KC - RCME Editor

Thanks for all your kind comments and positive replies, folks. Just one last thing I should add before I get too diverted again by putting the next issue together and that is that whilst I am happy to try to help resolve any subscriber issues (by email please) all I can really do is to pass them over to the Subs Department. So there's a limit to what I can do or promise, although to be fair they are pretty good at following things up when I've passed them over. It's important to understand that subscriber queries and complaints are dealt with on a one to one basis, so please let the Subs Department know if you have any concerns. Please also give them a few days to reply. Thanks Kevin

Hi All Just to try to keep you in the picture here's a chunk from my next Welcome piece in the February issue. I hope it helps explain things: As many of you will have noticed the December 2020 and January 2021 issues were merged. Although this affected all of MyTime Media's magazines, for RCM&E it came at a particularly difficult time as by then the last issue was all but ready to pass for press. So, it was really all we could do to rename all the footers at the bottom of each page - and I for one was left scratching my head as to what it was all about... When things had calmed down, after the magazine was handed over to the printer, I was able to dig a little further and find out what had happened. Here's the information I was given: Due to November's month-long English lockdown MyTime Media decided to postpone their magazines' on-sale dates until after the lockdown had finished. All MTM magazines, including RCM&E, were rescheduled to avoid any going on sale during the lockdown, during which time the majority of UK news outlets would be closed. Hence, it was decided to rename the December issues to December/January to cover the time the issue following the lockdown would be in the stores. So, much to the disappointment of the naysayers there's no grand conspiracy. Just a sensible business decision to help us get through yet another difficult period caused by Covid. As the only member of staff who works full time on RCM&E you may be forgiven for thinking that I had a grand time by taking a month off. But in reality, it only amounted to ten days, which coincided with a (thankfully) rare bout of illness (no, not that one!). Hence, my grand plans for catching up in the workshop were thwarted as I spent most of it shivering in bed! Of course, those exact same naysayers will probably lock on to my 'no conspiracy' comment above and ask, 'Why didn't something similar happen during Lockdown V1, then?' The answer is: it did! But, fortunately, not to RCM&E. Other magazines, like our sister title Model Boats, were not so lucky and ceased publication for a few issues, whilst other titles were closed for good. Compared to this the merging of two issues has let us off pretty lightly considering the circumstances. As for going bi-monthly, that's not on the cards, nor what the latest schedule says. There will be a monthly mag for the rest of the year, Covid willing. But even if things do have to change again, such as for another lockdown, then please rest assured that all at MyTime are just doing their best to keep things going in what is a very difficult time for any publishing business. Thanks for your understanding. I'll hand back to David now so I can concentrate on the mag. But you can reach me anytime by email and I'll try to answer promptly. Thanks Kevin

I fly it on the lowest rates for smooth aeros and rarely switch in more for any 3D stuff. I've got better planes for that but it's not really my style. I prefer turnaround flying, which the Splendor seems rather good at. I'll shut up now or I'll be writing the article here instead of in the mag! I'll just keeping monitoring things now so apologies if I go mute with any other members. Over to you, guys...

Thanks, Bob That's interesting. I put my away for a long time as I wasn't that convinced about it either when comparing it with my Angel S and Wind S 50. But I guess it's going to be heavier than a highly built wooden airframe. I fly it now at a site that has a lot of trees, which I keep the SebArts well away from, and it always seems to impress my club mates. It has become my regular hack recently... Kevin

Thanks, Jon Keep an eye out as there are plenty more to come. Kevin

Quite soon I hope to start an occasional series in the magazine on past review models, of which I am lucky enough to have quite a few in my collection. A few too many in fact, so I am intending to thin out my flock. But before doing so I thought it would be interesting to fly them again to see if my notes on them have changed over the years, and whether I really want to keep them or not. And I do mean years, as some aeroplanes go back to my first stint as Editor of RCM&E back in the early 90s! If you have owned and/or flown the models to be featured, then it would be great to hear from you with your own thoughts and feelings about them. It would also be good to hear from those with some knowledge of the second-hand market as to their current value, so that we can all build our knowledge of what different types of models are worth when sold on. To start with I'll be looking at a little and large pair of aerobatic models with a common connection - ace R/C pilot Quique Somenzini, who designed both models. First up is E-flite's Carbon-Z Splendor, followed by the Edge 540QQ 280 BNF, also from E-flite. Please note that if you do respond to this thread then I may lift some of your words and/or price estimates to use as quotes in the magazine.