I decided to assemble my 11 years old NIB Twin Otter last year this time. All was going well until the dreadful Covid(s) arrived so building was put on hold. However, during this lockdown (and previous one in November ‘20), I starting the work again. The job is virtually complete and I've done taxi run in my back garden and all is working well.

Hopefully whenever the lockdown ends and good flying day comes then hoping to maiden her. Meanwhile here are a few pics

A friend of mine presented me with a large ic model which his father's friend had built and he had no idea of the name or any other model specifications. The model was built with love and the modeller was a perfectionist that I could tell by looking at the model. It had a two or four stroke C90 ic engine and need less to say full of hangar rush and diesel gunge on both wings and tail plane. The model stayed in my garage for nearly 4 years and the condition of the model did not particularly inspired me to start working on it straight away.

During this Covid19 lockdown, I decided to have a look again. Took out the engine so that I can put an electric motor. Cabin section was weak so I re-glued all the woods and re-enforced it with some spruce.

The original wing and tail planes were retained by rubber bands. So that had to go. I'm using nylon bolts to hold them down. There were 90 degree bends on both rudder and elevator control rods so they had to go too. I'm using closed loops for rudder and direct connections to split elevator fron two 12 g MG servos. Also increased elevator by 10 mm. Elevators were binding so changed hinges with 30 mm Kavan hinges. The original hinges were thin plastic similar to that we find in most 50 inch foamy models. However, to make my life difficult, hinges were pinned with metal pins and flushed to the elevator. Removing them were not easy, if not impossible. After a lots of me thinkings, the answer was obvious, why not use Drummel...Continue Reading

Just received my Ranger.
The model looks good and building, or more like assembling is not an issue. It can be bolted together in less than two hours.

However, I don't like the colour scheme. Here are pics showing my new scheme in progress :
All green gone and replaced them wirh RED, my favourite colour.

A few more pics showing body work in progress.
Taxied her in my back garden.... all went very well.

Weather permitting, maiden tomorrow. Our grass runway is wet and a part is water logged. It should be ok for maiden but she will end up as a mucky girl

24 December 2019
Rain, Rain ..... no maiden today.
Tomorrow's weather is predicted to be good. So take 2 on Christmas Day .
Cheers
🎅🎄🎄

PS I've completed maiden. She is a pussycat but has a big presence in the air. More in the fms Ranger 1800 thread.

Hi Guys,

I've modded my Multiplex FunCub. This is a good model and flies very well as a "Fun" model. However, I wanted to use it as my FPV model so needed to strengthen the air-frame. TBH, I've successfully flown it as a FPV plane , it was my first FPV plane which I've taken off using goggs and landed as well. During those tests I found some weakness in the air-frame so as a winter project, I have strengthen the fuz using 1/32 ply strips on fuz and added trike undercarriage.

I've successfully maiden her and she flew like a dream and there were no motor vibration noise even at full throttle !!!

Here are some building pics ....Continue Reading

I've started making this cage as I feel the Lite ply cages comes with the model is too fragile. So I've discarded it and making a replica using 1/16 ply. Trust me, if you've to repair the lite ply cage at any stage then it's a REAL PITA and wish you had done it before. I'm future proofing myself.

Here are a few picture as I started building the cage. Pictures speaks volume. I'll add text only where needed.

A flicker free LED

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=7cIgQzSmnjQ

My TS now has a steerable nosewheel fitted yesterday. She now tracks brilliantly.

Here is a short vid:

TwinStar with Steerable Nosewheel (0 min 50 sec)

Cheers



UC updater 30 March 2015

I've now added u/c and its working fine. Here is a vid :

My TwinStar mod - UC added 15 March 2015 (5 min 24 sec)

...Continue Reading

After plenty of flying in September and October, I came to the conclusion that the current wing loading (22.5 oz/sq ft) would not allow me to fly the HK Storch at low speed, (even with flaps ) that I prefer to fly a Storch.

So decided building Depron wing and increase the wing span to 54 inch which would bring the model close to a scale Storch. This is my first attempt in building a Depron wing.

Pictures tell the rest. I was surprised being able to add Solafilm cover. This added torsional rigidity. The current wing loading is 16.60 oz/sq ft. This includes a 2200 mAh LiPo.

Now waiting for a decent day to come for flight tests.

Cheers



Maiden Flight 3 December 2014

So how was it ????

Well take-off was a virtual non-event - took off at half throttle. After that it seemed I've been flying altogether a different Storch. No tendency for stalling during turns !!! Most of my flying I did at 30-40 % throttle and she was flying slow and gracefully like a Storch.

Flew for about 5+ min - never a Storch felt or handled so good in my hands.

Only con - I think I used CG too forward so there was not much smooth elevator authority.

Landing was straight forward - came with wings perfectly level and at a very slow speed. So no serious problem there either. Pleased with the Depron wing and the wing loading 16.6 oz/ sq ft. Hopefully there will be vid in my next flight.

Cheers


9 January 2015

Here is the flying vid of Depronised HK...Continue Reading

Here are a few pic of my Tiger moths.

L to R - Phoenix TM(57"), Dynam TM (50") and Mercury (ca 1945) 33 inch.

Building Dynam Tiger Moth is a misnomer, it's akin to assembling a flat pack. Dynam even supplied a Philips screw driver so there not even need to buy one. A good pair of pliers is needed tho. The whole thing can me assembled in 2-4 hours.

The most tedious job is to fix the wing struts. I basically binned them and used my own method which allowed me to readjust the tensions, as and when needed.

I also had to rake forward the under carriage by an inch otherwise, like all other TM, she will nose over easily. A 4" vice is needed and the job can be done in 15 -20 min.

Engine cowling is like an egg shell - v fragile. Order a few extra which I've already done. Might line them with glass fibre and epoxy.

Here is the poem on Tiger (if anyone needs reminding):
http://www.daypoems.net/poems/441.html

Vid of maiden is here :

Maiden Flight Tiger Moth for YouTube 23 July 2014 (2 min 6 sec)

Second take off with more down trim added 23 July for youtube (1 min 7 sec)

...Continue Reading

My virtually od Storch (90 inch) still being built but weather is good for flying. So choose to change colour to HK Storch (42") to my favourite Swiss Air Force (1943) scheme.

A few pic attached to see the metamorphosis to a yellow colour.

Maiden yesterday - flew well (as expected) but needs CAR otherwise she has tendency to roll which can be off putting. Satisfied with her flying. Apart from colour, nothing else changed.

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...tid=6871370&d=
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...93811403449381

Here is my version.

You can tell - I enjoy flying and no time to tart up my Cat - she is an alley cat.

Cheers

Sad demise of Storch RIP :~(

17 November 2013

Unfortunately my Storch came to grief yesterday after she ploughed in to the ground from 15 feet. Pure pilot error - lost orientation - flying close to a brighter grey sky (where sun was) on a otherwise grey winter sky. The front end of the fuz and cabin virtually destroyed.

Prior to the incident she was flying really slow and low at not problem and club members were admiring her !!!

Well every cloud has a silver lining - I've already started building a ~90 inch wing for my Storch. I was also thinking that the current fuz might be slightly out of scale. So now I can build a proper scale fuz. but salvage some of the parts and use them in my Mark 2 Storch.

Cheers


2 November 2013

Now that winter is almost upon us, building works starts...

I've reassessed my Vmar Storch and feel that I can improve both her scale design and slow flying character.

Vmar Storch is not really a scale model but a models which resembles Storch. I'm reluctant to use the word "Semi- scale" even. Her wings have wrong aspect ration.

Having researched real Storch from various drawings and photographs, I've started building wings for the Storch which would be more close to a scale Storch. It would then bring down the wing loading from ~23 oz/sq ft to less than 15.5 oz/sq ft. This should improve her slow flying performance close to the real thing.

Happy to write that building has started and I've so far...Continue Reading

I've have attached a file describing my solution to the above problem which has been mentioned in Guardian thread in April 2013.

Hope it's useful - I certainly regained my confidence in G again.

Cheers

16 September 2013

The new version of the manual is now added.
Please note the main changes are in the Level and Trim setting sections and the rest is virtually unchanged.

Hope you find new version equally helpful

Cheers


There has been an error in cut and pasting of Trim and level setting. I'll correct it and resubmit the manual soon. I know about 130 members have viewed this manual since 1st September. Please bear with me and it will be here later on.

Thanx.

AK

Here is my Final Version (1 September 2013) - written by a fixed wing flyer for fixed wing flyers.

E&O is expected but if you do find any then please bring it to my attention which will be gratefully acknowledged.

I'll update the doc from time to time, if necessary.

The Step-by-Step guide is correct in the respect that by following each step correctly, you'll be able to carry out successful flight tests. I strongly urge you to take your time over the manual and please don't be in a hurry or skip any step.

I've also given check boxes so that you can keep a tab of everything in every single step.

Cheers

Jamara "ISLANDER" a twin electric semi-scale model
I thought I start a build log on this model from Jamara. There was a build thread a while back but nothing updated.... so here I go....

Why I'm building it? This is a precursor to my Hanger 9 "Twin Otter". Since that's going to take a long time to finish so I thought I start another ARTF model which I can glue together and fly quickly.

The model details for those who're interest, suggest visit :
http://www.neuershop.jamara.com/Islander-EP_1

There is also a vid worth watching :
http://www.movies.jamara-modelltechn...x.php?movie=38

(music can be torturous )

My first impression is that it's a good kit [made in Taiwan(?) to German spec] and all bits fit together well.

Modification I've made so far :

1. Reinforced ribs 2 and 3 on both wings with 1/16 ply - this is needed to ensure it can take occasional heavy(ish) landings or taxing on rough ground.

2. Wing servo tray reinforced with a 1/4 x 1/4 spruce since there was springiness on the tray.

3. Wing rest on the fuz strengthen with 1/16 ply and 1/8 balsa.

4. Nose cone (inner) - added balsa to strengthen it, probably this was not necessary.

5. Elevator and rudder servo tray strengthen with 1/16 ply.

6. 1/16 ply added to half ribs where motor tray sits. That's done for both wings.

7. Wing joiners - not sure if I want to keep it as a 1-piece wing but may consider making it as a 2-piece wing for ease of carrying in small...Continue Reading