Sunday 31 October 2010

More Extreme bits

Some more work on the Extreme and a quick conversion of my spare MPX P4000 to 2.4 gHz.  A few highlights so far...
  • The quality of the Extreme components really is absolutely first rate.  Strong and light with excellent seams and great fit.
  • Like most mouldies the Extreme does need a little fettle here and there.  The incidence pin holes need relieving a little in the fuz and the pushrods were a little tight in the snake (which I made up a neat Dremel attachment  to resolve - see photos).  These are however completely insignificant, especially when put into the context of the excellent component quality. 
  • The tail linkage geometry is absolutely spot on.
  • The Sanwa 762 are a great fit in the fuz and just as fantastic as they've always been.  SlopeRacer carry them as stock how.
  • The MPX 2.4 gHz conversion is so easy to fit and works so well it is untrue.  I can see me doing the whole fleet much sooner than I'd imagined.  I got mine from T9 along with the MKS DS6125 wing servos which really do feel like the mutts nuts.


Saturday 23 October 2010

Extreme bits...

I'm just starting to get the Extreme together and have had a few bits of good news.  Firstly ModelPower not only do the new NiMH Eneloop type technology in the stick configuration but the capacity has upped to 2300mAh as well.  I'm just an old fashioned type of chap so I'd probably have preferred the Eneloop brand but I'll cycle these a few times and see what happens.

And... SlopeRacer have sent me a wiring loom as modelled and produced by Zim's wife Rachael.  I've always made my own looms in the past because clearly no one can solder as well as I can.  Apparently I was wrong...!




Monday 18 October 2010

Welsh Summer League final positions

The Welsh Summer League finished with a phut this weekend when the final competition was called off because of a lack of wind.  A real shame as it was really close and a fly off in good even condition is what everyone was after.

The times flown throughout the year really demonstrate the fun to be had on the Welsh hills, although sometimes it would be nice to have less thermals and more even conditions.  Or, having the penny and the bun as my mum says.

Fastest times over the league were:

League 1 – 34:02 Joel West

League 2 – 35:18 Mike Evans

League 3 – 34:86 Kev Newton

League 5 – 36:86 Kev Newton

League 6 – 37:93 Simon Thornton

The final results show just how competitive it is.  If you rearranged a few of the thermal who knows who would be where, particularly Joel who did incredibly well despite a distinct lack of air for much of the year. 

Final League positions with five out of seven flown and with one discard:


1
Kev Newton
3941.22
2
Simon Thornton
3937.39
3
Martin Newnham
3827.65
4
Joel West
3787.58
5
Adam Richardson
3713.35
6
Andrzej Tabero
3534.84
7
Clayton Landells
3273.81
8
Dave Rumble
2695.41
9
Warrick Smith
2686.48
10
Andy Freeman
1991.47
11
Mike Evans
1806.59
12
Scott Edwards
1699.30
13
Simon Kronfeld
1667.88
14
John Treble
1559.24
15
Paul Garnett
926.16
16
Greg Dakin
924.86
17
Mark Abbotts
914.74
18
Jonathan Sage
902.27
19
Adrian Bedford
899.82
20
Mark Passingham
886.41
21
Tom Satinet
874.87
22
Mick Walsh
869.84
23
Andy West
856.67
24
Ron Broughton
843.38
25
Tony Robertson
838.29
26
Jacob Newnham
833.61
27
Ian Mason
811.98
28
George Pilkington
756.13
29
Stuart Brookes
755.08
30
Vic Eldridge
123.06

Saturday 16 October 2010

Extreme

I've just started putting together the Extreme that I was lucky enough to win in SlopeRacer raffle.  The quality is really impressive.

With all the energy of the fuz ballast tube slamming forwards in an arrival I decided to do what I normally do and make sure the tray won't go anywhere.  This time though it's Kevlar rather than carbon as I'm going 2.4 gHz with this.  The downside it Kevlar is horrible to work with, ho hum.

More soon.

Sunday 10 October 2010

Rotary Drive System (RDS)

I'm about to embark on RDSing an Extreme and found some really good information and videos at www.rds-swiss.ch

I'll let you know how I get on.