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Let us watch your model in the making, from when you open the kit to air-borne! Don't feel you have to chronicle every step, unless you want to. Just send an occasional picture or two and an explanatory note and we can catch up with your progress from time to time on this page. It will only appear when there's something to report and we can keep as many projects going as you wish. I must reserve the right to select and crop pictures, though, otherwise the page will take too long to download. 

Here's the beginnings of Derick's build of the CSD Radar. The model is a geared Speed 400 fun fly. It is Derick's first kit and he says he is very much enjoying building it.

Keep us posted, please, Derick!

My mate Chris Haines built himself an Xtreme some time ago, since when two more have appeared at the club (including one Xtreme Lite, pictured on photo gallery). With rumours of the original model becoming increasingly difficult to obtain and Hobby Stores offering the kit at £20 off the original price of £64.99, he purchased a second one. However, after virtually completing the construction and for reasons best known to himself (maybe related to the item below?), Chris decided he did not want to complete the model after all and offered it to me for £30. 

Now, I have to admit that this was not what I had in mind for my next building project and my flying ability is certainly not up to the standard required to put it through its aerobatic capabilities that others demonstrate so well at the club, but I was simply unable to resist the temptation of what was on offer! 

As you see, there is not very much construction left to do, although I have yet to pick it up from where Chris left off. I have the radio gear from my crashed Kite that I can use in the model, although I'm not sure if the Irvine ·46 is repairable - it looks as though only the needle valve needs replacing, but that has yet to be determined - I'll have to have a word with my friend Jim!.

This is what Chris is now building - the Staudacher S-300 GS from a Carl Goldberg kit.

The model has a 60" wingspan and an overall length of 48·5 inches and will weigh in at 6·5 to 7·5 lbs. 

Recommended engine sizes are ·45 - ·61 2-stroke or ·46 - ·80 4-stroke. Chris is actually thinking of putting something bigger in, and here he asks if anyone reading this has built this kit, what size engine did you instal and what has been your experience with it? If you do have a comment, please e-mail Reg at ModelFlight - there's an e-mail link at the foot of the page.

Chris has made a good and pretty rapid start on the project. Below you can see the very sturdy, boxy all-ply fuselage construction and progress on the wing which he has achieved over the last week..

We will continue to watch this project through to completion.