Colin Leighfield
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Everything posted by Colin Leighfield
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That's brilliant, good luck Richard.When you fly it, some tips to bear in mind:- Like most "warbirds", it tends to go on it's nose on grass. It's better on hard runways. At the start of the take-off run, make sure that you have full up-elevator before you crack the throttle open, or you risk scraping the prop. (Just like a real Spitfire)! It gets off the ground like a scalded cat, so you'll be backing off with the elevator very smartly. However, I've found that however much you abuse it, it doesn't tip stall and you seem to be able to get away with pretty much anything. It's extremely responsive to the controls on the standard settings and you can do beautiful scale barrel rolls. When you slow it down, it floats in like a feather and is dead easy to land. The speed kings might want a bit more go and from the internet it looks as if the answer is to go to a 4S Li-Po, although it probably needs the esc uprating from 30A to 40A. Having said that, it can be flown in such a scale fashion anyway taht the wish to do that is a purely personal thing. Finally, I find that the battery starts to lose power at about 10 minutes and it's best then to get the undercarriage down and think about landing it. On one occasion I stretched it to the limit and there wasn't enough power to get both wheels down, so that's when you aim for the grass. No damage though, it's seem to be quite resilient.
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It's amazing how these things vary. I've just fitted a Corona 2.4 gig module to my JR 3810 and I've found that with that set up you need to turn the Rx on before the Tx to get it to bind. I hope that your experience with the Dynam radio solves Richard''s problem. Although I'm not using it because of the Mode 2 issue, it seems to be good quality and binding wasn't a problem with it when I tried it out.
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How long have you been flying models?
Colin Leighfield replied to David Ashby - Moderator's topic in Model Flying Polls
On and off since 1956. First model was a Frog "Minx" (built up rubber powered, 30" wing span, I think). Glide tests were fine, but when I wound the motor right up the fuselage collapsed, almost certainly because of my poor workmanship. I obtained a plan recently and I will eventually build another one. Second attempt (1957)? was a Keil Kraft Cadet which I did a better job of, but before I could fly it my baby brother jumped on it. I wasn't happy, but I got over it. A couple of years ago I got a kit for a Cadet from Replikit and built it, finished with tissue and dope as the original. It was a huge pleasure and flies very well. Shame that Replikit have stopped doing these vintage reproductions, but I've got 2 (can't think why) Mercury Marauders to have a go at, plus a Keil Kraft Snipe to replace the first one that flew away o.o.s. in Sutton Park on it's first flight in 1965, complete with a brand new Cox Babe Bee. Has anybody found it yet! -
I worked out how to attach the photos. (Suddenly realised that I should read the instructions in the forum, why am I so slow)?
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Good scale model of Mk.IX, except for 3 bladed prop and dihedralnot quite right.
Colin Leighfield posted a gallery image in Member Albums
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Hi Richard. Sorry I can't think of a quick answer. I don't know if anyone else looking might have some thoughts on it?
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Hi Richard and Jaycee. 1. Richard. I had this problem when I tried to bind the Dynam rx with the Spektrum Dx6 tx, it just wouldn't work. However, with the Dynam Tx it worked straight away. That's why I had to switch both the tx and rx, the Dynam and Spektrum aren't compatible.Not sure what your problem is. Assuming that you are most likely in Mode 2, with the throttle on the left, what position is the trim in? Have you tried it with the trim set in the high or the low position to see if that makes the difference? It should be set up with the trim in the high position. 2.Jaycee. I've got 3 good photos in "My Pictures", but I can't work out how to attach them onto this. Clearly you know how to do it, any advice please? A number of peoplele are offering this plane on Ebay, perhaps Nitrotek is worth looking at?
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Hi Richard. This one caught me out. I forgot to specify Mode 1 (can't fly Mode 2)! When it arrived it was Mode 2. The guy who had imported it reckoned he'd been told that everyone in the UK flies Mode 2! Ah well. I took the back off the Tx to see if I could swap it around, but concluded it was beyond my competence. I decided to take the coward's way out and used my existing Spektrum Dx6 instead, which is a perfectly good conclusion, except for the waste of what looks perfectly good R/C gear, which I'm giving to a mate who lives down South where they do odd things like flying Mode 2. I believe it is available in Mode 1, but clearly you need to establish it first. Having said that, I still think it's good value for money and it is a great flyer. As I mentioned before, I painted a single coat of Matt dark green, light and dark sea grey plus fitted a Deagostini Spitfire pilot from Pete's Pilots and it really does look the part. Very pleased with it. Am I correct in guessing that you've got the same problem as I had? I felt pretty stupid when I found out my mistake!
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It's interesting that nobody has picked up on this one, although I note that quite a few have read it. However, I have to say that in spite of apparently intermittent operation of the U/C in the workshop, it works perfectly on the field and I wonder if the thing is set up to give a staggered operation instead of simultaneous, closer to the full size. I have to say that this model is a great flyer, with none of the ground handling problems that I expected, although this is on hard runways and I'm sure that tipping on the nose might be a problem on grass. To be fair though, that's not unusual for foam warbirds. It handles really well with no vices and looks great in the air. The size (47" wingspan) is good and makes it more visible than some of the smaller alternatives. The foam is tough and resists dents, which makes a change. If you are prepared to do a bit of painting and change the pilot, as I have, this is a very decent scale model and I'd recommend it. The only reservation now is that it could do with a bit more power, but I'm enjoying flying it as it is, so might have a look at that later.
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Does anyone have any experience with this? I bought one on line a few weeks ago, having watched a few internet videos which showed that it looked good and flies pretty well. When received, the quality looked up to the mark and it's a reasonable facsimile of a Spitfire Mk.IX. The wingtips are slightly incorrect but close (It would easily cut down to make an LFIX) and the U/C is slightly widened but works in the right direction. Can't criticise that. Colour scheme is a bit dodgy and the pilot is ridiculous, but a bit of work with the paint brush, a Deagostini Spitfire pilot from Pete's Pilots and it becomes a better looking Spitfire than many others that I have seen. You can fit the cannons and stubs in the standard "C" wing position or the othe way around in the "E" wing format, less common but I did it because I could. It unfortunately came the with radio set up to Mode 2, which I can't live with and although it is well made, I can't see how to convert it to Mode 1, so I fitted my Spektrum instead. However, I haven't been able to fly it yet because of the complete unpredictability as to whether the retracts are going to work or not. With the original radio or the Spektrum, the original leads or different ones, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If you take it to bits, re-connect everything and try, it works. Put it away, get it it out a day or two later and it doesn't, or it does after a delay, or one comes down. It sounds like dodgy connections, but I've been through it so many times I don't see how it can be.I keep thinking I'm missing something obvious, does anybody else have experience with this plane?
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Great to see the Matador still draws such interest. One of my favourite models in the Sutton Park halcyon days of the 50s and 60s. I built one from the Ben Buckle kit 5 years ago, covered it with Solartex. To get close to authenticity I fitted a new PAW 1.49 diesel, which was a mistake because it was a pig to start, far worse more than any other diesel I have ever owned and very frustrating. When it did go however, the Matador flew just like it should. That is until I looped it exuberantly and the wings folded! I've kept the wreckage because I think it's repairable, but when I get around to it I will beef up the wing and fit a different engine, most likely another diesel.
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Thanks Andy, That's why I've still got it. I'm a bit slow and take a long time to get things done (decades)? In fact after I fitted a new Fox 36X RC I never got around to flying it and the engine is still unrun! Next year I semi-retire (65) and then is when I plan to bring all of these long-laid plans to fruition.(You've got to believe it)! When I get time I'll put some more pictures into an album. I've finally found out how to do it, if I don't forget in the meantime.
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Thanks for the advice about putting photos on here. These show "Miss Tangerine" in my back garden in 1981. My daughter Katy adds perspective in both scale and time, because she is 31 now! i hope these are of interest.
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I've got two excellent colour photographs of my "MissTangerine" taken in about 1981. I still have the model stored in the garage loft. I'd like to attach the pictures for your interest, but I confess my computer ignorance in my inability to get them out of the pictures library onto this. If anyone can tell me how to do it I will gladly do so. It doesn't look much like Peter Miller's Bootlace, but it does look a lot like Ian Peacock's version RC1227. In fact I'd say it's the same model with a different name and perhaps Ian only decided to call it "Miss Tangerine" when he produced it as a kit.
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Hi again Andrew. I've photographed the box front, which has a lot of information, also have 2 good photos of mine taken in 1982. My email address is [email protected]. If you would like to email me directly I will send the pictures to you. The span is 60" and the length 52". The configuration is Pitts S2A, so that's where to go to get your wing and tail right. Hoping to hear from you again.
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I bought one from Jim Davies in 1979 and flew it for years. It was described by Pat French as a "Pitts without pains" and it was indeed based on the Pitts Special in wing and tail shape but with a very much simplified and slimmed down built up balsa fuselage. If you use the Pitts wing shape with thick fully symmetrical section, you will be dead on. I can't remember the exact span but it was probably about 63" top wing. As supplied the circular wing tip profile was cut directly in the veneered foam and the box picture showed the model with very thick wing tips, simply veneered around the edges. which don't look right. As a consequence I cut them off square and then built on properly sectioned circular tips which looked correct. The measurements you quote on the wing braces remind me that PF said it didn't need interplane struts, but fit them if you wish. I made mine up as single piece "I" section from balsa. If you are doubtful about position, just base it on the Pitts Special. Mine was a brilliant flyer with an HB61, covered in white Solarfilm with blue sunburst flashes on the wings. After a few years I recovered it with Solartex, painted it silver, finished it with Hawker Fury style RAF roundels and trim and fitted an Irvine Q72. It really looked the part until I flew it through a fence at Fradley about 10 years ago and totalled it. I would have built another one but unfortunately I lent the plan to someone and didn't get it back. I tend to keep kit box fronts and might still have it, I will take a look and also see if there any photos lying about. I might be interested in having another go, maybe we can co-operate on the plan that you have got? Incidentally I've still got my PFM Giant Zlin (86" span) in a repairable condition, does anyone have the canopy for it?
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Sorry I'm months late in reading this one, but if anyone is still interested in the subject I bought the Ian Peacock Miss Tangerine kit in about 1979 and built it . Originally I fitted a Fox 40 Schnuerle port and it was lethal. Then I used an OS30, but it was under powered with that. If anyone is interested It's in my garage loft with a Fox 36X still fitted, all intact but it finished up a bit heavy after numerous repairs. I kept saying that I would make up a new foam wing for it and give it another go, although it's flyable as it is. You will see from the Advanced Designs advert that it is actually quite different from the Pete Miller design.
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Top Gun Edge 540
Colin Leighfield replied to Colin Leighfield's topic in Sport, Aerobatic and 3D kits
Thamks YakMad, I'm glad it's not just me. -
This is a nice looking model, but it''s not cheap, therefore you expect good quality. Don''t kid yourself. Straightforward to assemble except for some fiddle getting in a decent size tank to feed the OS91FX. First flight, started up the (already run in) engine. Warmed up, set for full throttle and the black trim stripe down one side of the fuselage peeled off and blew away in the slip-stream. Oh well. Took off like a rocket and needed some trimming to sort out in admittedly very windy conditions. Flew very well, promising. No fun in wind like this,fortunately straight down the runway, so bring it in after 5 minutes. Comes in over the fence with a very low ground speed into a 15 knot wind, land it and the alloy undercarriage flattened itself out. This had been reported in an earlier review some time before, with the observation that the supplier (CML) said that this would be resolved in kits on sale. (Heard that one before). Went home ordered the nearest spec carbon fibre u/c I could find in the Carbon Copy catalogue, it arrived quickly and with a little modification fitted it. Painted the black c/f white to match the original. Up the field again and had some good flying, it''s quite fast with the OS91and rolls like a dingbat. Next time up the field, started off ok, then went deadstick and had to land in the grass just alongside of the runway. Stayed upright but the U/C plywood plate ripped straight out, whells went up and punctured holes in the wing covering. It''s in the garage roof at present, I''ll get round to sorting it out when I can get motivated. But for £159? I''ll think hard the next time. At least it''s not as bad as the Vemar CAP232 I tried a few years ago. Words fail me and I won''t insult you with that one. Fortunately I still have my YT International Ultimate fitted with an ASP180 4 stroke (originally it had the 120 but needed some more poke, the previous owner flew it with a Moki135). That''s brillliant and the build quality puts the Top Gun and Vemar offerings to shame.
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The November Grand Prize Draw
Colin Leighfield replied to David Ashby - Moderator's topic in All Things Model Flying
Got to try for this one! -
The October Grand Prize Draw
Colin Leighfield replied to David Ashby - Moderator's topic in All Things Model Flying
I wouldn't kick it out of bed! -
The September Grand Prize Draw
Colin Leighfield replied to Roger Auker's topic in All Things Model Flying
I like P40s (Somebodies got to). The Luftwaffe shot down hundreds in the Western Desert. -
The August Grand Prize Draw
Colin Leighfield replied to David Ashby - Moderator's topic in All Things Model Flying
I never give up, try again!
