payneib

She's all done. I couldn't get the cellulose gloss to cure on the cowl without blushing, but I just don't care anymore. The balance point is exactly perfect, just as it was before, despite me adding weight in the form of proper chunky M3 control horns, a proper chunky M3 pull/pull horn on the rudder, a tail wheel, canopy and cowl, it's somehow perfectly evenly distributed. 🤷‍♂️ Love the colour scheme (I did a little range check from the bottom of the road, and it's VERY BRIGHT 😎). As far as flying is concerned, you guys should get as much done as you can tomorrow whilst I'm out, next weekend whilst I'm away for the weekend, and the weekend after when I'm busy with strongman and mothers day. 5/6 April, my next chance to fly (since November!), will definitely be blowing a gale, with snow coming in sideways.

Yes. I think I found the right cable on eBay, and it worked with a free/cheap SIM download. Not the best, but good enough for practicing on.

On the subject of the AA batteries, the Flysky transmitters I have, have a "battery meter" on the screen - just a standard blocked out picture of a battery. If that is at or below 50%, don't fly. Swap the batteries out. It caught me out once, luckily I was flying a 3ch conversion of an old free flight design, so the failsafe kicked in and it happily landed itself, but the drop from 50% on the screen, to a dead Tx in your hands, is very quick.

Last round of hinges are curing, horn and servo to go back in. I think my covering iron deserves a viking burial at this point. I'm definitely doing any other kind of covering on the next job - brown paper, fabric, fibreglass, I don't care, just no more iron on plastic, please!

It's what I started on, and still have two of them for buddy boxing with my kids. It's perfect for a beginner.

It's a good bit of kit. Slight limitations, but nothing that'll hold anyone back on even larger sport models.

That took far too long to get back to - I've been a busy boy the last few weeks. I just need to let the epoxy on the hinges fully cure before I re-mark the CoG (reference the other wing before I strip it), have one last waft of the iron over it and put the horn/servo back on. Repeat for the other side. I still haven't fuel proofed the cowl. At this point, I just want it done.

If it runs it runs, if not, bin it.

I went with the Mick Reeves kit - you only turn 40 once, so I might as well treat myself to the real deal. I am turning in to a bit of a lot hoarder, with more disposable income than time to build and/or fly, but it's a beautiful kit. I might need a bigger build board for this job!

Only if you provide your own receiver. (I can't see anything on the Microaces website that says they can provide AFHDS 2A receivers)

We kind of have a fuselage now. Unfortunately the half a can of gloss cellulose clear I thought I had, turned out to be a figment of my imagination, so the cowl still needs finishing. I'm really hoping I do the wings in a day tomorrow, but it might be too much of an ask.

He's got to have a scarf! The bigger and draggier the better! It's the most important part!

Don't get me to build it. 👍

Pfffffffff. Bet I could squeeze a few more kgs in to that airframe without even trying. 😂

I managed to find an old copy of the flair template, photocopied, made templates, marked up and hand painted my D8. It's a long job, oddly therapeutic, but I do not recommend.