Spada 3M

[Doc J]

Can’t let the Catia out of the bag!
(Just couldn’t resist).
Raymond

Groan...

 

[Doc J]

That’s a good one Raymond! And, really that, for Konrad, is the reason for what I said in posts #26 and #28. I’ve been a rc car racer since 1979 to date, 4 years of which on a professional basis as the editor of an rc car magazine. As such, I was privy to a great deal of information from designers and manufacturers of their products. This was all on a non disclosure basis of course. I even took part in test sessions, driving cars back to back to give my thoughts on development mods.
In the model car world, and to an extent racing gliders, the saying is “What wins on Sunday, sells on Monday”, so new ideas that prove to work are kept under wraps until the new parts/car etc are available to buy etc. At big race meetings, it’s really common to see in the pits that the top drivers, known to be driving either brand new cars or development parts on an existing chassis, cover their cars and/or make it plain that they don’t want photos taken.
The same goes for F1, in which I have also worked. There’s no way in the World that open forum discussions re design and development take place. Mercedes don’t contact Ferrari to tell them “hey we’ve just found something worth 1/10 of a second per lap, and this is what you do to achieve the same”.

This is the reasoning for the posts I put up.

I don’t want a ‘battle’ with anybody, on an Internet forum or in life, to which I have a very tenuous link nowadays. I am certainly not actively suppressing development of James’s Spada Konrad, and where does that idea come from anyway? Two of the three UK Redshift team pilots are mates of mine, so I’m very well aware of their thoughts on the Mk1. And, these guys are GOOD…

Konrad et al, you have a good day. Me, I’m going flying with my Forza and my 11 year old and never repaired, totally problem free RCRCM Typhoon…

Have fun
Jonty

Going flying? You lucky bugger...pissing down with rain here...

Totally problem free RCRCM Typhoon? You lucky bugger...must have been an early one...

You know the UK Redshift team lads? Don't believe what they say!...hahaha actually they were also really helpful in developing the ideas for improvement into the Spada.

I'm sure there will be a few Spada's flying there in the not too distant future as well. I know JP and the Toff are up for it.

Doc.

 

[Hill Hobbit]

Scratch the sloping, my mate’s come down with covid, and I can’t go up on my own in case I have another HA! Sod it…

Yeah, no problems, other than the flap hinges are just only now getting past their best.

The guys? Yeah, I was in the info loop from when they first received them, JP I haven’t met, but he’s a multiple winner and always in contention. Their experiences and thoughts about the Redshift have obviously been taken onboard by your good self, as evidenced by your recent cad pics.

As for Greg, most people call him ‘The Dark Lord’ due to him magically conjuring up good air when it’s his slot to fly!

Cheers
Jonty

 

[Doc J]

Scratch the sloping, my mate’s come down with covid, and I can’t go up on my own in case I have another HA! Sod it…

Yeah, no problems, other than the flap hinges are just only now getting past their best.

The guys? Yeah, I was in the info loop from when they first received them, JP I haven’t met, but he’s a multiple winner and always in contention. Their experiences and thoughts about the Redshift have obviously been taken onboard by your good self, as evidenced by your recent cad pics.

As for Greg, most people call him ‘The Dark Lord’ due to him magically conjuring up good air when it’s his slot to fly!

Cheers
Jonty

Aaaaaarrrrgh - I should have kept my mouth shut - I think I out the Kybosh on it.

Does Greg D (The Dark Lord) still fly much F3f?

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Hill Hobbit]

Greg most certainly does. He’s doing a Welsh League race at the Mynd today along with Mark. Spoke to Mark earlier, but he was just going out to fly. Conditions were just getting better at the time.

 

[Konrad]

Edit: To clean up. Topic moved to here

 

[Hill Hobbit]

Hello Konrad, I have a polite request to make. I’d like you to describe exactly why you find posts #26 and #28 to be ‘beyond’ the pale’. I haven’t been the slightest bit rude to you in those posts, but literally since I joined this excellent forum you have done nothing but criticise 99.9% of what I’ve posted. This started with my choice of servos, then you virtually telling me to get rid of my Typhoon because ‘it’s crap’. If my Typhoon is so bad, how come it’s still going strong? It’s been flown really hard by myself and good F3f pilots in 50mph winds with a stack of ballast onboard, has cartwheeled 5 complete turns downwind when a novice launcher let it go in a 45+ mph gust, yet nothing has broken or split etc in 11 years. It’s also given 4 power pilots their first introduction to slope flying. Those guys all fly name brand mouldies now, but all love to fly it. It’s now on its 3rd rx pack, 2nd set of servos (originally MKS and Futaba) and 3rd brand of radio. F3f guys who spend £££ on their models want to buy it, but it’s not for sale

I have no beef with you, so I’d like an explanation of why you say my posts are ‘beyond the pale.

Thank you
Jonty

 

[Konrad]

Edit: To clean up. Topic moved to here

 

[Hill Hobbit]

Smart ass? Well, now that’s good of you to finally come out with your opinion of me, thank you.

Best of luck with your new thread. Don’t go treading on too many toes.

 

[Konrad]

Edit: To clean up. Topic moved to here

 

[Hill Hobbit]

Best of luck with your new thread. And yes, you did recommend that I sell my Typhoon whilst it was still unbroken. This was soon after I came to this Forum, and I am not going to break off from working on a mate’s model to search for it.

 

[Konrad]

I think that would still be good advice, whoever and when ever it was given.

 

[Doc J]

Come, come, Gents. All this bickering. I'm sure if you were at the slope, talking about toy aeroplanes then you'd be laughing and ribbing instead of sniping at each other.

Note: I say this with a red face because I am one of the worst offenders in attacking people who I perceive to be attacking me. Sometimes they actually are! I used to be perfect troll bait, and I've never have been the world's best example of the "turn the other cheek" doctrine.

But:

I know Konrad means well, even his manner is sometimes a bit abrupt for some people, and I know he knows this. He's much more fun in person.

Jonty is one of those, and he is not the only one - Konrad knows this too - who has found issues with Konrad's rather stark way of expressing himself. He's not used to Konrad's ascerbic manner like I am.

So...

Maybe its better to concentrate more on having fun and trying to understand and develop the tech stuff - without giving personal opinions as to the wisdom of things already done.

We are all here for the same reason and that's to get all the fun we can out of our Hobby. We are also very lucky that we actually have a place to do it in sanity and reason.

Try doing this stuff on RCGroups - they encourage it because it ups the readership.

Lets have some fun!

Doc.

 

[Konrad]

On the subject of ribbing. At the last race there is a lot of smack talk amongst us fliers. I was being ribbed in good humor by one of the better and older pilots (former USA team member). He was saying that he was happy to see me starting to get serious about my F3F racing as I finally had a good racer in the Freestyler, moving away from the crappy ships like the Redshifts". Then in the background I hear Ken Gregory yell "He's beat you more than once with those crappy Redshifts!"

Ken Gregory is one of those flying gods that it is almost impossible to beat. So it is looking like the Redshift mk1 is getting some positive response, despite my efforts to the contrary!

With the Spada most of the issues should be addressed. I'm really itching to get my hands on one. Hopefully with enough time to work out the kinks (yes, all models have kinks) before the start of the 2023 racing season.

 

[Doc J]

On the subject of ribbing. At the last race there is a lot of smack talk amongst us fliers. I was being ribbed in good humor by one of the better and older pilots (former USA team member). He was saying that he was happy to see me starting to get serious about my F3F racing as I finally had a good racer in the Freestyler, moving away from the crappy ships like the Redshifts". Then in the background I hear Ken Gregory yell "He's beat you more than once with those crappy Redshifts!"

Ken Gregory is one of those flying gods that it is almost impossible to beat. So it is looking like the Redshift mk1 is getting some positive response, despite my efforts to the contrary!

With the Spada most of the issues should be addressed. I'm really itching to get my hands on one. Hopefully with enough time to work out the kinks (yes, all models have kinks) before the start of the 2023 racing season.

Ken is one of those really nice guys - who is hard to get to know - but if you make the effort...Really talented pilot.

Spada is getting closer. You can imagine as a designer, what it's like having to wait until your project's first iterations come out. Its like waiting for childbirth.

I'm hoping that the external design will be as kink-free as possible, but as always the innards will need a bit of adjustment after the flight (Crash?) tests. But since this is not the first time I have made a model from scratch - I've actually lost count now - then I'll probably get it a least 70% right in the first ones.

F3f? We don' need no stinkin F3f! ...Say hello to my liddle sports model...

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Konrad]

Not just a pilot but what makes him so good is he is also a composite builder and engineer. He can think his way through a problem! Unlike some of the other good pilots that just have flying skills.

He has always been forward in answering my many questions. I might not like the answer. Like the wife says; the truth hurts!

In the long run this helps me out a lot more than the precious snow flake soft peddling tactic we so often see trying not to hurt anybody’s feelings!

What do you mean, I have to practice practice !

 

[ORRich]

Come, come, Gents. All this bickering. I'm sure if you were at the slope, talking about toy aeroplanes then you'd be laughing and ribbing instead of sniping at each other.

Note: I say this with a red face because I am one of the worst offenders in attacking people who I perceive to be attacking me. Sometimes they actually are! I used to be perfect troll bait, and I've never have been the world's best example of the "turn the other cheek" doctrine.

But:

I know Konrad means well, even his manner is sometimes a bit abrupt for some people, and I know he knows this. He's much more fun in person.

Jonty is one of those, and he is not the only one - Konrad knows this too - who has found issues with Konrad's rather stark way of expressing himself. He's not used to Konrad's ascerbic manner like I am.

So...

Maybe its better to concentrate more on having fun and trying to understand and develop the tech stuff - without giving personal opinions as to the wisdom of things already done.

We are all here for the same reason and that's to get all the fun we can out of our Hobby. We are also very lucky that we actually have a place to do it in sanity and reason.

Try doing this stuff on RCGroups - they encourage it because it ups the readership.

Lets have some fun!

Doc.

Amen to that Doc. I appreciate the forum. As an outsider, I’m sure there are some planes and pilots who can eek out more performance with a perfect design etc. There are also those of us who as best as the airplane is designed have gross flying skills and the extra tenth isn’t going to matter.

We can certainly geek out on this stuff and that’s fine as long as we keep it fun and know there’s room for both types of pilots.

 

[Doc J]

Not just a pilot but what makes him so good is he is also a composite builder and engineer. He can think his way through a problem! Unlike some of the other good pilots that just have flying skills.

He has always been forward in answering my many questions. I might not like the answer. Like the wife says; the truth hurts!

In the long run this helps me out a lot more than the precious snow flake soft peddling tactic we so often see trying not to hurt anybody’s feelings!

One of these days, Konrad you'll realize that not everybody is actually like you. Trying not to hurt anbody's feelings, using diplomacy, restraint, consideration, empathy and all the other humanisms is what has brought us animals down from the trees. No need to try to get back into them.

What do you mean, I have to practice practice !

Actually I think you are doing great but then I haven't seen you fly in quite a while. I hope to put that right in the not too distant future, when I am going to come over and shit on you from a great height in an F3f comp. Or maybe not...

Practice, practice!

Doc.

 

[Doc J]

Amen to that Doc. I appreciate the forum. As an outsider, I’m sure there are some planes and pilots who can eek out more performance with a perfect design etc. There are also those of us who as best as the airplane is designed have gross flying skills and the extra tenth isn’t going to matter.

We can certainly geek out on this stuff and that’s fine as long as we keep it fun and know there’s room for both types of pilots.

Totally agree OR.

I'm thinking that if I make a plane that is as good as I can, then it will be down to the pilot to do well wth it.

The better designed the model is, the better it flies, and the most important thing is that its much easier to fly well. I think my models are easy to distinguish from not so well designed planes.

As a designer I stand by my models and I'm more than happy to discuss any aspect of them with anyone, but especially the people who support me by buying them. They have a right to know what they are spending their hard-earned money on.

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Konrad]

One of these days, Konrad you'll realize that not everybody is actually like you. Trying not to hurt anybody's feelings, using diplomacy, restraint, consideration, empathy and all the other humanisms is what has brought us animals down from the trees. No need to try to get back into them.

...

Doc.

Really where have I shit on anybody. When folks have issue I try my best to help them out on this forum.

Now when it comes to the discussion of ideas, they are open to debate and detailed examination. I freely attack, break down ideas looking for the core truth or merits. This is based on the scientific method that any idea or claim needs to be able to be duplicate or confirmed. If I don't understand something I'll dig and dig to try to get a better understanding. This means that I put high value on objective data rather than subjective or sales data. Far too many folks don't understand that it is the idea I'm interested in. I really can't waste my time trying to placate a person that makes an asinine statement. So I might come off a bit harsh. But that is not my aim.

Now you as a purveyor and designer of a product I hold to a higher standard than that of the public at large. (The fact that you hold a PHD in the STEM fields helps) You and I have had our fights but at the end of the day I think we both have respect for each others position and goals. I know I do.