|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 8, 2021 19:13:26 GMT 12
Continue to be impressed with the conversions you do with these models! (And isn't it criminal the cost of models in general now?) Thanks , yep prices gone through the roof and choices very limited as well, luckerly I have a bit of a stash, won't be buying any in the near future, work on and fly with what I've got. I buy a few used jobs from RC Trader here in OZ often get a bargain or two.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 8, 2021 19:57:56 GMT 12
Do you the models buy from Aussie or from Norfolk Island, Peter? The tax free toy shops at Norfolk Island used to have very cheap models back in the old days when Dad used to go there and buy up large.
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 8, 2021 21:03:13 GMT 12
Freight would be a killer Dave, as they would have to go Norfolk to Sydney than back out to Lord Howe.
As you are probably aware duty free is not what it was these days, purchased most of my models from mainland Oz and get them posted. As I said above I have purchased quite a few second via RC Trader, people move out of the hobby and sell cheap sometimes, I'm a sucker for a bargain.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 8, 2021 21:51:04 GMT 12
I was thinking that the Norfolk Island Airlines King Airs visited Lord Howe and you could pop across on shopping trips. Guessing they no longer exist?
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 8, 2021 22:30:24 GMT 12
Yeah Norfolk Island Airlines long gone, they also had a Dash 8 100 series with long range tanks in the markings of that King Air.
There is talk of such a service coming back with the operator that comes out of Port Macquarie using King Airs. The real problem they have is the alternate is so far. As in if you can't get in at Norfolk your alternate is either on to NZ or back to Lord Howe. The problem with coming back to Lord Howe it is too hilly around the airstrip for commercial operators to land after dark.
For two years, a few years back, my wife and I were the agents for an airline that did double island holidays, week on Lord Howe than week on Norfolk. We used to have real problems with Norfolk being clouded in and not being able to get there then come back before dark.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 8, 2021 22:57:06 GMT 12
Soon you will have fully automated VTOL flying buses and there will be no issues about turning back in fog or the dark. They could fit floats for when the electric battery runs out too.
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 9, 2021 15:07:21 GMT 12
The'll need some range, got a feeling such a bus would spend more time sailing than flying when crossing the ditch! Coming along with my Mustang to Buchon conversion, one of the reasons I chose a Merlin powered Buchon over a Daimler Benz powered 109, I didn’t have to lower the motor meaning a whole lot more work. The after market 1/24th scale canopy is perfect and again a whole pile of work saved. Will fly her as you see her to check I have decalarge correct, bit of a concern, I have modelled the tail surfaces as per scale and they are quite a bit smaller than when she was a Mustang, wish me luck!
|
|
|
Post by ams888 on Aug 11, 2021 14:50:28 GMT 12
These are really cool. This is one of my favorite threads. With the changes you make do you need to do much to move the centre of gravity back (or forward) to where it should be? Or does it not matter too much on these micro RC planes?
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 11, 2021 16:41:23 GMT 12
Thank you, CG usually moves forward as I often add weight to the rear, in saying that I took a lot of weight out of the rear of this Buchon conversion. I have flown her as she is above and she probably flies a little better than a stock Mustang.
These small 2 cell planes need to be light, as is the case with anything that flies weight is an issue. I don't really mind sacrificing flight time for scale details.
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 16, 2021 9:54:41 GMT 12
Whole of New South Wales in lockdown for a week and counting, time for flying and modelling. Couple of snaps from yesterday's rc flights, CA15 "Kangaroo" the real one all Australian design, larger all round than a Mustang, Rolls Royce Griffin powered. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAC_CA-15 STOL take off FMS Super Cub, love flying this thing leasurly and fun! Have the little Turbo Timber to Turbo Wilga sorted. Finally last nights efforts getting paint on the conversion of an UM Mustang to Messerschmitt. (Actually a Hispano Buchon) Have a couple of surprises with this little job, no prise for guessing what colour the nose will be?
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 16, 2021 12:56:05 GMT 12
Awesome!!
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 18, 2021 7:55:40 GMT 12
So decided to mod my 70cm span Turbo Timber into well, I’ll let you work it out? Made the tail section of the fuselage skinnier, rear window with scale stregthening ribs, scratch built fin and rudder, new tailplane in new position. Beefed up the tail wheel for those hard STOL landings, split the control link as the rudder horn is above the tail plane tail wheel below. Yet to fly post mods, been really windy, still needs some more scale details and paint. Brief clip of the Turbo Wilga taken last Sunday 15/8/21.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 18, 2021 9:07:07 GMT 12
Really cool. The speed looks very scale!
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 19, 2021 8:26:13 GMT 12
Thanks Dave, always been a bit of a fan of the STOL stuff, takes a bit of skill to fly slow, like real planes the slower you get the less effective the control surfaces. Best thing about RC planes with the high power to weight ratio, if it gets ugly you can just "give the jandal" and motor on out of trouble.
Here's another clip from last weekend, this ones a bit bigger 1.7 meter span Super Cub, flies on a 4 cell 22 volt battery, get around 6 or 7 minutes depending on how hard you go.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 19, 2021 9:10:17 GMT 12
That's also a cool model.
That's a nice spot where you do your flying. Is it a golf course?
I would love to see a video of the Lord Howe Island township sometime, I have never seen what the actual town/city looks like. And the airport too.
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 19, 2021 14:28:02 GMT 12
Town, hmmm, two shops, a cafe, a bar and a community hall, no pic's of the village but her's the air terminal. Airstrip and air terminal.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 19, 2021 14:32:17 GMT 12
Oh right, thanks. So it's not as big as Norfolk Island then, in terms of population and commerce?
|
|
|
Post by ZacYates on Aug 19, 2021 15:52:40 GMT 12
That Buchon is an inspired conversion, bravo Peter!
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 19, 2021 19:19:10 GMT 12
Oh right, thanks. So it's not as big as Norfolk Island then, in terms of population and commerce? Yes quite a bit smaller, we have 350 residents and 400 visitor beds which is capped by law, I am pretty sure Norfolk Island has over 1,800 visitor beds.
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 19, 2021 19:21:10 GMT 12
That Buchon is an inspired conversion, bravo Peter! Thanks hope to post a bit more progress on this one soon.
|
|