Saturday 26 May 2012

Kilspindie and some foamie fun

Not enough models for a competition today but those of us who turned up had a great day on the east slope at Kilspindie. Conditions improved all day and I hope the few pictures I have show how good the weather was. Thanks to Dave Watson for catching the foamie action with my camera. A grand day out.










Friday 25 May 2012

Extreme (ly slow) progress

Broken bird March

Two months later


Wing joined with lots of carbon tow reinforcement around spars. Skins pieced together and under-layed with glass and carbon cloth. Old fuselage superglued straightish and external carbon tape sleeve applied. I will fly it first before fitting out the new fuselage I have. Not even close to be being finished yet though and lots more to do. More glass and carbon, sanding. Lots of sanding!! Paint after test flights. Maybe!! Back in one piece though :o)

Monday 21 May 2012

F3F Summer League 3. 19 May

It looked like the forecast was going to be wrong again when we arrived at Kilspindie because despite the dry sunny day predicted it was dull with light rain when we got to the east slope. The wind was blowing a good 20+ mph and pretty well straight on the slope. Being a hardy bunch us Scots we made a start despite the damp conditions and after the first couple of rounds it dried up although it remained dull and cold all day.


We could see sunshine over Dundee and Wormit but it never ventured inland to warm us up! My wife later told me it been lovely all day at home. The wind did drop away as the day progressed and we were left flying in minimum conditions but the slope still works well and we kept on going to complete 12 rounds with a few breaks to allow the wind to come back. The new wind meter Peter brought along was very helpful.


Conditions were fairly stable with not much thermal activity although there was some on occasion. In these conditions this slope works well and accurate flying can reap benefits. I cut in two rounds when in pretty good air blew the possibility of good times in those rounds. Dope!! I was particularly peeved the second time I did it and I cut on the last turn despite keeping thinking to myself “don’t spoil this good time and cut again”!


Peter flew his Needle to very good effect and demonstrated how well the model carries a lot of weight and can still whip round a tight turn without losing speed. Grippy!!



Mike had his Fosa going well and flew it in the increasingly popular EM turn style which worked well on this slope and it was convincingly fast. Makes a nice noise too:)

It was great to see Ali out with his Strega and it was going well from the start and looks very smooth (and fast) in the air.


Craig flew his Skorpion and he is getting to grips with the way it flies on the course and his times reflected the increasing confidence a few competitions gives.

Doug Maxwell was a new face who turned up to join in the fun and his model looked promising but a landing incident sidelined him for the day. I hope he enjoyed the day and will be back for more at the next competition.

Ian Simpson joined us with a new and unflown Crossfire and demonstrated that he can still fly an accurate course and had the Crossfire going very quickly. Commendable considering the first flight was made just before the competition started. Sounds like Ian will be able to join in the fun more often now too!


Ian Stewart flew his Skorpion too good effect after some issues actually getting the synthesised receiver to listen to the transmitter. Some poking about in the receiver with the point of a pair of scissors did the trick in the end!


Robert Carson flew his Predator 3 and it looked fast and is obviously a very competitive model which can also carry a lot of ballast.


I flew my Vikos and it went well and without the two cuts I would have done better but still had a good day.

My apologies for the iffy pictures but I had my camera set incorrectly and had to use some of the one I took on my phone.

It was nice to get 12 rounds in on a good slope in reasonable conditions. About halfway through the day the course was moved to the left about 20 metres and this made the turn on the right less critical for some.

A pretty good turnout considering several of the regulars were missing and it bodes well for larger fields for the rest of the summer season. We have the possibility of at least 15 competitors on a good day.

Monday 14 May 2012

BMFA F3F Round 3. Horcum 13 May

Only Peter Gunning and I were up for the early start and the trip to Horcum on Sunday 13th May for round three of the BMFA F3F league.

The wind was smack on the slope at Levisham and blowing around 30-45mph with lots of variability. It was pretty cold all day too. Summer league? HuH!


Most people got some good air and there was some excellent air to be had if you were lucky. Apart from my first and last round all the air I got was terrible and I lack the ability to do anything with those kinds of conditions. I saw some great flying though. Ronnie Lampe’s sub 31 with his Strega was tremendous as was Tom Foreman’s new PB with his Xenon. EM turns were favoured by many but not by everyone.


The air in the landing area could be rough and several models came to grief. Keith Wood totalled his FS3 when it flicked on turn A and smacked into the ground. The wreckage was then blown up the hill by the wind causing more damage. A Crossfire was picked up in the pits area by the strong winds and blew back and damaged other models.


A chance conversation with Frank Hulton saw me gain a joiner for my Extreme rebuid. Brilliant! Thanks Frank; what a star.


By the end of the completion most of us were pretty exhausted and glad to get back to the cars! Ronnie Lampe flew a ballistic sub- 32 for FTD. Richard Bago had a great day and took first place followed by Mr EM Greg Dakin in second place with Peter in a very well deserved third place. Peter changed to his reliable Cyril early on and flew consistently all day. I think I was last but it was a terrific and challenging day.

A fish supper from the Magpie in Whitby topped off a great day out. Thanks again to Peter for doing all the driving and putting up with me chatting all the way there and all the way back!!

The second round of the BMFA F3F league which was due to be held at Horcum a few weeks ago was cancelled and it looks like the substitute event will be held in South Wales. A long way to travel for the possibility of one days racing. This only leaves the Scottish round in July that I am likely to be able to attend but no possibility of a meaningful score in the UK league. Three rounds are needed for that. I won’t make the Nationals at Horcum. Damn!

Monday 7 May 2012

Very light winds on Kilspindie

With a forecast of very light winds and variable direction I left my F3F models at home and took my Weasel Evo and old Easy Glider (electric) model up to Kilspindie.


There was a very light northerly blowing at the top of the hill and once my Easy Glider got up to height it was able to drift around from thermal to thermal. The much abused 2300mAh LiPo battery held up and I flew for almost an hour and there was still life in the battery for a couple more climbs but the approaching rain/hail drove me back to the car. The Weasel never got to play!



Roll on summer and some warmer weather.