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The last year or so (in which I turned 75 years of age 
saw my model aircraft flying sink to an all-time low. The local weather has been atrocious (windy and wet) but more importantly, my confidence as a model pilot dropped due to lack of stick time. I have two or three models on-the-go but have found little excitement in getting back into them. I may find some enthusiasm again so they can sit and wait 
Modelling has not stopped however, as I purchased a kit for a static model of a fully rigged sailing ship - Cook's Endeavour! I'd half built a similar model some years ago but life events got in the way (as they often do) and I passed on the uncompleted and somewhat damaged model to a friend before I left Australia and returned to my home country of New Zealand. That model took almost all of my shed-time for about 9 months and I found the experience wonderful. The Endeavour model was completed only a week or so ago and now graces a room in our home in Inglewood, New Zealand.
I then discovered a park in a nearby town which held a scale boat regatta over several days with yachts, and importantly, electric powered scale ships, boats, tugs, battleships etc all enthusiastically piloted around the park lake and crowds looking on. I was hooked
So, after finishing the Endeavour, I searched around for a powered scale boat that appealed to me and had some relevance to my past 75 years! Immediately I thought of the WW2 Fairmile patrol launch used in many British Commonwealth countries - a vessel that I'd seen back in the 50s, and which many of were converted and used as ferries in NZ harbours.
I'll post a link when I start the build thread.
So, I've not left rcgroups but I'll be starting a build log up in the scale boats section shortly. Just a subtle change in direction
Cheers, Pat
saw my model aircraft flying sink to an all-time low. The local weather has been atrocious (windy and wet) but more importantly, my confidence as a model pilot dropped due to lack of stick time. I have two or three models on-the-go but have found little excitement in getting back into them. I may find some enthusiasm again so they can sit and wait Modelling has not stopped however, as I purchased a kit for a static model of a fully rigged sailing ship - Cook's Endeavour! I'd half built a similar model some years ago but life events got in the way (as they often do) and I passed on the uncompleted and somewhat damaged model to a friend before I left Australia and returned to my home country of New Zealand. That model took almost all of my shed-time for about 9 months and I found the experience wonderful. The Endeavour model was completed only a week or so ago and now graces a room in our home in Inglewood, New Zealand.
I then discovered a park in a nearby town which held a scale boat regatta over several days with yachts, and importantly, electric powered scale ships, boats, tugs, battleships etc all enthusiastically piloted around the park lake and crowds looking on. I was hooked
So, after finishing the Endeavour, I searched around for a powered scale boat that appealed to me and had some relevance to my past 75 years! Immediately I thought of the WW2 Fairmile patrol launch used in many British Commonwealth countries - a vessel that I'd seen back in the 50s, and which many of were converted and used as ferries in NZ harbours.I'll post a link when I start the build thread.
So, I've not left rcgroups but I'll be starting a build log up in the scale boats section shortly. Just a subtle change in direction
Cheers, Pat
Life has a way of getting a bit hectic at times and 2018, with a wedding, two OS holidays, Xmas and visits to new relatives has left little time for a lot of model building But, life is great and I'm slowly getting organised. One thing I hadn't counted on was losing a bit of confidence in my flying! In the last 2 years or so, I've flown maybe a dozen times and now I have joined the local club, I have to do a 'flying test' just to show I can. So I must brush up my flagging skills a little and get on with it!
But building is my love (in the modelling sense) and I needed a smaller easy-to-fly machine to use at the local sports park and I was reluctant to buy an ARF so scanning back, my best model that taught me all the basics was a small Telemaster! At less than 48", it was small but very rugged and as I recall, easy to build so, again, I am doing a repeat build of an old favourite Another repeat is my 60" Lysander from an old free-flight plan plus my entry into the Peter Rake Memorial Build-off - the 53" Great Lakes Trainer.
So here we are with a big 67" Se5a in progress (Gary Sunderland design), a 58" Pietenpol Aircamper (by Peter Rake and almost finished), A Westland Lysander fuselage mostly complete, A tiny 28" French oddity (WEL-10) another P.R. design and now, a start on a tough little Telemaster! I forgot to mention a 60" Maule M7 foamy (with floats) - an ARF in my workshop. Sacrilege!
My cup runneth over, and my bench also
So here a a few pictures of the Telemaster which I must build quickly to 'get my hand in' again......
Pat
But, life is great and I'm slowly getting organised. One thing I hadn't counted on was losing a bit of confidence in my flying! In the last 2 years or so, I've flown maybe a dozen times and now I have joined the local club, I have to do a 'flying test' just to show I can. So I must brush up my flagging skills a little and get on with it!But building is my love (in the modelling sense) and I needed a smaller easy-to-fly machine to use at the local sports park and I was reluctant to buy an ARF so scanning back, my best model that taught me all the basics was a small Telemaster! At less than 48", it was small but very rugged and as I recall, easy to build so, again, I am doing a repeat build of an old favourite
Another repeat is my 60" Lysander from an old free-flight plan plus my entry into the Peter Rake Memorial Build-off - the 53" Great Lakes Trainer.So here we are with a big 67" Se5a in progress (Gary Sunderland design), a 58" Pietenpol Aircamper (by Peter Rake and almost finished), A Westland Lysander fuselage mostly complete, A tiny 28" French oddity (WEL-10) another P.R. design and now, a start on a tough little Telemaster! I forgot to mention a 60" Maule M7 foamy (with floats) - an ARF in my workshop. Sacrilege!
My cup runneth over, and my bench also
So here a a few pictures of the Telemaster which I must build quickly to 'get my hand in' again......
Pat
The rush and bustle, not to mention the total disruption to my life over the last 18 months or so has been the reason for not updating this blog recently Inevitably, life issues, especially a new life in another country has meant that my modelling went into limbo for a while. After nearly two years since the passing of my dear Liz, I have found total happiness and a renewed reason for being 'normal' again so here we are looking at another chapter in the great adventure we call 'Life'.
Back to modelling. I had moved back to my home country of New Zealand principally to be among family after my wife passed away but it has proved to be much more interesting - a new partner, a new workshop, some new projects on the go and best of all, a new lease on life.
I have three models - one flying, one getting close to finished, and of course, a much more ambitious project in the very early stages.......in order - Peter Rakes little WEL-10 getting me back to stick twiddling; Peters He51 started a few months ago is being covered and painted, plus a very ambitious 1/5 SE5a from a Gary Sunderland plan. And, of course, several ideas in my head about others...........one is allowed to dream.
We have bought a new house with plenty of workshop space, a large sports field nearby for casual flying and the local Flying Club only about 10 minute's drive away. The biggest downside is having to restock much of my consumables that I'd given away before leaving Australia. Sourcing new supplies such as wood, rubber tyre material, paints etc has been tricky but most things are available from local mail-order stores which, in this smallish country, can provide an almost 'next day delivery' service
The other thing that has made me happy is seeing my beloved models being continued, finished and flown by various folk who took them on. It is very satisfying to know that the hard work and passion that was expended is being continued. Thanks guys.
I'll add some pictures here shortly but the sun is up, the day is fine and a huge Spring garden beckons.....
Pat
Inevitably, life issues, especially a new life in another country has meant that my modelling went into limbo for a while. After nearly two years since the passing of my dear Liz, I have found total happiness and a renewed reason for being 'normal' again so here we are looking at another chapter in the great adventure we call 'Life'.Back to modelling. I had moved back to my home country of New Zealand principally to be among family after my wife passed away but it has proved to be much more interesting - a new partner, a new workshop, some new projects on the go and best of all, a new lease on life.
I have three models - one flying, one getting close to finished, and of course, a much more ambitious project in the very early stages.......in order - Peter Rakes little WEL-10 getting me back to stick twiddling; Peters He51 started a few months ago is being covered and painted, plus a very ambitious 1/5 SE5a from a Gary Sunderland plan. And, of course, several ideas in my head about others...........one is allowed to dream.
We have bought a new house with plenty of workshop space, a large sports field nearby for casual flying and the local Flying Club only about 10 minute's drive away. The biggest downside is having to restock much of my consumables that I'd given away before leaving Australia. Sourcing new supplies such as wood, rubber tyre material, paints etc has been tricky but most things are available from local mail-order stores which, in this smallish country, can provide an almost 'next day delivery' service
The other thing that has made me happy is seeing my beloved models being continued, finished and flown by various folk who took them on. It is very satisfying to know that the hard work and passion that was expended is being continued. Thanks guys.
I'll add some pictures here shortly but the sun is up, the day is fine and a huge Spring garden beckons.....
Pat
Hello all. After the topsy-turvy start to 2016, life has slowly started to assume something close to normalcy. Normal, but lacking at least one major activity, - RC Modelling 
Not that I have given up on this great hobby but rather, it has been put on hold while I sort out more immediate aspects of my disrupted life!
The biggest change, is my planning for a permanent return to my home country - New Zealand! This has been an intention for some time now and having found a suitable situation in New Zealand where I can live and continue my various hobbies, I am now faced with the huge task of moving ESSENTIAL personal stuff to a new country.
Moving house is never an easy or stress-free task, but I have made the bold decision to virtually 'Start all over again' - quite a bold decision. I feel that fresh start in ALL aspects of my life will help to clear the air, renew my enthusiasm for modelling, art, music and all the other aspects of living that are important to me.
Having made that decision, there is much to do - finish renovating my home for sale, transporting want-to-keep items to New Zealand, disposing of furniture and household good not wanted in my new life, AND, of more relevance here - what to do with the finished models (and unfinished ones) that are rather delicate to move - esp. several of them.
It is with a lot of reservation, but consistent with the 'New Start' reasoning, I am offering ALL my current projects for sale
This incudes the well-known 1/6 Fokker D....Continue Reading
Not that I have given up on this great hobby but rather, it has been put on hold while I sort out more immediate aspects of my disrupted life!The biggest change, is my planning for a permanent return to my home country - New Zealand! This has been an intention for some time now and having found a suitable situation in New Zealand where I can live and continue my various hobbies, I am now faced with the huge task of moving ESSENTIAL personal stuff to a new country.
Moving house is never an easy or stress-free task, but I have made the bold decision to virtually 'Start all over again' - quite a bold decision. I feel that fresh start in ALL aspects of my life will help to clear the air, renew my enthusiasm for modelling, art, music and all the other aspects of living that are important to me.
Having made that decision, there is much to do - finish renovating my home for sale, transporting want-to-keep items to New Zealand, disposing of furniture and household good not wanted in my new life, AND, of more relevance here - what to do with the finished models (and unfinished ones) that are rather delicate to move - esp. several of them.
It is with a lot of reservation, but consistent with the 'New Start' reasoning, I am offering ALL my current projects for sale
This incudes the well-known 1/6 Fokker D....Continue Reading
I'll try not to be too emotional here but the worst event of my 70 plus years was the passing away of my dear wife Liz. After a horrible year of up-and-down health issues, her frail heart finally gave way and she died after an hour or so of discomfort and thankfully, without pain....I was shattered. We had been through much hope and worry over the last year or so but this was not the expected outcome. On the 28th of December it was all over and I faced 2016 on my own for the first time in over 40 years
I guess that, like everyone in this situation, the new year brings a massive rethink about the way ahead, priorities shift dramatically and almost every aspect of one's life is reassessed. But it's not all doom and gloom. Amid the inevitable bouts of sadness (and not a few tears) a few aspects of one's life can be modified, simplified and maybe even improved. A shared desire of Liz and myself was always to de-clutter our way of life, our penchant for collecting anything that was interesting, and the accumulation of the paraphernalia that inevitably grows along with any passions - for my dear wife it was craft and antiques, for myself, modelling, art, music and Scifi! I really don't need three electronic piano keyboards (two are in storage), hundreds of old picture frames, or several antique dinner sets.....etc!
Needless to say, the local charity shops, book fair organisers and the local rubbish dump are doing well!
While I haven't got back to modelling again yet, I have...Continue Reading
I guess that, like everyone in this situation, the new year brings a massive rethink about the way ahead, priorities shift dramatically and almost every aspect of one's life is reassessed. But it's not all doom and gloom. Amid the inevitable bouts of sadness (and not a few tears) a few aspects of one's life can be modified, simplified and maybe even improved. A shared desire of Liz and myself was always to de-clutter our way of life, our penchant for collecting anything that was interesting, and the accumulation of the paraphernalia that inevitably grows along with any passions - for my dear wife it was craft and antiques, for myself, modelling, art, music and Scifi! I really don't need three electronic piano keyboards (two are in storage), hundreds of old picture frames, or several antique dinner sets.....etc!
Needless to say, the local charity shops, book fair organisers and the local rubbish dump are doing well!
While I haven't got back to modelling again yet, I have...Continue Reading
Well, not really a new direction but a serious reconsideration of where I'm going, what I want out of the hobby and (again) a reappraisal of what I have on my modelling plate!
The dramas of the last 12 months has left me rather shaken and the grim realisation that I will probably not finish, fly or fabricate the many models I've started or have dreamed of starting. There are quite a few I have that are attractive to have as decoration (uggghh I hear some say) and as such are being decommissioned without ever flying and have been offered to friends (and most have been accepted) as gifts.
The models being given away include my old Morane Saulnier MSAI, the Westland Lysander, an RTF Vampire (hobbyking), a couple of unstarted kits. The Lysander and MSAI served their purpose as challenging builds but my interest is gone - this happens frequently nowdays
What do I have flyable? A Fokker D.VII, Great Lakes Trainer, Ryan PT22, Polikarpov PO-2 and the tiny Moska - all Peter Rake designs.
Unfinished but being kept are my Avro Anson and Bristol F2b 'Brisfish'. Partly started is the ARC Camel. One model I hummed and haa-ed about was my very small start on the Dennis Bryant 1/4 SE5a. This can result in a beautiful model but I was finding it just a bit daunting - especially after the demise of my BUSA SPAD However, as I am rather fond of the SE5a, I am considering updating Kay Bengston's 1/6 scale design to more faithfully reflect the Replicraft drawings and use the Bryant...Continue Reading
The dramas of the last 12 months has left me rather shaken and the grim realisation that I will probably not finish, fly or fabricate the many models I've started or have dreamed of starting. There are quite a few I have that are attractive to have as decoration (uggghh I hear some say) and as such are being decommissioned without ever flying and have been offered to friends (and most have been accepted) as gifts.
The models being given away include my old Morane Saulnier MSAI, the Westland Lysander, an RTF Vampire (hobbyking), a couple of unstarted kits. The Lysander and MSAI served their purpose as challenging builds but my interest is gone - this happens frequently nowdays
What do I have flyable? A Fokker D.VII, Great Lakes Trainer, Ryan PT22, Polikarpov PO-2 and the tiny Moska - all Peter Rake designs.
Unfinished but being kept are my Avro Anson and Bristol F2b 'Brisfish'. Partly started is the ARC Camel. One model I hummed and haa-ed about was my very small start on the Dennis Bryant 1/4 SE5a. This can result in a beautiful model but I was finding it just a bit daunting - especially after the demise of my BUSA SPAD
However, as I am rather fond of the SE5a, I am considering updating Kay Bengston's 1/6 scale design to more faithfully reflect the Replicraft drawings and use the Bryant...Continue Reading
As I intimated previously, some rather severe health issues affected the person closest to me in life and resulted in nearly two months in hospital for my wife with severe heart problems. All very disturbing and faith-rattling! - faith in myself to handle all this drama But we have turned the corner albeit somewhat shakily, and have made minor dabbles back into model building.
First task on returning to the shed after several months absence was to finish off a rather quickly built Ryan PT-22. Peter Rake's prototype build had fallen through it seems so I tentatively offered my model as a substitute - warts and all! This, of course, meant having to finish it off properly with a spinner, windscreens, rigging etc - stuff I'd probably not got around to.
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...highlight=pt22
The biggest event in recent weeks was the demise of my 1/4 scale BUSA SPAD
A failed aileron servo was to blame and it took the wind out of my sails completely. Mostly doubts about my ability to cope with this sort of drama right after the family health issues - but I survived and am currently surveying the 2 or 3 unfinished jobs to find inspiration! I hope I do. Soon!
SPAD: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1072240
Pat
But we have turned the corner albeit somewhat shakily, and have made minor dabbles back into model building.First task on returning to the shed after several months absence was to finish off a rather quickly built Ryan PT-22. Peter Rake's prototype build had fallen through it seems so I tentatively offered my model as a substitute - warts and all! This, of course, meant having to finish it off properly with a spinner, windscreens, rigging etc - stuff I'd probably not got around to.
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...highlight=pt22
The biggest event in recent weeks was the demise of my 1/4 scale BUSA SPAD
A failed aileron servo was to blame and it took the wind out of my sails completely. Mostly doubts about my ability to cope with this sort of drama right after the family health issues - but I survived and am currently surveying the 2 or 3 unfinished jobs to find inspiration! I hope I do. Soon!SPAD: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1072240
Pat
The year took an unexpected turn with some severe family health problems - bad enough to slow down my often manic approach to modelling for a while. The Brisfish is on hold although almost finished and the Anson is my only project getting any attention. Does me good to slow down a bit and ponder my moves more carefully
A result of my more considered modelling plans is to narrow down the bucket list a little. I still have a few projects I'd like to start considering but only one new one is on the horizon.
I mentioned before that I'd like to build another 1/4 scale model and have decided on a familiar, 'been-done-to-death' model but one which I've always liked - the Se5a.
Among my previous builds have been a 36" and a 54" - both Peter Rake sport scale designs that flew superbly but which have both passed on one way or another
A perusal of available scale plans has resulted in a set of Dennis Bryant's drawings which should form the basis of a future project. It is a very complex model but one which can be lightened a little for electric power and, oh boy, detailed to death!
The availability of the fabulous Replicraft drawings is an added bonus. But that is down the track, not necessarily until the Anson is finished but certainly in the more distant future.
Watch this space (or the electric scratch built scale forum)
Pat
A result of my more considered modelling plans is to narrow down the bucket list a little. I still have a few projects I'd like to start considering but only one new one is on the horizon.
I mentioned before that I'd like to build another 1/4 scale model and have decided on a familiar, 'been-done-to-death' model but one which I've always liked - the Se5a.
Among my previous builds have been a 36" and a 54" - both Peter Rake sport scale designs that flew superbly but which have both passed on one way or another
A perusal of available scale plans has resulted in a set of Dennis Bryant's drawings which should form the basis of a future project. It is a very complex model but one which can be lightened a little for electric power and, oh boy, detailed to death!The availability of the fabulous Replicraft drawings is an added bonus. But that is down the track, not necessarily until the Anson is finished but certainly in the more distant future.
Watch this space (or the electric scratch built scale forum
)Pat
Like any scale model builder, I have a seemingly bottomless bucket-list and sorting out what is likely to be looked into as a model subject is ongoing.
Obviously I have a major long-term build in the 84" Avro Anson and the current quick-build of a new model of Peter Rake's F2b in the disguise of the 'Brisfish'. This model is my first real use of Solartex - maybe overkill on a 67" 8 lb model but it is good experience.
Then I may get back to do the rear fuselage covering on the Anson using the Polyspan and Solartex skills I have learned (or not).
After the 1/4 scale SPAD build, I have a yearning for another 1/4 scale WW1 machine and am looking for a plan that is highly detailed, highly regarded and highly difficult I believe I've found something and not having looked at a Dennis Bryant design, have ordered a plan set for perusal. But more of that later......
Another aircraft that I'd like to build, maybe a smaller, simpler one is the big, ugly between-the-wars Vickers Vildebeest or Vincent in RNZAF colours. (my current avatar) I have small free-flight rubber plan and may slightly expand that and draw up my own plans for a build after the style of the Polikarpov Po-2 I built last year.
All dream-stuff at the moment but dreaming is good too
Pat
Obviously I have a major long-term build in the 84" Avro Anson and the current quick-build of a new model of Peter Rake's F2b in the disguise of the 'Brisfish'. This model is my first real use of Solartex - maybe overkill on a 67" 8 lb model but it is good experience.
Then I may get back to do the rear fuselage covering on the Anson using the Polyspan and Solartex skills I have learned (or not).
After the 1/4 scale SPAD build, I have a yearning for another 1/4 scale WW1 machine and am looking for a plan that is highly detailed, highly regarded and highly difficult
I believe I've found something and not having looked at a Dennis Bryant design, have ordered a plan set for perusal. But more of that later......Another aircraft that I'd like to build, maybe a smaller, simpler one is the big, ugly between-the-wars Vickers Vildebeest or Vincent in RNZAF colours. (my current avatar) I have small free-flight rubber plan and may slightly expand that and draw up my own plans for a build after the style of the Polikarpov Po-2 I built last year.
All dream-stuff at the moment but dreaming is good too
Pat
No, no resolutions - I never follow them through anyway
However, as I get a little older, I become a bit circumspect about what unfinished projects are still laying around the workshop and garage and realise some hard decisions need to be made (I've done this purging thing a few times before).
Because, building is my passion and flying less so, there isn't a clear-cut goal of 'hurry up and get it built so I can fly it' In fact it is often 'this is building too quickly - and I like what I'm doing a lot'. The end result is many models started get to the interesting phase and then lose their appeal (for me). Sadly, this has happened to a couple of my models that were started some years ago and which have been cluttering up my limited storage space waiting their turn on the bench. As much as I try to convince myself that their turn will come, I know deep down that many other projects are in my sights and spending more time on the uninteresting old ones will not result in much satisfaction.
It must be said that ALL my unfinished models have given lots of building satisfaction and have left me with a better understanding of problem-solving, new techniques and generally greater modelling experience. So after all that self-indulgent waffle, what is being given the 'Cease and Desist' treatment.
My rather ambitious He-111 was built from old plans and could still be hacked into a reasonable model. The rather complex 'glass house' cockpit suffered a bit of damage in transit to our new...Continue Reading
However, as I get a little older, I become a bit circumspect about what unfinished projects are still laying around the workshop and garage and realise some hard decisions need to be made (I've done this purging thing a few times before).
Because, building is my passion and flying less so, there isn't a clear-cut goal of 'hurry up and get it built so I can fly it'
In fact it is often 'this is building too quickly - and I like what I'm doing a lot'. The end result is many models started get to the interesting phase and then lose their appeal (for me). Sadly, this has happened to a couple of my models that were started some years ago and which have been cluttering up my limited storage space waiting their turn on the bench. As much as I try to convince myself that their turn will come, I know deep down that many other projects are in my sights and spending more time on the uninteresting old ones will not result in much satisfaction.It must be said that ALL my unfinished models have given lots of building satisfaction and have left me with a better understanding of problem-solving, new techniques and generally greater modelling experience. So after all that self-indulgent waffle, what is being given the 'Cease and Desist' treatment.
My rather ambitious He-111 was built from old plans and could still be hacked into a reasonable model. The rather complex 'glass house' cockpit suffered a bit of damage in transit to our new...Continue Reading
At the beginning of 2015, I paused to try and remember what had I done last year?
It slowly came back - the scale build-off and the great little Polikarpov that Peter Rake designed and I built - a delightful project of an aircraft that had appealed to me for some time. I loved the fast build and had time to try a few simple detail ideas.
Then I got a burst of enthusiasm over the big Hutson Anson. A lot of frustration working from old plans ('80's) and fair-to-awful laser cut parts (always dicey when cut to hand-drawn plans) and new territory with a biggish model, but it was a challenge and involved engineering and woodwork and a subject I adored so progress was fast.
The Anson gave up time after a few months and a previously started Lysander was almost completed (just some servo wires to the wings to sort out). I need the experience with Polyspan to do many awkward panels on the Anson and so decided to practice on Lizzie first. I am almost sure I can do what I want on the Anson now.
Now throw in a Rake Ryan PT-22 which was built and flown in only a few weeks and all that is left is a big effort on the 1/4 scale SPAD XIII. The SPAD hasn't officially flown but it has been fast-taxied and has gained an altitude of two or three feet before I noticed one of the wheels had fallen apart and so was promptly landed while I still had some strip left Ne wheels have been fitted and await my temperament etc to prevail.......
That just about sums 2014 up! Add into the mix, a bunch of annoying health issues for my wife and myself, a lot of home renovation and gardening and I was running out of steam - rapidly! Consequently 2015 has been rather slow so far - my long awaited desire to paint a 'Brisfish' version of the Bristol F2b fighter has been started and some hard decisions about old projects made.
So that is all very much for-what-its-worth sort of stuff.
Pat
It slowly came back - the scale build-off and the great little Polikarpov that Peter Rake designed and I built - a delightful project of an aircraft that had appealed to me for some time. I loved the fast build and had time to try a few simple detail ideas.
Then I got a burst of enthusiasm over the big Hutson Anson. A lot of frustration working from old plans ('80's) and fair-to-awful laser cut parts (always dicey when cut to hand-drawn plans) and new territory with a biggish model, but it was a challenge and involved engineering and woodwork and a subject I adored so progress was fast.
The Anson gave up time after a few months and a previously started Lysander was almost completed (just some servo wires to the wings to sort out). I need the experience with Polyspan to do many awkward panels on the Anson and so decided to practice on Lizzie first. I am almost sure I can do what I want on the Anson now.
Now throw in a Rake Ryan PT-22 which was built and flown in only a few weeks and all that is left is a big effort on the 1/4 scale SPAD XIII. The SPAD hasn't officially flown but it has been fast-taxied and has gained an altitude of two or three feet before I noticed one of the wheels had fallen apart and so was promptly landed while I still had some strip left
Ne wheels have been fitted and await my temperament etc to prevail.......That just about sums 2014 up! Add into the mix, a bunch of annoying health issues for my wife and myself, a lot of home renovation and gardening and I was running out of steam - rapidly! Consequently 2015 has been rather slow so far - my long awaited desire to paint a 'Brisfish' version of the Bristol F2b fighter has been started and some hard decisions about old projects made.
So that is all very much for-what-its-worth sort of stuff.
Pat
One of the many joys of having retired is the ability to make ones decisions based almost entirely on personal needs and desires While still a working person (and working fairly intensely) a recreational activity was anything not connected to my trade/profession. Now, when my major activity is model-building (and home duties) I still need a break from that intense activity and in Springtime here in Australia, the answer usually is gardening, home maintenance, getting out a bit more etc.
So what has this to do with modelling? I notice most of my Northern Hemisphere compatriots treat Winter as the 'building season' and have a natural break from glue sniffing and #11 blade wielding in Summer. Not so here in Oz! Consequently, my intense involvement with major building projects results in a need for small breaks in focus. 2014 saw me call a temporary halt to my Westland Lysander, which in itself was really only a trial of Duncan Hutson-style design and would I like it, and a frantic few months building the little Polikarpov Po-2. When that was over, my excitement over the Lysander did not rekindle (it may later) and the almost-done 1/4 SPAD was revisited for a while but lurking in the background was the Avro Anson for which I'd been putting together a kit of bits for a couple of years. That has had an intense few months getting to a mostly-built stage but Spring intervened and along with garden/home activities, I needed a small, non-threatening model to keep the CA flowing.
...Continue Reading
While still a working person (and working fairly intensely) a recreational activity was anything not connected to my trade/profession. Now, when my major activity is model-building (and home duties) I still need a break from that intense activity and in Springtime here in Australia, the answer usually is gardening, home maintenance, getting out a bit more etc.So what has this to do with modelling? I notice most of my Northern Hemisphere compatriots treat Winter as the 'building season' and have a natural break from glue sniffing and #11 blade wielding in Summer. Not so here in Oz! Consequently, my intense involvement with major building projects results in a need for small breaks in focus. 2014 saw me call a temporary halt to my Westland Lysander, which in itself was really only a trial of Duncan Hutson-style design and would I like it, and a frantic few months building the little Polikarpov Po-2. When that was over, my excitement over the Lysander did not rekindle (it may later) and the almost-done 1/4 SPAD was revisited for a while but lurking in the background was the Avro Anson for which I'd been putting together a kit of bits for a couple of years. That has had an intense few months getting to a mostly-built stage but Spring intervened and along with garden/home activities, I needed a small, non-threatening model to keep the CA flowing.
...Continue Reading
After the rather manic effort of getting the little Polikarpov PO-2 (Polly) built, flown, judged and winning (thanks Pete) , it was obviously time to get back onto a major project. No lack of them - they were hanging around on the ceiling, all silently calling "me next, me next...." Alas, their cries were in vain and I decided to get the big SPAD almost flyable (just some aileron servos to fit) and then get back to my favourite - the big Anson. I'd really only got together most of the parts to build the beast - from sticks of 1/8 X 1/16 spruce for miles of stringers, to 2 choices of motors (32 and 46 sized) ESCs etc. Plus miles of lightweight 1/16 balsa. So no excuses, I started back on 'Annie' with a vengeance.
The build thread gives all the gory details but mostly deals in the trial and tribulations and is not a real blow-by-blow build thread as few folk will be building one and the couple that started off seem to have disappeared - hopefully they will return.
The thread is here: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1817579
The Anson has given me many challenges along its short life - fillets, glass fibre work, a really difficult (for me) airframe, that undercarriage, old plan interpretation etc, etc! But it is progressing! As I celebrated my 70th year, I wondered whether my methodology was working and I guess the fact I can 'churn' out models fairly quickly (the Po-2 took around 3 months) means a few things are working! Firstly, the workshop. Not...Continue Reading
, it was obviously time to get back onto a major project. No lack of them - they were hanging around on the ceiling, all silently calling "me next, me next...." Alas, their cries were in vain and I decided to get the big SPAD almost flyable (just some aileron servos to fit) and then get back to my favourite - the big Anson. I'd really only got together most of the parts to build the beast - from sticks of 1/8 X 1/16 spruce for miles of stringers, to 2 choices of motors (32 and 46 sized) ESCs etc. Plus miles of lightweight 1/16 balsa. So no excuses, I started back on 'Annie' with a vengeance.The build thread gives all the gory details but mostly deals in the trial and tribulations and is not a real blow-by-blow build thread as few folk will be building one and the couple that started off seem to have disappeared - hopefully they will return.
The thread is here: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1817579
The Anson has given me many challenges along its short life - fillets, glass fibre work, a really difficult (for me) airframe, that undercarriage, old plan interpretation etc, etc! But it is progressing! As I celebrated my 70th year, I wondered whether my methodology was working and I guess the fact I can 'churn' out models fairly quickly (the Po-2 took around 3 months) means a few things are working! Firstly, the workshop. Not...Continue Reading
The closing days of 2013 saw some furious activity on the Scale Electric forum of rcgroups. For many years a growing dissatisfaction over sharing the forum with the ever-increasing ARF fraternity had been festering and finally after much heated (and often unnecessary) debate, the forum was split. We, the scratch builders got a space where I read virtually every thread as it is posted and the ARF folk could 'do their thing' in private. Sadly, the character of many of our modelling mates were revealed and it was not always pretty But here we were, a new space, more scratch building on the same page and no ARFs. The ARF/scratch discussion has been done to death and quite frankly, I find it boring as an intellectual topic. So no more of that!
To celebrate the new forum, electric/ scale-kit-scratch-built, a Build-off was proposed and eagerly organised. Six months to design, build and fly a NEW model. Teaming up with Peter Rake as designer, we started on Jan 1, 2014 as per rules and within a few days some basic bits of a Polikarpov PO-2 appeared. I was a little disappointed that that the rules were slowly watered down to include designs that had already been started or even completed which rather undermined (for me) the original concept. In some cases, models had already been started prior to 2014 BUT the flurry of activity seen in the new forum made it all worthwhile.
The Polikarpov was one of those love-at-first sight aeroplanes - I first saw it when searching for a...Continue Reading
But here we were, a new space, more scratch building on the same page and no ARFs. The ARF/scratch discussion has been done to death and quite frankly, I find it boring as an intellectual topic. So no more of that!To celebrate the new forum, electric/ scale-kit-scratch-built, a Build-off was proposed and eagerly organised. Six months to design, build and fly a NEW model. Teaming up with Peter Rake as designer, we started on Jan 1, 2014 as per rules and within a few days some basic bits of a Polikarpov PO-2 appeared. I was a little disappointed that that the rules were slowly watered down to include designs that had already been started or even completed which rather undermined (for me) the original concept. In some cases, models had already been started prior to 2014 BUT the flurry of activity seen in the new forum made it all worthwhile.
The Polikarpov was one of those love-at-first sight aeroplanes - I first saw it when searching for a...Continue Reading
I was really keen to get stuck back into various unfinished (and unstarted) models in my new shed but opted to build something small and simple to fine-tune the tools, accessibility and general usefulness of the new building space so Built Peter Rake's little (under 30") Russian Moska ww1 monoplane - she built and flew fine A build log is at: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1969505
Another model started in 2014 was a 1/6 Camel - the only one of its kind from the, sadly, now defunct Aerodrome RC. I did the fuselage to get the hang of Kay's design style but will put it on hold until other, older projects, are done!
The thread was put into the new WW1 model forum but will be slow for a while yet! The Duncan Hutson Lysander is structurally complete and needs covering and the He111 is nearing completion also. Their build threads are here:
Camel - https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=2057046
Heinkel - https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1720055
Lysander - https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1819208
The Lysander is to the Duncan Hutson plan after I abandoned (and dismantled) my start on the magnificent Frank Mizer version. I know myself well enough after nearly 70 years, to recognise that the Mizer model was not going to be completed. My building style needs me to be engrossed full time in the task and when that involvement wanes, it is better that I admit defeat and give the job away. Life is too short to have 'I'll get around to it one day' projects piling up so that Lizzie was retired into oblivion
I still want to have a long-term, engrossing project and parts for that have been slowly accumulating for when some others have been finished. But more of that later......
Another model started in 2014 was a 1/6 Camel - the only one of its kind from the, sadly, now defunct Aerodrome RC. I did the fuselage to get the hang of Kay's design style but will put it on hold until other, older projects, are done!
The thread was put into the new WW1 model forum but will be slow for a while yet! The Duncan Hutson Lysander is structurally complete and needs covering and the He111 is nearing completion also. Their build threads are here:
Camel - https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=2057046
Heinkel - https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1720055
Lysander - https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1819208
The Lysander is to the Duncan Hutson plan after I abandoned (and dismantled) my start on the magnificent Frank Mizer version. I know myself well enough after nearly 70 years, to recognise that the Mizer model was not going to be completed. My building style needs me to be engrossed full time in the task and when that involvement wanes, it is better that I admit defeat and give the job away. Life is too short to have 'I'll get around to it one day' projects piling up so that Lizzie was retired into oblivion
I still want to have a long-term, engrossing project and parts for that have been slowly accumulating for when some others have been finished. But more of that later......
Aside from a few modelling tasks, setting up my new workshop has been the major focus. I admit I have a thing about workshops. I could spend the rest of my time just refining a workshop - getting all the right stuff, setting it up just right and producing - not much. Many model engineers spend much of their time building tools while a half-completed model locomotive spends years patiently waiting.....
The workshop is only 20 sq metres - the maximum council allows without any building permissions but 3.6 X 5.5 is big enough to build anything I'm likely to tackle and with a bit of planning should be easy to work in. The steel frame makes the structure strong, fairly thin-walled to maximise space and termite proof! I lined it with foil backed batts and 7mm plywood - something I could screw shelves etc into.
Many people wonder how I work so quickly...I don't know, but being retired AND having a workable space certainly helps.
Over the years I've come to use a layout that works for me - a central building bench with all the tools and glues needed while building within easy reach, machine tools such as lathe, pillar drill, scroll saws and heavy vice are on an opposite wall while most materials are stored at one end. My shed was built with an end wall having large outward opening doors to clear fumes, make sweeping easier and enjoying Winter sun.
Storage of materials is critical for me - I hate rooting around in boxes all marked 'miscellaneous' Plastic bins with lids...Continue Reading
The workshop is only 20 sq metres - the maximum council allows without any building permissions but 3.6 X 5.5 is big enough to build anything I'm likely to tackle and with a bit of planning should be easy to work in. The steel frame makes the structure strong, fairly thin-walled to maximise space and termite proof! I lined it with foil backed batts and 7mm plywood - something I could screw shelves etc into.
Many people wonder how I work so quickly...I don't know, but being retired AND having a workable space certainly helps.
Over the years I've come to use a layout that works for me - a central building bench with all the tools and glues needed while building within easy reach, machine tools such as lathe, pillar drill, scroll saws and heavy vice are on an opposite wall while most materials are stored at one end. My shed was built with an end wall having large outward opening doors to clear fumes, make sweeping easier and enjoying Winter sun.
Storage of materials is critical for me - I hate rooting around in boxes all marked 'miscellaneous'
Plastic bins with lids...Continue Reading
With the beginner's model complete and working, it was time to prepare for the major task. The kit is rather complete with many die-cut parts, all strip and sheet material provided plus a very complete hardware kit - many hundreds (maybe thousands) of screws, rivets, bolts, plastic parts and a comprehensive illustrated instruction manual. The sheet material in the trailer weighs about 250 Kg
All small-scale stuff is on hold as the 1:1 model gets underway
....sorry, I got a bit carried away there - it's only a shed....
Pat
All small-scale stuff is on hold as the 1:1 model gets underway
....sorry, I got a bit carried away there - it's only a shed....
Pat
A few days of foul weather slowed things down a bit but I got the first kit assembled and covered - a genuine 'tab and slot' style build with major bits of metal all falling into place, holes lining up, MANY rivets and screws inserted. All held down with sixteen steel brackets and bolts....now onto the more serious bit - the workshop Although it doesn't look like it, the shop will be nearly twice the size.
Downside is having to move 400kg of steel from the driveway to the backyard - manually!
Pat (still having fun)
- a genuine 'tab and slot' style build with major bits of metal all falling into place, holes lining up, MANY rivets and screws inserted. All held down with sixteen steel brackets and bolts....now onto the more serious bit - the workshop Although it doesn't look like it, the shop will be nearly twice the size.Downside is having to move 400kg of steel from the driveway to the backyard - manually!
Pat (still having fun)
