Introduction

A few months ago I was browsing the HobbyKing Website and came across this video for the new Durafly 1100mm range of warbirds: the video showed a T-28 and an A-1 Skyraider. At the time I was teaching a friend to fly and though the T-28 would be a good step from high wing trainers (and it proved to be), so bought myself one. As soon as it arrived it was apparent that this was a higher quality product than one would normally expect. In fact, so impresses was I, that I hoped back on the computer to order the A-1. Except it was not out yet, the video had acted as a teaser, if you will. So I patiently waited, and waited until eventually it was released: I'm pretty sure I was one of the first to order the plane! Of course the waiting had to continue whilst the plane was held in UK customs for 2 weeks untill today when I got home there was a lovely cardboard box waiting for me... Let the fun begin.

First Impressions
Much like the T-28, the A-1 arrived in a foam lined card board box and all the components individually bagged and absolutely everything was taped down: it took me about 10 minutes to pry everything away from the foam box and get it all laid out. Down in the depths of the box you will find a manual: this contains some useful information about CG etc and on installing a UBEC (more on that later). but apart from the data, the manual describes how to build the RTF version: this is ARF - and to be honest if you have ever built a plane before it...Continue Reading

Though the rain has momentarily ceased, the wind is still up around 15mph and gusty, so still no flying... Never mind though, I have spent my weekend being productive and building myself a proper work area in my parents our buildings. They are having their utility room renovated which has meant there are some kitchen cabinets being removed, and some work surface too. As you can see from the pictures, before I was working on a table and a glass desk at the back of the garage, that has now changed

The whole thing only too me 5 hours, and now I have a great work area with fantastic natural light, loads of storage and electricity - oh and carpet! I am sitting here at the moment and it's a great place to work, and having this facility will obviously improve my flying.... that is how it works, right?

Comments welcome - anything I am missing?...Continue Reading

It's now May - I feel the need to remind myself of that because looking out the window you wouldn't know it; we have had 5 weeks of pretty much constant rain. After one of the driest March on record we had the wettest April ever recorded, the south east of the UK received 145% expected rainfall and as I sit here there are still flood warnings in place for much of the south of the country. All of this means that time is being spent sorting things out and preparing for when the weather finally breaks!

So what have I been doing with my time? Tinkering, of course - and spending lots of money on gear and planes. I have added a backlight to my DX6i, using the Turnigy 9X kit from HK, the mod is simple enough, just a few screws and a bit of soldering and the result is excellent - I can finally seethe screen in all light. The DX6i went under the knife again today as I modded a LiPo transmitter pack, I have so many LiPo packs sitting about and figured it would save me having to buy more AAs or rechargeables, again it was simple enough to do, a few screws and a bit of soldering

Continuing with the transmitter theme I am looking at finally upgrading the DX6 to a DX8, the DX6i is fine but I do need a couple more channels for some of the scale stuff I have coming; will think about selling the DX6i to partly fund a replacement DX8 - hopefully the mods will add value.

I have had a clear out of the workshop, got round to tidying up the rubbish that one accumulates over the...Continue Reading