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.

The objective of last months project was to upgrade the wire undercarriage supplied with the Modeltech Magic for a more durable carbon type. This not only enhances the look of the model but also helps it cope with the bumps at Bumpy Green.
www.carboncopyuk.com
The Model Magic with it's new carbon upgrade undercarriage & wheel spats. Read the full update on the Magic review.

Bumper Christmas Edition.
	www.flairproducts.co.uk
Magpie 50 F3A Aerobatic Aircraft.   Price £149.95	Specifications: Wingspan: 1420 mm (55.8") Weight: 2250~2350 g Length: 1430 mm (56.2") Wing: Loading 67 g/dm2 Wing Area: 34 dm2 Requires: .40+ 2 stroke or .52 - .63 4 stroke engine & 4/5 channel radio with 5/6 servos.
The Swallow EX and the Lark have now become familiar models on the flying field. This is down to their superb flying characteristics and attractive looks. Now they have a smaller brother - the Magpie. This model too is in the style of the F3A pattern ships and can offer a great way to get into aerobatics.
Specifications: Wingspan: 1800 mm (70.8") Weight: 4550~4700 g Length: 1420 mm (56") Wing Loading: 74~77 g/dm2 Wing Area: 61 dm2 Requires: .91 to 1.08 2 stroke or .91 to 1.20 4 stroke engine & 5/6 channel radio with 5/7 servos	Supermarine Spitfire Mk II Price £246.30
This model has a fibre glass fuselage and built up wings. The covering is Solartex and the whole aircraft is spray painted to produce a highly convincing model. Flaps are provided for slow approaches and the aircraft responds to aileron control positively throughout the whole flight envelope. Retracting undercarriages can be fitted - the model is pre-prepared for this but a fixed version is supplied in the kit.
www.ipacs.de IPACS - The Simulator Company	Aerofly Pro Expansion Pack Vol. 1
	New aircraft, new sceneries, new sounds. 3D flying like the champions at the TOC in Las Vegas. Vertical take-offs and landings with jet power. Professional acrobatic flying with helicopters and planes. The new AeroFly Professional Expansion Pack Volume 1 features: 14 new models 2 new sceneries System requirements Expansion Pack Volume 1 AeroFly Professional Intel Pentium II compatible cpu at 800 MHz or higher 120 MB of free hard disk space 3D graphics card with at least 32 MB of RAM Cost: EUR 39.90
Easy to use setup screen gets you flying quickly. Great scenery to fly against. Highly detailed computer models are used and effects like transparent smoke add to the realism. www.ipacs.de/aerofly/xpv1
	www.robbe.de
Eolo-R22 Specifications: Main rotor diameter: 810 mm Tail rotor diameter: 175 mm All-up weight: 1100 g Height: 240 mm Length: 680 mm
	Ornith 36 Specifications: Main rotor diameter: 1235 mm Tail rotor diameter: 245 mm All-up weight: 3200 g Height: 420 mm Length: 1150 mm
Freewind Specifications: Wingspan: 2200 mm All-up weight: 1430 g Wing area: 44.90 dm2 Wing Loading: 31.80 g/dm2
	Firewind Specifications: Wingspan: 1800 mm All-up weight: 1640 g Wing area: 34.30 dm2 Wing Loading: 47.80 g/dm2
R136HP Receiver Specifications: Weight: 29 g Dimensions: 51.5 x 33 x 21.5 mm Voltage: 4.8 - 6 Volts current: 10 mA 6-channel PCM receiver exploiting 1024 PCM technology. Compact and lightweight, for smaller applications requiring PCM reliability.
	FS 250S / 250T Digital Servo Specifications: Dimensions: 40 x 19.7 x 37.8 mm Torque: 55.00 Ncm Operating voltage: 4.8 - 6 Volts Nominal voltage: 6 Volts Transit speed: 0.13 Sec/45° Mass/weight: 52.00 pond/g The robbe FS 250 Torque and FS 250 Speed digital servos are completely new developments, and offer the latest servo technology at a favourable price. The core of the servos is an ultra-modern 8-bit micro-processor with 12-bit A/D converter, providing a resolution of 4096 steps. This corresponds to a servo travel of around 0.04°.

What was going on in December 1976 in the modelling world. Take a look back at some snippets from a magazine of the era. Editorial focus this month was the announcement by the Model Hobby Trade Federation that they will not object to Citizen Band radio frequency allocation if there is no clash with current modelling allocations. This ultimately has led to the requesting of additional frequency allocation for modelling, with 35MHz ( still current) being most favoured. With plans to make existing 27MHz systems upgradeable to the new frequencies to ensure people are not left with obsolete equipment if the change takes place. The biggest fear is foreign travelers with unlicensed CB or VHF radios visiting the UK and disrupting the frequencies by illegal use of overseas equipment.

Big news this month was the highly successful Radio Modeller All Electric Fly-In held at St Albans park. Attended from all over the UK by a large number of modellers, with 34 entries in the competition dispelling fears that the electric powered side of the sport was in decline. A wide variety of model designs were on show, with sport and gliders making up most of the field but scale and aerobatic models made more of a show too. Duration flying, pylon racing and spot landing contests went towards the overall scores for the day. Chris Pullen of Dunstable flew his Mosquito glider to a 184 out of 200 top score just 2 points ahead of the runner up. Noted name was Mick Wilshere who had problems getting height on with his Ampeater glider. St Albans MAC who hosted the 'one off' event had already suggested another RM meeting for the following year.

Motor Miscellany with Peter Chinn looked at the E.D. Multi-Carb & the E.D. Super Hunter Diesel. The E.D. Multi-Carb was a barrel throttle design with automatic fuel metering for silencer pressurised systems. Using a bottom feed jet as opposed to a spray bar setup. The E.D.Super hunter tested was a water cooled Marine Diesel version using an exhaust throttle system.

Featured plan was the Mongrel designed by Brian Peckham. A cross between a Piper Cherokee & a Beagle Pup the name Mongrel fitted well. With a 60" span, for use with .40 size engines and 4 channel radio gear, this cabin cruiser had the flight characteristics and appearance of a good scale model. Very stable in the air and yet capable of basic aerobatics.

Westbury Club pose during one of their competition days. No fewer than 20 bodies in this shot and 16 models. Quite a ratio considering the mixed age and gender of the group.

Numeaton Aeromodellers also showed a large turnout for the camera. The 50 strong club boasted a resident pro in the form of Mike Robinson and also offered a variety of training for newcomers including classroom style teaching, group building tuition as well as hands on flying training.

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

With a lot going on over Christmas I have no project lined up and plan to take a well earned holiday in the USA. With snow forecast it may turn into a skiing holiday but I will be back in the new year with more models to review, more new products to drool over, more old magazine highlights and a few more unusual conversions to consider.

A plea from your columnist.
I have run afoul of a small problem with my Radio Modeller magazines. It would seem I have come up short for 1977 issues (ie next years column material) I have January, February, March, September, October, November & December.
I need to beg, borrow or steal (well pay for) April, May, June, July, & August issues.
If anyone can help out with this I'd be very grateful. I would be willing to buy an entire year if I have to but they must include all covers and be reasonable condition.
Please drop me an email if you can help. chinman@bumpygreen.co.uk


That's it for another month,
See you in January 2003

Article by John Kent from Bumpy Green Model Aerodrome
December 2002

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