Our (usually) roving reporter, Alex Whittaker continues his lockdown virtual model event series with a look back at just a fraction of the best bits from the LMA's Cosford mega show
Like many print media titles, RCM&E experienced overseas distribution problems during the pandemic lockdown. Accordingly the May and June issues were not sent to our overseas readers, although subscriptions were extended by 2 months to compensate for this.
We do appreciate that some readers were upset by this decision. Accordingly the pull-out plans from the two issues can now be downloaded by clicking on the links below, and the accompanying build articles can be viewed in the subscriber's digital archive via this website.
Danny Fenton has been asked for more information on the R/C conversion of his little Vintage Model Company SE5a. He converted this free flight model by fitting the radio and motor from a rather tired ParkZone micro indoor model. Key to moving the control surfaces is a pull-pull set-up using 1lb fishing line that is super light.
Graham Ashby (RCM&E former editor) has reviewed a number of scale models from the Freewing range in the past and when chatting to him he’s been genuinely passionate about his collection of foam warbirds. He convinced me that with care they can be kept pristine, being structurally sound enough to absorb a degree of knocking about and able to withstand some aerial abuse, with flight performances providing the real scale effect of the type. His positivity warmed me to the whole concept of an EPO-based RTF, which opened the door to ticking off an item on my bucket list.
For many years I’ve harboured the desire to fly an L-39, be it jet-powered or a big PSS, and with Freewing’s EDF version purporting to offer sport-style performance in a scale package it seemed just the ticket, particularly as it will take off from short-grass runways, which is all I have at my disposal.
The Pitts Special should need no introduction. The prototype first flew in 1944 and went on to become an aviation classic. If you’ve ever seen one, then you’ll know how tiny it is. FMS have emulated the two-seat S2 version but even that spans just 20ft, making this 1.4m span model a respectable 1/4-scale, give or take.
First published in June 2000 issue of RCM&E, Chatterbox 2000 is Ray Wood's update on Vic Smeed's delightful cabin wing design for a 1958 issue of Aeromodeller.
The plan can be purchased from Sarick Hobbiesand the article pages can be downloaded below.
DATAFILE
Name: Chatterbox 2000
Designed by: Vic Smeed/Ray Wood
Wingspan: 40"
Wing Chord: 6. 5"
Fuselage Length: 30"
Overall Height: 9"
Motor Used: 280 Geared (J.
By definition, the stall is a condition whereby the angle of attack increases to a point where lift begins to decrease (‘angle of attack’ is the angle of the wing leading edge in relation to the horizontal). It’s not only at a low power setting when a stall situation will occur, it can happen at any power setting, even full power if the angle of attack is increased beyond the point of lift. For example, it’s possible to experience a power stall in a (full-size) light aircraft, whereby the nose of the aircraft is raised and at the same time power applied; continue to pull back on the elevator, and at a given point the nose will drop away very abruptly. If you want to experience this situation for yourself, make sure you have an experienced pilot at the controls and are at a point several thousand feet above the ground.
Andrew Hinton built his beautiful Blackburn Monoplane from scratch, based on the David Boddington plans. She is built to 1/4-scale and spans 96”, powered by a Laser 150. Andrew’s model is a faithful version of the example based at the Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden.
Company founder Gen Saito with one of his first model motors, a pre-war spark ignition unit.
There will be few readers of RCM&E to whom the name ‘Saito’ is unknown: even those modellers who, like myself, have not yet bought or used a Saito motor will recognise the marque. Unlike the other ‘big’ Japanese model aero-engine manufacturers such as O. S.
Barry Sherborne’s own design 1/3rd scale Fokker D6 patrols the skies above the Woodvale Revival last summer, held at the Liverpool and District Model Aircraft Club field in West Lancashire
