EarlyBird

The tail feathers are now covered with the amazing Solite, it's so easy to use. I followed Ron's advice and turned the iron temperature down and even at the minimum 100C it works and quickly. Considering how I was putting the covering off, anxiety I think, finding it so simple to use has made my day, week or year. When I bought 15m of Solite at £7.99/m I thought maybe it would be too much and I would never use it, but now I am thinking I should buy more before it's all gone. Covering is usually a time when I start to think of what next, I have a CG Electra kit which I was reluctant to start because of my assumed covering issues, which are no more so it looks like the Carl Golberg Electra has made it to the top of the list. Steve

Maybe @dhendleycan help or explain. I have noticed that recently we seem to be getting a lot of new members which I assumed indicated that the registering issues had gone or at least had reduced. Steve

Clubs accept new members, but some have a long waiting list. The two reasons for this are attractive facilities (large well-maintained field, NOTAM height for large models and no noise restrictions) and other clubs closing down. This creates a waiting list of experienced modelers, LMA and jets for example. I think the pilots with nowhere to fly should be given priority just to keep them in the hobby. I also think that the complete novice should be automatically accepted. The novice will be put off by the negative response received from an initial enquiry whereas committed long term modelers will find another solution and stay in the hobby. Having decided to give all novices automatic membership the number of instructors and their availability could be a limiting factor but that's another issue. Do clubs need to make the number of members rigid? From what I have observed a club will only get six or seven novices a year and only a couple of those will stay in the hobby long term therefore there will be minimal impact on club membership numbers. What we all want is for numbers to increase, don't we? Steve

Even happier now That the first bit is covered. 🙂 Steve

Looks fun

Bought a 9x4.5 prop to reduce power and climb rate. Test flight at half throttle needed elevator down trim but not excessive. Partially successful and what I expected, having done similar experiments with a Super 60. Increasing to full throttle did not cause a huge increase in speed, maybe lacks power. I have to decide what to try next my thoughts are to pack up the TE by another 2mm and maybe go back to the 10x5 prop. But there again, as I have said before, I could just fly as it is and get used to it. Steve

Obviously, I think I am having some age-related issues. I am sure you used Cover Grip on your mass build so either you left the backing sheet on, or it wasn't Solite on reflection I think it was the latter. Having bought a big bottle of Cover Grip I am going to have to find a use for it. 💡 some will be used on the under cambered wings, not totally wasted then. 🙂 I am happy now. Steve

I am getting there. in that the adverts shrink to fit. Steve

Hey, you made me laugh, there's another first. 🤣

The MPX Heron is the current victim, I need to have its replacement in the Hangar ready and waiting as it may be need at short notice. My thoughts were to use a MPX Ventus as a cheap follow on to build more confidence, then the Composite Glider. Steve

🤣 It would help if I removed the backing film! I thought it was a bit heavy now all is explained. Thanks Ron Steve

Must have the wrong name. It's a Solarfilm product that has no glue on the back, I bought it from Steve Webb 😳 just checked SoLite and it just says Iron on film. Best thing to do is to try a bit then go have a lay down to get over the shock of making a mistake, something I'm not used to. Steve

It works on the main page where you are using CSS. but on the forum a fixed style is used. what I remember from many years ago is that CSS is used for different devices and their required image attributes. Also, IIRC CSS overrides the page styles. Now I am going back ten years and I was using MSVS. Curious why one uses CSS and the other doesn't. Just interested. Steve

For me the best and most relevant place would be in the space to the right of RCM&E Steve

Fortunately, I have not placed an order and the lack of knowledge that this topic has highlighted has dampened my enthusiasm to the point where I have decided to forget it. 🤐 Steve

My only concern is that Solite requires Cover Grip which I have never used.

Monthly update, two days early. The wings are sanded and ready to cover now I have to decide what with. I bought 15m of Solite(?) 5m each of red, yellow and blue but I have a large stock of HK film. I have used HK and find it easy whereas this will be the first time for the Solite, but it should be lighter. How much lighter and will there be any significant benefit is what I am puzzling over. My instinct is telling me to bang the HK on and get it flying before summer is over. 🤔 @Nick Crippshow hard is this Solite to use and is there some special technique to use? Steve

Yes, it's unfortunate considering all the very helpful advice, especially the coordinated turns, that it's ruined for me by stupidity about a bit of string that is in no way relevant to the model I was going to buy. Steve

In the UK some clubs are restricted to electric because of noise. With turbines as the models get larger the noise increases and the distance they travel from the field also increases put together there is more potential to annoy the neighbours which has resulted in clubs banning turbines. Therefore, in the UK it's also a good idea to find a club where turbines are accepted before purchase and hope the club does not follow the trend of going all electric just to keep the field. I would think any committee faced with noise complaints would most likely ban turbines as a first step to try to placate the neighbours. Unfortunate for the jet set but understandable when the field is at risk of being lost. Steve

On the contrary it was not harmless and was not fun, it upset me. It was just stupid rubbish poking fun at me. Steve

I went flying yesterday and asked about waiting lists. This is not the case at my club they do have a very long wait list which could be years. The normal process is to send out application forms and club rules but now the list is so long this is not being done. Just to give you some idea, the Secretary gets two or three enquiries a week. I do consider myself lucky in that I live within three miles of the field and there was no waiting list four years ago. Steve

I did take offence because to me this is serious and flippant remarks to me are misinformation. It came about from the first post talking about wipers IMO and as I obviously know very little and want to learn I do find the 'in jokes' annoying as I do not understand them and assume the intention is to show up my ignorance. Please understand I am talking about spending £3000 on a model so it would be appreciated if everyone was serious and gave helpful advice, in other words will the jokers please go elsewhere. Can we now move on and stop talking about string? Steve

Have you made any progress? Would it help if I opened up my Sarik parcel and made a wood list? Steve

A few gliders having fun.

I take it that this is all a joke at my expense.