| What a month April turned out to be, Bumpy Green was a hive of activity getting ready for the Sandown 2003 Model Symposium. Flyers were drawn up and printed, models prepared for display and even a couple of new planes built to be filmed for a promotional video.
Positive and Negative. The message here is just this - Instead
of firing a criticism and sitting back on your laurels for a job
well
done, put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard as is more fitting)
and fill in those gaps we have in our content. We don't get paid
to
write this web site, we do it for the enjoyment of seeing others
benefit from it and to offer as much accurate information as possible
on what
we do cover. We need people who are involved in other aspects of
our hobby to get involved and write for us. To the rest, why not give it a go and tell everyone about your aspect of the hobby, what your club is up to or an event you attended, write a review or even just a small pilots log. What ever you do - be part of the experience. Email me webmaster@bumpygreen.co.uk |
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.
Latest new kit arrival was the Ripmax Moonshiner from Aviette
Kits. A 48" span fully aerobatic bi-plane using the new method
of foam cored obechi veneered wing panels. Designed for .40 size engines,
with recommendations of the higher powered types to be used and full
house radio control. Received well by reviewer Alan Burton with only
a few minor cosmetic touch ups needed to the completed airframe and
a comment on the fact the supplied wood could have been better. 
Featured plan was the Dorado designed by Jo di Giorgio. A
56" span low wing aerobatic model with sleek lines requiring .30
- .40 size 2 stroke power and full house radio control. Building was
straightforward with the model aimed at those with a little experience
but should not have presented any undue problems even to a novice.
Motor Miscellany with Peter Chin had a series of OPS engines
from Italy on comparison from the original 1972 design through the series
74 to the latest series 76 version. The improved specifications included
an 8mm choke perry carburetor, a milled, fully circular crank counterweight,
improved shallow dish combustion chamber and improved cylinder porting.
Roy Yates continued his excellent coverage of the scale scene
with news of the new International Tournament Of Champions being organised
in the USA. With a top prize of $15,000 and as part of the invitation
only entry with free food, accommodation and $500 allocated to each
entrant to help with shipping costs to America. With the inclusion of
museum scale entries and scale aerobatics as well as the usual pattern
type contests it was hoped to attract competitors from around the world.
Arthur Seales
Bleriot takes to the air during the 1976 Nationals. A fine example
of the modelling excellence to be seen at the national level.
Brian
Downham seen here launching his Northrop Primary reported it behaved
in a very scale like manner. Floating effortlessly in a minimal breeze
but with very gentle glide characteristics in less.
A
good launch is all important and Mike Trew handled
the controls while a fellow club member launched his latest creation
- A 143" span Slingsby Skylark 3B. Based on a 1957 design the model
employed air brakes, adjustable aileron and rudder trim tabs as well
as addition of ballast to stabilise the 7lb model. Stall turns were
not favoured by the 12ft span model but it could soar very well in anything
from 8mph winds upwards.
Final
shot is by Colin McGeachy taken at the then recent inter-club thermal
soaring meeting between Basingstoke and Reading. Junior member Adrian
Lee of Reading flying a Mistro took first place at the event.
