Dave Goodenough shows how a few simple tricks can add the spark of life to any model aeroplane English Electric ‘Wren’s’ noisy end. Simple ‘dressing’ transforms the nose. It’s not difficult, honest! A quibbling question: whilst playing with one of my ‘boy’s toys’ at the side of the runway an inquisitive chap sidled up to me and asked a question that frankly raised my hackles more than a little. ‘Why do you bother with putting something in the cockpit? It’s a waste of money and effort, isn’t it?’ That’s tantamount to asking a top-flight scale modeller why he bothers to build a magnificent repli ..read more

Time now to take a brief look at what we have lined up for you in the April issue of RCM&E, starting with our regular columns. In his latest Bench Blog, Tim Hooper turns up a new cylinder head for a topless DC Merlin diesel engine and catches up on progress with his bent wing Boomer Bus build. In One Man & His Shed, Dave Goodenough shows the tools and materials needed to solder up strong wire undercarriages, and then it’s over to Chris Williams for more Scale Gliding; Chris tries the time-honoured trick of rubbing oil into a reversed plan for building a second wing panel before settl ..read more

Steve Jones relates how modern technology helped him build a classic single channel R/C aeroplane whilst keeping his original kit intact. words & photos >> Stephen Jones Finding myself with lots of time on my hands I decided to get out an old Keil Kraft kit that I was given many years ago. This is the Gyron, a single-channel trainer for an .049 IC engine and with a wingspan of 36 inches. It is a very rare kit as KK provided no plans for it in the box. Inside is a kit of die cut parts and pre-cut balsa; just follow the diagrams and put it together. But once built you could not build ..read more

Time now to take a brief look at what we have lined up for you in the March issue RCM&E, starting with our regular columns. In Retro Ramblings, Shaun Garrity looks at what’s needed to get a vintage spark ignition engine up and running. Next up is Danny Fenton with Make It Scale, in which Danny takes us back to the warmer weather as he reports from two mid-August scale events. Then, Dave Goodenough, in One Man & His Shed, lays out a spread of basic tools for those new to a model building board. This month we start another two-part Pro-Plan as Jim Newberry presents his BFW M.23c, a 1/6t ..read more

Does Arrows’ Edge 540 fly as good as it looks? David Ashby straps in… As the most common aircraft you’ll have seen negotiating the pylons in the Red Bull Air Race World Series, Zivko’s Edge 540 will be familiar to most model flyers. It has been the subject of countless R/C versions over the years and vies with the Extra 300 as the ARTF model manufacturer’s default aerobat. Being so ubiquitous lends the machine an air of familiarity, yet a little online research will certainly enhance your appreciation of the type. It went into production in 1995, quickly garnering a reputation for fast and ag ..read more

Time to take a look at what we have lined up for you this issue! Our regular columns start with Bench Blog, in which Tim Hooper makes a rolled balsa fuselage for his Boomer Bus build, plus Tim installs his new lathe. In Scale Gliding, Chris Williams makes one of his regular trips to White Sheet Hill for some scale soaring in perfect conditions. Amongst a myriad of topics in Aerobatic Scene, Keith Jackson discusses under-fins, Chilli Breezes and a useful gadget for improving your aero manoeuvres. Plus, we are also pleased to welcome Graham Ashby back with his Kick the Tyres sport flying column ..read more

Keith Jackson builds a new aerobatic biplane and tests out the Flight Coach F3A software and hardware. Gerhard Fehringer, Malcolm Harris and Steve Burgess with their Hui Yang Oreka models at the Hurley National League competition, June 2021. words >> Keith Jackson photos >> Keith Jackson & Lassi Nurila The Glacial biplane has been developed by Lassi Nurila over a number of years since his very successful re-design of the Gernot Bruckmann Sensation. I first became aware of the model in late 2020 when Lassi published pictures detailing the construction of the Glacial at his works ..read more

Ian Perry gets the nod about a bargain priced builder’s kit in his local model shop. words >> Ian Perry words & photos >> Ian Perry, Michael Dudley The Stinson Aircraft Company launched the Reliant SR series in 1933, with the SR-8 variant being produced in 1936. Around 300 SR-8s were produced. The ‘Gullwing’ version first appeared on the SR-7, which was also introduced in 1936 and the double taper wing had been used successfully by Ford on its Trimotor. Stinson wanted to ‘freshen’ its production line, so the Gullwing was introduced, making the SR series Stinson’s most popular ..read more

Starting with our regular columns, in Bench Blog, Tim Hooper makes a start on his latest unorthodox model build, a Boomer Bus, an unusual looking aircraft with sinuous bendy wings. Then it’s over to Chris Williams who passes on some well proven words of wisdom to those new to the art of aerotowing. In Aerobatic Scene, Keith Jackson starts his aerobatics column with a report from the F3A Euros held in Zamora, Spain. Finishing off our list of regulars is our new sports model columnist, Graham Ashby, who ‘Kicks The Tyres’ with a discussion on the importance of model flying training and encouragi ..read more

In ARTF form balsa low-wing sportsters are hard to find. David Ashby flies a welcome arrival Words & Photos >> David Ashby This was the sort of model that dominated club flying fields 25 years ago. Back then the path to flying proficiency wasn’t negotiable. You nailed the basics with a balsa high-wing trainer, then moved on to a balsa low-winger to hone your precision and aerobatic flying abilities. Properly mastered these models embedded the skills that allowed flyers to turn to more exotic machines with a good degree of confidence. Then foamies came along. Now, while I like foamie ..read more