Steve Vine

I've been looking at this type of model for some time so you'd better count me in too please. Steve Vine

Oh yes I forgot to say that - I did file a flat on mine too! Steve

Hey Geoff I have fitted mine as supplied and altho its not the best solution that I would have chosen for my own design, as its in the kit that's what I did! So far I have had no problems but just in case I do I have made a hole on the fairing at a strategic place to re-tighten or adjust as necessary, all you have to do is to hold the rudder stick on full left, move the rudder to full left and tighten the bolt. Have replaced the bolt with a decent cap head bolt. Easy what !! Steve

Well chaps Sat and Sun (9/10th Feb) saw a grand total of ten more flights with the Chippie . Initial thoughts on how well and benign the Chippie fly's are well and truely confirmed, in fact the word is RELAXING! Have moved the flaps much further down now and found improved slower landings athough I'm sure thats not the end of the story as I feel that the flaps will drop even further into the DRAG area. Incidentaly I've found that the amount of down elevator to flap has not changed with further increase in flap movement. So A question for Clive then; can you give me the total amount of droop      (in m/m's) at the trailing edge for the flaps as you have them set up on your Chippie? Steve

Clive I'd love to fly with you, are you my long lost brother?   Steve Vine

Yup Clive assumed as much, Will maybe add another 5mm of droop for the next trial and, hopefuly, another good guess at how much down 'ele' to mix in with it. I do think that the 70fs matches the type of craft particularily well, after all it is a Chippie! and all this from a normaly confirmed 'no substitute for horsepower jocky'. Altho there is still more than enough power, you still have to manage the flight envelope with a simpathetic elevator. (hope that doesn't sound too posy) Steve Vine

What was I saying about bad weather? well this morning was spot on - how lucky was that?!!! and with my mate visiting us from the north Manchester area as well for the weekend! (we live in somerset) Got to the flying site at 10.15 in still air and by 10.45 we had done all the pre flights and completed the maiden voyage. Bet you want to know what I thought of the model chaps hey???? BRILLIANT!  My c/g is actually 12mm behind what was recommended and it flew beautifuly. I promis you all that I have NEVER seen such a benigne stall! altitude = 200ft, just about no forward speed over the ground, and coming down like a pancacke - wings perfectly level, no hint of a wing drop at all. I have never witnessed this ever before. I even got the correct amount of down elevator mixed with the flap movement first time. I rekon that I have about 15mm of droop at the edge of th flaps so it was very soft anyway, I will definately use more movement next time to see the difference. All in all I can thoroughly recommend this model and I am over the moon at owning and flying it. I sincerely hope that everyone else has the same experience as I did with this model. PS WE have Micrilights at our airfild too so guess how we celebrated............................. STEVE                    

That settles that then, it's exactly what I'll do. Only thing that needs to be sorted now is the bloody weather Steve

Thanks Clive I think I'll invest in a 5 cell battery that should bring it a bit more forward. I've got digital servos in there anyway so the volts might be handy! Steve

Ok chaps nearly finished the 'build' Yes I know it's been a while but I'm only putting in an hour or so some evenings! I've found all the points that you all have put in words and solved them one way or another, but on the whole not a bad kit  Its so nice not to have to mess about with the cockpit area and I must say that the 'office' is quite convincing. Just got battery, receiver and switch to fit but having already done a C/G check have found that the point has come out 15mm behind the recommended position i.e. 115mm behind leading edge! (The battery is a 1400 green cell 4.8 volt and was placed at about the front bulkhead!)  Has anyone got any measurements for their finished and flown chippies? STEVE

Think I can get a welder in there? I will do something tho! Steve

Thanx for that Clive, I'm sure it doesn't need them too but new is novel so it's something of interest. I have flown a few flapped aircraft before, non of them belonging to me, and one of them (trainer) I could dial in about 60*. It HAD to be landed at a very steep angle and rounded out at the last moment. It was great fun that one!!! Nearly finished the wings now and will be starting on fuz tomorrow. Steve

Thanx Ian  I want to use gear swich for flaps as its simpler to operate but I can set 'throw' up on trannie and then, as you say, adjust to suit. will keep you informed. Reading between the lines it looks like its going to be tal heavy so I will move servos forward and mount throttle on f/ward inside of fuz. If it tunes out to be necessary I can also fit battery in engine bay!? Steve

Just screwing mine together now (Chrissie prezzie) I have a Magnum 70 fs for mine, yes I'm sure this will notprovide unlimited performance but it will MAKE me fly the model in a much more 'scale like' fashion than my usual! After a brief look at all your comments I haven't found any comments on how much flap has been tried! I'll post this and then have a look at all the pictures.

well 50 smakers aint enuf to risk some *ugger aimin' a rocket at me, I'd much sooner take me chances with me best mates I fly with now.