Piers Bowlan

I doubt the shop you describe will survive very long, I expect it will turn into a computer game shop or similar. Higher profits and wider appeal amongst the young.

Was it Dunsfold? It is where they film Top Gear sometimes. Don.t know what the Russian aircraft was, have to watch it again on iPlayer! Edited By David Ashby - RCME on 24/12/2012 14:31:11

I wondered if my OS 30FS would be adequate (and quieter), I also have an ASP25 and Thunder Tiger 36Pro but I am concerned about noise complaints from one of my neighbours. I normally fly electric from my paddock for that reason. The model is on my build list for sure.

Quite so Ian, the balance of trade has been against us since the Second World War (a long time ago) except that year by year the imbalance has been getting worse as our manufacturing base contracted. It has only been the 'invisible exports' ie. the banking and Insurance sector that has saved UK PLC up to now by balancing the books. So much for those whose sole desire these days is to bash the banks (Vince Cable, take note). Now Subajon, you say, 'You get much better service from your regular LMS once they get to know you.' Why should this be? If you walk into your LMS you are a potential CUSTOMER so why do they ignore you as they do unless you are one of their 'mates'? I got back from Singapore this morning but while I was there I went into a local shopping complex where there are five model shops close together. As you enter the shops you are asked if you are looking for anything in particular. If you say you are browsing they show you what is new in or on special offer. This is not rocket science! The shops are well lit, unlike one UK LMS I can think of which is like a cave. The shops are simply crammed with well organised/ displayed stock. The owner asks what you fly at home and is ready to chat.. If you leave without buying anything they cheerily wave goodbye and say please come again. Is it the British 'reserve' or is it that in the UK we just don't know how to do customer service? By way of contrast I walked into my LMS a while ago and and asked if they had a VMAR RF4 in stock. The burly chap behind the counter nodded. I asked to see one. He gestured towards the one hanging from the ceiling at the back of the shop. I explained that I should like to look at one out of the box as I wanted to check for warps etc. On an on-line forum I had read that there were 'issues' and a quick inspection would reveal if I had two left wings etc! He wearily made a meal out of opening the box. As I gave the model a quick once over he lent on the counter and drummed his fingers, gazing up at the ceiling. Amazingly I still bought the model! Clearly this character is not cut out for retail and is not typical but it does make the point that your LMS does not have a right to your custom and if their customer service is rubbish people will go elsewhere or simply buy online. Edited By Piers Bowlan on 17/11/2012 18:22:44

Lead in the nose? How about a bigger LiPo instead. I have been using 2650mAh batteries but recently I got one of these, It weighs 330g and sorts out the CG. More capacity, longer flights and more omph! The model makes a great slope soarer too as I said in one of my previous posts, no need to remove the motor/fan.

Just wondered what elevator throws you are using Goose 10? I am using +- 8mm with 25% expo and cg 290mm from the nose. I noticed that after I reinforced the tail booms (following an arrival!) the model needed more nose down trim. I should think that this is more to do with the tail plane randomly acquiring a more negative pitch after the surgery/glueing rather than the 15g of carbon strips I added to the booms altering the cg. I use strips of Duct Tape under the belly to protect it, seems to work for me. I'll have to get some plasti-kote to try.

I like to support local businesses which include my LMSs. I realise that running a small business must be very tough what with business rates and all the many costly overheads. However I notice lately that  although the shops seem well stocked with boxes of ARF/RTFs piled high, the stock levels of small items and basics like balsa have been allowed to become run down. I appreciate that the profit is in the ARF and that they wont survive just selling clevises and balsa but if modellers regularly find they have had a wasted journey to their LMS through lack of stock, in future they will just buy everything on-line. Edited By Piers Bowlan on 07/11/2012 09:45:43

The strongest way to join carbon tubes is to tack them together with epoxy or even cyano then wrap the joints very tightly with epoxy soaked carbon tows or thin strips of carbon cloth (round and round). Much stronger than any soldered brass or steel joint and quicker too. For strength it would be important to get a good fit between the tubes, perhaps use a jig and a sharp round file to get the angles exact and don't forget to use a good mask; carbon fibre dust is lethal if inhaled. I don't think it would be at all flexable, very light and strong infact. I would be interested to see the build progress if you do go ahead. An 8ft span model would be quite expensive to produce, what with the current price of carbon fibre. I think the Boeing B787 is responsible for that, as it is soaking up the world supply of carbon! Edited By Piers Bowlan on 28/10/2012 11:50:53 Edited By Piers Bowlan on 28/10/2012 11:54:58

Very interesting thread Steve W-O, would make a good article for RCM&E as well as putting the 'E' back in the title. However it would no doubt upset some trade distributors/advertisers a tad, so unlikely to happen. Pity. Edited By Piers Bowlan on 28/10/2012 11:26:39

And me.

I hope the tech people get it sorted soon as it is difficult/impossible when adding multiple links to a post.

Olly Should be able to negotiate some very good shed deals in the present financial climate. Particularly ex-demo/cash if you phone arround. A new lick of cuprinol/paint and it will look like new. Whatever you buy you will fill it, so there is no such thing as 'too big!'. Don't skimp on the insulation and don't forget the fire and CO2 alarms, particularly if you use an oil or gas heater. I avoid those as they can produce condensation. As well as lining the walls and ceiling, I put 50mm Celotex sheets between my shed and its concrete base. It stops the cold comming up through the floor and avoids having voids under the shed where rats and mice can make their home! Finally get some good locks and also some kind of intruder alarm could be worth considering. Just my 2p worth.

Pete, buy a new 2.4GHz system and a well known brand at that, I don't think Planet qualifies BEB! Even when you replace the batteries in the Challenger (how much will that cost?) there may be corrosion on the circuit board if the radio has been kept in a cold damp shed for years. You only have to lose one model due to a radio problem and your 'cheap' radio has become rather expensive! Potentially dangerous too. Even budget radios these days will have lots of features and will be more of a pleasure to use, quite apart from the pease of mind of 2.4GHz. My advice is save your money and buy new, particularly if you are on a tight budget. It will be cheaper in the long run. You asked how much the Challenger was worth? About a ten quid (I wouldn't pay that!)   Edited By Piers Bowlan on 22/10/2012 06:15:31

I use an Apple Macbook Pro and Safari as a browser. Never had a problem until recently but now my computer won't stay logged in so that if I click on a link to another site and then return to modelflying.co.uk, I am not logged in any more; annoying!. What has changed on the site? I haven't tried using Firefox yet.

I got the Spitfire 90 but it is still in kit form at present. I was undecided whether to fit my ASP 90FS or do an electric conversion. There was a nice e-conversion hanging up in West London Models a short while ago. I will try and post some pictures of the kit.

They make some nice E-gliders too.

I am a fan of Kyosho personally. Very good quality control in their ARTFs. Light, well designed and all the bits fit as they should! Their scale renditions are great with matt finishes on the warbirds. They fly well and the fittings and accessories are all usable which is more than can be said of some manufacturers. Some of their models are sold as either electric versions or glow with hatches and engine/motor mounts to suit. Steve Webb Models sell them in the UK but I buy mine in the Far East. Edited By Piers Bowlan on 15/10/2012 08:15:15

We all wish you a speedy and full recovery Nigel. Your magazine articles and your simple, economical but effective designs have been inspirational to many like myself, at a time when electric flight was 'alternative' and a minority interest. Now of course it is big business. Here is looking forward to your canard design Nigel and I do hope the editor looks favourably on a larger Tucano plan in the fullness of time. TN scale warbird designs and such like are popular but I am sure in terms of sheer numbers built your simple Whizza and Tucano are in a different league. Anyway I have got my Tucano canopy on order from Vortex Vacforms regardless of the 'mass build' vote, all I have to do now is decide, glow or electric? It should be a no brainer! Edited By Piers Bowlan on 12/10/2012 05:20:35

Nigel, did you ever publish a plan of your 54in span Channel crossing Tucano. If not, what about doing it now, either through MyHobbyStore or as a RCM&E pull out plan. I would think it would be very popular being so quick to build and a better size for todays IC lubbers. Also, the increased popularity of larger electric set ups these days, as a consequence of greater choice and lower prices would make it equally appealing to many. Just a thought. The last model aircraft engine I flew was not a glow but an ED Racer RC diesel that, incidentally, throttled rather well. Quiet too. We don't need an excuse to dig out our old engines and reminisce!

If you purchased it using Pay Pal then the HK order number etc. will show up on your pay pal account history. If they have your money and they havn't dispatched the goods then that is a fairly black and white case! However if there were several items in your 'basket' and one item is on 'back order' then they will tend to hang on to your order until they have all the items you require before dispatch. As they buy direct from the manufacturers this can sometimes take a long time. I am not saying this happened in this instance but always check that an item is in stock before you click 'buy'. I am sure you will get your goods or your money back soon. Frustrating none the less. Good luck. Edited By Piers Bowlan on 11/10/2012 17:46:07

Posted by Ian Jones Also since my AP15 struggled to pull my 44 ozs Webbit around I wasn't really think of using that engine so I'll be really interested to know how that turns out Piers. It's a neat little engine that could well make a neat job of the Tucano. In it's favour is that I think the Tucano will be a lot less "draggy". Thanks for that Ian, very helpful. Perhaps your Webbit was a tad less dragy once you had dropped the ordnance! IC is not really 'my thing' Nigel as I have been methanol free for about thirty years now! Personally I blame that man Whittaker and all his talk of 'live fuel engines' and the 'smell of burnt Nitro in the morning'. It's a nostalgia thing really; flicking a recalcitrant Cox BB engine with frozen fingers in the days of my youth. I thought, putting an AP Hornet in your Tucano would exorcise these deviant longings and make me a clean living 'all electric' man again! On a more serious note Nigel, I am with you on, (to paraphrase) 'Putting a large prop on a small electric motor being more efficient than IC'

Just ordered one of these Ian. I know it is only a .15 but Nigel's Tucano has an AUW of about 50oz/1400g (about half the weight of a Fun Fighter) so I thought the .15 might be enough. The 'Hornet' weighs only 150g which could be a good thing as the Tucano has a long nose moment. Incidentally the AXI 2820/10 weighs 160g plus the ESC of course. At least a Lipo can be positioned where necessary to achieve the correct c of g. I haven't built a glow model for about 30 years! I think with your SC 32 it will go like a rocket.

If it makes you feel any better Martyn, it was the first time that I used UHU Por too and like you I read the instructions before finding that the glue had 'grabbed' before one wing was 'home'. Fortunately with a bit of brute force I was able to wrench the wing off again without breaking the booms (they flex a lot). I then re-glued it with Cyano (I won't be using the Por stuff again in a hurry!). So if it is any consolation you are not alone in your predicament . Don't worry, the rest of it will go together very quickly - you will be pleased you persevered. Edited By Piers Bowlan on 08/10/2012 14:56:14

The joint will not only be weaker but probably more significantly, I doubt the increased dihedral will do the flying qualities any good either. I know UHU Por sticks well but with a bit of judicious flexing of the offending wing up and down relative to the Fuz, not to mention a steady PULL, you should be able to get it free (and re-glue with foam safe cyano/kicker). Don't worry about damage to the silver paint, it can be touched up later.

I used UHU Por initially and after what looked like a terminal spin (see earlier post) and arrival into a bramble bush the dihedral was slightly increased! After correcting and applying a liberal quantity of cyano and kicker the wings/fuz joint now appears plenty strong enough to me. My verdict; no need for reinforcement if you use cyano. The model is stronger than it looks even if it does dent easily -being foam. My 2p worth. Edited By Piers Bowlan on 06/10/2012 11:38:21