RC Boat goes pop (0 min 53 sec)

I managed to stumble across a Top Flite almost ready to cover kit around 15 months ago. It was just what I was looking for to convert to electric. Great kit, great size, perfect. I had been following Ron101's thread which has a heap of great info and tips on putting this bird together with an electric setup.
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=947776

My original plan was to build a Reno Racer, Cloud Dancer as I quite liked the scheme, and it didn't require any major modifications to the airframe to get it looking right. Then I saw scatsob's thread on making a Contra-rotating Spitfire
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1518987
He did some amazing work to a relatively cheap hobby king motor to turn it from an average motor to a great motor. Well, one thing led to another and after a few PM's he agreed to modify another one for me! I couldn't believe my luck. He has done an amazing job putting it together.

So the realisation of being able to build Precious Metal became a reality. This is where I will update my build progress over the next few months............

I thought I'd start a list of the planes I really want to have in my hangar. It's so easy to get distracted with all the cheap foamies available these days, I figured a list might keep me on track
Pitts Special
Bugatti R 100 (or P100 whichever you prefer!)
P-51 Precious Metal
F-104 Starfighter
F-16 in General Dynamics colours

There are plenty more, but I seem to come back to these more regularly than others.

Here you go Dave. The Aussie Mirage ARDU colours. There are plenty more pics on the web. Looks pretty good!

Here you go BJ!

I'm up at mum and dad's again. Dad passed away last night. The normal 2 hour drive felt like much more than that when I came up with my sister last night. He looked very peaceful, and even had a cheeky smirk on his face still. I'm just so glad I got the chance to spend some great time with dad last week for a few days. I already look back on that time with a lot of happiness.

Dad spent yesterday afternoon with some people he had worked and trained with in his long career in the airline industry. Although he wasn't talking, mum said he was still smiling and nodding his head while the guys were reminiscing about their younger days.

He gave mum a hug around 8pm, and was gone not long after that. It's nice to know that he was with it and not in pain right until th every end.

Miss you already dad.

Well I got a phone call from Mum Thursday afternoon 6th May saying I should come up and see Dad. It was now the time to talk to Dad before it was too late. There was a lot of crying, which funnily enough made everyone feel a lot better. I'm glad I came. I've learnt a lot about Dad in the last 2 days and so glad we talked about the things we did. Now that all that hard stuff is out of the way it's great to just be able to sit and spend time with him when he is awake, and enjoy it. It's really important to me to have this time with dad filled with good memories. Honesty and truth are good for the soul.

Now, I know you're all wondering how the plane is. It flies beautifully!! Managed to put the last few bits on the floats up at Mum and Dads place and we flew it late yesterday. Tracked on the water incredibly straight. Was beautiful to watch once it got up on step. Landings are a little tricky as the floats don't extend very far past the front of the fuse. Nose overs are pretty easy. But it self rights itself which is very lucky. I have a few pics and a video to upload when I get home tonight.

Getting this plane in the air with Dad watching was incredibly satisfying. It's been a wonderful couple of days.

Love you Dad.

Ok, I'm obviously not much of a blogger. I've been on RC Groups for nearly 4 years now, and this is my third entry Words and me have never been great together. In primary school, I once did a book review on a Charlie Brown comic book. No kidding. I guess that's why I ended up being a photographer. Funny how life works.

Anyways, I'm starting this series of posts as a kind of therapy of sorts. My dad is having an almighty battle with cancer at the moment. Chemo stopped a couple of weeks ago because it wasn't working. Dad's positivity even at this stage is pretty incredible. He believes he can fight it off, I hope he is right.

So, I should do some talking about Rc planes. Dad was a member of an RC club when I was around 12 years old for a few years. I didn't really get it back then. So never really got involved that much. A couple of years ago I thought it would be a nice idea to make dad a trainer type plane out of foam that he could re-learn flying on and we could enjoy the hobby together. I built him a BluBaby from Tony65x55 plans. https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=681556 Through engine upgrades, working out deans plugs/batteries, moving house, life etc etc, it didn't see much airtime. The rudder got broken one day and was stashed away somewhere safe while he started to learn to fly real planes!

The last time dad came to my place he gave me a set of floats he had made a looooong time ago. I thought, cool, I'm sure I can find...Continue Reading

Some hawk...Continue Reading

pics gone.