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.

February threw a few unexpected days of snow and freezing nights ( I know this as I am currently working night shifts) One of the worst things that can happen is you come out to your car at 3AM when the shift is over and the ignition lights glow dimly. Groaning inwardly I turn the key and am greeted not by the throaty growl of the exhaust but the sound of the starter solenoid click click clicking ineffectually to itself. The cold snap had leeched all the life from my battery and it refused to start the engine. Salvation was at hand, shortly before christmas I had to jump start a friends car twice in a week so invested in a Portable Power Station to keep in my car. This marvelous little self enclosed unit includes high energy jump leads, air compressor, work light, power meter, test facility, cigar lighter output and can be charged from a mains source or via the cigar lighter in the car whilst driving. All in all a super investment. Added bonus for this device it can be used in conjunction with many model battery chargers and although at 17Ah will only provide about 5 charges for 3000mAh NiMH packs, when used for charging small Ni-Cad, NiMH or Li-Poly packs for micro heli's or park flyers it will last all day. How much will one of these set you back? I paid just under £30 for mine at the local car spares shop.

Mad Dog Kevin's Cassut Racer has flown and enjoyed a very successful first flight. At 50% scale it has an 8 foot span and is powered by a twin piston spark ignition petrol engine. More details next month along with a first hand report from the test pilot Grant Hole and Kevin has promised an article on the building of the model as well as his research into the Cassut it is based on and the history of the type.

Due to the delays in getting this issue uploaded to the Bumpy Green server and online the What's New section will continue in the March 2005 issue.

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 February 1979. Take a look back at snippets from a magazine of the era. Editorial from Dave Hughes who had his eye on the SMAE Annual Report and Accounts, as were the eyes of many others in the hobby and industry. Membership increased by around a thousand on the previous year, the Nationals netted roughly £1000 from the nationals and the financial reserves showed an increase. This even more surprisingly after the appointment of a full time paid general secretary. This move had been frowned upon as a drain on resources but had proved a correct choice for the society. A letter later in this issue went on the describe how a newcomer was quite taken aback by the amount the SMAE was doing for the modelling community including the close ties with local authorities, aviation authorities and the Ministry Of Defence to keep flying as popular and more importantly safe throughout the country.

Micro-Mold's new Lark 2-25 helicopter reviewed by Maurice Tait was the released version of the original Lark with all the factory improvements supplied with the kit. A new tail drive via a universal coupling increased tail authority driving a oil bath tail gearbox for wear free operation. An improved clutch and phosphor bronze bearings on the lay shaft reduced performance loss in the main drive train and a ballraced swashplate kept everything smooth in the control department. Another marked improvement was the radio layout inside the smart new canopy with servos neatly in a line with battery and receiver held concealed below the plywood servo tray.

Scale Topics began with a new Elite series plan from Dennis Bryant. A 63" span Miles M5 Sparrowhawk for .40 to .60 size engines. A classic model for the club builder that would be just as happy as a sport scale frequently used hack or with detailed attention a superb scale flying machine. Retracts were becoming more ingenious all the time and the latest design was the Fred Coulson twist and lift which added a more scale appeal to models such as the P40 Warhawk and the Corsair. Hand made units with precision engineering were available with backlash free bevel gears, solid dural mount, spring steel legs and even counter balancing springs for assisting with the retraction of large wheels by taking most of the load off the servo.

Minimoa designed by Bob Banks, a 10ft span model of the famous German Wolf Hirth's 1936 training glider. Originally a 1975 build and constructed with simplicity and ease of flying in mind. Rudder and elevator operation kept required radio control equipment to a minimum in the practical and highly scale model. Construction was all built up structure with many of the sheet fitments and rib spacing as per the original full size which kept an air of authenticity to the model. Flying was reported as very relaxing especially after a slight alteration to the tailplane incidence from the original which allowed a more forward C of G and transformed the Minimoa into a very docile slope soarer.

Peter Chinn was testing the new Irvine Sport 40 2 stroke engine. The latest offering in a large and growing segment of the market. Features included a narrow Nickel -Chromium steel main shaft and a cast liner (as opposed to machined). Port timing was very critical with three transfer ports opening with the opposing port (to the exhaust) opening 3 degrees before the flanking transfer ports to allow spent gases to be pushed out of the exhaust smoothly and more rapidly. These allowed the Sport 40 to produce close to 1bhp fully silenced and would ensure it was among the highest powered engines in the .40 cu in range.

Strictly For Soarers kicked off with George Stringwell's Thermal column concentrating on some new contest rules rules and changes to the tasks for the new Double Diamond achievement level announced at the 1978 BARCS AGM. Slope with Dave hughes featured a rather surprising model with a striking similarity to a Klingon battle cruiser from Star Trek. Flying with a canard configuration and a large delta rear section it had already completed several successful sorties with and without removable wing tips which could be fitted pointing up or down depending on weather and wind conditions of the day.

Club shots began with the winners of the Club20 Scale and Aerobatic event at Nuneaton. Gordon Whitehead (right) with Avro 504K, Graham Clarke (left) with Gnat and Pete Smoothly (centre) with his "aerobatic job".

Junior members are highly encouraged at the Huddersfield & DMAC and this lively looking clan are Nigel, Rosaleen and Amanda Bawn. It was not recorded if the models were of their own building or if they had borrowed some of Dad's.

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

Micro Helicopters are still being heavily investigated but something a little different arrived and I can't wait to see how it performs. The J Perkins Electrafun is and all in one ready to fly package designed with beginners in mind. Everything is included except 8 AA batteries for the transmitter. It even has a slow mains AND fast 12V charger included. The model looks quite flyable and it has a smooth one piece foam wing which looks very well designed. The controller is a little strange and seems more like a car or boat controller, a theory strengthened by the fact it operates on 27MHz. I think we will be waiting for the winds to abate before we try and fly this one, so more next time.

That's it for another month
See you in March 2005

Article by John Kent from Bumpy Green Model Aerodrome
February 2005

Comment by John Jackson on 20050415185538. Rating 4

Those RM flashbacks take me back a bit...to when I had more hair and a bit less waist! Hurry up and get those heli blades whirling ;o)

Comment by Peter Shaw on 20050516144630. Rating 4

I have just bought the electrafun but the mrs wont let me fly it till my birthday (30th) can you tell me if its a good flyer and how to advance from thisplane as i am a total novice

Comment by Tim Banwell on 20060302140419. Rating 4

Hi Guys, I got a hobby zone aerobird for christmas, v similar to the electrafun but with V tail. It is fun but you need dead calm or it can be a nightmare. Have already moved on to an ic trainer joined a club and been buddied. Excellent fun!!

VIEW / ADD Your Comments This is where you can leave your comments about the article itself or about the subject of the article. For example maybe its a review and you would like to tell people about the experience you have with this particular model. Name: Email Address (optional): Rating: 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent = 5 Comments: