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RCM&E February 18th, 2025 Digital Back Issue Cover

RCM&E March 2025 (Digital)

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19 Articles

Welcome to the March 2025 issue of RCM&E. Like many of you, no doubt, I was a bit shocked to find out from a couple of local clubs that my BMFA A and B certificates, which I passed many years ago, were not considered su ficient to issue me with a valid CAA Flyer ID. And if I wanted to carry on lying at those clubs, I would need to pass either the CAA DMARES (Drone & Model Aircra t Registration & Education Scheme) test or obtain the BMFA Registration Competency Certificate. Now, I am a simple soul and regardless of the irritation this caused me, I thought I should crack on pronto and do what I was told. (I know, I know, but now’s not the time nor place…

XFLY SPITFIRES SCRAMBLE Just before the end of 2024, RCM&E was asked to give our opinion of a prototype model of a new R/C Supermarine Spitfire that was being developed by XFly-Model in collaboration with their UK distributor, CML Distribution. After seeing 3D design pictures of the proposed 1200 mm span fighter the editor took up the offer in very short order! The forthcoming kits, which should be finding their way onto model shop shelves in early March, were the brainchild of CML’s MD, Jason Varley, who researched the backgrounds of the two Mk.IX variants being modelled. CML also backed this model with a large contribution to its costs. With a 1200 mm wingspan and constructed using EPO foam, the XFly Spitfire will be offered in two matte finish scale…

TOP RC MILITARY TRAINERS

It’s easy to get a bit blasé about new mini model releases, but that they’re not P-51s, Spitfires or Bf-109s is what sets this new pair apart. That and the fact that they’re exceedingly well finished and very pretty. The AT-6 will need no introduction, it’s also available in a yellow scheme, while the SIAI-Marchetti SF.260, the well-known Italian military trainer, is also available in a red/white scheme. Both are moulded using EPO foam and come with a 1S flight battery, USB charge lead, a 2.4 GHz transmitter (Tx), AA cells for the transmitter, a spare prop and a good manual. Everything you need to fly, in other words. The little Tx is nicely made with decent main sticks but is only supplied in either Mode 1 or 2 configuration.…

TOP RC MILITARY TRAINERS

I hope you all had a great time over the Christmas holidays. I had a plan to get some festive cliff soaring done as I was going up to Aberdeen (a scant 400 miles away) when visiting my goddaughter and family. But I had a tiny problem - I failed to take the transmitter! I’m blaming it on the frantic packing of the car due to forgetting to set the alarm and waking up an hour later than planned. Anyway, at least I now know of some excellent sites for next time. Last column’s tales about my Ivinghoe gliding adventures generated some interesting emails and questions, especially about Reed Transmitters and how they work. I have to admit to being occasionally guilty of assuming all modellers of a certain age…

BEST OF BRITISH

September 27th to 29th, 2024 saw many modellers congregate at the BMFA National Centre at Buckminster for the Laser and Best-of-British Fly-in. And what a magic event it was too. This fly-in obviously caught the imagination of many aeromodellers and the Saturday, which was the only day that I managed to attend, was really well attended. A sprinkling of trade was very welcome too, with SLEC, Inwoods and Fighteraces keeping us topped up with essential winter building materials. MASS BUILDERS I had a wonderful time catching up with modellers that I hadn’t spoken too since before the pandemic. I really should try and get to more relaxed events and not just confine myself to the scale competitions. I must say it was good to see so many RCM&E forumites who…

BEST OF BRITISH

I love leafing through old model flying magazines, which is just as well because the club donations I was talking about last time also included a very big pile dating to the late 1980s and 90s. Along with plenty of good (still relevant) reading, I’d forgotten how old mags also offer the inestimable pleasure of seeing friends and well known hobbyists from the good ol’ days when they had hair. Some were barely recognisable. From the same period do you remember The Small Models Association? Back then models were getting bigger and the SMA was a little bit of reactionary fun. It wasn’t a real association, rather a tongue-in-cheek device, the creation in Peter Miller and Dereck Woodward’s scribblings in RCMW magazine and referenced in Radio Modeller and RCM&E too.…

Where to start? Well, I guess the real answer is a desire to create and finding a subject matter that inspires the challenge for drawing a plan. It is not so difficult as it might first appear as it is just a series of logical sequences and requires some basic geometry. In practice we can create a plan from any item that shows itself in, ideally, three views such that we can visualise it in three dimensions or, if you like, a solid form. This can be from an existing drawing, photographs, a solid model or even your own sketch. All can be configured and drawn out to an appropriate size suitable for our purposes. Do I need CAD? That’s easy to answer - no, you don’t. CAD is simply…

ESTIMATING MATERIALS

One of the most common questions on various forums is, ‘Can we have a wood list?’ or ‘How do I work out the materials that I need?’ Even experienced modellers ask this. This basic skill was something that we learned very quickly when I started modelling because some of the old plans from the 1950s used to give you a list of the materials needed. If you trusted them, you could find yourself running out of some essential size of wood on a Saturday evening when the model shop was shut… The trouble was that the designers often had a big box of scrap offcuts and they would use these for smaller parts. They would then forget to include these in the list of materials. I have designed quite a…

ESTIMATING MATERIALS

Okay, I’m French. Nobody’s perfect. But please read on you Brits - you may forgive me. When I decided to build m y own high wing trainer (a Covid lockdown era project), I looked at the infinity of existing models of that type to select a good looking one. I choose (ta-da!) the Kamco Kadet, a superstar model in the UK in the 1970s. That said, if the aim was to stay close to the original on aesthetical matters, the design itself would be new and modern (electric to begin with) in all other respects. Also, I wanted to emphasise its attributes for beginners, even to the detriment of some versatility. Therefore the major modifications were: ■ A thick(14%), flat bottom aerofoil. ■ A slightly longer nose to maintain the correct balance…

MODEL AIRCRAFT PRECISION AEROBATICS EDITION 3 £8.99 - £35.79 I www.amazon.co.uk Written by Peter Jenkins, Edition 3 of this very informative publication is a guide for both beginners and improvers in the realm of model aircraft precision aerobatic competition, focusing on the new UKF3A Entry Level Schedule, UKF3A Association Clubman and Intermediate Schedules, with a chapter describing mini training schedules that allow you to build up your skills, and how to fly the Entry Level and Intermediate schedules. The book covers the basics of starting aerobatic flying from when you’ve just gone solo, taking you through the basics of aerobatic manoeuvres to preparing for the challenge of competition lying. Even if you’re not interested in entering the competition arena, the wealth of information within these pages provides the knowledge and…

Most model builders, even us hoary-handed ancient and vintage types, have now succumbed to the benefits of carbon fibre in its many forms. Simple rod and strip are the usual ‘off the shelf’ sections we reach for, but there are others readily available. From stiffening to structural, the use of carbon is becoming ever more popular and the more models we design and build, the more we find reasons to include the material in our playthings. I recently reached into my storage of said stock, only to find a paucity of almost everything I normally use. What to do? POKE & STOKE With the laptop under stress from excessive key poking, I searched ‘the usual suspects’ for the supply of longer pieces of small section carbon. Many are available at…

Top letter For his letter this month Pete Bree wins a compact e455 multi chemistry AC input charger courtesy of Overlander Batteries: www.overlander.co.uk CAR MEZZANINE DECK Since vans have featured recently, I am sending you details of the mezzanine deck I built for my trusty Qashqai (other SUVs are available). It was built from 30 x 5 mm wood strips harvested from an old door, a bit of MDF and pipe insulating foam tubes. It’s shown with an Arrows Edge, a 38-inch foamie, an FMS Explorer and a 57-inch Eagle. It allows for a folding chair, model stand, field box, battery box, field notes folder, transmitter, flask, snacks and insulated coffee cup, all to be accommodated aft of the front seats. One unforeseen advantage is that models using fiddly…

F3CN EURO CHAMPS

The 2024 European F3CN Championships took place in Aabenraa, Denmark from 10th - 17th August 2024. Two helicopter disciplines took part in this Championship: F3C (Precision Hovering & Aerobatics) and F3N (Freestyle Aerobatics). For those not familiar with F3N it consists of three different rounds: Set Manoeuvres (flown twice), Freestyle and Flight to Music. This article will focus primarily on the F3N team as I was their Team Manager. The GBR F3N team consisted of Duncan Osbourn, Stu Smith, Dave Fisher, Summer Fisher and me, Julie Fisher. The last European F3CN Championships took place in 2016 in Poland. The GBR F3N team came first on that occasion. We knew that we would have our work cut out to get top place on the podium again this time around, but it…

F3CN EURO CHAMPS

Pilots’ Pictorial

CARBON STORCH I have a 93” wood model of the Storch from the Svenson kit and while it flies okay on a .90 engine it weighs 14.5 pounds. Plus, the fuselage was flexing at the tail. My calculations show my new carbon tube version to come in at about 10 pounds, a 31% reduction and the tail cannot be twisted. The new model will be electric powered using a Hacker A50L with an extended shaft. I have previously built a smaller carbon Storch for free flight. Rob Caso FORWARD SWEPT WING I thought you might be interested in my latest creation, a FSW (Forward Swept Wing) Firestorm. Built loosely from a 1980s plan using lite-ply and blue foam and powered by a home-built contra-coax motor, she flies really well from…

Pilots’ Pictorial

ENTRY LEVEL AEROBATICS

The UK team for 2025 was selected following a team trial held at the Plane Crazy Model Flying Club in Hurley in September 2024. The competition format included two rounds of FAI P25 and two of F25, flown over two days, with the best scores from each schedule counting. Seven pilots competed and the results are shown in the table opposite. Kevin Caton decided not to take up his place in the UK Team this year, so the actual team representing the UK at this year’s World Championships in Muncie, USA was confirmed to be Thomas David, Dan Workman and Garry Peacock. Reserve position was taken by Jim Fallowfield. The role of Team Manager has not yet been confirmed. The French team for Muncie is also organised and ready to…

ENTRY LEVEL AEROBATICS

PORT LINCOLN FUN FLY

We are a small country club of around 32 members situated in Port Lincoln, known as the Seafood Capital of Australia. In early October we host a fun fly event, inviting clubs from other parts of the state to attend over three days. Last year’s event was from 4th to 6th of October. Since our location is 650 kilometres from Adelaide it is difficult to expect modellers to travel that distance. However, we were pleasantly surprised to receive visitors from Broken Hill 750 km away and clubs in and around Adelaide and the York Peninsula. Port Lincoln is located on the very tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. CHALLENGING CONDITIONS The first two days of the weekend presented us with some challenging flying conditions, with winds gusting up…

PORT LINCOLN FUN FLY

If you are planning an aeromodelling event over the next few months, then please send details - up to 100 words maximum - to Beth Ashby at: Beth.Ashby@artichokehq.com. If you intend to visit any events listed, then please check with the organisers before travelling in case of any last-minute changes. FEBRUARY Feb 15 Waltham Chase Aeromodellers Medium Hall Indoor R/C Meetings at Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington Lane, Stubbington, Hants PO14 2PP. From 6.30pm to 9pm. The sports hall is four-badminton court size and particularly suitable for lightweight indoor R/C models. Flying at these events will take place in accordance with our indoor flying guidelines (available on our website). Admission £8 for fliers and £2 for spectators and junior fliers, whilst accompanied junior spectators and parents of junior fliers admitted free.…

To use our FREE READERS’ AD SERVICE simply fill in the coupon provided and we’ll print your advert here, in Britain’s best-selling R/C flying magazine FOR SALE 4 x SIX CHANNEL and 1 x one channel Hitec Optima receivers - offers? Email sandytough@btinternet.com (Scotland). FLAIR BRISTOL FIGHTER kit, new in box - £250. Buyer to collect. 01525 370205 (Bedford). BIG-STICK 66” built, OS-GGT15 petrol engine, special Glo-Plug, no electric gear needed, great condition and ready to fly - £360. Max-Trainer 58”, test flown only, uprated motor - £140. 07855 200745 or email dennis1945@proton.me (Newcastle). RUCKUS, almost new with battery 3300/4S included. Uprated motor, as new, ready to fly -£150. Ruckus, great condition, with battery 3300/4S included. Uprated motor, as new, ready to fly - £140. 07855 200745 or email dennis1945@proton.me…

ST8US Mike Freeman was really pleased with his Hi8us flying wing, which featured in the July ‘22 issue. That is until one launch, when the spinning prop clipped a knuckle as it flew past. Thankfully Mike had gloves on and they took the brunt, but it still hurt! To avoid the risk of it happening again he decided to build an EDF version using one of the tiny 50 mm Powerfun units from 4-Max Models. Remembering a previous design with a tailplane made from foamboard, Mike thought it might be time to have another go with this material but was sure that he could come up with something a little more elegant. After a very interesting learning curve and three prototypes the St8us you see here finally emerged. Build your…

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