Scratch Built Hannibal

Thank you all for the jolly diversion to the slopes. Can I write "slopes", I believe Jeremy Clarkson got into trouble saying that word. Anyway, the Hannibal progressed a little further today. The model has been painted with Rustin's satin finish two pack varnish. I saw this varnish at a model meeting some years ago, it works very well and has the bonus of being something like a quarter the price of "fuel proofer". Now its on to the Saito 125. This might be a problem, I bought it ready converted to petrol but unrun. Today I took it out of the box and found that its very stiff to turn over. I put a few drops of after run oil through the exhaust port and the inlet, but this has had no effect at all. Very strange, the engine makes a creaking sound when turned over. Now I wish I'd checked it over when I first got it. Perhaps it'll be the OS FS91SP after all!

Crikey! Creaking. Corroded crank bearings? Have look inside first Brian before committing to an engine choice.

Yesterday evening I took the plug out of the Saito 125 and squirted some good old WD 40 on top of the piston. This morning the engine is even stiffer and noisier. Makes me wonder if its a broken piston ring.

Only one way to find out

You're right Chris. Now I almost wish I hadn't.

Back to the Hannibal at last. Diversions such as getting a Saito FA 1.25 working, and going to Cashmoor to fly my Venture 60 have tended to put the build on "hold". Today I fitted strips of folded litho plate over the aileron wire guides. The guides looked a bit odd as they are bright orange, the litho plate hides all that quite well.