Getting back into RC aircraft

[Jim H]

Evening Folks. The miniature Warbird mechanics have been doing an engine fit today.

This afternoon has been all about squeezing in the new V 12 Merlin.

Or similar.

[Jim H]

[GliderRider]

Skeptisk said:

Does anyone fly control line anymore? I liked the physical connection to the plane and you didn’t need too much space.

Skeptisk, have a look at the Barton Model Flying Clubsite, it is primarily for Control Line although the forums do have sections for Free Flight & R/C. They even have templates on there for the Wonder Wings AeroStars that flew combat at half time during an FA Cup in the 1970s and were regulars at the Sandown Park model shows.
Wonder Wings Aero Star

[Baron Greenback]

Appolgy not a RC builder or flyer but blown away by this youtube channel and his 1/8 scale of the model and had to put it somewhere, all homemade from scratch. Ramy RC channel https://youtu.be/50mhDqnklwM?si=zJpppJjUci4NdimH

[ucb]

Baron Greenback said:

Appolgy not a RC builder or flyer but blown away by this youtube channel and his 1/8 scale of the model and had to put it somewhere, all homemade from scratch. Ramy RC channel https://youtu.be/50mhDqnklwM?si=zJpppJjUci4NdimH

[Jim H]

I watch Ramy a lot. Jeez he’s an extremely talented fella.

Some of the models he has built are just incredible.

I was watching a video a few weeks ago and it ventured inside his home and you could see all his airplanes.

Think it was that Globemaster vid?

He’s got his own runway outside his house!!

I’m hoping it will be the maiden with the Acro Wot this week. I’m off work Friday for a long weekend, and the weather is looking good.

Did a full tank of fuel through it yesterday again - final running in.

Balance point checked. All looking good. A lot of months and hours of dedication.

[tim0409]

I’m enjoying this thread so please keep the updates coming…

Good luck with the Acro Wot maiden flight Jim, you have made a fantastic job of it! I flew quite a few in my time and they are superb flyers.

[Baron Greenback]

Jim H said:

I watch Ramy a lot. Jeez he’s an extremely talented fella.

Think it was that Globemaster vid?

I’m hoping it will be the maiden with the Acro Wot this week. I’m off work Friday for a long weekend, and the weather is looking good.

Did a full tank of fuel through it yesterday again - final running in.

Balance point checked. All looking good. A lot of months and hours of dedication.

Correct maiden flight of his globemaster

Good luck on your flight

[Jim H]

Good afternoon gentlemen,

And thank you ever so much for the encouragement and best wishes, it’s really well received.

Oh I’m getting jittery, the maiden is tomorrow evening. The weather is going to be perfect. I’ve just been waiting for that to be honest. When you live in Cumbria, you are always against the weather.

I started the Acro Wot build back in August last year, hours, and hours of work.

I think it’s one of the most perfect models I’ve ever built.
I’ve been checking over everything today, it won’t fit in the new Scirocco with the wings on. Bugger.

A photo of my first Acro Wot, 1988.

[GliderRider]

Jim H said:

I’ve been checking over everything today, it won’t fit in the new Scirocco with the wings on. Bugger.

A photo of my first Acro Wot, 1988.

Jim H, look at it as the Scirocco's way of making sure you pre-flight all the linkages and plugs in the AcroWot every time you go flying.

We had a jet meet at our club on Saturday.

[tr7v8]

I have been recommissioning my squadron over the past few days. Last time I flew was 20 years ago.

[Baron Greenback]

Applogies not my vid but Cleatus MacFarland just posted a visit to fly with Tyler Perry and RamyRC, different world the RC shed is 3 times bigger than my house.

https://youtu.be/cAoajJkVmlQ?si=5I0yAQMq0FusuQeG

[GliderRider]

tr7v8 said:

I have been recommissioning my squadron over the past few days. Last time I flew was 20 years ago.

Tr7v8, is that model with the red wings and yellow control surfaces a Kwik Stick?
I've been fascinated by the simplicity of that type of model for a while. As I understand it, American builders merchants gave away free wooden 3 foot rules (yardsticks) and two of these are used for the fuselage booms. Kwik Stick II & IV on Outerzone

[tr7v8]

GliderRider said:

tr7v8 said:

I have been recommissioning my squadron over the past few days. Last time I flew was 20 years ago.

Tr7v8, is that model with the red wings and yellow control surfaces a Kwik Stick?
I've been fascinated by the simplicity of that type of model for a while. As I understand it, American builders merchants gave away free wooden 3 foot rules (yardsticks) and two of these are used for the fuselage booms. Kwik Stick II & IV on Outerzone

Nope, its a idea based on a David Boddington plan called Mills Beam. Which I saw flicking through a plans book. https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=7793
I did my own version using either a home cut foam wing or a Yamamoto aileron one and my own fus design. The beams are from the hardwood selection at B & Q. So about 20 x 6mm. Tail feathers are 1/4 sheet. That has a rare engine an HGK 45. That model is around 35 years old! I have a baby version using a home cut wing 36" span and AET i.e. no rudder.
They all fly very well & make good aileron trainers. With a bit of dihedral they'd make a good ab-initio trainer as well.
I understand from reading RC Groups Boddo nicked it from a USA design & kit from the 70's.

[Brother D]

Baron Greenback said:

Applogies not my vid but Cleatus MacFarland just posted a visit to fly with Tyler Perry and RamyRC, different world the RC shed is 3 times bigger than my house.

https://youtu.be/cAoajJkVmlQ?si=5I0yAQMq0FusuQeG

Watched that yesterday - I was wondering how Remy RC afforded a giant hanger for his models!

Wish more celebs if they have STEM interests would be more public about it to get kids interested - the average age of my Arizona club must be 65/70 at least! The only other celeb I know who is into RC Aircraft is Vernon Kay

[Brother D]

tr7v8 said:

I have been recommissioning my squadron over the past few days. Last time I flew was 20 years ago.

That's a nice collection - I had to give away my models many years ago and with constant relocation it's hard to spend time on the hobby of building (and current location of Utah has no real places to fly from apart from parks), so I've had to settle for a couple of park flyers:

The Night Vapor I can just about fly around the lounge here,





I've yet to fly the cub as I expect that will need a bit more room and it's still snowing/raining here

[tim0409]

tr7v8 said:

That has a rare engine an HGK 45.

That’s a blast from the past. I mentioned in a previous post that my dad used to take kits abroad with him (he worked in the ME as an aircraft engineer), build them and then bring them back. Although he never flew them he always bought and fitted an engine. He built a low wing version of a model designed by the owner of the local model shop (Coyote) and fitted an HGK 45. From what I can remember the silencer was pretty swept back as soon as it exited the cylinder…it’s funny the things you remember from 35 years ago!

He built a beautiful Flair SE5A with an OS48 FS Surpass; he worked on contract with the Omani Air Force and he was going to the US via the UK to collect a complete wing for a BN Islander (he had designed and built the cradle for the wing which was being transported in a C130). The SE5A came with him in the back of the C130 and we drove down to Hurn (Bournemouth) after he came back from the US to collect it. I just remember being very excited at the time as I loved aviation!

[Jim H]

Hello folks.

Two good flights. Flew really nicely from the off, next to no trim needed.

Just learning my way with it, extremely powerful on full chat - disappears vertically.

My nerves were terrible on the first flight, I barely slept last night and it’s been on my mind all day, always the same with a new model that you’ve spent hours working on. It only takes one mistake or some sort of failure and it’s kit-form! Who said this was a pleasant hobby? Nah, it’s very satisfying to construct something like this and then fly it successfully. I knocked the landing gear off on second landing. It’s screwed on with nylon screws which are intended to snap in this instance rather than tearing the fuselage apart. I learned this from my first Acro.

A few tweaks to do before next flight on Thursday. The ailerons need calming down a bit, and I’m going to mix them to flaps also to slow it down on landing. There was barely any wind tonight so it was coming In pretty hot.

Chuffed to bits really, I thought it would be easy to adapt to after my electric foamy. Wrong, it’s a bit of animal. Mind it was my first flight since September last year.

Many thanks for the support and wishing me luck.

[Jim H]

The Wot.

[Jim H]

Sorry there are not many photos, it’s all a bit hectic on a maiden. My mate on the camera gets more nervous than me - and he’s not on the sticks!