Messages

16

Scale / Re: DeAgostini Spitfire - 1:10 scale - Anyone have experience?

« on: October 03, 2018, 11:20:03 AM »

I finally got around to starting the modifications last night... Hopefully progress may be rather faster now that I've made a start.

I did a few calculations and figure I have approximately 60mm inside the cowl to play with to fit a battery through the present firewall. This should assist in maintaining the CoG without resorting to ballast. Having never scratch built a motor box, or battery box, this could get interesting. It'll all have to be hand cut. 

17

Slope Soaring / Re: Multiplex Cortina

« on: September 10, 2018, 21:21:42 PM »

Looking good!

On a side note... Envious of the hangar/workshop. 

18

Scale / Re: DeAgostini Spitfire - 1:10 scale - Anyone have experience?

« on: September 09, 2018, 17:03:41 PM »

Hatch formers are now dried and sanded to shape. It never ceases to amaze me how much stronger 2 laminates at 90° is than the equivalent not laminated. Little amuses the simple, I guess!   

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Scale / Re: DeAgostini Spitfire - 1:10 scale - Anyone have experience?

« on: September 08, 2018, 21:38:59 PM »

Well, I think it's about time I got this party started, having decided that "to make things easy", I'll go the route of a Turnigy G46 motor to replace the recommended .40 or .46 IC motor.  Obviously, it's easier to modify as I build, so the first consideration is a hatch to get at the battery as I really am lazy and don't want to have to remove the wing each time. I want to have 2 batteries; one to fly while one is on the charge, so not going to go the route of "charge in place".  Thing is, the space between formers isn't sufficient to ease a battery in. I think that the only option is to cut the top off one former (the one on the right between the jig brackets) to make a "U" former and strengthen the hatch opening with 3mm ply. To that end, I've cut the ply reinforcement first and made two "brackets" to form the front and rear of the hatch out of two layers of 1.6mm balsa laminated together at 90°. They won't be loadbearing, so I think they should be strong enough.

I haven't cut any formers yet, just in case anyone advises against the plan! I'll bow to superior knowledge and craftsmanship.

I've filled in the predrilled holes in the firewall as I intend to use a Great Planes adjustable motor mount to hold the G46 and the fitment is different.

20

Electrics / Re: New build - RCME Bambina

« on: September 03, 2018, 19:14:32 PM »

Sometimes we're not in a Formula 1 race... Sometimes we're just or for a Sunday drive.   

Further investigation is required as it is possible to turn the stabilisation on/off. And it'll not be a standard fit to all models; I do want to maintain a level of skill. 

21

Electrics / Re: New build - RCME Bambina

« on: September 03, 2018, 13:47:39 PM »

Finally got her airborne on Saturday!

Using the OrangeRX 3-axis stabilisation (cheat-mode) she flies like there's not even a breeze.

I managed a few flights before the inevitable happened... A failed launch and since it belly lands, I tore out an aileron servo. I expected it to happen, maybe not quite so soon.  It'll not take a lot to repair and add some protection, but I think it's going to be a great plane just to throw in the car and go.

22

Scale / Re: DeAgostini Spitfire - 1:10 scale - Anyone have experience?

« on: August 28, 2018, 08:46:19 AM »

Thankfully not, Fred!
 
Anything that fits in A4 size comes as a standard magazine style wrapper.  The spars and leading edges are full length for each wing half; the cardboard backing is extended to provide support and everything is slightly shrink-wrapped. The second set of both LEs came in a stiff cardboard tube like you'd get for posters.  They obviously learned from their mistake with the first.

The fuselage sides are "jigsaw" pieces which are then strengthened by balsa sheeting to give it the appropriate shape.

23

Scale / Re: DeAgostini Spitfire - 1:10 scale - Anyone have experience?

« on: August 25, 2018, 21:28:40 PM »

Just spent the last hour opening all the packets and making sure everything is still ok.

Was pleasantly surprised to find that one pack contained 2 leading edges along with a note to say that they were fragile.    I can only assume that lots of complaints were received for the first having been broken in transit.

Abiding by the advice provided early in my building career of "read the instructions twice, then read them again", I now have the fun job of putting all the instructions, RC theory and Spitfire history into the appropriate section of the supplied folders.

24

PSS / Re: Something on the workbench :)

« on: August 14, 2018, 22:01:13 PM »

The Vamp then, it has to be! 

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PSS / Re: Something on the workbench :)

« on: August 14, 2018, 20:05:01 PM »

de Havilland Venom 

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Scale / Re: DeAgostini Spitfire - 1:10 scale - Anyone have experience?

« on: August 14, 2018, 12:28:52 PM »

I think I'll be going electric; much nicer not to have to cut holes in the cowling.

If I can get the balance correct with the battery on the CoG, then removing the prop and undercarriage would permit PSS as well.  That might be beyond my capabilities at present, but we'll see! 

27

Scale / Re: DeAgostini Spitfire - 1:10 scale - Anyone have experience?

« on: August 11, 2018, 21:28:22 PM »

I should list the specs:

Wingspan: 4'8" (1.43m)
Length: 3'9" (1.15m)
Height: 1'2" (0.35m)

Designed for a 35MHz 4 channel tx and 6.47cc motor (offer was for a LEO @ €36.95)

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Scale / DeAgostini Spitfire - 1:10 scale - Anyone have experience?

« on: August 11, 2018, 21:25:04 PM »

I've just been gifted a complete, unopened set of parts from this "subscription purchase" plane. I've done my preliminary research and found an abundance of horror stories... 

Thankfully there were one or two rays of sunshine who actually thought the kit was rather decent. 

Either way, I think I've found another project to add to the list for the long winter days... Having completed a quick check to ensure all parts were there, I've only found one part broken; a leading edge spar. Hopefully a little wood glue can cure it as it's a clean break.

29

Electrics / Re: New build - RCME Bambina

« on: May 26, 2018, 15:15:40 PM »

It's taking it's time...

But finally started to get the covering on.

30

Misceleanous / Re: New Met Eireann website and app

« on: April 18, 2018, 12:36:41 PM »

They're finally catching up to the 21st century! Looks pretty good on the phone format too.