Rob Irwin

Happy Christmas to all!

Yes please!

Yes please!

Thanks for your replies. I was hoping it was a plan built plane. It is a bit different in its proportions, I'll take a look at the calculator you mention Donald. Also, not sure how a motor (electric or ic) would fit currently. I am tempted to keep the wing and tail section (major part of the original) and make a new fuselage with motor mount. Cheers, Rob.

Hi All, I wonder if anyone recognises the model design below? It could well be an own design but hopefully it's from a plan or takes it's design cues from a plan. I have been asked by some friends if I could complete the model to a flying state after the designer/builder had sadly passed away. No plans have been found, so it may well be an 'own design'. Cheers, Rob

Yep that's ok Scott. Just thought I'd post some pictures. Thanks for the kind words from yourself and Chris. I used Balsaloc on the undercamber and it wasn't an issue solarfilming. Cheers, Rob.

Here some more pictures of my Whizkid. You should be able to see the dihedral and undercamber. As I said earlier it was built as per the plan.     Edited By Rob Irwin on 18/06/2015 20:57:12

Hi Scott, The wing is undercambered with dihedral as per the plan. After much deliberation I essentially stuck exactly to the plan. I'll post some more pics later. Rob.

I finally got my Whiz kid in the air last night. Great plane, flies very well, thanks Chris. Below are a few photos, bare balsa, sometime last year and two from yesterday. I didn't really know what to expect but it flies very well on half power and seems to zip through the air. I was concerned about the tail plane flexing but it didn't seem to be an issue. It loops and rolls nicely. All was well until the prop flew off! it's somewhere on the common now..... however I landed ok without. I'll make sure I'll tighten the next one properly!

Hi Adrian,   Below are some photos of my Wattsdog. It is a great plane (Thanks Peter!) I changed the tail plane on the model (putting the stabiliser on the top instead of underneath) and added a brushless motor. Hope the pictures assist with your build. I think I built the wing exactly as per the plan.   Cheers, Rob.               

Hi Nigel,   Below are some flying shots taken from a video camera. She looks good it the air! Quite enjoyable to fly to!   However, you need to be careful not to slow her up too much or open the throttle without care. Either seems to send her into a vicious spin and dive. Two out of three times she hit the deck. The first was into heather and the second into the ground. Straight as an arrow she imbedded the prop adapter into the ground. Damage on both occasions was just the prop. The airframe is so light you have to be quite unlucky to break it. I flew it the time it hit the heather but someone else was at the controls when it landed in the ground. On both occasions neither of us could get out of the spin.    Any clues on reducing the chances of the spin? Also what's the cheapest props you know of?   cheers, Rob.

Hi Nigel, Thanks for the reply and congratulations on the new arrival! I re read your artical (October RCM&E) and you do mention problems with the COG too far forward.  It was quite strange flying something that had no elavator authority. I'll tape up the gaps and report back when I next go flying. It may be a few weeks or so. Cheers, Rob. 

As today was still, I took the fling wing out for its maiden flight. Thank goodness for heather! The plane had the following running gear; Motor Max CF2812, battery 2S 860mAh, a 9 x 3.5 prop and weighs around 300g. Elevator travel +8mm -5mm, Ailerons travel +10mm -5mm. Conditions were wind free over a gentle heather covered common area. The first attempt in lauching ended with a violent flick to inverted and landing in the heather. I decided to reduce the throttle on the next lauch and dial in a bit of trim to counteract the roll. On the fifth attempt she took to the air!  She looks great Nigel! To my astonishment/surprise I forgot to open the throttle to full as she followed the profile of the slope to the bottom. Just in time, opening the throttle resulted in a climb out and suficient height was gained to explore the performance. She flies with a reasonable turn of speed. The ailerons were fine. I could turn and roll sharply. The elevator seemed curiosly ineffective, so much so that I found that height (up and down) was mainly adjusted with the throttle! Attempted loops turned into stall turns/wing overs. Landing was a case of reducing height over the heather until she flicked in a low speed. (I think my speed was too low)  Unfortunately, I only have one battery so only one flight to report on. If I can sort out the elevator I think she will be fine. If Nigel Hawes is reading this,  maybe you could be so kind as to give me your thoughts? I have a gap of about 3mm between the elevons and wings. I used hinges with pins (see photo below). Should I tape this up? Could this be causing the inactive elevator? Also do you think a 9 x 3.5 prop is too large? I guess the excessive torque at the launch causes my probelms. Finally how critical is the balance point. I may be slightly nose heavy. Cheers, Rob.   

Thanks Erfolg! I'll post a flying report when she takes to the air.

Hi All, Below are some pictures of my Fling wing. I'm a slow builder but it's now ready to go! I just need to wait for the wind to die down....................  

Yes please!

Yes please!

Hi Grasshopper, I bought a canopy from Vortex-vacforms and thought the same as you. I decided to make a paper mache copy of the canopy and used this as my first attempt. Once you have cut the shape, you need  to squeeze the ends together as shown below. I also had to add a bit of balsa on the top of the nose as the curve on the canopy didn't fit. Not to sure if this was my cutting or the canopy shape........ Hopefully the pictures below give you a guide. Cheers, Rob.

Yes please!

 Yes please!

Yes please!

Yes please!

Yes please!

Yes please! (Awesome video and I like the music!)

Yes please!