HPA

Did something related to building or flying that doesn't warrant a topic all to itself?  Stick it here.

Made a little progress on my Hi-Flyer Ryan ST. Trying to make the wing detachable AND square/level drives me potty. Multiply sanding down the seat only to shave it flat and glue in a new piece of wood to try again. This time I've put a piece of ~1mm carbon rod at the front (only a 'little' too low) and 2mm magnets at the back so I will have to rely on the struts for lateral level. In business speak I believe that's called 'kicking the problem down the road'. The pictues show several months of progress.

I pre-shrunk tissue for the tailfeathers of a Mr. Smoothie I'm building - from the 19" Easybuilt kit.

Had a go at fitting a new head seal to a GM120 this afternoon. This is the one that fits inside the head fittings and seals the pipe itself. On the advice of GM I used a heat gun to soften the epoxy at the tank end so I could slide the seal and fittings off without disturbing the flared end in the SS pipe which is tricky to remake. GM also very kindly made up some seals for me from silicon tubing. I've yet to test it as I now need to refit the pipes to the tank's fitting with some 24hr Epoxy but hopefully ...

Last few days.
- Corrections to a redrawn version of Nick Peppiatt's Tefft Contester plan
- Updated the build notes from John W's (lccjaw of this parish) test build notes for the cleaned up version of Richard Preston's Sonnex Highwing plan.

Today
 - Finished off and sent out the latest issue of the Trinity parish newsletter.
 - Got my entry in for Walsall in April.  Kit Scale if yer even vaguely interested.

I may actually get some build time on the Chiribiri No.5 this week... mebbe.

Quote from: Squirrelnet on Jan 18, 2026, 07:10 PMHad a go at fitting a new head seal to a GM120 this afternoon... On the advice of GM I used a heat gun to soften the epoxy at the tank end so I could slide the seal and fittings off without disturbing the flared end in the SS pipe ... I now need to refit the pipes to the tank's fitting with some 24hr Epoxy but hopefully ...

Please let us know how you get on with whichever epoxy you use. I have used HK 15 minute epoxy in the past to re-seal leaking pipes but on first refilling, it basically spat a lump of the epoxy back at me! Bizarrely the pipes were sealed afterwards ???   I had cleaned the old epoxy off and de-greased the parts very thoroughly  before re-glueing.

I surmise the rapid cooling and shrinking of the metal, perhaps before the epoxy could react likewise, meant the pipe was smaller than the gap in the epoxy, so it stayed stuck in parts but squeezed the unlucky bit of epoxy out of position? I then went on a hunt for low-temperature capable epoxy and (as always) got distracted before finding an answer. Then again it didn't happen on all the joints I had made so hopefully it won't be a problem for you.

On top of the on going, Bebe Jodel (peanut), Citabria (kit scale) & Jodel D150 (Kit scale), had to start a Basic Bostonian.

So now, I'm trying to cope with 4 projects at the same time. One is glued, the other sanded etc etc....

P.S. I'm seriusly thinking of making a Guillow's kit too, due to the international competition. I really like the idea!

Today was very hot in Sydney, so I stayed inside and ticked off a job been on my to do list for quite a while. I turned an old three speed and drill that I picked up into a rubber winder with the same three speeds: 2x, 7x and 15x. The photos are pretty self explanatory.

The three gearings are accessible through 10 mm hex stems on the winder body (two on one side and one on the other) so I took a 10 mm deep socket and melted it into a suitable handle that I printed off using the 3D printer. Then, I took off the chuck and put together the standard "Croydon" spring-loaded hook attachment and mounted it in the nose of the winder. Finally, I epoxied a magnet into the button for the nose connector and arranged and arranged for the sensor from a a cheap magnetic counter that I picked up on Timu (about AUD 20) to be placed just opposite ithat magnet so that I can keep count of the turns.

The 15x and 2x stems are on one side of the winding body and the 7x stem is on the other side. That means that, I have to rotate the front handle and counter box in order to wind using my right hand. The front handle is a friction fit tightened by a thread in a surrounding ring. To ensure that rotating this doesn't disturb the magnetic counter, a bit of slack wire is available. Also, the counter itself is mounted with magnets (it will end up on the bottom of the body once are the drill is rotated over).

I have no idea why, but my first thought was, "That's Desperate Dan's motor winder." My second was that Wallace would most definitely approve; as do I.

I spent much of yesterday and a small amount of time today building this little all sheet fun flyer.  It's the Keil Kraft Sportsman - not to be confused with the Sportster in the same series.  Original kits are like hen's teeth so I used the plans and parts from Paul Bradley's excellent Parmodels website.  The parts we transferred on to the balsa via iron on T shirt transfer paper which is inkjet printed.  Most is 1/32" or 1/32" laminated but I went with the original 1/16" for the wings as they are completely flat.  You have to be a bit careful applying the T shirt transfers - it's a bit of a learning curve for sure, but it came out pretty well for a first go. I managed to find a felt tip to colour the edges of the balsa which worked quite well.  The span in about 18" and it weighs 27g with a 1.5 times hook to prop loop of 3/16". I hope to get this to fly at the indoor session at Alfreton next week...

Great new model Andrew. It looks good and no doubt will go well, look forward to any pics or videos. I love the look of those printed balsa models . I think an EzeBuilt? Puss Moth was my first successful model aged 6 or 7

Some more messing about with CO2 motors today. I found after my last time fitting some head to Pipe seals to a GM120 I had some vertical movement in the pipe which should n't be there. I consulted CO2 Guru GM, and after some proper investigation, with the magnifying headset on this time, the vertical play was actually the seal being to thin and allowing the inner fitting to disappear up inside the outer fitting. Fitting two internal pipe seals has given me the correct flush fitting of the inner and outer head fittings. There was a tiny bit of play between the flare and the inner head fitting so not being an engineer (look away now if are !)  I mounted the pipe in a pin vice and gave a couple of taps of a centre punch which seems to have spread it enough to fit better in the housing without splitting the brittle stainless steel pipe. Reassembling the head there is now no vertical movement in the pipe.

With that done I have fitted new O rings, the old piston ring was quite badly nicked and worn and sorted the pipe out for fitment into a future Aerographics Avro 504K build. Looks like the engine will have to be inverted unfortunately there's not enough room with the expected 5 deg of downthrust

I need to do a proper degrease before re epoxying the tank fitted ...that's the next job

Yeah, it was one of the Ezebilt ones.  I do like an all sheet model!  Often they belie their predicted performance...

Hi Andrew, love the all sheets model and I've been looking for a long time at all models presented at Paul Bradley's website. So many opportunities ;)
With the T-shirt-transfer-method, how much does it add to the weight?

Cheers
Alex

Finished my Fairey Firefly:

Marine Luchtvaart Dienst Fairey Firefly Mk.IV K66
Modified Aerographics Kit
Test model for (maybe) a future F4D model

Scale 1/20
Wingspan 24.8"/ 63cm
Length 23.6"/ 60cm

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1769412489093-png.642689/)

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1769412473704-png.642687/)


Next tests will be indoor, in a gym in Velp in february

Cheers, Ramses

Very nice Firefly!  What modifications did you make as you were building the kit?  I picked one up last year and have been contemplating whether to lighten it up for rubber or build it for CO2 power.

Mike

Thanks Mike!

I couldn`t find an Aerographics kit, so i contacted Hadi from the VMC. He sent me the plans, canopy, wheels and plastic cowl chin, and i made my own printwood:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/upload_2024-9-9_10-11-8-jpeg.592389/)

Modifications: Lighter and at places also thinner balsa. Added an adjustable rudder and adjustable ailerons. Also added the Youngman flaps in lowered, but undeflected position. Instead of three 3x3mm spars in the wing i used five 1.5x1.5 spars. Instead of a lifting horizontal stabiliser i made a neutral horizontal stabiliser.

In the mean time i scored an original Aerographics kit:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1767116716858-png.639933/)

I think it will build heavier because of the havier wood and the thicker parts.

Have fun building yours!

Cheers, Ramses

ps. I`ve got build pictures of the Fairey Firefly at my website.
There you can see the different wing construction and other modifications:
https://www.delooff-aeroplanes.nl/free-flight-1/fairey-firefly (https://www.delooff-aeroplanes.nl/free-flight-1/fairey-firefly)

Cheers, Ramses

Thanks Ramses - excellent documentation of your build. I've bookmarked it for future reference. Was that a Richard Crossley Buffalo coming together in the background?

Mike

Quote from: 9600baud on Jan 26, 2026, 08:41 AMHi Andrew, love the all sheets model and I've been looking for a long time at all models presented at Paul Bradley's website. So many opportunities ;)
With the T-shirt-transfer-method, how much does it add to the weight?

Cheers
Alex

Hi Alex,  I didn't measure the weight.  It leaves a very thin "skin" so I suspect very little.  The skin also seems to help stop splitting....

Andrew

Beautifully made Firefly model - I thnk you should call yourself Ramses the Great!

Stephen.

Quote from: MKelly on Jan 26, 2026, 06:51 PMThanks Ramses - excellent documentation of your build. I've bookmarked it for future reference. Was that a Richard Crossley Buffalo coming together in the background?

Mike

Indeed it is!

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1767376093788-png.640231/)

Quote from: Prosper on Jan 27, 2026, 01:43 PMBeautifully made Firefly model - I thnk you should call yourself Ramses the Great!

Stephen.

 ;D  ;D

Cheers, Ramses

Quote from: MKellyVery nice Firefly! 

Agreed.  One of my favourite aeroplanes.

Well I finally caught up with everyone. I will reach out to Don McLellan shortly. It's gonna take a little getting the hang of this new set up! Hi guys!

Quote from: Crabby on Jan 28, 2026, 02:10 PMWell I finally caught up with everyone. I will reach out to Don McLellan shortly. It's gonna take a little getting the hang of this new set up! Hi guys!

Hey Crabby, great to see you here!

Andrew

That Firefly is amazing Ramses  :o

At the other end of the scale I spent 1/2 hr this morning making an indoor glider from scrap..well I've got do something with all this 3mm polystyrene Wallfoam I now have

It's for our Oxford MFC Scrapbox Glider Challenge which in the next couple of weeks so thought I'd better do something.  12" span and 2.5g, It glides nicely across the workshop at least


OMFC Scarpbox Glider Challenge 2026 (https://oxfordmfc.bmfa.club/omfc-indoor-scrap-box-glider-challenge-2026/)

You're a busy boy Chris. Good luck with your hill climbs this year!

John

  Well done, exceptional finish, looks like it's not too far out with the trim. Good luck with future flights.

What did you do airplane wise today?

Sunday Feb 15 2026

     I finished off the Dumas kit  thirty inch balsa Beaver airplane small park rubber flier.   I started this model on June 13 2025  -  that is eight months ago,  my longest build ....

     All up weight is  83.3 grams.   Includes prop and shaft,  thrust button,  and  7"  four strand  rubber motor.   All up weight  AUW does not include the spinner,  and there is no ballast weight added yet.

Pic #1     1547
Pic #2     1552

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do airplane wise today?

Sunday Feb 16 2026

    I got the finished Beaver outside for some sunlit pics.  I also got a bunch of shots,  in my favorite restaurant with the clear gloss wood grained tables.

Two pics by the park entrance
Pic #1    1569
Pic #2    1571

Two outside pics
Pic #3    1595    along Tecumseh Road
Pic #4    1596    grass and tree shadow background

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do airplane wise today?

Tuesday Feb 16 2026

     Here are some pics of the  30"  Beaver in my favorite restaurant,  "the Uptown",   with the clear gloss,  wood grained tables.

Pic #1     1580     Beaver logo left side.

Pic #2     1583     View from the rear.

Pic #3     1587     Spinner is off.  view front left front from above.

Pic #4     1590     Left side.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

The Beaver is looking great Richard, great job

Made up a catapult glider today a Captain Thermal from the SLEC kit.

Considering it's presumably aimed at absolute beginners it comes with very confusing instructions .. but it's a nice quick build

What Did You Do Airplane Wise Today?

BEAVER DH C2   30 INCH RUBBER POWERED  FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER   DUMAS KIT 306

Thur Feb 26 2026

Flight Report #1

     I got in a lot of good pics and a good tour of Jackson Park and the Cricket Field.   The temp was 27 deg F  sunny ,  and winds  7  mph WSW gusting to 12 mph  41% humidity.

     I got  in five test glides.    All went well,  ... sort of.    No real damage,  and I did nothing major.    I lost a right hub cap,  and the right bushwheel came off also,  on landing on the fifth glide ( with about  25  or  30  weak winds ).    No damage,  and I have a lot of hubcaps already made up.
     
     But tomorrow the temp will be  50  deg F.  and sunny.

Pic #1     1751     Blue skies and bare limbs on this finger freezing day at  11:16 AM.

Pic #2     1755     Wind on the flag at the Spitfire and Hurricane replicas in Jackson Park.

Pic #3     1765     Best pic.

Pic #4     1768     Yellow Willow in the background.

Full Flight Report to follow in my Beaver build.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do aeroplane wise today?

Finished my Aerographics Curtiss Jenny powered by a Gasparin GM-120 CO2 motor:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1771611129228-png.644851/)

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1771611210473-png.644855/)

I`ve got build pictures of the Jenny at my website: https://www.delooff-aeroplanes.nl/

Cheers, Ramses

Fantastic Jenny, Do I spot some sutble airbrush shading? My rubber powered version was spirally unstable. I look forward to your flight reports.

It looks great Ramses. The build log on your site was comprehensive and the site was very interesting.

John

As John says. That is a fantastic site Ramses


Enjoyed seeing your DHC Beaver completed too Richard, nice build

Might not seem much to you guys who are busy pumping out great aeroplanes... but today I finally got my model desk set up after about 3 months of selling my old house and moving into a new one... with most of my stuff in storage during that time... I think the first project might be something therapeutically simple...
Tim

Simple, Yeah heard that before ;D

Quote from: dputt7 on Mar 01, 2026, 01:17 PMSimple, Yeah heard that before ;D

Aye, we'll believe it when we see it.  My money's on THB's next one being a quarter scale Bristol Brabazon. :)

As well as getting the nose-plug for my Chiribiri (more or less) finished I spent some time pondering construction of my, so far hypothetical, Peanut Ryan NYP.  I daresay quite a few of the details, especially around the nose section, will change when I do get around to it, but I feel more confident of being able to build one now.

Dave, I think Tim should consider a modern challenge - a pusher Pnut scale Concorde perhaps. I hope your new location has a suitable trimming area nearby?

I admire your sketches Lurk - sign of an organised brain. Had you considrred trying to show the machine turning on the nose and spinner? No need to worry about the signatures(and dog paw marks) on the inside of the nose metal ;D

Good luck with it.

John

Quote from: OZPAF on Mar 02, 2026, 01:58 AM...Had you considered trying to show the machine turning on the nose...

Aye, I have.  The canonical method seems to be to use a thin tinfoil covering and a pencil rubber rotated against that.  Some experimentation on some scrap fragments is called for.  If it doesn't work then flat aluminium Tamiya acrylic will have to do. Used flat Al on my "large" M-1 and it doesn't look dreadfully wrong.

   John, I nave seen some of Tim's suggestions for future projects and they are as far away from the Concord as you can get!

Bit of scrabbling around the edges for the Chiribiri and some prototyping (grand word for mucking about) for the proposed Ryan NYP.

1 - Mass production of louvre sections for the cowling sides
2 - Seeing if I can get away with VMC's cream tissue as an alternative to (no longer available) SAMS antique.  Short answer is no; too translucent when doped. Will have to investigate tea-stained white tissue.  Harumph!

3,4 Machine turning for the Ryan's nose.  Kitchen tinfoil (you can't get foil fag packet liners for love nor money these days) and a disc of sandpaper on the end of a dowel. Not too bad.  The tricky steps will be to get the tinfoil to fit nicely around a curved nose section, to find a thinner foil and to find a glue that will hold the foil permanently

For reference. Aluminium tissue cannot be persuaded to look anything like machine turned Al despite all sorts of monkeying about with pencil rubbers or sandpaper of various degrees of coarseness.

Hi Lurks, the engine turned cowling looks a treat.
   
 Not  long ago I needed an engine turned instrument panel so I Googled engine turned panels and found a suitable one so I printed it onto Decal paper and it worked a treat.

Lurk, I've used canopy glue to stick foil to balsa before.  Also cover grip works as well as once dry it remains tacky so you can position the ali foil then with a cotton sock over the film covering iron heat seal the foil to the balsa.  The iron helps going round curves too, but not sure if you'll get foil to work on double curvatures.

John M

Quote from: dputt7 on Mar 04, 2026, 01:58 AM...so I Googled engine turned panels and found a suitable one so I printed it onto Decal paper...

I'll bear that in mind, but my current printer is a Canon and the inks are water soluble. Come to that they're not that especially fast with dope either.

Quote from: SP250 on Mar 04, 2026, 11:32 AMLurk, I've used canopy glue to stick foil to balsa before.  Also cover grip works

Thanks John.  Any particular brand of canopy glue?  I'll have to give the cover grip a miss; I don't think Mrs L's steam iron is quite right for the heat setting step. :)

My printer is also a Cannon but I use "Aftermarket" cartridges and they work OK, though I try not to soak them with water. I give the printed tissue a fine mist of water just in case.  Though this was a decal and a spray of Acrylic  fixed any runs.

Hi Lurk, current brand of canopy glue is Pacer (Zap) but can't remember what I used in the past.  Old age and decrepitude I guess setting in!

John M

I played around with Gasparin CO2 motors. Happily I managed to change a few leaky sieves into proper running motors, after changing O-rings etc. I was surprised to find three types of filling nozzles, with different chambers. The one on my G-63 even had a single synthetic ball in an aluminum housing in stead of the usual steel ball in a plastic sleeve.

Now including the picture.

Managed to get a test fly the Captain Thermal today. Trimmed a nice flat glide then first cataplut launch and .... I thought the fuselage wood looked a bit light


I have remade it with an 1/8" top to it so it can survive my trimming at least

This is what I did aeroplane-wise today!

(I turned 60 in December and this trip is my birthday present!)

WOW what a treat. Your Bleriot looks very familiar though somewhat larger than I remember , maybe because it's closer to the camera . I'm surprised they let you fly it in the museum  ;D Looks there could be other future projects there as well?

What did you do airplane wise today?

Fri March 6 2026

The  30 inc  Beaver is in the Hangar ... with a broken wing ....   :(

     I checked to see if I indeed had enough striped strips for the new wing to be built from the new kit to be mailed to me,  sometime soon,  hopefully.

     And here is a  pic of the water dissolving,  blue marker ink,  damaged pin striping strips,  now with the good test results.    New strips were just glued over the damaged areas of the old strips.

Pic #1      1821     Good supply of Striped Strips and Lite Silkspan covering.

Pic #2     1818      Pic of the latest broken pieces and intact fuse etc.  while waiting for the new kit.

Pic #3     1823       Another view.

     Any roundels or maple leaf decals are just a photocopy away.   So we are good to go ....

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Quote from: Squirrelnet on Mar 06, 2026, 07:47 PMLooks there could be other future projects there as well?

Indeed! This is of course the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. As well as the cross-Channel Bleriot there are various other aviation related gems. Some interesting cars too. More or less under the Bleriot for instance is Alain Prost's 1983 Renault.

Fantastic birthday present Peter - that would have kept you busy.

John

And no taxi ride from Gare du Nord required! Perfect.

  Wow! what an experience, Happy Birthday Pete.

Today I took inspiration (i.e. stole) from an article in the October 1943 issue of AeroModeller (pdf attached) to design and 3D print some dihedral jigs.

As the pictures show, I made a couple of stands that can take the different stepped gauge pieces the determine the correct height in the centre slot.  There are holes in the foot of the stands so they can be pinned to a building board to keep everything steady. The three gauge pieces are 25mm high (with 10 x 2.5mm steps from 0 to 25mm), 50mm high (with 5 x 5mm steps from 25mm to 50mm) and 75mm high.

I suspect that above 75mm I may need a bigger stand.  So that's a job for another day.

QuoteAs well as the cross-Channel Bleriot there are various other aviation related gems. Some interesting cars too. More or less under the Bleriot for instance is Alain Prost's 1983 Renault.

 The Brequet Gyroplane ? (pic 2) looks spectacularly challenging with it's strutless biplane configuration, thin fuselage and minimal attachment points but I know you can do it  ;D


Alain Prost's Renault looks pretty cool too, enjoy the rest of you birthday trip 

Finally got round to finishing my GM120 repair with the tank fitting being reglued with 24hr epoxy. I had taken this off as the internal pipe had gone inside the cylinder head fitting. As the pipe is flared it was easier to remove the tank fitting which isn't flared to fit the seal.

Some small bits of bamboo will stop the glue blocking the pipes and the threads have been taped

Hopefully that will work

Prep for Saturday's Trinity and finally got around to making up a couple of 75 thou. motors for my Moorhouse Comper Swift. 

The epoxy has now well and truly set on the tank fitting for the GM120 so I reassembled the tank and tried some gas in it. Very pleased to say there are no leaks and the motor runs very well. It had a head leak between inlet pipe and head fitting which a new seal had to made so huge thanks to GM for the help and advice and the seals . I gave it a new piston O ring and cylinder O ring as well while it was apart


The motor is destined for a future project I've been wanting to do for sometime but could never find a kit or plan to build from...until now. The Aerographics Avro 504K by Dave Causer

Hoping to do G-ABAA the aircraft that Eddie Riding flew in and until recently was at the Manchester air Museum. I hear it's now at Stow Maries an original WW1 airfield near Chelmsford so a run out there to take some photos is now on the cards


 

What did you do airplane wise today?

Sun March 15 2026

The 30 inch Beaver wing gets glued back together after repairs and modifications.

     Well,  ...  after all of that repair,  I finally got things test fitted and lined up.   I just glued in the three new spars , and I glued up both Leading Edges of the wing panels,  to the center section Leading Edges.   There are plenty of more things to add,  but this is a good start.   I'll update all of that in my Beaver thread.

     Weather wise,  there have been no flying days,  yet,  that I could have flown in,  so no worries,  and there is no rush yet,  either,  weather wise.

Pic #1     1966
Pic #2     1967

Lastwoodsman
Richard

A warm reasonably calm afternoon on Sunday had me visiting the local oval for a bit of catapult gliding and DLG flying, only to find a cricket match underway. It is their oval but the hide of them :).

After watching until they finished - I noticed that the breeze was coming from a Westerly direction - leading to launches almost straight into the sun  - not good for DLG, so started with the CLG's.

A couple of trimming flights on the first of my Swallows followed by some decent flights close to a minute in the warm buoyant air with the low drift keeping it inside the oval.

The wind changed direction after around half an hour and so onto the DLG. It's a well battered Stilleto which I have been learning on for ahem a couple of years and today both the glider and the pilot were in tune and I had some reasonable flights - also around the minute mark.

Very enjoyable and rare evening for the year so far.

John


A

What did you do airplanewise today? 

Sun March 15 2026

    Hi John!  That sounds like a lot of fun!  Do you have any pics you could perchance share with us -  maybe a pic of the planes,  and perhaps action pictures of an inflight pic or two? 

    Also,  how about a pic of your flying field Cricket Field.  I'm really curious about the dimensions.

    Anyways,  I hope your camera is in working order.  ::)    A pic is worth a thousand words ....  ;)

Happy Catapult Launch Gliding and Towline gliding.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

G'DAy Richard - no worries.

The Stiletto DLG of 1200mm span, was originally designed to train young Russian enthusiasts around 4-5 years ago. I received mine about 3 yrs ago and it has had a hard life so far - 3 tail boom and one nose area repair. it weighed around 195gms new ready to fly with battery, and the repairs have taken it to 207gms.

The Stiletto is of full carbon composite construction - typical of DLG's. Although an old design now - it still has surprising performance for such a light model.

I feel I may just be coming to grips with it.

Unfortunately I don't have any videos of it flying.

The CLG's are the Swallow I designed for kids and here is a video link to an early flight of the prototype at Lackey Park

There is a build thread for the Swallow here
https://hpa.aeromodelling.gr/index.php?topic=208.0

Lackey Park is at
34°32'26.99" S 150°22'26.43" E
and is roughly 180x200 metres so is relatively large.

The CLG's were flying roughly EAST - West in the 180m direction and traveling around 100m.

John

Whoops!! :)  brain fade - the CLG's are Sparrows not Swallows!

John

What did you do airplanewise today? 

Mon March 16 2026

Hi John.  Thanks for the pic and info and video.  Your Stiletto 1200mm  is  47".    The little DLG sparrows are much smaller.   

    That is a big Lackey Park 200M X 180M.  My Cricket Field is a slight oval 110M x 130m .

    I looked up your flying field John.  It is very big,  and looks like a perfect place to fly.    Are there any special rules to fly there?  How often are the Cricket leagues playing there?

Pic #1      OZPAF JOHN 1 LACKEY PARK  180M X 200M
Pic #2      OZPAF JOHN 2 LACKEY PARK  180M X 200M
Pic #3      OZPAF JOHN 3 LACKEY PARK  180M X 200M
Piv #4      STILETTO 47 INCHES AND SMALLER SPARROWS

Lastwoodsman
Richard

QuoteAre there any special rules to fly there?

Surprisingly the area is hardly used - this was the first time in 8 yrs that I have seen cricket played there, and as such the local council pays little attention to the area.

There are the occasional dog walkers and kids playing but late in the day - it is usually empty.

Yes it is large - there are actually 2 hard cricket pitches on the field, but I have lost a couple of CLG's in thermals and a supercap powered FF model there, and the missing thermal activity is the main reason I fly late in the day .

The CLG's will easily cover 100m plus in a light breeze as they were doing on this occasion.

John

Yesterday presented another short spell of calm conditions and I decided to give my 300mm WS Christen Eagle a fly in a close park.

It is becoming difficult as annoyingly :) the council have planted a line of small trees adjacent to my runway - er, footpath.

The model is very light - around 30gms and thus it is only pleasant to fly in very calm conditions.

https://rc.kyosho.com/en/discontinued/dis-rcplane/minium.html

it has a moulded Polystyrene fuselage and the wings seem to be of a heavier grade, with a efficient thin, cambered airfoil with a surprisingly thin TE.

It is quite old - around 18yrs, but is still airworthy after many repairs - second motor, and a replacement Spektrum RCVR, servo, ESC brick.

Here is a video of a flight a year ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfD8YoYK6C4

John

Very nice park for small RC John. Rewilding seems to be thing here now so many National Trust sites that were great for small models now have thickets of thorn bushes and scrub instead

One site that is still flyable is Pinkneys Green nr Maidenhead where some OMFC meet up occasionally. I popped over this morning for my first outdoor flying of 2026

looks a bit windy?

That's a nice flat large area Chris. You fellows obviously don't let wind bother you - although that was probably only a mild Zephyr! :)

What is the first model being flown Chris - very pretty little thing.

John

I decided to upgrade my tools for grading balsa.  Up to now I've used the nomograph in Nomographs for AeroModellers, but I decided I could write a formula in Excel so all I had to do is put in the dimensions and weight and up pops the density.
My problem is that I work (& think) in mixed units.  The dimensions of the balsa are inches and fractions, weight is grams, and density is lbs/cubic foot (of course, engine displacement is in cc!) In my defence that was how a lot of articles in AeroModeller were written in the 70s and 80s).
So conversion factors needed to be built in to get weight in grams to come out as lbs/ cubic foot.
I think it works.
If you want to play with it, pm me with an email address and I'll share it with you ( I don't seem to be able to attach an excel file to this post - but that may just be my incompetence!

Hi there,

I went yesterday to fly my new profile model of a Hawker Fury, but it didn't go as planned.

Some facts:
* it weighs 8.8 g, wingspan is 330 mm
* around 2-3° down thrust, no right thrust
* only little dihedral

It glides slowly and nicely and also flies nicely with little power. I tried 1/16" rubber first and it made a slow gentle curve but it wasn't enough to climb. So I switched to 3/32" and the result was what you can see in the video below. Almost every time it leans to the left with the tail really low. I tried some minor trimming things, a bit down elevator, a bit more weight on the left wing but nothing showed me the right direction.

In the end the nose bearing was lose, so there was no more down thrust.

A couple of month ago I built a Curtiss SBC-3 by Ray Malmstrom, and it behaved very much the same.
If anyone has some insights, how to cure that, I would really appreciate it.


Cheers
Alex

A very nice motorcycle ride out to Old Warden today with Andy B (of this Parish) I had skin in the game with the Sopwith Dove I'm currently building so good to see that but also great to see the 1911 Deperdussin minus it's wings in the engineering workshop. I'm slowly building up the courage to do one of these, probably CO2..but that short nose  :-\ 

Andy very observantly noticed the edges of the 1910 AVRO Triplane replica tailplane had been left square and not sanded round as we aeromodellers tend to do by habit. Aircraft from just a few years later seemed to have discovered the sanding block 

QuoteAndy very observantly noticed the edges of the 1910 AVRO Triplane replica tailplane had been left square and not sanded round as we aeromodellers tend to do by habit. Aircraft from just a few years later seemed to have discovered the sanding block 

I guess at the time it wasn't left square for a good reason - however it is actually more effecient to have sharp TE's and not rounded off ones. Slim the TE's down but don't round them off - leave the edges sharp.

That must have been a fun day - bike ride to see some aircraft and with a fellow modelling mate.

John

Alex the model seems to indicate that there is insufficient Fin area, and I suspect that more area is required for Biplanes.

Lack of fin area would make it difficult to use wash in on the inside wing or side thrust - producing the yaw indicated by your model.

Try adding extensions to the fin - - approx 10% more and see if that helps with side thrust and wash in.

Good luck.

John

Thanks John, I'll try that!

Alex

Quote from: 9600baud on Mar 19, 2026, 01:57 PMI went yesterday to fly my new profile model of a Hawker Fury, but it didn't go as planned.
...
Cheers
Alex

If that was a medium size RC biplane, I would suspect excessive and opposite aileron differential, i.e. too much down aileron producing opposite yaw. I had very similar flight behaviour until I corrected this on a 50" Tiger Moth. I had to turn using rudder for quite a difficult flight. But I'm sorry I don't know how well that translates to a 330mm freeflighter.

Good luck.
Nigel

Had a nice trip out today to the RAF Museum in Hendon... well Hannants are next door and I needed some paint

The Grahame White hanger is great but there seems so little information on the Grahame White company despite it being Claude Graham White who founded Hendon and based his company there. I can't seem to find a book on the company and it's aircraft either or have I just missed it?

Edit - just found out there's a Putnam biography of Claude Graham White by Grahame Wallace  which is now on my hunt list  Edit Edit - Just got one from ABE Books

Anyway great to see the hanger preserved along with the internal office block and now housing a collection of WW1 aircraft, the genuine Fokker DVII is a real treat

Hi Chris,

I was there last year, the Monday after the indoor scale nationals. Had an afternoon flight back home so had time and made it a point to go to Hendon again, the first time being back in 1991...

Took plenty of photographs of some excellent exhibits.

Same situation this year, I am thinking about Duxford this time.

George

Sun March 28 2026

What did you do airplanewise today?

     The rebuilt wing of the 30 inch Beaver,   is now glued onto the fuse and is drying.   We only need to glue the wing struts back on ....

     Weather and wind wise,  it looks like Mon March 30 2026 is a flying day !!!    We had a full day of much needed gentle rain -  one quarter inch -   on Thur March 26,  and I toured the Cricket Field and Jackson park on Wed,    and found where the deepest growth areas of grass are.   But the grass has not really started to grow yet.

      So,  I have to have the model ready to fly by Monday and today is Friday when I wrote this.

Pic #1      2170     The rebuilt wing is glued back on.

Pic #2     WIND FORECAST DAILY ONE WEEK   START FRI MARCH 27 2026

Pic #3     WIND FORECAST FOR MON MARCH 30 2026

Pic #4     DAILY TEMPS FOR ONE WEEK STARTING MARCH 27 2026

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do airplane wise today?

Sun March 29 2026

The Beaver is ready to fly again after breaking the wing.  Here are four pics. 

Pic #1    2184
Pic #2    2186
Pic #3    2188
Pic #4    2190

I just have to add the  0.70g  clay to the left wing tip,  add the five gram clay  "anti-glare cover"  to the top of the cowl,  and do a final balance recheck.  Flying day tomorrow Mon March 30 2026 .... if the weather holds ...

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do airplane wise today?

Mon April 6 2026       Flight Report #4 Session

     Everything went well on a beautiful,  low wind,  sunny morning.   I got my flying in,  before the wind picked up, and it started raining off and on,  all the rest of the day.

     I got 23 pics,  9 good powered flights,  and a spring tour of Jackson Park in spring flush.   The longest flight was three seconds on 90 finger winds,  so I could not get an in-flight pic,  which is the over-riding objective here.   But great results so far.   :)

Pic #1     2246     Entrance to Jackson Park.   No wind on the flag.    I knew it would be wet,  and wet it was.

Pic #2     2249     Passing my test glide spot beside the Spitfire and Hurricane replicas.   No wind on the flag.

Pic #3     2262      Spring leaf flush -  the buds are swollen with a green tinge on the large hardwoods in the distance.

Pic #4     2265     Leaving the park with an intact  30  inch Beaver.     Wind on the flag.

     I will post a full,   Flight Report #4 Mon Apr 6 2026,   in my  30  inch Beaver thread.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do airplane wise today?

Sat April 11 2026

     This is how my just finished,  big down thrust/right thrust shim looks,   in the  30  inch Beaver.

Pic #1     2378     Left side built up for right thrust.

Pic #2     2379     Under side view of the  "low" edge (thin edge"  of the  big shim.

Pic #3     2380     Down thrust visible.

Pic #4     2381      Right thrust visible.

Ready to fly!  :D    It is a flying day today ....   ;D

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Deja vu all over again!

No it's not 1930 but rather 2026. Last week I saw the rigid airship Pathfinder making her test flights over the San Francisco Bay area.

What did you do airplane wise today?

Sat April 11 2026     post  2 of 2 today

Pic #1     2348     This shim worked great,  until it crumpled up like a house of cards while handling it,  after four flights this AM,   of Flight Report  #6.    Details coming up.

Pic #2     2290     I saw this sunrise from my building board while working on the  30 inch Beaver.

Pic #3     2291     This sunrise pic goes beside the above pic.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Interesting shot of the pathfinder Konrad. I did a quick check on it and I'll be doing more research later!

Beautiful sunrise Richard.

John

What did you do airplane wise today?

Friday April 17 2026

Flight Report #7    30"  Dumas Beaver rubber powered

    Well,  it was pretty foggy in the morning after all that rain.

  We got in seven flights this AM.  The best flight was 6 sec,  all landings were good,  and no damage to the Beaver.  ;D

Pic #1    2525    Serious fog ....
Pic #2    2531    Deep wet grass by the Spit and Hurri.
Pic #3    2533    My setup in the Cricket Field.
Pic #4    2543    Exiting the park with an intact Beaver.

    It was a good flight session,  :)    what with the high humidity and wet lite Silkspan covering from the wet grass landings.    I found a way to get rid of those drops of water .....

    We may get out to fly later on today too,  when the humidity goes from 93%  at  10:00  AM,  down to  68%  at  6:00  PM.

Full Flight Report #7  is coming up in my  30"  Beaver thread.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do airplanewise today?

Tuesday April 21 2026

Flight Report #8   30"  Beaver   Mon April 20 2026

six flights   longest  6 sec

     At  2 PM  it was sunny  42 deg F  winds blowing  6 mph from WSW gusting to 12 mph  humidity 33%

Pic #1     2561     Egads!   They mowed the Cricket Field in the distance.
     
Pic #2     2563     First flight landing.   I have never seen the grass flattened like this.

Pic #3     2565     Back on the stooge.

Pic #4     2567     The six second flight landing in the distance.

     Full Flight Report coming up,  although I am getting behind .... 

     WHOOPS  I just lost the 19 pics.   Oh no!   Well,  it was only 19 pics,  edited,  resized,  and full texts completed.   Sorry, ...  but I have lots of similar pics from Flight Report #7,   which I still have to post in full. 

     In Summary,  these six flights confirmed that the Beaver  was trimmed out,  and now I am making a 9 inch motor for the new rear motor peg which has now just been added.

     Old rear motor peg was  7 1/2" and used  7" motors.
The new rear motor peg is  10" from the prop hook.   This rear peg will use a 9" motor that I just made.    I will bench test this motor first.

Thanks again George for keeping Free Flight balsa alive on your site.     It is the only place left for us.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Here's my dad maidening his new scratch built Hawker Horseley in a breeze the other day. He's nearly 87 and showing no signs of slowing down on the building or flying front.
(I rather look the look of the Hawker Hawsley too. It may have to go on my own build list.)

    Very impressive. 

Lovely. If you do build one, don't forget to make it a bit smaller!
Ron

Quote from: Lastwoodsman on Apr 21, 2026, 03:15 PMThanks again George for keeping Free Flight balsa alive on your site.    It is the only place left for us.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Are you aware of this site? Seems to be as active as HPA when looking at FF content. Ok, it has been well established for decades. This iteration of HIP/HPA is less than 6 months old.

There are a lot of competent contributors there.

https://www.rcgroups.com/free-flight-64/?daysprune=100

Tues Aug 21 2026

What did you do airplane wise today?

I'll go with George,  if you don't mind.   

Quote from George:
"The popular RC classes already have homes elsewhere and can very well stay there.
But free flight doesn't..."

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Quote from: Lastwoodsman on Apr 21, 2026, 11:56 PMTues Aug 21 2026

What did you do airplane wise today?

I'll go with George,  if you don't mind.   

Quote from George:
"The popular RC classes already have homes elsewhere and can very well stay there.
But free flight doesn't..."

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Don't mind at all. I was just pointing out that there are other well established sites that discuss FF. I feared you might not have been aware of RCGroups.

All the best,

I had a great afternoon yesterday being shown around a collection of plans and models from the late Vic Smeed by friend and new member on here Charlie Fun Flyer. For those that don't know Charlie Jeffreys also runs the Vic Smeed group on FB.

Charlie has many of Vic's original models including his Pushy Cat complete with very a dapper carved pilot, some of which Charlie is restoring into flying condition.

Pics - Pushy Cat , Airy fairy and RC single channel Sky Eye

Charlie also has many of Vic's original drawings and plans. It was fascinating to see Vic's work flow with a design from a full size sketch of the outline to a more worked up and layed out plan which would then be sent to the magazine office to be drawn up by their own draftsmen

In the pic you can a design called a Squeak part of trio of design's for small rubber cabin duration that begins with a fairly simple pencil drawing. Charlie has worked these up in CAD to produce finished plans, much I guess as would have been done in the day by an magazine's own draftsmen. One of the other models in the series the Bubble has been built up and flown already. Covering is rainbow tissue also from Vic's effects

One interesting drawing that caught my eye was a towline glider version of the Tomboy built for a competition by SAM 1066 in 2000. Did anyone make one ?

Vic also had a large collection of early radio control, infact the Sky Eye came fitted with a Cox 'Failsafe' single channel radio. Charlie has replaced this with a modern 2.4GHz to fly it but the original 27Mhz system is something I have never seen before

There's a very early looking commercial transmitter to called a Pixie made by OS in Japan which looked very 1950's in Bakerlite as well as later commercial items like the Slim Jim servos

Altogether a fascinating afternoon...thanks Charlie

Looks like a good time was had by all....

Nice to see some of Vic's originals, must have been a few stories as well I guess.

What did you do airplane wise today?

Sat May 2 2026

30 inch Beaver  rubber powered

     Well,  yesterday was gloomy and threatening,  with off and on rain all day.    But I did manage to get in six flights yesterday Fri May 1 2026,   for Flight Report #11,  now posted in my Beaver build.

     Today on Sat May 2 2026,  after getting rained on three times yesterday,  the only good flight time left was first thing now,  early in the morning.    The backpack was already packed up from yesterday,  and we left at  7:15 AM  (sunrise 6:25 AM),  and got to the Cricket Field at  7:30 AM,  and there was nobody there,  not even the dog walkers.

     This early morning we got in six flights of  Flight Report #12,  until the gusts got too strong.   I also got my first  7  second flight with the Beaver.   The object is to get a 10 second flight.

Pic #1     2734     Gloomy rain off and on all day, yesterday Fri May 1 2026.

Pic #2     2735     I was trying to dodge the storm clouds.

Pic #3     2742     Today Sat May 2 2026,  my first retrieve  -  in grass, that steps have trodden black ...

Pic #4     2745     Lots of dew and long wet grass.

Full Flight Report #12 coming up in my Beaver thread.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Hi Richard, I miss your dog. Nice work on the Beaver. I sincerely hope you get better than your 10 second goal. True you wouldn't want it to join the hawks and doves either.
Still with all the TLC you put into this plane you deserve a few thrills!

What did you do airplane wise today?

Sat May 2 2026

30 inch Beaver  rubber powered

    I made a  12 inch rubber motor of  8 strands of  3/32"  rubber.

Pic #1    2772

Pic #2    2778

Lastwoodsman
Richard

I made a new fin for Scram. Why? Because after covering all the structure with laminating film, I put the fin somewhere safe so it didn't get damaged in the meantime and the, after tissuing wing, fuselage and tailplane, I couldn't remember where the fin was. After two days hoping I would remember, or it would be found, I decided to bow to the inevitable and make a replacement.

The original may turn up once the replacement has been finished! ;D

Fokker D.XXIII 998

Scratchbuilding a FF version over my own 1/5 scale RC design.
This build is a prototype to test the configuration for FF.
If the Fokker flies oke, i will build a new one with landing gear.

Renders of my 1/5 scale RC 3D design:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1776777169840-png.649253/)

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1776777201279-png.649257/)

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1776777208286-png.649258/)

No real plans, but reduced size projected views from the 3D RC model design.
Of course i will use less ribs and formers, an altered construction and material sizes for the FF model:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1777050058469-png.649518/)

The parts ready for assembly:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1777276623300-png.649668/)

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1777276633492-png.649669/)

Bare bones picture:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1777829283803-png.650294/)

Airbrushed colors and decals:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1777966388219-png.650461/)

I have to retouch the camouflage a bit and make few details.
Then this prototype is ready for flight tests! Fingers crossed...

Cheers, Ramses

ps. more build pictures at my website: deLooff Aeroplanes (https://www.delooff-aeroplanes.nl/projects/fokker-d-xxiii-rubber-power)

      You must been very busy to do that in one day ;D
Great subject and nicely built, the finish looks impressive.
Good luck with the trimming. Will you use 1 motor or 2?

What did you do airplane wise today?

Tues May 5 2026        30 inch Beaver rubber powered

   I got in six flights including a 10 sec and a 13 sec flight.    ;D

Pic #1     2812     Giant Puffball mushrooms -  edibility is "choice" -  in the Cricket Field.

Pic #2     2814     Another pic of the mower cut and the painted white line on the Cricket Field.

Pic #3     2817     The  10  sec flight landing.

Pic #4     2822     I launched this 13 sec flight from way off to the left of my setup.

Full Flight Report #13  to follow in my Beaver Thread.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Quote from: dputt7 on May 05, 2026, 06:30 PMYou must been very busy to do that in one day ;D
Great subject and nicely built, the finish looks impressive.
Good luck with the trimming. Will you use 1 motor or 2?

Hahaha, you are right, wrong topic..   :-[  Though i did finish the decals that night..  ;)
The Fokker has two rubber motors, locations drawn in red.
The front peg is for the rear motor and the rear peg is for the front motor:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1778052969496-png.650648/)

Cheers, Ramses

A beautiful dame you have created there you must be a skilled pilot. I would have her in the ER after one foxtrot in the "high grass"
All that pretty make-up covered in bandages!
Good luck I have always admired that plane.
Please make flight reports. Take videos

Thank you! I will make video`s of the test flights!

"What did you do aeroplane wise today?"

Made locking pins in the motorplugs of my Fokker D.XXIII:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1778088704329-png.650735/)

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1778088712970-png.650736/)

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1778088722073-png.650737/)

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1778088732129-png.650738/)

Almost ready for the first test flights!

Cheers

Very nice Ramses!

Any idea about launching? You will need 3 hands, I guess...

George

Great question, I was always put off on multis because of the launch drama.

Multis are ok... you make a spanwise base with foam pads for each prop and let them model rest on it. Hold the base with one hand and the model with the other and launch.

This cannot work like that within design...

But I am sure Ramses has or will find a good way

With a twin I use a towel, bunched up as necessary to stop the props from spinning after the motors are wound. With the D XXIII I think you can hold the nose and the front prop with your hand and stop the rear one from turning with your elbow. Then you can put the model on the floor and let go. But the D XXIII will need a special winding base.

It's official I have a migraine. Ramses you have me talking in my sleep and driving off the roads. I was once gonna attempt the Dornier 335 but the launch put me off. That thing is for nuttier professors than me!

What did you do aeroplane wise today?

I have made the rubber motors for the Fokker D.XXIII prototype`s first test flights.
One motor consists of two 1/8" TAN loops and is 30cm long.
I have braided three motors, two identical motors and one spare, slightly larger:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1778486312973-png.651073/)

Quote from: g_kandylakis on May 07, 2026, 12:52 PMAny idea about launching? You will need 3 hands, I guess...

To my surprise it seems that the plane is quite easy to throw with two hands.
The lock pins work very well! But that was a dry test at my attic...
The first test flights outdoors will prove me wrong or right.

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1778345294662-png.650943/)

Quote from: Stunthenk on May 08, 2026, 11:49 AMBut the D XXIII will need a special winding base.

I have tested it and the Fokker suits my existing winding base!!
So, contrary to what I thought, I don't need to make a new winder stand for this Fokker.

I have added a few details to the Fokker D.XXIII prototype and she now is ready for the test flights:

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/attachments/1778345372213-png.650953/)

Now hoping for a dead calm day coming weekend!!

Cheers, Ramses

What a stunning model! Certainly not an easy one, just the launching would be enough to give me a headache. Best of luck with the flight tests! /Andrea

Beautiful. Good luck with your trimming session.

John

It was perfect flying weather when I set out on a long bike ride this morning... and stopping for lunch and coffee I noticed it was still dead calm... finally got home and the air was still still... jumped in the car with two models and got to the park just as the breeze came up  :'(  Did get a couple of flights in and have some info now to make some small changes before next time...

It's a great way to finish the day Tim. The last couple of Sundays here have seen the wind drop around 4 and I race off to a local park to fly a RC DLG and some CLG's. It's a very relaxing way to finish the day.

John

Quote from: Crabby on May 09, 2026, 12:42 PMIt's official I have a migraine. Ramses you have me talking in my sleep and driving off the roads. I was once gonna attempt the Dornier 335 but the launch put me off. That thing is for nuttier professors than me!

Hahaha  ;D
I do have the Do-335 kit... but haven`t dare to build it yet.

(https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/media/fokker_d23_ff-096-jpg.277099/full)

Hope the Fokker is easier to launch and trim, fingers crossed!

Cheers, Ramses

What did you do airplane wise today?

Friday May 15 2026  Morning  30 inch Beaver flights.

     I lucked out.   I got up early before sunrise and got packed up and out to the Cricket Field.   To my surprise,  there were no Cricket players on the field,  first thing in the morning,  on a long weekend.

     There was a lot of humidity to work with,  and a lot of cut wet grass to remove from the model and wheels,  after landing,  and a lot of wiping and drying (also a fan) with paper towels.    It was dead calm first thing in the morning.

      I got in  14  stretch wound flights  for  Flight Report #17.    I made up and bench tested two new motors,   9"  and 12",  of  total cross section of  0.813",   the strongest motor yet.    I got up to  27 cranks,  (405 turns),  on the  15:1  winder,  where it was then too physically hard to wind in any more turns...   On good launches I got  7 8 9 and  two 10 second flights.   And I got the first four in-flight pics,  the first ones for the Beaver.

Pic #1     2923     Sunrise on Flight Report #17
Pic #2     2936     In the Stooge ready to wind.
Pic #3     2941     First in-flight pic with the Beaver.
Pic #4     2945     Flight #10   long flight 9 sec

Full Flight Report to follow in my Beaver Thread.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

I bought a dozen small rotary dampers from RS components.  They seem to be a bit weaker than the ones that the guys who talk about the ones sold in the US by specialist FF suppliers.  When I use a spring made by winding 19" of a guitar E string around a 1/16th mandrel, as advised by US flyers, these dampers turn too quickly to get a decent delay to use for D/T timer purposes.

So I've been working on some other spring parameters for these dampers.  600 mm of E string around a 5/64th mandrel seems like it might be pretty good.  With luck, I might install it on Scram tomorrow.

I'd use a Tomy timer with a Scram, they are available from FFs (Free Flight Supplies) in the UK if you can get them! I used to buy the rotary dampers from Ace Controls, the FRT G2 101 if I recall but only ever used them in HLGs and catapult launch gliders.

Peter

Thanks Peter.  I still have some Tomy timers (including some John Fletcher "Arrow" timers), but I thought I would branch out.

What did you do aeroplane wise today?

To be impatient, and despite the wind gusts being far too much for the Fokker D.XXIII, to give her her maiden flight anyway:


But i now know the concept works, the Fokker shows potential.
Real trim flights as soon as a dead calm day/evening arrives.

Cheers, Ramses

Beautiful plane that is not often modelled.  Looks like its going to be a flier too.

I seem to have spent a couple of days building a canoe. Any guesses?

Quote from: billdennis747 on May 20, 2026, 07:01 PMI seem to have spent a couple of days building a canoe. Any guesses?

Umm, not a clue, but it's a very nice looking canoe and it should be fairly resistant to sinking with all those watertight bulkheads. :)

Unless I'm totally fooled by the perspective the sides look very low. Not really like an aircraft fuselage, but more like a ... canoe? Well, as you can see, I haven't a clue either  :)

Yesterday, I took the opportunity to make some pre-covering photos of a vintage wake I'm building. The design is named Laban, the second of three different models named Laban from Swedish company Truedsson. This kit had a short life, the year after it was released the fuselage area rule for wakefields was removed and designs like this went the way of the dinosaurs.

The plan can be found on the website of Swedish oldtimer association: https://smos.se/modellregister/en/modell/800/ (https://smos.se/modellregister/en/modell/800/).

/Andrea

Quote from: billdennis747 on May 20, 2026, 07:01 PMI seem to have spent a 8)  couple of days building a canoe. Any guesses?

A canoe with undercarriage - it must be an amphibious

Well unlike Titanic, the bulkheads go all the way to the top. I'll do a bit more and post another picture

What did you do airplane wise today?

Tues May 26 2026    Flying the 30"  Beaver

  Now that was a hectic, three flying days in a row, with long grass and low wind flying conditions.  We made it out each day.

    After those last six rainy flights in Flight Report #18 on Sunday May 24,2026,  I knew we needed more practice launching and finger winding the rubber motor,  with the same tight  9"  motor of two strands 1/8" and six strands  3/32"  rubber  0.813" x sect.  Prop hook to rear peg is 10",  and all flights were  140  finger winds.

    That practice came up the next day Monday May 25 2026  for Flight Report # 19.  This was 20 flights finger wound and much better pics.  Most flights were 5 seconds.

Pic #1    3008    Hard bank left.
Pic #2    3013    Best pic.

Full Flight Report to follow -  work in progress.

-------------------------------

    Then today,  Tues May 26 2026,  this morning early,  was Flight Report #20.    We changed the motor back to the  12"  8 strand as above,  and got in some long flights,  with a couple of long flights in a row actually initially landing on that soft artificial turf of the pitch,  with those big soft Alaskan bush wheels ....  All five flights were stretch wound  25 x 15 =  360 winds.    Flights were  8  12  11  6  9  sec,  and then a rubber strand broke ...

Pic #1    3039    This flight 2 of  twelve seconds,  would land on the pitch.
Pic #2    3043    Turning left.

Full Flight Report to follow -  work in progress.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do airplane wise today?

Tues May 26 2026      30"  Beaver

      Another flying day and here I am making the strongest and longest motor.   I still have to stretch it,  bench test it with a winder,   and balance it.   

Pic #1     3062     More paint on the thrust button and nose mount,  a new  15" engine,  and the old  9"  motor is drooped over the left wing.   

Pic #2     3065     Another view.

Pic #3     3069     Finished  15"  motor.

Pic #4     WIND FORECAST  WED MAY 27   MORNING 7 45 AM

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do airplane wise today?

Well... not today, but yesterday to honest.
I made the first trim flights with my CO2 powered Curtiss Jenny at Sportcentrum Arcus Wijchen.
My first indoor CO2 power adventure!


Also tamed the Widgeon a bit further yesterday, she starts to fly oke now:


Cheers, Ramses

What did you do airplane wise today?

Wed June 3 2026    30 inch Beaver   post 1 of 2

     Today I finished up all of the long over due repairs.   There actually was more damage than I alluded to.

     I just caught up on posting two small finger-wound Flight Reports,  namely  Flight Report #22 on Fri May 22 2026,  and Flight Report #23  Monday June 1 2026.    After breaking a strand  on Monday,  I saw that I needed to fully infill plank the fuse,  as it had cracked more.

     I also fixed the "wobbly" nose block and it is now tight.   Several stringers were broken from handling with too much squeeze.    New roundels and striped strips and red maple leafs were also glued on with Studio Glue Stick.   Plus I added and fixed several Silkspan covering patches.

   Plus,  the  12" motor was the best so far,  and the 15" motor was too sluggish,  so I built a new  13"  motor,  cut down from the 15" motor,  and already broken in,  with not much flying ....   Can't wait ...   The Beaver looks good enough to fly again.

     Here are a few pics,  then I will catch it up in my build thread.   Tomorrow Thurs June 4 2026  looks like a flying day in the morning !

Pic #1     3124     Nose damage and four stringers.

Pic #2     3132     Thickening the tenon of the loose noseblock.

Pic #3     3146     Mandrake and Bloodroot examine their work.

Pic #4     WIND FORECAST THUR JUNE 4 2026

6 AM   3SSW4   winds blowing 3 mph from SouthSouthWest gusting to 4 mph   69% humidity  59 deg F   sunrise  5:56 AM

8 AM   3SSW6  61%   65 deg F

10 AM   7SSW11   43%    75 deg F

Lastwoodsman
Richard
cont

What did you do airplane wise today?

Wed June 3 2026    30 inch Beaver   post 2 of 2

Long overdue repairs

Pic #1     3152     Strips,  roundels,  small maple leafs,  and several small tissue patches.

Pic #2     3161     Four infill planks left.

Pic #3     3170     Underside view.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Some more work on the canoe

OK Bill, times up, what is it. Nicely done as usual.

The canoe is coming along nicely Bill, where do the oars go ???

A bit of Bleriot maintenance this afternoon as the piston o rings needed replacing which I managed to do without removing the engine. It runs much nicer and for longer now , though I noticed the glued joint on the filler was leaking slightly so I have redone that as well with some 24hr epoxy. I did some strengthening around the engine mount as well as the joints were cracking a bit with age..a bit like me really  ;D

Hello Dave. It's a Max Holste MH152 from the Model Aircraft plan

Quote from: billdennis747 on Jun 05, 2026, 11:53 PMHello Dave. It's a Max Holste MH152 from the Model Aircraft plan

Thanks Bill, what year and month AM so I can Look it UP.

Quote from: billdennis747 on Jun 05, 2026, 11:53 PM...a Max Holste MH152...

Oh. So it's not a canoe? 

We should have guessed it was a Holste, didn't you build another two or three years bacK?

Hi Dave. The MH plan has an unusual history. The origin is a small rubber model by George Woolls (I've built one) which appeared in Aeromodeller April 54. In July 55 (according to Outerzone) this design by Colin Read appeared in Aeromodeller, not Model Aircraft. But it's clear it is essentially just an enlargement of the Woolls plan.
I saw Charlie Newman's version flying years ago and it was one of the best flights I've ever seen.
Rotten plan and not easy to build the fuselage with some extreme bends, hence the upside-down canoe build

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=1980

Thanks for that Bill, I'll follow with interest.

Nearly there. It's going to be a nose-heavy model so the 4lb wood in the tail may be a bit of a waste! I just found some good photos and it's clear that the cabin bracing on the model is very approximate.

Very nice. I keep meaning to get around to the rubber version. (Good to see les Hulots back in the cockpit too.)

Quote from: Pete Fardell on Jun 10, 2026, 10:58 PMVery nice. I keep meaning to get around to the rubber version. (Good to see les Hulots back in the cockpit too.)

Is the far figure the nephew from Mon Oncle?
I must say that the idea of M Hulot piloting an aeroplane would worry me, but Gerard's love for his uncle would overcome that!

Quote from: Jmk89 on Jun 11, 2026, 12:49 AMIs the far figure the nephew from Mon Oncle?

Er, no. Unless my eyes are going, I think it's a young lady he met on holiday. (Called Martine according to Google, although I'd never have remembered that.)

Quote from: Pete Fardell on Jun 11, 2026, 01:18 AM

Quote from: Jmk89 on Jun 11, 2026, 12:49 AMIs the far figure the nephew from Mon Oncle?

Er, no. Unless my eyes are going, I think it's a young lady he met on holiday. (Called Martine according to Google, although I'd never have remembered that.)

Ah. I was looking at the post on my phone without my glasses on ;D

I've been trying to get a few models ready for the FF event at the upcoming WC. It would be nice to have something suitable for a range of possible conditions. Along with Richard Falconer (of the current entrants) I was at the Woodvale WC in 1978 and remember it well. Most of all the horrible RC giant Lancaster being run up, with vibrating 'biscuit tin' plastic canopy. As we flew the FF event down the bottom of the airfield we saw the Lanc approaching unsteadily along the main runway at about 50 feet, hotly pursued by a Keyston Cops car with men hanging out the windows, brandishing transmitters. As it got to us it was clear that a decision had to be made - turn the thing or carry on to Bootle. I never saw Eric Coates move so fast to reach his camera as the model turned and sideslipped to within a few feet of the concrete, before recovering and heading back, followed by the car.
Anyway it was a great occasion and hopefully this one will be too. The entry is over twelve, I understand. I look forward to flying with all these new enthusiasts.

Yes looking forward to it as well Bill. Also hoping to take a few so I have something to fly regardless

Nice trip out today with Andy B (of this parish) a Motorbike run up to Shuttleworth for breakfast then onto Duxford. I've not been for many years and neither had Andy, it's much more aircraft focused now with the feel of an active airfield with hangers full of aircraft with many being worked on. Last time I went it felt more like a museum but this time we were even treated to a display by an ME109...well Merlin powered HS Bouchon . More WW1 aircraft than I remember before too, including the last surviving original RE8, a nice Fokker DVII replica and I can honestly say I have never seen so many Spitfires

What did you do airplane wise today?

Sat June 13 2026

     We started work on a blue Camo color scheme for the upper wings of the  30  inch Beaver.

Pic #1     3398      Here is my Camo pattern on top of the others.

Pic #2     3403     For matching and comparison,  my Hangar Sign on top and the new Camo wing on the bottom.

Pic #3     3408     Three amoeba shapes,  or part shapes,   are ready to add.

Pic #4     3410     This shows where the new white pieces go.

     The full story is coming up in the Beaver thread.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

I took this lot to Port Meadow last night to try and sort something out for the World Champs. Sunny, flat calm and I've never seen the Meadow looking so good. I remember years ago it was festooned with gorse bushes and large diameter cow pats.
The Jungmann was performing well, the Levente II was fighting a warp in the wing but survived. The Luscombe is way overpowered with the ED Baby, tamed with a reversed prop (the plan suggests a TD049; I doubt they ever tried it). SE5A was OK but the best performers were the little Max Holste and the ever-reliable KK Piper.
This morning it's cold and windy.

Sounds like a nice evening

Decided against PM this morning looks like you had all the good weather

What did you do airplane wise today?

Mon June 15 2026

Sorry,  I said " in my Beaver thread" in Reply  #155 above.  I meant to say "my Gipsy Moth thread".    Another Senior's moment ....  Good grief!  :-\  Back to modeling.

By the way,  great flying models at Port Meadow !!  Please carry on.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

6 users  one guest

BEAVER DH C2  30 INCH RUBBER POWERED  FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER  DUMAS KIT 306

What did you do Airplane wise today?

Flight Report #24    early this morning  845 AM  Wed June 17 2026

    I was just out for a walk more than anything,  mostly to check the grass height  ....

180 winds  in the morning  we got 5  five or six second flights,    but only one flying pic -  but a high flight pic nevertheless  -  it was a nice flight,  almost to tree height level.

    The gusts were picking up ...  so off we went.

Pic #1    LETTING GO STATUE INSTALLATION  BILL LIEB

Pic #2    LETTING GO STATUE

Pic #3    LETTING GO STATUE IN SPENCER IOWA
         
Pic #4    3515  snip  Beaver High Flight.    Letting the Beaver go ....    :)

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Lastwoodsman -

Thank you for all your posts and pictures. I read them all.

I am impressed by your dedication and enthusiam.

O Canada.

Bit of fettling.

1,2 Finally replaced the missing strut on my VMC Bird Dog, only taken me 3 years or is it 4?  Never mind. Patched up some small tears in the tissue while I was about it.

3 Refaced the top of the nose on my Elf with some 1/64" ply.  It had been getting steadily less well behaved and last time out I thought to have a close look at the nose and saw that the top edge had become compressed, mucking up the down thrust.

What did you do Airplane wise today?

Friday June 19 2026    Reply #162

Thanks for the nod Cal.    :)

BEAVER DH C2  30 INCH RUBBER POWERED  FREE FLIGHT PARK FLYER  DUMAS KIT 306

    I finished off the Camo Design.

1    The completed color design.

2    The completed tracing of the wing outline and ribs.

3    The full Master Camo Outline.

Pic #1    3573

    Now I just need to figure out how to actually do it ....  ::)  :-\

     The Camo only goes on the upper side of both wings.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do aeroplane wise today?

A few hours ago i made the first test / trim flights with my Vintage Model Company Fokker D.VIII.
The colour scheme is Dutch (The Netherlands), post WWI, LVA (Luchtvaart Afdeling):


Cheers, Ramses

Nice and flies a lot further than mine. :)

Γιώργος Κ. may be interested to know what the weights for yours are.  See here. (https://hpa.aeromodelling.gr/index.php?topic=25.msg4507#msg4507)

That's terrific! I like the way it stays within the close cut grass too!
Tim

Great test flights Ramses, it's looking good

I thought you might find this funny. I have been putting together a video today from last Saturday's Oxford FF Scale event and was prompted by Youtube that it could make the perfect title frame to get the most hits. It took it a while to 'think' about it and then produced this .... it's for a flying event ...

...not sure they are ready to take over the world just yet  ;D  ;D  ;D

Thanks Lurk, THB and Squirrelnet!

Quote from: TheLurker on Jun 21, 2026, 10:14 PMΓιώργος Κ. may be interested to know what the weights for yours are.  See here. (https://hpa.aeromodelling.gr/index.php?topic=25.msg4507#msg4507)

I have just weight the Fokker in parts:
The Fokker itself: 29.0 grams
The Cowl/Noseblock: 12.2 grams
The added Noseweight while trimming: 1.7 grams
The used Rubber motor: 4.3 grams
Total Flying Weight: 47.2 grams

@ Squirrelnet:  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D

Cheers, Ramses

Ramses, many thanks to you too!!

Both feedback from you and Lurk are really helpful to the final decsions on the model engine etc.

You`re welcome!
Have fun building yours, it`s a great kit.
I think, very suitable for CO2 power too.

Cheers, Ramses

Obviously I went through all your pics!! And solved a couple of issues puzzling me.

Such a beuatiful outcome!

What did you do airplane wise today?

Tues June 23 2026

      I have been pretty busy the last three days.  I'm just getting around to editing two  30 inch Beaver Flight Reports #25 and #26,  of Sat June 20 2026 and Sun June 21 2026,  seven and ten flights respectively.  On Sat,  I got out to the Cricket Field around 10 AM,  and the morning practice guys were done playing and packing up and leaving,  and I asked the guy if I could try a flight -  he said  'sure' ,  and there was not a Cricket game until 1:00 PM,  I knocked off ten perfect flights  6 or 7 sec,  and they filmed me,  as I was winding in the shade right where they were packing up,  and launching form there.  They filmed me and my best seven second flight.  The grass was not cut yet.

    Get a load of this.  On Sunday,  we got out there in Jackson Park very early,  and the Sun was beating down and everybody was already out in the park enjoying the start of the day,  with all of their preparations for all the things going on.    The Cricket guys were in uniform on the field playing, this time, in the morning.    So we went to the far South end of Jackson Park,  which had a long swale of grass between the fencing of the two baseball diamonds,  and the indoor and outdoor complex of tennis courts.    Plenty of room to fly six second flights.  I had just flown two perfect flights,  when who comes charging around the corner,  but two big young sweaty strong,  healthy,  in shape men doing their big time run (it was generally a Father's Day Walk/Run with kids in strollers etc) in their late 20's early 30's.  They had a friendly hello,  and I said  "Wanna see it fly -  I have it just about wound up".  So they stopped and came over.  Afterwards I deduced that they were both cops in civilian clothing ....  :o  :o

    And all day yesterday,  I worked on the Gipsy Moth Camo Pattern.    It was not complete at all -  I had to square it up and fix a lot little mistakes,  which was a lot of enjoyable artwork,  and a lot of thinking ...

    So,  I have a lot of pics to edit.  It is  10:00 AM right now,  but I think I am going back out for my fix of 180 finger wind flying therapy,  and see how low the grass was cut on Sunday morning June 26  in the Cricket field.

Sorry,  I will have some pics later ....  I am way behind.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do airplane wise today?

Tues June 23 2026

     In addition to the above,  here are just a couple of pics of the latest Camo Pattern.

Pic #1      3640  Med

Pic #2     3642   Med

Lastwoodsman
Richard

Absolutely nothing.  It's too flaming hot!

 ;D

Imagine the conditions in Greece........

Actually we are better off than the rest of Europe at the moment...

come on! I'm trying to find a nice excuse that I'm not working on my Fokker.....  ;D

Two days already and I deny removing it......

What did you do airplane wise today?

Fri June 26 2026

     I got in a good flying session in the morning,  with the 30"  Beaver for  Flight Report  # 27 of Fri June 26 2026.

     Seven flights ,   four in-flight pics,  two long flights.
First time using the new  13"  motor.   405 stretch winds in the winding stooge.

Flight 4  11 sec

Flight 5  13 sec   -  ties the record!!

     Full flight report to follow in my Beaver thread.

Pic #1     3682     Flight 6

Pic #2     3687     Flight 7

Pic #3     3690     Deep grass.

Pic #4     3691     Side view of deep grass.

Lastwoodsman
Richard

What did you do airplane wise today?

Sat June 27 2026        30 inch Beaver

     I did a grocery run early in this morning,  and on the way out,  I walked in to Jackson Park to see if they cut the  grass.    Here's why.

     I did not mention this,  but yesterday,  after my second flight on Fri June 26 Flight Report #27,   I was winding the Beaver on the Stooge,  and what do I see in the distance?   The dreaded,  foreboding,  grass mower was approaching   :( ,  'and the wind began to howl'  :o  .   And he drove right up to me and stopped.   I asked if he could mow another spot first (they have long lists),  since I only had two flights so far.   He said he could but he had to get the Cricket field mowed today.   Then he asked me if the plane was RC (radio controlled).     I said rubber band power,  hoping it would sound like less of a worry. 

     So,  it was because of his accommodating me,  that I was able to stay and get the next five flights in,   so I do have to thank him for that.    And now I see that he did get it mowed,  so hopefully all is well.   :)

     Well,  I'm still working on Friday's Flight Report - almost done   -  pics edited and resized and text done in rough.   I just need a short rest,  feeling too burned out.   That was a torrid pace.   Five hundred posts  :o   and trying to cram four pics and text into every post ....

Lastwoodsman
Richard

The idea is not mine. It was George Kandylaki's

Since the tissue of Jodel Bebe is not transparent, it makes it difficult to find the exact spot for the rubber/peg hole. I made a stick that stops exactly on the hole, making it easy to directly put the peg through and hold the rubber.

Fast change of rubber if needed.......