Table of contents for July 2022 in RCM&E

RCM&E|July 2022

WELCOME

This is the first issue that has been put together solely by my new colleagues at Mortons Media and I hope you like it. Changing owners has been exciting and has opened up some fresh possibilities, which I fully intend to make use of in the future, like the use of ‘picture gallery’ QR codes, which you will find dotted around this issue. But it has also been tinged with sadness as I have had to say farewell to some good friends at MyTime Media, not least our talented designer Julie Bentley, who has been keeping the magazine looking neat and shipshape for the past couple of years. As well as designing RCM&E, Julie had other duties to perform at MTM, so she decided to stick with them when given…

4 min

RCM&E|July 2022

TOMTITS & TIMERS

Our annual Pontefract Single Channel and Retro fly-in will be a distant memory when this missive hits the shelves. Every year I make a few new models specifically for it, usually sport or unorthodox types from the 1960s and 70s, but I decided to build a different type of aeroplane for this year’s event. With balsa prices rising faster than Bit Coin (on a good day), increased shipping costs and higher priced ancillaries, are all contributing to making models more expensive. So, I decided that rather than build from scratch using my precious balsa stocks it was time to upset kit collectors again and construct another of my classic kits... A few years ago, I did just that with a Veron Cherokee and it turned out to be an excellent…

12 min

RCM&E|July 2022

All Write

TOP LETTER For his letter this month Terry Anderson wins a very popular LiPo and low self-discharge receiver pack combo courtesy of Overlander Batteries - www.overlander.co.uk TERRY’S HINGING TIP Sometimes when hinging, even after marking the centre lines and carefully going in with a blade, I still managed to get a slight misalignment when hinging my control surfaces. This is more noticeable on smaller models. So, I thought about it and came up with this simple and fool proof idea... As an example, we’ll hinge a 1/4” tailplane and elevator, either built up or made from sheet. Find a small piece of ply, half the tailplane thickness, 1/8” in this case, and say about an inch or two long (I have also used a couple of steel rulers on top…

6 min

RCM&E|July 2022

HI8US

The Covid hiatus has given lots of us the opportunity to try something new. One of my personal projects was to design and build my own electric flight flying wing, inspired by my review of the Vogel-Fly Batwing in the July 2020 issue. Design criteria were a good sports aerobatic performance, a relatively cheap power train and a two-piece sub-1m wingspan to make transport easier. After six months of flying the original I’m very pleased with how it turned out. BUILDING Hi8us is built mainly from medium balsa with a little bit of ply and carbon fibre in strategic locations. The design evolved as I was building the prototype so some of the photos might not show the final solution, but they do show the general arrangements. FUSELAGE A building…

15 min

RCM&E|July 2022

EARLY SEASON MUSINGS

The daylight is longer and stronger. Temperatures are rising and the cruel winds of April give way to the gentle zephyrs of summer. Complex Winter Projects have at last reached their zenith. There is no more reason for delay. Traditional radio modellers emerge from their sheds blinking into the light. Their hearts, a mixture of trepidation and hope. Brand new models, with freshly hardened paint, are appearing at the flying fields for their maiden flights. Brand new radios are being programmed. Brand new engines are being run in. Brand new ESCs are being fried by inexperienced operators. The RCM&E Going Places diary is bulging like an Oil Executive’s wallet. ’Tis time for the outdoor season. TOO LATE WAS THE CRY However, there is another slant on this early season. Those…

11 min

RCM&E|July 2022

COUNTERPOINT

EZE DESIGNER TISSUE £9.75 I www.ripmax.com New from Deluxe Materials, Eze Designer Tissue is a specially printed lightweight tissue paper sheet full of patterns and graphics for enhancing the appearance of tissue covered and other lightweight models. Each sheet has exceptional lightness (13.5gsm) and wet strength, and contains around 70 coloured graphics including scallops, stars, stripes and small chequers, easily cut and applied with Eze Dope or tissue paste. Supplied in a pack containing 2 x 30” (75cm) x 20” (50cm) sheets and full instructions EZE Designer Tissue is distributed to UK model shops by Ripmax, and Horizon Hobby in North America. ARROWS TREKKER RTF £239.99 I www.jperkins.com Eye-catching in its bright high vis colour scheme the Arrows Trekker will find favour with both complete beginners and experienced hands, covering…

2 min

RCM&E|July 2022

GOING PLACES

If you are planning an aeromodelling event over the summer months, then please send details - up to 100 words maximum - to Beth Ashby at: beth. ashby@dhpub.co.uk. If you intend to visit any events listed, then please check with the organisers before travelling in case of any last-minute changes. JUNE 2022 June 4-5 Wessex Soaring Association slope fly-in at slopes approx. 5 miles east of Shaftesbury. Non-powered gliders and e-soarers welcome. BMFA insurance required. Contact Pete for more info either email pete. carpenter12@gmail.com or call 07919 903742. June 4 UKCAA at Worcester MAC. Fly-in and lunchtime contest to UKCAA Pick5 and Pick7 rules. See www.ukcaa.org.uk for more details. Guests welcome but must pre-register. Contact Martyn Kinder at ukcaa2013@gmail.com June 11 Tonbridge Gassers and Rubber Fanciers Indoor Flying at Kings…

13 min

RCM&E|July 2022

PANTHER ON THE PROWL

PARTINGSHOT The subject of these cheerfully sunny flying pics, taken by Chris Williams, is Trevor Hewson’s ‘Panther’ autogyro. This elegant rotorcraft was built in 2013 from the Richard Harris plan (RC2114), published in RCM&E in April of that year. Richard designed the Panther as an autogyro trainer and Trevor confirms that it is, indeed, very stable. However, despite the jazzy colour scheme on the blades and underside of the fuselage his Panther does bear a few scars from disorientation-induced contact with a gorse bush but continues to perform very well. The 46” rotor diameter model is powered by an E-Power BL2820/07 919kV motor from a 3S 3000 mAh LiPo. The propeller is an APC 12 x 6E. Panther short kits are available from Sarik Hobbies: https://www.sarikhobbies.com/product/rc2114-panther-complete-set/ Photo: Chris…

1 min

RCM&E|July 2022

SWITCHON

BMFA CENTENARY EXHIBITION From July 18th to August 31st, 2022, visitors to the BMFA’s National Centre at Buckminster in Leicestershire (NG33 5RW) will be able to view the largest gathering of UK model aircraft, from the historic to the ultra-modern, that they are ever likely to witness. The exhibition is a flagship event of the BMFA’s centenary celebrations. The exhibition traces the fascinating progress of model flying from compressed air and rubber-powered models flown at the time Bleriot crossed the Channel to today’s gas turbine models and multi-rotor drones. Visitors will see original models by pioneers of the aviation industry like Sir Richard Fairey, whose Great West Aerodrome was a centre for pre-War model flying and is now London’s Heathrow Airport. Then there are World Championship winners, like Peter Watson’s…

5 min

RCM&E|July 2022

F-86 SABRE

Some airshow displays stick in the mind and Mark Linney’s F-86A Sabre is one. It has lived in the States since 2014 but, for 22 years, it entranced UK and European show crowds with a precise yet graceful flying repertoire, superbly executed by Mark. There’s something about those early jets, don’t you think? They have more character than their contemporary equivalents for sure, yet, to my mind, the Sabre is one of those aircraft that just looks right - and you know what they say about aircraft that look right… MARLIN BREED Arrows’ Marlin sport jet has made plenty of friends over the last few years, with EDF (Electric Ducted Fan) newbies in particular. And for good reason; it’s affordable, unencumbered by retracts, not too big, provides a good introduction…

5 min

RCM&E|July 2022

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Do you have a question to ask about any aspect of R/C aeromodelling? If so, send it in and we will do our best to answer it. If not, then we are sure that someone amongst our many thousands of readers will be able to help. This time we are repeating last month’s question from Alan Shaw, who wants to know more about closed loop control systems, as we didn’t have space last time to publish answers we received from two knowledgeable F3A aerobatic pilots, Peter Jenkins and Ashley Hoyland. Q I have noticed on many model aircraft designs that just the rudder is actuated by a closed-loop cable system. The only reason that I’ve been able to obtain for this is that it eliminates any backlash, but that would…

2 min

RCM&E|July 2022

LEPRECHAUN V3

Designed by Dick Twomey as a large 90” span, low aspect ratio free-flight glider, Leprechaun featured in the March 1950 issue of Aeromodeller. Typical for plan features of the time there’s little detail apart from impressive flight recordings. Twomey’s original flew for 20 minutes O.O.S. (out of sight) on its maiden outing from a tow line, the magazine noting that a 2.5hr, 22-mile flight was also later recorded. The plan is out there along with Leprechaun kits in various sizes from several makers. This one is from Dane-RC, the manufacturing business run by proprietor and lifelong modeller Michael Jacobsen. He produces several interesting models - the Wisel Wing slope glider is one you may have come across- but it was the Leprechaun, now in its third generation, that helped establish…

10 min

RCM&E|July 2022

MAKING A WACO COWLING

Making a round cowl Cassic biplanes like the Waco YKS have round engines. Unfortunately, it’s often hard to find commercial cowlings to fit scratch-built models. So, for my latest project, the Waco YKS, I decided to make a custom cowling from balsa and lite ply. That way, I could cover it with the same shrink film as I used on the rest of the model. Plus, a wooden cowling is easier to repair... Basic parts of our cowling are two ply rings (one with mounting lugs), some block for the front, a long strip of flexible balsa, two disposable jig panels (from balsa or lite ply) and a few scraps of balsa or ply - see drawing. Start by measuring the cowling diameter and length. We’ll make a basic ‘can’…

2 min

RCM&E|July 2022

LIGHT & EZE

Traditional aeromodelling - building model aeroplanes that fly from balsa and tissue and dope - comprises an uncommon set of skills, techniques and attitudes that is at risk today of being overlooked and forgotten. It was with this in mind that we enlisted the help and guidance of Bob Benjamin, a US Model Aviation Hall of Fame member and master modeller, to build and cover this original Comet kit. With the increasing scarcity of good modelling materials, Bob was also instrumental in encouraging Deluxe Materials to develop our new Eze Tissue product combining lightness, wet strength and bright attractive colours in one product. Comet, a name well known since the early days of aeromodelling, has a new lease of life thanks to Retro RC in the USA. The original Comet…

4 min

RCM&E|July 2022

MARKETPLACE

FOR SALE VINTAGE AVICRAFT PANIC biplane with OS91 FX engine, four servos. Vintage ARC Jupiter with OS46 FX engine and servos. Vintage Extra 300L with Irvine 40, Futaba 27MHz transmitter – offers. Call Joe on 07765 347838 (Bicester). RCV 91-CD new, unrun, boxed with silencer- £320 ono. OS46 AX boxed, run in only, with silencer - £125 ono. 01379 971085 (Suffolk). PARKZONE NIGHT VAPOR in box, original transmitter, spare props, 7 off 1S LiPo’s, Celectra 4-way charger and owner’s manual. Very few flights - £60 buyer to collect (07952 724437 (Manchester). FLYING WING, 60-inch span, was electric, now sloper - £30. Foam Buzzard, unstarted kit, printed build info - £50. Glider with 82” span with plans - £50. 01248 681466 (Conwy). RIPMAX STARGAZER, Hobbyking Junior, ST Models DG-1000 - £20…

3 min

RCM&E|July 2022

CHUNKY JUNGMEISTER

Designed by Carl Bücker, the Bücker Jungmeister Bu 133 single-seat biplane first flew in 1935. Originally, she was fitted with a Wirth HM508 powerplant. This was quickly dropped in favour of the classic 160hp Siemens Bramo Sh 14A radial engine, driving a fixed pitch two bladed propeller. Her fabric and steel tube construction was tough and delivered excellent aerobatic performance. She was compact and powerful, with ailerons fitted on both the upper and lower wings. Her aerofoil was a slightly modified version of the ubiquitous Clark Y. She could manage 120 knots flat out and cruised at 110 knots. Her service ceiling was 14,800 feet and her range was 270 nautical miles. She was a remarkably light aircraft, weighing just 937 lbs. Her aerobatic performance soon became legendary, though her…

5 min

RCM&E|July 2022

BUILDING A BEVERLEY

My brief association with the Blackburn Beverley occurred in the 1960s, when as a young Royal Signals technician straight out of training, I was posted to the island of Labuan, some 20 miles off the coast of Borneo. We lived in part of the RAF camp not far from the airfield boundary fence and were driven past the airfield on our way to and from work. As a long-time modeller (even then) it was the highlight of the day to see what exotic hardware was on display on the airfield. A typical selection could include Malaysian Airways Heralds and DC3s, RAF Shackleton marine reconnaissance types (armed to the teeth), Canberra bombers with sunshades over the cockpit canopies, the occasional Hastings and Javelin and a semi-permanent pair of Blackburn Beverleys. Apologies…

12 min

RCM&E|July 2022

SAM 35 SPRING GALA

An icy morning in North Wales. Rosyfingered dawn was pressing long shadows down the garden. I was half asleep loading Fat Albert and forgot to pack any soft drinks. This omission would irritate me later. At least I remembered my camera and notebook. About three hours on I was the other side of The Pennines, via the low-level Derby route. Amazingly, I managed to arrive on time. BRING & BUY BMFA Buckminster was awash with happy pensioners. They were revelling in the Spring Bring & Buy. Indeed, there was overspill on to the gravel yard as happy punters sought out an unlikely bargain. Incredibly, I gritted my teeth, and ignored the joys of the swap meet. Unusually for me–like walking past an uncorked wine bottle–I stared ahead, zombified and aloof.…

7 min

RCM&E|July 2022

XFLY J-65

Distributed by CML Distribution here in the UK, XFly-Model continue to add to their impressive foam ARTF kit range with an attractive collection of both prop-driven and EDF powered jets. The latest model to join their growing jet fleet is the large Twin 70mm J-65. This sleek model is rather impressive, not only for its sleek business jet styling but also for its sheer size. At almost 70-inches in both wingspan and in length it certainly catches the eye. Within the instruction pages of previous XFly semi-scale models that we have reviewed there has always been a reference to the full-size aircraft on which it is based. But not so this time. However, a brief internet search showed that it has a close likeness to the gorgeous Gulfstream G650, although…

12 min

RCM&E|July 2022

SCALE INDOOR NATIONALS

MAKE IT SCALE It’s been three years since we last gathered to fly at a Nationals indoors. A group of us on the BMFA Scale Technical Committee have been working tirelessly over the last year to make the Scale Indoor Nationals happen. In fact, much of the work was done over two years ago before this blessed pandemic; much just needed freshening up and some tweaks here and there. The format for this year is different in that we are now renting the excellent Walsall Sports Complex of Wolverhampton University for the entire weekend. The Scale Indoor R/C was on Saturday and Scale Indoor Free Flight on Sunday. This had meant the STC committing nearly £3,000 without knowing if modellers would enter, especially considering the continuing Covid situation. To make…

8 min

RCM&E|July 2022

PILOTS’ PICTORIAL

KIWI SE5A Last time in Pilots’ Pictorial we squeezed in a picture of Neil Marfell’s 72” span SE5a that he built from Duncan Hutson’s design of the famous WW1 scout. And we do mean squeezed in - the picture was a bit on the small side and didn’t really do this fine model justice. So, here’s Neil’s model again, at a slightly larger size so that you can appreciate it more fully. Powered by a Laser 155, Neil added a tail wheel for easy taxing and used closed loop systems for the elevator and rudder. It is fitted with Futaba servos and flies using Hitec A9 radio. WRONSKI’S RAINBOW This fine-looking Republic Rainbow is just one of several impressive multi engined models that Brian Wronski has built recently. The sandy…

3 min

RCM&E|July 2022

NEXT ISSUE

MUSTANG P-51B With Ton van Munsteren’s P-51D flying just great, and with him also being a big fan of the Razorback version, it was easy for him to select the P-51B as a follow up warbird project. The wingspan is the same as his D version, at 1140mm, largely because it suits popular 3S 2200 mAh LiPo packs and this size of model is nice to handle. It’s easy to hand launch and with a small push the P51-B will fly away very nicely without using too much power. HOLLAND FOURNIER In his latest ‘Model Magic’ scale walkaround Alex Whittaker looks at a mighty Fournier RF4 owned by noted show pilot, large scale modeller and ex-BBC cameraman Steve Holland. Steve scratch built his impressive Fournier to 1/2.5 scale. She spans…

2 min