The Kelling Flier No.13

Transcription

1 The Kelling Flier No.13 ********The KMFC AGM 2020 IMPORTANT******** Since we cannot hold an AGM in the normal way this year the following reports from the Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary, effectively comprise the AGM. In the absence of any other nominees, all the current committee are standing for re-election unopposed to their current posts for It is up to all of you to respond to the Secretary within the next seven days if you have any objections to the proposed Committee and Subs for If no objections are raised in that time it will be taken as a vote in favour of the proposals. The Secretary will then contact everyone shortly after to inform of the outcome. Chairman s Report Well, this has certainly been a very different and frustrating year. Not being able to hold our monthly meetings at the Morley Club or the weekly Workshop Wednesday gatherings certainly put a damper on things at the beginning of the year. I do hope that the introduction of the Kelling Flier newsletter has helped in part to offset that for some of you and the ongoing success of the newsletter has to be the outstanding silver lining to this year s cloud. When the regulations permitted, those of us who did not have to isolate did make the best of the opportunities to go flying. Let s keep our fingers crossed that things don t have to be as restrictive next year and more of you will be able to enjoy our great hobby. On the subject of the Newsletter I would like to thank Stan Bucknole for putting forward the suggestion to do it, Andrew Jenkins for his efforts in compiling your contributions and all of you who have contributed articles and photos. It has been very interesting to see the projects that you are working on, both aeromodelling and others. We are clearly a club of people with a broad range of talents. During the summer we had a few flying sessions at Andrew Taylor s field. He always makes us welcome and evening flying on this inland site makes it a pleasant change from the blustery conditions we often experience at Muckleburgh. On behalf of the club I would like to thank Andrew for his hospitality and generosity in sharing his airfield. Construction of our full size replica of a WW2 OQ-2A target drone started last December and good progress was made up until the point when the first lockdown curtailed Workshop Wednesdays. The construction of all the major parts is complete and these are now in storage until we can work on them again safely as a group. Our landlord, Sir Michael Savory, continues to be a great supporter of the club. This year he had planned to allow us to use the museum restaurant for the assembly of the OQ2, but alas the current lockdown prevents us from being able to do that. I will let you know if that situation changes. Finally, on your behalf, I would like to thank my fellow committee members: Nick, Andrew, Gordon and Robert for their work behind the scenes and also John Wells for maintaining the club s web site

2 Accounts INCOME EXPENDITURE SUBSCIPTIONS 2, OQ2 PARTS DONATIONS CHEQUE TO BMFA 1, SALE CLUB CAP ETC 3.00 POST PHOTOCOPY TEA COFFEE WWEDNESDAY BUFFET DONATION JIM GIBLEN ENGRAVE CUP WEBB SITE ADMIN ROOM HIRE DELTA DRONE PARTS DONATION RAF BENEVOLENT VACUME CLEANER MILKTEACOFFEEBISCUITS FIELD RENT 12 MONTHS 1, TOTAL INCOME 3, TOTAL EXPENDITURE 3, BALANCE/GAIN/LOSS CASH Banks , TOTAL , Club Inventory 1 Tx/ rx checker 2 Frequency peg boards. Lawn mower 3 Bungee? Quantity of club patches. 1 BANNER 2610 TX 2 PADLOCKS 1 Air horn 1 GAZEBO 1 Model stands 1 FOLDING TABLE GARDEN TABLE AND 2 Photo albums. CHAIRS 5 club shields. SUPER 60 3 club comp cups. GARDEN TOOLS 1 Fire extinguisher GENERATOR 3 Dave Platt video's MUTLEY GLIDERS 2xJR 3810 TX+Buddy lead 3 GAS CYLINDERS JR TX Synth module STORAGE BINS Compressor MODEL SPARES PA System

3 SUBSCRIPTIONS Following the Club AGM and BMFA AGM I can confirm that the Membership Subscriptions are all unchanged from those paid in 2020 and will be:- Full Flying Senior - 50 (additional family member 25) Junior Category - 15 Social Category - 12 Country Member proof of BMFA membership BMFA Seniors - 38 (additional family member 25) BMFA Juniors - 17 (additional family junior 13) CAA registration - 9 Nick will provide a renewal form for those of you wishing to renew your membership in the next edition of the Flier together with details of how payment can be made by cheque or bank transfer. Secretary s Report Club membership currently stands at 37, of which 33 are Full Flying Members (including 1 Hon Member), 3 Social Members and another Social Member. This represents a reduction of 4 Full Flying Members in 2019 when total membership was 41. Hi all Just when we thought lockdowns were behind us! Anyway, we must all remain positive and believe that we will get through this and we will resume normal service as you say! Please can you all ensure you have read all the information regarding the AGM and the Committee reports associated with it. As our thoughts turn to Christmas (yes it will be a bit different, but its still Christmas!) now is the time to go that bit further at home remark how lovely her hair is, offer to wash up or bring tea in bed! Then, you can leave subtle hints, such as leaving the pc screen on with the item you want visible or using the phrases I wish I had bought or I ve always wanted, but don t forget to add a smattering of compliments and then Santa might come! Thank you sincerely for all your contributions this month and good luck for any of you using the lockdown to continue your current build or start a new one. Either way, keep us all posted in words and pictures and submit to me at awjenkins@sky.com. Thanks, Andrew

4 STANS QUIZ CORNER Another of Stan s cartoons together with the answers to the last quiz and another group of aeroplanes for you to identify. Good luck. Keep balsa bashing, Stan! QUIZ - WHAT S THE AEROPLANE? 1.The Kaiser sent a bird of peace? 2.This swift bird is a pet for the god of war? 3.'A brass hat' going to see Tottenham play? 4.Solidly built boss is overbearing? 5.The street trader is a bit of a devil? "Look mum, Radio Control" Answers to last Quiz 1. Douglas Boston, 2. Beechcraft Navigator, 3. DeHavilland Flamingo, 4. Heinkel Salamander, 5. Blackburn Skua. BUILDERS BOARD Andrew Taylor contacted me to advise that due to his decision to electrify his Whirlwind model and the technical and financial implications that this entails, he has now put this on hold and is pursuing an alternative project. As Andrew writes- Some time ago I constructed to the finishing stage, a model of the Canadair 215 water bomber to a span of 100 inches. It is built from a plan drawn by Roy Tassel, a noted water model enthusiast of years gone by. Intended power was two 60`s but I then had second thoughts in favour of electric and put the project on hold until now. The model is all balsa with a little light-ply, some blue spun foam for the cowls and glass epoxy cloth covering. It will weigh about 18 lbs for a wing area of 8 sq ft. It will require a `dolly` for take-off and hopefully ` skid-land` on its reinforced belly. The whole was sprayed with grey primer filler which prevented me using yellow as the most popular scheme but this colour could not be used due to opacity with the undercoat showing through the yellow which would have required umpteen coats to put right. So, I am inventing my own version and using up odds and ends of film and Fablon. The u/c is going to be a bit of a challenge if and when the model swerves to the side on landing as the tip floats are very near the wing tips. Another impressive aircraft Andrew!

5 Leprechaun talk. These are the latest pictures of Roy Lione s Mk 2 motor conversion Leprechaun featured in last month s Flier sporting a super covering job, a great looking model, let us know how she eventually flies Roy! Interestingly Stan sent in this article regarding his Mk 1 Leprechaun, or as Stan put it :- A Leprechaun Mk 3? Reading Roy's article about the Mark 2 Leprechaun reminded me of my Mark 1. This was also powered but by a 40 Glow motor. With this on full noise, it would slowly climb like a Spanish Galleon, loaded with Inca gold. When the motor stopped, the model descended remarkably quickly, so it was soon relegated to a dark corner of the shed. A few months ago, I offered the fuselage to anyone who might have a use for it - no takers. Roy's article made me think about revising the Mark 1, but I knew the model would have to lose some weight. So far, I have removed the pylon, plus great lumps of lead from the nose making a total weight loss of 1lb 3 ozs. The basic framework is 3/8ths square balsa and these I have rounded off - anything to save weight. I also drilled holes in the rudder and the under fin. As the fuselage is less like a sailplane and more like a whale, I plan to drop the wing into the fuselage thus the model will be a shoulder wing, plus my intention is to build a new tailplane lighter than the chunky original. Mk 1 Leprechaun in flight The model was to be powered by the original 40, but as it will be about the same size and weight as my Snark MK2 model which flies well driven by an outrunner and a 3 cell lipo, I shall follow Roy's lead and go silent. There is a fair amount of work involved so it should last for the lockdown and beyond.!!! I'm looking forward to seeing Roy's model and how it performs. Looking through some old magazines, I came across a Leprechaun Mark 3. How many are out there? I did read that the designer, Dick Twomey, died in July of this year, aged 90. A long life and a great many successful models left to remember him by. Prolific builder Dave Franks is still mid construction of his 2nd Grumman Wildcat as previously featured but has recently had a birthday and received a 63 Seagull Skyraider Warbird. As can be seen from the pictures, Dave has already built this adding some cosmetic airbrushing for realism. The model is all electric and powered by a 360KV motor, turning a 17x10prop, a 6amp UBEC, 70amp ESC and a 40C 6S 5000 Lipo which were all supplied by George at 4-Max. ( Dave adds that he still has a Balsa USA 1/4 scale Fokker D8 still waiting to be built! Great photos of another great model, let us know how she flies.

6 And the build goes on.. Geoff s Trusty Bixler and progress with his Taylorcraft 057. As Geoff updates. The Bixler3 powered glider has served me well this year. I also need to thank Nick, Steve and Paul for putting in many hours trying to make the Istone Gyro work. It never did work and I now fly the plane with an old and simple Orange Gyro. They also stood by me giving tips and encouragement to help me improve my piloting skills. The Bixler3 was chosen on Nick s advice because it has a pusher prop and can be landed on its belly both of which help to limit damage. The aircraft is, however, somewhat battered from many landings in the long grass amongst the rabbit holes and brambles. I have also been flying it with 3S 3700mAh batteries because I have them. Hobby King says to use 2200mAh ones. I guess that the considerable extra weight of the big batteries will not have helped the light foam construction when it came in contact with an immovable object. Fortunately my landings have now improved somewhat and so venturing out with the undercarriage fitted is a little less risky. I decided to buy another Bixler3 because mine is not quite straight and is full of Gorilla Glue. The Hobbyking site is difficult and the Bixlers3s seem to be out of stock world-wide. However, I found that their spare parts bin is full of useful stuff and I got a replacement fuselage and wing from the Netherlands and a tailplane and fin from Hong Kong. Pretty cheap if you don t count the postage. Now, of course, whole Bixler3s are suddenly available again. Mine will be better though because I ll fit decent servos. More building projects and updates in the next issue! My Ben Buckle Taylorcraft 0-57 (Civilian Type D in my case) is beginning to take shape. The pic shows the current state of build with much of the fuselage done. I have heard that Ben has been rushed into hospital for emergency treatment and his website is not really working at the moment. I need to get back to work on the Herald so there will be a pause before work resumes on the airframe. It s a pity that the season has come to a close but fortunately there is still plenty of really interesting work to do. Your article Could be here in the next instalment! So, get scribing and ing and share it with our fellow modellers

7 Blast from the past I received this fascinating item from Edward Allen concerning his grandfather :- This is my grandfather, about to go for a flight (or just landed) with Capt Hucks, the first Englishmen to "loop the loop" and inventor of the "Hucks Starter" which is still in use at The Shuttleworth Collection for starting aero engines. The aeroplane is a 2-seater Bleriot and the location, very near Andrew Taylor's model flying field between Langham and Binham circa 1913 I think. Hucks was on a tour of Norfolk demonstrating his "machine". For those unfamiliar with this method a Hucks starter is an auxiliary power unit, almost always a motortruck, that provides initial power to start up piston aircraft engines. Such Hucks starter trucks can be considered a mechanical replacement for a member of the groundcrew who would have spun an aircraft 's propeller by hand. Thanks for that snapshot of aviation history Edward! The Hucks starter in action! Identify the item! See if you can guess this one! This has been supplied by Nick and is an object that you would use during the completion of you model! Thinking caps on chaps, I look forward to hearing from you! me with your ideas (awjenkins@sky.com) and the first correct answer will get a mention in the next issue. The item in the last Flier was correctly guessed by Nick again (and again was the only guess, come on chaps!) who identified it as a Stanley blade.

8 Paul Blake takes to the skies. Capt Paul Blake Paul Blake received a flight experience for Christmas in 2019, from his son and daughter, which was unfortunately put on hold due to the impact of the Covid Virus. Nevertheless, with restrictions relaxed, Paul got to experience this fantastic gift on October 17 th, courtesy of Norwich Airport and a Piper PA-34 which is a twin engine light aircraft, produced in the United States by Piper Aircraft. It has been in non-continuous production since 1971 and primarily used for personal and business flying. Having arrived at the airport, following an initial briefing in the office, Paul headed out to the aircraft, which was selected by the instructor as he wanted to get some more hours flying it as well as it s additional speed! As Paul commented I was surprised how many pre-flight checks have to be done before take-off. Checks done, the propellors burst into life and the aeroplane taxied out onto the runway. The moment had come! Clearance was given and the aircraft accelerated to take off speed and lifted into the air. Their route took them out over the Cromer Road Up, Up and away! Mundesley from the air! before turning left over Norwich and then towards Yarmouth, where Paul (as can be seen in the photo) took to the controls. From here, Capt Paul Blake headed towards Mundesley, over the sea at a height of 1400 ft at which point the instructor took over to do a circle over the village. With control returned to Paul, he flew as far as Muckleburgh completing a circuit over the airfield before heading back to Norwich when the instructor took over for landing. This incredible Pauls flight tracked on John Wells Phone App experience/gift lasted approximately 45 minutes and gave Paul a day he will never forget! Heading over Norwich Flaps down for landing

9 RAF to the rescue!!... Peter Coldham recounts a very unusual modelling experience with a photo as proof! As Peter writes - Several years ago, when l was a member of the Norwich club, flying at Coltishall with my friend Robby Lofty, we were flying crossways at the intersection because the runway was being resurfaced. Robby called 'Landing' but his plane never arrived as it was stuck in a tree. Robby said he would go to the helicopter crew and borrow a ladder. However, when he got there the helicopter crew said, "Don't bother with the ladder we will come and blow it out, they tried but unfortunately they couldn't do it so in the end the Winch man was lowered down and rescued the plane from the tree." Our comments at the end were that this must be the most expensive rescue of a model plane, and it cost Robby 2 bottles of whisky. Great story Peter, thank you! Thanks for that snapshot of aviation history Edward! Sale of Jim Giblen s models The Hucks starter in action! Nick Kirk updates on the sale of Jim s models:- Here are some pictures of the aircraft. Jim s wish was that they be sold and any proceeds shared between the RAF benevolent fund and the KMFC. If you would like to come and see them please give me a call. All are in top condition and have never been crashed. Some may not have been flown. All come with radio and servo's they even have at least one or more Li-Po to fly included with them. There is also a very nice charger for mains or 12 volt battery to charge all battery types. Much of Jim's modelling stuff is in the caravan at Muckleburgh. Please take what you need and leave a donation in the box provided. Cheers. Nick.

10 Did the French beat the Wright Brothers to it? Steve Kessel was trawling through the internet when he came upon this interesting and thought - provoking item. On December 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers made the very first flight of an airplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with their history-making Flyer or did they? On Oct , French engineer Clément Ader s "Eole" (Avion I) aircraft took off from the grounds of Château d Armainvilliers near Paris for a distance of approximately 50 meters and a height of around 20 centimetres. The performance is generally accepted by historians despite not being officially recorded. Ader claimed that it took place in front of witnesses and recounted the experience in a book that he published several years later. This flight leads some to consider Ader's Eole as the first-ever aeroplane. However, others don t share this view, arguing that the machine, despite carrying a man and having risen above the ground with its own power (steam), didn t provide any means for the pilot to control the direction of the flight. Whatever the opinion one may have, one cannot deny that the Eole machine is a fascinating piece of engineering that counts as one of the many attempts made throughout the 19th century to develop heavier-than-air aviation. Developed between 1882 and 1889, the Eole was named after the Greek God of the Winds, Aeolus. Like a giant bat, it had two wings of 14 meters each that could be articulated by a wooden structure covered by silk. The pilot was situated at the back of the aircraft. Contrary to many early flying machines, Eole was not designed to flap its wings, but was powered by steam, which drove a four-blade propeller made of bamboo at the front of the aircraft. The entire aircraft, pilot included, weighed 300kg. In the following years, Ader developed and improved the Eole Avion I by building Zéphyr and Aquilon. The three machines are called Avion from the Latin word avis (bird), which became the French word for airplane. Eole s flight in 1890 drew the interest of the French army, which ordered a more powerful aircraft, thus leading to the construction of Zéphyr (Avion II) and Aquilon (Avion III). The test flights of Avion III were made in 1897 and succeeded in leaving the ground several times. However, the results weren t convincing enough for the French Ministry of War, which ceased financing Ader, forcing him to abandon the development of his prototypes..an engineer by education, Clément Ader ( ) enjoyed a long and eventful life. Beside the heavier-than-air aircraft Avion, for which he is mainly known for, he made several (sometimes surprising) inventions in various fields. (Courtesy Aviation Pros )

11 and finally A word from our Chairman Isn t it typical that on the first day of lockdown we get the calmest weather we have had for a few weeks! I mustn t grumble though, I did get a few flights in on the day before. Most of my spare time this month has been spent in my workshop working on my DH71, which is progressing well. Last month I gave a brief description of the wheel units that I ve made for this model and mentioned that the tyres had come out rather heavy. Since then I ve found a source of rubber block that has solved that problem. Some model suppliers sell foam rubber for this purpose but it isn t cheap so I looked for an alternative source and found that Yoga Blocks are made of similar stuff; I think it s a Neoprene EVA mixture. For the uninitiated a yoga block is a brick shaped block of foam used for Yoga exercise. The problem is that they generally come in garish florescent or pastel shades but with a bit of searching on the internet I found a black one and in a few days it was on my doorstep. It cost 8 for a block that measures 12 x 8 x 2 inches. It cuts cleanly with a fine saw and is very easy to shape with good quality glass paper. The process is cut a blank of the desired thickness and diameter (slightly oversize to allow for sanding) and then mount in a lathe or power drill to shape with glass paper. I used 80 grit for shaping and 400 grit for finishing. The result looks good and the even better news is that each tyre weighs only 20g compared with 125g for the ones made from rubber tube. This together with paring down some of the other parts has brought the weight of each wheel unit down from 272g to 153g, a worthwhile saving. As an aside, the photograph shows a custom made sanding block next to the wheel. I often make blocks like this for shaping parts. It is simply a piece of wood with the desired profile cut into it and piece of glass paper stuck into the profile. It is a good way of making leading edges. That s it from me for now. Please remember to send in details of your latest projects; I m sure there are quite a few winter building projects about to start. Meanwhile, keep safe and hopefully some of us will be able to meet at the airfield when lockdown comes to an end. Cheers, Steve