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Piers Bowlan

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Piers Bowlan last won the day on June 19 2022

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  1. So sorry to hear this sad news. A prolific designer, builder and contributor to QFI magazine. He was probably why I had a subscription to the mag, not wishing to miss his next groundbreaking and often unusual model subject. An inspiration to us all. If that were not enough he was also a professional artist whilst also finding the time to be a bell ringer too, if my memory serves me right. My condolences to his family and all who knew him.
  2. ‘Flying wing‘ or tailless design? Powered or glider? Big or small? A bit more information apart from colour scheme might jog a few more memories.
  3. Such sad news. I have always looked forward to another great design and entertaining article from Peter appearing on the pages of RCM&E. Always simple, practical and great fliers, he has left behind a legacy of wonderful designs for us all to enjoy. RIP Peter.
  4. Toto, will you use some of the cellotex to insulate under the floor too. A lot of cold can come up through the floor in my experience. Just my 2p worth!
  5. I agree Chris, landing in a crosswind requires yawing the aircraft to align it with the runway during the flair, if flying an offset type approach. If flying a wing-down type approach (sideslip) yaw is also needed (crossed controls- aileron and rudder). Rudder is not really necessary on a small model for cross-wind landings, just land into wind, as you say.😊 On the MW-9 the drag rudders provide the yaw as a centrally mounted rudder would not be so effective with such a short longitudinal axis, as you alluded to. I emailed Mike Whittaker a couple of years ago and he kindly sent me some nice three view imaged from which I drew up some basic plans with the intention of my building a model MW-9, ‘when I got time’. Sadly not yet! I hope you find the ‘mojo’ Peter to build your design and get it published in the Mag. I am sure it would be very well received and designed by you, no doubt fly very well too.
  6. A picture would be great Frank to see what you did? Anyone fitted an 11 blade 4S fan as an upgrade?
  7. I bought a set of foam wings for a CB so I too would be interested to hear why your C of G has turned out too far aft before I start on building my fuz. Will a larger LiPo not move it sufficiently forward?
  8. The MP Jet .040 PB Classic diesel is considered a good alternative to the Mills .75cc I believe. In fact I bought one of these at a show some years ago for a Tomboy but never got around to building one! There is one for sale here. However, I agree with Phil, if I was building one today it would be electric.
  9. Great project Simon, following with interest. A pity the XF-5U became bogged down with engineering problems with no less than six gearboxes plus the two huge P & W radial engines buried within the wing. The decision to make the huge propellers have cyclic control like a helicopter added considerably to the delays. Might have made a great close air support aircraft on the basis of it’s projected wide speed range and performance. However, it lacked the simplicity and low wing loading of the V173, which flew so well. Lindbergh was enthusiastic about the V173 despite suffering an engine failure and having to land on a beach!
  10. Amazing that an engine so small can make so much noise -and be loads of fun. Some people are like that! 🤩
  11. Peter is spot on with his ‘rule of thumb’. As for some airliners having as much as 110 degrees flap deflection, this seems unlikely although I am always happy to be proved wrong. 😑 The B744 had flap 25 or 30 landing flap positions on the flap quadrant selector although the third segment of it’s triple slotted TE flaps appeared to have a far greater deflection when deployed. All I can say is they worked very well! How much landing flap an aircraft has available depends on what the designers are trying to achieve. Large deflections facilitate a steeper approach and therefore terrain clearance. Also they will usually improve the pilot’s view over the nose of the aircraft (think Spitfire) or if trying to land a jet on a carrier deck (😬). Shorter, slower landings on a limited or contaminated runway are other benefits but not really relevant to our models. However large flap deflections introduce complicated structures with a weight penalty. They also reduce lateral stability and while enabling slower flight, increase the tendency to ‘tip stall’ near the point of stall. Not good if near the ground 😱.
  12. The main point I would add is that not all brown paper was born equal, use good quality paper that has a grain. Some is made from recycled paper and tends to fall apart when wet, especially if you try and stretch it. Also, personally I dilute the PVA aboutt 20% or when it has the consistency of single cream but it depend on the PVA. Economy PVA is very thin (rubbish) and I wouldn’t use it on anything let alone dilute it! I give the brown paper treatment to reinforced polystyrene (EPS) wings. I wet th brown paper under the tap then apply glue with a brush on a pasting table. If there is an air bubble I push it to the edge with a sponge. I ensure the edges of the paper is stuck down which sometimes might require a little more glue. Ensure both sides are covered before placing in the airing cupboard to dry overnight. I apply another coat of PVA to seal it. which gives a very good surface to take paint when dry.
  13. I emailed Manny Williamson last week regarding this point and Ron is correct. ‘The flight line will be supervised so models below 7.5kg can be flown without an ‘A’ cert.’ It follows that above 7.5kg you do. I will try and get along to the event but it is quite a hike from Dorset.
  14. If the objective is to make the approach and landing into a small field easier then personally I would do as Martin suggested earlier, reflex both the ailerons upwards for landing. You could use a three position flap switch on your Tx if it has the mixing feature. The T 31M has very large ailerons and I think this would be highly effective for killing lift and steepening the approach. I have used this to good effect on my gliders in the past. PatMc’s suggestion is also a good one, I must try it sometime. Spoilers might give you scale fidelity but are a lot of work/complication when with just a bit of transmitter programming you can achieve much the same flying characteristics. Just my 2p worth!
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