martin collins 1 Posted November 28 Share Posted November 28 I bought a really nicely made plan built scale twin earlier this year and have just got round to checking it over before attempting a first flight with it, all looked good apart from changing the battery connectors over to suit my lipos, this one runs 2x2200 3s in parallel. However upon connecting the packs up and throttling up the motors both started at different throttle settings and the one that started first was running at higher revs all the way through the range. I then twigged that both ESC `s were playing different tunes when the batteries were connected, off with the nacelle covers to discover two different makes of ESC, one was a 30amp the other a 25 😏. The model looks unflown and judging by that it never has, i am guessing the builder was not familiar with electric models, you would have thought it would be obvious you use a pair of the same on both sides........... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konrad Posted November 28 Share Posted November 28 I'm seeing a noticeable deterioration in the mechanical aptitude of most folks. I think a lot of this is as a result of the loss of shop classes in the high schools in the USA. Also there is a distinct loss of logical thinking in the population at large. These two issues are what I use to try to get families to support any interest their child might have in the hobby. The logic needed in trouble shooting will be a skill their child can use in all aspects of their life. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Robson Posted November 28 Share Posted November 28 2 hours ago, Konrad said: I'm seeing a noticeable deterioration in the mechanical aptitude of most folks. I think a lot of this is as a result of the loss of shop classes in the high schools in the USA. Also there is a distinct loss of logical thinking in the population at large. These two issues are what I use to try to get families to support any interest their child might have in the hobby. The logic needed in trouble shooting will be a skill their child can use in all aspects of their life. I think the authorities are dumbing people down to stop them thinking for themselves. I bought some pins a while back and there was a warning the packet contained sharp items. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konrad Posted November 28 Share Posted November 28 I'm involved in a restoration of a 1941 Buick. The owners manual actually has useful information on how to maintain the car. Such as how to adjust the valve tappets. My personal car is a 2018 Toyota Mirai. There is an actual warning not to drink the battery acid! But little or nothing about how to change the myriad of filters. Yes, they do go into how to change the air conditioning air filter behind the glove box. Really they need to warn today's consumer not to drink the battery acid! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted November 28 Share Posted November 28 Modern cars and motorcycles are much more complicated than was formerly the case. They perform better and are much more fuel efficient but the extra complications needed to achieve that makes them difficult for the average home mechanic to maintain. I used to do just about everything to both cars and motorcycles but when our Mitsubishi Spacestar (our previous car) refused to start I lifted the bonnet and had difficulty finding the engine (it turned out to be faulty engine disable unit). I always wondered how people who had no idea how their car/motorcycle worked coped - now I know! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konrad Posted November 28 Share Posted November 28 (edited) New cars just need a different set of tools. Now if the OEM will only sell to his dealer network then we are talking about the right to repair issue. I don't see new owners manuals even mentioning how to replace brake pads! I like modern cars as much of the art of old, is now taken care of by reading the fault codes. If folks aren't comfortable with the basic maintenance there is still the option of the dealership. My main point was just how ridiculous the powers that be are, in thinking that we (their customers) need to cautioned against drinking battery acid! Edited November 28 by Konrad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted November 28 Share Posted November 28 I think a lot of this 'unnecessary' labelling is to avoid litigation...... no idea where that started 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Robson Posted November 28 Share Posted November 28 6 minutes ago, GrumpyGnome said: I think a lot of this 'unnecessary' labelling is to avoid litigation...... no idea where that started 🙂 I believe someone in America many years ago sued McDonald's for burning their mouth with hot coffee. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Moss Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 All warning labels should be removed from potentially dangerous products, stupid should hurt. Support the Darwin awards! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 You get to meet all sorts of stupid people in all walks of life. There is definitely no shortage of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan M Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 (edited) 10 hours ago, Eric Robson said: I believe someone in America many years ago sued McDonald's for burning their mouth with hot coffee. You're partly right. It was a landmark case where an elderly woman placed the coffee (from a drive-thru I think) on her lap in the car in which she was a passenger, with unfortunate consequences. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald's_Restaurants Edited November 29 by Jonathan M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan M Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 2 hours ago, Doug Moss said: All warning labels should be removed from potentially dangerous products, stupid should hurt. Support the Darwin awards! Yes and no. In a world where the main dangers were sabre-toothed tigers and the suchlike then the dangers were abundantly clear to everyone and only the fittest and luckiest survived. In today's world it is a little more complicated don't you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan M Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 15 hours ago, martin collins 1 said: I bought a really nicely made plan built scale twin earlier this year Go on... don't keep us in suspense! What is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin collins 1 Posted November 29 Author Share Posted November 29 DH Dragon, nicely built and very light. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 13 hours ago, Eric Robson said: I think the authorities are dumbing people down to stop them thinking for themselves. I bought some pins a while back and there was a warning the packet contained sharp items. I think the authorities are dumbing down the population to their own levels as a lot of folk are smarter than them to start with . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 1 hour ago, Brian Cooper said: You get to meet all sorts of stupid people in all walks of life. There is definitely no shortage of them. Agreed but what is worrying is that the law supports them in their stupidity and puts the onus on other .... usually financially of course . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 5 hours ago, Jonathan M said: Yes and no. In a world where the main dangers were sabre-toothed tigers and the suchlike then the dangers were abundantly clear to everyone and only the fittest and luckiest survived. In today's world it is a little more complicated don't you think? Naa, stick an 8 inch spike on the center of the steering wheel. Ban drivers seatbelts. Might change drivers attitude to risk. I joke not BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konrad Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 5 hours ago, martin collins 1 said: DH Dragon, nicely built and very light. Very nice. Looks like somebody had some aptitude! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Robson Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 7 hours ago, martin collins 1 said: DH Dragon, nicely built and very light. Looks like a Dragon Rapide to me Martin, quite different to the Dragon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin collins 1 Posted November 29 Author Share Posted November 29 I was told by the builder it was built from a Dragon plan, it has the squared outer wing panels, not eliptical and it doesn't have the wheel trousers/pants which are fitted on the Rapide. What specifically makes you think it is a Rapide bearing in mind the two points i have just made Eric? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Lea Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 A search of the registration on GINFO confirms that it is a DH Dragon. Aircraft details for: G-ADDI | Civil Aviation Authority Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Robson Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 The windows, it may be a later Dragon, but the wings you described are definitely a Dragon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Carpenter Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 Dragon !👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin collins 1 Posted November 29 Author Share Posted November 29 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Beeney Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 Eric and Martin, There is also a forum here relating to this actual aircraft, including photos of this full size model’s paint job. I’ve not read it all yet but there’s some interesting history too. With some consideration to Martin’s O/P, could it just be that the seller needed to off-load for whatever reason, was short of the correct ESC and rather than leave it missing, which might appear a bit crass perhaps, popped the wrong one in which proved the motor ran at least. Hard to believe that someone that can build like that would not have some idea on how to fly it . Always really fancied a DH 84 Dragon ever since I read a very long time ago that it was an idea for an air taxi by a certain Mr Hillman, the founder of the Hillman Car Company. A lovely model indeed; and the remark ‘very light’ definitely adds half a dozen cherries on top… I started out in what now seems like a time before pre-history even making gliders and that’s when I found the succinct little adage ‘for success, add lightness’ was a number one requirement… Happy landings PB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.