Modifying the P51 Mustang's Retracts.  The plethoria of foamies on the market now out number the tradtional balsa ply and many come RTF (ready to fly) or ARF (almost ready to fly) Generally all the components are pre-fitted and all the user needs to supply are a receiver and battery power.

How do they sell them so cheap? By using cheap components, servos, ESC, etc, etc. Also depends on the importer requesting changes to the components, Century UK do.  I believe that these large EPO warbirds are made by Starmax and branded to the contract purchaser.

But can we improve them?  Of course, but may vary in expense to get the job done right.  . For the foamies with due respect, modern blow moulding methods mean models can be produced with excellent scale characteristics and in vast quantities.

We first saw this airframe at least 18 months ago when Dave Rogers brought it up to our Scale Day.  Dave was now entering the turbine owners club.  In his opinion it was in garish colours, pink, white, yellow. That would have to be changed!  With quite a few issues to resolve and not a lot of time to spend on it with life/work to contend with.  However, finally we get the nod that it is ready for it's maiden flight.  The Avonds F15 in now in a military scheme, nearest to US 65th Squadron (Aggressors).  Powered by a Jet Munts 140 turbine it really flew very scale.

Ferndown Fete on the Field 2019 was bigger than ever this year

Again Wimborne MAC was asked to support this annual event with static and model flying displays.  With the gratefully accepted help and support from club members we had a good static display and flying displays from various types of aricraft the likes of sebart Wind 110's, Super Chipmunk, B25 Mitchell with Spitfire escort and a number of Korean War 50's  MIG versus F86 Sabres EDF jet flight.

All this on the lower field meanwhile in the main arena club  members had an Information Centre, Flight Simulator and more static displays.  Here members of the public can use the flight sim and ask questions about our club and hobby.

Also see some still images in our Gallery - Ferndown Fete 2019

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 (aka Me 109) was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s. It was one of the first true modern fighters of the era, including such features as an all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, a retractable landing gear, and was powered by liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 aero engines.

Another warbird for John's Soviet fleet? The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 was a Soviet fighter and interceptor aircraft used during World War II. It was a development of the MiG-1 by the OKO of Zavod No. 1 to remedy problems found during the MiG-1's development and operations. Image left shows a MIG3 durng WWII on Winter assignments.

Here in 2018 we now have a MIG3 based at Cashmoor thanks to John Ireland.  He has spent some considerable time on this model from ESM managing to install a canister exhaust within the fuselage to keep the outline scale.  The exhaust exits near the tail onn the underside. Powered by 3W55 swinging a 23x8 wood prop.

The MIG 3 was maidened at Cashmoor on the 30th August 2018 and test flown by jon Tappin.  Flew well and as the new engine beds in more power will be on tap.

Club Night October 2018 saw members enjoy presentations from two notable members, John Ireland and Simon Dean with their giant scale models.

 John Ireland started with a short PowerPoint history of a Russian warbird, the MiG-3 and described his construction of a large model of the aircraft from a now unobtainable kit. John has incorporated some worthwhile modifications to the original kit, notably the internal mounting of a tuned pipe which not only improves the scale appearance, avoiding the usual disfigurement of an external expansion chamber, but also significantly augments the power of the 3W 55i motor while reducing noise.

Scale Day 2 was blessed with a bright sunny September Sunday after the washout of previous Saturday. Quite a reasonable turnout although more pilots were expected. Numbers may have been down due to holidays. We had members from Salisbury MFC and Wincanton too. Unfortunately, due to a lack of a tug after an issue on Slim Gregory Day we did not have any scale glider models arrive on site. However, a number of members just came to watch the flying and picnic including friendly banter. There were also a couple of visitors and families who seeing the road signs came up to watch too.

With quite a wide range of models flying there was eyecandy for everyone. From WW1 biplanes, British and German to WWII fighters, the venerable Spitfire and the P47 Jug (on it's maiden flight) to Korean and Cold War jets.

Looks like the real thing or is it?  It is a scaled down version of the real thing.  Scale or true scale?  True scale is very intensive modelling so generally for RC scale models "stand-off" will suffice. Stand-off is from about 5 meters but we won't hold you to it! 

There are lot's of ARF scale models to chose from, some better than others, thanks in some part to the Chinese although the designing may be by top aero modellers.  Picture right is a DHC Twin Otter (STOL) as used by the US Army Parachute Team.

With scale models you can be whatever you want - favourites are Spitfire, Mustang, P40 pilot.  Once these models are in the air, some having more presence than others, they appear to be the real thing.  They will have similarflying characteristics to their full size counterparts but usually the designer will make some changes to make the aircraft easier or more stable to fly.

This may entail changing wing washout or modifying the wing profile.  Cowlings may be extended to get balance and landing gear may not always be correct but we don't always quibble over it.

Although flight is likely to be very similar to the full size, take-offs and landings will need a lot more care with these models.  Roll outs can be greatly assisted by using the flaps but landing does need extra care.  Scale models don't like hard landings especially those with retractable wheel gear.  So, a good approach, glide path and gentle touchdown is recommended.

Are you into scale models of the real thing?  How about aero-towing gliders?  Wimborne Model Aero Club holds regular "Scale Days" at their main site of Cashmoor in Dorset.  As it's an "Open Day" all visitors are welcome to our field and absorb some of the sights in the "Pits" and "Flight Line".Scale models of the real aircraft, static displays and lot's of models to be seen in flight.  "Eye Candy" too, is the aero tow of scale gliders by "Tugs" up into the airspace.  Plus while you indulge in chat and nostaglia help yourself to a popular grub from the BBQ manned by volunteers.

• Stuka Stuka
• Sopwith Camel Sopwith Camel
• Fokker Fokker
• SE5a SE5a
•  

Open Scale Day and Aero-Tow are held twice a year.  Above are some of our Members Scale models - see more in the Photo Gallery

After a disaster some years ago Pete decided to build another Hawker Hurricane, the initial backbone of the RAF at the start of WWII.  Lighter than the original and powered by a DLE55 petrol engine. On a rather dull, overcast, grey chilly day at end of April 2018 it was time for it's maiden flight.  With the engine never been started before it was fuelled up and ran for several minutes and some tweaking of the carb needles. Leaving the cowl off for the first flight the Hurricane was piloted by Jon Tappin and put throught a number  of manouevres. The engine never faltered.  Before the second flight the cowl was refitted. Some of the action is captured here in this video watched by members of Wimborne MAC.