toto

So ..... its this weekend then ...... we live and hope ..... Everything ready to go as usual. Here we go again. Toto

And another call as I was packing my plane and equipment I to the car this morning to inform me that it's cancelled. Apparently out facility has been taken over by an athletics event. ..... beautiful, perfect day. ....... couldn't write a book like this. .....

So ..... another call to my mentor reveals that we could be on for Saturday. Weather is looking favourable but there is still one potential hiccup ...... the possibility that a scarifier may become available which means maintainable at our second site. The scarifier is still to be confirmed. If it is available for Saturday then I will be on maintainable duties. ..... its a bit of a lottery at the moment .... fingers crossed for flying though ..... .... let's wait and see which way the dice rolls. Toto

I'm sure similar lights that I bought were about £18.00 or so a piece. I would thinkthe Lidl versions will be as good as any. Toto

I think for me ..... it is a case of " small steps " to get myself back in to a confident mode again. .... a 4 month holiday after righting off the original Supercub, followed by a period of inactivity as I tackled the mancave which was a pretty big project that required my full time attention ( including weekends ). A few personal issues ( work and family related ) which I am just crawling out of now. This week is the start of a fullscale comeback as the new year starts. The stars are starting to align again so today was just a bit of a start to progress again ..... The Supercub has been maidened and has been agreed as fit to go. I and my mentor took the decision that I would not make my first return flight on a pretty windy day perhaps scaring me off again. For the sake of another week ....... I'd rather maiden myself under more favourable terms and have a more guaranteed new start. I get everyone's comments .... let's wait and see how quick the comeback is. My A test target is the beginning of June. Hang on in there with me. Toto

Just back from the field. Cold and windy but the Supercub was maidened. I asked my mentor to do the maiden due to it being the first flight and the wind factor whichI was not keen on given the lapse in time from my last flight. He was more than happy to take it up. Only minimal adjustments needed to trim it out and despite the wind, it flew just fine. We decided between us that I should wait for more favourable conditions and not to take the chance of me flying today. I'm happy with that as even getting the maiden done is progress in my opinion. Weather not looking great for next weekend but much can change in the space of a week. One happy camper. Toto

I remember what's where ..... throttle on the right.....aileronsto the left. ..... I'll be fine ..... Now ....... where is my hard hat ......... Have a nice day all Toto

Thanks Learner. Just remastering some of the basics again and getting my fingers working ahead of my brain will be good. Some nice easy basic flights would be a nice way back into it again. I'll report in tomorrow. Toto

Just back from a 3 day business visit to Southampton. Made the call to my mentor and tomorrow I on. All batteries and transmitters etc have already been dealt with and are good to go. ...... back in the air ..... about time too. Cheers Toto

Not yet grumpy, I need to work out how to transfer the programme to my new PC. I don't know if I can download onto second machine. I'll need to look into it. Toto

Spent time checking batteries and charging transmitters. Everything done in readiness for a flight. Can do no more than wait now. Here we go again. Toto

I would like one after seeing what looks like a straight forward build with well made parts. No hassle of building the wing which caused me issues with my previous attempt at what was a relatively straight forward build. The sky 40. The only thing that stopped me ordering it was the lack of clear instructions for conversion to leccy otherwise it would have been gathering more dust with the others Ihave. It looks like a sensible progression from assembling foamies to full on balsa kits. David's is a very inspiring example. Toto

I'll double check the cell voltages tomorrow as I have the day to myself .... no flying due to forecast .... windy and wet. My Spektrum battery checker does give voltage per cell readings. I did reduce a load of my batteries to storage voltage towards the end of last year but from memory the 4s units that the Supercub uses were left with a charge in them. More tomorrow Cheers Toto

Hi Learner, My Lipos are hovering around anything between 84 to 93 % charged. I have 5 of these types. I usually top these up. Right or wrong .?

At last ..... I watched the usual utube videos to re- familiarise myself with the TX binding procedures again and managed to follow them through. This was something I thought I had already mastered but ..... with the passage of time ...... had to revisit. The bottom line ...... the Supercub is now flight ready ...... just in time for this weekend to be called off already due to forecasted high winds and potential rain as well. Doesn't matter ...... I'm now ready when the weather is. I got my transmitters both fully charged and will top up my Iipos tomorrow night as they have depleted a bit over time. I've done all I can ..... just waiting for a bit of luck weather wise now. Bring on the new season. Toto

Back in the shed tonight. rebound my NX8 to the Supercub, set the throttle cut and set rates. left failsafe as default .... return to last command then bound the NX8 to the student NX6 transmitter ..... all works fine. Now just to charge batteries and transmitters ready for the weekend in case flying is on. job done. toto

Hi Learner, I have Wren Kitchens popping in with a fully fitted price ...... I'll let you know how I get on ..... Toto

Detaching the bottom of the fuselage looks like one of the trickiest parts. Maybe I'm not quite understanding how you get access to that part. Other than that, there are not too many scary bits. Toto

I like the foam veneered wings. Taking some of the build out of the equation. Maybe a good choice on the way to a full build option. I'm assuming this could be converted for electric flight . Toto

Hi John, I did note a pretty big variation in wood standards and I'm pretty some of the timber used on my shed has been sustainably sourced. Keep an eye on the actual timber " section " sizes as they can vary wildly. Nominal sizes after machining etc. It'll drive you demented trying to get the best of all worlds with regards to type of timber, types of pre-treatment, finished thicknesses, etc etc but you just have to settle for the optimum of what's available. You have pulled a master stroke managing to get agreement to the mancave before providing the kitchen though ..... I'm impressed. My mancave cost me some decorating, garden fences and a holiday in Zante. Keep us up to date with what you get and of course..... a bit of build progress updates. If I can be of any help with advice .... fire away. Toto

Just to bind the two transmitters ..... other than that ...... ready to go. Toto

Hi Leccy, Any models that I assemble with the exception of the Supercub, Tasman or Husky are going nowhere soon. The Supercub being my go to trainer and if I write this one off, the Tasman or the Husky will take its place, but I will only be using one at a time. I know it's not ideal having them assembled prior to being ready but I was just itching to tackle something easy to keep me going. Once the flying actually gets started again ..... that will be my main focus again. I'll have the transmitters bound for this coming weekend in hope of getting out again. Toto

Hmmmmm ....... not so Grumpy ..... once I assemble ...... the box is ditched. It free's up space a bit. Toto

So some jumping about as I decided to do the water decals on the B25 before they went astray somewhere. ..... you know ...... the dreaded " safe place " plus I haven't tackled water slide decals before so was eager to see if they were as bad as some folks make out. ..... reasonable first result I thought so that's that done and the B25 " drying out " and just about ready to be stored back on the wall of death. The Supercub will now be resurrected and I need to bind the NX 8 and NX 6 transmitters ...... that's coming up next. There was no flying yesterday as the forecast was for a 61% chance of rain so my mentor called it off on the Thursday night. I'm glad to have been doing little bits and pieces again as slowly but surely, I am getting the thirst back. My mentor emailed out a copy of estimated diary date activities for out club for 2025 which included A test confirmed test dates. One of them is for one weekend in June so it's been decided to head for that as a target date for me to get myself in gear and ready for my first attempt at it...... I think that's reasonable given that I am probably nearly back to square one. Hopefully I will catch back up quickly after a couple of flights. There is the plan anyway. Something to head for. Cheers Toto

Yes ... apologies for that. flaps and elevator .... could have been a laugh though ..... 😂 One more thing on the B25 ...... I done the water slide decals before I misplaced or lost them. here she is perched on the stand awaiting the decals .... and another .... and one more ..... we are starting of with the nose art .... this cuty ....... Mitch the Witch ...... doesn't look like any witch I ever saw .... here is where she is going ..... bath time my beauty ....... wet the model with some luke warm water ..... and slide into place ...... followed by the title slide. the tail gets done. Embarassing confession number one ...... you can see where I originally cut the decal short just below the blue section to the rear of the rudder. the white bit had to go on as a separate part ..... idiot. then the numbering .... starting the other side of the tail ..... looks decent for a first attempt ..... ( spot the little rip from over working the decal )..... then the numbering ....... and thats it ..... and the last shot for now .... no nose art on this side .... thought that a bit odd .... unbalanced even ..... and now let it dry in the warmth of the house before returning back to its rightful place on the wall of death ..... to await its fate. cheers for now toto