Cliff Bastow Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Just maidened my bitza project. Flew well although did need lots of up trim and bit short of elevator on landing. Bit nose heavy maybe? As the name implies it is made of bits of three different models. The only new item is the prop. Fuselage was given to me by a club member. Fin and tailplane are from a Britflight Breeze which came with a new fuselage i ordered. Wing is from an unbilt glider kit i bought at a boot sale for £6. It is powered by an irvine 20 from a swapmeet for £10 with a mount and tank. Everything else is from my scrapbox. Cant descripe the sense of achivement in something like this. Beats flying the best artf. i know the finish is not the best in places but i have had great pleasure in the build and hopefully will now have great fun flying it. I would recomend to anyone to have a go at building something. Edited By Cliff Bastow on 01/02/2013 14:59:23 Edited By Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 23/03/2013 23:43:37 Edited By Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 23/03/2013 23:44:06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Hi Cliff, that's why now you can call your self a real aeromodeller. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Bastow Posted February 1, 2013 Author Share Posted February 1, 2013 I have already built a couple of models from plans so not totally new to building but this is my first own design. (well sort off). Edited By Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 23/03/2013 23:44:55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Nice looking models Cliff, are they built of Depron, and have you flown either of them yet, as they look pristine. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverlandgirl. Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Well done Cliff, I well remember the thrill of getting my first own design airborne, was buzzing for days! Keep on designing and building, and share the fun with the rest of us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 That is how we all started. Doing something really simple but basicaly original and now you have found the joy of designing. Keep it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Bastow Posted February 2, 2013 Author Share Posted February 2, 2013 Thanks for the great comments. No they are both made of balsa. Both basically box fuselages and flat plate wings. They look better in photos than in real life! The cannard is about two years old and has had many flights. Its on its second nose as i snapped the first off when i tried to launch it on the wrong model memory. oops! Mig has flown about 10 times. Canard is from a free plan in Model World and Mig is from plan in RCME. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Good for you Cliff! Like Peter says, from now it's only a short step to sitting down with a blank sheet of paper.... tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Bastow Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 Many thanks Tim. i think you are right and i hope it wont be long either. I have purchased a CAD programe to try and make a start on a few ideas i have. I trained as an aircraft engineer so i am not totally ignorant of the basics. I will start a thread once build is underway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Bastow Posted February 8, 2013 Author Share Posted February 8, 2013 Added a bit more weight to the tail and seems better. Only problem now is i think it needs bit of downthrust as it climbs steeply if the throttle is opened up. Great to think a pile of bits and bobs can give such rewards. Will keep posted of any further developments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Bastow Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 Bit of a disaster, I was enjoying the third flight of the day, Pulled up into a loop when one wing parted company! I had to watch hopelessly as the fuselage and remaining wing plumeted to earth spinning madly. I did have the foresight to shut the throttle. The model ended up in the long grass at the edge of the field and I could still see the backend and fin sticking up at about 45 deg. Luckly another flyer watched the wing come to earth. Imagine my surprise on reaching the model to find it in one peice! It had gone down the side of a ditch at exactly the right angle only braking the prop and snapping u/c bolts. About 9 inches in front of where it ended up was a concrete plinth hidden in the ditch! (our field is an old ww2 airfield) how lucky? the wing had snapped cleanly in half. Two days later now and its rebuilt with a large dihedral brace and struts under the wings! I have also added a bit of downthrust and moved elevator and rudder servos to the back end so I could take some weights of the back. I will report further when work and weather allows a test flight. I have learnt a lesson about wing strength and I guess thats how we learn but I was lucky to get away with so little damage. Edited By Cliff Bastow on 11/02/2013 17:24:14 Edited By Cliff Bastow on 11/02/2013 17:49:26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverlandgirl. Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 That's the beauty of being out there and actually doing it, the lessons are real and not quickly forgotten! When we break planes, figure out why, then build better ones, we learn. Good on you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Bastow Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 Still not been able to test fly after rebuild due to work commitments and weather never seems nice on days off. how does it know i wonder? hopefully some nicer weather is around the corner although looking out of the window at the snow falling i am not filled with hope. I will update when i do finally get the chance to testfly again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverlandgirl. Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Always seem to go that way doesn't it? Looking forward to your next installment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josip Vrandecic -Mes Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Hi Cliff,Your fleet is impressive,and deserves to be a praised... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Hi Cliff , I really do like the Mig. Any info on how I could get the plan. Or even the RCME issue. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Bastow Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 Thanks for the great comments. i think i am getting better at building but long way to go yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Bastow Posted April 6, 2013 Author Share Posted April 6, 2013 well it still flys, finally got a day when weather and work allowed. hopefullyi will have many flights to enjoy in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverlandgirl. Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Well done! Get to know her well, think of how you can improve her, and design those changes into your next model. Trying something new is always good, even if it dosen't always work quite the way you want! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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