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Welcome to JOE, JIM GILL, MARTY JARVIS, PONTUS LEGANDER, KEITH MORRIS and LARS WINBERG who have all joined the mailing list since the last ModelFlight. 

. . .  I note your Citabria in the building jig. The plan is used too I notice. It looks pretty true to me but of course it is very difficult to say just from a jaypeg. However, you may be interested to know that I have been using such a jig for a long time and I never use the plan. Instead I use the grid on the board centering the front end with its formers, which usually are glued up to both sides first and allowed to dry.

After this has set, I carefully centre up the forward part of the fuz, clamping it. I then draw together the rear end using the grid and a keen eye, making sure that the line of each side is symmetrical. It can sometimes help to cyano the occasional cross piece in place at this stage. (Useful to suggest here that careful selection of the longeron pieces before construction of side pieces does help. Dissimilar hardness will inevitably mean a different radius of curvature under similar clamping pressure which is why you get the uneven tapers). Some fuselages are a bit wide and you have to use only one screw in the side clamps. This can be an advantage actually because you can swivel the clamp on one bolt allowing it apply pressure precisely normal to the line of the longeron. Rubber bands will pull in the top of the clamps if it becomes necessary.

Thanks very much, Geoff. 

I think Geoff has hit the nail on the head regarding the dissimilar hardness of the longerons, since the symptoms he refers to were exactly what I was getting.

Regarding the deviation from center line. This most likely depends upon differences in the wood in  fuselage sides respectively. 

Simply fix the fuse over the center line. Cut through the aft stern vertically so the sides spread a little and re-glue the stern, twisting it to coincide with the centerline. The second most easy-going advice is to disregard the deviation, if it is only slight, and trim the rudder to counteract the deviation. My large Super Scorpion got a twist in the fus after repairing it after a crash. Trimming it out by rudder, it is flying very well and placed itself at second place in a competition. So its flying ability was not less - rather better!.

Tore's suggestion here is a remedial one and is what I tried first, but not with 100% success. Maybe I could have got away with it, but I was not happy, so I virtually took the model to pieces and started again. I actually notched the longerons to make them a little more pliable and slightly moistened them as I pulled them into position. I've done my best, and it looks o.k.now ('til the lads at the field take a look!).

Hi Reg

We got ourselves the frequency monitor -  it is brilliant.

Next problem - have you any ideas where I can buy one-and-a-half inch spinners?

Thanks for your help.

Glad we got a result on the frequency monitor, Alex, and that you are so pleased with it.

There are plenty of 1.5" spinners around - Flair do a couple for example. There's an aluminium spinner from CB, "beautifully turned from aluminium and will add a superb finishing touch to many a model". Supplied with a standard adaptor for the more usual crank shaft thread size, but other adaptors are available as a separate item. Flair catalogue number CB5503, £8.02 each.

Secondly, they do a plastic spinner available in red, white, blue, black or yellow, catalogue number FL2190, "well suited to sport and semi-scale models". It's a two-part spinner with a rear member that locates under the prop nut; the front member screws to the rear (the familiar plastic spinner to be found in most model shops, in fact). Cost £0.51(honestly).

If you can't obtain them from a model shop, you can order direct over the net from www.flairproducts.co.uk or e-mail flair.products@dial.pipex.com or telephone 01793 721303.

Further to my previous letter to you, you may be interested to know what models I fly (although not much flying these days). They are : 

Unlimited

Twinstar

Humming Bird

. . . and something that looks as if it was dragged from the bottom of a cornflakes packet as a free gift. Too embarrassing to talk about and I can't think of the name of it anyway.

I have a friend who lives in Chobham, Surrey who also specialises in electric and I occasionally join him at Chobham Common for a day's flying. Chobham Common must be one of the oldest model flying sites in the country. They were flying model aircraft at that site before the damn things were even invented !

Cheers for now.

Hi Reg,

Love the new opening splash screen.

Hey, the 54th Australian National Championships are soon to be held here in WA. Starting on the 21st April and running until the 27th April they cater for all facets of aeromodelling.

Each year they are held in a different State and this year is again Western Australia's turn. I have served as Chairman and Secretary for three previous Nats but am unfortunately too busy this year. I am, however, going down to compete in FAI, Sports and Half-A pylon, plus Vintage Teamrace and Day & Night Scramble.

As I will be there for the duration I may be able to take notes and digital photos if you are interested. Let me know and I will prepare. As an added UK interest, Dave Campbell and Bernie Langworth are coming over to compete in FAI teamrace, of which I am currently the sole jury member.

Nice to hear from you again, Norm - it's good to get some news from 'down under'.

If you are able to send us something on your National Championships that will be just great. The events reported from the lads in Sweden have been most welcome, and I think it's good to hear about the hobby in action. All the best in in your own competitions.

I've just spent a most enjoyable couple of hours looking around your website, and I was wondering if you would like to make mention of a new Forum and live ChatRoom called Aeromodellers Australia. It's at www.delphi.com/aeromodellers/start and is intended as the one central meeting place for all aeromodelling enthusiasts, predominantly in Australia, but overseas visitors are most welcome too - the exchange of ideas would be very stimulating.

Perhaps you would also kindly consider including a link to our new club website www.nwaeromodellers.com. We're a small but very keen club of about 40 members in beautiful north-western Tasmania.

Delighted to welcome you to ModelFlight, Marty. I hope the new forum really takes off.

Marty's club and website - of which he is the Webmaster -is on club scene and, as with every club featured, I have added a permanent link on the clubs links page.

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