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 Bumpy Green projects I am involved in.

As the Modeltech Mustang electric conversion nears completion, this first exclusive photo of the model after it's C of G testing at the Bumpy Green construction yards. With great success already slope soaring this model ( leaving a large group of hill walkers rooted to the spot as we buzzed up and down along the slope ) We are all anticipating good results from this project and hope to convey the message that electrifying such a fantastic looking Warbird needn't be hard work or expensive.

With the dark evenings still haunting us, there is plenty of time to get some reading done. Along with the regular magazines a number of books have passed before my eyes in the recent weeks.

	The Sams Aero Modellers Handbook is a mine of useful information on freeflight. With a guide to models, construction techniques, building materials, covering & the various power option available. Page after page of plans & kits to suit anyone's preferences. Also listed are useful books, tools & accessories for both novice and experienced builders as well as a comprehensive glossary of terms. If you are considering starting freeflight then this is one of the best places to start.
	Not really new but quite by chance I happened across this book in an antique store. In very good condition and surprisingly un-read looking. Flying Machines reads rather like a historical story rather than a documented fact book. With plenty of quotes from famous pioneers of flight, starting right back with Icarus & Daedalus using wax & feathers to fly, through De-vinci & Lunardi up to and beyond the Wright Brothers first (recorded) manned glider & powered flights. It also looks at the 'also rans' throughout history which is not something you usually find in aviation history books. Also looked at are the various methods of flight used. Ballooning, Parasols, Dirigibles, the development of parachutes & the various power sources used during those early days including on board steam engines & a mention of 'Jet Propulsion' being the future of flight as foreseen in 1810 by George Cayley with reference to Steam Jet power.. A thoroughly enjoyable read, written with a humour only found in books from the 1960's (read a Ford Prefect owners manual if you get the chance, you'll see what I mean.) & full of illustrations from the various eras of aviation it covers. Probably not many copies of it around these days & unlikely to be in the condition I found my copy but worth a good read if you happen across it sometime.

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


Formation of the Model Flying Fields Association was the main theme of the editorial. A Home Counties based group that were hoping to expand to become a nationwide organisation giving information on flying sites throughout the regions. Hailed as a much needed resource with encouragement from Radio Modeller by asking the readership to support the association.


A brilliant article on telling what the weather is up to by visual observation of the clouds. Geoff Meakin gives a step by step explanation of the various cloud forms & how they will affect the weather at a given location. Very useful information & I may use this as a subject of an updated recreation using colour photographs instead of pencil drawings to illustrate the varied & numerous cloud formations.


Peter Chinn gets his hands on the KRAFT 61 R/C engine. Featuring Schnerurle scavenging (becoming the standard on engines at this point), a domed piston in conjunction with a flush fitting head that sports a bowl combustion chamber & an angled squish band to match the piston. A dual needle carburettor with separate adjustable main & idle jets. One noted figure taken from the power output chart is the dramatic drop in BHP when using the standard silencer. An outstanding engine with easy starting that is happy to run on fuel from straight to high nitro content.


Micro-Mold developed this all foam r/c flying 'bird of prey' with a lot of detail on the shape of the model. Very realistic looking especially when painted as Nick Cook did for the testing. 50" span with a loading of 11.5oz/sq.ft & weighing 24oz (680g) it soared well in calm to light conditions. Quoted as 'not really a floater' it was however capable of truly scale flight as well as some unorthodox manoeuvres not likely to be seen performed by the real bird it was modelled on.


Harlow & DMC showing a full contingent at the Harlow Town Show Flying Demo.


The Surrey RCC & Caterhan RF enjoy a group pose during their fly-in at the Surrey site with excellent weather throughout making for a well attended & remembered event.


Despite a recorded attendance of 53 at the MANX Fly-In only 3 seemed to not be involved in taking this picture ~ showing a superb coastal view over one of the 30 slope soaring sites on the Isle of Man. Irelands Dennis O'Hara took first place in the Manx National Soaring Championships that year

Recognise yourself from any of the pictures featured, we'd love to hear from you at Bumpy Green.

For my next project I was in need of something quick that I can do in the coming busy month. Among the old '70s aeromodelling job lot I bought was this tiny little OS MAX-III 15. Quite a bit smaller than the Thunder Tiger GP15 used to power the Cambria Pioneer this engine was in a sorry state & I decided to try and clean it up. Even if it wouldn't run again it would look nice on a static display.

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

Article by Chinman from Bumpy Green Model Aerodrome
18th February 2002