Jeffrey Cottrell 2

Hi Guys Been re-reading the original Bean thread here and I get the impression that the boxy fuselage was to match the supplied plastic cowl. One thing I really like is the slim rounded fuz, so if I had the kit the cowl would be the first thing to be ditched. Also, the thread starter was not too enamoured with the kit quality all round. This was the PB models kit, so whether the Cloud Models one would be any different, I couldn't say. RedBaron I notice the original RCMF plan for the Dwarf Bean is still available on e-bay. Might be worth considering kc's suggestion of getting the plan enlarged to the size of the original Bean (Skyliner) Just thoughts at the moment Jeff

I have started a number of threads asking for information about a particular subject. Now I have the information these threads are no longer of use, and only clog up the forum. How can they be deleted? Thanks Jeff

Hi Keith Thanks for the thought, but I've got the magazine coming. This direct from the publishers, ADH, so I must have grabbed the last one they had. Ho hum. Must admit my interest is also purely theoretical. My build list stretches to the wild blue yonder, so perhaps not ideal to add another one. Wonder whether RedBaron might be interested in it. I know he was looking for a plan for the full size one, so perhaps the plan enlarged might suit him. Looked back to the original Bean thread, and the comments on the kit were not too favourable. Also showed a picture of a model built from the kit, and it looks too boxy to appeal to me, so built from the plan might be a better bet. Over to him Jeff

Hi kc Try this Jeff

Hi Guys, couple of thoughts Currently putting together a pair of Chilli Wind wings, using the rib templates supplied by HarryD. Have to say those templates are very good and perfect for use. He also prepared a wing layout drawing, with rib positions marked, so in conjunction with the templates all you need. The Wind plan can be downloaded from Outerzone, so all you need for free (cheapskate, moi?) Changing the subject: Few posts back, RedBaron mentioned a model called a Bean. Agreed, silly name. Looking for some more info revealed a smaller one called Dwarf Bean. Even sillier name. Somewhat reminicient of the Crossfire by Howard Metcalfe. Anyway, fancied a closer look. Supposedly a free plan in RC Model Flyer, June 2013. Searched June issue, and also May and July but couldn't find anything. Can someone help? Jeff

Hi Guys New to this topic, where can I get plans? Jeff

Hi Wilco Not sure if there ever was a plan for the Blob. Ir was originally a kit from SAS (Soar Ahead Sailplanes) and came with pre-made foam wings and pre-cut parts, so a plan would not be necessary. However, I have just received my kit from NJR modelling, and won't be building for a while, so any dimensions/shapes which would be of use to you, I can trace from mine. Let me know Jeff

Hi Graham Following your thread with interest. Somewhere in my schedule (no 178, I believe) I have one to build which I intend to electrify same as yours. Could you let me know which motor you have used? Done a bit of research and most found the narrow nose made fitting a motor problematical, but your seems to fit with space to spare. Did you widen the nose at all to fit it in? Thanks Jeff

Hi Nigel Thanks for that link, very interesting. Mind you, in my box labelled 'useful one day' I found a piece of 12g piano wire and some plastic tubing that is a nice snug fit. Might roll my own, haven't decided yet. Jeff

Hi Guys Anyone remember the old SAS Blob slope soarer? Had a couple in my time, huge fun with a 15 engine up front. Anyway, long time back (try February) I got in touch with a company called NJR modelling, who were planning to re-introduce the SAS range and put my name on the waiting list for a Blob. In truth I'd actually forgotten about it when I got an e-mail out of the blue to tell me they were ready to ship. So, got one coming. Anybody else fancy one, look here. Only question is, when I got the e-mail, Nick said shipping was included in the price. When I came to place my order I found an extra £12.50 aded for shipping. Got an e-mail in to Nick to clarify this, will let you know. Jeff Got a quick reply back. What he actually said was shipping was included in the PROCESS. Odd choice of words, which I misread to mean included with the price. My bad. So, if you want one, expect to pay £12.50 for UK shipping on top of the kit price. J

Thanks Martin but I don't do nasty floppy anything, apart from when I've spent too long in the pub! Jeff

Hi Nigel You could well be right on that. Didn't like the idea of cutting chunks out of the ribs without a plan, but no-one else has come up with anything better, so that's the way to go. Thanks. Andy Sticking with the wing mounted u/c, for the old fashioned look. Even considering a central servo and torque rods for the ailerons. Can't get more 'old school' than that. We'll see Jeff

Hi Guys David 'New Wing'. Had the same thought myself, but the old manual also has instructions for the built up wing, so it's not that. Had a chat with Chris at SLEC, and he says it's a change in the spar webbing. Apparently the older model had top and bottom spars which you glued the ribs to but then the spar webbing was in sections to be glued in separately. The newer design has a one piece slotted web of cnc ply. The lower spar is glued to this first, then the ribs added and the upper spar glued to the ribs and the webbing in situ. Should make for a massively strong structure, but I'm not sure about fitting the upper spar to the webbing and ribs at the same time. Depends how well the slots have been cut. Time will tell. As Redex pointed out, the wing does have slight dihedral. One odd thing. Neither manual gives how much this dihedral should be, just suggests using a book or similar to hold it at the correct angle. Not sure if I'll need this. Ken built one with a flat wing, no dihedral, and I'm seriously thinking about going that way too. Not sure whether it will spoil the looks of the model, but I have its stable mate, the Limbo Dancer, which has a flat wing and flies very well on it. Jury still out on that one. Not sure about anyone else, but the change back to glow came about through a series on coincidences, and a bite of the nostalgia bug. Some months back I went to the Wings and Wheels show, with the firm intention of not buying anything (yeah, right). Came back with two second hand models, one or which was a big Excelsior from the DSM stable. It had a whopping great Thunder Tiger 120 on the front, but came at such a good price I just couldn't resist. Anyway, having been all electric for so long needed to source the ancilliarys, starter, fuel etc. Had a couple of flights with this one, until a hard landing resulted in large bits falling off. Not too happy with the way it had been put together, so that's in the repair shop for a full refit. Left me with all the gear and nothing to use it on. Looking through the BMFA classifieds, scored an OS 40 LA for a very reasonable price, so that only left a suitable airframe to fit it, hence the FunFly. That's my story anyway, and I'm sticking to it. Jeff

Hi Nigel Thanks for the quick reply and the details. Pretty much what I had in mind, although I'd probably use 1/8 liteply to reinforce the ribs. However, what's exercising my noggin at the moment is this: Your example was from a tricycle u/c, which puts the blocks behind the spar where the aerofoil is relatively flat. On the Wind, it's anything but. Blocks are fitted in front of the spar where the rib curvature is at its highest, and given the tapered wing this gets even greater as you go outboard. So, fitting the blocks level with the top of the ribs is a non-starter. That's my issue, any ideas? Jeff

Hi guys Started on my Chilli Wind build, using templates supplied by Harry, and they really are excellent. Basic wing structure is built, and I'm pleased with it, but run into a stumbling block with u/c mounting. The plan shows a foam wing, and even then only shows the position of the u/c wire, without any detail as to how to mount it. With my built up wing I have even more of an issue. So, any suggestions as to how to go about it would be most welcome. Asked the same question on the Built up wing thread, here, so ideas on either thread would be most welcome. Thanks Jeff

Hi Guys Started a Chilli Wind build with built up wings, and I could use some help. I used some rib profiles supplied by HarryD here and they are excellent, however I have run into a question over u/c mounting. The plan shows details for a foam wing, and even then only shows the position of the u/c wire with no detail of how it is mounted. With my built up wing I am even more at a loss, so any suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks Jeff

Hi Guys Funfly kit arrived this morning. Only had time for a quick peruse but first impressions good. Arrived in a box jam packed with what looks pretty good wood. This kit cost £105 inc postage. Considering you would pay twice that for a couple of lumps of re-cycled ceiling tiles, seems like pretty good value in my book. As noted, comes with tank and engine mount, but also loads of other bits of hardware, including even a spinner. Only omission was a pair of wheels. Looking at the box, doubt whether they could have fitted them in anyway. Got loads of spares around, so we'll forgive them that. Even included some plastic sheet to cover the plan. Yes, there is a plan, but only for the wings, but that's where the puzzle is. Two instruction books included. First is, I presume, the original one for the kit. This has written building instructions but no illustrations. A supplementary one is also enclosed. This has pictures at various stages of the construction, which will be very useful, but it is titled ' Building Instructions, New Wing', so wondering what's changed. Main construction appears to be cnc cut lite ply. Ribs have lightening holes, but it also uses cnc cut sub leading edges, trailing edges and shear webs, all tab locked in place. Should make for a quick and accurate build, but I would question the weight. Obviously will be tracing round the parts before the build, so, if need be, simple job to make a new wing out of balsa. Anyway, so far so good. Nigel Sorry, forgot to mention, I picked up a used OS40LA from Martin Thompson. That arrived today, seems to have loads of compression, so won't know more until I get it running, but should do the job. Also you mentioned using 'T' nuts for the motor mount/bulkhead. SLEC are ahead of you, and include those in the kit. Bit puzzled when I found another set in a bag. Turns out these fit into the u/c plate for the retaining saddles. Most kits would use self tappers for this, so +1 to SLEC. That's all I have so far. Will highlight any issues as I build. Cheers Jeff

Hi Nigel, thanks You must be reading my mind. Having not built an ic model for 20 years or so, my first question would be about fuel proofer. I do have a couple of sorts of epoxy resin in my goodies box, but would you think that Rustins product might be better. SLEC website says fuel tank and engine mount are in the kit, so I'll see what I have when it arrives. Still hoping to hear back from Ken as to why he built his without dihedral. Sounds interesting. Work in progress Jeff

Another thought. Geoff My kit should be here anytime soon. Don't know if it will have a plan or not, but any info I can help with from mine, please ask Jeff

Hi Guys Don't know whether anyone's still following this thread, but if so, can you help. About to start my FunFly build, and first ic model I have done since Gods dog was a puppy. Any handy hints I should know about in advance? So, first question. Ken Back in the dark ages you posted that you didn't bother with the suggested dihedral, and enlarged the rudder. Was this by design or just because it looked right? I have a Limbo dancer from the same stable, and it's done me proud for many years with a flat wing. So, your thoughts? Jeff

Hi Nigel, thanks for your interest. I did solve it, but more by luck than judgment. Always in the past used my default browser, Firefox, to open pdf files. In an earlier post kc mentioned he used Acrobat DC to open his files. Delved around and found I had that as an option, so tried it, and printed out perfectly. Lesson learned, will be using that in future. Still have no idea why it worked, but do I care? Now to get building. Balsa and sharp knives. At last something I know about!!!! Jeff

Peter Is there a demo copy of Compufoil I can download, just for a play. All I can see is the base program, at $39, but if I want to generate intermediate ribs I have to have the 'Lofting' module for another $21, and if I want to add spars etc, a 'Spar Slot' module fort another $13. I can see why you, as a prolific model designer, would find almost constant use for this software, but all I want to do is to have a play with this, see whether I can get some sort of handle on how to use it. Jeff

Gentleman I wish you would stop saying something is easy, where for me at least it's certainly not. So, downloaded free copy of Profili, in the computer as Profili XT. Found a suitable aerofoil for a play. Printed that out ok. Went to the next tab and added spars, le, te. Went to print that and confronted by a message saying unregistered user could not print at that stage. Ok, I'll fall for it. Filled in the registration form which said a registered copy would cost 60 euro. Not for me it won't. So, what am I doing wrong? Jeff

Hi Guys Not sure it qualiflies as my new model yet, but I hope to be picking up this one early next week. Jeff

Now he tells me Cheers mate Jeff