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Blog

    RC Foamboard Combat

  • Updated on Sat, 25 Mar 2017 by John Allen

    Two of the foamboard combat models.

    RC Combat

    Introductory flight experience

  • Updated on Sat, 04 Mar 2017 by John Allen

    The Shankill Radio Flying Club has a 73" HobbyKing Falcon available for prospective members to take an introductory flight or two.

    If you are contemplating coming into this wonderful hobby, this is a great way to experience the thrill and excitement of radio control flying before deciding that its for you.

    So come along any Saturday or Sunday morning to see what R/C flying is all about, and arrange your introduction to this fabulous hobby.

    Red Eagle Build Pics

  • Updated on Sun, 05 Feb 2017 by John Allen

    Bob Finley's finished Red Eagle

    Bob Finley's Fuselage covered

    Bob Finley's Battery installation

    Bob Finley's Battery compartment

    Bob Finley's Battery holder rails and ESC

    Bob Finley's Sneaky motor installation trick

    Bob Finley's Rudder and elevator servos

    Conor Buckley's model in various stages of comletion

    Conor Buckley's wings assembled

    Bob Finley's nose cone stage 1

    Bob Finley's nose cone stage 2

    Bob Finley's nose cone stage 3

    Bob Finley's nose cone finished

    Red Eagle (Mass Build)

  • Updated on Tue, 24 Jan 2017 by John Allen

    We will be a doing a mass build this year, and the Red Eagle has been chosen as the model.

    Red Eagle

    There is a build log on Model Flying UK here.

    There is a full article in the July 2014 issue of RCM&E

    FrSky Taranis

  • Updated on Wed, 07 Dec 2016 by John Allen

    FrSky Taranis X9D

    The latest Taranis transmitters & X series receivers have the EU compliant firmware, this means those old X series receivers need a firmware update to work with the new transmitter, and old transmitters require a firmware update to work with the new receivers.

    I have an old transmitter, and when I got some new EU compliant X8R receivers I simply loaded the non-EU firmware to them and all works just fine.

    FrSky's new transmitter, the Taranis X9D, continues to generate great interest. I've acquired one from t9hobbysport, and all I can say is its fantastic. Programming it is a bit different than Futaba/JR/Spektrum, thought Multiplex users would find it very similar. I'll have it up at the field at the next available opportunity, and will gladly help anyone who buys one to program it.

    The 8 channel telemetry receivers X8R cost about €30 (ex delivery), and compare very favourably to the considerably more expensive big brand counterparts.

    Non-telemetry receivers such as the new FrSky V8FR-II 8 are even cheaper, and are Taranis compatible in 8 channel mode.

    LiFe battery This is an excellent replacement for the stock NiMh, although the more recent radios come with a 2000mah LSD battery which lasts all day.

    FrSky Taranis - review and photo gallery Available from t9hobbysport

    HobbyKing Zlin 50l build

  • Updated on Thu, 10 Nov 2016 by John Allen

    The HobbyKing Zlin 50l is absolutely fabulous value for money, but its really built for electric, so as suggested on the web, I beefed up the firewall. I used 2mm ply, and then glassed over it, with multiple coats of diluted epoxy (used isopropyl alcohol).

    Unlike many others, I managed to put all the servos in upright. I initially had mounted the rudder servo inverted, but after making a cut-out for the servo cable I was able to mount it upright. Power-HD 7150’s on the control surfaces, and a Futaba 3004 on the throttle.

    The build is going well, although I had a problem trying to find a suitable engine mount that fitted the existing blind nuts in the firewall, I had bought a mount but I would have had to re-drill the firewall, and the holes would be partially overlapping the existing ones, which would make it very difficult to drill. Fortunately a mount for the Wot4/Acrowot/Wot4 trainer (I got it from Steve Webb) fitted perfectly.

    I had to cut out some ply from the servo mounts to get the servos in, as the servos are mounted at an angle. The bottom of the servos it protruding but I didn’t have to make any mods to get that to fit.

    I’ve fitted the engine, will be removing and re-fitting with thread-loc after I’ve done the cowl. Not much left now, so it’ll probably only take me another couple of months.

    Peak Models MXS-R 30cc Build

  • Updated on Thu, 10 Nov 2016 by John Allen

    Cover image

    I bought the Matt Hall scheme, and I must say it looks great. I added the stars on the tail and fuselage.

    I've had a couple of issues so far.

    • When screwing in one of the bolts for the horizontal stabilser the bolt went it at an angle and got stuck in the blind nut, then when I tried to remove it it ripped the blind nut out of the ply. After trying various things I finally sawed the bolt off, and installed a new blind nut, and all was well again.

    • The model is supposedly designed around the DLE30 power plant, but I needed quite a few metal washers to push the motor forward to clear the cowl, and 1 washer on the top right of the cowl ring to cater for the down and side thrust.

    Here is the engine installation, (an AGM 30cc) before the spacers were fitted. I'll try and get another with the spacers later.

    AGM30 engine installation

    I did have a lot of trouble trying to get the cowl aligned with the drive shaft. I was initially using (multiple) ply spacers, and was in retrospect suffering from some crushing, so things seems terribly badly aligned. I have since switched to using washers to move the motor forward, and its pretty good now, with just one washer having to be added to the top right (as seen from the front) to offset the cowl to deal with the right/down thrust. Pretty happy with it now.

    Final cowl installation, side view Final cowl installation, top view

    Dual power switch installation

    Cowl cut, bottom view

    Cowl cut, side view

    Ignition installation

    Choke servo install

    Not sure this 1.9kg servo is good enough, it does not reliably close the choke fully, so it may have to be changed.

    Fuel tubing installed Filter & vent line

    Cable tidying More cable tidying More cable tidying Receiver installed

    Wires tidied

    Hobbyking (VQ) Spacewalker

  • Updated on Thu, 10 Nov 2016 by John Allen

    Hobbyking

    Well the HK (VQ models) SpaceWalker build went very well overall. There were a couple of issues, such as one wing being 10mm longer than the other, but other than that it was an easy build. We used an old ASP .61FS for power with an 12x6 APC style prop, and it seems plenty powerful.

    The maiden flight required quite a bit of right trim, and was climbing strongly under power. It looks like the elevator is not centered properly, so that will need fixing before the next flight.

    Additionally there may be some down trim required. Its quite a bit more aerobatic than expected, and nowhere near the easy flyer the Hobbyking Soar 40 is, but will make a good low wing advanced trainer.

    HK Walrus cockpit installation

  • Updated on Thu, 10 Nov 2016 by John Allen

    Nice clean install

    Cardboard battery holder, ESC stuck to right side with velcro, FrSky X8R on the other side, just positioned, not stuck in, top antennae stuck on using clear duck tape.

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