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.

December, already! With Christmas just a few days away it is with mild relief I have escaped to my hermits lair (the office) and can, for a short time, forget all about xmas shopping for the family. Queues of cars trying to get into the car park, queues of people to paying for gifts, queues of people at the car park ticket machine and queues of cars trying to get out for the car park. What would normally be a 2 hour trip maximum turned into a 7 hour epic with aching feet to rival the after effects of a full weekend at the Sandown model show. The Twister did get some airtime over the Christmas holidays as well as a few upgrades from Like90. The blades make an immediate difference if trying to fly outside or in a large area and with the addition of the top-mounted head stiffener returns a greatly improved flight envelope. More testing is required with the motor / pinion setup to find the optimum head speed.

Mad Dog Kevin has also been jolly busy and has recently built his umpteenth Wot-4 powered by a .91 4 stroke. This time he has gone for the Peugeot-Total Rally team colours using a scheme supplied by the RCGraphics department of RCSuperstore. He is also working on a very large Cassut racer and is currently known to be tinkering with a huge delta originally used as a test bed for KJ66 turbine engines. More details as they become available.

Like90 are an American company who specialise in micro helicopter upgrades. Among the range are high performance fixed and collective pitch blades, uprated motors for both main and tail rotor drive and a host of upgrades designed to improve a large range of helicopter models. Distributed by www.rcsuperstore.co.uk

Head Stiffener for Fixed Pitch Heli's A Like90 head stiffener will greatly improve the performance of your stock helicopter.It is a simple, inexpensive device that prevents the head (where the blades attach to the heli) from bending. This mod is essential for forward flight. The like90 head stiffener can simply be bolted on using the hardware provided. The complete mod takes less than 5 minutes. The current Hummingbird version (seen here at the top) is made of Carbon Fibre and measures 45mm long, 10mm wide and the blade mounting holes are 37mm centre to centre.The slightly larger Aerohawk type is Fibreglass with a Carbon Fibre version (prototype at bottom) due soon. This version is slotted and allows fitting to helicopters with the Flybar above the main blades. This measures 67mm long, 16mm wide with mounting holes 58mm centre to centre. The slot is 31mm in length and 6mm wide. Both fit a variety of heli's in standard form and can easily be adapted to fit any micro heli within the sizes stated. Steve Dorling featured the head stiffener in his Hummingbird article for AMI and Bumpy Green and noted this item makes a vast improvement to the Hummingbird with standard blades and is required when fitting the upgraded Like90 fixed pitch blades.

Shaft Collar This essential part holds your main shaft firmly in place without introducing any friction or limiting the travel of your swashplate. It prevents the main gear losing contact with the pinion which can result in disaster. Another essential mod for your micro helicopter. Some newer helicopters come with this mod already installed, but many do not. Truly a must have accessory, these collars are CNC machined by Randall Perrin and include the hex wrench needed for installation.

Swash Ball This little item removes all of the play between your swashplate and main shaft, yet allows full range of motion. Considered an essential upgrade, everyone must have one to survive. A little bit of work is required to install the Swash Ball but the improvements far outweigh the time taken. Already a very popular mod for the Hornet 2 CP helicopter.

Hangar 9 Piper J-3 Cub This is the ARTF Cub that's built the way you'd build it -- if you had the time. Specifications: Wing Span: 80 in Overall Length: 50 in Wing Area: 850 sq in Flying Weight: 5.25 - 6 lbs Engine: .40 -.48 (2-stroke) .45 -.60 (4-stroke) Radio: 4 channel with 4 Servos Quality Craftsmanship. For starters, the Hangar 9 Ultra Series Cub is framed in perfect alignment with premium balsa and ply, then it's hand sanded to perfection. Plus its strong, one-piece wing makes for quick assembly at the field. It accommodates dual aileron servos for flutter-resistant security and precise adjustment. Scale details like struts, dummy cylinders and Cub-style wheels are all included, and its landing gear is tempered aluminium for superior durability and sure-footed ground handling. It is covered with genuine Goldberg UltraCote®. What's more, the Hangar 9's cowling is real fibreglass, not vacuum formed plastic, and it's pre-painted for a perfect colour match with the covering.

Beechcraft T-34 Mentor The U.S. Navy's Cold War-era primary trainer is now available as a .40-size semi-scale ARTF Specifications: Wing Span: 57.25 in (1454 mm) Overall Length: 45 in (1146 mm) Wing Area: 555 sq in (35.8 dm²) Flying Weight: 6 - 7 lb (2.7 - 3.2 kg) Engine Size: .40 - .61 2-stroke, .56 - .82 4-stroke Radio: 4 channels 5 Servos (6 w/ retracts) Unique fixed landing gear can be upgraded with retracts (sold separately) in one evening. Excellent sport aerobatic performance. Covered in authentic Hangar 9® UltraCote® High-quality prepainted fibreglass cowl Instrument panel detail. High-quality Hangar 9 Pro-Lite wheels. The new T-34 Mentor from Hangar 9 has outstanding scale touches like an authentic Ultracote trim scheme, painted fibreglass cowl, realistic canopy, and instrument panel details. For those looking for maximum realism, there's even a retract option. In the air, the Mentor's sport scale aerodynamics make a wide variety of sport aerobatics possible. For sport scale warbird thrills in an economical package, nothing can touch the new T-34 from Hangar 9.

Gypsy EP Park Flyer Arrives Almost-Ready-To-Fly with a 370 motor, gearbox and prop. High-quality Ultracote covering. Compact enough to fly in a large park Quality balsa and plywood construction. Specifications: Wing Span: 35 in (895mm) Overall Length: 27.5 in (700 mm) Wing Area: 266 sq in (17 sq dm) Flying Weight: 13.5-14.5 oz (382-411g) Motor Size: 370 geared 5.33 : 1 Radio: 3+ Channel 2 Sub-Micro servos Flying the Gypsy EP ARF park flyer from E-Flit is just like stepping into a time machine. Recapture the nostalgia and joy of the free-flying airplanes of the 1930s with this re-creation of a simpler time in modeling. The Gypsy is also designed with crisp sport flying in mind. It's classic high-wing design makes handling simple and enjoyable, delivering a relaxing flying experience. Plus, it's compact enough to fly in any small park. Created using high-quality lightweight plywood and balsa, the Gypsy assembles quickly and easily and is great fun to fly. The vibrant transparent UltraCote trim scheme is not only attractive, but also easy to see. A powerful 370 motor, 5.33:1 gearbox and 10x4.7 propeller are included that provide the Gypsy with great climb performance.

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 the modelling world of October 1978. Take a look back at some snippets from a magazine of the era. Editorial from Dave Hughes had a nostalgic feel with a look back at the previous twelve years that Radio Modeller had been running. Switch-blipping ''reed'' control was the norm in 1966 when RM started and single channel radio control was the new fangled device. Walking miles in search of fly away free flight models was also common practice, especially when Murphy's Law applies dictating that any model that stays within the flying field (or at least in sight) would have a motor run of 2 - 3 minutes but should the model go out of sight be become a runaway the engine would of course run for anything up to 10 minutes. How things changed between '66 and '78. An announcement which was all too familiar in the 1970s was the increase of fee for a Model Control Licence. The price was up to £2.80 (to give a comparison petrol was 76.5p per gallon then.) I remember this magazine cover very well and the humorous remarks to be had at the model shop visited with my grandfather. The usual regulars were in the shop, drinking tea and thumbing through the latest magazines and when I saw the cover I let out an unstiffled COOOR!!! The regulars all laughed and said ''That's what we thought as well'' My grandfather added joyfully ''I think it's the cars he's looking at though chaps'' So it was and at 10 years old the Lancia Stratos and Lamborghini were of more interest than the gorgeous lady dressed in tight red leather, referred to only as Santas little helpmate. (Who thinks we should have more magazine covers like this one!?! ;-) At around that time my Granddad was beavering away on a very large rubber powered machine, all ultra light balsa and if I recall correctly, tissue and emulsion covered whilst I was still very much into Airfix kits. The model shop visit this time was however not for more wood or tissue but to pick up my Christmas present early as my grandparents at the time lived in East London and would not be back to see us until after the holidays. The present in question was a bright red COX (or Aurora) control line Midget Mustang which was my first powered model and kept myself, my father and my grandfather amused for many hours over the following years.

Kevin Lindsey was taking a hard look at the noise situation with particular attention to contest models. With no response to assistance and funding from the official modelling organisations much was being achieved at local clubs to try and overcome the problem. Experiments with more effective types of silencers was progressing quickly but another area also being investigated was propeller noise. General club or sport flying seemed easily overcome but some contest type models had propellers with tips exceeding Mach 1 (21,000 RPM on a 12 inch propeller). One idea being experimented with was super-critical-airfoil propeller profiles such as those developed by Lockheed for turbo prop airliners.

Len Douglas decided to tackle a powered model after some slope soaring and settled on the Waterhouse and Eley Superfly. This approach allowed a valuable look at how a prospective newcomer to the hobby might cope. Feature most noted was the moulded fibreglass fuselage with integral tail fin. Options were also included for 3 or 4 channel - motor/rudder/elevator & optional ailerons. Flown with a K&B 35 but was reported to be more suited to a .29 size. Very good handling and low speed approach characteristics meant it was an ideal choice for the novice.

Scale Topics with Roy Yates was at the Mini-Nats held at Hixon in Staffordshire. The Saturday was an ideal day with superb flying conditions and saw a lot of models putting in excellent performances. Sunday however was marred by gusting winds the most noted effect of which was to snap almost every 12lb rigging wire on the authors B.E.2.e, each breaking with a resounding ping for accompaniment. Other subjects under scrutiny were the observation of the Air Navigation Order by modellers building planes over the (then) current 5KG limit with criticism of suppliers of large models and engines not making customers aware of the legality of flying such large models.

Trimming an aircraft to fly nicely is something we all come to learn over time but trimming specifically for aerobatics was the subject for Chris Clayton's special feature. Trying to find out why his aerobatic model did not perform as smoothly as those seen at shows and competitions led Chris to revise his building practices to ensure accurate alignment. This resulted in a set of fixed points on the airframe that can be measured to ensure perfect alignment of fuselage, flying surfaces, control surfaces and the eventual elimination of side thrust on the engine to maintain an arrow straight flight at any attitude during manoeuvres.

Dave Hughes spoke out on the dangers of "going it alone" on the slope specifically when designing your own soarer. Seek local help was good advice then as it is now and experienced assistance can overcome all sorts of difficulties. George Stringwell in his Thermal column was looking at radio only glider societies (meaning no powered models basically). Another new material had emerged for model construction ~ Rohacell. A polymethacrylimide (try saying that after a few christmas drinks) based rigid foam that is light, stiff, easy to cut and can be glued with just about anything.

Magnattila from Flair was a good fun model based on the Fokker Eindecker. A true builders kit supplied with many pre cut parts and high quality wood throughout. The Magnattila required a lot of (but not difficult) building with a hefty dose of sanding to shape thrown in. Options to build as a dihedral wing for rudder/elevator or with less dihedral and ailerons the model was suitable for old hands and novices with a little experience and made an ideal first building model kit. Designed for .29 - .50 size engines and 3 or 4 channel radio the Magnattila would fly very happily on a suitable .40 size engine. Even after a quarter of a century the Flair Magnattila is today still being sold in large numbers and they are not uncommon at many flying clubs.

Armar Gorrion was the featured Christmas treat plan, a 1/4 scale replica of a 1971 Argentine home build parasol wing. Chosen by designer Dennis Tapsfield for it's rarity, unique design and size making it ideally suited to 1/4 scale reproduction. At 75" the model was not too large and not too small and intended for .61 size engines although a good .40 would fly it after a longer and perhaps more scale like take off run. 4 channel radio for control with the designer using a retracting undercarriage servo for the ailerons to give them a bit more power. The only idiosyncrasy reported was the rare tendency to aileron reversal if a dropped wing was close to stalling speed.

A look back at some club event pictures from December 1978 North Devon MFC had a good turnout at the inter-club do with Exeter, Torbay and Plymouth. Pendle Aeromodellers open r/c event winners, the first held at their new flying site. Winsford DRCS 7-1/2PG (7.5cc Powered Glider) meeting held on their 1500 sq yard flying filed which after two years of mowing, rolling and loving care is one of the best kept lawns in the area. Telford MC at one of their frequent demos designed to attract newcomers to the hobby. Telford also ran special Saturday morning sessions exclusively for novice pilots.

Recognise yourself in any of these old pictures? We'd like to hear from you at Bumpy Green. Email chinman

Chris Foss Designs is a familiar name at just about every club or flying association in the UK and very likely just as well known in all corners of the world. The late 1970's saw the arrival of several new designs not least of which was the Middle-Phase slope soarer which many people have owned at some point (currently there are 3 Middle-Phase's in residence at Bumpy Green 2 of which are owned by myself (one is still unbuilt and will remain so until the first is beyond all reasonable repair) The Centi-Phase is a 100" span Standard Class Thermal, Slope and Cross Country Soarer. Hailed as ''All British'' the Centi-Phase had an all fibreglass fuselage, veneered foam wings, transparent tinted canopy and featured an all moving tail. Also a wing rib set was available allowing built up wings to be added. Way back in the mists of time one such Centi-Phase was purchased, completed and presumably flow. It was then safely stored away and remained (judging by the excellent condition) that way until purchased by myself in 2001 and was just as carefully stored away awaiting a suitable time for it's emergence. It seems that time is close at hand and I will be getting this classic soarer to the slope when the weather improves. Assuming of course I can locate the wing joiners which I seem to have put in such a safe place they may never be seen again. Hopefully Mr Foss will be able to sell me a set or at least give me the correct dimensions to make replacements.

So ends the 2004 season at Bumpy Green. Plenty of new models for the next season are already on the building list and the workshop is almost clear. (almost is something of a paradox as as soon as space appears it seems to get taken up with another model / project / repair job) Stay Tuned. We hope you all had a great Christmas and here's wishing you a Happy New Year.

That's it for another month and another year,
See you in January 2005

Article by John Kent from Bumpy Green Model Aerodrome
December 2004

Comment by DGeugene on 20050531072212. Rating 4

FRENCH je cherche des photos et documentations de l'Armar Gorrion réel. Merci

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