Roy Thompson

A bit late in the day, I know, but finally bit the bullet and did the undercarriage mod sorting out the Magister undercarriage issue, shortening the length of the wire by 1 3/4 inches. I can confirm after 3 flights today it works a treat, no more wobbly legs and each landing on it's 3 wheels.

Looks good Jim.

A bit late in the day I know, but finally bit the bullet and did the undercarriage mod. I can now confirm after 3 flights today it works a treat, no more wobbly legs and each landing km it's 3 wheels.

Give it ago, it can be done.

How’s the Spitty Daren, did you ever sort the right turn. In my club we have a few, and they were out and about this weekend just gone at Popham. We flew 3 rounds combats over the weekend and most with a few repairs have survived.

https://www.popham-airfield.co.uk/model-show-2025

You have a point. I didn’t notice it with my first flick though, but now I look more closely at the articles, you are right about the dullness of the photographs. I think the photographs in the DJI FPV article, especially shows up the changes and reduction in quality by being many shades grey on grey background. As someone who has had material published in the RCME, and have gone to lengths to make sure the photos are the sharpest, brightest and highest quality possible, I agree with you about the quality falling below what one might expect. I appreciate that printed mater is in a dark place these days, and costs are the big focus, just look at the titles we have lost over the past few years. But I can’t help thinking that the changes to newspapers type grade papers and matt images detract from why we buy magazines in the first place, and just haynes the end of magazines as a format.

That’s good it’s found a new home, and at least he will only have to re-paint the top half. Look forward to seeing the pictures. I must get mine out and put some flights on it this year, maybe when I get home from holiday. Sun ‘n’ Fun 51 - Florida

Hi there Martin, Happy to see the magister been out and about. I may have to give that mod a go. How far in did you make the bend I’m guessing about 2 inches, and did you use Piers method to bore the hole for the dowel from on top or below? Could I get away with nicking a few inches off the wife’s broom handle with out it affecting the broomsticks CofG. 🤔

Now this I could understand, but that’s not what they say issue is each time, it’s always about the condition of the drawings.

Rich it’s the other way round, I have the plans and drawings, it was getting them scanned it to digital JPG and or PDF form that was the problem.

Like wise Nigel, each of the printers I tried all said the same thing, that I would need a company with a A0 flat bed scanner and not the feed in type that they had. The assistant at my very local printers did a good job of scanning a couple of my old plans at one time, and the next time I went in the owner stopped her saying we can’t do that. I did get feeling it was too much time and effort for them. Andrew at BME couldn’t understand what the issue were, as they had exactly the same type of machine, he went through it with me with no issue. He said that they had done far more fragile and difficult drawings than mine in the past. He then put the scans through his PC enhancing them, and I left with both JPG and PDF copies. What more could I ask for. I know the good people are out there it’s just the case for finding them.

Credit where credit due. Over the last few years I’ve had an issues trying to find a company who would happily scan old plans and a set of blueprints A0 size ish I have. This year I’ve made a real effort to find one, None of my local printers around the Basingstoke area, who offer scanning would touch them, they say for fear of jamming or ripping the documents. This lead me to widening my search and I came across “BME Imaging Ltd” in Slough. An email to them was instantly replied to with, yes we can do that for you no problem! So early this week I took myself off to see them 12 prints in hand and they could not have been more helpful and 40 minutes later we were all done. I would happily use them again, They are a small company that specialises in archiving documents for businesses, but more than happy to do a walk in. Very good price also. The only problem I had was finding the entrance to their yard at in Upton Road, Slough, it’s hidden between two houses. But once in the job was a Gooden. www.bmeimaging.co.uk

Bobby, welcome to the hobby first off. There are a couple of things I’d add to what’s been said here. First it’s good to known that you’re looking to the future and thinking about doing the “A” cert. If you’ve read the guide you’ll see that once you’ve learned the basics, can takeoff, land, fly circuits and control the model safely, the flying part is not hard. Which only need some basic knowledge to complete the questions. Second if you’re looking for a club, ask them about doing A test. Do they have a people who could train you. Do they have a club examiner. Do they have a program to help their members pass A & B test etc. I fly with a club that does require members to have passed the “A” in order to fly on their own without a qualified pilot next to them. It’s a simple safety thing. Doing this way, we know you’re not going to put yourself of other people at risk, and you will hopefully save a good few pound in not bending models. Good luck

Thanks Kevin and John, the lowboy does have the look. I thought I'd better have a closer look at the model and add some helpful information like span 66 inches. The fuz is built up with longerrons and formers except the bottom which is sheet wood. The wing has 1/4 sq spars top and bottom, the stab is similar. There is a possibility that this is an own design, I have no idea. I added a few extra pic's

Had a look at the Mini Boy and I can see the resemblance but its not it, wings and tail different. The Mini Boy looks to have a sheet tail and not a built up lifting tail, and it also has barn door aileron where my thing has strip ailerons.

Thanks for that, I should have said that the transfer is our club badge, although it has a similar look.

This model was dropped off at our club field last year, along with a host of other bits, by an elderly chap who had been in our club a very long time ago. All the stuff had been sitting in his garage untouched for decades. I’ve since heard from him that he brought this model second hand at a club night in the sports and social club we haven’t used for over 20 years, I think. But from the moment I saw it the name of an equally elderly former member came to mind, and indeed the name he thinks he brought it from was that one in my mind’s eye. I or he don't know what the model is called, or if its from a kit or an own design, so if anyone recognises I would love to know. As you can see from the pictures the model originally had Fleet servos, and the engine is an Enya 35 Super Sport The wing and tail plane both have a flat bottom aerofoil section, which to my eyes looks very vintage. After recommissioning this model has had a couple of good flights, so I just need to know what it’s called?

I can vouch for the 2212 1000KV or 1400KV motors from George’s (4-Max) value packs are an excellent choice for a cox 049 replacement. Just finished the Bowmans Raider 26 with the 1400Kv in place of a black widow. Rich I will sort out the updated drawings for the BMAC Easy Glide 1600, as soon as I have a chance.

Thats a good question that I can’t answer, the two motors that form the base were less than £100 each and all the other materials could have only been another £200 tops. The main cost would have been my time, machining up all the parts, assembling and testing, excluding the cost of the tools in my workshop. On the other hand the power output of mine are only half that and running 4S. If I’m remembering correctly the RPM is in the realm’s of 8,000 spinning Ramosa 3 blade Vario Props 13 1/2 inch dia.

Today I flew the Raider again today and finally we seem to have fixed the lack of pace that’s been dogging it. In my works shop the other day, I was contemplating what to do about the lack of pace, change the motor, go up to 4S, different props etc. At the same time I was fitting out another model with a brand new ESC, which needed calibrating. That’s when the penny dropped! Had I ever calibrated the ESC? Well apparently not, but we have now and what a difference it’s made. I can only assume that up till now it only been running up to about 75% of its potential. Today the Raider was a different model, not blistering fast but certainly fast enough for me, with enough power to go vertical and grove around do split 8’s with out fear of it running out of steam. So after all this the 2212 1400kv motor and 8X6 prop works just fine.

Been there got the T shirt. 😀 The trouble with building and maintaining a contra system is, it becomes a project in its own right.

Not anywhere on the same scale as the Bowman's magister, but this has been my latest fix up, or you could call it a recommissioning. This model was dropped off at our club field last year, along with a host of other bits, by an elderly chap who had been a club member once a very long time ago. All this stuff had been sitting in his garage untouched for decades. I’ve since heard from him that he brought it second hand at a club night in the sports and social club we haven’t used for over 20 years, I think. But from the moment I saw it the name of an equally elderly former member came to mind, and indeed he one of the name he thinks he brought it from was that one in my mind’s eye. I or he don't know what it is called, or if it could be from a kit or an own design, so if anyone recognises I would love to know. As you can see from the before pictures the model still had its classic Fleet servos, and the engine, an Enya 35 Super Sport was locked up solid and the fuel system all looking very green. The covering is nylon and all in very good condition, including the club badge, so a once over with some detergent was all that needed. The wing and tail plane both have a flat bottom aerofoil section, which looks very vintage. As for the recommissioning, all that’s been needed is to strip out all the gear, fuel system and engine. The engine had a couple of days laying in a bath of clean old fuel to free it up, before a good clean with a stiff brush. The fuel system, tank and carb was all strip down given a good clean up, before reassembled and refitting. As for the fleet servos they were all replaced with Futaba FP-S-148 from my spares box stock, all bar the throttle that was tested given a new plug and put back. Having reassembled everything back in its place and added a new radio and battery, it was soon ready to give it ago. The engine didn’t take much to get running and retune, and it still has its original glow plug. Being unsure about if this model has flown before and or where the CG should be, I added some extra weight to the nose to be on the safe side. After a few aborted attempts to get it airborne, with it nosing over, we finally got it in the air. It was then apparent that I’d been overly courses with full up trim and up some up elevator needed for level flight. For the second outing the extra weight was removed, which solved the nosing over and greatly improved the trim, although there is still a noticeable amount of up trim on the elevator. Having had three flights, I can say it flies OK, and I’ve tried bit basic aerobatics rolls, loops etc. cuts It also has a very good glide when the motor cuts. Still some work to be done to sort out the up trim, I will try moving the CG a little further aft, but I’m wondering if the incidence may also be a little off. I haven’t put a gage on it yet.

Didn't think of that. Maybe next time.

The latest addition to the Bowman fleet the Raider 26 is done and dusted, for a small model it taken me forever to pull finger out and finish. Today I had Raider out, and I took my camera with me and talked a club mate into taking the transmitter allowing me to work the camera. I pleased to say it worked well and now I’ve some nice photos.