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

A little late with this one, mostly due to a couple of side projects we are working on at the moment. A welcome return no doubt is the What's New section. This will cover new products from various manufacturers and suppliers and will soon also include new items being added to the Bumpy Green shop from a number of new sources. An interesting letter and accompanying photos arrived at Bumpy Green a few weeks back, from Pedro Duran in Spain regarding a recent purchase he made: Dear Sirs, Recently I bought this old beautiful compressed air model engine. It's marked on the propeller "INTEGRALE BSGDG PATENT DRP" The engine is made of aluminium and it's very lightweight. It runs perfectly and has much power. I would like to know about its origins, its value, and would be grateful for any information you could tell me about it. kind regards, Pedro Duran. Spain. I have since tried to contact a model aircraft museum in the United States but have so far had no response. Hopeful someone will recognise it and contact us here so we can pass the information to Pedro. We have now had a lot of responses to our plea for assistance with articles and some very good content is beginning to arrive on a regular basis. Check out Dave Whiston's articles ~ Tequila Sunrise where he talks of his modelling and other experiences living in Mexico. Currently listed in the Your Stories section but soon to be moved into the Regulars slot. Also in your stories, Malcolm Billing talks about the inspiration for his 1/3 scale Grunau Baby glider and Simon Chaddock relates the story of his Round The Pole electric models. Keith Bolas features in the hangar section with his innovative Control Line Fun Fly as does Michael Southwood and his Super Stearman. Tim Wheater finds a great use for an empty pop bottle in Bright Ideas and finally the Articles section has Matt Carter explaining how to make your own battery packs from loose Ni-Cad cells and the renowned modelling expert Steve Dorling gives some pointers on making sure everything is secure inside that prized model. Keep them coming folks, we are especially looking for reviews of models ~ even models already featured ~ as a comparison from different people can reveal some interesting points on models both good and bad. Anybody wishing to see their work put to good use or just fancy having a go at writing a review or article should drop us a line, or better still just send us your article. Pictures are good but not essential as we can usually ferret up some suitable illustrations to accompany any articles.

Weston UK - Magnum R The original Magnum45 caused quite a stir with it's .46WXLR engine. The updated Magnum with the new West-Eurotech 50V1 and matching tuned pipe took IC powered modelling past the 200mph mark. Now the new Magnum R using the same 50V1 engine promises even more. Re-styled to an even sleeker shape, cuts through the air more efficiently. New laser cut construction adds more strength at no weight penalty. Now covered in metallic yellow Oracover with a carbon effect canopy and highly visible chequered film bottom. This model is ultra fast (capable of speeds well in excess of 200mph) and super stable. With its sleek jet-style appearance the only way to describe the Weston Magnum is simply ballistic! With a lightweight wood and fibreglass fuz, the wing is balsa covered foam with a high speed laminar flow section. Wingspan 875mm Length 1070mm Weight 1.75Kg, Radio 4 function, Servos 3 standard Engine .40 - .50 2 stroke
Tigershark ARF Due to popular demand we are now introducing the Tigershark delta in ARF format. Capable of speeds in excess of 150mph, this amazing delta's low speed handling characteristics are unsurpassed. All that is required is to simply attach the fin and the landing skid. Wingspan 940mm Recommended engine West Eurotech .50V1 and pipe
Groove Freestyle Why not have the best of both worlds? You can with the new Weston UK Groove Freestyle. Smooth locked in aeros on low rates, full on 3D capability on high rates. Its only limited by the pilots own skills. Beautifully made by the same factory that make the Hype and Cougar. All laser cut and covered with Oracover, all accessories included. Wingspan 1420mm Length 1435mm Weight 4.8lbs/2.18Kg (depending on motor) Fully capable on a West Eurotech .36T1, ballistic on a West Eurotech .50T1
Zoom 400 The ZOOM 400 sets a new standard in electric powered mini helicopters. This helicopter is small, but flies and responds as a big one. The ZOOM 400 differs completely from the existing micro helicopters on the market by its design and outstanding performance. The mechanics are built on a box type fibreglass reinforced nylon chassis. The helicopter is standard fitted with a full collective rotor head, and autorotation unit on the main gear and a shaft driven tail drive. The entire mechanics are ball raced for more precision and to save battery power. The basic kit comes with a speed 400 motor and the Zoom is built so the electronics are ready to be mounted on. The Zoom 400 radio controlled Mini Heli was designed to be a stable machine which beginners will fall in love with; Pros can install a brushless motor and experience a seriously capable machine. Features: Lightweight composite frames, Collective pitch rotor head, Shaft driven tail rotor, Autorotation unit, Megax 400 motor, Fibreglass 3D hollow fin & stab, Aluminium tail boom, Double boom support, 90% assembled airframe with pre-installed Megax 400 motor, Composite main blades and plastic tail blades, Pre-cut vacumformed canopy, Multi-coloured decal sheet.
OS 46AX As the replacement for the high-performance .46 FX, the .46 AX shares many of its features. The raw power. A remote needle valve. Mounting bolt patterns. A balanced "D"-cut crankshaft supported by dual bearings. CNC-machining for the piston and other parts. And the same exclusive ABL cylinder liner that has made FX reliability a byword. But all the same, the .46 AX is a different — and better — engine. Why? Because times change and technology advances. And because O.S. uses the best of both to make a good engine a better engine. Features the .46 FX's durable ABL (Advanced Bimetallic Liner) plating, as well as a new design that automatically centres, levels and seats the head during re-replacement. Head snugs down with only four screws — not six. Subtly tapered low-end needle eliminates surging at transition, ensuring exceptionally smooth, consistent throttle control from idle to top speed. Redesigned liner ports and a ball-milled inlet port minimize turbulence during fuel/air mixing, making combustion and power output more predictable. New high-speed needle bracket simplifies horizontal/vertical mounting — and can be replaced in just minutes. Minimizes vibration-induced "creep" and re-sets with a ratchet spring on the high-speed needle and O-ring seals on both needles. A simple rotor guide screw replaces the throttle stop screw — and eliminates spring-related movement. SPECIFICATIONS: Displacement: 0.455 cu in (7.5cc) Bore: 0.866 in (22.0mm) Stroke: 0.772 in (19.6mm) Output: 1.65 bhp @16,000 rpm RPM Range: 2,000-17,000 Weight w/muffler: 17.2 oz (489g) Suggested prop sizes: 10.5 x 6, 11x 6 - 8, 12 x 6 - 7
OS FS-70 Ultimate It’s the new pinnacle of performance for today’s aerobats! The FS-70 Ultimate 4-stroke powerhouse promises smoother, more consistent muscle, thanks to an ingenious pump system that offers consistent fuel delivery, regardless of the plane’s attitude. And amazingly, this “pumped-up” power comes from an engine that weighs less than the FS-70 II engine without a pump. The FS-70 Ultimate is noticeably more compact than the O.S. FS-70 II, making for easier installation in a wider range of aircraft. The most important new innovation found on the FS-70 Ultimate is a Pump System incorporated on the back plate. It pressurizes the fuel tank for constant fuel delivery at any attitude. This is the 4-stroke engine that enjoys the more linear response of a slide-valve carb, for quick and accurate throttle response. It also features a regulator that stabilizes the pressurized fuel for reliability during manoeuvres. SPECIFICATIONS Displacement: 0.698 cu in (11.45cc) Bore: 1.091 in (27.7mm) Stroke: 0.748 in (19.0mm) Practical rpm range: 2000-13,000 Output: 1.2 ps @ 11,000 rpm Weight: 16.0 oz (455g); Weight w/all parts included: 18.6 oz (527g)
Do you have a new or existing product you would like to let everyone know about? Drop me a line with some details and pictures and they can be included with the next months issue. Email chinman

What was going on in April 1978 in the modelling world. Take a look back at some snippets from a magazine of the era. Editorial focused on the upcoming events in the modelling show calendar, noting that the Diary Dates page was full up with no space for some future events with the promise of more space next month. Noted shows listed in the editorial section included the British Nationals to be held at RAF Barkston Heath, the Sywell R/C Expo, the 1978 World Championships for R/C Scale and all Control Line classes, scheduled to be held at Woodvale and last but not least the Elmbridge Symposium ~ now known as the Sandown Model Symposium.

Tony Bray was singing the praises of one of the latest R/C helicopter models to come from Dieter Schluter ~ The Bell 222. Shown in the review in it's basic bubble canopy and boom configuration but also available was a near-scale Bell 222 fuselage kit as well as a wheeled undercarriage kit and even floats. Supplied with parts for pure Hiller collective pitch or Hiller plus direct coupling for more positive steering control Tony noted the model had considerable scope for a bit of experimenting. With the addition of a tuned engine and reinforced main rotor blades the 222 became a truly aerobatic performer.

Peter Chinn had the Super Tigre 35 R/C on his test bench this month. Designed around an engine casing that included the finned cylinder jacket, crankcase and front end with cast-in bronze bush bearings. Other features included the Super-Tigre directional scavenging port system and steeply inclined transfer ports. This system aided the engine to perform well on test and actually produce more power than quoted by the manufacturer. One interesting point was the use of a flat crown, deflectorless, lapped piston machined from Meehanite cast-iron and at .35 cu. in. one of the largest to use iron pistons. This design utilised internal annular stiffening ribs as well as a fore and aft relieved piston skirt. Based on a design going back 17 years to the successful control line stunt engines of the early '60s.

Cover model and featured plan was the Switchback Bipe designed by Brian Peckham. A 50" span aerobatic sports model for .40 size engines and 4 channel radio control. Inspired by seeing the Rothmans Pitts Special performing and the need for a model biplane with a bit of snap Brian set about designing a clean airframe using varied incidences with the upper wing being negative, the tailplane positive and the engine and lower wing at zero incidence. Coupled with ailerons on both upper and lower wing the roll rate was reported to be very rapid. Highly aerobatic performance with the only niggle being the drag of the airframe resulting in a need for quite a bit of down elevator when flying inverted.

Dennis De Wet reported on the "Scale 77" event held in South Africa and it turned out to be one of the largest events there ever. With over 40 models present (compared to the 20 of the previous year) Models varied in type and size with a majority falling into the World War One. Other noted models were the Junkers CL1 'Iron Donkey' of Reg Maclear of East London, 1/4 scale Piper J3 cub belonging to the Author, a Piper Pawnee with working crop duster gear of Lionel Smith (which failed to compete after crashing during an early test flight) and competition winner Peter Westerman of Cape Town with his very realistic dive bombing Junkers Ju 88.

One of the newest kits on offer was the Manta Delta from Schulter, built and flown by John McKenzie. A 39" span fully built up delta designed for .19 to .40 size engines and using standard balsa and ply construction. As this was previous to electronic mixers for delta aircraft, separate ailerons and elevator are used with a third channel for the throttle. A bit of a handful to launch single handed at first and as with most delta designs engine off landings required a fair amount of speed to be kept on during approach. John noted his mistake of painting the tissue and dope finish with a camouflage scheme as it was near impossible to see the Manta against the surrounding trees when banked over with the upper surface facing him.

Brian Hendy of Swansea attracts a good crowd with his 1/4 scale Slingsby T31.

The Sheffield Soaring Association members suitable clad for a cold day on the slope.

Finally ~ the lucky members of the Fylde Coast MFA based at Fleetwood in Lancashire had use of a 28ft caravan as their clubhouse, which boasted full facilities. Also and most enviably was the recent laying of three new runways at their private flying site.

Recognise yourself in any of these pictures, we'd love to hear from you at Bumpy Green. Email chinman

There will soon be an announcement regarding new developments at Bumpy Green. Plenty of activity going on with various trips to and fro to ge some important stuff sorted out. Watch this space as they say.

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

Article by John Kent from Bumpy Green Model Aerodrome
April 2004

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