimate users of the 2.4GHz band, should we not, via the BMFA, be informed of the locations and effective range of these? Wouldn’t a model aircraft, or drone, being flown safely, possibly fall uncontrolled from the sky if a signal from one of these jammers was received, quite possibly causing more of a hazard than the perceived problem in the first place?
The control line ban is madness, as pointed out by Marty. Perhaps the heat of this week has got to some people’s heads…Brian.
The location of these devices will never be disclosed but safe to say they are directional and able to be rapidly deployed across the FRZ area.
They are not large structures like phone masts but much smaller devices indeed!
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7 minutes ago, RottenRow said:
The following excerpt from West Midlands Police’s reply to the BMFA when it applied for an exemption from the restrictions for local clubs pretty much sums up the situation that model fliers find themselves in today…
We then have to consider the necessity of the application, and implications should the proposed activity not take place. As such, whilst applications are welcome, I can state that any recreational or hobbyist activity will be declined, and this applies to both manned and unmanned aerial activities.
Model fliers have been pushed into a corner into which we can only be squeezed more tightly. Allowing local police forces such as WMP to make these decisions on a subject about which that they have little experience or knowledge, and to make a blanket ‘no’ decision with regard to recreational and hobbyist activities cannot be fair or right. For them to give a negative answer such as that which they gave to the BMFA was just the easy option.
Perhaps all of those affected in the West Midlands should contact their Police and Crime Commissioner.I wonder what the BMFA’s thoughts would have been if the NOTAM had extended to cover Buckminster… a National Flying Centre where flying is banned! Not yet perhaps but…
Brian.
The various events in different locations are phased. For example the Ricoh in coventry is from 29th-6th. So a rolling NOTAM would have been better than a blanket for 3 weeks.
Presumably too much like hard work for the Police.
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Local authorities produce playing pitch and sports strategies. They pay consultants to assess the usage and quantity of sports facilities and sites are leased to sports clubs, often for minimal fees, which are usually passed on to the end users. No doubt our hobby doesn't feature much. I guess it comes down to demand, perception and popularity.
Hopefully somehow it can change for the better!
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15 minutes ago, GrumpyGnome said:
A few elderly gents in a field playing with toy planes is always going to lose out to hundreds of athletes and tens of thousands of spectators as a terrorist target, which I suppose this NOTAM is based on.......
It could be argued that a few young gents playing with javelins is no different. Most participants are amateur and whilst the numbers are higher, the principle is the same.
The issue must be us, we must be so minor and insignificant that nobody outside our group gives us a second look.
Even showing dogs (which I've had some involvement in) gets a week long slot on primetime TV.
The perception of "a few elderly gents playing with toy planes" is perhaps the issue.
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Ironic isn't it.
One sporting and hobby activity is stopped so that others can undertake theirs.
Sadly, we seem to be the poor relation be it planning permission, noise, cessation of activities for one reason or another. Yet the likes of football, cricket, cycling and athletics, even on an amateur basis, get vast sums of public money and acceptance from local authorities and the public at large.
If only we could change that.
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Any idea when the low oil fuel will be around again?
I've used it since it was launched and its obviously far cleaner than the full fat version and the engines don't appear to perform differently.
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4 hours ago, Jon - Laser Engines said:
I have a 240v shoehorned into my DB Hurricane. In all honesty the work to fit it wasnt too bad and certainly not a big issue if you are building the kit from scratch. There is a chap in finland using our 180 in his DB Hurri. Its about 26bs apparently but he seems very happy with the performance. I think it needs a bit more and would always recommend a 180 only if you are getting under 20lbs, and that is unlikely.
Wow, that 180 will be working hard!
I like how you've installed the 240, cooling is key, as ever!
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4 minutes ago, Tim Flyer said:
Thank you Chris. I agree totally regarding engines, I’m afraid I have never yet seen a 2stroke in a Warbird that actually sounds nice. The moped noise spoils it for me . Regarding weight I’m also keeping the build as light as possible but I’m afraid I can’t give a realistic weight until I get a lot further on with the build.
I'll be watching with eager anticipation!
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31 minutes ago, Ron Gray said:
Which Hurricane are you building Chris?
Its a DB kit. A Z38 is one option. Plenty of power and heavy but it's still a 2 stroke.
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I've been reading with interest. Some good work there and looks the business!
I'm just about to start a Hurricane build and the thing worrying me the most is the engine choice.
I'd like a Laser and I know Jon was building one with a 200 in a significantly modified kit.
Ideally a 180 is what I'd like but I don't think it'll have enough oomph!
I'm not keen on 2 Stoke Chinese stuff, with the other option being an OS or Saito 4s petrol. I know Wayne Cox has just started one and is using an OS40.
Do you have a weight yet for your Spitfire Tim?
Cheers
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I just did a mock order on Motion. L39 was showing as €435, but when I went to checkout it was €362.5. Country selected was UK and it does say VAT Europe only. Looks like the difference will be collected by FedEX, so probably not that much more expensive.
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Thanks Jon.
Alan P may have been referring to a DB Hurricane which I have, still in its box.
I think if built light and as you say, around the engine it might just do it. Would need the firewall moving back or significantly changing due to it being a short nose aircraft as plan at least.
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Ooh, thats nice. I've got a 200v and 300v, so an inline version for a warbird with suitable cooling would be lovely.
How long is the engine Jon?
Cheers
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Looking at the government webiste. I can't see any reference to UAV or drones on the DfT webpages, or under the responsibilities of Baroness Vere.
Has another department taken on the responsibility or has another minister taken it on?
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Thanks folks.
I eventually found some OS F plugs in Austria, so ordered some. No stock at all in UK.
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I've recently noticed I'm lacking any spare glow plugs and have happily been using OS F plugs in most of my 4 strokes including the six lasers and 2 ASPs i regularly fly.
Having searched all the usual suppliers it seems no one has any OS F plugs and very few OS plugs of any kind.
What do people recommend as an alternative, as I've used F plugs for 10 years now and never needed to use anything else.
Thanks
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Issue all docs and reports by email. Ask for nominations by email. Thats probably the easiest way to do it. Anyone without a computer could have it all posted or relayed to them, as these days its rare anyway.
Or postpone AGM and have EGM when meetings can resume on assumption that all committee and members are happy.
As for subs
Bacs, posted cheques, cash at the field or at the home of the relevant club official in person.
As membership secretary, thats how I intend to do it.
Edited By Chris Berry on 15/09/2020 09:26:06
Edited By Chris Berry on 15/09/2020 09:27:09
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Our club normally has a sign in/out book. Name, date, time in/out.
Our landlord required us to cease using that back in May due to covid but hopefully it will be resumed in a few months.
Since then we've operated a very simple excel spreadsheet. Members phone email, text. WhatsApp, pony express etc etc me and I add their names to the list. Initially there were slots/time limits now we've increased numbers but are still able to manage bookings. We looked at online systems but not all our members are online/computer savy and it allows us to control attendance rather than have a free for all on an online system.
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Having read up, or at least tried to, on this topic on the UK and Scottish government websites I suspect many hobby and activity clubs and societies will be in a similar position to us. I.e. no provision in the guidance and open to interpretation, as with most legal documents.
As I see there are two aspects to this. Clubs and non clubs.
It could be argued that those who fly from private club sites, for which you pay a subscription are operating under the auspices of an organisation and therefore it is an organised activity with covid secure protocols. This could enable booking, tracing, the control of numbers, sanitiser etc
Secondly, those who fly from public, non subscription sites such as slopes or parks, then it is no different to parents taking there children to a park. Multiple families and children at a park, playing on the swings, all independent, all going there as individuals to use the same equipment but not gathering.
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Chinook just flew over me. Not sure of direction but I'm in Leicestershire.
Laser Engines - Important Announcement
in IC Engines
Posted
Parent company owner is retiring and access to facilities, premises etc is therefore ending.