Greyhead

Further to the adjustable tail incidence (post No. 79 above). Having had a few sessions with the Acrowot to get my thumbs up to speed again after the winter recess, I got the Elf out for it’s pre-flight checks.

Of course the Laser fired up “first flick” and ran faultlessly but when I checked the nut on the tail incidence adjuster it stripped the thread with only slight torque on the spanner. It was actually the rod that had stripped; it was one of the 2mm rods from the model shop with a thread at one end. I needed a short rod; about 50mm long, with a thread at both ends so I’d tapped the extra thread. When I investigated the problem I found that the rod as supplied has a “rolled” 2mm thread but the rod itself is only 1.7mm diameter. All had seemed OK when it was made but obviously with vibration from the engine and the load when elevator is used, the undersized thread wasn’t good enough for the job.

At least I found the problem before anything disastrous happened and it re-enforces the need for regular checks and especially before the first outing of the season.

wonwinglo

*** Grahame,you were indeed very lucky to have spotted this failure,once I was doing a pre-flight on my old Leopard Moth and found a broken aileron horn hidden underneath the wing,it just goes to show that check,check & double check especially after a period of lay up where hangar rash can set in.Anything to do with flying controls is prone to fail,in full size practise anything like this gets two inspections,by two different people ! I know that this is not practicle in our case but there is certainly a lesson learned here.Never take anything for granted,it cost you a model at the least.

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

Glider Guider

Anyone who reads RC Model World will get a case of Deja Vu when they arrive a page 102 and see a four page spread featuring the construction of Grahame's Parnall Elf. It's looks as good in print as it does on screen.

Greyhead

Techydave
Glad you enjoyed the write-up; the original copy sent to RCMW included “ For a more in-depth review see www.scale-models.co.uk/showthread.phpt=708” but unfortunately the editor removed the address from the article before publication.

I think this is a great pity, as anyone who found the article of interest would surely find the thread even more interesting and informative!
Grahame

wonwinglo

*** I wonder why he removed the address Grahame ? unless he considers Scale-models a threat to RCME & E,I find that a bit odd.

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

Greyhead

Barry

I have no idea unless there is some sort of copywrite on the address, but if so you would have thought that they could have contacted John to OK it, as you say, very strange!

Grahame

Greyhead

Well it’s took some time but at last I managed to get myself, photographer and weather all to co-operate so here are 3 flying shots. Hope you think it’s been worth the wait!

Take off



Banking right



On finals



This is what it’s all about, a scale model flown in a scale manner.

There won’t be anymore flying (with the Elf) for a while, but that’s for the another post!

John

Good to see al lthe hard work paid off Grahame, very impressive

adzam

looks real !

just sums hope the whole project greyhead, well done . she looks stunning in the air.

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wonwinglo

Grahame,superb and exactly how a scale model should be flown,keep the wild aerobatics for the pattern ships,I know which type of flying that I would rather do ! scale circuits beautifully judged,touch & goes just like they do in full size practise,just looking at a model like the Parnall Elf in the air gives me a buzz,brilliant.

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/