Friday 14 July 2017

Where was I? Ah yes, more building - PSS F15 & C17

It's been a little while, and I can't remember where I got to with what builds are in progress on here, so some explanation is needed.

The HET F15 that I swapped with Matt Jones for a HET MiG 29 is now back in my possession.  He ran out of interest in it in the final furlong, and has nearly finished a large model of his own design for the slope, so I snapped it up at Weston Park model show.  Matt has done a lot of lovely work, including blanking off intakes, converting to a 2 seater, glassing the wings, making the fins plug-in, creating better tailplane bearings, installing servos, correcting oil-canning of the fibreglass etc etc.

There are just a few little bits to do and she will be ready for paint.  Some spot putty going in on the wing / fus joint :

Sanded down this side : 

Servo install all done.  Oh yes, all carbon pushrods have been made up and supplied too : 

A lovely twin seat cockpit, with ejector seats and pilots from Real Model Pilots : 

Canopy plug, hand made by Matt.  So one of those to mould by me : 

I am also finalising the fitment of the flaps on the C17, and prepping the U2 for a partial respray and decals.  

Speaking of C17, the engine halves came quite a few weeks ago, and I set about fettling the first one together :

Not too shabby, but I will blow over the joint with a guide coat before filling and rubbing back again: 

Right, that's it for now.  RIAT tomorrow and Sunday!

Wednesday 5 July 2017

The PSSA at the Lleyn Peninsula - photo post

Here's a selection of the flying shots from Phil Cooke of my models at the Lleyn :












I'm still overjoyed with the Viggen flight and the Magister's performance, as well as the amazing weather we enjoyed.  Can't wait 'till the next Orme event!

Monday 3 July 2017

The PSSA at the Lleyn Peninsula

What an amazing weekend!

We had some fantastic weather with the best views of slope soaring in the UK all around us this last weekend, and I'm very happy with the fleet's performance, too.



The SAAB Viggen was at last airborne in style with plenty of circuits over a 15 minute flight that gave me plenty of time to explore the niggles and nuances of this big twin delta.  It's quite strange using the left stick as a throttle on the slope adding or reducing flap on the canards through a turn, and even reducing reflex by adding flap, but increasing drag at the same time.  A strange but enjoyable experience.



The Fouga Magister has at last come of age now too, with all spar and control issues sorted, I flew her the most, including some tight 3-Fouga formation flying with Matty Jones and Rich Henderson.  This aircraft is so solid in the air, with a fantastic turn of speed and roll rate, she really is just the airplane that I wanted her to be.





The U2 and Vulcan were also campaigned a bit, the former suffering a bit of a crack around the undercarriage doors on the Saturday, I thought she better sit the Sunday out.







Anyway, more photos and videos to come of this epic flying trip.