Richie Carey Maddog Designs UK Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Fellow modellers I don’t know if any of you out there remember the advert on TV where an old guy called JR Hartley was trying desperately to find a copy of a book he once had published, Fly Fishing by JR Hartley. Well, ‘Though not quite as old as Mr Hartley’ I find myself on a similar quest. I have been a modeller for some 30+ years and during most of those years I have flown my own designs one of which was called the Hammerhead (see attached photos). Well about 15 years ago I started to manufacture the Hammerhead kit in three sizes 54”, 62” and 75” wing span which were distributed throughout the UK by Ervine Engines, however I stopped manufacturing them shortly after my wife sadly passed away. I am currently toying with the idea of reproducing an updated version of the Hammerhead kit and possibly some of my other designs too, therefore, just like poor old Mr Hartley I am trying to find anyone who may have built and flown my kit. I sold a large number of these kits, so if you are out there I would love to hear from you to find out what you thought of how the kit performed in both its build quality and its flying performance or better still, if you know of any Hammerheads that are still flying today. I would also like to hear from other modellers on their thought on ARTF (almost ready to fly) kits, do you love them or hate them? I just want to get a general idea of how my fellow modellers feel about ARTF kits, because as a modeller who gets just as much pleasure from building a kit as I do from flying one, I am finding it difficult to decide which way to go as most of the retailers I have spoken to seem to think the general trend is for ARTF kits PM me if you'd like to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Richie Carey Edited By David Ashby on 27/02/2012 13:52:09 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ashby - Moderator Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Hi Richie and welcome, would you happen to have a picture of the Hammerhead? For those of us who can't quite picture the model? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W-O Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 They're in his album Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 enrico-recently completed a one of these from a kit.........better for him to tell everyone of the ins and outs of it... ken anderson ne..1 .... hammerhead dept.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Carey Maddog Designs UK Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Hi David Thanks, yes I have just uploaded some photos, though I’d done it before but they were in the wrong format lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ashby - Moderator Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Here's one of Richie's photos....ah yes, of course I remember it now, nice looking aeroplane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W-O Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 May I suggest to remove your email, it is already on google search results, which will probably result in all manner of spam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Carey Maddog Designs UK Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 hi ken I didn’t even know they were still out there, I have just built one of the 62” hammerheads which is one of 6 that had been sleeping in my loft for years lol and to be quite honest there were a few thing I was not happy with myself which is why I have just spent the passed few weeks updating the design, but I am looking forward to speaking to anyone that has built the kit and getting their feed back, good or bad. richie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Carey Maddog Designs UK Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 thanks david, i think so too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ashby - Moderator Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Just tweaked your OP Richie, folks usually use PMs (private messages). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Carey Maddog Designs UK Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 thanks steve for the heads up on the email, but how do i remove it, thought i had done it but i have just added a new thread without my email and the original one with the email is still there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ashby - Moderator Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I removed it Richie, just refresh the page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Carey Maddog Designs UK Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 cheers david Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Good looking model...a bit CAP232-ish!! Certainly retro is all the rage at the moment with Mr Bardoe & his PB Models fleet of old 'uns!! What we really need is the MFA Chevron & Mini Chevron however..... always wanted one of those!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Carey Maddog Designs UK Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Yeah steve I use to get a lot of people saying that it looked a bit cap232’ish and I always took that as a bit of a compliment, however the original inspiration for the hammerhead design came loosely from the Yakovlev yak 55 though I did drop the radial cowl when it was still at the drawing board stage. richie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 A YAK55 without the radial.....yop I can see that!! Best of luck with your endeavours!!! PS I've just deleted your duplicate post.... Edited By Steve Hargreaves - Moderator on 27/02/2012 15:57:21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W-O Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Just typed a long reply to your original question, and it disappeared when I clicked add posting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclicscooby Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 RE- Advise from shops... They will say ARTF is better, cuz they can shift them to anyone with the money, but you'd be suprised how many builders are still out there... A kit with wood n plan is what it is, but can you make an ARFT kit for the same costing as E-flite, or worse still, the cheapy chineses kits.. ?? Nice looking plane.. Luv Chrisie.. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myron Beaumont Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 When I read the title ,I thought of an old hammerhead I have somewhere knocking about. I stopped using it sometime ago since I have another perfect hammer that I now regularly use . It belonged to my grandad .It's only had three shafts and two replacement heads but is still good as new after about 60 years . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enrico Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Yo Richie, i built a 62 inch Hammerhead out of the box with an Irvine 72 engine about 6 months ago for a friend. It still has'nt been flown .The cowl in the kit did'nt fit , and had to altered, and i was told by someone who had flown one that the u/c mount just pulled straight out of the foam wing in anything but a perfect landing.I altered this and fitted u/c block under first too fus formers ( same as acro wot )Can now pull as hard as you want on u/c legs, no problem. Will post pic's shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 richie..thats my boy i was on about..... enrico the foreign lad.... ken anderson ne..1 ... enrico's flying uk friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josip Vrandecic -Mes Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Hello Richie,I like the "Hammerhead 750".....I wish you happiness and health in the following Cheers Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Carey Maddog Designs UK Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Hi Chrisie Its is good to know that there are those of us who still have a passion for building kits and the satisfaction one gets from seeing a model built by your own hands take to the air for the first time. Should I decide to re-launch the hammerhead I may have to look into the possibility of producing both options ARTF and standard kits. Thanks Richie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Carey Maddog Designs UK Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 yeah Myron i have a broom just like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enrico Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Edited By enrico on 28/02/2012 00:22:13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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