Might be worth putting a post in RCGroups for this.
Germans are no doubt in a similar situation as Graupner hasn’t
come out with something they can use so guess Jeti would be next on their list.
You could use it with the UniLog to find out how quick you are
burning through “juice” during practice. Actually it could be a good crowd
pleaser at the worlds. Instant feedback of how much energy people have got
left at any point. Stick the Wmin on the score board and when you can watch
people panic!
From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Nigel Potter Sent: 23 November 2009 17:28 To: F5B UK Subject: [f5b_uk] Jeti 2.4GHz gear
Does any one know if the jeti 2.4GHz gear is
legal for fia competition
as it can carry telemetry?
That is a question that needs to be brought up at the CIAM meeting in March or April by your countries representative. No one knows the answer yet. It needs clarification or a rule change. It looks like the rule needs to be changed so that it is that the pilot can't have access to the data during the flight or something similar. It looks like most systems in the near future will come with telemetry.
Chuck
On Nov 23, 2009, at 9:27 AM, Nigel Potter wrote:
Does any one know if the jeti 2.4GHz gear is legal for fia competition
as it can carry telemetry?
My understanding for UK events is that if it does not convey information
which would be beneficial, in piloting/scoring terms, then it is OK.
(Knowing the Rx voltage for example, is hardly beneficial)
Mike
Nigel Potter wrote:
> Does any one know if the jeti 2.4GHz gear is legal for fia competition
> as it can carry telemetry?
>
> Nigel
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
There are a couple B1T avionic’s available at the
moment. They were used before the European Champs by Sergey himself and now
the Italians have hold of the planes. Very strong and pretty much new. No
pictures currently but am sure they can be arranged if anyone is interested.
I have been told they are 800 euro each + postage.
Let us know if anyone is interested and I will pass on
contact details.
Not sure what his schedule is like, but Brian Chan told me he is here this week.
Let him know I am practicing this Sat and Sun if he is interested in coming out!
This is in Palo Alto, 15 min north of San Jose, or 15 min south of San
Francisco.
Best,
Kris
aka verticalflight
When we were there just over a week ago it was about 70 degrees f and the winds were light.
Our advice from the Muncie locals is that in August we can expect warm weather with a possible afternoon thunder shower that would not last long on maybe one day.
Weather reports for next year are however not very accurate this far out. I expect that the weather will be much better than York or Kiev.
Chuck
On Oct 15, 2009, at 9:02 AM, Josef Mouris wrote:
Looks cold and wet, any advance on what it will be like at the WC time?!
Steve could you bring your speakers again pls. Ill look out my multiplug connector so the chap at b can get a beep too. Anyone else got ipod style speakers which could plug into a laptop?
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
From: "Richard Whitehead" <richard.whitehead@...>
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 15:31:19 +0100
To: <f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: RE: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
I will be there.
Dick
From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Alan Sent: 08 October 2009 22:05 To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com Subject: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
Could
I get a show of hands for who will be at the practise on
Sunday. We will be flying purely legs and hopefully if Mark
is prepared to bring the relevant kit we can be plugged into the timing gear as
well.
Mark / Steve – Could you intend to bring the course timing gear
as well pls. Several people have commented they would like it
to be available.
From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mark.frumtarn@... Sent: 09 October 2009 10:14 To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
I'm intending to be there.
Mark
-original message-
Subject: Re: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
>From: Josef Mouris <jjmouris@...>
Date: 08/10/2009 22:40
Location check?!
Not at the new glider field?!
Joe
On 8 Oct 2009, at 22:08, "Steve Burns" <steve.burns3@...> wrote:
> I’ll be there. If Mark doesn’t want to run the full course or if
> there are only a few of us I can bring the practise course.
>
>
>
> From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com]
On
> Behalf Of Alan
> Sent: 08 October 2009 22:05
> To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
>
>
>
>
>
> Could I get a show of hands for who will be at the practise on
> Sunday. We will be flying purely legs and hopefully if Mark is
> prepared to bring the relevant kit we can be plugged into the timing
> gear as well.
>
>
>
> We should aim to be flying by 10.
>
>
>
> George and Nigel I know won’t be there.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.13.115/2404 - Release Date:
> 10/08/09 06:39:00
>
>
From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Alan Sent: 08 October 2009 22:05 To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com Subject: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
Could
I get a show of hands for who will be at the practise on
Sunday. We will be flying purely legs and hopefully if Mark
is prepared to bring the relevant kit we can be plugged into the timing gear as
well.
> Could I get a show of hands for who will be at the practise on Sunday.
> We
> will be flying purely legs and hopefully if Mark is prepared to bring the
> relevant kit we can be plugged into the timing gear as well.
>
>
>
> We should aim to be flying by 10.
>
>
>
> George and Nigel I know won't be there.
>
> Hi Alan
I'll be there - Wetlands
Alan
>
>
>
>
Wetlands as the subject says.    If Mark is willing to drive a
little further south I could try some of the fields round Cambridgeshire – see if
we can get on.
Current - Jos/Steve/Alan/Mark/Dick – probably
From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Josef Mouris Sent: 08 October 2009 22:39 To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
I’ll be there. If Mark doesn’t want to
run the full course or if there are only a few of us I can bring the practise
course.
>From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Alan Sent: 08 October 2009 22:05 To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com Subject: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
Could
I get a show of hands for who will be at the practise on
Sunday. We will be flying purely legs and hopefully if Mark
is prepared to bring the relevant kit we can be plugged into the timing gear as
well.
We
should aim to be flying by 10.
George
and Nigel I know won’t be there.
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.13.115/2404 - Release Date: 10/08/09
06:39:00
I'm intending to be there.
Mark
-original message-
Subject: Re: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
From: Josef Mouris <jjmouris@...>
Date: 08/10/2009 22:40
Location check?!
Not at the new glider field?!
Joe
On 8 Oct 2009, at 22:08, "Steve Burns" <steve.burns3@...> wrote:
> I’ll be there. If Mark doesn’t want to run the full course or if
> there are only a few of us I can bring the practise course.
>
>
>
> From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Alan
> Sent: 08 October 2009 22:05
> To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
>
>
>
>
>
> Could I get a show of hands for who will be at the practise on
> Sunday. We will be flying purely legs and hopefully if Mark is
> prepared to bring the relevant kit we can be plugged into the timing
> gear as well.
>
>
>
> We should aim to be flying by 10.
>
>
>
> George and Nigel I know won’t be there.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.13.115/2404 - Release Date:
> 10/08/09 06:39:00
>
>
On 8 Oct 2009, at 22:08, "Steve Burns" <steve.burns3@...> wrote:
I’ll be there. If Mark doesn’t want to run the full course or if
there are only a few of us I can bring the practise course.
From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Alan Sent: 08 October 2009 22:05 To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com Subject: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
Could
I get a show of hands for who will be at the practise on
Sunday. We will be flying purely legs and hopefully if Mark
is prepared to bring the relevant kit we can be plugged into the timing gear as
well.
We
should aim to be flying by 10.
George
and Nigel I know won’t be there.
No virus
found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.13.115/2404 - Release Date: 10/08/09
06:39:00
Could I get a show of hands for who will be at the practise on Sunday. We will be flying purely legs and hopefully if Mark is prepared to bring the relevant kit we can be plugged into the timing gear as well.
We should aim to be flying by 10.
George and Nigel I know won’t be there.
No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.13.115/2404 - Release Date: 10/08/09 06:39:00
I’ll be there. If Mark doesn’t want to run the full course or if
there are only a few of us I can bring the practise course.
From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Alan Sent: 08 October 2009 22:05 To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com Subject: [f5b_uk] 11th Oct Practise Wetlands
Could
I get a show of hands for who will be at the practise on
Sunday. We will be flying purely legs and hopefully if Mark
is prepared to bring the relevant kit we can be plugged into the timing gear as
well.
We
should aim to be flying by 10.
George
and Nigel I know won’t be there.
No virus
found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.13.115/2404 - Release Date: 10/08/09
06:39:00
Could I get a show of hands for who will be at the practise
on Sunday. We will be flying purely legs and hopefully if Mark is prepared
to bring the relevant kit we can be plugged into the timing gear as well.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Josef Mouris<jjmouris@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 8:11 PM Subject: Avionik Wing Bags To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
Hello,
Thinking about having some wing bags made locally. Using my B08 wing as a template.
The material will be thin quilted silver reflective fabric with black or whatever colour edging strip. Not super hard protection but very soft and easy going on the wing. Have found a source and should be able to get an initial run of about 10 sets made from one roll.
In the picture attached is an example of one set in yellow with red edging strip made by someone in Japan i believe. They don't do them anymore so time for another person to step in and do them. I have already got someone who runs an alteration and tailor made clothing buisiness interrested in doing the work.
Can you please drop me a line if you are interrested; jjmouris@gmail.com
Price will be whatever the lady spends in time making them using her usual hourly rate + materials. Expecting something like ÂŁ30 (33 euro or 47 usd) for a set. This is i believe what the originals are going for as well. Does anyone know?
On 4 Oct 2009, at 20:13, Josef Mouris <jjmouris@...> wrote:
Picture;
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Josef Mouris<jjmouris@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 8:11 PM Subject: Avionik Wing Bags To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
Hello,
Thinking about having some wing bags made locally. Using my B08 wing as a template.
The material will be thin quilted silver reflective fabric with black or whatever colour edging strip. Not super hard protection but very soft and easy going on the wing. Have found a source and should be able to get an initial run of about 10 sets made from one roll.
In the picture attached is an example of one set in yellow with red edging strip made by someone in Japan i believe. They don't do them anymore so time for another person to step in and do them. I have already got someone who runs an alteration and tailor made clothing buisiness interrested in doing the work.
Can you please drop me a line if you are interrested; jjmouris@gmail.com
Price will be whatever the lady spends in time making them using her usual hourly rate + materials. Expecting something like ÂŁ30 (33 euro or 47 usd) for a set. This is i believe what the originals are going for as well. Does anyone know?
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Josef Mouris<jjmouris@...>
Date: Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 8:11 PM Subject: Avionik Wing Bags To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
Hello,
Thinking about having some wing bags made locally. Using my B08 wing as a template.
The material will be thin quilted silver reflective fabric with black or whatever colour edging strip. Not super hard protection but very soft and easy going on the wing. Have found a source and should be able to get an initial run of about 10 sets made from one roll.
In the picture attached is an example of one set in yellow with red edging strip made by someone in Japan i believe. They don't do them anymore so time for another person to step in and do them. I have already got someone who runs an alteration and tailor made clothing buisiness interrested in doing the work.
Can you please drop me a line if you are interrested; jjmouris@...
Price will be whatever the lady spends in time making them using her usual hourly rate + materials. Expecting something like Ł30 (33 euro or 47 usd) for a set. This is i believe what the originals are going for as well. Does anyone know?
Thinking about having some wing bags made locally. Using my B08 wing as a template.
The material will be thin quilted silver reflective fabric with black or whatever colour edging strip. Not super hard protection but very soft and easy going on the wing. Have found a source and should be able to get an initial run of about 10 sets made from one roll.
In the picture attached is an example of one set in yellow with red edging strip made by someone in Japan i believe. They don't do them anymore so time for another person to step in and do them. I have already got someone who runs an alteration and tailor made clothing buisiness interrested in doing the work.
Can you please drop me a line if you are interrested; jjmouris@...
Price will be whatever the lady spends in time making them using her usual hourly rate + materials. Expecting something like Ł30 (33 euro or 47 usd) for a set. This is i believe what the originals are going for as well. Does anyone know?
I’ve just signed up the f5b and f5b_uk names in
twitter. http://twitter.com/
Ideal to send out event information without using emails!
Just thought we should be moving with the times and sending
out live information J
ie Wolff has just done 52 legs!!! We are all fighting for 2nd
place now…
If you looki at the f3x forum on rcgroups you will see a uk team making an uk f3j model. May be worth talking to them.
--------------------------
David Leitch
+612 9324 3870
+61 412 519001
From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat Sep 26 20:08:12 2009 Subject: RE: [f5b_uk] S16 price
Once you guys have recovered from “sticker shock” and analyse
the situation I think you will realise you have a few options none of which
involve making your own planes.
We used to make our own with our own design, used by Wayne
Hadkins in 2002 and nearly used again in 2004(the S11 was so much nicer to fly
than our model).
The only reasons to make your own are
1). Competitive models unavailable or too long a lead time(
common F3J problem). Your chances of designing a model that is good as an
Avionic let alone better are close to zero. So not valid reason
2). It is what you want to do because that is what you get out
of the hobby. I don’t think so.
If you think that the price of the S16 is too high and you want a more
economical solution then I suggest you re-visit the S11/13 or 14 with 2 servo
wing. The 2 servo wing S14 can do 44 laps. Probably more than your home growns
will manage.
Building strong light F5B model takes some time and practice and
I would suggest even after you make a mould the 1st one will not be
flyable as a contest model(ask Mike Seale or Dave Dixon). If you back track the
price and add the cost of the 5 servos, the carbon fibre for wings, Kevlar for
fuses, epoxy, paint and release agents I think you will be quickly back to
buying. Those that are retired will have the available time, those with
families might find divorce come close if you try to build a few and go flying
as well.
In reality how many planes do you need to buy each year, 1-2
unless you are really unlucky. If you are building them yourselves you will
need less because you will be spending more time building and less
flying(although I have seen this lead to more breakages because of insufficient
practice).
Sorry for the pessimistic outlook
Dave
From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Josef Mouris Sent: Friday, 25 September 2009 8:03 AM To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [f5b_uk] S16 price
My girlfriend is Turkish, has family and friends all over, i
can get really cheap standby tickets to visit as and when required. She can
talk Turkish obvoisly and is possibly able to do all the business side of
things. There is a big F3B community and production already in Turkey (Istanbul
and other places). Labour? I doubt it is much cheaper in the places you name
compared to Turkey, having been there a few times. There are plenty people
there that will do anything for a slice of bread. Not joking and not ment in an
offending way. Still i will never take the risk of making this my primary job.
It's a hobby and F5B a calling, not a livelyhood.
Wages are likely lower in Bulgaria
and Romania and there is a bigger workforce with the skills particularly
in Slovakia, Slovenia and the Cech Republic than in Turkey. You would
need to hire someone with contacts out of the F3J world. There are a reasonable
number of manufacturers there. The german f3J industry has already gone down
the outsourcing path. Stefan Eder from memory does it this way. It would be a
labour of love as the market is far too small for anything other than
a manufacturing hobby.
#1 Buy good wings, make own
fuselage (copy then own design).
#2 Visit Michel Uzan for a building
weekend.
#3 Copy a good plane for own use
and improve durabilaty.
#4 Make a new design that is
potentially better.
#5 Move the production to my
own company based in Turkey.
Got lots of spare time, love making
things and love F5B. Need money to buy materials. After some parts have been
sold with a profit, more materials can be bought untill eventually an own
design can be milled.
One take on how to
do this is classic manufacturing. Its more up front investment
but eventually cheaper per plane.
1. Get a good design.
2. Get the moulds made.
3. Outsource the building. In
Australia we might outsource to China. In Europe the obvious people to
outsource to are NAN models because they have the expertise. The more you
control the outsourcing, that is supervise, finance, and train, the more margin
you can keep.
At the end of the day you need
something competitive with a Surprise or an Avionik. After all you can buy an
Enigma now for quite reasonable money. The learning and time curve will be
expensive and you could expect to lose money for years. What comparative
advantage does anyone bring to the process?
A UK
plane is what we need. Would be interesting to know how much material
cost goes into each plane. Servo’s we know. Then I guess a days worth of
time spread over a week to actually produce.
Then
you have the development costs/time on top – which would be the majority –
Didn’t Michael Uzan say it was €2000 euro to get a mould for his planes?
Spread amongst 5+ people that isn’t so bad if you get 4-5 planes each out of
it. There must be people in the UK who would build the planes using
our moulds for a cost. I don’t fancy building wings myself as I don’t
have the time.
Japanese
make their own as well don’t they? We all know the Germans do.
The Poles made their own for the European Championship.
I remember the "old days" when people like Mike Seale, Colin
Watters, Stephen Mettam, to mention but a few, made their own. Dave
Dixon made his out of Wolf's moulds. In these days I think a Surprise was
only 500 - 600 Swiss francs, a very small number of ÂŁs at the time. Maybe
necessity will become the mother of invention again?
David is right. The only reason to build your own plane is that this is what you want to do! A very good reason, by the way. But if you want cheap F5B there are other ways. When I was a boy the pros flew Surprise 11 and the poor folk flew http://www.nesail.com/detail.php?productID=1429 There was not one of David Camerons's cigarette papers (what is that?) between them in performance, but not in price! You did not have to go to the USA to get it, it was available from the then Czechoslovakia. I do not know what an Enigma is, but maybe similar? The big advantage of this approach is that you can say, after doing 36 legs like I did at Pfaffikon this year, that if you had an Avionik youl would surely have done over 50! George, (a bit drunk in the hotel preparing for tomorrow's event).
--- On Sat, 26/9/09, Denise and David
Hines <denisendavid@...> wrote:
From: Denise and David Hines <denisendavid@...> Subject: RE: [f5b_uk] S16 price To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, 26 September, 2009, 11:08 AM
Once you guys have recovered from “sticker shock” and analyse
the situation I think you will realise you have a few options none of which
involve making your own planes.
We used to make our own with our own design, used by Wayne
Hadkins in 2002 and nearly used again in 2004(the S11 was so much nicer to fly
than our model).
The only reasons to make your own are
1). Competitive models unavailable or too long a lead time(
common F3J problem). Your chances of designing a model that is good as an
Avionic let alone better are close to zero. So not valid reason
2). It is what you want to do because that is what you get out
of the hobby. I don’t think so.
If you think that the price of the S16 is too high and you want a more
economical solution then I suggest you re-visit the S11/13 or 14 with 2 servo
wing. The 2 servo wing S14 can do 44 laps. Probably more than your home growns
will manage.
Building strong light F5B model takes some time and practice and
I would suggest even after you make a mould the 1st one will not be
flyable as a contest model(ask Mike Seale or Dave Dixon). If you back track the
price and add the cost of the 5 servos, the carbon fibre for wings, Kevlar for
fuses, epoxy, paint and release agents I think you will be quickly back to
buying. Those that are retired will have the available time, those with
families might find divorce come close if you try to build a few and go flying
as well.
In reality how many planes do you need to buy each year, 1-2
unless you are really unlucky. If you are building them yourselves you will
need less because you will be spending more time building and less
flying(although I have seen this lead to more breakages because of insufficient
practice).
Sorry for the pessimistic outlook
Dave
From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups. com
[mailto:f5b_ uk@yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Josef Mouris Sent: Friday, 25 September 2009 8:03 AM To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups. com Subject: Re: [f5b_uk] S16 price
My girlfriend is Turkish, has family and friends all over, i
can get really cheap standby tickets to visit as and when required. She can
talk Turkish obvoisly and is possibly able to do all the business side of
things. There is a big F3B community and production already in Turkey (Istanbul
and other places). Labour? I doubt it is much cheaper in the places you name
compared to Turkey, having been there a few times. There are plenty people
there that will do anything for a slice of bread. Not joking and not ment in an
offending way. Still i will never take the risk of making this my primary job.
It's a hobby and F5B a calling, not a livelyhood.
Wages are likely lower in Bulgaria
and Romania and there is a bigger workforce with the skills particularly
in Slovakia, Slovenia and the Cech Republic than in Turkey. You would
need to hire someone with contacts out of the F3J world. There are a reasonable
number of manufacturers there. The german f3J industry has already gone down
the outsourcing path. Stefan Eder from memory does it this way. It would be a
labour of love as the market is far too small for anything other than
a manufacturing hobby.
#1 Buy good wings, make own
fuselage (copy then own design).
#2 Visit Michel Uzan for a building
weekend.
#3 Copy a good plane for own use
and improve durabilaty.
#4 Make a new design that is
potentially better.
#5 Move the production to my
own company based in Turkey.
Got lots of spare time, love making
things and love F5B. Need money to buy materials. After some parts have been
sold with a profit, more materials can be bought untill eventually an own
design can be milled.
One take on how to
do this is classic manufacturing. Its more up front investment
but eventually cheaper per plane.
1. Get a good design.
2. Get the moulds made.
3. Outsource the building. In
Australia we might outsource to China. In Europe the obvious people to
outsource to are NAN models because they have the expertise. The more you
control the outsourcing, that is supervise, finance, and train, the more margin
you can keep.
At the end of the day you need
something competitive with a Surprise or an Avionik. After all you can buy an
Enigma now for quite reasonable money. The learning and time curve will be
expensive and you could expect to lose money for years. What comparative
advantage does anyone bring to the process?
A UK
plane is what we need. Would be interesting to know how much material
cost goes into each plane. Servo’s we know. Then I guess a days worth of
time spread over a week to actually produce.
Then
you have the development costs/time on top – which would be the majority –
Didn’t Michael Uzan say it was €2000 euro to get a mould for his planes?
Spread amongst 5+ people that isn’t so bad if you get 4-5 planes each out of
it. There must be people in the UK who would build the planes using
our moulds for a cost. I don’t fancy building wings myself as I don’t
have the time.
Japanese
make their own as well don’t they? We all know the Germans do.
The Poles made their own for the European Championship.
I remember the "old days" when people like Mike Seale, Colin
Watters, Stephen Mettam, to mention but a few, made their own. Dave
Dixon made his out of Wolf's moulds. In these days I think a Surprise was
only 500 - 600 Swiss francs, a very small number of ÂŁs at the time. Maybe
necessity will become the mother of invention again?
Once you guys have recovered from “sticker shock” and analyse
the situation I think you will realise you have a few options none of which
involve making your own planes.
We used to make our own with our own design, used by Wayne
Hadkins in 2002 and nearly used again in 2004(the S11 was so much nicer to fly
than our model).
The only reasons to make your own are
1). Competitive models unavailable or too long a lead time(
common F3J problem). Your chances of designing a model that is good as an
Avionic let alone better are close to zero. So not valid reason
2). It is what you want to do because that is what you get out
of the hobby. I don’t think so.
If you think that the price of the S16 is too high and you want a more
economical solution then I suggest you re-visit the S11/13 or 14 with 2 servo
wing. The 2 servo wing S14 can do 44 laps. Probably more than your home growns
will manage.
Building strong light F5B model takes some time and practice and
I would suggest even after you make a mould the 1st one will not be
flyable as a contest model(ask Mike Seale or Dave Dixon). If you back track the
price and add the cost of the 5 servos, the carbon fibre for wings, Kevlar for
fuses, epoxy, paint and release agents I think you will be quickly back to
buying. Those that are retired will have the available time, those with
families might find divorce come close if you try to build a few and go flying
as well.
In reality how many planes do you need to buy each year, 1-2
unless you are really unlucky. If you are building them yourselves you will
need less because you will be spending more time building and less
flying(although I have seen this lead to more breakages because of insufficient
practice).
Sorry for the pessimistic outlook
Dave
From: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Josef Mouris Sent: Friday, 25 September 2009 8:03 AM To: f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [f5b_uk] S16 price
My girlfriend is Turkish, has family and friends all over, i
can get really cheap standby tickets to visit as and when required. She can
talk Turkish obvoisly and is possibly able to do all the business side of
things. There is a big F3B community and production already in Turkey (Istanbul
and other places). Labour? I doubt it is much cheaper in the places you name
compared to Turkey, having been there a few times. There are plenty people
there that will do anything for a slice of bread. Not joking and not ment in an
offending way. Still i will never take the risk of making this my primary job.
It's a hobby and F5B a calling, not a livelyhood.
Wages are likely lower in Bulgaria
and Romania and there is a bigger workforce with the skills particularly
in Slovakia, Slovenia and the Cech Republic than in Turkey. You would
need to hire someone with contacts out of the F3J world. There are a reasonable
number of manufacturers there. The german f3J industry has already gone down
the outsourcing path. Stefan Eder from memory does it this way. It would be a
labour of love as the market is far too small for anything other than
a manufacturing hobby.
#1 Buy good wings, make own
fuselage (copy then own design).
#2 Visit Michel Uzan for a building
weekend.
#3 Copy a good plane for own use
and improve durabilaty.
#4 Make a new design that is
potentially better.
#5 Move the production to my
own company based in Turkey.
Got lots of spare time, love making
things and love F5B. Need money to buy materials. After some parts have been
sold with a profit, more materials can be bought untill eventually an own
design can be milled.
One take on how to
do this is classic manufacturing. Its more up front investment
but eventually cheaper per plane.
1. Get a good design.
2. Get the moulds made.
3. Outsource the building. In
Australia we might outsource to China. In Europe the obvious people to
outsource to are NAN models because they have the expertise. The more you
control the outsourcing, that is supervise, finance, and train, the more margin
you can keep.
At the end of the day you need
something competitive with a Surprise or an Avionik. After all you can buy an
Enigma now for quite reasonable money. The learning and time curve will be
expensive and you could expect to lose money for years. What comparative
advantage does anyone bring to the process?
A UK
plane is what we need. Would be interesting to know how much material
cost goes into each plane. Servo’s we know. Then I guess a days worth of
time spread over a week to actually produce.
Then
you have the development costs/time on top – which would be the majority –
Didn’t Michael Uzan say it was €2000 euro to get a mould for his planes?
Spread amongst 5+ people that isn’t so bad if you get 4-5 planes each out of
it. There must be people in the UK who would build the planes using
our moulds for a cost. I don’t fancy building wings myself as I don’t
have the time.
Japanese
make their own as well don’t they? We all know the Germans do.
The Poles made their own for the European Championship.
I remember the "old days" when people like Mike Seale, Colin
Watters, Stephen Mettam, to mention but a few, made their own. Dave
Dixon made his out of Wolf's moulds. In these days I think a Surprise was
only 500 - 600 Swiss francs, a very small number of ÂŁs at the time. Maybe
necessity will become the mother of invention again?
It gives all the individual competiton results but I can't find the final table.
I have seen it in the past, but not for 2009.
Please give the URL as I seem to be lost.
George.
--- On Fri, 25/9/09, Josef Mouris <jjmouris@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Josef Mouris <jjmouris@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [f5b_uk] Fw: [ciam-f5] FAI World Cup 2009 To: "f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com" <f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com> Date: Friday, 25 September, 2009, 10:22 PM
It gives all the individual competiton results but I can't find the final table.
I have seen it in the past, but not for 2009.
Please give the URL as I seem to be lost.
George.
--- On Fri, 25/9/09, Josef Mouris <jjmouris@...> wrote:
From: Josef Mouris <jjmouris@...> Subject: Re: [f5b_uk] Fw: [ciam-f5] FAI World Cup 2009 To: "f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com" <f5b_uk@yahoogroups.com> Date: Friday, 25 September, 2009, 10:22 PM