Graham Davies 3
-
Posts
1,067 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
12
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Gallery
Calendar
Downloads
Posts posted by Graham Davies 3
-
-
Right idea Barrie.
I earn my living dealing with Chinese supply, and have done for nearly 2 decades. I have watched their economy grow, and watched the Chinese nation learn how to make things in a more western manner. I have also watched the world become utterly reliant on Chinese supply, or more accurately, Chinese costs. I cannot blame anyone for this. We can moan about every product disappointment we get, but for many people the low costs have ALLOWED them into a hobby that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive.
But to think we have much option is a little optimistic, to say the least. For example, if you are fed up with buying Chinese computers, good luck trying to find much alternative. And spending your way out by taking the higher cost option won't help you. Most are, and have been for some time, made in China.
To take a stand and buy european only, at industrial level, is commercial suicide. Whilst one chap takes a stand, the rest of the world will continue to buy cheaper product, undercut the price, and slowly win the business with the inevitable consequence. To stand up and say "but my European product is better quality, so you'll be sorry" is also mis-informed. There are a great many very, very good Chinese companies.
I buy European where I can, but not exclusively. If I did, I would probably not be in the hobby, because I could not afford otherwise. I have to be realistic.
But again, whilst we can and should be passionate about our hobby, I think we will waste our energy trying to change the industrial picture.
Graham
-
Some interesting comments and thoughts on here.
Whilst I agree that this is a very big issue, we have to be realistic here and keep some perspective.
If anyone thinks that we can influence the worldwide supply of a resource that is predominately industrial, they are very, very much mistaken. We are, and always will be, a very small part of the demand, and as such, largely irrelevant. If we retain any supply in the future, be grateful for what you get, at whatever price you have to pay. The only alternative is to sit in a throne and yell at the waves...
Our options are to either make do with however the supply chain ends up, or be resourceful and find other ways to enjoy our hobby. Or moan about it. Or perm two from three. I can guarantee that the moaning won't make much difference to the outcome though.
Things have a habit of moving on, and we really ought to find ways to adapt. One day, things will look very different as our natural resources dwindle, and model fuel is scarce or banned, and Lithium Ion is no longer tolerated or available. Should we stop enjoying our hobby? Sure, some will, but a new generation will show us the way by using new methods and materials.
Let's keep supporting SLEC and Balsa Cabin so they stand a chance of still being there to support whatever future we end up with, and lets remember that for most of us on here, it is a hobby and not life and death!
Graham
-
Posted by RICHARD WILLS on 19/09/2020 14:48:54:
Why did you take your wife's hand bag to the field Graham ?
Holding it hostage ?
It suited the frock I was wearing better than my own handbag, as it happened.
One must make sure one looks lovely on the flight line...
-
Posted by Paul Johnson 4 on 19/09/2020 14:44:46:Posted by Graham Davies 3 on 15/09/2020 11:32:55:
I have not built a 'full fat' warbird, but built a 55" Tempest. from start to maiden took me 4 weeks, and I don't feel that I hurried.
Graham
4 Weeks!!! Okay where the inflation valve and foot pump??
I don't know what happened Paul. All of a sudden, it was finished! I've spent the time since carefully re-kitting it though...
-
Not my house, unfortunately, but this chap was enjoying some slope lift (only just) over Hemsby beach yesterday. And today an Extra 300 with the smoke on treated us to some nice big aeros.
And, fish and chips. Life doesn't get much better!
Graham
-
Brilliant idea Matty.
Since returning to the hobby after 20-odd years last Christmas, I've already fixed up 2 attic queens, but there are more to do!
- A 72" Cougar kit from the 80s. Bought from one of our dearly departed club mates in the mid-90s, and never got as far as finishing and flying it.
- A much loved Alley Cat that has done more air miles than Judith Chalmers...
- A 36" Pitts that used to fly like a brick. That's ripe for a refurb.
I'm in!
Graham
-
Don't worry Jonathan, Richard's kits go together very well and there is nothing that you won't be able to figure out when you have the project in front of you. I got very inspired by reading the threads from start to finish. Some of these can be off-putting, but not the Warbirds threads as everyone's attitudes is so relaxed; 'it'll be fine, don't worry'!
I have not built a 'full fat' warbird, but built a 55" Tempest. from start to maiden took me 4 weeks, and I don't feel that I hurried. Whilst many others' models look far better than mine, I still smile when I look at my Tempest. She looks great and flies really well.
Graham
-
Indeed Andrew.
We are close enough to Duxford to get Spitfires and other assorted exotica from time to time. There is also a Rapide that flies out of Marshalls in Cambridge. That's a nice thing to see in the air.
Graham
-
That's a shame Peter. We also get your old friend in his Pitts from time to time.
-
We regularly get an aerobatic display from a Harvard. It fair shakes the ground. Which is nice...
-
I think of it in terms of the famous five: "Just run over there and pull that lowest branch three times"!
It's an initiation rite, something to do with Masons...
Of course, Phil's technical explanation could be right...
-
I thought it was just me!
If I open the image for editing, rotate it by a full 360 degrees and then save it, when I upload it to my album on this site, it is fine. If I don't it comes out 90 degrees rotated! I can find no difference in images on my pc that are at 0 or 360 degrees (my maths teacher swore they were the same; I can finally prove him wrong!)...
Most odd, but that's my workaround
Graham
-
Peter, I just saw it as 'low level aerobatics'. And to do so within 4ft of take off just showed great pilot skill!
-
Hi Nick.
I feel your pain. My 55" Tempest is OK, but I have a smaller model that is a pig. It has reserves of power so stalling is not a problem, but nose-overs happen very often.
a method that worked for me is to set a 'take off' rate on elevator with quite high rates but loads of negative expo. It made it easier to transition from full up needed at the start of the run to just a squeeze as it got rolling. as soon as you are off the ground, click to normal rates.
Graham
-
I don't think it's the Mick Reeves model. The website shows a 1/4 scale and 1/3 scale, both of which are considerable bigger.
It's worth visiting the website as there is a youtube video showing Mick's championship winning model. The cockpit detail is breathtaking!
-
Hi All,
Thanks again for your input.
Richard, well spotted! I did take the barrel out and don't recall a spring. The barrel does return when it is pushed, but I don't know if it's spring pressure or the pushrod, or some such.
Jon, thank you! Yes please. PM sent
Paul, sorry I actually took it out of the airframe yesterday and mounted it on a bench. I thought about tank/ fuel feed so wanted to rule that out. Beside, crouching over a model for hours is uncomfortable, and I wanted to show it who was boss!
Graham
-
Thanks for everyone's input. It's much appreciated.
So...
Timing checked: OK
Tappets checked: OK
Rear cover removed: Bearing seemed fine, no rust and moves smoothly. Slightly concerning amount of big end play though.
Carb cleaned, and a small piece of fuel tubing added to remove any wobbling.
Result were exactly the same...
I can lean out the top end, but with the needle screwed in a long way, maybe 3/4 turn out.
All but impossible to set a low ruining mixture. Turning the needle either way tends to result in the engine stopping, and restarting is an absolute pig. I usually have to open the main needle, and then by the time i have any sort of running, it stops...
I appreciate that the slow running maybe miles out, but I am yet to find any setting that allows me to even start adjusting it.
One thing I did notice that when adjusting the slow running, touching the screwdriver to the barrel changed the running significantly. Pushing the barrel with my finger had the same effect. Something not right there somewhere.
I've reached the limit of my skill, so it's been removed from the airframe and is now thinking about what it's done. I'm not mad, I'm disappointed...
Graham
-
Thanks Martin, that's great.
I think I will do some basic stripping and cleaning and check the tappets etc before I start again. Then I'll go through this carefully and methodically.
I'll keep you all posted
-
Martin, Jon, you may be right, and that's an easier check as I can leave it in the airframe and I may salvage my flying sunday!
I'm sure it's been discussed before, but do you have any advice where to start?
Graham
-
Thanks all,
Jon, don't worry about being critical! Any input is appreciated.
I appreciate that I haven't had it running long enough to get properly procedural with the slow running. However, I can richen it on one direction, and lean it until it stops in the other. Too rich and it picks up very slowly and splutters.
However, I'd really like to follow a methodical process to set the whole thing up.
It's running a 14x6, and I don't have an RPM meter I'm afraid.
Martin, I thought of that so ran it with the vent open. Didn't make any difference!
Paul, thanks for the picture; that's really helpful.
So, tomorrow it comes out of the airframe and a bit of strip/ check...
Graham
-
Thanks Denis
-
If the timing was out, would it run OK at high RPM?
I'm thinking leaking o-rings is a likely culprit...
-
I haven't Brian, but it does sound like something like that.
Would that cause it to stop when the glow clip is removed?
-
Hi All,
Can I tap your collective brilliance?
I have an SC91 FS that I recently bought secondhand. It appears in excellent condition and arrive liberally dosed in after run oil.
I didn't bench run it as I never usually do, so this went straight into my refurbished Wot's Wot. For the last two days, I've been trying to get it to run. So, here's the history...
Yesterday tried but could not get more than a few splutters. It would only run for a few seconds, often backwards. Eventually I flattened the glow starter.
Today I swapped the plug to the OS four stroke plug that is in my ASP65FS, which runs perfectly. Fuel is Model Technics 5% nitro 4-stroke mix.Again, this fuel and plug is fine in the ASP.
On changing the plug, I could get it to start. However, it will not keep running. It runs very rough at lower rpm and shake the whole model. It smooths out and speed, and I can get it to respond to the needle and rev nicely. However, it will stop after 20 seconds or so.
I've been able to adjust the low speed screw and it seems roughly right, but not consistent. In other words, it seems to lean out on it's own.
Most odd, if I take the glow clip off, it stops straight away.
It is a used motor, and I did not strip it before fitting to the model.
Any suggestions which stones to lift first?
Cheers folks
Graham
Return of the SMA
in All Things Model Flying
Posted
I remember the SMA not existing. I seem to recall flying my Alley Cat on an Irvine 20 at the SMA day at Old Warden. It definitely allowed 25 sized engines if my memory serves. I can still picture the mayhem of a load of BillKits 15 size lunatic machines chasing streamers. Carnage...