| June crept up along the tree line and leapt out onto Bumpy Green taking everyone, including myself completely by surprise. I spent a few weeks of May in Illinois on holiday during which I had arranged to visit two local flying clubs (one was only 60 miles away and that's local to them). Torrential rain, thunderstorms and even a tornado warning were issued during my time there and the few reasonable days there were I was out doing touristy things in Chicago. Typical English weather even in America. The rest of the time I have been beavering away on the shop or helping Tony with work on the soon to be released Woodspring Wings 2002 show video.
Many aspects of Bumpy Green have taken
a back seat while the shop has been finalised. Hopefully with it now
online, functioning and taking orders I am hoping that there will
be a little more time to get back to the true nature of Bumpy Green
and that is aero modelling.
The show itself was quite packed with traders both inside and out. People flocked by in large numbers and a great deal of interest was shown in the stand with many words of encouragement from regular visitors.
Apart from the excellent flying display on the main racecourse, seen above as a panoramic from the top of the stands, there were control line flight demonstrations, combat and races in the parade ring. A large Static Boat display, 2 boating pools, 3 car racing tracks and (under instruction) a chance to have a go at control line flying, R/C boat operating and R/C car driving. Look out for a full report (when I get time) as in the next few weeks I will be attending the Weston Park Model Show at Telford. |
Increasing
numbers of events being listed was noted this month in '77 with seventy
in the May issue RM compared to ten listed in 1967. An ever growing
number of modellers was greeted with enthusiasm but also highlighted
to premium at which flying sites, and boating ponds and car racing tracks,
were being regarded. Keeping a site for modelling interests was becoming
increasingly difficult with new housing and industrial developments
plus the growing numbers using the sites. One note which brought the
editor to remark that "he had heard everything now" was a
complaint regarding the St Albans all electric fly-in. Not about the
noise of the aircraft but the noise of the spectators attending the
event. There seems to be no pleasing some people.
Pete Buckingham had the enviable task of reporting on the
First Ever World Soaring Championships held in Pretoria, South Africa.
34 contestants representing 12 countries were in attendance for the
week long event that saw a host of different disciplines with six tough
rounds used to tally a total score for individuals and overall team
placing's.
The British team (seen on the right) took second place
with individual placing's of 3rd for Sean Bannister, 9th for Neville
Mattingly and 18th for Tony O'Shea. Under the management of Jim Andrews
the team arrived with only one day to practice and prepare models for
the contest. This didn't seem so bad when one top competitor from Germany,
who had practiced every day for the last week, destroyed his experimental
number one model and was forced to fly the tams reserve placing only
7th instead of his usual top 3 placing in events such as this.
Featured plan number 1 was the Jubilee designed by John Hancock
and presented in honour of the Queens Silver Jubilee. 
Peter Chin was testing the latest top model engine from Fox
USA in the guise of the 45BB. Highest spec engine in a range of 4 versions
featuring .40 & .46 cu in capacities with a bushed and BB bearing
version of each. This engine featured some unique and unusual design
work most notable was the removable crankcase back plate which extended
right up the back of the engine to the cylinder head which when removed
exposed not only the crank but the rear transfer port and cylinder liner.
The liner itself was also of new and unorthodox design utilising a 3
port exhaust setup and elongated 16° angled transfer ports either
side of the cylinder. A compression ringed piston was employed to boost
power output and ensure consistent running. Developing .85 bhp fully
silenced on 5% nitro fuel and an impressive 1.0 bhp running 15% nitro.
Reported as being smooth and powerful with a recommended 10%+ nitro
fuel for best results.
Gordon Whitehead took inspiration for his De Havilland Gypsy
Moth whilst visiting the scale free flight section at an event. Approximately
1/8th scale and designed for .20 size 2 strokes and 4 channel standard
r/c equipment. Lightness was paramount in the design but a caution not
to use wood that was too brittle - a trade off between low weight and
good strength. The 45" span wings featured ailerons on the lower
with both sets held on by banding to keep things simple. The recommended
covering was nylon for the wings with light tissue on the fuselage and
tail surfaces with another caution as to the additional weight is nylon
used through out could require a much larger engine to power sufficiently.
If built light enough a .15 size would be adequate for flying but would
require hand launching. The .20 size was favoured to allow mid throttle
for sustained flight and increased throttle for mild aerobatics.
First away in
the club section were Wimborne Model Aircraft Club from Dorset. One
of their planned events for the year was to be a cross country event
with a competition for public attendees to guess the distance flown.
The picture depicts the Jubilee Flyer taking off on a practice run
for another of the clubs events. This time an altitude record was
being sought and again a draw was to to be held to guess the height
achieved during the event. The overall aim of the event was intended
to help raise the £10,000 needed to purchase their own 20 acre
flying site.
Eastcote
Radio Control Club have a different approach to raising money, this
time in the form of a model auction. Other events planned were a Touch
'n' Go, Limbo and Spot Landing event, Scale and Concours d' elegance
contests and even a spot of open Pylon Racing. The Club was reported
to be going strong with membership near capacity.
