Steve Dunne
-
Posts
353 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
2
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Gallery
Calendar
Downloads
Posts posted by Steve Dunne
-
-
Hi Martyn,
My Precedent Stampe has been going for a couple of years now, and flies scale aerobatics very well on the Laser 180 FS. It is fitted with a scale-looking Falcon 20x6 prop turning about 6400rpm, which pulls it around loops in a very scale manner.
The engine is entirely enclosed except for the exhaust stub.
I recommend this combination!
-
1
-
-
Hi Skippers,
I used a 10 metre roll of Natural Oratex, with some left over for repairs!
It was trimmed with leftovers of red Solartex, donkey's years old, probably about 4 metres.
Oratex paint (100ml can) was used around the nose area, and a little around the tail. Only used perhaps 20ml.
Oratex is excellent, easy to apply and very stable.
Enjoy!
-
2
-
-
-
God's own country...😄
-
That's a good idea - having the carby in the exhaust port!😆
-
Hi Skippers,
I built my Falcon last year, with a fixed tailwheel as per plan.
It tends to roll left on takeoff, but not enough to cause worry. Touch'n'goes are great if the touch is gentle, but very interesting (!) if the touch is really a wallop...
Ground steering is minimal, but you quickly get used to it - it is not a problem.
I recommend that you stick to the plan design - it does work ok.
An interesting and challenging model - I think you will enjoy it!
Steve.
-
1
-
-
Flying my 19.2lb H9 Spitfire, yesterday - Laser 180 using Laser 5% low oil fuel and an 18x8 G-Sonic prop.
Four excellent flights with plenty of scale aerobatics - thoroughly enjoyable.
My YT 82" Hurricane weighs in at 19lbs and also has a Laser 180, also good to fly scale aerobatics but not quite as sprightly.
Just remember to keep the speed up, full power when doing aerobatics but ok on lower throttle for fly-bys and show-offs!
Steve.
-
5
-
-
9 hours ago, Ron Gray said:
Oh yes, lost the alloy spinner off the WWXL mid flight, the holding bolt had sheared. Didn't realise it until I went to fire it up again!
Interesting! Haven't tried the new OptiLaser fuel yet, some in stock ready but a couple of pints of old MT Laser pro to finish yet.
A couple of weeks ago, flying the AcrowotXL with Laser 200i Twin, lost the alloy spinner mid flight, the holding bolt had sheared. Didn't realise it until I was back in the pits!
Bolt was 5mm HT Allen cap!
Steve.
-
12 minutes ago, Romeo Whisky said:
Thanks Simon, but I (and I'm sure many others) would not go near Facebook with a proverbial barge-pole - please put a bulletin on the main BMFA website.
Agreed, there are many of us with the same opinions about Facebook and other social meddling sites. BMFA pages for info, please.
-
28 minutes ago, Martin Harris - Moderator said:
Cracking video - really well produced…does Stuart do this sort of thing for a living?
Well into his eighties, Stuart is long retired from his profession as a film maker, but his you tube channel is worth a look:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiuzK2LgCHJjejNkEAtjMMg
Steve.
-
Stuart's video of North Leeds Record Attempt...
-
5
-
1
-
1
-
-
A total of 32 successfully in the air at noon in the North Leeds club - 21 RC fixed wing, 4 quads and 7 chuckies.
A magnificent day organised by Nigel, Jeremy and Bruce, marshalled by Bruce and Steve. A few pics to start, will try to add video later...
Quote from organiser Nigel, as sent to the BMFA:
21 fixed wing planes, 4 drones and a handful of chuck gliders all in the air at the same time from one fairly small runway surrounded by rough moorland. What could possibly go wrong??
Well in fact nothing did. After a call to arms thirty-two pilots and several ground support staff volunteered to participate. The free BBQ and talk of a bottle or two after the event obviously had nothing to do with the high response rate. Not to mention the fame fortune and pride that was sure to follow.
A plan was drawn up with models divided into four groups, powered gliders with long duration, large petrol models with long duration and good visibility at altitude, general sports models (glow and electric) and light foamy type models. Each group would fly at different altitudes with a flight director and his assistant directing operations. Then there were separate autonomous groups of hovering drones and a few balsa chuck gliders.
Two fairly young, fit and sensible ‘fetchermites' were press ganged (sorry volunteered) to clear models from the runway. A BBQ master was installed and a couple of people looking important in high vis. jackets were deployed on the nearby road to warn any horse riders or nervous humans of possible short lived high noise levels and falling debris. Our recently retired club doctor was at the ready to administer medication to over excited members and the gathered throng of admiring spectators. I might be exaggerating a bit...
A practice session with a high turn out was held a week before the big day and we refined the plan. It soon became obvious that we could get all models into the air in much less than the 10 minutes we had envisaged. We also found taxiing the models off to the side before cutting throttles and engines was a very effective safe and quick way to clear the strip. Fetchermites were only required for models encountering problems.May the 15th 2022 duly arrived and models were checked, test flown and at the ready. The pre-flight briefing went well with a surprising lack of questions or opinions. No more excuses, takeoffs commenced at 6 minutes to midday and the last model landed at 6 minutes past. A faint mizzle hung in the Yorkshire air but we are tough. The only incident was a dead stick (after midday) suffered by a glow powered Acrowot which landed out with no damage. Blinking was a dangerous occupation as each fixed wing pilot kept their beady eyes glued to their model. Several people with IC engines suffered dead stick paranoia!! It was surprisingly hard to be sure that yours was definately running with so many engines on the go! The sky seemed very crowded.
The call to a group photo came immediately after the last glider arried back on terra firma as the smell of freshly BBQ'd burgers drifted over the runway like an invisible magnet, not to mention the popping of a cork or two (not for designated drivers or those intending to fly later of course).
The event most definitely brought us all together in the planning and execution of a safe and satisfying day. In fact it was the first big club get together since the start of the pandemic and we look forward to defending our record in the future against the rest of the world.Models downwind...
and upwind...
Aplogies for the legs...
Successful!
-
4
-
-
29 minutes ago, Ron Gray said:
MT fuel is now produced and sold by Opti - MT fuel and is available from many outlets including Model Shop Leeds
Hi Ron - look at Model Shop Leeds website, or Optifuel website, and you will see that there is only a very limited range of MT fuels available so far.
They only have "full fat" Laser fuel - Jon thinks that low-oil Laser 5 Pro should be available soon.
There is doubt in the shops whether or not Techpower and some other MT fuels will be produced at all by Optifuel, due apparently to "limited demand".
We can only wait and see, or wait and hope...!
If anyone knows better (Optifuel spokesman??) we would be delighted to hear it.
Steve.
-
Does anyone know if and when Optifuel will be supplying either Laser 5 Pro (7% oil) or Techpower 10/16 nitro? Techpower is 15% oil + SICAL additives.
The Opifuel website shows very little in the way of Model Technics fuels.
The Techpower is a fuel that many of us in my club have used with great success in OS, Saito and other 4-strokes in recent years, but the standard Optifuel offerings are 18% or 20% oil. This is more like Propower from MT, which we found to be very much a second-best for our non-Laser four strokes.
We are beginning to run low...
On the same subject, what is the difference between aircraft fuel and car fuel (e.g. Optimix RTR 16, which has 15% oil like Techpower 16)?
If there is no downside for aircraft, perhaps this could replace Techpower?
Steve.
-
My quarter scale Jungmeister, a beefed up Seagull kit, flies nicely and aerobatically on a Laser 155, 17x8 prop.
Steve.
-
1
-
-
Hi Ernie,
My Falcon was completed late in 2021, and is powered by an OS56a four stroke, with a 14x4 prop.
It takes off in a few feet at little more than half throttle, and does most of the flights at 1/3 throttle.
Full throttle is used only occasionally, for an odd (very odd!) loop or roll.
No need to overpower it!
Steve.
-
2
-
-
1 hour ago, Peter Miller said:
My Last Super 60 was over powered with an OS FS 40 Surpass. My first successful one in the 60s had a Fox 25. One had two OS 20 FS engines.
Super 60 Twin????
-
Yesterday maidened the Ben Buckle KK Falcon, powered by OSfs56a.
16 months in the build - flies a treat, even loops, stall turns and does rather suspicious rolls...
Not bad for a 70-odd year old kit design - originally for free flight!
More photos in a new post "Ben Buckle KK Falcon".
-
15
-
-
OSfs60 open rocker... Very envious. I had one forty years ago!
It should be a marvellous power plant for the falcon!
Steve.
-
? Thanks all!
-
anf finally, with a loop...
-
2
-
-
and more...
-
and a few more...
-
Well, at last, after 16 months in the build, my KeilKraft Falcon from a Ben Buckle kit is complete!
Today was a calm day at Greenmires, our North Yorkshire flying site, and so a fine day for a maiden...
I was somewhat worried that take off would be skittish, due to the very forward undercarriage, but it was really just a pussycat!
The model weighs 8lb 5 oz, no ballast required with the cg at 130mm, just 5mm behind the plan cg.
Engine is an OSfs56a, turning a wooden 14"x4" prop. Took off at half throttle, and spent most of the flying time at 1/4 throttle.
Eventually tried a few aerobatics(!!), it loops reasonably, barrell rolls interestingly?, but the stall turns are excellent!
A few pics, with many thanks to club photographer Nigel Castle...
-
1
-
.jpg.ad326fff746b84d22dfa69e93779c6fb.jpg)
-2.jpg.31f4b333f9a5360535065b386ba40a4a.jpg)
.jpg.1b0a3bcd55b030857d421c092a58d909.jpg)
-3.jpg.e9e1aeb74356a8f43de239a2f274b97a.jpg)
Laser Engines - Technical questions
in IC Engines
Posted
I find the Fastrax Remote glow clip extender works very well on all my Laser engine installations.
Easy to fit, easy to remove, available from many model shops for around £8.
Steve