A little bit of news on the Merlin developement. We're completing work on a new fusleage for the Merlin designed for an electric conversion. The Merlin's fuselage has the room so there'll be plenty of room for lipos and a serious motor.
The Merlin's handling with ballast has convinced me that it will carry the weight of the electric with ease.
I'll post some pictures of the new fuselage when I get them.
Wednesday, 12 February 2014
Monday, 10 February 2014
Whitesheet goes sub 30 as 2 Merlins make the top 6
What a day at Whitesheet! With the wind varying from 40-60mph all day ballasting decisions were easy- all of it. My own race mirrored that of many pilots, with my best air coming on my first flight (crowing through allowed us to have 2 rounds per flight) the Merlin took off. Only my thumbs kept me from going sub 40 and only Martin Newham kept me from the round win.
The rest of the day saw my flights being ‘nearly’ good- often with half the course having good lift and on the other half I was relying on the Merln’s forgiving handling. JP was showing just how fast the Merlin can fly and showing how he got it to 3rd in the league.
Martin continues his strangely intimate relationship with his FS4’s but really did show he knows how to make them go. The other most popular model looked to be the Needle 124s, good looking models that I love to beat with my Merlin.
Flying ‘2 up’ and so having the CROW through really made me grateful that the Merlin seems happy to sit on CROW without biting me back. Unfortunately it does mean that you only get 4 flights.
As the day wore on it was clear that the tough conditions really started to take their toll, I think I counted 5 models that either his the front of the hill or landed in the puddle on the road behind the hill. It’s never nice to see a crash. Even the SportBrellas were struggling.
Although the whitsheet record of 26.84 (set on the Bwlch) wasn’t beaten I’m sure the new course record of 29.94 will take some beating- as will the number of sub 40’s! 3rd and 6th in the southern league for the Merlins in their first year, I’m really pleased with- summer leagues here we come!
Friday, 31 January 2014
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!
Sunday, 5 January 2014
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!
Monday, 30 December 2013
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!
Thursday, 19 December 2013
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
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
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