Weekend fun and Setting up

  A morning’s flying the Merlin so I took the chance to follow Martin’s advice and try out some EM type turns.  Being new to this turn style I started off by simply reducing my differential and flattening out the more ‘Nordic’ turns I’m more used to.

  This seemed to work pretty well and what became an extended bank and sweep turns, heading back to me in the centre of the course.    There was even the occasional ‘kick’ as I really go the turn right, what I liked was the steady build up of speed when it was right and the clear identification of ‘wrong’.  I’m a long way from doing any of this in a race but the Merlin’s ability to smoothly carry ballast and keep on tracking made it a very simple air frame to use.

  It was AGM weekend and so the Slope soon started to fill up- a nice change on southern slopes really.  The entertainment of 3 men trying to work out how to make an EPPi-soar work only to launch it into the turning point of an F3F model is always worth 10 minutes of your morning.

  The pitbulls met their match on the ground with my Terrier but in the air they looked really impressive!

Getting out before the next Storm

A break in the rain and storms had me on Beer Head by 8.30 in the morning this Sunday.  With the car park impassable, the 30mph winds smack on the hill reminds you of how much II enjoy throwing a model around with full ballast!

  After last week’s Wooliebbacks highlighted some set up issues and just plain lack of practice the chance to thrash the Merlin in smooth sea lift was not too be missed.  It’s a lot easier without the buzzing and stopwatch!

  The set up felt really nice and adjusting the differential mid flight on the multiplex radio makes things really easy to set up.  The Merlin really reminds me of my excellent old Sting.  Driving through the turns and she pings and pulls around the corners so reliably!  A happy day today!

Next storm soming up the coast- time to go!

Wooliebacks

  Full of turkey and mince pies again- it must be ready for the Wooliebacks.  My first pass since the last round of the southern winter league was given and while with Geoff Boycotts optimistic words keeping me company I headed out.  I’d forgotten how cold Wales can be, luckily the dark Lord arrived and commanded the frost to clear and wind to come on to Mickies- it did!

  I’d love to say that for 10 rounds off very varied conditions I got the poor air every round but I just didn’t fly that well and I’m still setting the Merlin up.  When I did get it right then the Merlin took off and was blistering.  Martin flew his Merlin to show the EM turn ability and impressed thee watching crowd- I’m going to have to find time to get out and practice those turns!

  Whilst I was setting up and playing with the Merlin, Greg, Simon and Martin were giving a master class on Flying mixed air- often with models that put your back out when you launched them!

Martin had his game face on but I think Andy was still upset he didn't get to show off his Christmas mankini!

  It was a great pitty that AJ’s Elita let him down before the race started and our pilot numbers were down by 1- but too then sit and CD pretty much the whole event- someone buy that man a drink!

   An Excellent day all round!

Merlin gets the EM treatment

  Martin's got his Merlin going and true to form he starts off his Maiden with 1.2kg of lead.  It doesn't take long for him to be screaming around the slope.

  Fast and no bad habbits is the feedback again.  I can't wait to see Martin with it on the slopes again.  I'm really excited how fast the Merlin looks!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RqUBe3NpWF0

Happy Christmas

That time of year to post my favourite Father Chistmas pic

See you on the Slopes!

A fun day at the races, some round wins and 2 of the top 3

  The second round of the Southern winter league has to go down as an excellent day out and race.  Starting off in the rain and with a couple of bad decisions by me must have put me dead last by the end of round 2 but watching John Philips win round 1 with his Merlin’s first ever competitive flight was fantastic.  JP was eventually just pipped to the win, followed by John Bennet.  Well done to Tony Livingston on the win.

  With John Bennett among those flying Willows there weren’t many rounds without a Willow racing model up there consistently beating the Pittbulls/freestylers and the like.  It was pretty clear that it was my thumbs and settings that were holding the Merlin back and so some serious tweaking went on and I started to mix things up at the top of the field.  Including some interesting private battles with Martin Drewitt’s Pit bull and Tony’s Freestyler.  I think the discards were the difference that put Martin ahead of me.

  I know that the Willow is pretty vise less on the course but variable and intermediate conditions like those on Sunday were a good test for the Merlin- she passed without a second thought.  JP was flying his hill hugging/grass cutting style with confidence.  My own flying really benefitted from the Merlin’s forgiving nature in the turn and excellent energy retention- there aren’t many models that let you get away with a full yank as you fly past the base.

  With 8 rounds ad bacon butties provided by Joe and Linda you can understand the smiles on the way home!

The Merlin attracts BARCS younger members

  Thanks to Martin for snapping his efforts are the BARCS AGM to promote F3F and show off the Merlin.  It’s fantastic to see F3F being promoted and talked about away from a purely F3F audience.

  It’s also great to see the chance to fondle Martin’s Merlin being taken up by so many people.