Robin Colbourne

Different makes of film have different requirements. As I recall, Oracover (Polyester film) sticks from about 90°C but only shrinks from around 140°C. It melts at approx 250°C. You really need to find the instructions for the film you have, or failing that, do some experiments with scraps. Solarfilm (Polyproylene film) is far more sensitive and easier to burn holes through. This Solarfilm covering tutorial should answer most questions for it.

Does this page help? NACA0018 Polars

Another vote for the Lidl Digital Hot Air Gun. I bought one for work and liked it so much I bought another for home use. I have one of the cream coloured Weller ones that I use for small jobs, but if its for use on covering film the Digital one is the bee's knees. You can pick the Lidl one up from Ebay if you're not prepared to wait for the shop to get them in: Lidl Parkside Digital Hot Air Gun and this one in an auction: Parkside Digital Hot Air Gun Auction

If a drone was fitted with a 35MHz receiver, would it be unaffected by the jammers? (Asking for a friend 😈)

Having googled the well known model engine designers such as Lawrence H Sparey and Edgar T Westbury, it doesn't appear to be one of theirs. The general style of the engine to me puts it somewhere in the late 60's to 1990s, although that is just a gut feeling. An enquiry on the Model Engineer Forum may get a result, or an enquiry to Adrian at https://www.adriansmodelaeroengines.com/catalog/ may help, although he has been hospitalized lately.

Frank, you could try posting on this Polish Facebook groupwhich translates to "RC planes are our passion"

This is a Cat 500 designed by Harry Gilkes (RM450 from Sarik). I bought it probaby 25 years ago or more and flew it regularly for a few years. Firstly with an OS25FSR and later with an MDS38. A heavy arrival resulted in a broken silencer, broken wing dowel and elevator horn, plus some damage on the wing leading edge, which projects forward from the spar along the side of the fuselage and a twisted undercarriage. It then got put aside whilst I flew other models then full-size gliders for a number of years. The recent wet and wind weather gave me a good excuse to get her sorted. The broken elevator horn crubled to dust as I removed it. A salutory reminder to check all the other nylon fittings. Here is the broken horn next to a complete one.

Its worth noting that the early Futaba Challenger was the FPT-6NL and didn't have a buddy box socket, whilst the later one was the FPT-6NFK (or FPT-6NPK) I believe the early ones (6NL) had electronic components with legs through the boards, whilst the later ones 6NFK & 8NPK) were surface mounted.

My apologies Frank. I didn't update the link when I edited the text. This is the right one for the model III. The text mentions a special cylinder head for the R/C version, maybe the R/C one doesn't have the offset plug? September 1960 Model Aircraft - Test Report - OS Max-III 35

That looks like the OS Max-III 35 from 1960. The odd thing is that the photographed engine in this test report doesn't have the slight bellmouth on the venturi casting that Frank's engine has, althoug hthe drawing shows it. Generally non-RC glow motors of this size are of more interest to collectors (and vintage control line fliers than the equivalent R/C (throttled) versions. February 1958 Model Aircraft Test Report - OS Max-II 35 Frank's box looks newer than the engine to me.

What you are asking represents many hours of work. A lot of it is already available on the net and in books. If you do your research first, so you learn the terminology, then you can speak to some experienced modellers who can then guide you further. Steps to take are: Get a good book such as David Boddington's Radio Control Primer This will cover a lot of the basic information on aspects such as mounting your engine, fuel tank tank height etc. Download the instruction sheet for the engine you have or as close to it as possible, e.g. OS46AX instruction manual Watch some Youtube videos This is the two I found, I'm sure there are better ones Basics of glow motors Starting and Tuning a 2 cycle Nitro RC Airplane Engine Go to a club and speak to a few people who have glow models. Ther may be someone who has a test stand on which they would be willing to run your engine.

How about the two channel conversion of the KeilKraft Invader as championed by John Woodfield? John used wing twist and pitch rather than try to make a linkage to the twin fins. John quotes a total weight for the model including R/C of 130 grammes (4.6oz). As most of these gliders needed some lead inthe nose in free flight form, the radio replaces much of this, so their is very little overall increase. John Woodfield's KeilKraft Invader converted to R/C R/C KeilKraft Invader in flight The KeilKraft Invader can be bought as a kit or downloaded from Outerzone

David, with a rudder/elevator model, manouverability comes from reducing the inertia in the extremities. If you are going for heavier spars, may I suggest you consider tapering them? A friend built a new wing for the Bowman's Simpleton glider on which I had broken the original wing. He used spruce spars and the thing became an absolute pig to turn.

A good many modellers have had a relationship with a tree. Its usually a bit like a divorce; the tree finds out what you treasure most and grabs it from you.

I've just realised there is another page of rules here: La Coupe Des Barons 2024 regulations

The Coupe Des Barons certainly looks a fun event. I'm fascinated how in this type of competition the builder is allowed to modify the design. I've tried looking for the rules, and this is my translation of them from this site La Coupe Des Barons 2024. Clearly there is more to it, as David has mentioned that he is flying a much larger engine than the 3.5cc one mentioned, plus the increase in span is permitted, but none of that is mentioned here. La Coupe Des Barons (The Barons' Cup) The Free Flight Club of Ste Marie d'Alloix has been organizing the Barons' Cup since 2005. This famous competition, initiated in 1976, is one of the most famous model making competitions and has always been open to all competitors, from beginners to experienced. Many European clubs have copied this competition at national level, thus putting the spotlight on the competition which celebrates the famous "Le Baron"; a semi-scale model of an aircraft from the 1914 era, halfway between the Fokker DRIII (sic, maybe they mean EIII Eindecker?) and the Blériot XXIV artillery observation aeroplane. The Free Flight Club With nearly 60 members from all professional backgrounds (traders, business leaders, technicians, workers, lawyers, private or professional pilots, glider pilots, high school students, students, retirees, schoolchildren, etc...) In short, several generations of aviation enthusiasts under the aegis of of its founder Gérard Ferroud and its entire administrative team, the club has decided this year to pay tribute to these famous Knights of the Sky of 1914/18 by organizing the Barons' Cup. All these modellers will compete at the controls of a model identical to the one invented by M.C. Chauzit in various ruthless and terribly nerve-wracking ordeals, but also for templates (awards?). The Model A monoplane created in 1972 by Mr. Christian Chauzit, it is rather intended to be an early aircraft resembling a machine that once existed and with the incomparable charm of these "trapanelles" (flying jalopies?) that left their mark at the start of our fabulous aeronautical history. With a wingspan of 1550mm (61”) and a weight of less than 2kg (4.84lb), it will be powered by a modest 3.5cc engine and will reveal incomparable flying qualities as well as manoeuvrability possibilities phenomenal, despite only having two axes controls; thus making it the model of choice for almost all beginners in model flying and by the same token an aircraft worthy of being included in a one-design competition. The Tasks Aesthetic Test (Static Judging) Each model is scored according to specific criteria (realism of the bonnet (Engine cowling?), machine gun, wheels, etc.). The Baron had to get as close as possible to the real aircraft of the time. Over the years, flyers have indulged in more and more fanciful decorations (for their pilots), e.g. a cow, a "Barbie" doll... Broken Sticks Metre-tall balsa sticks are stuck in the ground. The same number and position of sticks for each competitor. The goal of the event is to break them in mid-flight or "Touch and go". The Pylon Race Two 6 metre tall masts are erected 100 metres apart from each other. the other. The Barons have to pass through as many pylons as possible. Fox Hunting A strip of crepe paper hangs on the back of a Baron. The purpose of the test for the other Barons is to come and cut this band with their propeller. The Limbo A rope is stretched between two masts at a height of 4.5 meters. The Barons must go to flights under this rope the greatest number of times. Some dare to cross in a loop... All participants are divided into six groups of seven or eight Barons. The tasks take place by heats each of 5 minutes. Each heat is made up of 7 or 8 Barons who fly at the same time, the start is made also simultaneously.

Putting a piece of wire that is a good sliding fit inside the tube may help prevent any crushing. If you use copper wire or an aluminium welding rod then it won't blunt the cutting tool.

This is a comprehensive article on Profi Engines. I have one, but would have to check which one it is, as it was part of my late father's collection.

Or people who think its ok to turn up at a club's site and fly there without asking or having awareness of site rules.

Yamamoto was also the name of the Japanese aviator in "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines". The film was very popular in the early 1970s, so maybe that had something to do with it?

A friend of mine has is own flying site not far from a mobile phone mast. Spektrum is the only make of 2.4GHz radio which suffers interference from it.

The sad bit was, the Sanwa was a nicer layout as it had a flap quadrant lever on the side of the transmitter right under one's index finger, if they had had the Futaba internal build quality I would have been tempted.

Thank you Phil, that is very helpful. The FlySky FS-RM003 module appears to be still available. Would taking the case off allow the RM002 conversion process to be followed for the RM003?

The Sanwa Conquest was notorious for that. Usually it was the aileron potentiometer wires which failed first. Confusingly, Futaba called what they sold as the Futaba Challenger in the UK, the Futaba Conquest in the USA, although the Sanwa and Futaba products are to the best of my knowledge, unrelated, although of the same era and level in the market.

The card manufacturer or the reindeer?