Chris Berry

Some interesting guidance from UK Angling and UK Golf, both of which are activities similar to ours. Turn up as an individual, partake in the activity alone, maintain distance and leave once done. No socialising or gathering. https://anglingtrust.net/covid-19/#individual

Posted by Jon - Laser Engines on 07/07/2020 12:47:42: Chris, i didnt know it was on sale in the shops. Are you sure they didnt ship normal laser 5 as this stuff is only available from MT direct as far as i know. If it is the real stuff (laser 5 diet?) they best not sell it to anyone for other engines as they might die. Robin, the gearbox idea is in the 'thinking out loud stage'. I will worry about the technical aspects later. Martin, one thing at a time! Right now i have 5 engines to develop and test plus a gearbox to investigate. David, WWXL is a good test bed. A 180 petrol would do it as would my 'new' 30cc multi on glow. The petrol would need the least number of mods as the 30cc would need you to make a new cowl. That said, the more cylinders the more fun right? Take your pick Laser 5 diet...i like it Jon. Yep I checked with Leeds and they had 8 available, so I ordered 4. The label just shows 5% and hasn't got any details other than the standard Technics branding. Its a little cheaper as well. Invoice says low oil. MT tell me its been under development/testing for a while and awaits a name. It does clearly state low oil on the website and invoice. Whichever way, it will fly off the shelves....no pun intended...maybe. I have been mixing hi oil with methanol to give a low oil mix for about 3 gallons now and my laser twins and singles have run without any noticeable difference other than cleaner!

Posted by Chris Berry on 07/07/2020 10:48:38: I placed an order for 6 gallons of Technics fuel and a few odds and bits at 10am yesterday, got an email re. dispatch at 12.30pm yesterday and the items arrived at 8am today. Well done Model Shop Leeds and DHL. Edited By Chris Berry on 07/07/2020 10:54:09 As much as possible if I can Steve. It' also worth it for postage. Cheers

Just got 4 gallons of Laser 5% Low oil from Leeds. I can hear my 6 lasers calling for it now. Im told it doesnt have a name yet. Maybe it could be called Model Technics Laser 5 Oil Low (LOL 5)?

I placed an order for 6 gallons of Technics fuel and a few odds and bits at 10am yesterday, got an email re. dispatch at 12.30pm yesterday and the items arrived at 8am today. Well done Model Shop Leeds and DHL. Edited By Chris Berry on 07/07/2020 10:54:09

I've just aquired a very nice part finished Midwest AT6 texan. I can probably figure it out from other similar models I have but i'm after the C of G and a rough idea of the aileron and elevator throws if anyone has a midwest Texan/Harvard? Thanks

Posted by gangster on 24/04/2020 15:29:13: Whilst on the face of it the importance of flying a toy aeroplane and hitting a ball down a hole are about the same and really do not even count for anything in the current crisis. The difference however in terms of economic importance could not be further apart so many livelihoods, jobs Nd businesses are in peril at the moment. A golf club is a business, members on average probably pay 10 or 20 times as we do for a year’s subscription Golf clubs employ a lot of people Admin,waiters green staff etc etc and there is the pro also trying to make a living . That is a lot of families food and mortgage at stake. Those jobs need to be there after the crisis. They need to be there now as well, people are allowed to work if they can. Sure some of our fields will take a year to get back if they are good but,unless you are a prima Donna modeller, most models will fly from a strip that has grown a foot long and had a couple of cuts with a rotary mower. A golf club green cut to 4mm cannot be got back without a lot of work and that could be a long time out of action So what’s more important guys playing with toy aeroplanes or food on families tables and roofs over their heads   if this is all we have to whine about we are indeed very lucky.   Not sure what models you fly Gangster but I know that many of my scale models won't fly from rough strips. I've never seen balloon tyres on a 60cc Thunderbolt for example. You talk about economic factors. Aeromodelling contributes millions to the economy including farming, camping, horticulture and contractors, petrol stations as well as the obvious modelling suppliers and many more I'm sure. Like many, i keep our strip at about 6mm length, as many of our models are scale, with retracts or with small wheels. Feel free to come and cut our 150m x 80m strip with a small rotary mower and I'll happily stand and watch you. They may be toy planes to you. To many of us they are radio controlled model aeroplanes. Edited By Chris Berry on 24/04/2020 17:45:21

Thanks folks. I've used self tappers in the past with no problems to be fair but I've never been over keen. I'm used to 60cc stuff, which is belt and braces. I'll go with self tappers. Cheers

Posted by Bob Cotsford on 15/04/2020 22:30:53: Chris, look three posts up from yours, nutplates screwed to the back of the bearer. Alternately I used to drill and tap the bearers. As long as you don't keep swapping engines this works on up to 90s. Thanks Bob. Yep, saw that. So essentially captive nuts in on form or another in/on the nylon mount, job done? I have seen this used before but I've never done it myself. I'll give it a go. Cheers

MVVS...now you're talking!!! Lovely engines. Such a shame they have gone.

I've got the bits to make about three and a half MDS engines of about three different sizes. I cant even give the stuff away!! I might use them as they were intended, to prop a door open during summer.   I know a couple of chaps who swear by them, I only ever swore at mine, even after changing carbs and o rings. Edited By Chris Berry on 15/04/2020 21:44:22

Hi folks. Just starting to fit an engine to my Bullet after about a month of building. How have most people held the engine to the mount? It's a built in cowl, can only get the mount on without the engine and hard to get nuts on the back of bolts to hold engine to mount. Self tapping screws are an option but I've never been over keen on them. Cheers

I've got a Flair Stearman. It weighs 24lbs and has had 225 flights with me. It started life with a Laser 200v up front. It was ok and did the job but on a calm, warm day it would take 100yds to get off and loops were just about doable from a dive. I then replaced with a 300v and it was transformed. Off in 50yds and loop from level. That's not scale but gives some reserve. It's done most of its flying on the 300 which Jon Harper serviced for me last year. It's a twin carb and on a 24oz tank i get about 10 minutes with some reserve. I think a 180 would be marginal unless the plane is kept light. The Evo77 will be perfect if you build heavy. I didnt build mine, so can't advise but it's a standard Flair way of building around the central fuel tank box and front end. They are good kits and all fairly straightforward. Flying wise it needs to be flown on. Being a heavy plane mine wont 3 point very well, it tends to bounce a bit. Ailerons and rudder max deflection and a fair bit of elevator. Loops and stall turns/wing overs are fine. Rolls are slow and need height. Will cope with a good breeze and a reasonable cross wind.

Posted by john stones 1 on 03/04/2020 18:11:50: Posted by Chris Berry on 03/04/2020 18:01:29: Posted by john stones 1 on 03/04/2020 17:03:09: Been under water all winter, burnt off two years past due to intense heat, gets blathered in fuels, driven on, subjected to abrupt arrivals and divots replaced. It's grass, one of natures great survivors, It'll be fine, us ? well two week in it's hanging in the balance. It wont be ok if it's not cut for 3 months. Do you do the mowing at your club John? As for us hanging in the balance, over 91% of all those who contract the virus survive and suffer only very mild symptoms. But obviously you wont hear that on the news. Been mowing commercially for 20+ years, first as a groundsman at an immigration center, then a private firm, now doing it on my own but at a leisurely pace, grass will be fine, the hanging in the balance comment referred to our mental states. Council cuts our field, it's on hold, myself and others look after the pits hedges etc. Are we fretting over the grass ? Nope. Might be a few cross words over work parties when we're allowed out though. Well i wish I could share your optimism over the ground if its left for weeks and weeks. My experience of 30years of mowing the strip and extending runways etc makes me nervous if we are 6-8 weeks without mowing. No doubt time will tell.

Posted by john stones 1 on 03/04/2020 17:03:09: Been under water all winter, burnt off two years past due to intense heat, gets blathered in fuels, driven on, subjected to abrupt arrivals and divots replaced. It's grass, one of natures great survivors, It'll be fine, us ? well two week in it's hanging in the balance. It wont be ok if it's not cut for 3 months. Do you do the mowing at your club John? As for us hanging in the balance, over 91% of all those who contract the virus survive and suffer only very mild symptoms. But obviously you wont hear that on the news.

Posted by Jason Channing on 02/04/2020 07:05:12: Unfortunately if grass is left to grow for too long then cut short, The structure of the grass and the roots change with the associated problems of bad roots will occur and in some cases the grass can stop growing , its not quite as simple as a cut and rake and its back to good, however The new lack of noise at the flying sites may well cause a problem once the noise returns Absolutely correct Jason! We changed our pits layout last year and I let an area 'naturalise' for about 3 months. Subsequently we needed the space back and the roots had matted above ground and the ground which was once smooth and short mown was rough, brown, soily and lumpy and took about 6 months of intense mowing and rolling to get back to normal. Luckily it was only a small area. It is far from as simple as mowing and raking. Noise may also be a significant factor. The council were out mowing the grass verges and incidental patches of land today! Clearly very essential work!!

Posted by john stones 1 on 01/04/2020 13:37:55: Can't see where anyone one said flying sites, don't take much looking after ? Our strips as smooth as a babies bottom, the hedges/trees get cut on a regular basis as do the pits areas, litter gets picked up, as for accompanying you, no ta, got our own to look after, grass will grow a bit, a couple of cuts it'll be fine. Some people are out mowing golf/cricket/football pitches, good, people will want to return to normal, have some fun, these businesses will need money. You suggest that a couple of cuts and itll be back to normal. Not the case if left for a month or more. Certainly if left until June, then forget flying for several months after. There is then a risk that if the site is not useable that members will find a club that is and come renewal time members will go elsewhere, as they are settled at new sites. People should not underestimate the impacts of strips not being cut. I see no difference between the cutting of a golf course, cricket pitch or football pitch and a flying site. All are essential maintenance and whether paid or voluntary, all are acting as 'employees' of the association.

For those of you saying a flying site doesn't take much looking after, then feel free to accompany me to our flying site once you feel happy to do so. I can tell you that our flying site takes a lot of work. We like to fly from a smooth, rolled and mower strip which is suitable for all types of models, not just those with tundra tyres or hand launch.     Edited By Chris Berry on 01/04/2020 13:29:16

Most of those who are over 70 in my club, including my father are fit and healthy and arent old and frail old men, despite what the media may have you believe. I can guarantee that most will continue, quite rightly, to fly, particularly as its been a long and bad winter for flying. People worried about enforcement, well as we know, call the police to report a crime and wait for some time before anyone arrives. As for BMFA advice, I'm not sure they need to provide any. Its common sense, wash hands etc etc. Happy flying once the weather improves in coming weeks.

Went out yesterday afternoon. Wind was on the limit for anything more than a heavy old ic sports model, had 2 flights and went home. 3 or 4 clubmates there. At least it didn't rain. Roll on spring!!

Posted by john stones 1 on 14/03/2020 22:31:45: Yep, there's been some humorous stuff. Thought roads had been quiet today, but wife and son came home from work, said they'd been very busy, pub/restaurants. Very busy in a cafe I was in this morning. Couples and families of all ages. Obviously all have common sense and dont let the media hype get the better of them. Went flying this afternoon, roads were busy and there were 10 flyers braving the less than calm conditions.

Hows about. Those like me who want to risk my life to go flying, go flying and take our chances and those who want to sit at home with a colander on their heads do so. Each to their own and each makes their own informed choice.

Posted by Stephen Smith 14 on 13/03/2020 12:53:07: Closing the flying field is stupid, reading face book and thinking its gospel stupid, this is flu which has always killed people. Carry on with your life and stop listening to the scare mongers in the press and social media, this has just replaced brexit or there would be nothing to report on. If your scared stop at home cuddling your multi pack of toilet roll sat on you sack of dried pasta. Our field won't be closing and our activity will remain unchanged, as will mine Well said that man, well said. Couldn't agree with you more!!

Why on earth would a club decide to close the field??? Its outside in the middle of a field. The closest youd get is sitting in the club hut...if you have one. Meetings or Indoor flying I can understand...to some extent but certainly not a farmers field....utterly ridiculous!!!

It was indeed a great site and I cut my teeth with you Stuphedd and my dad back in 1992. The late 90's was a great time and the laughs we had, have and probably never will be repeated. Although a small group of about 18 at its peak we were a good gang and the site was second to none.