Laser and best of British Buckminster fly in

[Jon H]

2 minutes ago, payneib said:

Just how bad is it? I've looked through some build logs and the issues I can see are: soldering up the U/C, wire tail and TE on the wings. The rest mostly looks like standard built up frames over plans. 

 

Its a massive amount of work. The guy i bought my reeves pup kit from said it would be his 3rd and this one he might actually get right, but he was getting on in years and knew he would never build it. I looked over the plans for many hours and am yet to decide if i have bitten off more than i can chew. I have no doubt i could get it sorted out and flying, its just the amount of work needed to get it there. I am not trying to win a scale comp, so is it worth the years of building time when the DB pup is a dead straight forward build by comparison and there are no worries or question marks in my head. The DB also has very nice instructions, the reeves...no. The instructions basically say 'open box, build model, fly' on a single A4 sheet of paper. That's all you get, no step by step, just a plan, a pile of sticks, and you are on your own. 

 

I will be building a 1/4 pup, and have 3 in stock (DB bare airframe, DB unstarted kit and reeves unstarted kit). I am yet to decide which to have a go at but i am leaning towards the new DB kit, and maybe save the reeves for later down the track when i have more time to invest in it. 

 

The BUSA camel is nice, a few customers of mine at laser built them and having seen the bare fuselages they brought along for engine fitment they look like a nice build. The undercarriage could be improved for scale reasons, but generally they look good. The only trouble is getting hold of one as i do not think there are and distributors in the uk any more. 

 

Anyway we are in the weeds a bit now, maybe start a thread on the subject and get more details. I just think that the reeves models, although the most accurate, are an excessive amount of work and need substantial amounts of skill to build and this may not be worth it if you are looking for a club model and not a competition model. 

[richard dalgleish]

4 hours ago, Nick Somerville said:

Lovely flying of the Corsair Richard 

Thanks Nick, your 190 was nice too, liked the electric start on the engine. 

 

[Ron Gray]

Well I’m on the journey back home, a bit tired but extremely happy at the way the weekend has gone. Thanks to all of you who came along, it’s you guys that really made this celebration of the best of British exactly that. 
 

I’m sure that lots more photos will appear so keep them coming, I know Danny took a lot so hopefully we may get to see some of them. But here are a few that sums up the event!

 

 

 

 

 

Homeward bound

 

 

Journey break (he needed the loo)

 

[Tim Flyer]

.

Edited September 29, 2024 by Tim Flyer

[Paul Marsh]

I'll go next year. Had a look yesterday and know what its about. 

Edited September 29, 2024 by Paul Marsh

[RottenRow]

An excellent weekend! Yesterday was glorious with almost ideal weather conditions, lots of flying. Today rather more breezy but still some good flying.

 

As others have said, it was great to put faces to names from the forum, also to meet and chat with Richard and Paul from WR, and the other traders. Also to see lots of other familiar faces, all having a good time.

 

It really was The Best of British in so many ways.
 

Thanks especially to Ron and Elmo for doing all of the hard work…

 

Brian.

 

 

[Geoff S]

Looks like I picked the right day for my visit.  It was an excellent event and combined with my being able to pick up some wood fro my current J60 build made for a great day out.  There was almost no traffic either 🙂

 

Well done to all involved - Ron, of course, and all the fliers who entertained me.  Who know? Next year I may be sufficiently back in the groove to fly myself (despite being a year older!)

[William Macleod]

Well done Ron and all others involved

[martin collins 1]

Flew my DB DH60 a couple of times early in the day today before the wind got too strong, if you`d been there with yours Geoff we could have had a nice slow formation down the flight line. Hope you can come and have a fly at the event next year, it was so much fun, i did all three days and have got a horse voice from so much talking!

[RICHARD WILLS]

Three Davids and a flock of WR fighters . What a fun weekend !

[Eric Robson]

Clocked just over 400 miles visiting B of B Buckminster and it was well worth it. Meeting up with forum friends and flying from an excellent site. Special thanks to Ron Gray for a great  event.  After loosing some of the great model shows since covid it is good to see a new one emerging. 

Looking forward to the next one.

Thanks again to Ron and Richard Wills for two very amicable evenings in the Brewers Fayre and to all concerned who made it possible not forgetting the cafe young ladies for the food and pleasant service.

[Ron Gray]

22 hours ago, Nick Somerville said:

Its a long drive to Buckminster, but so worth the effort. Fabulous flying weather and Ron and helpers managed a relaxed but well oiled flight line. Many thanks to all the organisers and to the traders who put in the effort to add interest to our weekend.

Nick, your retracts air pump is in the lost property in reception!

[Ron Gray]

12 hours ago, John Rickett 102 said:

I’d like to add my thanks to Ron Gray for organising the gathering of Laser powered aircraft – and anything else with a British connection. A couple of proving flights with the Chrislea Super Ace were enjoyed following its refurbishment; I also enjoyed meeting and chatting to some familiar stalwarts of the modelling fraternity.

This was my first visit to Buckminster and have to say I was impressed by the field and facilities, hopefully I’ll be allowed back another time.

Thanks John, did you ‘lose’ a blue handled nut driver? One was found near where you were engine testing. It’s now in lost property in the centre.

[martin collins 1]

1 minute ago, Ron Gray said:

blue handled nut driver

Crikey that sounds like a lot of pleasure or a lot of pain Ron!

[Ron Gray]

Some general shots from Saturday

 

 

 

 

 

[Ron Gray]

Nick with his gorgeous FW which sounded excellent

 

[Ron Gray]

How about this for a Galaxy Mystic, a really beautiful finish (Fighter Aces Phil and dad)

 

[Ron Gray]

Richard and Eric with the proto Mossie

 

[martin collins 1]

I had the pleasure of the last flight of the weekend, wind had picked up quite a bit and had been right across the runway all day Sunday, still a number of us flew and enjoyed watching each others models in the air. Model is a ModelTech Nutten Special, Laser 100 power.

Edited September 29, 2024 by martin collins 1

[Eric Robson]

2 minutes ago, martin collins 1 said:

I had the pleasure of the last flight of the weekend, wind had picked up quite a bit and had been right across the runway all day Sunday, still a number of us flew and enjoyed watching each others models in the air. Model is a ModelTech Nutten Special, Laser 100 power.

You are a hardy soul Martin, at one time I would have been with you till the end but the cold wind got the better of me 

[Chris Walby]

Big thanks to Ron, everyone at the BMFA centre, Richard and the rest of the traders and of course all that attended to make it such an enjoyable visit.

 

Great relaxed flying with lots of very well built and finished models.. apart from mine! Did get to do too much chatting as the time just seemed to wiz by.

 

PS Could I ask a favour as someone posted a couple of clips of the Tigercat (IIRC on facebook), could you please message me as I would like a copy as it was the fifth flight and I don't have much other flying footage of it

 

Lets all hope it can be repeated in years to come...perhaps with some better weather on the Friday/Sunday

 

Thanks All

[martin collins 1]

😅, when i was in the hanger just before the last flight did i see a Warbird Replica kit tucked under your arm, buying one of Richard`s excellent kits lets you off the hook from the flightline Eric 😁.

[martin collins 1]

The Tigercat was one of the stars of the weekend Chris, looked and sounded superb in the air, would have loved to have seen the Havoc airborne as well, a very impressive model.

[Eric Robson]

34 minutes ago, martin collins 1 said:

😅, when i was in the hanger just before the last flight did i see a Warbird Replica kit tucked under your arm, buying one of Richard`s excellent kits lets you off the hook from the flightline Eric 😁.

I did make the mass fly Martin, just missed the photo call. Tempted with another Tempest, the next one will be different. 

[Chris Walby]

25 minutes ago, martin collins 1 said:

The Tigercat was one of the stars of the weekend Chris, looked and sounded superb in the air, would have loved to have seen the Havoc airborne as well, a very impressive model.

The Tigercat flight was the fifth time I have flown it and I really enjoyed that flight and its really great to hear others enjoying it as much as me! Its a bit of a mystery model as it went through the LMA +20 Kg scheme, but I still don't know who built it or which designer/plans it came from (its not a Don Smith).

 

The Douglas Boston is different in many ways as the designer and builder was Steve Rickett and its build is well documented on the LMA site including maidens! 

Douglas Boston IIIA - Large Model Association Forum

 

The other thing is its about 32Kg so will need to go back through the +25kg scheme for both airframe and pilot assessments, but the great news is that i had a good chat with Steve at Buckminster today so the plan is to get it all sorted for next year. 

It qualifies for Best of British as it was designed, built and has a pair of Laser 360V's in it....Just need to find someone who fancies the extra tight bike clips to take the Tigercat up at the same time 🤣 

 

I'll set a thread once i have made a bit of progress.