John Manning

These are just a couple of ideas about the dawn Flyer and it's CofG problems. I will start by saying that I shall have to wait for the plans to arrive as I have thrown the magazine out. What would the results be of lengthening the front of the fuselage by 10mm (basically the bit in Koen's picture)?. Looking at BEB's build blog, the tail feathers look a bit chunky and I would make the wood a bit thinner and hence save weight at the tail. Next job, find out what the power train is so I can order that! Regards John

Hi everyone, Thanks for the useful replies and hints. 2 things, first I had intended that the model would be fully set up and flown before I asked a better pilot to show it off at Greenacres. Secondly, I think it a reasonable challenge, go for the A cert before Greenacres then I can show it off myself. Currently I fly helis and small planes indoors. I do have problems with switching from rudder under right thumb (3 channel ARTF) and rudder under left thumb (4 channel proper build). The ailerons take over the right thumb position. In a large space the craft comes round very nicely on elevator/aileron. I usually forget the rudder which is fatal to the aircraft in the hall. There are 5 extra surfaces to fly into which can make for an interesting flight pattern. John M

VA, An excellent model, if mine is half as good I shall be pleased. I shall not be able to fly at Greenacres as I have yet to gain my "A" cert or the confidence to fly my own handiwork. Hence my request for some body to take the sticks at our illustriuos get together. KC, thanks for the extra tips. I'll do a bit more to the J21 and then may be able to move towards the Dawn Flyer. John M

We're never late for a party Eifion, just slightly delayed. Put me down for a Dawn Flyer, all I need is some one to fly her! I have asked on the specific build thread. John M

Here's one for every body, If I build the Dawn flyer, who will fly it at Greenacres for me? Any takers John M

Hi Darran, JohnM here, coming into a first build is an exciting and challenging time. Fear not for there are lots of model builders to help you. Firstly welcome to the world of model building. The problem that I had when restarting building was "What do I use to build on" I had not thought of plasterboard but instead SLEC came to the rescue with purpose made building boards. They are like a butchers block in that they are made of end grain timber, in this case hard balsa. They are easy to use and slec also sell a plastic film that covers the plan so that you model does not stick to it. Aliphatic glue is like wood glue but it dries hard so you can sand it. A word of warning, if you have only used craft knives in the past you will find scalpels very sharp, Take care, we want the red on our models to be paint not blood. Good luck. John M

Looks good. The plans have arrived as the subscriber issue is now out. Are the laser cut parts going to be available? Saves a lot of fiddle if they are. The formers are a bind to cut with all those top stringers. Yet another "October " edition buildable, Hawker sygnet in 2011, Saab J21 in 2012 and now Skywriter in 2013.

Hi Craig, I have been watching your efforts, you are doing a grand job. All these projects have their ups and downs and you are doing well. I recently returned to York air museum and got some more photos of the mossie there. Tony Agar (the owner) has got the engines and nacelles off. This leaves the full undercarriage visible so I took some more photos. I shall have to work out how to get them on the forum. I have not done any modelling at all but have gained another kit so when I do start there will be several to have a go at. By the way, Who has the memory stick with the first series of york museum photos on it? It would be nice to add the latest set to it. Cheers to you all, John Manning

Hi Tim I have just read your build article in the May RCM&E, A very neet trick with the wing but some how R4 is missed out of the build dequence! as R4 is near the cut and dihedral root it's probably pretty useful to install it in the correct place! It's apity that this bit has got left out (it's possibly in cyber space) as the rest of the article realy makes me think about having a go.

hi all, I shall be away from the model bench and computer for a bit. The piccies are nearly ready but will have to wait. Bert, if you want some piccys let me know, I think I've a technique that works to transfer them to disc. I'll send Craig a bit of litho plate as it's getting rare due to recycling by the manufacturers. Talk to you all soon. John

Hi all, First a major disaster with the photos. I spent hours transfering them to disc, so I thought. When I put the disc in the drive it said "insert a disc". All 4 are the same. plan b is to try writing some more using the laptop. plan c is to use small memory pens. plan z is to throw the PC in the Trent and buy a slab of stone and a hammer and chisel.!!   Second. Panel lines, be careful here as aircraft builders were careful to avoid panel joins that show from more than a few feet.  I would suggest that a hint of the join is shown using a mapping pen or fine draftsmans pen filled with amix of the base colour and Paynes Grey. Then just rule the panel lines on to the finished area, you can dot rivets in the same manner.  Remember that details like these are not that apparent even on full size aircraft. How many panel lines and rivets can you see on the chopper that takes you back and forth to the rigs?   regards John M

Pete, Thank you for the re-assurance. The technicalities of radio and electronics are mind blowing enough. Then regulators start throwing their pennyworth in! Some of usare bound to get confused. I am glad that some body like you can explain it to lesser mortals like me. Many thanks John M

Where does this leave me, a non radio technician who has purchased 2.4ghz spectrum systems and components because, 1 they were the way forward. 2 they were supplied with the model 3 they were affordable.   Am I now about to become illegal?  Or is my operation of these devices about to cause a major catastrophe somewhere?   In the nth do we go back to 27mhz, and all the problems of that?   I am confused and slightly worried that my easy and safe R/C system is about to be condemned to the scrap heap.  I'm glad that free flight is still allowed. John M

Hi craig, you could use teh 71" model techniques for the control surfaces, or use smaller modern servos in the wing. cisconnecting the linkages for every trip to and from the field sounds like a recipe to miss one off!  The build for the larger model sounds like how the original was constructed, two complete halves. I shall be sending the photos out next week, if you want some can you send me a message with your address please. John

Thanks for that photo. I shall be going to Salisbury hall myself on the 19th September.  That's an interesting nose poking in from the right.  I'll take my tripod and take some long exposure shots. I tried the japenese block plane that I got last week. Used on balsa it's awesome, paper thin shavings just like proper wood! Great for shaping the various parts on aircraft. John

Who let a forum administrator out? Where's the sticky buns? When is another visit happening? Have a good time timbo. regards John manning

Bert, Which mossie are these photos from? the gap between the rudder and the fuselage is bigger than the example at york. Also the tailplane to fuselage fairing is missing. regards John

Next photo from York. I am going to have to trim the size down to upload them as they take ages.  Note the gap under the rudder, the flow of the line across the fin and rudder and the smoothness of the rudder itself. If you would like a disc of the photos please e-mail me.

No Danny, you have hit the nail on the head.  I beleive it's called KISS. I shall pursue making a hollow elevator, just for fun. It may be easier than carving a balsa block. The inward curve of the nacelles is shown on the plan and is apparent on the 1/48 kit that I have.  This computer is running on borrowed time so I'll sign off for now and hope that I have not lost the York Photos. John

Note inward curve on nacelle.

Hi all, Just back from a few days away. I was hoping to have tried a built up elevator and control horn set up to overcome the problems of accurately bending wire U connectors.  No luck with that. I am also experiencing difficulties uploading photos, which is a pity. I'll try one tonight. Regards John

Hi all, Just back from York air museum and 34 piccys of the mossie. They are large files so I'll have to upload them carefully. Here are some observations. The fin rear and the rudder front are in line, very little difference if any between them. The Rudder appears the same as the rest of the aircraft in finish. Rivit and panel detail is lost in the paint., looked at from the wing tip the skin appears smooth. The full size craft has the opposite problems to the models. Full size is light at the tail.  If the rear fuel tank is removed there is adanger of the aircraft nosing over!!! The Austrailians are building a replica which will be capable of flying. One measurement that I have not been able to find is the prop diameter. I measured the length of blade sticking out of the spinner, it's 55". Note that there is an inward curve on the rear of the nacelles That's the notes for tonight. best of luck and I hope the weather stays nice for Craig in the middle of the North Sea. John

Thanks Bert, it's always useful to have component parts in photos.  Have you offered them to www.mossie.org which is an excellent site for research into the mosquito. Regards John