In the request for more website info, I attach the following.
As a sideline I run a small company (Maiden Hobby Designs)
supplying scale decals and instruments to TRAPLET Publications for their
Scale Designs. I was asked to review a couple of items which Traplet are producing which may be of interest to Hornets members.
One is a DVD titled “PLANE TALKING - FROM DESIGN
TO FLIGHT” and the other is a book titled “RC AEROPLANES-A GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS”.
The
reviews I wrote are below and I have both the DVD and the book at home if
any member wants to use them.
Cheers
Maury Dyer
RC
Aeroplanes - A Guide for Beginners
|
January 06, 2010, 14:35:02 PM RC Aeroplanes - A Guide for Beginners. Written by Malcolm Messiter Published by Traplet Publications. www.traplet.com ISBN 978-1-900371-54-4 Reviewed by Maiden Hobby Designs A Guide for beginners is what this book
is all about. Dad may have bought Sonny Jim a flying something or other for
Christmas or Birthday and probably remembers dabbling with Airfix or Kiel Kraft as a youngster himself, and by gum
haven’t things come on!. So, Dad gets hooked as
well. Books are written and reviewed with a personal slant, which we
all apply when we put pen to paper. You picked up my book, this is what I
have written and it is my opinion. Lots of books; lots of opinions. This one seems to be
particularly good in hitting its target audience. The book opens up with a forward by the author, explaining his
modelling background and history, and straight away you know who this book is
written for. The absolute beginner who is interested in FIXED WING Model
Construction and Flying. No mention of helicopters at all. So put it back on the shelf if
helicopters are your thing. The preface and chapter listing are next. Chapters are further
broken down into sections which explains the RC
assembly and flying process in detail. For example Chapter One has sections
titled ‘An engine’, ‘A Silencer for the engine’,’A
battery’, ‘A Switch harness’ etc. This continues though the acquisition of
simple tools and assembly adhesives, through field and support equipment.
Turn to the chapter and the sections are laid out as advertised with
photographs and a brief but concise description. The only comment I would
make is this book is written from a very personal point of view as I stated
earlier. This is what I do and you should do this. The author recommends the
ARTF trainer approach and I would concur with that. Probably 95% of new and
perspective aero modellers will start from this, and it makes sense to. Chapters two through to Chapter eight deals with simple aerodynamics, radio installation, Building the model,
Engine set up, Electric Power, First Flights and we finish off
with where next which list other forms of fixed wing
flying, including a brief on Gliding, Scale and jets. The one thing I agree with is that if you are starting out from
scratch today there is no point buying anything but 2.4 Gig radio. In fact,
there is hardly any mention of 35 MHz as an alternative at all. We are also shown in Chapter three Engine set up how to restrain the model when setting up
the engine; even pointing out the necessity of a piece of board underneath
where the exhaust exits to protect the grass. But nothing is mentioned about
making sure there is no loose debris that can be sucked in to the engine or
blown about by the draught. Likewise, there is a running in procedure given.
It is much more acceptable to use one sentence; always observe the manufacturers instructions when running
engines. Chapter Four goes on to show the ARTF trainer being assembled.
Here the Author plays safe and just points out to the novice the more
important fiddly parts to watch out for. Lining up hinges, the adhesives to
use, wing joining and to make sure that in this IC version, the throttle run
is as free as possible and the tank assembled correctly. I’m not too sure why
the Author refers in this Chapter to full kits as ‘old fashioned’, as later
on in the book we discuss the satisfaction of designing your own models. There is one point I feel is referenced several times but which
isn’t made strongly enough and one I always tell beginners; first off join a club, and second off JOIN A CLUB. Except on one page
it simply says ’ it is nearly essential to join a club to fly model
aeroplanes’ Going on to the First Flight section you are advised to join a
club. I would have reinforced this. If you want to save lots of pain and
money in your learning curve, it is ESSENTIAL to join a club. You soon get to
identify which members to listen to and which to ignore. The Author recommends training on a computer simulator, listing
his preference again with no alternatives given. I am not one who has used or
uses a simulator, being brought up the hard way by kit or plan building a
model and hoping to keep it flying long enough to learn something. I’m sure
simulators have their uses, and the beginner has the advantage today of
buying another ARTF model if the worst happens for very little money compared
with thirty or so years ago. The difficulty comes in knowing what to put in and what to leave
out when you set yourself up a teacher of any subject. Some people are put
off by anything seen as difficult or complex. The old ‘he explained the cube
root of a pickled onion when all I wanted him to do was open the jar’
scenario is difficult to gauge. All in all, a good attempt at explaining the basics of RC Model
Flying to the raw beginner. The illustrations are photographs with one or two
line drawings of high quality, and the Author knows his subject. Recommended for the complete novice. |
Plane talking DVD
–from design to Flight
by maiden Hobby
designs on December 13, 2009, 15:59:00 PM
Produced by Traplet Publications as part of their
Plans and parts range, the sublect of the DVD is
the FARMHAND 90, a design reminiscent of a Pawnee crop duster, from the computer
of that large model Maestro, Steve Holland, he of the half size Comet racer I have admired at numerous
shows around the country. The DVD and the design are aimed at the ne wmodeller, probably put
together a Christmas present ARTF, got hooked and wants to expand into the
World of Aeromodelling with something a bit more ambitous.
The subject is a design which reminded me of a big Panic without the top wing; more angles
than an MP's expense form. The Farmhand
comes in two sizes; the 90 for petrol power shown on the DVD and a 60 smaller
version, presumably for glo/electric power.
Designed for the first time builder of modest facilities, the veiwer is first shown how Steve designed
the model with CAD, and then turned that into a working package which
the Laser cutter turns into a kit.
There are no plans for the Farmhand,
and the DVD continues with the literal 'Stick Part A to Part B type
construction, right through the assembly of the airframe, to engine, tank and
undercarriage installation. There are tabs and interlocking assembies
used througout the kit.
The DVD continues with the radio installation and covering with film. Its not an unattractive model, and the viewer is shown how
to turn Farmhand into a
talcum powder crop duster/ toffee bomber/glider tug type of fun model.
If you have built any WOODEN Aeroplane kits, you
will probably hit the fast forward button in several places; hinging control
surfaces and fitting control horns etc. I have searched the DVD and the Traplet website, and
unless I have missed something, there is a major fault with this supposed
'First Time Builder' DVD. Unless it comes with the pack/kit, I cannot find any
reference to Weights, balance points or control surface movements, even
though the DVD spends enough time of radio safety and installation.
We are finally shown Farmhand in
its element, and I take nothing away from the presenter/designer, it looks like
it flies like a good 'un.
An interesting and informative DVD if you are new to Aeromodelling
and want to build for the first time' so the DVd does what it says on the tin.
For the more experience, the fast forward button comes in handy.
Produce and marketed by Traplet Publications