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Mike T

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Posts posted by Mike T

  1. One of my friends who uses a high-end JR set religiously range checks at the start of every session.  A few weeks back he forgot to 'check-out' and piled in accordingly.

     

    I use FrSky modules in my JR and Futaba txs, but confess I usually only range check new installations or after 'servicing'.  With the FrSky's you have to hold the button down for about 5 secs. for it to enter range-check.  Exiting requires just a touch on the button, so in this sense it 'fails safe'.

     

    My recommendation on range checks would be to turn off the tx when the check is complete.  This has the dual benefit of checking the failsafe settings and when turning the tx back on, it will do so (or should do so) at the full power setting.

    • Like 1
  2. To reinforce the logic, in addition to not checking CAA registration, we also don't check that our members' cars are taxed, insured and have a valid MOT!

     

    Our rules state that the Club assumes members comply with all relevant legislation pertaining to our activities, but has absolutely no responsibility for ensuring this is the case.

  3. 18 hours ago, Eric Robson said:

    I think France may disagree Simon, they added a few nuts and bolts.

    Nope - just the 'e'...

     

    Their only other contribution was causing the premature demise of the whole venture (and they only managed that with the help of an unwitting Yank...)

    • Like 1
  4. For a comparative test, the stand and stone wall don't matter, except that he should have angled the mouse outlet upwards, so that it was not firing away from the meter and towards the wall!  Angled upwards, it may have been quieter again

  5. I think WPB would do it, though I did coat an acrylic finish with Ronseal 'satin' once which yellowed quite badly.

     

    BTW re. brushed artist-type acrylics, I found that while red, yellow and black cover quite well (over white), blue was not so good and green was quite bad!  Other formulations (e.g. humbrol) may be better in this respect.

  6. Whatever you use, clean down the foam before painting.  I usually go over mine with meths.  Acrylics are fine - you can pick up tubes of the 'artists' variety at places like The Works or The Range quite cheaply.

     

    I've also used Plastikote (B&Q) enamel aerosols.  ED is right about the solvents melting foam.  Turn this to your advantage by spraying thin, light coats.  The first coat 'self-etches' and provides a good base for the subsequent ones.  The end result can be quite tough and abrasive resistant.

  7. OK, maybe I wasn't sufficiently explicit.  What I meant was - how is the FFAM (BMFA equivalent) funded?  I assume they collect member subscriptions, but to they get, sy, block grants from Central/Regional/Local government.

     

    I've always had the impression that in France, if you wanted to form a club (of any sort) you just made an appointment at the Mairie, made your pitch and the Maire/sse got out the chequebook...

  8. 1 hour ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said:

    They all are affiliated here and worth it, with the money that they dish out to our clubs, they put 51% of the cash up to pay for our model field, money for the mower, runway, container for storage etc,,,,

    How are they financed, apart from member subscriptions?  Do they apply for/get government grants?

  9. To not be defeated by circumstances and do whatever it takes to get the job done - in defiance of logic, reason and common sense.  These are sturdy British characteristics which we abandon at our peril!  There are times in our lives when such dogged determination is essential.

     

    This isn't one of them...

     

    • Haha 2
  10. We used to charge a joining fee, but now we don't.  We just charge a fee and if membership is subsequently renewed, the charge is subject to a modest discount...

     

    The reason was not so much related to infrastructure as training.  We used to get a lot of bods join, learn how to fly, then beggar off to other local clubs (who we suspect looked upon us as a bunch of patsies...)  Charging for training would have been complicated (not least with insurance) so we decided that the Club should be recompensed for this via a joining fee.

     

    More importantly now, it is used as an encouragement to re-join, or failing that 'lapse' and have to pay the full fee again on rejoining.  Even this is something we'll be looking at at the next AGM.

     

    Our field,BTW is the trad. Brit. (as Alex would say...) mown sheep pasture with no facilities other than mower storage allowed.

     

     

  11. On 20/09/2021 at 13:55, Martin Harris - Moderator said:

    A model of this size is quite practical to fly below 400’ but a large loop will be pushing it unless you’re confident enough to start and finish relatively low. Best to use telemetry to monitor your height - if your radio doesn’t support it perhaps a club mate could do a temporary installation of a sensor and receiver?

    I just rely on experience and judgement.  So far, I've never judged my height to be more than about 399 ft., give or take a foot...

    • Like 1
  12. IIRC I used cyano on pretty much all joins on my P6, except the fus. joint and doublers, where I used 1 hour epoxy, and for the LE, TE and wing tips where I used titebond.

     

    It IS nasty stuff though and I occasionally get a reaction.  Plenty of ventilation is essential and I usually use it in short sessions.

  13. That's looking really 'handy'.  Are you flying 'twin thumbs', Rich or have you got a mix on the rudder?

     

    I hope a plan is forthcoming with both 3 and 2 blade versions, but meantime I may have to short-circuit the system by knocking up a 'looky-likey' fuselage and tail for my Luobo mechanics! ?

  14. Thanks NEIL!  (Gawd knows where I got 'Ian' from - maybe the 'i' in 'iGull' fooled my synapses! ?)

     

    Good old eBay, eh?  Glad to hear you'll hopefully be back up and running soon.  I can wait - given that I've done nothing with the parts I've bought off you so far! ?

     

    I'm surprised at the balsa shortage, though.  I thought that supply issues had been largely resolved - SLEC and Balsa Cabin had plenty of all sizes at Weston Park, but I didn't buy any so can't speak to the quality.  Judging by the parts I've received so far, I assume you are particular about what you feed into your machine?

  15. I've been trying to get on Ian Gillies' ebay shop for the past few weeks, but it all seems dead.  I've just tried contacting him via Ebay and got an error message.

     

    Does anyone know if he's packed it all in?  Say it ain't so!

  16. Thanks John & Geoff ?  If I'd planned it properly, I could have lined up the red flashes on the wing root and fus. a bit better ?

     

    This is my 3rd - the first 2 had foam wings and were quieter!  The U/c was originally bought for another model, but it suits the Funfly so well that it's served on all three.  It's starting to de-laminate now, but I can't find a matching replacement anywhere, so I will probably end up doing a DIY job using the original as a form.

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