Welcome to Chins Chins, my chance to chin-wag.
Each month I will be looking at something new in the modelling industry, some history from the same month a quarter of a century ago and current BumpyGreen projects I am involved in.

Last month the all new foam Mini Starjet saw the sticks at Bumpy Green. Find out in the coming full review how we got on with this high speed delta from Graupner.

Having seen Tony fly his Limbo Dancer a number of times - including into the tree - I was amazed at how easily it took off, pootled around very sedately but could also perform a whole range of mild aerobatics. I wanted to have a go at something similar & was presented with an opportunity to try a Weston Cougar. This will be reviewed in the coming weeks hopefully along side a few other ARTF fun-fly models to make a comparison but for now I will be looking at the powerplant this model will fly with...

MAGNUM XL-32 AII



The Magnum XL-32AII is the engine recommended by Weston for the Cougar.

Specifications: 2 stroke air cooled engine. Capacity: .32 cu. in / 5.26 cc Rev Range: 2.000 - 16.000 RPM Weight: 11oz / 336g Power Output. 1.25bhp / 0.9 KW Recommended prop range 9 x 6 - 10 x 5 Rear needle operation.

Supplied with a rather nice tuned pipe suited to the engine as well as enhancing the look of the plane it will be fitted to.


Excellent casting on the crankcase & cylinder head with smooth curves on the cooling fins with a good finish on the internal ports. Outstanding quality throughout the engine is evident promising to make this engine a hard working & reliable power plant.


A quick peak into the construction facility revealed a glance at the Cougar in it's component parts just out of the box & ready for the assembly to begin.

www.westonuk.co.uk

What was going on in April 1976 in the modelling world. Take a look back at some snippets from a magazine of the era.



Radio Modeller on the move, after 10 years growth the magazine decided to up-sticks & move to a larger premises ~ just a mile down the road from their old haunt. The new site included a retail shop for callers to purchase plans, books & magazines.
Other news was that the 29 year successive run of the Nationals was about to grind to an end as no suitable venue was likely to be found by spring bank holiday to host the event. Even the aerodrome at RAF Elvington was under injunction for noise problems. Chances seem remote for an event in the spring of '76.

Well look who finally turned up.



Having laboured long and hard on my own Pioneer, resisting the urge to forage through my '70s magazine collection to find anything about this model - it has finally arrived for sale in April 1976.
For the princely sum of £14:95 one could take to the air with all the ease & grace this 'Bleriot type' monoplane offered. Seen here posed with that ever popular '70s toy ~ Action Man.



Peter Chinn gets stuck into two 'Hot' .40 size engines this month. The OPS 40-SLP Pylon & the OS MAX 40-SR, both rear induction high performance engines. Suited for pylon racing or control line having no throttle control, the OS could be adapted for liquid head cooling & to accept a standard racing power boat output shaft for marine use. The OS engine was rated at 1.4 bhp & weighed in at 308g (10.7oz)



Cover picture & featured plan kit was the DeJa Vu III. 66" span FAI aerobatic pattern ship designed by Ron Russel. Intended for .60 size engines & 5 channel radio installation this plane was the third variant of this model & featured an all built up construction over the foam wing versions I & II. Easy to fly for the sports modeller & fully aerobatic for the more advanced or adventurous pilot.



Maurice Cargill gives a guided tour to a Pylon Racing event held at RAF Luffenham near Leicester.



Taking the reader through an introduction to the aircraft used, where to fly, some of the finer points to competitive racing & a full listing of required items & insurance.
After losing his first heat, Maurice re-prop'd & was set to win the second heat after the leaders 'cut the pylon'. On the 8th lap of 10 however his motor seized, bringing an end to his days racing. More determined than ever he looked forward to a more successful 1976 season.



Soaring specialist Dave Hughes looked at a number of gliders of the time & the various construction methods & materials in use. Lawrence Windley (just 13 then) provided an ingenious method of gauging a models height from it's apparent size in the air. The example quoted is that a 10ft model at 800 feet has an apparent size of just a quarter of an inch. So when someone tells you - "oh easily 2000 feet" & their 6ft span artf glider is still about 3 inches across, you will know better.



Final picture this month, due to a complete lack of club group pictures in the April Radio Modeller, is this back page advert for Ripmax Futaba. One of only 8 full colour pages in the whole magazine it shows the latest series M radio control equipment.

Having recently flown the Protech Unlimited to it's full capability, taking full advantage of the break in the weather I have returned to my Protech stockpile. Bought throughout last season at various shows on special offers now is the time for them to see the light of day. Plus I could do with another quick fix of 'Protech Canopy Syndrome' ~ All will be revealed.

That's it for another month,
See you in May.

Article by Chinman from Bumpy Green Model Aerodrome
27th April 2002