December Trinity newsreel
Mostly Keil Kraft Elves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEjmiuHZZik
Non Elf related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8XG5ofU_RQ
I'll sort out a few stills in a day or so.
Some stills from the 12th of December Trinity meeting. As we were holding our (more or less) traditional Xmas Elf party game most of the activity was Keil Kraft Elf based but there were a few models that weren't Elves being flown.
Andy Blackburn photos
1 - Alan Trinder's Elf
2 - Bob Lee's
3 - Chris Brainwood's
4 - Dave King's
Andy Blackburn photos.
1 - Lurk's Elf at rotate.
2 - Pete Brown's festively decorated Elf. Won the "Prettiness Prize" :)
Chris Brainwood photos.
3 - Alan Trinder & his Elf.
4 - Dave Monk & his Elf.
Andy Blackburn photos.
1 - Andy's own design all sheet Euler D VI
2, 3 - Gerard Moore's Helios Stallion
4 - Nick Peppiatt's Midson Supa Lounger
Andy Blackburn photos.
1 - Pete Brown's peanut Andreasson
2 - Pete Brown's rescaled* KK - umm I've forgotten.
3 - Peter Smart's FW-190. About 13"-14" span.
4 - Rob Funnell retrieves his Talgiafico Slugger, "helped" by Colin Hutchinson.
*For next year's Keil Kraftlet party game. Any KK sport cabin model, except the Elf rescaled to a 16" span.
Squirrelnet photos.
1 - Pete Brown's Festive Elf. "I'm ready for my close-up Mr de Mille."
2 - Peter Smart's Cessna 150 & MK I Spitfire
3 - Peter Smart's small FW-190
4 - Steve Haines' pistachio Currie Wot based on the Moorhouse plan
Some of my snaps now.
1, 2 One of Dave Monk's
I didn't make a note of the design, but it flies nicely. Dave was reluctant to let me photograph it because in his words, "...it's 30 years old and a bit tatty." I insisted because we all look a good deal tattier than we did 30 years ago.
3,4 Gerard Moore's Helio Stallion.
G had been having trouble trimming it when he last brought it to Trinity. The problem turned out to be a warped tail plane which put the model in a permanent dive. One new tail plane later it's flying a treat.
If you were lucky enough to go to the IIFI in November you will have seen this flying. It's Mike Stuart's Blackburn Shark and it is (as usual with Mike) a delightful piece of work. Trinity flyers will have to go Walsall in April if they want to see this flying indoors.
A work in progress. At the beginning of the year Richard Preston turned up with a model of an aeroplane which had yet to make its maiden flight, a Sonex Highwing. It flew "off the board" so we (RP & me) decided it was worth tidying up R's plan. Which I did but I ran out of time to build it. Enter John Whatmore who *cough* "volunteered" to do the test build of the cleaned up plan. This is where he'd got to by the 12th. When it's finished and trimmed it'll be written up and submitted to AeroModeller for use as a free plan. For weight obsessives, 16,6g as seen.
Last from me for now.
1 - Richard Preston's lates development of the Serene series, the Coupé
2 - Richard Preston's scaled down Mercury Matador for rubber
3 - Richard's Matador in company with my Wireless Countess, a 1/6th Radio Queen for rubber.
First Trinity of the year and thankfully the hall was warm. A lot of high wing monoplanes this month taking part in the delayed Nov. scale event. No order to what follows.
1. Andy Blackburn's Hannant Bede BD4 - temporarily grounded while he worked on fixing the prop.
2. Barry Dunkley's Ikara Antoinette. These are popular at Trinity, they seem to be guaranteed to fly and fly well.
3,4 Bob Lee's Bill Dean Sky Ray CLG in Depron. For an OMFC comp. Test glides looked good.
1, 2 Bob Lee's Chrislea Super Ace from Mike Stuart's plan
3,4 Squirrelnet's big* Cub which is covered in his build thread on the scale board. A lovely piece of work.
*By Trinity standards.
Some from Gerard Moore
1-3 inc. Helio Stallion. Won the party game hands down.
4 His Malmstrom Mimi. This is a delight to watch flying.
John Winfield had an interesting mix with him.
1 - Hangar Rat. I must have missed a memorandum somewhere as several of these have appeared at the last couple of meetings.
2 - His entry for the comp. Veron Gypsy engined Comper Swift
3, 4 Veron Nieuport 27. Very light.
1 Mick Langford's VMC Me. Bf-109. Kicking myself that I only took the one photo. It is a really nicely put together and finished article. Saw a couple of trimming flights and it looked promising.
2,3 Mike Stuart's Atalanta GB10 from a French plan. He did tell me whose, but I didn't write it down thinking I'd remember. Yes. Well. Won the "Prettiness" prize in today's comp.
Now a wee treat for you. Mike Stuart's new Blackburn Ripon. It's about 28g without rubber. There's some newsreel of a trimming flight which I'll be sending to Squirrelnet Labs for processing shortly.
Some of Nick Peppiat's fleet from today.
1, 2 Clutton FRED. Took second in the comp.
3 Midson Supa-Lounger. Floats around gently. Hello sky, hello clouds.
Richard Preston's one of our two or three resident Stakhanovite builders. You can rely on him turning up with something new at nearly every meeting. No exception today.
1, 2 Unnamed as yet, but it might be called "The Tripper". A fun little thing. Uses differential motor control for direction and throttle "blipping" for climb/descent.
3,4 A 16" version of the Mooney Found Centennial. Flies like it's on rails. Ideally needs a bit more space than Trinity can provide, but RP got it circuiting within bounds, most of the time.
Couple of duration types.
1 - Rob Funnell's Bulldog. I think, if you know better please shout.
2 - Tony Calvert's Preston Serene. Well named.
Time for the Rob Smith show part I ...
1-3 inc His new RC SE5A from the, no longer available, Falcon kit. The pilot's a two part vacuum formed item and came with the kit.
Rob Smith show part II and the last of today's stills from me, but don't despair there's newsreel to be sent to Chris and I'm expecting some flight shots from Andy Blackburn and Chris almost has stills and newsreel of his own so stay tuned for further exciting news. :)
1,2 Rob's Pilatus Porter. Flies beautifully, but another that it's difficult to keep within Trinity's bounds. Matters weren't helped today by the draught from the fan moving all the models off their circuits.
3,4 Piper Cub in the correct colour for a high wing monoplane.
Another great Trinity. This month was the postponned High Wing Monoplane competition won by GM with his beautifully flying Helio Courier chased all the way by Nick Peppiatt's Clutton FRED
In case anyone was in any doubt that aeromodelling requires the peak of physical fitness here are Lurk and Andy B demonstrating different techniques in the art of stretch winding
My own entry in the HWM comp was my Peanut Peck Piper Cub...still one of my favourite models. Such a great kit, they fly so well and look sooo cute
I love mine but I fear all three of flights equaled one of GM's with his Helio Courier
Steve H brought along a lovely Fike which I think was his entry. It was a pistachio as well seen here alongside his other pistachio a Currie Wot . Note the tangerine for scale !!!!
A closer shot of Steve little beauty the Currie Wot
Steve also brought along a 16" KK Gypsy. What a lovely little model it looks really good that size
There were a few elfs there too. This was Tony Calvert's I think and was doing aerobatics early on for our entertainment
This is Bob Lee's Skyray glider made from B&Q foam. It's for the OMFC winter scrapbox glider challenge but is crying out for a supercap conversion as Bob himself admitted
The challenge is a Club event but here's a link if you are interested to see what it is https://oxfordmfc.bmfa.club/omfc-indoor-scrap-box-glider-challenge-2026/ (https://oxfordmfc.bmfa.club/omfc-indoor-scrap-box-glider-challenge-2026/)
Star of the meeting for me was Rob Smith's new SE5a. As Lurk as said earlier it's from the Falcon kit and is RC but what a beauty
It's pictured here alongside my peanut printed tissue foamy version... I tried the old trick to make them look the same size but as pic 2 shows they are not. Rob's model is nice and slow flying and looks great in the air but keeping it within the walls is a huge credit to Rob. I have some video evidence I'll post later
Andy B's Euler is also a gem. If it goes missing you know where to look !
On the WW1 note here's my Foamy SE5a alongside the Foamy Fokker DVII . It seems the Fokker is one of those models that you get to fly nicely put away in a box, get it out and find you have to start again and retrim, I have stick and tissue models that are more reliable...see previous post with the Peck Piper
The Pup I keep bringing along but never seem to fly ...too chicken ? actually I keep forgetting, it's CO2 Telco powered and goes quite well when I remember I brought it . I really should repair that wing tip ... I keep forgetting !
...and finally
I did bring along my outdoor OMFC Rubber Scale Duration model a 2x KK Piper Super Cruiser , not to fly it but ..er..because Lurk asked me to
It has a Coupe wing profile , lifting tail, D/T and 15" prop . Weight is around 120g without rubber and balance is ballpark though I've not actually thrown it yet.
I have some video ..and some video just in from the Lurker Industries Kinematic Club by the look of it... back shortly
In flight snaps courtesy of Andy Blackburn
1 - Andy's own Hannant Bede BD4
2 - Squirrelnet's Foam SE5A
3 - GM's Helio Stallion
4 - John Winfield's Veron Comper Swift
And the last two from Andy
1 - Mike Stuart's Atalanta GB 10
2 - Nick Peppiatt's Clutton FRED - Second in the comp.
Thanks for reporting and illustrating this so thoroughly gents. Very enjoyable to see.
Stephen.
Today was the February Meeting with the fellows of Trinity
Another great meeting with some new models on show as well.
Great to see Lee Bates again who had a box full of models including some new ones.
First up is the pink and green Roland D2. this is a superb flyer climbing high to the ceiling on every flight. Later on the motor peg pulled through the fuselage side, un daunted Lee cut the fuselage in half and repaired the inside with some balsa glued it back together again and had it up in the rafters again
Also new was this lovely SPAD
Another shot of the SPAD. I didn't see this one fly but then I may have missed it.
Also new was Lee's Sopwith Triplane . This looks gorgeous but still needs some trimming to get it going properly
ANOTHER! new one from Lee. This is an RE8 complete with crew. It looks amazing but had suffered a structural failure the week before and needs extra internal stiffening so couldn't take full winds. It did so some very nice 'controlled' landings with is scale looking 4 bladed prop.
The crew are moulded in type of foam clay using a silicon mould, he had a little of pot of foam recruits ready for the next mission. They looked like a pot of those foam sweets I remember as a kid... I guess that's a mistake you would only make once!!!
Final foamy from Lee that I photographed is SE5a, very much showing how it's done compared to my own foamy SE5a- the skin on mine is courtesy of Lee as well
Ok enough foamies I hear you shout
well here's a new one from Peter Smart. A very nice Freiseler Storch with fully slotted and slightly drooped flaps. Still in the trimming phase but looking promising. The turn was tight to fit in the hall so difficult give a final verdict on the flaps
Another new one from Peter a Nieuport from the Flying Aces plan. This was also trimming but but looking nice later on
Also new was David King's Comper Swift. David has built it with a scale flat wing and looks very nice. Trimming proved tricky, I think some steamed in washout is planned. Judging by David's table he has a few red models as well :o
Dave Monk's Saint class duration model
Colin (Mr Aeromodeller) Sharman with a new duration model
Richard Preston winding his model which is a built up version of a KK chuck glider. It flies brilliantly
A couple of lovely FROG Models from Mike Stuart
A Redwing which was flying nicely as usual and a very cute little all sheet Minnow
I have some video too so I'll post that in a bit
Thanks Chris = brightens up a cool wet morning of this unusual summer down here.
I like Preston's rubber version of an old KK chuckie - looks and flies well.
John
Quote from: OZPAF on Feb 15, 2026, 01:40 AM...brightens up a cool wet morning of this unusual summer down here.
Doesn't harm on yet another soggy old morning in this unusually wet winter "up" here either. :)
Just been catching up, A lot of great models, thanks for posting it's always well worth a look.
Thanks
Just found another shot of Lee's Roland D2 that missed the download
Today was the March Trinity and another wonderful aeromodelling day.
Great to see some new models too, Dave Monks OD foamy Sopwith Triplane stood out flying nicely on it's maiden outing (village hall test flights aside). Lee Bates FE2 circling the hall was an absolute joy too but it was a highlight in a morning of highlights, great fun
First up Lee Bates new Fokker DVII in the 'LI' scheme next to my own example . Lee's is unfinished lacking the engine and gun detail but it flies very well . I t has a tad more dihedral than mine and much less down thrust so he's making me rethink mine a bit
Next up is Dave Monks Foamy Sopwith Triplane. Dave based his design on an IC FF plan scaled down to peanut size. Today was it's large hall maiden, having been tested in the village hall and it didn't take too much encouragement flying very well by the end of the session
This is Lee's new FE2 which is a superb model. Based around the drawings Wingnut Wings plastic kit and uses electric power electronics from a cheap Chinese ff 'toy' coupled to a geared motor. Construction as with all Lee's models is wall foam with a tissue skin drawn by Lee.
Crew are all carved from foam
Finally some action shots of Lee and Dave and Lee's other models. The Roland Wallfish was going very well
I have video too of the day including Dave Triplane and Lee's DVII and FE2 with Lurks filming too which will be up on youtube shortly
And a few more, with the odd duplication, from today's Trinity
1, 2 Dave King's BAT monoplane. Dave likes these, he has 5 in various sizes. He's planning to add a 6th, a pistachio, to his fleet. They do fly well so perhaps he can be forgiven for his... enthusiasm.
3,4 Another foamie from Dave Monk. This one dates from 1992 and is still flying well.
1 - Another view of Lee's FE2B
2,3 - Mick Langford's VMC Me/Bf109. Beautifully finished using only the kit tissue and a wee bit of paint. It tips the scales at about 36g and Mick's beginning to think, on the basis of today's session, that it might be best kept for use out of doors.
The video is now on youtube and can be found here
Models include
Peter Smart's Freisler Storch
Lee Bates Fokker DVII
My CO2 Sopwith Camel
Dave Monk's Foamy Sopwith Triplane
Andy Blackburn's BA Eagle in contact with Nick Peppiatt's RC model
Peter Smart's Fliver
David King's BAT Monoplane
Lee Bates electric FE2
Lurk's RO80
Andy's Nesmith ? ( not a Lacey)
Mick Langford's Frogwell Flyer]
Barry Dunkley's sport model
Lee Bate's Roland Wall fish
Peter Smart's Nieuport
My SE5A
Richard Preston's KK Comet chuckie converted to rubber power
Lee Bates 20 year old Martynside Elephant
Lurk's micro Courtesan
GM's CO2 Siemens Stuckhart
Something a little out of the ordinary now. Nick's OD Peanut Tefft Contester. This is, I think, a resizing of his 1988 Pistachio Contester. As peanuts go it's not a lightweight; it's 15.6g, but just look at all that lovely scale detail including Nick's hand-carved pilot.
Peter Smart's Fieseler Storch. Well, it's taken 10 years and has gone from rubber, via RC electric, CO2 and finally back to rubber but he's finally got it more or less were he wants it.
1,2 Real life working OLEOs!
3 Pretty innit?
4 - Leading edge slats, working ailerons (and rudder/elevators too). What can one say?
Richard Preston. Where would we be without him? A great deal less entertained that's for certain. Today saw the debut of his "peanut" Antoinette which I'm sure owes something to the Ikara design. It was a little reluctant to circle to start with, but got there in the end.
1,2 Antoinette
3,4 Richards' "Cutie"
Last of my stills for today. Rob Smith's 27" 2 channel (plus motor) RC Piper Cub from the Hacker kit. In the correct colour for a high wing monoplane.
Rob did have a go with it and he think it's probably a wee bit on the fast side for Trinity but the battery wasn't good enough to let him evaluate it properly. He's planning to give it another go next month.
Quote from: Squirrelnet on Mar 14, 2026, 08:47 PM...Lurk's RO80...
...Andy's Nesmith ? ( not a Lacey)...
Roma 37 bis.
John Cooper's plan. A nice flyer when trimmed right, but the wings are probably too fragile for indoor use in small halls. As of today mine needs a complete replacement set.
Hannan Bede BD-4
Apologies ...I can't get the staff and my memory is not what it was ..I got the RO bit right though 8)
Having received and sifted Andy's photographic contributions for the Trinity Newsletter here, for your diversion, delectation and delight are a small selection.
Photos. All Andy Blackburn.
First up. Chris Brainwood's foam SE5a
All photos. Andy Blackburn
1 - Dave Monk's Sopwith Triplane. Lee looks on, sussing out the competition on the foam model front.
A rare sight. My models actually flying!
2 - Final flight of the Ro 37bis?
3 - Micro Smeed Courtesan climbing sedately
All photos: Andy Blackburn.
Some of G's gems.
1 - A little CO2 Malmstrom design. The name of which I have forgotten. Answers on a postcard to the usual address.
2-4 His CO2 Siemens-Shuckert. A beautifully made model and flies very, very well but very sensitive to the amount of charge.
All photos. Andy Blackburn
And just to prove it's not just scale models flown at Trinity. John Winfield's electric Hangar Rat.
All photos. Andy Blackburn.
1, 2 Just to prove that little boys never, ever grow up, Lee & Chris staged a dogfight. Chris' SE5a vs Lee's Roland Walfisch.
3, 4 Lee's Roland CII on its own.
All photos. Andy Blackburn.
1 - Laurie Kirby's Bucker Jungmann
2-4 - Peter Smart's Fieseler Storch
Tune in again next month.
Wonderfull models, nice atmosphere and venue. The possibility of flying every month makes me so envious!
Great shots - particularly of the dogfight Lurk and Andy. It looks as though the observer/gunner of the Walfisch jumped overboard in fright on seeing the SE5A.
Is that a printed Tissue finish on the Walfisch?
John
Quote from: Stunthenk on Mar 16, 2026, 12:17 AMWonderfull models, nice atmosphere and venue. The possibility of flying every month makes me so envious!
Aye, we're not too badly off for indoor flying venues in the southern/mid-English parts of the UK but most are autumn/winter only so having a year round site like Trinity is a real bonus.
Quote from: OZPAF on Mar 16, 2026, 01:36 AMIs that a printed Tissue finish on the Walfisch?
It is. Quite by chance Lee had some SE5a sheets with him on Saturday and these should give you a feel for the work involved. They're for an unmarked machine but adding the image layer(s) for a known scheme is, he says, straight-forward.
I am trying to persuade him to do Wilkinson's (Wilks) of 287 sqdn* blue nosed SE5, but he's proving hard to convince. :)
*See, "Biggles of 266".
Thanks Lurk. I have only tried tissue Printing on a small scale - this effort is amazing.
John
Lee's models use a lot from paper model making techniques as well. The sheets in the centre are the paper parts printed onto normal printer paper. Most of the details such as guns, radiators cowlings etc are from paper.
Another month, another Trinity and a good time was, mostly, had by all. Some snaps
1,2 Barry Dunkley's build of the Preston Antoinette.
3 Colin Sharman's anonymous F1D from a Chinese kite. It is leading to "interesting times" for Colin.
4 David Herman's Gyminnie Cricket.
1, 2 John Whatmore's Preston Serene Coupé. JAW's went all out on weight reduction for this one, 5.5g as seen. Flies extremely well, but JAW was having trouble getting the circuit tight enough for Trinity/
3.4 John Winfield's Pudgey. A nice slow flier. Spot the tail weight!
A couple of Impington models for you now.
1,2 Steve Edward's build of the Mick Flack Tiddler
3,4 Nick Peppiatt's incarnation of the Bruce Lindsay Tailless Two
Both of these designs are reliable flyers.
While I'm here; it seems Impington are having some kind of bash tomorrow (12th April) to celebrate their 80th anniversary. I don't know if there will be cake, jelly and ice cream or even lashings of ginger beer, but there jolly well ought to be.
1,2 One off the Ark, or should that be Ark Royal? Lee Bate's Gloster Gladiator. This one is about 25 years old.
3,4 Paul Masterman's Bostonian Knight. Doesn't affect its flying characteristics one iota, but I absolutely love the blue he's chosen for the fuselage.
The traditional Peter Smart post....
1 Gloster Bamel
This was intended for last year's indoor nats, but proved a swine so didn't make the cut. Today it was much more tractable and shows every sign of being turned into a reliable flyer. According to Peter the prototype held the world airspeed record for a time.
2 VMC (Andrew Darby) Fokker Dr1 for CO2.
Peter's waiting for good weather and grass to test this out of doors. Chris will be along soon with some better snaps.
3,4 Aeronca Chief.
Peter's OD. Decoration still to be finished, but when it's done it'll represent the aircraft that Peter got his PPL on. Proved pretty easy to get the trim about right.
1 - Chris Brainwood's cartoon scale foam Hawker Tempest (or it may be a Typhoon)
2 - John Holman's err umm. This is embarrassing. I didn't note it down and now I've forgotten. Anyway it uses sheet (Jedeslky style) wings instead of built up and it flies jolly well too.
3,4 Steve Haines' 16" span Keil Kraft Gypsy. Rock steady flyer. Got some newsreel of it which I'll get off to Squirrelnet labs shortly.
Last snaps today.
Nick Peppiatt's Watt If. A 3 channel RC version of David Lovegrove's foam Wot Ho. The electrics were, ahem, liberated from a Huang Feng 220 and the RC gubbins are Aeroc (?) Spektrum compatible. Speed is good for a small hall like Trinity and AUW is only 8.9g
The rigging? A fix courtesy of GM to stop it clapping its hands in flight. Nick didn't fit a dihedral brace.
A great bunch of models and as always. thanks for posting!
Yes indeed another great Trinity
As Lurk has already posted his pics I'll start with Lurk here seen in athletic winding a pistachio pose
The Pistachio in question is a Howard? from the Comet Nickel plan. After a fair bit of trimming Lurk was rewarded by not one but two large full circuits from the tiny model, lets just say he was very happy ;D
I have some video of it doing one large circuit but not the two which I'll post in a bit
As Lurk has already said Peter Smart had his new Fokker Triplane from the VMC kit powered by a Telco with him. It did a short taxi test and looks like it will go well, Peter's just waiting for some long grass to appear to give it chuck .
It looks great in the red and white scheme of August Raban, the first version without the eagle on the side.
The Co2 fitting is very interesting, Peter has mounted the engine to the cowling which is held on with magnets. Removing the cowling removes the engine and all the pipework and tank is clear to come out through the open front section. Very neat
My scruffy table with foamy SE5a and Fokker DVII. The cartoon scale Typhoon was going well too having sat in box for while after installing a new and slightly larger motor
And few from Lee Bates as his models are always great eye candy and great flyers too. We did a bit dogfighting which the Se5a and Roland and Pfalz the first attempt ending in the inevitable air to air on launch. SE5a repaired we tried again this time further apart. Again there's some video I'll post
First up Lee's pink and green Pfalz D6, his now very ancient Gladiator and Roland Walfisch
..And finally
Lee's McCudden Se5a and the SE5a originally built for Albert Ball who sadly lost hid life before he got a chance to fly it
Lastly Lee's other Pfalz, a D3
Some in-flight snaps courtesy of Andy Blackburn
1 - Chris Brainwood's foam RAF SE5a
2 - GM's Siemens-Schuckert & Peter Smart's Nieuport 2? - mid-air. AAIB notified.
3 - Lee Bates' Roland Walfisch
4 - John Winfield's Pudgey
More from Andy
1,2 John Whatmore's 16" span Keil Kraft Eaglet
3,4 John Whatmore's Preston Serene Coupé
Even more from Andy
1 - Nick Peppiatt's Flutterby
2 - Nick Peppiatt's Watt If
3, 4 - Rob Smith's Pilatus Porter
And, finally, after the Lord Mayor's Show... some snaps of my models.
1, 2 Comet Nickel Howard DGA. Only taken 3 or 4 years to get the blessed thing to fly!
3 VMC Buddy. An easy model to build and a relaxing flyer.
4 Especially for Pete Fardell. The world's most beautiful aeroplane. :)
Lovely! (Even that last one!)
Thanks for the detailed coverage Chris and Lurk - great coverage of some very impressive models.
John
Great photos Squirrelnet & Lurker. Some cracking models!
Thanks guys
There is now a 15min video on Youtube
Quote from: OZPAF on Apr 12, 2026, 03:14 AMThanks for the detailed coverage Chris and Lurk - great coverage of some very impressive models.
Quote from: Piecost on Apr 12, 2026, 12:28 PMGreat photos Squirrelnet & Lurker. Some cracking models!
Invoices in the post. We accept postal orders, cheques, cash or gifts in kind. Strictly no crypto. :)
Oh dear - no crypto! ::)
John
Trinity today. V. quiet, only 15 of us; some of the regulars were off making the best of the weather at OMFC's Spring Jolly on Port Meadow.
V. little newsreel today and that will be slow to appear. I forgot to charge my 'phone so had to borrow Andy's and Chris was off at PM. Heigh ho.
To business. Andy Blackburn brought in the bones of his OD Fairey Barracuda in for us to gawp at. Nice. Very nice.
1,2 One from David Herman. It's ancient and he can't remember what it's called so we're going with "Moby Dick" for want of a better name.
3,4 Denis Belcher's VMC Buddy.
1,2 A new one from GM a "Jolly Roger". A canard. "Needs work." was G's assessment.
3,4 Richard Preston's Veron Rascal
1,2 John Winfield's Malström Candice
3,4 John Winfield's VMC Sopwith Tripe. I don't care what the rivet counters say about PC10, it looks much better in green
Mike Stuart's Nieuport 27 from the Thomas kit. Only taken him 3 years. Only!
Spot the working sprung axles.
1 Mike and his BMFA Dart. You'd be surprised at the performance it's possible to wring from one of these. Or, knowing Mike, perhaps you wouldn't.
2 Fairchild 91 WIP. Mike's planning to finish this in an RAF desert camouflage scheme. The RAF had a small handful of this type serving around the med. doing the same sort of thing as Supermarine Walruses elsewhere.
3 Peanut Dewoitine WIP. If I remember correctly the fuselage weighs about 2.5g as seen.
Some of you may remember that Richard Preston turned up at the January '25 Trinity with a Sonex Highwing which he'd worked up from a handful of grainy screenshots from Sonex's advance publicity for it. I took his rough plan, cleaned it up, worked up a scheme sheet and, 'cos I was busy, handed them on to John Whatmore to do the test build. After some working out of nits and tweaking of the plan John delivered the result today. Worth the wait.
We have some newsreel of the first official maiden flight (ignoring trimming tests) and Andy managed to get quite a few in flight snaps and these'll be posted in a day or so.
The next step is write up the notes and hand submit them to AM for use as a free plan.
The last of my snaps for today. John's Preston Sonex Highwing.
No. 4 Dashboard detail.
Beautiful canopy and dashboard work - it really sets that model off for me.
John
Quote from: OZPAFBeautiful canopy and dashboard work - it really sets that model off for me.
Yes. There are a couple of details that JAW's added - like the door hinges and canopy - that really lift the model and make it look like the real thing. We can't take
all the credit for the dashboard though, that was *cough* based on a screenshot of the prototype's glass dashboard.
Andy's in flight photos have arrived. We'll start with JAW's shiny new Sonex Highwing.
All pics Andy Blackburn.
There was a small handful of Keil Kraft Elves in action as well.
1 - Gerard Moore's
2 - Steve Edward's
3 - Mick Langford's
Some from Peter Smart
1,2 Aeronca 11 Chief
3,4 Koolhoven 40
The K-40 is no more. Ceremonially destroyed with the Smart Size 9. It was not co-operating at all.
A couple of Mike Stuart's models
1,2 FROG Redwing. I think
3,4 BMFA Dart.
Mike was having no end of fun with the Dart. Longer, thinner motor, tweaking the downthrust. There's newsreel of a 600 turn flight, but by the end of the session he'd got it up around the rafters on 900 turns and flying for aaages.
1,2 Andy's own Mooney Sparrowhawk.
3 GM's Helio Stallion
4 Steve Edward's Flack Tiddler
All three are delights to watch flying.
1 Rob Smith's "big" electric Piper Cub. A good one for indoor RC, stately.
2 Another of Rob's and also a stately flyer his Pilatus Porter.
Last from Andy and we're into the comic cuts. Proof that indoor aeromodelling isn't as sedentary as it is reported to be. :D
Me trying (and failing) to stop Peter's Fieseler Storch hit the fire doors.
Did it miss the table leg Lurk? Hopefully you stayed upright as well.
John
Quote from: TheLurker on May 17, 2026, 05:07 PMThe K-40 is no more. Ceremonially destroyed with the Smart Size 9. It was not co-operating at all.
What a pity about the FK.40! I someone would send met the plan, I would build a replacement!
Quote from: Stunthenk on May 18, 2026, 12:06 PMWhat a pity about the FK.40! I someone would send met the plan, I would build a replacement!
Unfortunately Peter doesn't build from plans. He uses an enlarged 3 view and makes it up as he goes along.
Loverly models. Thanks for posting.
Possibly the shortest newsreel ever from a Trinity meeting, but it does have the official maiden flight of JAW's Preston Sonex Highwing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-Io7LSHVtQ
As processed by Squirrelnet laboratories who, in a minor technical miracle, have managed to remove the worst of my fat thumb from the top LH side of the frames.
Thanks Chris.
Quote from: lccjaw on May 18, 2026, 02:57 PMQuote from: Stunthenk on May 18, 2026, 12:06 PMWhat a pity about the FK.40! I someone would send met the plan, I would build a replacement!
Unfortunately Peter doesn't build from plans. He uses an enlarged 3 view and makes it up as he goes along.
Indeed. There is only one documented method for getting a plan out of Peter; it involves a rubber truncheon, a great deal of work copying from what he, laughingly, provides as his "plans" and not a little guesswork. DAHIKT. :)
Quote from: OZPAF on May 18, 2026, 04:29 AMDid it miss the table leg Lurk? Hopefully you stayed upright as well.
John
It did, hit the fire doors instead so no damage sustained and the doddery old nit did manage to remain upright.
Well, could you at least extort from him the 3-view that he used?
Quote from: Stunthenk on May 19, 2026, 12:29 AMWell, could you at least extort from him the 3-view that he used?
I don't know which 3 view was used but there is one here
https://archive.org/details/Flight_International_Magazine_1930-02-14-pdf/page/n1/mode/2up
Thanks, this is the only 3-view I know of. Looking for more info on the FK 40 I came accross a report of the 2010 Nijmegen meeting, with pictures of an FK 40 peanut built by Frenchman Jacques Cartigny complete with comment on the misspelling of the KLM title on the fuselage!
http://www.iifi.nl/reports/interscale-2010-wout-moerman.html
The 6th picture is also interesting; it is a Koolhoven FK 53 by Jan Willem Roest. Sadly Jan Willem died some years ago but the model is still extant; the new owner was flying it at a meeting we had in February last. The colours are thought to be correct, but I know not of any proof.
Quote from: Stunthenk on May 19, 2026, 12:29 AMWell, could you at least extort from him the 3-view that he used?
Evening Henk,
I've sent him an e-mail message asking whether he used someone else's plan (he's quite keen on Cartigny's plans) or worked it up from a three view. Peter is...
unenthusiastic about replying to e-mails so there may be no answer until I can work him over with the rubber truncheon at the next Trinity.
Just out of interest I had quick poke around "teh intarwebs" and the only Cartigny plans I could find for Koolhovens were for the FK-59 & FK-58.
Quote from: TheLurker...were for the FK-59 & FK-58.
I did, of course, mean to type FK-49. Ho hum.
Hi Lurk,
Please exercise any socially accepted level of violence to achieve our goal. On the other hand, the FK49, being a twin is unfortunately outside my current scope as a beginner in this aspect of model flying... And there is a nice three view of this aeroplane in the authorative 1981 Dutch book about Koolhoven by Theo Wesselink and Thijs Postma. Unfortunately, this book lacks ANY colour description! Apart from 5 paintings by Postma which under the current rules are artist impressions.
Reply from Peter late last night.
"...the dreaded Koolhoven came not from my drawing board but from the esteemed pen of Dave Mitchell via Flying Aces No 326 Jul-Aug 2022."
He also wondered if it might need a bigger fin than the one drawn.
Cheers,
Lurk
Anyone have this plan? And the article? The FAC back issues list on their website has an update to 2018 and issue 269
Did the Candice fly? If so, nicely?
I may try a pusher and I like the Malmstrom plans very much.
Cheers
Alex
Quote from: 9600baudDid the Candice fly? If so, nicely?
I didn't see it flying, but I know GM had one at some time many years ago and he said that his flew well.
Quote from: TheLurker on May 21, 2026, 08:35 PMQuote from: 9600baudDid the Candice fly? If so, nicely?
I didn't see it flying, but I know GM had one at some time many years ago and he said that his flew well.
Thanks, I'll keep it on my todo list ;)
Trinity today.
No stills from Chris today, he was busy at Port Meadow with the OMFC event, so it's strictly amateur hour from here on in.
The Kinematography Club's super 8 has been sent off to Squirrelnet Labs for processing and Andy's in-flight snaps (all 730 of them) have just arrived so they may not make it tonight.
To business...
1 - Andy Blackburn's Hangar. Clockwise from bottom
- Sparrowhawk
- Andy's OD Euler D VI
- Hannan Bede BD 4
2,3 The late Colin Hutchinson's Skybug en-route to a new home with John Foster
4 John Winfield's Ross Canarsie Canary
Some Bostonian/Cartoon Scale Business
1,2 John Scates' build of John Whatmore's Bostonion Thunderbolt
3,4 John Whatmore's build of Andy Blackburn's "cartoon" Hurri.
1,2 John Winfield's Dumas Curtiss P6 Hawk
3,4 One of Lee Bates' newer Gloster Gladiators
In case you hadn't heard Dumas shut up shop on the 5th of this month. Bit of a shame, but they'd been trading for 80 years so not a bad run.
Couple of new ones from Lee Bates
1,2 Halberstad D II
3,4 Morane N
Now here's a puzzle for you. Some pre-fab noseblocks that Lee turned up. Each comes with two hooks. The top hook turns the prop. clockwise, the lower anticlockwise.
Anyone know anything about these? Lee (and I) would like to know who made them and why the curious arrangement with the double hooks.
I gritted my teeth, hitched up my breeks and took Olive to Trinity to try a little indoor trimming. It came home in one piece and it looks like it's a goer, Andy got a couple of snaps of it airborne, but there's quite a way to go yet and trimming was curtailed by an unusual wheel failure. The hub's since been repositioned and the wheel is sound again, but a wee dod of epoxy is called for I think.
One thing has become clear, it's not going to ROG. The wheels appear to be both true enough and freely running, but any attempt at ROG results in it doing doughnuts on the tarmac. Hey ho.
Nick Peppiatt has of late been building another Pistachio Tefft Contester to test a redrafting of his 1988 plan. Today saw its maiden flight, there is newsreel and there should be some in-flight pics as well. If you fancy one of your own, Nick will be writing it up for AeroModeller.
As seen 2.4g (yes two point four grammes) without motor.
Richard Preston's been busy again. A veritable deluge of new models this month.
1,2 Courier.
I have been directed to be most particular in drawing your attention to the small window at the back. It seems that's the window for the toilet.
3,4 Hi Speck
An embiggening (look it up, it's perfectly cromulent) of the Speck to about 16" spane.
1,2 Richard ringing the changes on one of his older designs. An RC Serene.
3,4 Roger Butler's FROG Redwing.
Last from me for today.
1,2 Steve Haines' P18
3,4 Tony Calvert's Boston Pup
Tony didn't want me to photograph the Pup because, "It's old and tatty." I insisted because although it is, "well loved" it still flies very well and deserves a little glory.
I would imagine that those nose blocks are for twin motors.
Ron
Thanks Ron, we wondered about that. You thinking one driven anticlockwise, from the lower hook, and the other from the top (clockwise) hook?
Right, don't say we don't spoil you. The Blackburn in-flight files have been ruthlessly winnowed and here are the best images.
All the in-flight snaps are Andy Blackburn's so we'll start with some of his models. Seems only fair.
1,2 His Bede BD 4
3 Sparrowhawk
4 His OD Euler D VI.
1 Gerard Moore's Malmström Bebe (I think). Corrections to the usual address.
2 John Whatmore's Preston Serene Coupé.
3 Roger Butler's FROG Redwing
4 Steve Haines' DeLoof no-cal Fairey Gannet
1-3 Lee Bates' Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a
4 Light relief. An unusual view of Lurk's VMC Buddy
1,2 Lee Bates' Fokker D VII.
3 Richard preston's Hi Speck
4 Steve Edward's Keil Kraft Elf
Proof of flight. Olive in action with her very scruffy pilot.
Only getting about 3/4 of a circuit at the moment, but it's repeatable and everything is looking stable. So fingers crossed.
No excuses, no apologies for the photo bombing. Nick Peppiatt's lovely little Tefft Contester captured very nicely by Andy.
More Tefft Contester.
And the last post from me tonight. Tony Calvert's Bostonian Bunny. Been around the buoy a few times, but still a solid flyer.
Great stuff - always enjoy seeing the Trinity parishioners at work!
Looks like another lovely meeting Lurk
There's a video shot by Lurk up on Youtube now
Another excellent video, thanks Fellas. good to see the models progress through the video as there trim is improved.
Fantastic photos from Andy :o :o :o
Quote from: Squirrelnet on Jun 22, 2026, 07:08 PMLooks like another lovely meeting Lurk
There's a video shot by Lurk up on Youtube now
Chris has updated the video to include John Whatmore's Preston Sonex Highwing. The old link is now dead.
New Video Here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GnRDNJpy3U)
Trinity already? Indeed. Not many snaps from me this month as I was trying to get Olive to fly, and failing dismally after last month's promising start. Proceedings were terminated by a truly awful launch which I have horrible feeling Chris filmed. Others were having much more success so let's look at those instead...
Having mentioned Chris we'll start with his tiny foam Smeed Tomboy ( ~ 13" span) which is being used for an OMFC single design comp. later this year.
1, 2 Dave King's McHard Spitfire. Top tip from Dave; the VMC MfM canopy fits a treat.
3,4 John Holman's Keil Kraft Sedan
John has history with this design. It was the first build he got to fly. Not very far, but he was only 6 and it did fly. When I asked him how it went today he told me that'd he'd managed to recreate that first flight almost exactly. The model's from an original kit with some hand-crafted and hand decorated bits of John's. You can't see the joins, can you? :)
A bit more foamie fun.
1,2 John Whatmore's build of Andy Blackburn's "cartoon scale" Hurricane.
3,4 Made me smile. Richard Preston's Halleron 'peanut scale' Dragon.
There's newsreel of both of these which I'll get off to Squirrelnet labs later today, or maybe tomorrow.
Let's continue with foam...
1,2 Rob Smith's foam winged version of the Don Ross Canarsie Canary
3,4 Lee Bates' Albatross V
And another of Lee's foam wonders. This is a Bristol Scout C and it's about 10 years old.
You can rely on Peter Smart to turn up at least once or twice a year with an oddball design. Some designs very much odder than others. Today's offering was a Gotha 148B from the Cartigny plan which is a WIP, but needed glide testing.
A difficult subject to trim, made more difficut by Peter's inability to translate the trimming notes from the original French. All one can really say is, "Bon chance mon brave." :)
1,2 A sweet little Guillows Dimer from Nick Peppiatt. It's a Swallow Model C Coupé. As seen 7.5g without motor and good for 50+ seconds from a hand launch. There is film of it.
3 Comic Cuts.
This wasn't posed. My Wireless Countess landed on Rob's model after it bounced off the basketball net he was walking under. Yes the prop is still spinning on the Countess.
That's my stills for this month. Andy Blackburn was busy taking in-flight pics which I'll sift through when he gets them to me and I've got video to be sent to Chris for processing so stay tuned for further developments....
It was great to get to Trinity and catch up with everyone. Highlight for me was a mass 'Blue Max' launch of 8 of Lee Bates WW1 foamies along with my two. I have video which I'll sort out into a youtube film shortly once Lurk has sent his film in for processing :-)
I have some photos so lets start off with Nick's Swallow Model C. It's a prewar Guillows kit built as part of the 100 years of Guillows. The quirky design had instructions that say cover the top wing tailplane top and left side of the rudder !!! So Nick did just that !!! It flew beautifully
I took my CO2 Telco Sopwith Pup form the DPC models kit it flew nicely after sometime in box though it scored a basket in final circuit...there's video
Also Co2 is my reliable old Vic Smeed Coquette
This a prototype for the next OMFC winter foamy build - 'Small Smeeds' any Vic Smeed design reduced to 13" with duration competition at Begbroke village hall in February. I haven't announced it yet ... oh maybe I just did :-\
Anyway proper announcement and article on the OMFC website soon(ish) The 'Tiny Tomboy' will be a plan and I hope to do a 'Mini Madcap' to go with it
Great to catch with up Lee Bates, here he is winding his Moraine
Lee's Fokker DVII
Lee's lovely Bristol Scout, SE5a and Pfalz
And Finally...
Here's a few stills from the Mad Max ..er sorry Blue Max mass launch . 10 WW1 aircraft mayhem
Quote from: Squirrelnet on Jul 18, 2026, 06:43 PMI have video which I'll sort out into a youtube film shortly once Lurk has sent his film in for processing :-)
The cans are with the courier and as a I write he's weaving through the traffic like an absolute nutter to get them to you. :)
The cans have arrived and just emerged from the fix bath....
There's a video here
Apologies a small processing error in the last one so this is a reprint
Great WW1 mass launch. looks like everyone was having fun. Lots of nice models thanks for sharing.
Some of Andy Blackburn's in-flight pictures from yesterday.
1,2 G's Malmström Space Ace. Stays aloft for years.
3 An Ikara Antoinette. Could be John Foster's, could be Roger Butler's. Dunno. Sorry.
4 John Holman's OD Spooky Action. As seen in AM a couple of years back. Doesn't look like it should fly, but does fly and well at that.
1 David Herman's "Anonymous". He's forgotten the detail, but thinks it was designed by someone at OMFC about 30 years ago. It floats around most sedately. There is a only a fragment or two of it on film from yesterday 'cos David didn't let me know when he was about to fly it.
2 Andy's Moooney Sparrowhawk. I think it flies very well Andy is still not satisfied with it!
3 John Foster's Ikara Kolibri
4 John Whatmore's Preston Serence Coupé. A relaxing one to watch flying.
Chris and the Tiny Tomboy. Hmmm... didn't they have a minor record hit in 1965? :)
More foam fun.
1,2 Lee Bates, his Albatros V ...
3,4 and his SE5a
John Whatmore's build of Andy Blackburn's "Cartoon Scale" Hurricane. John's probably going to decorate it as a MK II Sea Hurricane.
Peter Smart & his OD FW190
Last couple of Andy's snaps from this month. Nick Peppiat's Guillows Dimer. A Swallow Model C Coupé
Quote from: TheLurker on Jul 19, 2026, 09:17 AMDavid Herman's "Anonymous". He's forgotten the detail, but thinks it was designed by someone at OMFC about 30 years ago.
The mystery is solved. This from David Lovegrove.
"
It's a 'Medda Flyer', designed many, many moons ago by the late Gerry Johnson, a long-time member of the Oxford Model Flyng Club. He was a keen model flyer, indoors and out.
As you said, the model is a real oddity, having an almost negative forward flying speed! The name? Well, the Club's traditional flying site is Port Medda, innit?"
August Trinity today. The Kinematography Club's Super 8 has been sent to Squirrelnet Laboratories for processing, but they're closed for holidays (and Lodge Farm tomorrow) which means you'll have to make to with a handful of stills for now. Andy has sent me his in flight pics which I'll deal with tomorrow.
Colin decided he'd do a complete project today. Build and fly. This a Rylee (from Sri Lanka) Beginners' Model. Same sort of idea as the old Sleek Streaks but with foam flying surfaces.
1 - The kit
2 - The workforce downs tools for a tea break .
3 - Ready for trimming.
The hot weather brings out the grasshoppers and crickets. Not only are the fields and gardens hereabouts busy with them so are the gymnasia.
1 Clockwise from bottom. Paul's, Mick's & Lurk's
2 Standing. L-R David, Pete, Mick, Paul and the seated gargolye is me.
Tony Calvert was in hiding at the time, but there's film of his flying.
1,2 A couple of GM's. A Malmstrom Space Ace and the scissors that are a vital part of preparing the trim tabs for any Malmstrom design and a Mimi Bebe
3,4 John Foster's Malmstrom Space Ace being flown by Dan Dare. Younger readers; ask your Great Grandfathers about Dan Dare, "Pilot of the Future!"
1, 2 John Holman's "sort of" FROG Redwing. Flies nicely, see the newsreel.
3 Laurie Kirby's table. Piper Cub & Frogwell Flyer
4 Mick Langford's KK Elf. You can more or less guarantee someone will be flying an Elf at Trinity
Couple of pre-war Guillows "Dime Scale" models from Nick Peppiatt
1,2 WIP. A Cessna Airmaster from circa 1935
3,4 Swallow Coupé. Flies (forever) at 7.5g
Mike Stuart's electric Fairchild 91. Now successfully test flown (out of doors!) and waiting final paint. As seen ~84g.
1 Peter Brown's Ikara Butterfly
2 Peter Smart's Cartigny Gotha with added paint. Still WIP
3, 4 Peter Smart's Albatros C V
Last of my stills from today. Tune in tomorrow for Andy's exciting in flight action pictures.
1,2 Richard Preston's Reduced size FF Rubber version of David Boddington's Barn Stormer. Flies well. See newsreel.
3,4 Rob Smith's Piper PA-15 Vagabond
Andy's in-flight pictures so only fair to start with some of his models.
1,2 Hannan Bede BD4
3 Andy's OD Euler D VI
1, 2 Colin's experiments with the Rylee Stick model
3, 4 One of Peter Smart's many BE2 models
A couple of John Scates' Bostonians
1,3 I didn't get around to asking JS what it was. If you know, please shout.
4 His Hyannis Helio / Cambridge Courier
As I said earlier, you can guarantee that someone will be flying a Keil Kraft Elf at Trinity. This one is John Whatmore's together with his OD Rearwin Bostonian
1 - Laurie Kirby's variegated Preston Frogwell Flyer
2-4 Lee Bates' Martinsyde Elephant
1 - Another of Lee's. I think it's a Roland, but... if not please let me know.
2 -4 Mike Stuart's Elmendorf Special
Nick Peppiat's Guillows Swallow Model C Coupé
AUW 7.5g! Flies for years. Weel mebbe no years, but it makes a minute look daft.
1 - I think this is David Herman's Gyminnie Cricket
2 - Paul Masterman's GC
3 - An unknown (to me) Bostonian from Rob Smith
4 - Steve Haines' 16" Keil Kraft Gypsy
Last two from Andy.
Richard Preston's tiny free flight version of the Boddington Barnstormer
All great photos.
The tan/brown Bostonian in post 179 looks like the Bostonair, by Perry Peterson, a take on the Sig Cabinaire kit.
Thanks to Andy for a magnificent set of photos and many thanks to Lurk for posting.
Lurks film is now back from the labs and is available here
Most enjoyable, thanks to all concerned.