post-box

Here's a brief note from Marc De Douallier, whose helicopters and personal profile were featured in Modelflight #3:

I spent this weekend "going back to basics"!

After learning circuits, I went straight into stall turns and loops, without thinking about nose-ins, etc., so this weekend was devoted to just nose-in hovering - I had a couple of near misses doing this, but after three tanks of fuel I felt very comfortable with it. I just made sure that when I started this, I had plenty of height and progressively got lower and lower until I was at normal hovering height.

marc.dedouallier@didata.co.za

Nose-in hovering is certainly a challenge! I am still struggling with it, but a couple of particularly helpful tips I read in Model Helicopter World was to think of the rotor disc as though it were a wing and apply the fixed-wing pilots' maxim to "prop up the wing that is down" - i.e., if the nose-in heli is leaning over to the left as you face it, then move the cyclic stick to the left to lift it up. If the rudder control is giving you bother when flying nose-in, imagine that the tail of the model is the nose - if the tail moves to your left, introduce right rudder.

This question came from Alex Forrest. Alex hasn't had to wait for this update to get his answer, but I'm repeating the correspondence here in case it may be of interest to others, or you might have something to add on the subject - if so, e-mail your comments to ModelFlight.

I am building the Galaxy Models twin Scorpion and in the process of deciding on suitable engines. My ultimate is to build a Mosquito and the Scorpion is my first twin-engined model (hopefully to gain some confidence on twins).

My query is, do you know of a kit or supplier that does a Mosquito and can you advise on a pair of engines that would suit both models?

a.forrest1@cableinet.co.uk

Hi Alex,

I personally do not have the experience to answer your query, but I put your question to a couple of experts.

Flair Products said that they think that Aerotech do a Mosquito (but you will need to check if it is suitable for the same engine size as the Scorpion). For what it's worth - and you may be aware of this already - they suggest you will need to be a good flyer to cope with any Mosquito. The design and weight are crucial and an "engine out" is almost certain to induce a nasty spiral dive.

On the question of engines, Just Engines indicate that you need an engine in the .15 - .25 size for the Scorpion and suggest that their budget range LEO would be ideal. The .15s are £36 each and the .25s are £39 each. Also, there are Irvine .25s and OS do .15s or .25s They are not aware of a Mosquito kit to suit the same size engines as are required for the Scorpion.

Just Engines e-mail address is justengines@enterprise.net and their website is at www.justengines.unseen.org

It would be great to hear more from you on your current project, or something for the personal profiles or picture gallery pages . . . !

Warm regards and all the best with your project.