Well it’s time I wrote something for the website but frankly I’m a little short on material. Now don’t get all smug, it’s not because you’ve all been flying the same old models so brilliantly that you haven’t needed to replace them. Nor that none of you have done any of the daft things that invariably find their way onto the website just when you think they’ve been forgotten. No, it’s just a combination of me going off on holiday for a couple of weeks, and a fair bit of bad weather recently. Oh, and I’ve missed a few Sunday mornings recently due to ‘family commitments’. Take last Sunday for instance, I was expected to stop home and play host to a house full of relations just because it was my dad’s 90th birthday. Flippin’ unreasonable if you ask me, he’s had 89 other birthdays so I would have thought after so many it wouldn’t matter if I missed one. Families eh…
Since I wrote in August a few new models and more importantly new members have made an appearance.
MMM (Multiple Models Montague for the newbie’s) has been increasing his fleet of 3D machines. His flying has improved dramatically this year and Steve no longer buys a new plane every week out of necessity, in fact he has started selling them to make room for the latest ‘must have’ machine. At the end of August Steve turned up with a shiny new 51″ AJ Slick. The initials AJ stand for the designer Andrew Jesky, and the models can be bought from http://www.3dhobbyshop.com/
Steve’s latest model is a 58″ span Edge 540, they seem to be getting bigger and better:
At the time of writing the Edge hasn’t flown. Here’s a clue as to why:
We’ve all heard about the dangers of lipo batteries, usually with problems related to charging. One golden rule is that you must always remove them from your model before charging them so quick and easy access is required. As most of our members don’t recharge their packs at the field this isn’t a problem, although then the dangers occur at home with more serious consequences than being out in the open. But the dangers are not only charging related as Keith Evans discovered one day at the end of August. His Acro Wot had a rather sudden arrival and before Keith could reach the damaged model we were treated to a very realistic plume of rising smoke. Keith was lucky and the battery didn’t set fire to the airframe, destroying the whole thing including his r/c gear. It should serve as a warning to us all that lipos can be dangerous at any time and we need to be aware of this. How quickly could you reach your lipos if they shorted while you are driving to or from the field? Do you use a lipo bag?
Lipos don’t like impact damage…
I mentioned that there has been an influx of new members recently, we are now full and have a waiting list. Ron’s grandson, 8 year old Eddy Vears, has been flying for a little while now and is sickeningly good! He is taking off and landing confidently and is working towards taking his A cert. Two other new guys are flying WOT4 Foam-E’s with great success. One is Nigel Baker, who used to fly R/C gliders many years ago and has now decided to have a go at power flying, he’s amazed to see how well electric models perform these days. The other is Dan Handley, who I don’t have any gossip on yet (but that will change!) so I took his photo instead:
Haven’t seen much of Andy Smith recently, he muttered something about work, planned house moves, ‘er indoors etc, but apparently he successfully flew his EDF F4 Phantom recently…then broke it. But don’t worry if, like me, you missed it, it will reappear, all it required was a new airframe! But he was good enough to send me a few photos, some at the patch and some he took on holiday. He spotted these in Kefalonia:
Andy understandably thought they were Piper Pawnees but they have got the wrong engines and don’t look quite right so I did a bit of research. It turns out they are PZL Mielec M-18B Dromaders. The Dromader (Camel) was developed from the Rockwell Thrush and re-engined with one of PZL’s own design. Although they are really crop dusters they’re used for water bombing in Kefalonia and are very effective fire fighting machines.
Andy also sent me a video link which is well worth viewing: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=891_1351548712 It should be of particular interest to Mick Harper. There is a bit of colourful language but it’s excellent, don’t miss it!
Thanks for the contributions Andy.
Noise abatement: “Flight 2341, for noise abatement turn right 45 degrees.”
“But Center,we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?”
“Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?”
Colin Cowplain
Very good blog Mr. Complain, very good indeed!
The new F4 airframe is now in and it’s all well licked (licking isn’t for everyone but since they started doing self-adhesive stamps I find myself experimenting more and more). The previous incarnation flew very well, once again it was the launch that did for me, it’ll be better once we install that new mettled landing strip (to be laid by Fred West over Don’s dead body).
The dangers of Lipo batteries! I wondered what Keith was holding up there, for a minute I thought the club ferret had died!
Good to see some new members, even if it was only fleeting (for me). Also great to see some new Warbirds too, the Dynam Spitfire impressed greatly and I thought my beady eye also settled on an (Parkzone?) Wildcat (that’s the aircraft rather than Mick’s nickname down at Midhurst’s Blue Oyster Bar).
Incidentally, much like the Mick’s Blue Oyster Bar, my doors are always open for advice on retro-fitting for better performance! You’ll never tire of comments on how “unlimited vertical isn’t natural for that model of that age” (again, not to be confused with similar such comments made in said Blue Oyster).
Those photos of the Dromaders don’t do them justice, they were MASSIVE! They’re like something out of a retro sci-fi film (it’s only a matter of time before Viv buys one from Hobby King), very agricultural!
Final word is on the club forum… and the word is “WHERE?” Answers in writing to MMM at standswithhandsinpocketsandwarmshiscockles@smilestoomuchformyliking.com
Like it Smiffy, but I fear the Blue Oyster Bar comments will soar over peoples heads, especially Mr Harper’s! I suggest Google for non-understanders…or go rent Police Academy!
Police Academy can be found in the ‘New Releases’ section in Midhurst Blockbusters!
Only on Betamax!
Great Blog as usual Colin, looks like my recent misfortune has passed you by. The MX2 decided to take up limbo dancing with a fence, no prizes for guessing who won that one, Picture can be found on EBay!!, The Triffic had a bad case of split personality when the front of the fuss, complete with motor parted company with the rest of the plane at a very high speed, the controlled crash which followed did not cause any damage and MMM found the front end in the track, all back together ready to go again. Finally the Blaze lived up to its name, when it started to smoke after landing. Not sure what happened here as it landed on the glide with the motor off, prop folded back, the speed controller melted, fortunately I think the solder on the battery connection melted and disconnected the battery which looks fine. Unfortunately when the speed controller failed I think the receiver got a spike and this is also u/s. £30.00 spent on HK and I have 2 new speed controllers, one 30andone 45 amp, a programming card, nice new tapered reamer, and some hinges.
Forum, forum, where for art thou my forum, Hers a ground breaking idea, stop using the old, “too much work excuse”!! Come out to play more often, and here’s the real radical bit, talk to people.
Anyway I don’t believe you have too much work, I think if you came every week , the new model cost would escalate, and how many more times will the other half believe “the dogs have chewed it” excuse.
“…and how many more times will the other half believe “the dogs have chewed it” excuse…”
I don’t know what excuses you use in your house but “it’s not normally that size, it must be the cold” has always worked for me. Horses for courses I suppose, and if it looks like a dogs chewed it then who am I to argue 🙂
I do try to come and out and play more but since that audition I had for Jim’ll Fix It involving the hamster and the family sized pot of banana yoghurt I’ve never quite been the same.
I saw the mx2 on ebay and wondered what had happened, thanks for clearing that up, a good crash always makes everyone else feel better about their flying skills.
I also had a mishap last week, I got a bit carried away with the Extra 330s and tried to do a knife edge circuit, it didn’t quite work out and damaged the front end, as luck would have it the front end on its predecessor was ok, so one cut n shut later its all back together and ready to go 🙂
Monty, does that mean you broke the back end of the other 330 then? Prop hanging and slipped back into the ground maybe! 😉
I wish, it was more along the lines of an uncontrolled landing.
Ah yes, the old ‘uncontrolled landing’… 😉
Could have been worse, you could have been walking back to the pits, transmitter in hand, with the model still flying out over the valley. No, surely nobody would do that? 😀
Our club should start a model based version of the Darwin Awards 🙂
That must be a new one for the club, Mick’s really ticking ’em off the list… Poor Mick!
I don’t know what was more bizarre, the crash or the fact that Wonky carried on looking for the remains for 45 minutes after Mick had returned with them!
Still, so long as the gods of RC are appeased by Mick’s sacrificial offerings, maybe they’ll leave my rigs alone!