Robin Coombs

Pity you didnt use LADO electric retracs. Mine work just fine from the start. Staggered as well. Robin

I started at age 10 with control line models flying at the Youngsfield Aerodrome in Cape Town while watching Tiger Moths and Harvards of the very young SAAF. I did a bit of real flying at age 14 with a friend of my Dad in a Piper Cub then a Tiger Moth, great stuff. A long break taking part in motor racing and rallying. I re started around 1980 and according to my log book have racked up 228 hours over 32 years of radio control. Mostly scale warbirds. My main passion is building and my latest project is the Tony Nieuhaus Spitfire. I am putting a 30cc petrol engine in it with electric retracts and lighting. I see I am not the oldest one here at age 70 so that makes me feel great. Robin in South Africa

Looking good, Herri. I havnt even started mine yet. I got all the laser cut bits and had my LADO electric retracts but sales intervened so have sold them. LADO is picking up here and another TN Spit is being built here, with the LADO retracts. Weather here is perfect for flying and with our club warbirds day in 3 weeks am busy fixing up muyCorsair and B25. Cheers from Sunny South Africa. Robin

I am in the process of building a large trailer but in the meantime I use a 1983 Microbus fitted with a Ford V6. The centre seats are removed and the back seats fold down so I can get 4 large planes in plus all field gear as well. I dont even have to take off the wings. Due to the large engine and low gearing it uses so much petrol that if I dont stop the engine at the service station I cant fill the tank. Petrol here is getting expensive, thats why I am building a trailer. R8.30/litre at the moment. That 1 pound 20 a gallon. Its only R3.00 in Dubai.      

Just looked out of the office window. Clear sky, slight breeze, 30 degrees C. Why ar'nt I at the field?

Don,t know how you survive in that ?? My Sister-in-law flies out on the 9th and she can,t wait to get some sunshine. She is hoping that Heathrow does,nt get snowed in. Robin in SA

Hi all. I have been following this thread with great interest as I have also decided to build the Spit. My next build was to be a 50cc Cessna but that can wait a bit. I am going to install the DLE 30 to compensate for altitude. I always go one size up on engines as these small units loose a lot of power at altitude. I am at 1500 mtrs ASL. I made the mistake of using the recomended size (0.61) for the Typhoon and have paid the price as it is almost impossible to fly. It was slightly tail heavy and combined with insufficient power just fell out of the sky at take off. Once it is rebuilt I shall balance it slightly nose heavy but the performance wont be so good. I am installing LADO Electric RS333 retracts and OLEO,s into the Spit. I have ordered the cowling and canopy but will get the wood cut here to save transport costs. Keep up the good building, oh, sorry about your weather. (says he basking in the sun) Robin in South Africa

I would suggest 1. Rapide. should be an interesting build. 2. Dove. 3. Viscount. Could be 2 IC plus 2 dummy or 4 IC.   Robin

You would be charged in USD and the rate ruling at the time of the bank exchange would be effective. This usually changes daily. Don't forget there are 2 rates. One for buying USD and one for selling USD. You would be buying so that is the higher rate. Hope this doesnt put you off too much. Cheers Robin

Hi Martin . It would be great to supply from here but the postage would kill it. He can get them direct from France at www.eretract.fr. They have a great range now even catering for large scale models up to 15 kG. OLEOS and brakes coming soon.   Cheers Robin

Hi Martin That will be one of my discussion topics with them. Also a system of operating wheel doors. I am just getting to know them at the moment. SA does not have a very large customer base for something this specialised but it won't be my primary income provider, yet. I have registered as Robin Model Aviation but am really struggling to get to grips with setting up a website. It's a .com site but I just can't seem to be able to load anything. Perhaps if I were 20 years younger it may not be so confusing.  

If anyone is following this thread I have just been appointed as the South African Supplier and Service centre for LADO retracts. Baby steps.

Hi Steve W-O. The Castles were in an ice bath in the upper story of the clubhouse. The braai fire was lit shortly after the pics were taken.

Went out to the club on Sunday but the wind was really pumping. Only 3 or 4 planes there. The one in the pic is virtually stationary next to the pilot. No good for smaller planes though. At least you can see what our field is like.   Barnstormers, Kempton Park, South Africa.   Richard "Hanging" in the wind.     Model assembly area   Looking down the main runway.   Parking Area. That,s my car in the foreground.     From the pits  Clubhouse & pits Next time I hope the conditions are better.   Robin in SA

You could, of course, relocate to South Africa where the sun always shines. Every day is a flying day. Pity about work, though. Always interferes with the more important things in life.