Martin Harris - Moderator

I feel that wing loading is the key to a successful trainer. The problem with a small one is that you have to build very light to avoid a fast flying (for its size) model which isn't easy to learn on.  Conversely, the very small light model is affected badly by turbulence and wind effects and tends to have difficult ground handling, which is why I like to advise beginners to go as large as possible. I realise you want to keep costs down but a nasty incident due to a twitchy model getting quickly beyond the pupil's capability can virtually double the cost at a stroke! Worse, some people will get disheartened quickly if they are struggling and may be put off learning.  The best model I've instructed on lately is the World Models Super Frontier Senior 80" trainer which flies well on a wide range of engines from a .46 up - my current pupil's one has a Magnum 90! Nice low wing loading, easy for the pupil to see what he's doing to it and very stable but adequately manoueverable. Also it's a delight to land.

Funnily enough I thought the same about the AUW but kept quiet as I felt ashamed that I couldn't think of getting anywhere near that light myself but as others admit the same I'd better come out of the woodwork! One consideration with the engine, unless the pictures give the wrong impression, is its weight. Where does the C of G come out (with the silencer fitted of course)? It does seem to have quite a long nose.   However on looking at the pictures again, if the tail area and moment are as small as they look you may need a fairly forward C of G anyway - have you calculated it theoretically yet? Edited By Martin Harris on 08/02/2011 11:38:35

  Posted by Erfolg on 07/02/2011 17:41:13: I am taking a break in the USA shortly.   As a modeller what would you purchase, to bring home? Some wide open space bathed in ideal flying weather!

With some trepidation! Off to bed now though...

The connector looks too long to me - almost as if there's some sort of adapter or broken plug fitted to it? Might be worth seeing if it can be separated?  The pins usually have a shroud fitted over them as per your Y lead illustration but the part holding the pins is normally the same as the socket holder.

Better late than never, Tom!

If you have a Watts/Pound figure in mind then remember that there are approximately 750W to a horsepower. Manufacturers tend to be a little "optimistic" with their figures which are quoted at peak rpms so unless you can run a small prop without regard to noise, knock 20% off and you'll be in the ballpark. For example, if an engine is advertised as giving 1.3 bhp at 15000 rpm, that's probably around 1 bhp in the "real world" and equivalent to 750W.  If in doubt, go up one size on your engine and remember that you can always throttle back!

Have you considered the Tony Nijhuis Sky 40? Plans from RCM&E of course...

Good find DW - I've seen lots of less integrated components and wondered if they could be used to "push" and "pull" information as this claims to be able to do. This seems to encapsulate all the monitoring functions we would need.   Unfortunately, from what I can see on the 'net, this seems to be a commercial rental solution aimed at the construction industry and I'd imagine this would be out of our price range as they talk about it being cost effective against the alternative of employing security staff.   It certainly seems to confirm the practicality of the idea, though.

Thanks Steve.  It's more the paracticalities that I'm looking at - is it possible to get cameras with a decent IR performance at a reasonable cost, could we run a web server on an old laptop to enable a remote user to activate a siren/strobes or even a remote start for our generator to light the place up like a Chrismas tree and get some decent images. Is there a mobile internet solution that provides "always on" connectivity without the danger of running up excessive data charges etc?  Really, what I'm looking for is has anybody tried communications from/to a remote site, roughly how much would it cost us to set up and run and how well did it perform  We've had a couple of break ins recently and on both occasions it would have taken quite a time to get in by the amount of trying evident. Edited By Martin Harris on 04/02/2011 17:58:36

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of remote monitoring of their club sites or other remote locations. I'm doing a little thinking about the practicalities of setting up a camera (or several) capable of sending a GSM message to alert a nominated person of unexpected activity on site, with the ability to view the situation and decide whether a passing deer can be safely ignored or action taken to alert the authorities if the triggerer is wearing a mask and stripy shirt!  Another thought is remote activation of an audible alarm and/or strobe light on assessment of the threat in order to dissuade someone about to commit an act of vandalism or theft without the drawbacks of an automatic alarm being triggered falsely.  The limitations have to include the system running on stored power and no availability of a land line. Edited By Martin Harris on 04/02/2011 12:57:42

Posted by James40 on 02/02/2011 08:53:30: @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css); @import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css); Thanks for the link Martin but that is looking more along the lines of cheap Chinese import radio gear, a Spektrum bit of kit should meet all the quality checks seeing as the EU models and US models all come off the same conveyor belt at the factory.   So if it's only a power issue, and I'm not particularly worried about the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 !   Ofcom: Additionally, the Wideband Data Transmission Applications (WBDTS) at 2.4 GHz may also be used for model control. Apparatus is allowed to operate at higher powers than the General Non-Specific Short Range Devices. If I see a good deal then I think I'll go for it, even if it means the set going to HH UK for a reprogram then I should still be quids in.       Edited By James40 on 02/02/2011 08:54:43 Might be best to check with Horizon before you buy one. As to the WT Act, it is still valid, regularly updated and supplemented and I believe convictions can incur fines of up to £5000 and 2 years imprisonment. In your line of work, can you really afford to be quite so glib?

ABS pipe solvent (B&Q etc.)   EDIT (as I see you're considering on reading your posting properly!)   I used it on my Airsail Chipmunk cowling 8 years or so ago and it's still holding...Edited By Martin Harris on 02/02/2011 20:00:30

Haven't tried it myself but there is thought to be a distinct possibility of shielding from metallic paints.

In the cockpit or inside a dummy VHF aerial?   ...or one in each?

The technique which has always worked for me is to tin both components, hold (or preferably twist, where applicable) them together, apply the tinned iron to the larger component, touch the junction between the iron and component briefly with the solder to promote the joining of the heat path and then apply solder to the joint remotely from the iron. One important point to bear in mind is that the contact should be mechanical and the solder's job is to hold the components in contact and exclude corrosive elements from the joint. Solder is a fairly poor conductor as metals go...  ...and CN - I would use nothing less than Lead-Tin whatever howls of protest were to come from the bearded sandal wearers!  The joke is that there are already exceptions made for "safety critical" applications so they do realise the limitations of the substitutes! Edited By Martin Harris on 02/02/2011 14:53:53

If it's turning as soon as it leaves the ground but flying in trim once you've avoided the trees, the likelihood is that you have some compensation held in for undercarriage misalignment, asymetric wheel drag or tailwheel/skid misalignment. This may be subconscious.

Did it yaw or bank?

I'd just make a new rudder, Stephen.Edited By Martin Harris on 02/02/2011 00:45:19

A little light reading but I'd suggest that we don't start debating it. I think everything has already been said...

I've found that high silver content solder works best on gold plated components. I bought some marketed as "Deans Racing Solder" or similar but I ran out recently. Must get some more...

You're likely to get one transmitting at far higher power than is permitted in the UK which means that unless you get it tweaked (I believe it's possibly software controlled) you will be committing a criminal offence by using it.   CE marking is a red herring unless you're selling it on.

Is it reading 3150 rpm - i.e. 315 (x10) ... a lot of tachos don't display the last digit. Although mains frequency varies to balance out the drops when sudden loads drop the generator rpms it wouldn't be by enough to give that sort of error but you should be able to use the lamp to calibrate it if accuracy is important to you.

A fine piece of flying? Breaking the law in an obvious and well publicised way to the possible (probable?) detriment of those who enjoy flying safely and in appropriate places doesn't make up for the ability to miss a few lumps of concrete. I'm with Lee on this - how would you feel if all FPV flying was banned after someone decided to take a closer look at the US President's tea party on the White House lawn for example? Would you still praise the skillful way he circled the bottle of Perrier before leaving a single wheelmark on Obama's cucumber sandwich???

You will.....