Roger 2

Hi Gary Sounds as if you are fairly new to fixed wing flying, so I hope you will enjoy this very addictive hobby. Now as far as engines go, I have been flying since the 70's. I was also told OS...OS...OS so I started of with guess what ? OS A few engines later thought try Irvine they are cheaper, I never had a bad one, then went on to try SC's 4and 2 strokes, I have stuck with them ever since and have been very pleased with their reliability. Fuel and the correct setting up and running in is very important though, with what ever engine you buy. As for fuel I use Irvine Contest 10 for all. Just remember in this game you will have lots of advice from all us " EXPERTS"......yeah right! he says. It's up to you to filter it. Cheers Roger   Edited By Roger 2 on 08/01/2014 16:02:07

Hi Spikey I really enjoy the traditional building, the last couple of kits were DB kits and I do think I have been spoiled . My winter build is an american ww1 type, to say the least the balsa is "ok" but the die cutting leaves something to be desired. My new best friend is a scalpel with a new blade. I expected laser cut, being a well known American kit. So you don't always get what you pay for. Cheers Roger

Glad you got the plane back. Trees attack planes it is a well known fact!! I have been flying since the early 70's and have never got one stuck up a tree....(frantically looking for wood to touch )   have been attacked by them though. On one occasion I was flying a 60 powered aerobatic plane (love of life at the time) the radio decided to go deaf I hit the biggest oak tree you have ever seen, half way up the trunk I'm sure I moved it....my plane was flat out. Result...................all I could salvage was the fuel tank and the wheels . I once lost ...(did find it very eventually) a yellow 2m glider in a field of sun flowers in France...WOT colour are sun flowers?...... exactly Cheers Roger   Edited By Roger 2 on 30/12/2013 15:55:54

Welcome Barry Well this is certainly a very addictive hobby, I am rather a crinkley and have been flying r/c since the 70's. You will get a lot of very good info here. My suggestion for what it is worth is..... foamies are every where cheap and easy to fly cos they are usuall fairly slow and give you stick time. If you learn on an i.c trainer around 40 size 4 chan it will help you fly any type . It will be faster than most foam planes and will fly in poor weather better............Just a thought Cheers Roger

Hi All I suspect that repeated use of CA would probably sensitize you but I did wonder if there was some change to the formula . I will probably try the odourless type in a couple of weeks, as for sanding balsa I always use disposable paper masks and they seem to work ok for me. As Masher said a problem with glow fuel would be a real problem, as a crinkley I have probably got a significant amount of ether,nitro etc...in my blood from all the years flying...... THAT'S .!..........what makes me deaf to my wife's calls when I'm in the shed. lol Cheers Roger

Hi Masher Just a quick line or two, I started my new winter build about 3 weeks ago and have had a "cold" that never came out as it were.I went through kleenex as if they were going out of fashion. I saw this post a couple of days ago and thought yes it makes great sense. Well, after avoiding super glue like the plague; no more coughing no more sneezing and I have significantly reduced kleenex's profits. Thanks........resin and pva here I come. Cheers Roger

Hi All I ticked the "when I am flying anothers plane, if it is a beginners plane even though you have done all the checks it is an unknown. If you do an "oo nasty" for what ever reason, radio, a problem with the build, battery dies whatever.... you have just creamed some one's pride and joy. It don't feel nice!!! Has happened. We also spend 4 months away each year in summer, I do take a plane to fly , and have a flight sim with me, but the first flight back on your own club runway is worrying. Cheers Roger

Hi Ian I think I would probably cut into the wing and use 2 micro-mini servos, that would I think be the least hassle. The wing formers have huge holes cut in them for lightness so it would be easy to run the servo wires. With the size of it I wouldn't have thought of it not having had ailerons. But if it hasn't then there must be a considerable amount of dihedral for stability, so that would reduce the ailerons effect some what ....just a thought. On the new one I think it is around 3/4" under each wing tip (from memory) the ailerons run from the fusalage side to the tip of the wing where the wing tip is fitted. They are quite large so should be rather effective, again see how we go.   Cheers Roger Edited By Roger 2 on 11/11/2013 16:10:44

Hi Ian I have made model planes from the early 70's and flown most types (except the 3D types), I have a couple of DB bipes and my interest seems to have settled around WW1 up to 30's. I have an OS 46 size old hack that I use for our very rare poor weather that is now very tired (read clapped out) so need a replace ment and this seemed to fit the bill and ring all the bells. It is the latest Top Flite gold edition ie supposed to be refined via a computer .....yea ! we will see. wingspan 65" Wing area 778sq in Weight~6 lb + length 50" 4 Chan So far seems to go together pretty well, although not all of the parts are laser cut and others have been stamped out, some of which need threatening with a scalpel to release clean. See how I go . . Cheers Roger

Hi Scott, I'm guessing but from what I have heard, the offence was ...".Burglary in a dwelling" ....with a forced entry... and I seem to think that the starting point in a court was12 weeks custody. What ever they got would look good on their CV's and would impress other "legal beagles" when they look for work. Just a thought Roger

Hi Andy Thats really what I was thinking but being a scrooge in my earlier life, I thought "hey ho" see what the forum experts think. It will have to be a 4stroke though, a vintage type on a whinning 2 stroke wouldn't seem right , not with rigging and a plastic vickers machine gun on the top . Lol ! Cheers Roger

HI all I have started my winter build , it's 65" span and a WW1 fighter (look alike)..~3kg weight inc machine gun.........OK it's plastic. We are not talking my god that's fast ,it's one of those .... ain't that nice stooging around. The engine specified is a 52fs or 40-46 2 stroke. I have a well used but good runner OS 48 surpass in my shed, from the manual it's supposed to give 0.8 BHP (in it's prime) . I was therefor thinking of using it . I havn't found the o/p power of an SC 52 which would be my alternative......But I would have to actually part with money then !!! Whats the concensus? OS 48 surpass? Roger

Hi Mervyn Ask 5 flyers get 5 different but prob correct answers, it depends on ones experience with that model. For my sins I have been flying models since the 70's. I keep an old Irvine 40 as a hack for the very infrequent bad weather we all get. As a trainer I cannot fault it and a lot of beginners have had a go with it. Only thing it wouldn't do is a bunt, I Know cos I cut the grass getting out of one once. Electric are cleaner but you need a number of lipo's where as with ic another slurp of fuel and away you go..Take your pick Cheers Roger

Fuel tank again........ thinking back, I found a rectangular 4oz tank and shaved the engine bearers slightly in the tank bay and I could then squeeze it in. Roger

Just had a look at the plans, they state a 2oz fuel tank. I am 99% sure I shoehorned a 4oz tank in . It isn't easy to go and have a gander now all sealed in. Roger

Just for interest here is my old Tinker with it's new engine on the dinning room table (where else to put an oil stain?) Roger

Hi All It used to have an old 19 engine but it died over time. It now has an SC 25 and is most def overpowered. You are limited to the size of fuel tank you can use, so you become quite expert at dead stick landings. It looks quite good just pottering along though. Roger

Hello WolstonFlyer Fancy making a Tinker Biplane, I have one that is nearly 40 year old and still flying. What made you decide on it ? Mine now has a modern 25 in it and can take off in a couple of yards; landing into a slight wind can be nearly vertical with just a little power on. It will turn heads cos it is a bit out of the ordinary and people will say "wor iz it " Roger

Hello Tony I know this is quite an old thread, but just to add my pennorth, I have the same model and have been flying it for a couple of years and love it. One problem I had was with the plane "pecking " the ground at the end of a landing run. The problem turned out to be a high vertical c of g . Putting the church roof as low as possible on the fire wall and holding the tail down with the elevator sorted it . Just a thought! Cheers Roger

Hi Steve Hmmm .... I have a couple of DB biplanes and I used 4strokes for exactly that reason, the sound. The Elder looks WW1 ( the reason I am building it) and the way it presents and the sound is important ; almost as important as the white scarf on the pilot. So I suppose yes it would not be over powered .........but would it sound right????? Always something ...I thought ......yeh Rog just the thing , but I wouldn't have used a 2 stroke because of the raucus sound. Cheers Roger

HI Ben From the net the petrol is supposed to give around 1.6 bhp, I have to admit, I do fancy a dabble with the Evolution engine . I take it your answer was a yes. Cheers Roger

Hi all. Silly question for the day. I am into WW1 / 30s type models, biplanes and the like, for my next winter build I have decided on a Top Flite Elder 40. It is a look alike WW1 Albatross, Suggested engines are 40/46 2stroke or 52 4 stroke. I was going to use a 52/56Fs but rather like the idea of an Evo 10cc petrol. Is this a viable idea or are we really talking over kill with the power etc?? I would be interested in any one's suggestions/ ideas. Cheers Roger

Hello David, Welcome to the forum, you will find a wealth of information here and a huge number of very helpful people. I do agree with John that to be able to join other fliers and have tution will greatly reduce your time to going solo and greatly reduce the cost of match stick production. By the way I had to smile about your Keil Kraft Jetex I made one a similar time ago and as far as I know it is still flying. On a summers evening, first flight ever it went up..up..up... caught a thermal and I never saw it again. Cheers Roger

kc From the plans it does look like it was the Cub that was made for the Jetex, I always did think that both of the "gliders" were Cadets. I know the one with the hair grip tow hook was but they were just about identical except for the wing span, but boy could they fly. The jetex motor cut out was lined with very thin asbestos cloth ; health and safety eat your heart out Cheers Roger

Hi all Just looking at the plans posted by PatMc of the Ivory Gull, really nice to see. It shows a 0.49cc power pod, I made that and it would fly but if you got over 50ft high you were doing well. I made a new pod and substituted an OS10 and it was transformed, the problem you then have is getting it down. It will not spin, it does a sort of diving helix and the speed builds up so you have to take care but 3/4 hr flights are possible with lift and it really responds to any thermal. Ok it isn't a high spec soarer but it is still a lot of fun to fly. Roger Ps nice to hear someone else lost a jettex cadet in the same way......well not nice but funny now, I had to save up for the plane and the motor ... imagine a school kid watching his pride and joy disappearing into the clouds.....and going home..... er Mam Iv'e lost mi plane.