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Bruce Collinson

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Posts posted by Bruce Collinson

    OS61 - Hanno Special?

    in IC Engines

    Posted

    Nigel,

     

    Did you build it, and if so what did you instal at the front?   I'm mildly interested in researching a 2 stroke, for more purity in UKCAA events.   Have an eye on a HP 61 Gold Cup but know zero about them, other than they seemed to have been good in their day.

     

    BTC

    target drone

    in All Things Model Flying

    Posted

    I’ve shot at these, there is a commercial supplier to large corporate clay shoots who called them Darts, from memory.   Crucially, they carry thunder flashes on the underside and scoring is by the number of visible explosions, not by the destruction of the plane.

     

    They are .40 size foam deltas which are launched from a catapult ramp and the entire works are in a steel plated module at the front, engine, tank, Rx and battery.   These are made to swap over quickly but I did not observe the control linkages .   Probably, they fly on elevons as perfect aerodynamics are scarcely needed.   All they need to do is launch cleanly then display their underside as they pass the guns.

     

    They need a surprising amount of lead (that’s forward allowance for the antis).

     

    I imagine you would find something online with enough effort.   Hope this helps.

     

    BTC

    • Like 1

    Covering advice

    in Hints and Tips

    Posted

    There is a very distinct ridge between the olive, black and white so I deduce it is a film stripe on both the fus and the wings.   I cannot currently reach the tail but am satisfied that it will be identical.

     

    Thoughts.

     

    I think it will be very difficult to replicate the factory finish.   I deduce that they have applied a single piece of white, then overlaid the black stripes.   They must have a “factory” method of applying film in this way which I suspect will be difficult to replicate at home.

     

    Is the way forward to paint on the stripes, as it seems from the wiser heads above that it’s perfectly possible to paint over Oralcover?   Maybe brushed Oralcolour, 2 pack, brush thinners, put the white on then over paint the black stripes?   If I had to do that, accepting as you observe that the curves are a bit compound, I’d try a laser line (has Danny Fenton illustrated this in this month’s mag?), mask with something like Tamiya tape to be able to put a straight line on a curved surface, put ordinary masking tape over the Tamiya tape, paint, repeat exercise?
     

    Could be a job for an airbrush, at least to get the outer edges done then block in the centres.

     

    At least you’d soon find out if the paint is adhering to the film, when you lift the first lot of masking tape!

     

    As you may deduce, I’ve never done this, but you did ask….

     

    BTC

    • Thanks 1

    Club Flying Competitions

    in All Things Model Flying

    Posted

    Max no of spins from a 10 second motor run, from standstill, caused a lot of cojones to be exercised at our fun fly last autumn. Only one crash.

    Already plotting Mayday repeat.   We had c. 25 out from memory and with a free bbq in the middle, we were running out of time after Spot the Landing, simulated bomb dropping, aforesaid Spin of Death and the highly competitive limbo. I shall be watching this thread for new courses of fire.

     

    BTC

    Battery connector

    in Beginners

    Posted

    7 hours ago, Allan Bennett said:

    Chris, my figure of 30A continuous is from Overlander's data.  Either they're being far too conservative, or it's a typo, or their XT60s are different from other brands' XT60s.  So that leads me to the next question; is there a specific manufacturer of the original XT60s, like Deans for the Ultra?

     

    The tests linked at the bottom of your post are interesting, except they don't show Deans Ultra for comparison 😒  I note that they are specific about what brand of XT60 they've used in the tests.

     

    MattyB, I don't doubt what you say, but I can only go by published data regarding amps capability.

     

    Bruce, yes I've seen the anti-spark XT90s at Overlander (the only site I've looked at so far) and Overlander rate them at only 40A continuous, compared with 45A for their regular XT90s 😒

     

    Club Members

    in Chit-chat

    Posted

    We’re very fortunate with c. 60 members and slight pressure on the committee to restrict new members for the time being because of possible pressure of numbers at weekends.

     

    possibly, there are some determinants.   We undoubtedly benefit from being adjacent to a large conurbation, in beautiful countryside and with a very prolific LMS.   There is an unwritten rule that if any passer by lingers at our gate, 15 yds from the pits, someone will engage with them and if there’s a whiff of interest they are welcomed in to see the models close up and to have a chat about what we do and why.   Once or twice a year, someone sticks and comes back to learn or to fly.

     

    We continue to invest in the infrastructure, having added heat, light and charging to our building recently.   Charging is already being upgraded to cope with demand.

     

    Training is paramount.   We have had pressure on trainers latterly, with the same handful of seasoned pilots shouldering most of the burden but it does pay off.

     

    Proactive club communication is helpful, nudging members when there’s a fun fly, a bbq, Competency Certificate training or practice, etc.   We use Signal and the very efficient secretary fires messages out promptly and regularly.

     

    My job takes me to within striking distance of the LMS regularly and I message several members prior to see if anyone needs anything bought or collected.   Maybe it makes little odds but if it keeps a clubmate in the air then it’s beneficial.

     

    I think of it like this.   There are three types of members.   Some rarely appear; they subsidise the rest.   Some fly regularly and keep themselves to themselves and just get on with it, causing no issues to anyone.   The third type jumps up to help out, lend a prop or a spanner, grab an Osama if someone has an arrival to put the remains in, mucks in when the shed needs paint, attends the AGM and so on.   This group of a third provides most of the committee and the trainers and in my humble submission, gets more out of our hobby by putting more in.  NB this isn’t the same as six people doing the entire job of running the club, even though they occasionally grumble that it feels like it.

     

    Food for thought?

     

    BTC

    ps Osama = Bin Liner.

     

     

    • Like 3

    Retract Gear

    in All Things Model Flying

    Posted

    8 hours ago, Tosh McCaber said:

    Thanks for the replies so far guys. 

     

    Coming back to Nigel's reply- what do we do, to stem the tide of high tech (and eveything else!) Chinese imports?  We can't/ don't make them ourselves.

     

    As well, any time we develop a successful product in the UK, it's inevitably sold abroad.

     

    I guess we're doomed!!

    Buy from Taiwan, S. Korea, Czech Republic etc.   Loads of our stuff made there.   Or, buy the Chinese stuff if you must but from a UK retailer, then you've got recourse and an onshore business is making a living too.

    • Like 1

    Laser Engines development.

    in IC Engines

    Posted

    Tempting.   Buckminster is a great asset and if this brings more members out to experience it, that’s a good start.   Plenty of notice for a Friday and one of my club mates is already wagging his Stampe, Spit and Jungmeister tails.   Might have to be a Wot 4 for me, unless spring weather is kind and the P 47 gets airborne in time.

    BTC

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