Another wasted Journey to the BWLCH

Thursday 28th June


Myself and the Rumpster today made the trip to the BWLCH. Following the outing arranged by Rob a few weeks ago I was hoping that this one would of ended in a day of flying rather than fannying around with the local trollopes and wandering around aimlessly in the mist for 4 hours before returning home without so much as a flight.


Unfortunately although the weather looked good all the way from Rumpster mansions to Bridgend, once we got to the base of the hills we saw the devastating mist. We waited for an hour,  saw a sheep nearly get run over and saw somebody crash into one of the rubbish bins in the layby, but alas no flying!


I have added on the side a link to a live web cam in Treorchy( base of the BWLCH), in future we will check this before leaving


You will be glad to know whilst all this was going on Rob was in Yorkshire where he was spending 2 days pretending to fly like a bumble bee ! What a Twat...




Martin

New Glider

Monday 25th June

Having taken alot of abuse about the colour scheme of the new glider I have ordered, I have amended it slightly. It now looks like this...

The glider is a F3F Fosa made by Jiri Baudis in the Czech Republic. Not only is this a superb glider but he also offers a complete build service which is clearly an option I have taken up given my loathing of the whole installation process. Combine this with the current rate of the Euro and Jiri will be providing a combination of Graupner and Futaba servos for less than I can get them in the UK for.  The only question is why wouldn't I take the build service option?...

I have been promised pictures of the build as and when it starts.

For those of you not familiar with the FOSA below is a video of a FOSA in a F3B speed run task. Its that quick be sure not to blink!!!....

Martin

Saturday At Roundway BNM's

Quick run to Roundway, fight my way through the crowds.....

Landed back near the car park in a race to avoid the rain, The Rotmilan colour scheme stands out like a English man in Lidl's....









The vid below is more a test in artistic expression than flying... that's my excuse anyway!!

The GoPro1 suffers if the light is not bright... should of nicked the 2 from work!

COME ON ENGLAND

Rob

Quads & OctoQuadZilla!!

 Update on OctoQuadZilla, the beast is going from strength to strength. We now have "point and click" software, so we can take off from the click of a button on a keyboard and control to position via google maps on a laptop!! I am no longer required as a pilot.... some breath with a si of relief!

For anybody that knows there cameras, that's a BlackMagic full cinematic camera, the only one in Europe apparently. We tested in Newbury last week

Left, we managed to jam this beast of a camera in the gimbal. Still got 10 mins flying time! We filmed some guy hurling a case off a roof... Its a long story.






Check this video out below this is Martin and myself messing around at the local field (promise not gay porn) Get it full screen, crank the music up loud and watch... If you can recognise which ad its from you can have that Middle Phase glider i cant give away.

Notice i have no issues with my vids, unlike Martins less than amature attempts! Incidentally those of you that are unlucky enough to correspond with him, via tx/email you may of noticed he's gone quiet... In fact he's gone AWOL, which quite honestly is a blessed relief. I did receive this photo though... Now I'm sure that says Benidorm....

Roundway today!
Rob

Book June 28th as holiday

Next Thursday

For those of you that are up for a great days flying there will be a few of us heading to the BWLCH next Thursday 28th. I can't promise the type of  excitment that occured at the last outing with the Rumpster dissappering into a village with some local ladies and strega pete getting lost in the mist only to be rescued by a mountain rescue search party.

BUT what I will  organise is some sunshine and a steady breeze that will result in momumental lift once it gets to the top of the slope below......Be there!

Martin

Sunday 17th June

A reasonable day

This is the only picture from Saturday. Went to Alton Barnes on a big wind day to try out big lift and big ballast. Only problem was it was a big disappointment, crap lift and lots of turbulence. Picture of Robs barnett as we didn't have anometer to hand, that amount of scalp/parting indicates 58mph!

Sunday was a much calmer day , met up with the usual crowd at Roundway for some gentle ( unfortunately) flying. There was a few newby's to the slope and a few old faces that have not been about for a while

Paul ( Dirty Harry) turned up with another boring scale model. He has dressed the pilot as the 70's porn star Dirk Diggler to liven it up but its still all very dull..

 

Malcolm launches Geoffs Trinity. This was its first flight after some repair work. Watch out for the launch in the video. You can see the effects of not getting the CofG back to the correct place. Very dramatic and for Geoff a clean pair of undercrackers was required.

Happily Geoff got it down safely and the relief was written all of his face

After several attempts at trying to catch the Rotmilan and missing, Robert got somebody to fly it for him while he stood mid field and caught it with 2 hands just to be sure.....

This is the latest technology for people struggling to fly remote control aircraft. Predominantly designed for the less capable pilot, this earpiece helps you determine if the glider is going up or down????

Now for the video, it was a short outing that has clearly resulted in a short post / video. As mentioned watch out for Geoffs Trinity Launch! Volume up and HD on, quality is still crap but I will get the hang of the settings one day....promise!

 Martin

That was unexpected...

Recovering from the shock of England winning.... Anyways, late call i know but Martin and myself are going to try a full ballast morning at Knapp Hill!! directions below.Were gonna get in before the rain, so make it 0900 on location for some mental F3F style manoeuvres (because we are both season pro's now) Pete "the strega" cant make it as he is gaying it up with helis, The Rumpster said something about taking Harty out shopping for milk.... Nick were relying on you!!!!

Rob

Ash 26 ..1/3 scale 6m Part 3



Mystery Blogger

Thursday 14th June

ASH Build Part 3

 

Whilst on a supervised outing, I noticed some 'stone effect' spray paint in B&Q......also available in Wilkinson, so I had a go at spraying the inside of the fuz......this finish is great and looks like the real thing, but if you do give it a go, do very thin coats and leave it for 30 mins.....before the next coat....My intention is again to see how she flies before I go into too much detail in the cockpit......

Check out Phil Masterclass's ASH 26 cockpit.......bloody marvelous...as punch would say 'thats the way to do it'

Time to start with the canopie, I know that I have to take time with this, an ill fitting canopie will leave me with a shoddy looking model, and my model pilot with his red jumper will get the tits.

The premoulded canopie base is trimmed to fit, a little at a time, then a hole is drilled through the front section for the retaining pin, another hole is drilled at the back part for the 'push retaining bar' to fit.

The push retaining bar is fitted into a sleve and given a pointy end, this helps it locate the canopie mould hole, the bar is operated from under the wing of the model.........the exit is shown here.

This is a very simple way to install a canopie relase catch, and when the model is put together you can't see the catch; its also not complicated so it can't go wrong.......like Rob's switches on the Rotmilan.

Canopie perspex is glued to canopie frame using special glue; it dries see through.

Then trimmed the perspex to fit. This took ages, one over cut and the whole thing would look shoddy.

The finished article.......canopie fits well, took bloody ages to do........I will paint the canopie surround once flown....

Found this clip on you tube, (http://youtu.be/PM5sx8B4Iscquite) i'm sure its the same one as mine........nice to see it fly...the vid is a bit slow.....and the music is as dull as Robs coat.....

Hope we can do a more entertaining vid in a few weeks......

...........onto the wings next!

Whitesheet F3F Practice! ... F3effin Great!!!

Whitesheet Hill for me has always been "Why are we bothering with this sheet hill" the wind is always off, and its raining! So when Sunday's F3F meet was cancelled due to rain i was not  surprised! However we heard that Ian Mason was to set the course up Saturday for some practise... So we take a look.

Whilst were all setup ready to go, the Rumpster thinks about changing his Tena Lady pad........ It takes him longer to set up than anybody else i know... he's like a woman!

Chris Williams beautiful scale.. elected not to fly the course.

Carbon Porn!

The legend that is the Gilbert.. That ain't tea in that flask! Unfortunately had radio problems today resulting in some damage.

This is i think is an Extreme... The new colour scheme did not detract from its handling, it ripped it up!

A Trebble taking the Needle off for a spanking!

This is a Baudis Cyril, a true work of art! I wanted to caress and fondle it, Martin stopped me saying that people are looking!

My Favourite colour scheme of the day... apparently the wingtip had been repaired, think the owners mistaken i could not see anything!

The NEW clipped wing Strega.. Petes poor Strega eats dirt again! Below he demonstrates how it happened, something to do with using his head to stop momentum. To be fair his head would stop a tank, in comparison Martin ego would stop gravity!

Someone thought it a good idea to leave me Base B to look after. Alex there to make sure i don't screw up!

Needle Running Late

A Happy Rumpster

 

 A very nice looking ascot, Mart was very impressed with scheme as it bares some resemblance to that pink blamange hes ordered

Results... LOOK AT THAT!!! 3RD! I was getting the hang of where the bases were, but cocked up a couple of turns on the downwind leg, felt like an age to get back on song. The Rumster reckoned a bit more ballast would of helped.  But i have to say it was great. Good people, good weather, good fun. To top it off i got back home to find a BBQ on the go with beer in the fridge..... A perfect day. Video below, as usual get a beer, sit back and turn volume up!

Oh yes... Martin, I can only say one thing LOOSER!

My F3F Cherry..

Well i planned to bust my F3F cherry on Sunday at Whitesheet, alas the weather has put payed to that.... Cancelled. The expert Dave the Rumpster predicted me to finish in a higher position than Martin (who incidentally has done 2 comps) everyone would agree, as Martin flies with all the skill of a Nigerian airline pilot...

Anyways, Ian Mason (of Willow F3F fame) is setting up an F3F course to get some practise in, so that's where were going. Don't mess about with that shopping rubbish with the Mrs.. get to Whitesheet for midday!

For directions check the map to the right of this post in SJ's fav links, or click below.

Rob

Queens Jubilee , what Jubilee??

Monday 4th June

Queens 60th Year on the Throne ( you can get tablets for that), Bank Holiday Monday, decent weather,  garden party in the back garden of Buckingham palace...... It was obvious to me what to do. Spend the day  at Westbury slope soaring

Myself, Mark and Robert ( sporting a new haircut) all met early doors and began assembling models. we were the first out, but it was obvious the crowds would gather as the day went on, this was the place to be!!.


   

Rob brought his WACO, he got this from the wife for his Birthday last year. What a present. There was some apprehension as to how it would fly, but it flew beautifully. Whilst the Rotmilan had to land out half way down the hill due to lack of lift / performance, the Waco handled the conditions very well and gave onlookers a real spectacle. All of this without magnetic switches and MKS servos. Could be Robs glider of choice at the next F3F event

The Waco, bomb door servo installed. Only question is what to drop. Don't ask Colin !

Phil ' The Master Class' Huddlestone also demonstrated how not to Land a glider. You shouldn't land nose down at 80+ mph, 6 feet from people and gliders. This is the result. A broken Glider. On a serious note this was a result of a lack of peg board / communication and a clash of frequencies on steam powered radio equipment. We need to all learn from this.

Dave the Rumpster arrived with his new "state of the art" Needle 124. This reminded me of the Sierra Cosworths of the 90's. You can see the front of the Glider does not belong to the back of the glider but the cutting and shutting engineers do a fantastic job of hiding the joins.

Petes Strega is now in one piece again. Nick was not available for this launch so Pete took a calculated risk with Robert. Paid off and the strega flew well. We did notice it turns right better than left, not sure if the fuz and been glued back straight!

 

A whole fleet of gliders. Brilliant. The more the merrier

We even got a bit of bungeeing in later on once the wind dropped.











Now for the video, still struggling with quality ( something wrong with settings on PC) but my advice full volume, full screen and HD it...

Martin

So excited that a litte bit of piss has just escaped..

Click HERE for a map and description of a load of slopes in the UK.. This is courtesy of slopehunter.co.uk. loads of info on this site for us saddo's

All i can say is brilliant!

Rob

Monday... Watching the Queen?

NO

Northerly + Clear Skies + Ballast = Westbury White Horse

This will not be another weather balls up! The only weather will be produced by Colin, I have 10 litres of water to feed him.....


1100 hours onwards
 
Rob

If Carlsberg did days out to the Bwlch....

The only thing to fly was Bob's Sidewinder, which was licking the cloud base.. We did fly in the end at Roundway which almost made up for it. Thankfully Martin did not come, its bad enough not flying but having to listen to dull Martin would have sent me over the Bwlch edge! Rob