Archive for March, 2006
A cold 2006 winter saw quite a few projects completed and a few more started 
. Some of my flying compatriots have been a bit critical of my mad pace, but I try to reassure them that I'm cramming about 20 or 30 years of non-experience into a couple - a lot of catching up to do!
Finished over the last few months are four Peter Rake prototype builds - Baboon, Hanriot, SE5a and an FE8 WW1 pusher.
Building a never-flown-before prototype is a fair responsibility. Not only do you need to build as per plan or at least check any changes with the designer, the design and plan must be verified, the model finished in reasonable time AND it has to be test-flown. Even more importantly, it must be flown, debugged, photographed and written up without destroying it - makes one nervous and careful!
The Baboon was finished and 'Flew off the board' no problems - it is a big model for a 42" and flies as slow as a kite.
The 36" Hanriot had a few teething troubles with balance and power but with that corrected - flew fine.
The 36" SE5a is a well-proven design and no trouble was expected from it so I chose to try out a few fine-detailing ideas. It looks good and flies well.
The 43" FE8 was Peter Rake's first pusher design and we had some fun getting used to it but it is now one of my regular flying models and performs well.
Build thread for the SE5A is https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=512038
and the FE8 - https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=526847
. Some of my flying compatriots have been a bit critical of my mad pace, but I try to reassure them that I'm cramming about 20 or 30 years of non-experience into a couple - a lot of catching up to do!Finished over the last few months are four Peter Rake prototype builds - Baboon, Hanriot, SE5a and an FE8 WW1 pusher.
Building a never-flown-before prototype is a fair responsibility. Not only do you need to build as per plan or at least check any changes with the designer, the design and plan must be verified, the model finished in reasonable time AND it has to be test-flown. Even more importantly, it must be flown, debugged, photographed and written up without destroying it - makes one nervous and careful!
The Baboon was finished and 'Flew off the board' no problems - it is a big model for a 42" and flies as slow as a kite.
The 36" Hanriot had a few teething troubles with balance and power but with that corrected - flew fine.
The 36" SE5a is a well-proven design and no trouble was expected from it so I chose to try out a few fine-detailing ideas. It looks good and flies well.
The 43" FE8 was Peter Rake's first pusher design and we had some fun getting used to it but it is now one of my regular flying models and performs well.
Build thread for the SE5A is https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=512038
and the FE8 - https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=526847
Comments (0)
I have always dreamed of flying a very detailed, accurate R/c model - I used to build 1/32 plastc kits and "super-detail" them, and had this desire to build a much bigger model and dress it up to the nines! With no flying skills whatever, this was a bit ambitious hence the preceeding models. As my flying ability has improved (a little), I feel more confident that I can get a plane into the air with less anxiety than 12 months ago but with only 35 or so hours of experience, have a loooooong way to go!
Currently, I'm building a couple of prototype designs for Peter Rake - an FK-24 "Baboon" biplane, and a small Hanriot monoplane from 1913. Easy builds but as they have never flown before - a bit of a responsibility!
Baboon: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=481311
Hanriot: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=502025
A 48" close-to-scale Bleriot XI is slowly progressing and being described on rcgroups electric scale forum. This is a long-term project and other models will be built to gain building and flying experience in the meantime.
Bleriot: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445162
Dream list? - like most scale modellers, it is endless and expanding
:
A WWI pusher - DH2 etc
Something bigger - 54" SE5a or similar
Brisfit
Hawker Demon or related late Bipe
A simple twin - I've never made or flown a twin
An indoor scale electric machine
He-111 - a favourite
Supermarine Walrus - love it!
etc, etc.......
What I dont have much interest in:
Cap232
Giles
Ultimate
Pitts Special
you get the picture.......
So many planes, so little time....Pat
but with only 35 or so hours of experience, have a loooooong way to go!Currently, I'm building a couple of prototype designs for Peter Rake - an FK-24 "Baboon" biplane, and a small Hanriot monoplane from 1913. Easy builds but as they have never flown before - a bit of a responsibility!
Baboon: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=481311
Hanriot: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=502025
A 48" close-to-scale Bleriot XI is slowly progressing and being described on rcgroups electric scale forum. This is a long-term project and other models will be built to gain building and flying experience in the meantime.
Bleriot: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445162
Dream list? - like most scale modellers, it is endless and expanding
:A WWI pusher - DH2 etc
Something bigger - 54" SE5a or similar
Brisfit
Hawker Demon or related late Bipe
A simple twin - I've never made or flown a twin
An indoor scale electric machine
He-111 - a favourite
Supermarine Walrus - love it!
etc, etc.......
What I dont have much interest in:
Cap232
Giles
Ultimate
Pitts Special
you get the picture.......
So many planes, so little time....Pat
