tim hooper
Jul 02, 2003, 07:11 PM
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<big><b>Introduction</b></big>
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Although I like to attend one or two of the large trade shows each year, I really feel that aeromodelling is far more of a participant-based hobby than a spectator event, so I anticipate the 'fly-ins' far more than the trade shows. One of the highlights of each summers calendar is the Chester Model Flying Club's annual electric bash at the Roodee Racecourse in the centre of Chester itself.
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Once again the sun was booked for a guest appearance, and once again it turned up and shone all day. Although there was a bit of a gusting breeze which conspired to keep some of the more lightly-loaded models grounded, the majority of the entrants had a superb days flying. I arrived just in time for the pilots briefing at 9.30 and then wandered off to find some familiar faces. One of the nicest aspects about this electric flight nonsense is getting to know some of the nicest people you could possibly imagine; I'll not name names here, but I 'met' lots of my flying mates sharing their knowledge on the internet modelling forums long before we ever met up at any flying field. Throughout the day I managed to coerce a few of them into posing with their models for my camera.
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Bob Partington is blessed with the reflexes necessary to fly small fast models - anyone who has seen him fly this all-balsa RBC Kits A4 Skyhawk will attest to this. Bungeed from a simple plywood ramp, this Kontronik 480-37 powered EDF model will drain a 12x FAUP 1950 cell pack in 4 minutes. With a weight of 58 oz, this model has a high wingloading and a landing speed to prove it.
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One of my personal modelling heroes, Pete Wilson is renowned for his scale EDF models - his Vampire is very well known. Just for a change, Pete elected to display his first foray into brushless power here. This Sukhoi 26 is based on a Dave Boddington design. Although originally drawn to house a .90 glow, Pete's variant sports one of the new large AXI 4021/18 outrunners turning a 13x8 prop. Despite carrying 19 cells, the model is light at 6lb. To say the model is aerobatic is an understatement, having oodles of vertical urge.
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A smiling John Emms from Puffin Models holds what I believe has been sorely missing from the electric flight scene; a '.40 - sized' ARTF aerobatic trainer. Ably demonstrated by John, this Bonnie from RCM-Pelikan is capable of all the basic aerobatic manoeuvres on the increasingly ubiquitous power package of an AXI 2820/10, a 10 or 11 inch prop and 10 cells. Loops, rolls, stall turns and the like are effortless, although the model has the inherent stability necessary of a high winged trainer. I'd hazard that, using a buddybox and a competent instructor, this model would be a good introduction to RC flying without having to be bothered about the care of an ic engine.
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Scott Lawson made the short trip from Edinburgh to join us for the weekend, and is a prolific builder of the smaller class of model. This is his rendition of a stick-built vintage design called the Spearhead Jr. A S400 motor, sitting on a gently clattering 2.3:1 Mini-Olympus gearbox spins an 8x6 prop. Eight 800AR cells give very long flights at half throttle. Although the fuselage is Solarfilmed, Scott opted for yellow Fibafilm for the wings and tail. Just to emphasise Scott's output; he bought a BVR Smart Dart kit at the event, and I witnessed the successful maiden flight less than 24 hours later!
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Tim Cullen has been flying a Pico-Cub for a couple of years now (occasionally hindered by dad Brian). This Union Models P51 Mustang was intended as a free flight rubber-motored model until Tim and his Dad surprised it by fitting micro gear on rudder, elevator and throttle. 2 700mah L-ion cells power a GWS 150 motor turning a 7x6 prop via a 3.5:1 gearbox. With an AUW of a mere 6½ oz, the P51 is a spritely performer and in Tim's able control treats the breeze with total distain.
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One of several traders present, Dave Andrews of Concept Models displays his latest design, the Elite. Engineered to flat-pack into a suitcase, this small funfly design is S400 powered.
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Peter Barrow is well known for his connection to the Modellhaus concern. This ¼ scale Tiger Moth weighs only 15lb despite carrying no less than 30x3000 nicads to fuel the Plettenburg 370/40/A3 motor. No gearbox is fitted - the motor is butch enough to drive the 16x8 prop directly on this 88" span model
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Pete Richardson is obviously delighted with his Sean Kinkade-designed Park Hawk ornithopter. Equally impressed were the spectators; this model drew everyone's spontaneous applause as it completed its public debut. At 48" span and an AUW of 15 oz this is no cheap novelty item. All the hardware is precision machined from carbonfibre, steel and delrin, with every bearing in the four-gear drivetrain fitted with ballraces. The polyester wings flap at around 6 cycles per second and are controlled by the throttle stick, whilst the articulated tail gets moved by two servos to give steering and climb. Power comes from 8 720 NiMH giving power to the S300 motor for a realistic 9 minutes of flapping flight.
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OK, so there were some pretty quick models at Chester, but this Ripmax Evolution Competition F5B was in a class all of its own. With Kyri Christodoulou gamely hanging onto the sticks, the Evo ripped vertically upwards to reach altitude in around 5 seconds. When the motor was stopped the thin wing section on this 4½ lb machine made sure that the low high-speed passes were blisteringly fast. A Kontronik 500-32 transmits power through a 6.7:1 gearbox to a folding 16x17 prop to provide heart-stopping grunt. Quite how Kyri shovels 24 CP1700 cells into that skinny fuselage is a mystery to me. Quite how Kyri manages to control this monster is also a mystery!
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These two gents had never met before this photocall. What Kev Mullarkey and Graham Wheater had in common though were the models they display. The Meridian is kitted by Old School RC over in the US. Although happy with a S400 motor up front, both Kev and Graham have elected to go brushless with their models. Kev's two-piece model hosts a Mega 16/15/4, 8x700AR cells and a 7x4 prop with an AUW of 20 oz, whereas Grahams 18 oz example is all-American with its Hacker B20 15, 9x1100 Hecell NiMHs and a comparatively huge 10x8 folder.
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There's nothing new about about using flat-plate wings in small model aircraft. What is remarkable about the globally-proven BVR Kits Tucano flat wing is its size; the model spans 45" and weighs in at over 3lb depending on the motor fitted. There was rarely a moment in the day when there wasn't at least one of this lot airborne. The owners of these particular models had 'met' on the internet and arranged to formate at Chester. Back row; Darren Edwards, Andy Johnson, Steve Bennington, Nige Hawes (who confesses to being the designer), Ian Porter. Front row; Gary Dodds, Grant Wright, Dave Singer, Graham Wheater.
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Specialising in materials for the smaller electric model, Hillcott Electronics is helmed by the affable Walter Wilkinson. His van was crammed with goodies - everything from tiny cells to even tinier servos (with an appropriate model range to accommodate them too).
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Don't let the genial countenance of Norman Martindale deceive you - behind that jolly moustache lurks the mind of a cold-hearted and ruthless assassin. We faced each other in the Vintage event, flying pretty much identical Super Scorpions (built from Ben Buckle plans), and Norman gulled me into using full power at take-off because of the breeze. Norm's own leisurely meander into the air scored higher points with the judges as being more in keeping with the type of model. Just to rub it in, Norman then insisted that I photograph this behemoth. At 5lb AUW, an Overlander 650 Hurricane, through a 2.9:1 open geared box drives a 12x8 wooden prop. Incidentally this model is some 15 years old, and spent the first dozen of those being hauled about by a .40 fourstroke. There's always next time Norm, OK?
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Although a truly excellent performer, the WestonUK electric Cougar does have one idiosyncrasy which would irritate me; the need to remove the wing to access the battery pack. Dave Singer obviously feels the same, as he's fitted an access bay into the bottom of the fuselage. There's no hatch cover so the pack is cooled by the airflow passing over it. With its aggressively timed Flyware 350/15 motor, and powered by 8x3300 NiMHs, this model was able (under the skilled control of Andy Johnson) to prophang a few feet from the ground and then pull away vertically. I really must practice harder!
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The engaging Sandra Emms from Puffin displays the Teltech BD5D. With its glass fibre fuselage and pre-covered foam wings, this looks a classy piece of kit. At 50" span, the kit comes complete with hardware and decals. This is one of those models that I would dearly love to see demonstrated in the air, as it is so different from the norm.
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It must be genetic. The father and son team of Tony & Anthony Hill both seem to share the same addiction for SE5A model. Between them they brought no less than three to fly. Here's Tony Senior with the largest of the trio, an 80" quarter-scale variant based on the DB kit. At 17½lb, this model performs as it should on an Astro 60 coupled to a 2.75:1 Superbox. With its 22x14 prop, the basic urge comes from 32 2400 cells.
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Desperately trying to free himself of the curse of the SE5A, Anthony Jr has forced himself to build a Bristol F2B from the Flair kit. To the eternal shame of his father, Anthony won the Scale event with this 76" model. Its 11 ¾ lb weight is no problem for the Astro 40, given that the drive is transmitted by a 3:1 gearbox and thence to an 18x12 prop. 24 2400 cells.
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Correx maestro Morgan Wood has been exploring the uses of this double-walled plastic material for a while now. Starting with the Mugi delta, he's progressed to the G10 prototype he's holding in the picture. The correx airframe weighs 6 oz, and is equipped with a S400 motor, 8x800AR cells and 6x3 prop. With an AUW of just over 1 lb, this quick 28" model calls for a steady eye in flight as you'd expect.
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No stranger to public acclaim is the Tupolev ANT 20 flying boat of Peter Angus. The sole fullsize prototype spanned some 210 feet and was flown from 1933 until its demise in 1935. Happily Peter's model is still in fine fettle today. 6xS400 7.2 volt motors are wired in parallel to 10 3000 NiMH cells, and turn 6x4 props. Unlike the original, which needed the extra power of the two piggy-back motors above the fuselage, those two are freewheeling dummies on Peter's 84" model.
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Mike Payne delighted the spectators with his own design torpedo-launching Fairey Swordfish. A Plettenburg 290/30/7 does the business on 15x2400 cells, by turning a 14x10 prop through a 3:1 gearbox.
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Dwarfed by the yellow bulk of his own-design Cessna C37, George Robson hefts its 10 lb weght with ease. A Pletti 330/A3 has the torque to direct drive the 15x8 prop, motivated by 24 cells.
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<b><big>Conclusion</big></b>
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My apologies to all those pilots of the many models that I've missed, and to the entrants in the informal competitions that ran alongside the non-stop sport flying.
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Above all, on behalf of all the fliers present, I like to thank the members of the Chester club for all their hard work in hosting this wonderful event.
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</blockquote>
<big><b>Introduction</b></big>
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<p>
Although I like to attend one or two of the large trade shows each year, I really feel that aeromodelling is far more of a participant-based hobby than a spectator event, so I anticipate the 'fly-ins' far more than the trade shows. One of the highlights of each summers calendar is the Chester Model Flying Club's annual electric bash at the Roodee Racecourse in the centre of Chester itself.
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Once again the sun was booked for a guest appearance, and once again it turned up and shone all day. Although there was a bit of a gusting breeze which conspired to keep some of the more lightly-loaded models grounded, the majority of the entrants had a superb days flying. I arrived just in time for the pilots briefing at 9.30 and then wandered off to find some familiar faces. One of the nicest aspects about this electric flight nonsense is getting to know some of the nicest people you could possibly imagine; I'll not name names here, but I 'met' lots of my flying mates sharing their knowledge on the internet modelling forums long before we ever met up at any flying field. Throughout the day I managed to coerce a few of them into posing with their models for my camera.
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Bob Partington is blessed with the reflexes necessary to fly small fast models - anyone who has seen him fly this all-balsa RBC Kits A4 Skyhawk will attest to this. Bungeed from a simple plywood ramp, this Kontronik 480-37 powered EDF model will drain a 12x FAUP 1950 cell pack in 4 minutes. With a weight of 58 oz, this model has a high wingloading and a landing speed to prove it.
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One of my personal modelling heroes, Pete Wilson is renowned for his scale EDF models - his Vampire is very well known. Just for a change, Pete elected to display his first foray into brushless power here. This Sukhoi 26 is based on a Dave Boddington design. Although originally drawn to house a .90 glow, Pete's variant sports one of the new large AXI 4021/18 outrunners turning a 13x8 prop. Despite carrying 19 cells, the model is light at 6lb. To say the model is aerobatic is an understatement, having oodles of vertical urge.
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A smiling John Emms from Puffin Models holds what I believe has been sorely missing from the electric flight scene; a '.40 - sized' ARTF aerobatic trainer. Ably demonstrated by John, this Bonnie from RCM-Pelikan is capable of all the basic aerobatic manoeuvres on the increasingly ubiquitous power package of an AXI 2820/10, a 10 or 11 inch prop and 10 cells. Loops, rolls, stall turns and the like are effortless, although the model has the inherent stability necessary of a high winged trainer. I'd hazard that, using a buddybox and a competent instructor, this model would be a good introduction to RC flying without having to be bothered about the care of an ic engine.
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Scott Lawson made the short trip from Edinburgh to join us for the weekend, and is a prolific builder of the smaller class of model. This is his rendition of a stick-built vintage design called the Spearhead Jr. A S400 motor, sitting on a gently clattering 2.3:1 Mini-Olympus gearbox spins an 8x6 prop. Eight 800AR cells give very long flights at half throttle. Although the fuselage is Solarfilmed, Scott opted for yellow Fibafilm for the wings and tail. Just to emphasise Scott's output; he bought a BVR Smart Dart kit at the event, and I witnessed the successful maiden flight less than 24 hours later!
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Tim Cullen has been flying a Pico-Cub for a couple of years now (occasionally hindered by dad Brian). This Union Models P51 Mustang was intended as a free flight rubber-motored model until Tim and his Dad surprised it by fitting micro gear on rudder, elevator and throttle. 2 700mah L-ion cells power a GWS 150 motor turning a 7x6 prop via a 3.5:1 gearbox. With an AUW of a mere 6½ oz, the P51 is a spritely performer and in Tim's able control treats the breeze with total distain.
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One of several traders present, Dave Andrews of Concept Models displays his latest design, the Elite. Engineered to flat-pack into a suitcase, this small funfly design is S400 powered.
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Peter Barrow is well known for his connection to the Modellhaus concern. This ¼ scale Tiger Moth weighs only 15lb despite carrying no less than 30x3000 nicads to fuel the Plettenburg 370/40/A3 motor. No gearbox is fitted - the motor is butch enough to drive the 16x8 prop directly on this 88" span model
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Pete Richardson is obviously delighted with his Sean Kinkade-designed Park Hawk ornithopter. Equally impressed were the spectators; this model drew everyone's spontaneous applause as it completed its public debut. At 48" span and an AUW of 15 oz this is no cheap novelty item. All the hardware is precision machined from carbonfibre, steel and delrin, with every bearing in the four-gear drivetrain fitted with ballraces. The polyester wings flap at around 6 cycles per second and are controlled by the throttle stick, whilst the articulated tail gets moved by two servos to give steering and climb. Power comes from 8 720 NiMH giving power to the S300 motor for a realistic 9 minutes of flapping flight.
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OK, so there were some pretty quick models at Chester, but this Ripmax Evolution Competition F5B was in a class all of its own. With Kyri Christodoulou gamely hanging onto the sticks, the Evo ripped vertically upwards to reach altitude in around 5 seconds. When the motor was stopped the thin wing section on this 4½ lb machine made sure that the low high-speed passes were blisteringly fast. A Kontronik 500-32 transmits power through a 6.7:1 gearbox to a folding 16x17 prop to provide heart-stopping grunt. Quite how Kyri shovels 24 CP1700 cells into that skinny fuselage is a mystery to me. Quite how Kyri manages to control this monster is also a mystery!
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These two gents had never met before this photocall. What Kev Mullarkey and Graham Wheater had in common though were the models they display. The Meridian is kitted by Old School RC over in the US. Although happy with a S400 motor up front, both Kev and Graham have elected to go brushless with their models. Kev's two-piece model hosts a Mega 16/15/4, 8x700AR cells and a 7x4 prop with an AUW of 20 oz, whereas Grahams 18 oz example is all-American with its Hacker B20 15, 9x1100 Hecell NiMHs and a comparatively huge 10x8 folder.
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There's nothing new about about using flat-plate wings in small model aircraft. What is remarkable about the globally-proven BVR Kits Tucano flat wing is its size; the model spans 45" and weighs in at over 3lb depending on the motor fitted. There was rarely a moment in the day when there wasn't at least one of this lot airborne. The owners of these particular models had 'met' on the internet and arranged to formate at Chester. Back row; Darren Edwards, Andy Johnson, Steve Bennington, Nige Hawes (who confesses to being the designer), Ian Porter. Front row; Gary Dodds, Grant Wright, Dave Singer, Graham Wheater.
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Specialising in materials for the smaller electric model, Hillcott Electronics is helmed by the affable Walter Wilkinson. His van was crammed with goodies - everything from tiny cells to even tinier servos (with an appropriate model range to accommodate them too).
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Don't let the genial countenance of Norman Martindale deceive you - behind that jolly moustache lurks the mind of a cold-hearted and ruthless assassin. We faced each other in the Vintage event, flying pretty much identical Super Scorpions (built from Ben Buckle plans), and Norman gulled me into using full power at take-off because of the breeze. Norm's own leisurely meander into the air scored higher points with the judges as being more in keeping with the type of model. Just to rub it in, Norman then insisted that I photograph this behemoth. At 5lb AUW, an Overlander 650 Hurricane, through a 2.9:1 open geared box drives a 12x8 wooden prop. Incidentally this model is some 15 years old, and spent the first dozen of those being hauled about by a .40 fourstroke. There's always next time Norm, OK?
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Although a truly excellent performer, the WestonUK electric Cougar does have one idiosyncrasy which would irritate me; the need to remove the wing to access the battery pack. Dave Singer obviously feels the same, as he's fitted an access bay into the bottom of the fuselage. There's no hatch cover so the pack is cooled by the airflow passing over it. With its aggressively timed Flyware 350/15 motor, and powered by 8x3300 NiMHs, this model was able (under the skilled control of Andy Johnson) to prophang a few feet from the ground and then pull away vertically. I really must practice harder!
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The engaging Sandra Emms from Puffin displays the Teltech BD5D. With its glass fibre fuselage and pre-covered foam wings, this looks a classy piece of kit. At 50" span, the kit comes complete with hardware and decals. This is one of those models that I would dearly love to see demonstrated in the air, as it is so different from the norm.
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It must be genetic. The father and son team of Tony & Anthony Hill both seem to share the same addiction for SE5A model. Between them they brought no less than three to fly. Here's Tony Senior with the largest of the trio, an 80" quarter-scale variant based on the DB kit. At 17½lb, this model performs as it should on an Astro 60 coupled to a 2.75:1 Superbox. With its 22x14 prop, the basic urge comes from 32 2400 cells.
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Desperately trying to free himself of the curse of the SE5A, Anthony Jr has forced himself to build a Bristol F2B from the Flair kit. To the eternal shame of his father, Anthony won the Scale event with this 76" model. Its 11 ¾ lb weight is no problem for the Astro 40, given that the drive is transmitted by a 3:1 gearbox and thence to an 18x12 prop. 24 2400 cells.
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Correx maestro Morgan Wood has been exploring the uses of this double-walled plastic material for a while now. Starting with the Mugi delta, he's progressed to the G10 prototype he's holding in the picture. The correx airframe weighs 6 oz, and is equipped with a S400 motor, 8x800AR cells and 6x3 prop. With an AUW of just over 1 lb, this quick 28" model calls for a steady eye in flight as you'd expect.
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<p>
No stranger to public acclaim is the Tupolev ANT 20 flying boat of Peter Angus. The sole fullsize prototype spanned some 210 feet and was flown from 1933 until its demise in 1935. Happily Peter's model is still in fine fettle today. 6xS400 7.2 volt motors are wired in parallel to 10 3000 NiMH cells, and turn 6x4 props. Unlike the original, which needed the extra power of the two piggy-back motors above the fuselage, those two are freewheeling dummies on Peter's 84" model.
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Mike Payne delighted the spectators with his own design torpedo-launching Fairey Swordfish. A Plettenburg 290/30/7 does the business on 15x2400 cells, by turning a 14x10 prop through a 3:1 gearbox.
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Dwarfed by the yellow bulk of his own-design Cessna C37, George Robson hefts its 10 lb weght with ease. A Pletti 330/A3 has the torque to direct drive the 15x8 prop, motivated by 24 cells.
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<p>
<b><big>Conclusion</big></b>
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<p>
My apologies to all those pilots of the many models that I've missed, and to the entrants in the informal competitions that ran alongside the non-stop sport flying.
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<p>
Above all, on behalf of all the fliers present, I like to thank the members of the Chester club for all their hard work in hosting this wonderful event.
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