Robin Coombs

I have just seen a posting from Barry Wetherell re subscriber only content. It was supposed to have been moved but I cannot find it. I would like to add my comments to him regarding overseas subscribers, comps etc. I do not wish to post in the wrong place. Can anybody direct me to it please? Cheers

We have a similar situation in SA. Rents are astronomical so many LHS are now operating from home with a good website. Works for me but I do admit, there is nothing like a good old browse around a hobby shop. Robin 

Hi all.   I am in the process of designing my own electric retracts. The reason is: 1. Available units are very expensive. 2. I love messing in my workshop.   My problem lies with the control. I am using a small electric motor with a screw jack arrangement. How do I get the signal from the radio retract switch to reverse the motor ploarity for direction? How can I get the current to stop flowing at the end of travell without using limit switches. I know ther are some real boffins out there that may just be able to point me in the right direction. If there is a prodiuct on the martket, what is it?   Cheers Robin

Myron, I used to do all my own developing in B&W but gave it up years ago. My intrest changed. I still have all my darkroom equipment packed into an old tea chest, sans enlarger. If you were here you could have it all with my compliments but to ship it to UK would probably cost too much. Cheers Robin

Hi Guys I worked on 4 models on Sunday. Typical of a modeller, never satisfied with just one project at a time. Anyway, went down to the local Mc Gintys for a late luch, early supper and was watching the cricket live from UK when a Lancaster flew over. It stopped the game for a while and was far better than the cricket, anyway.   There were no Spitties or Hurricanes though. What a nice site. It made 2 low passes followed by England loosing a wicket.   Cheers Robin

Hi Terry You don't get much worse roads than in Africa. I lived in Uganda for a year, right on the Congo border in the Queen Elizabeth Game Reserve. The road from Kampala to Kasese, where I lived, was 400 kM but took between 6 and 10 hours. There was 1 pothole so big a 10 ton truck would be lost in it and the locals were driving past it at 160 k/hour, in big busses. Quite mad. I also had to navigate the Sanie Pass in Lesthoto in a small front wheel drive car. That was an eye opener. At times I was unable to get out of first gear the slopes were so steep. No guardrails either. Quite often you would come accross a large truck stuck on a bend and no way round. Just wait for him to let his engine cool down and try again.   Wonderfull.

Richard. You asked if these EE lamps contain mercury. Yes, they do. You are not supposed to dispose of them in any landfill as they have to be sent to a hazardous waste site.   Retailers are supposed to provide a special disposal bin where you deposit your old EE lamps when you purchase new ones.   I wonder how long it will be before you are required to produce an old one before they allow you to buy a new one. Wait for it.   Another problem is that they do not work from daylight intensity switches. It's the flicker that destroys them.   They do consume a bit less power but not that you would really notice it on your bill.   The same goes for your old ni cads. Do not put them out with the garbage.   Robin

I used to do that   Then I got a "Power Pack", a 50 CC motor that drove the rear tyre. Now I had real engine noise and very little pedal power. I also went through a lot of rear tyres.   Robin

I also use WD40. Some of my motors are 20 years old or more and still A OK.   Robin

I think I mentioned some time back that I ordered a set of 90 degree rotating electric retracts from LADO in the US of A.   They finally arrived some 5 months later. Problem with manufacture, so they said. I installed them into my Corsair but one failed after about 3 operations. After contacting them I received a reply from the owner, Doug Pientak, that he will replace the offending unit free. Now that is good service. It has not yet arrived but probably due to our postal strike.   These retracts are really good and solid. They work on the jacking screw method and have a really good positive lock in the down position, no play at all.   I have fitted sprung OLEOS and they handle the weight without any problem. Looking forward to the re-maiden. It is a complete re build due to a "crash", sorry, hard landing.   Robin

I like to read this, and the other mags I get like SA Pilot, in bed while my other half watch's soapies. That way I get to reply to her varoius comments on the screen characters like "Wow, or cool etc. She thinks I am agreeing but meanwhile it,s reation to the great articles and pics in RCM&E. Sneaky  

I have yet to receive my mag. Our dear old post office is on strike. Probably get 3 month mags all at once. At least the bills have'nt arrived   Robin

Eish !!   BTW, what's the bucket for?   Robin

We are just getting the brunt of it here in SA.   It hit so suddenly. Most projects have either been cancelled or put on hold indefinately. Same thing, really.   I have been phoning my collegues in the various project houses and the situation is the same all over.   Hundreds of applicants for a single job.   As I am the oldest and highest qualified/payed in this project house I am one of the first to go, experiance does'nt count anymore.   I can't even start my own buisness, as in the past, as the labour laws here are totally restrictive.   Maybe stand on a street corner with a sign. "Please help, model aircraft to support"   Robin

It's winter here in South Africa. The highveld winters are the best. Nice sunny days with chilly mornings and evenings.   We had a really bad cold spell 3 weeks ago. It was close to snow but stopped just short of it with fine hailstones. I went to the field last Sunday. Lovely calm sunny day. The ASW motor glider flew great. I was concerned about loss of power due to altitude but it just climbed and climbed. No problem. My Mitchell B25 was supposed to be maidened but as I was tuning the engines one of the pushrods broke off. The silver solder failed. Lucky it was on the ground.   Robin

I used to be Treasurer of a club some 10 years ago. It was a small club and we had a field on a farmers land. All was well for many years but one day a "certain element" joined the club and things went from bad to worse. There were very heated arguments at meetings but, as usual, the same few were the ones who pitched up to cut grass etc. These newcomers wanted to change things to suit their own hidden agenda. It is not easy for people from so many very different walks of life to get along all the time. I just had enough & resigned. Some 2 years later the farmer threw them off his land. My present club has a very large membership and I have resisted joining the committee. There are the same arguments and discipline HAS to be kept at the field. Our safety officers will not think twice to warn you for infringments, as it should be. We have not had any serious accidents so they must be doing something right. I just like the comraderie and help you get from the more advanced members. Anyway, I prefer building. Robin

Hey Myron, If it's a Vulture just don't fall asleep at the table. They go for the eyes first and are NOT scared of humans. We are just another meal.   Robin

Matt You are a professional. Regards Robin

Stephan, do you have a time machine? The race is only on this Sunday   Robin

Those pics were taken a year ago. The house elf resigned. Look at it now.   This is my Grandson playing with the half finished 00 scale train layout.    

That used to hang in my Bar but after a rather heavy thunder storm it fell off the wall and shattered. The pic is a bit damaged so I got another for the bar thus the damaged one is in the workshop. Nice pic, is'nt it.

You should see it now. Full of balsa dust and shavings. Tools all over the place. I am building the Typhoon. Will probably clean up after the build, depending on what is next, of course. Oh, and time out to assemble the June prize. I took a bit longer that 10 mins, maybe 15. Will probably fly it this Sunday, weather permitting. It,s Winter here and blooming cold. OK, minus 1 is not as cold as UK but cold enough.   Maybe I should post a new pic as of today. I am also busy building an 00 railway layout. I wonder how many other of you chaps are also into model rail?   Robin  

Here is my workshop. It was a Wendyhouse so I extended it.   Inside           Cheers Robin

Hi Mike. I'll give you a shout when it arrives and we will meet at the field. Cheers

what's the most popular cell phone provider in South Africa? That chap at the traffic lights, best prices too. Just don't ask where it came from.