Innehållsförteckning för January 2024 från RCM&E

In the April 2021 issue I reviewed the Twister Ninja 250. This small pod and boom, fixed pitch helicopter, with its 250mm diameter main rotor, has become one of the mainstays of my indoor flying fleet. It is guaranteed to raise positive comments every time it is flown and tends to disguise my somewhat rusty helicopter flying skills. Circuits in my club’s basketball size hall, plus figure of eights and nose in hovering can all be flown with ease. So when I saw that J.Perkins were set to introduce a new four-blade, flybarless scale model to the Twister range, a neat rendition of the chunky but attractive Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm BO-105, I quickly put it on the RCM&E review list. “Snugly nestled in upper and lower vac-formed trays the contents are well…

Due to the freedoms established by the White Sheet club’s elders in recent years (no, it’s nothing to do with Brexit!) an Event Secretary has the choice to call either a Saturday or Sunday for a Scale Fly-In should one or the other look preferable with reference to the forecasts. At the time of the June meeting we had experienced around three weeks of strong north-easterly winds and this day was to be no different. But nuances in the forecast wind direction meant that Saturday 3rd June it was. This wind direction mandates the use of our most geographically challenging slope, insomuch as it requires a ten-minute hike to the top of White Sheet Down laden like pack mules with all the necessary kit and caboodle. These factors, then, usually…

In his Dactyl article later in this issue Dick van Mourik describes his electric conversion and design changes to Dennis Bryant’s classic flying wing design for an easy to build and fun to fly pusher model. In this short article Dick demonstrates his preferred way of installing hinges, to make sure that control surfaces stay well and truly in place on his aircraft. BAMBOO PINS The forces on hinges can be substantial. This is why it is essential to always secure your hinges. Personally, I’m not too keen on just using glue, so my hinges are secured using bamboo skewers. The process is straightforward: 1. Apply a line of masking tape parallel to the TE of the wing and mark the position of each hinge. In this case five…

I have enjoyed flying electric ducted fan (EDF) models since they became more practical for the average modeller. ‘Hot’ brushed buggy motors and eight cell packs of NiMH cells were used in my first successful models and then, of course, brushless motors and LiPos appeared. EDF has not looked back since then and now, certainly in my case, the size and complexity of your EDF model is only limited by your budget, your available flying space and your skill set. The area, the quality of the surface and closeness of trees etc. can be deciding factors here and certainly limit what we can comfortably fly at our field. As a keen indoor flier, I have always been interested in indoor EDF and enjoyed flying numerous small foam models using 30mm…

LMA SHOWSTOPPERS The three Large Model Association events that our roving reporter Shaun Garrity attended in 2023 - Redmarshall, Sleap and Elvington - proved to be less than ideal, with the weather conspiring to spoil the pilots’ and spectators’ fun in equal measure. But that didn’t stop these much-anticipated large model shows from going ahead. As always, the LMA’s modelling extravaganzas were awash with many, many examples of engineering magnificence and outstanding piloting skill. They didn’t disappoint, despite the weather gods not playing very nice. ARROWS AVANTI Sebastiano Silvestri is the man responsible for many highly regarded aerobatic designs through his the SebArt model range. His Avanti S, originally a 2m span turbine model, has been reproduced under licence in several sizes over the years but it seems strange that…

POST CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE Christmas can be a frustrating time for many aeromodellers as when asked for gift suggestions for the big day we can often be stumped for affordable answers. Yes, we’d probably all like a lovely new £500 plus kit to build or perhaps a shiny new state of the art radio to play with, but such things are often way out of reach of most people’s pockets unless you are lucky enough to have very wealthy relations. Procrastination in the weeks beforehand can lead family and friends to just give up and opt for the easy way out, often in the form of monetary gifts. But now you’ve got a few quid in your hands to spend at will, what can you spend it on before it…

XFLY TWIN OTTER 1800mm £439.99 & £499.99 | www.cmldistribution.co.uk Retaining many scale features of the full-size, XFly’s 70.9” (1800mm) span version of de Havilland’s popular twin-engine utility aircraft is a top-drawer, scale-like PNP ARTF that flies as good as it looks. Sharing the same STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) capability as the full-size, the model also sports pre-installed landing lights which, in conjunction with the vibrant yellow/blue colour scheme, assists visual reference in gloomy skies. The spacious, clear glazed cockpit provides the ideal environment for FPV installation and a two-piece wing, removable nose and stabilisers make for easy transport, assembly and storage. Powered by a single 6S 5000 - 6000mAh LiPo, the twin 3541-KV550 motors / 3-blade props /twin 40A ESCs set-up provides plenty of power and duration, the…

A few years ago, I wanted to attend an RCM&E Fun Fly at Buckminster. And you know how it goes, you want to take your entire squadron! I have a Mondeo estate and it has been great for attending a Sunday or mid-week scale competition. However, for an event where you want to take more than one model, or even camping gear, it has its limits. I really wanted to get a van… IN TRANSIT When I learned to drive times were different. Dad had started a job as chief engineer at Southern Aviation, based at Sherburn-in-Elmet in Yorkshire. He later purchased the company and thus was formed Hornet Aviation. The company bought a Ford Transit Mk.1; it was a bit tatty and got re-sprayed in the corporate Cub Yellow.…

Much has changed in the world since the original Chilli Breeze design was published way back in 1994. In our aeromodelling world one of the biggest changes has undoubtedly been the demise of the noble glow motor and the emergence of electric power. The original Chilli Breeze was designed for glow motors in the .25 -.36 cu. in. range, the OS 32SF in particular, and it had to able to accept a standard set of radio gear of that era. These sets came with four ‘standard’ size servos (weighing 45g each!), a receiver and a NiCad battery. The first prototypes were were powered by an OS 32SF for the built-up wing and an Irvine 36 for the foam wing, and their respective weights were 53oz and 57oz dry. They flew…

Over the last year or so we have reviewed several XFly-Model kits, a recently introduced brand of foam model aircraft which are being imported into the UK by CML Distribution. The models we have tested so far have proven to be very well made and, without exception, they have all flown well. Featured here are XFly’s latest models and, to be honest, they couldn’t be more different. The 850mm P68 is a smaller rendition of the 1400mm Twin Nova which I reported on in the March 2022 issue of RCM&E, whilst the 1019mm wingspan Twin Eagle is a futuristic flying wing with a 40mm electric ducted fan fitted to each wingtip. For review models that arrive via the RCM&E office, we first like to present them to our readers with…

It’s been a while since I’ve featured inexpensive, small pocket rocket style models. This type of aircraft and construction were very popular in the 1960s and early 1970s, especially in the USA where rudder only pulse proportional versions could be seen on every flying field. We weren’t left out in the UK; small sequential escapements were used instead and could be very aerobatic in the right hands. Via a flying buddy, I was introduced to Al Clark from the USA who, back in the day, designed the Gopher. I’ll let Al tell the story. INTRODUCTION Gopher–a 20-inch span, sub 250g, mini aerobat. In 1975 I was 23 years old and just one year out of college. The only radio I could afford back then was an Ace R/C pulse proportional…

It’s obvious from the number of indoor venues listed in RCM&E, BMFA News and other journals that all types of indoor model flying are taking place regularly around the UK. I know from my local area that these vary from a village hall venue to four-court and larger sports halls. If the sessions are intended for specific club members, they are often not advertised and there must be many more which are not ‘open’ meetings. I attend two regular meetings and these reflect different approaches to hiring. Our club hires the hall and counts it as ‘a flying field’ with no extra charge to members, while the other venue comprises of a number of enthusiasts and we personally pay for the hiring. Both are two-hour sessions and the different approaches…

To use our FREE READERS’ AD SERVICE simply fill in the coupon provided and we’ll print your advert here, in Britain’s best-selling R/C flying magazine FOR SALE THREE TELCO CO2 motors, spares, some unused CO2 cartridges, three fillers. Also, one Telco Turbo Tank 6000 with motor. Four motors in total. All motors run but need adjustment and fine tuning – £50, can post at cost. Call David on 07860 312025 (Kent). SCRATCH BUILT DOUBLE DECKER R/C BUS in red, 24” long, 8” wide and 7” high – £40. Scratch built caravan, 10” long, 7” wide and 7” high – £5. Call Rob on 07787 574932 (N.Yorks). ATOM RADIO system by PowerBox. Full system as detailed on the PowerBox systems website. Opened but unused and in immaculate condition – £1200. Call…