chris collis

Many thanks Andy,will have a good look at the threads and see what transpires.

Would you know if there is any difference in water handling between two engined Catalina and four engined Sunderland?Getting a little bit stumped as to how to achieve this relatively simply without affecting the flight envelope.Many thanks Andy

Ok,thanks Denis.Will definitely have to keep that in mind and will have to do a lot of reading of the manual!

Hi Frank,So you would have the two starboard ESC’s linked together and the two port ones the same and then mix in on a switch to the rudder and just use the throttle stick for manovering on water?Then when model is lined up for takeoff,flick the switch to power up all motors to equal revs?many thanks.

Cheers Paul,This will be my first foray into four engined flying boats so trying to forestall any water handling problems.

Looking for advice or suggestions for setting up separate transmitter throttle controls to run two inboards independent from the outboards .The reason for this is that I am starting to build a 94in Sunderland to be flown off water but needs directional control when taxiing. The thought being using the inboards only with the airflow over the rudder to give it direction.Sunderland’s had no rudder. The transmitter I’m using is a Hitec Aurora 9x ,so I am thinking of using the two side sliders as throttle control.left side for inboards and right side for outboards.Don’t know if this is a viable method so any thoughts,suggestions or alternatives would be gratefully appreciated. I will also be using the model at our flying field and then stripped down for Pss.

I’m probably being a bit of a dinosaur but can anyone remember using nylon and dope?Very light and strong and fairly easy to use with a good resistance to puncturing.

Hi Geoff,Detailing cockpits can be done fairly cheaply with just some clear acetate sheet,1/32 ply and instruments cut from a photocopy to the right scale for your model.Very easily done and only takes about a day;day and a half to make.cost of my panels on my ov10 bronco and A37 dragonfly was about £2 each.Hope this may be of some help to you.Attached are a couple of photos that may be of help.cheers.Chris.

Thanks John, I didn’t think that the ordinance would make much difference to the flight quality as they are very lightweight,just a few grams each.I’ve still got 2 more hard points to add!also it was flown by Phil Cooke,a highly capable pilot.

Just a little tip.when using Copydex ,drop a few drops of food colourant in especially if you’re veneering foam wings.Helps to see where it’s going and how much is going on.

Have now had the unmodified 54in plans scanned to pdf files.

Hi Mike,great to meet you at the weekend and all the information you gave me on using peel ply.will definitely consider it on my winter project.sorry to hear about your tribulations when you got home on your new purchase!enjoy when you come to start building.chris

Mike,cost of plan copy at Metro was £4 if you want one.

Thanks guys,Was just at Metro repo yesterday!Will give them a buzz and also the one on Team Valley.cheers

Thanks Mike,Will definitely look into this .Would plans from a pdf file be of any use to anybody?It’s just to save anyone postage costs.cheers

Hi guys,Just about to look into how to create a pdf file for the 54in unmodified plan a37 if this may be of any use to anyone wanting a plan.i'm afraid i'm a total numpty when it comes to technology!Also I could make available the plans available for the 36in one piece version if there's any intrest.Just posted 2 copies of the 54in plan,1 to Portugal and 1 to Italy.I am also going to look into the possibility and cost of having canopies blown to see if it's viable.I would love to redraw the plan with my modifications on but do not have a draftsmans board for doing it.Paul got rid of his board.If there are any draftpersons out there that might be able to help, please give me a shout!Cheers Chris

Hi Robert,I think that someone built the strike master variant when the pssa jet provost mass build was done. I know that a couple were built in the 90s.cheers

Mike,are you anywhere near Seaton delaval?cheers

Hi Mike,Just so it doesn’t put you off,cockpit detail only took a day and a half to do.Just some 1/32 ply,a bit of clear acetate sheet and an abrasive cutting cone and some instruments cut out.fairly simple.cheers chris.

Hi Mike,The model is covered in silver solafilm and then flattened down with wet and dry,then painted with humbrol acrylics.refuelling conduit’s are from fuel tubing cut in half and then cyno in place.cheers chris.

Hi Mike,The a37 Dragonfly that I’ve built is 54 inch span and weighs in at 4lb12 0unce with an sd205 wing section and 11/2 degrees washout.I’ve had to modify the original plan substantially to change it from a one piece model to a two piece transportable fuselage and wing.The colour scheme is actually taken from the photo that you have. I’ve made a mould for the canopy and blown it on my own homemade vac former.It runs on 4 mini servos,2 for ailerons,1 rudder and 1 elevator.hope this is of some help.Chris

Cessna A37 Dragonfly (tweet).Just finished my Pss A37 ready for test flying at the Great Orme October do.Upscaled from the 36 inch Paul Sampson plan from the 90’s to 54 inch so in a way scratch built,having to change model from a one piece to two piece.Canopy is home blown and armaments removable.

I am in France at the moment near St Etienne on a touring holiday so I checked out the French FFam website for a local club. Found one and went there yesterday to sound out any possibility to fly and met the club chairman at their field.Showed him my BMFA,CAA and club card and he could not be more welcoming and agreed to let me fly with them this coming Saturday.This is about the fourth holiday in France i've had have always been welcomed by the local clubs.

Had this one for quite a few years.good piece of kit but don’t know if they are still produced.

So surprised that anyone remembered my Ju88 after all these years!Then it was powered by two speed 600 motors and nicads and it's still set up to fly both as electric or pss but now mainly as pss.It's now nearly 28 years old and still gives a lot of fun but the canopy now could do with replacing.Thanks for the video,I never knew it existed after all these years!Hear's a couple of brilliant photos taken by patmac in it's present Sicilian camo colors at my local cliff soaring site.