PRODUCT REVIEWS

The purpose of this page is to provide information with respect to reviews that have been conducted on items sold by Free Flight Supplies and direct the reader to the information. These reviews may either be conducted by the modeling press or on the www.

A.A. (AL) LIDBERG PLANS AND KITS (USA)

"NJAPF" P30 was reviewed in the "International Flying Model Designer & Constructor" Summer 1998 and in the "Aeromodeller" January 2000.

"Baby Corsair" mini vintage model reviewed in "Model Flyer" February 2000.

"Cavu" was mentioned in Shop talk in "Aviation Modeler International" December 2001

"The Answer" the plan has been reviewed and a model built by David Deadman. Details see "The Aeromodeller" within "Aviation Modeler International" January 2005

For details of availability see A.A.Lidberg products

FLY IN (INDOOR SPORT RUBBER MODEL KITS FROM AUSTRALIA)

Hanger Rat- Original design by H. Barr. High wing "V" dihedral model complete with rubber tissue and hardware, a good reliable indoor fun flyer. Reviewed in June 2001 "Model Flyer".

ELECTRIC ITEMS (KP AERO MODELS PRODUCTS)

Full range of KP Aero Models electric free flight goodies available. See August 200 "Model Flyer".

BOOKS by Jim Norfolk

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.

MODELING THE RARE CURTIS FIGHTERS

LAYING OUT THE DRAWING

These books were reviewed in the "Model Flyer" September 2000 issue.

Or check out the PDF file here for further review data.

For details of availability see Jim Norfolk books.

Jim's books are all now out of print. I have a small stock on hand of all publications which cannot be replaced.

PEL-AERO KITS HAND LAUNCHED GLIDER RANGE - AUSTRALIA

HIGH FLYER - Span 16" (40 cm), Length 16.3" (41.5 cm)

WAMIRA (YOUNG EAGLE) - Span 18" (45 cm), Length 19.2" (48.7 cm)

WAMIRA PROPAK

KATAMAX - Span 18" (45 cm), Length 19" (48.2 cm).

EPSILON 525 - Span 22" (56 cm), Length 19.3" (49 cm)

Andy Crisp has done a review of the EPSILON chuckie in "Model Flyer" in the May 2002 edition. This model is a state of the art design that features multi panel wing dihedral. Andy has lots of favourable comments to make about the model. The timers used in the kit review were supplied by FFS for details of availability see Timers

ZEPHYR - Span 18.0" (45 cm), Length 15.75" (40 cm).

Chris Strachan has done a review of the ZEPHYR Jet-x model in "Aviation Modeler International" in the August 2002 edition. Chris has produced a Rapier version of the model! Details of the Rapier modifications will be included in the later kits.

Transcript of the review

"what lovely kits from Peter Lloyd - such quality and attention to detail"- Martin Powell

POTSHOT - Span 15" (39 cm)

Phil Ball has done a review of the EPSILON chuckie in "Model Flyer" in the June 2003 edition. As Phil says this model is The ideal way to start into this class. Phil makes lots of favourable comments about the model. The timers used in the kit review were supplied by FFS for details of availability see Timers

Note also another fine catapult model from PEL-AERO is the KATAMAX see the details above.

For details of availability of all kits see PEL-AERO kits

Note that the range of kits has recently been updated and comments in the product reviews have been taken account of

STING AERO PRODUCTS (LEN SURTEES)

Butterfly 20 designed

Andy Crisp has done a review of the BUTTERFLY 20 chuckie in "Model Flyer" in the October 2005 edition. The timers used in the kit review were supplied by FFS for details of availability see Timers

RAPIERS & JETEX

Reviewed in the "Model Flyer" in the March 2001 issue. Extensive coverage of the their use and operation.

For details of availability see RAPIERS & JETEX

POLYESTER TISSUE

The tissue was reviewed in the "Model Flyer" in the July 2001 issue. Dave Ridgeway describes how to use material.

LIGHTWEIGHT POLYESTER TISSUE

In Column 278 [April Speaks] you mention (Andrew Longhurst) that I was about to experiment with Mike Woodhouse's 15 gm/mtr Polyester tissue on the warp-prone "Sky Rocket" flatplate tailplane. Well, it worked perfectly! I've tried to show in the pic Image just how flat it is by way of a length of 1/16 in. sheet. Previously, using water-shrunk Jap tissue, it went propeller-shape.

Weights? After stripping off the old tissue the stab frame weighed 2.7 gm. With the Polyester applied, using thinned white woodworking glue, it weighed 3.6 gm; doped (one water-thin coat), 3.9 gm. Total weight of the heat-shrunk Polyester: A tiny, tiny tad over one gramme. Not bad for a totally waterproof component.

I coloured it yellow with water-thinned Daler-Rowney's Artist Acrylic Ink, thanks to info supplied by Laurie Barr. You just mop it on and hang it out to dry. This particular yellow comes with a bonus: it's near day-glo.

Incidentally, if you want to damp-proof Jap tissue, try applying one thinned coat of the currently available "banana oil". It's not totally waterproof (neither is it the old banana oil we used to know and love) but an airframe so treated will not slacken off in damp conditions. Extra weight on my "Scram," Jack North Diamond Lightweight, and Judge 1936: 1 gramme. Again, not bad. (Thanks to Ted Horne and his coupes for this know-how.)

LIGHTWEIGHT POLYESTER TISSUE

The material was reviewed in the NFFS Digest May 2006. The review was very favourable and gave details of the application of the material.

For details of availability see Lightweight Covering Materials

MIKALENTA TISSUE

Allan Brown as carried out a personal review of the material. Transcript of the review

FULL SIZE PLANS

Paul Seely's F1H was "Aviation Modeler International" February 2001.

For details of availability see Plans

George Fuller's Dixilander is featured in "The Model Flyer" November 2000. A 3-view of the plan as well as detailed construction tips.

MSP PLANS

"Aviation Modeler International" October 2001 carries a write up on the Calypso plan as well as further background on how Martyn approaches his subjects. Image

"Aviation Modeler International" June 2002 carries a write up on the Empress plan as well as further background on Mick King and the Contest Kits enterprise. Image

"Aviation Modeler International" June 2003 carries a write up on the Hermes plan as well as further background on Halfax kits.

The now sadly deceased "International Flying Model Designer & Constructor" Winter 1996/7 carries a write up of the Paper bag plan as well as detailed construction tips.

The "International Flying Model Designer & Constructor" Autumn 2000 carries a write up of Odenman's Nordic plan as well as detailed construction tips.

See "International Flying Model Designer & Constructor" Winter/Spring 2002 a write up of the Raff V plan as well as detailed construction tips. Image Image Image Image

The SAM35 Year Book number 13 contains a great deal of back up material from Martin on several of the plans and their designers. More details in SAM35 Year Book number 14.

For details of availability of the plans see MSP Plans

BOB JONES PLANS

Frog Jupiter "Model Flyer" June 2004 carries a write up of the construction of the model from the Bob Jones plan. Image Image Image Image

The "International Flying Model Designer & Constructor" Autumn 1997 carries a write up of the "Stickler" plan as well as detailed construction tips.

For details of availability see Plans

SCALPELS

Peter Money carried out a review of several cutting tools,here is what he had to say about scalpels.

"I'd never thought of the use of scalpels in model airplane work, although I have been using a Swann Morton craft knife for years and have always liked it. I came to the conclusion after some exchange of correspondence that in this respect I was very much a minority and that most veteran balsa hackers have been using them since birth. I thought that I'd get some. For the benefit of others who have not been exposed to these cutting tools in a non medical sense I'm giving my experiences below in obtaining scalpels. I know that the information will be redundant to many, but offer it rather apologetically for the benefit of those who haven't used these very useful tools and who might be interested in trying them. The handle is a little thicker than other knifes and is made from a non magnetic nickel alloy. Very nice to use and very reasonably priced. Mike also stocks a heavier handle and blades which I have not tried. The blades are all 0.014" thick. I looked at the edges of all these blades under a 30x pocket microscope and was unable to find any difference in the quality of edge finish, all the blades seemed to extremely sharp."

Well, I hope I haven't bored you will this recital. I have no connection with Swann Morton or any of the vendors, so if you detect any bias it's really because that's the way I found it!

For details of availability of scalpels see Tools

PUBLICATIONS

Rubber Model Propellers

By Mike Woodhouse

The propeller assembly is the biggest inhibitor to the building of rubber powered models ñ be they sport, scale or competition duration.

This book is long overdue, totally practical and very well structured so read it from start to finish.. It fills its stated purpose of "allaying propeller production fear" while wisely avoiding both aerodynamic theory and the complexities of high tech indoor or outdoor propellers, hubs and mechanisms.

Propeller layout, production from sheet, block or laminates and methods for hubs, freewheels, folding and motor attachment are all well covered.

Beginner or expert, I recommend this book to you.

Chris Strachan 17/04/08

This review will appear in the May 2008 BMFA News

TIMERS

A "special" timer has been produced in Poland for SLOP. This timer was produced to Dave Clarkson's specification. Dave review of the finished product rates the timer as good. Dave makes the following six points with respect to the timer:-