Nigel Heather

As you say, will be interesting to see how Futaba react to this. Would they be prepared to write off £142k and work with what is effectively the same Ripmax but under different ownership. Cheers, Nigel

Just to be clear, I said that I was surprised how little they sold for, I didn't say that they sold for nothing. I still consider £130 (£147) pretty low. Before I saw prices I would have expected unstarted Flair scout kits to fetch between £250 and £300. They are out of production so if they were in demand I'd have expected unstarted kits to sell for a premium. If a company were to take on the range and sell it I would expect them to have to pitch that at £250 RRP or higher to make it worthwhile. I made a Puppeteer many years ago. What I recall was a model that needed a lot of work (I quite enjoyed that though) and a lot of additional cost - solartex, wheels, pilot, machine gun(s), decals, paint. It was quite an expensive model to complete. I imagine that will put off many builders these days, especially those that have become used to ARTF.

I don’t think the demand is there. I see quite a few Flair kits in the classifieds and I’m always surprised about how little they sell for. Cheers, Nigel

A Yamamoto high wing trainer in 1986 or 1987, can't remember exactly. I went to the shop (somewhere near Altrincham) with a list of things I wanted to buy - Yamamoto 4 channel trainer, OS 40FP motor, Futaba Challenger radio kit, glue, covering, wing joining kit etc. But I let shop talk me into two mistakes Convinced me to buy the 3 channel version and then buy the aileron wing when I became more confident Convinced me to go for the OS 35FP - they said the 40 was too powerful for beginners Cheers, Nigel

Many thanks for that. I haven't done anything like the research you have done. It was more from gut feeling and things like this Acrowot Foam-E - flying weight 1200g, battery (3S 2200) = 170g, without battery 1030g Acrowot EP - flying weight 3000g, battery (5S 4500) = 600g, without battery 2400g Airframe weight ratio = 2.33x Battery weight ratio = 3.53x That's why I said exponential Also my observation not none of the large planes being flown at Wings and Wheels were electric. Also- would your graph keep scaling - if so why don't we have real electric plane - full size Cessna. Why is a EP VW Golf significantly heavier than a petrol VW Golf. The weight of EV cars is an emerging concern and the reason always cited is the battery. I'm not saying you are wrong at at, just asking if there is a point where the weight of the battery becomes a problem

I've always thought this. As the size of the aircraft increases the size/weight of the motor/battery/ESC needed increases exponentially. With smaller models an electric setup is lighter than an IC setup, but there must quickly come a point where it is heavier. And as you go larger still the extra weight of the batteries becomes more and more a factor, 12S at 5000mAh weighs around 1.5kg (3.3 pounds in old money). I notice that when I go to shows like Wings and Wheels, hardly any of the planes, and especially the big ones use electric. Is there a rule of thumb where the electric setup because heavier than the equivalent IC setup. But I do imagine, that for all the stuff we typically fly at the local club, electric is fine. Cheers, Nigel

The point is, it was not a real issue on a wing joining kit but I wouldn't want to have to do that for a whole airframe

Is this glass and resin different from wing-joining kits. The reason I ask is that I have used wing joining kits in the past and although they always did the job I found them difficult. I found the limited working time a challenge and it always needed a lot of sanding (creating the really nasty dust) to smooth out drips etc. And that was just for a narrow section of wing on models where the finish wasn’t that important. As a result, the idea of glassing a whole aeroplane is not very attractive - which is why I have been looking at the Poly-C option.

My copy of BMFA News arrived today - check out the Bertie cartoon on the contents page - made me think of this thread.

I've had a variety of sims over the years - in fact I started with Aerochopper and that absolutely did teach me the basics of orientation, muscle memory and basic flying. Since then I have had a whole string of sims and I enjoy them and can see the value but, for me, there is one big shortcoming - they don't simulate the 'pucker factor'. That is the fear of crashing and its inconvenience but more importantly the cost. As an example, I have tried many times to fly helicopters. I've had a couple of real ones over the years. On the sim I can fly helicopters around the virtual sky, I can do aerobatics, I can even auto most times. But at the field it is a different matter, I can hover okay, but I feel very tense and anxious and can't proceed to forward flight. I'm actually relieved when the timer beeps and I can land. I'm certain that if I could simply get over this psychological barrier I would be able to fly around fine - unfortunately that is not something the sim can help with.

I was meant to be replying to @Keith Billinge, thought I had, but clearly I clicked on the wrong 'quote' link. I'd go back and fix it but I can't because the the Forum's edit limitations.

I did similar to you. I saw a Panasonic CM900 with loads of accessories on a local sale website for £90. It was a bit of an impulse buy to be honest as I'd not really considered one before that other than a curiosity when I had seen similar in HobbyCraft. But it seemed very little money for a machine that had good reviews, looked very lightly used and came with tons of extras.

It’s not traditional varnish, it is stuff called Poly C https://www.rcworld.co.uk/acatalog/Poly-C-500ml-PolyC500.html#SID=263 But read that some floor polishes are the same stuff - someone mentioned Wilko Diamond Floor Polish. Water based, takes about 8 coats, but it is said that the water evaporates off so the results is very light and tough. This thread talks about Poly C and cheaper alternatives

I’m in Horsham, West Sussex, so not a million miles away. Glass cloth and varnish - I don’t know for sure because I have only recently heard of it myself but I imagine Cheaper Easier to use No noxious fumes Quicker working time Easier finishing - no rocks hard drips to sand down Maybe lighter But I also imagine it is not as strong, but reckon it would still be stronger than tissue and dope or film.

@KenC where do you live. If nearby you are welcome to use my compressor. Cheers, Nigel

What about this lightweight glass cloth and acrylic varnish method that I have been reading about since I’ve been researching funfighters? So glassing but not using two part resin. Cheers, Nigel

If you are into the magazine then subscription is the way to go. Make sure you quote the offer in the magazine so you get the free gifts - I notice that if you just go directly to subscriptions using a google search or even the link on this site there is no mention of the free gift. Not sure if you'd get it anyway even though it is not mentioned. Mine's coming to an end soon, it was the free gift that tempted me but I'm not sure I will bother renewing - probably move onto something else.

Have you looked at car shops like Halfords - not sure if it is still a thing, but back in the day they used to sell all sorts of self adhesive trim lines and go faster stripes. Alternatively go a DIY or craft place and buy some sticky back plastic (like Fablon) - it’s usually on a roll so you’d have to cut the strips yourself but the advantage is that you can choose whatever shape and width you want. Something like this maybe https://www.amazon.co.uk/4R-Quattroerre-10452-Stripes-Adhesive/dp/B08BHZH3MZ/ref=sr_1_19?crid=2FGU97LWP6HNY&keywords=Adhesive+car+trim&qid=1690266223&sprefix=adhesive+car+trim%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-19 Remember to put it down using soapy water so that you can position it. Cheers, Nigel

GNB. - but if you are looking at the ubiquitous 3S 2200 then the savings aren’t say significant. It’s when you go to more cells or bigger capacities that I found Overlander comparatively more expensive.

What's the distinction - the notice states Ripmax Limited - so what does and does not that include.

Agreed, it the things that people have to buy on a regular basis that determines a more realistic inflation. If the price of a model plane increase form £150 to £250 then I don't consider that an inflation problem for me because I can choose not to buy it. But it is a big problem for businesses because they have had to increase the prices for legitimate reasons but as a result face reduced sales potentionally leading to bankruptcy. By comparing when electricity doubles in price it impacts how I feel inflation because although I might reduce my consumption slightly I have no choice but to pay up.

Following on from the shopping basket that determines inflation, call me cynical but I do feel it is manipulated. For example flat screen TVs were included when they were cutting edge technology that few could afford - but like all new technology the price is only going to go one way, down, which drags inflation down with it. For 2023 they have introduced e-bikes because we all buy those don't we. Again I'd suggest that this is a product that will reduce in price and therefore curb inflation. I also think it is very manipulative including items like TVs and e-bikes that you only buy once. For mist people whether the cost of a TV is rising or falling is irrelevant because they already have one and won't be looking to buy a replacement anytime soon.

They use a basket of goods to create an average inflation. The contents of the basket gets adjusted as times changes but there have been some notable examples - when Champagne was in the basket, prices of Champagne had reduced significantly which brought inflation down. Another example was that flat screen TVs were in the basket for so.e time and as their reducing prices helped to keep inflation down. Ignoring the headline figures and looking at my weekly spend I'd sat that supermarket costs have increased by around 20% for me. But it might be more because I have adjusted how I shop slightly, where I think that brands are taking the piss,, like Lurpak and Twinings I have switched to supermarket brands.

Well I am in a fortunate position like you but I’m not blind to how it is impacting the majority that are not as lucky as us. Supermarket shop - increased by about 20% Gas and Electricity - have doubled Mortgages - have tripled Shocks in the pipeline - car insurance renewals are rumoured to double - and shopping around won’t help because it is across the board Ukraine - with Putin’s missiles attacks on the grain warehouses and threats to sink any ship (regardless of nationality) sailing into Ukraine for grain - expect that to have a big impact on prices of any grain related products You say that you don’t have a mortgage, I don’t either, we are very fortunate because the average monthly increase is about £500. I do agree that you still see people spending - but I do wonder if they are the fortunate like us or just building up credit card or loan debt. To say that there isn’t a crisis just because we are fortunate is blinkered.

I wasn't suggesting that a newcomer would look at the rate of change. Just that two years ago newcomers looking at a £150 would have been more tempted by newcomers looking at £250 today. And that is before you consider the cost of living crisis.