FREEFLIGHT DURATION NEEDS YOU! - Part2
"I COULDN'T MAKE FILM TYPE MODELS, THEY NEED SPECIAL SKILL AND EQUIPMENT"
The number of times I heard this from fliers who have looked at my models! It is absolute rubbish and unfortunately some duration fliers have been responsible for creating a 'mystique' about film models. ANY competent modeller can build a duration model and develop their skills. Nobody in their right mind sets out to build a 1.4gm F1D without trying some of the easier classes first! Anyone who can cut a bit of balsa can build a Penny Plane! The notion that film is hard to use is just wrong. You need to know the easy way of doing it,.A Penny Plane is much easier to build than a built-up fuselage, tissue covered model. The film is easy to buy too! Pauline at 'Flitehook' sells 'Polymicro' (the best starter film) by the metre. Props and bearings usually put fliers off, but they are actually available from Flitehook too! You won't be truly competitive with a commercial plastic 'Bulldog Type' prop, but it's a start! You can even fly a RTF 'Bulldog' in Penny Plane to get some experience at trimming and extracting max performance out of it. Balsa props require a bit more effort, but there are a few of us around who can help out if you get stuck.
The number of times I heard this from fliers who have looked at my models! It is absolute rubbish and unfortunately some duration fliers have been responsible for creating a 'mystique' about film models. ANY competent modeller can build a duration model and develop their skills. Nobody in their right mind sets out to build a 1.4gm F1D without trying some of the easier classes first! Anyone who can cut a bit of balsa can build a Penny Plane! The notion that film is hard to use is just wrong. You need to know the easy way of doing it,.A Penny Plane is much easier to build than a built-up fuselage, tissue covered model. The film is easy to buy too! Pauline at 'Flitehook' sells 'Polymicro' (the best starter film) by the metre. Props and bearings usually put fliers off, but they are actually available from Flitehook too! You won't be truly competitive with a commercial plastic 'Bulldog Type' prop, but it's a start! You can even fly a RTF 'Bulldog' in Penny Plane to get some experience at trimming and extracting max performance out of it. Balsa props require a bit more effort, but there are a few of us around who can help out if you get stuck.
THE ROUTE TO COMP FLYING FOR A BEGINNER
My suggested route would be to progress through classes in this order:
'Legal Eagle' (see John Taylor's winning design on this website). Anyone can build, but can you fly it well? You will learn a LOT about trimming and using rubber, as well
as having fun.
Penny Plane (see the plan)
(3 gm, 18" span)
F1M - the beginner version of F1D (contact me for a plan)
(3gm, but bigger).
Ultimately.. the international class F1D (1.4gm and stunning to see in flight).
My suggested route would be to progress through classes in this order:
'Legal Eagle' (see John Taylor's winning design on this website). Anyone can build, but can you fly it well? You will learn a LOT about trimming and using rubber, as well
as having fun.
Penny Plane (see the plan)
(3 gm, 18" span)
F1M - the beginner version of F1D (contact me for a plan)
(3gm, but bigger).
Ultimately.. the international class F1D (1.4gm and stunning to see in flight).
