Mosquito PR XVI model

Wow!:eek: That’s one serious piece of kit Nielly,nice work mate! Thanks for the pics.

It is said, though I can’t remember who by, that it is more difficult to fly a model than full-size owing to lack of seat-of-pants feedback. presumably that also counts for instrumentation.
I’m just returning to R/C after years away so am effectively starting again.
I’ve had the Spitfire plan for years but I also know it’s a long term project.
As Neilly says, rekitting is a fact not a rumour.

Are you all bored, yet?

Neilly

Another piccie

Only one at a time? Oh well!

Some piccies of Freddie!

Neilly,
The Sea Fury plans are by Mel Whitley and Jerry Bates.
www.scaleaero.com/jerrybates

“I also try & make my landing approaches away from the sun, if poss., but sometimes it’s not possible”

That’s authentic.

Our strip is aligned 08 – 26 so on summer’s evening the approach from the East is always directly into the setting sun.

Being that it is 800 yards long and the Piper only needs about 400 of these, we will quite often accept a considerable tailwind rather than land squinting though the scratched perspex.

Moggy

Hi Der,

The trick, when flying past the sun, is to close one eye. I usually wear a baseball cap, too. I angle it to try & blot out sun. I also try & make my landing approaches away from the sun, if poss., but sometimes it’s not possible.

Neilly

i too fly r/c. Badly! Been at it 3 years now and still not properly solo. The thing I had to get used to was that when the model is on the ground, its very large. When its in the air, it becomes very small- quickly, and when its sillhouetted against the sky, it just becomes a small dark shape. You can become disorientated in the blink of an eye, and that is how I have piled my model in several times. Last time I did that, it went through the sun in the corner of the circuit. When it came out, it was upside down and headed for the earth at ridiculous speed. The result goes without saying…. Since I built it ,just over a year ago, the only original part of the airframe to still be in existence is the elevators. Then you have control reversal. i.e. when its going away from you, left is left. When its coming towards you, left becomes right. My first build was a Spitfire Mark 9, with invasion stripes, cockpit detail and all the bit. It hangs in my garage, waiting for the day when I’m competent enough to fly it.
Might be a while yet!…….

Hi Alexis,

Your Seafury plans are they the Brian Taylor ones?

Neilly

Thanks for the link Neilly, i doubt i’ll fly the Sea Fury when i’ve built it. I just want to build one.

Hi Moggy,

It works both ways, model flying & full size. The thing is you know what an aeroplane is all about. The problem is to convert this into small stick movements of a transmitter. Also, you don’t have a ‘feel’ for the model in flight, like you do in the real thing. But it’s only a question of getting use to a different flying situation. The main problem is flying towards yourself, stick movements are reversed. This usually takes a bit of getting use to. I would still give the same advice though, join a local club & get a proper trainer, before that 1/5th Spitfire, Hurricane or whatever.

Regarding the transmitter: You set (I assume you’re right handed?)the left stick for Throttle (up & down) & rudder. The right stick elevator & ailerons. So it’s still similar to the real thing. The other thing that takes a bit of getting use to is the rudder control, but it’s just a question of getting your co-ordination right

Cheers,
Neilly

A question for the modellers

This is purely hypothetical as I will never actually build an R/C model since anything I spent on that wouldn’t be available for my 1/1 scale Piper but…

Having listened to the sensible advice above about not starting off with a high performance model and the use of buddy-boxes, what would you think are the chances of a PPL holder being able to fly an r/c aircraft from scratch?

There seem to be two issues

All the ingrained stuff about keeping the flying speed up and how to do stalll and spin recovery must stack up on our side.

The oddness of looking at the aircraft from outside, and the weirdness of the controls (Two joysticks and no rudder pedals) would count against.

Any thoughts?

Moggy

Hi Alexis,

The trouble with building models like the Spitfire & Seafury is they are not the easiest type to fly, especially when you’re first starting out. We’ve all done it! I got conned into buying a fairly high performance model, instead of a trainer (easy when they play on your ego!), for my first model. I spent 6 months building it & crashed it first time out, although I was lucky, it wasn’t a write off. I’m pleased to say the model shop who sold me this model went bust, years ago:)

If you are seriously interested in r/c, then check out your local club. Most have a trainer aircraft & a buddy box (this is 2 transmitters linked together. The instructor can over-ride wrong commands given by the pupil). This way you can see if you’re going to like r/c flying. They’ll also give you advice, so you can get the right model & equipment.

If you want a large scale Seafury, Stu Mackay imports a beauty from America. Superb quality, like most kits from the USA. His web site is:
http://www.moki.co.uk

Cheers,
Neilly

I just got some plans for an 81″ wingspan Sea Fury. I only want to build one as a static model, G-FURY.
I was put of making it to fly as a friend of my fathers spent 3 years building a really nice Mick Reeves Spitfire MH434 and reduced it to crumbs on it’s 1st flight. Very upsetting.
I’m in touch with a chap who only likes to build them, he then lets a pro fly them.
I will build mine to be a flyer, but i don’t think it will.
Just got to finish this bloody Titanic before i start this one. Her in doors hates me starting more than one project at a time.

Hi Glen,

1/8th scale is alright for Lancaster type models, but the smaller Mossie, P-38 type 1/5th is cool! There’s some superb large models in Oz, from what I’ve seen in the model mags.

Cheers,
Neilly

1/8th scale! That’s a baby model.

Cool, but thats still a biggy.. 😉

the airfix mossie will be the old 48th kit(excellent as it is) with a new nose and new engines….

coanda

Hi Steve,

I’ve built all sorts of models over the years. The Mosquito is the biggest (& I’ve a Tempest V waiting, in the loft). I’ve been flying radio controlled models since 1985. But it all started the usual way, Airfix, Frog & Revell kits & then some rubber powered balsa models. Then I got a plastic Keil Kraft Hurricane control line model & that’s where the interest it power models started & I haven’t grown up since:rolleyes:

The models I’ve got? C 160 Transall, BAe Hawk, F-15, Mosquito (baby one 1/10th scale) umpteen gliders (full competition, all swinging, all dancing & very expensive!)

If you’ve not done R/c before & are interested get in touch with a local club for help. R/c isn’t difficult, but it’s easy to make very elementary mistakes. You’ll also need some help learning to fly, so don’t expect your first model to last too long! R/c is like everything – it can be relatively cheap, around £150-200, depending on type of model & radio gear or as expensive as you like – into the £000’s.

Obviously the top of the range is not for beginners & you don’t want lash out on a large scale Spitfire & expect to fly it like a ‘professional’, because it doesn’t happen! The model will finish up in a black bin liner, re-kitted!! (Don’t smile ‘cos it happens all the time) You can get reasonably price Almost Ready to Fly (ARF) which basically means the model is complete (with a small bit of finishing off, usually required) & all you do is put the radio gear in & fly. These models are now, on the whole, very good. The other way, is the old fashioned get a kit & build. The advantage of an ARF model is , they’re usually good stable flyers, with a proven flying record & you’re flying within a few days, instead of months.

If you want a local club have a look on the BMFA site:
www.bmfa.org

Cheers,
Neilly