[The October Grand Prize Draw]

fingers crossed as usual, i think this model deserves a good outrunner and a lipo

[The March Grand Prize Draw]

me too

[2.4ghz]

Are you using these with The Futaba 6EX 2.4, measurement wise they look a little tight? 

 im using that pack in a standard 6EXP, which i think has the same sized battery pack space as the 6EX 2.4Ghz version as i doubt theyd change the shell, you're right it was a bit tight but they just squeezed in!

[2.4ghz]

HAVE A LOOK AT THE 9.6V 2400MAH PACK I USE IT IN MY SET WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER.

 LASTS A LONG TIME

http://www.component-shop.co.uk/html/small_packs.html

[Decorating elapor (EPO foam)]

I tried a bit of humbrol arcylic spray paint on a spare bit of elapor and watched it dissolve before my eyes ! so just because the can says Acrylic on it... dont trust it.. always test first !!

 Permamenet marker pens do work well but i found i had to build it up in layers to fill in all the little gaps and pits in the foam.

[Painting foam models?]

i NEARLY sprayed humbrol spray paint on my Multiplex easy glider.. i decided to test a bit first on a spare bit of elapor that came with the kit, to my horror i watched it dissolve rapidly !

 Never spray humbrol acrylic spray paint on Elapor foam !

[1/3 AAA Cells]

try:

http://www.component-shop.co.uk/html/single_cells.html

 ive found them very reliable they can make up packs for you too, or you can buy packs from their ready made list.

[Battery advice..]

when you build the orion id strongly advise you to:

use better pushrods (snakes) with metal, adjustsable clevises

use small servo's like hitec hs 55's

stiffen the spar using vertical grained shear webs between each of the wing ribs (1/16th thick balsa either side of the spar)

enlage the rudder to make it about another 1.5 cm deeper for better controll

you may need to fiddle with the contol horn and cutouts in the ellevator to achieve the correct amount of throw, even with the enlarged rudder. i had to remove part of the control horn for the rudder or itd foul up on the fuselage.

these mods done, the orion will fly brilliantly, esp if you keep the weight down further with a small battery pack and use solarfilm rather than profilm, you can just squeeze in an 800mah AAA battery pack into the nose so no need to get a 2/3AAA size one., get the bigger AAA type and use less lead !

[Bungees]

i too have foud it difficult to find a bungee, how about if RCM+E did an article on how to make a bungee to suit yoour model, what are the options costs etc etc. most people end up resorting to the 6mm eleastic cord stuff, and monofilament fishing line.

[Which polyhedral lightwind slope soarer?]

ive got a west wings orion, they cost peanuts, fly brilliantly and are really easy to build.