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4C sounds high Liam ......I realize some batteries can be charged at a higher rate but I never charge at higher than 1C just as a precautionary measure......last thing I want is a fire.

Liam Walton

It's OK for batteries that are rated for it. They barely get warm as they're charging. Just to be safe they're inside a metal box perforated with mesh holes inside a metal and concrete shed.
Just to be safe, I charge my LiFe's in my models... perhaps that isn't really safe at all... Mind you, they are usually charged at .5 amps no matter how big they are. I charge my 2200 LiPo's at 1 amp.

Not long ago I retired a few dead and dying LiPos by attaching a nail to a stick and driving it in to the sides. Really exciting with lots of smoke drifting through my wife's freshly washed clothing on the line. The boys loved it. They quickly raided the shed for more LiPos. They were very disappointed when I said that they were still good ones. "You can always buy some more Dad!" they said hopefully.

The most spectacular retirement of a flattery was when Kennyglide retired one out on the polocrosse practice field a few years ago. Very spectacular. He even sacrificed a good foamy model doing it for us!
Thanks Kennyglide.
Thanks Marcel,...always happy to provide good entertainment ..... Smile
Hi marcel. What u have a Cularis 2?? Bet its a different colour scheme 2 mine. and whats with the Elecky thingy bit?? Have u come over 2 the dark side?
I bought the Multiplex Cularis when they were first released many years ago. I was too scared to use thick CA to glue it together, as if something failed with the eklectrics, it was going to be scarred for life. I must admit, that at that time when living down south, i wasn't terribly anti-eklectic as they weren't threatening the future and traditions of aeromodelling (he he he... let's see if Liam is looking).
I only became anti-eklectic since shifting to QLD, Warwick, as my ambition then was to convert the overwhelming majority of the 'Dark Side', who were flying cheap eklectic foamies, to fly real models with REAL ENGINES. I'm doing ok aren't I Peter-T-with-a-Hawker-Sea-Fury-that-is-a-real-model-with-a-REAL-ENGINE-that-we-hope-to-see-in-the-air-real-soon???

Actually, to be totally honest, I wanted to see WAM members flying bigger and impressive models in a manner that inspired onlookers. There wasn't a great deal of accurate take-offs and landings in those early years, due to point-and-shoot little foamies that launch in unpredictable directions due to small wheels and lack of weight and pilots that didn't attempt to correct with rudder. The first visit to TARMAC that I attended was an idication of this. They only let us fly up the far corner, away from the pits and clubhouse, in a time slot where none of their members flew. Mind you, I also heard some of their members comment that they were glad that some of their own members/stirrers weren't there, as they would have helped themselves to our TX boxes and vehicles looking for transmitters that were not MAAA approved, as was these members' custom. Very suspicious back then. They are certainly not like that now. Ray has a great bunch.

I'm really proud of how much our members have improved their flying skills since then. If Dave attempted to organise a pylon racing event during our first year, we would be all digging fox holes to hide in. This is to be expected though, as only a few of the members back then had experience. New club with brand-spanking new members. Peter Earl was experienced (and flew real models with REAL ENGINES), but most, from memory, were beginners. I know that when I first soloed, I would have made the experienced members nervous. That's the way it goes.

P.S. Still too scared to apply glue permanently, sealing in the servos, motor and ESC... Just had too many failures to bring myself to do it, using HobbyKing gear...

Liam Walton

You raise a good point that petrol planes are more interesting for onlookers. I’m more interested in performance, cost, and fun personally.

However I will soon be able to get air to air HD footage of other aircraft once my runcam Split V2 and better batteries for my quad arrive. I should be able to record around 7min of HD footage while following most aircraft. Would be fun to film combat and aerobatic events if people would let me fly near them. I’ll practise following my bonsai wing at first. Could be a good way to promote the club.
Just go for it Marcel ,.....can always cut a few holes to get to the servos ect.. if something goes wrong ... although I can't emphasize enough just how incredibly reliable electric stuff is....FAITH My Friend FAITH
Marcel, u may not know, (and Dennis Greenfield was surprised 2 learn as well), Apart from Rod, and Peter E, It seems no one knew anything. We all started on foamies, (Was cheap and forgiving,) we knew didly squat, and just fumbled our way through. No instructors, very little experience, (Peter E was Bronze), so with everyone fumbling their way around, I have been told we, (WAM) is a bit unique that way. We should be proud of what we have achieved. Then u came and trained us some more. So we r now getting better, (a few members want Gold), The models r better, and from what some of us have seen, we can hold our own with some clubs in Qld. Our club has had a few squabbles, but on the whole, everyone is willing 2 help, and we will get better and better. I think Reilly has gone 1 up on u!! he has an elecky glider with a nitro on top. Lets c u top that!! Lol!

Oh yeah, Y glue in the servos?? If using foam, smear a little hot glue on the servo top 2 the foam, use clear tape etc, But I guess u r talking about balsa, so y not screw them in? I have flown my Cularis a few times, but have found the main problem, is where the main wing attaches 2 the fuse?? if its a slightly loose fit, the connection fails 2 work, then no ailerons or flaps. But mine was 2nd hand when I got it.
I have seen photo's of Reilly's u-beaut hybrid which is an effort to marry the two squabbling groups (...not actually squabbling, just digging). Full size do this as well as large scale models. Should work, so long as it doesn't nose-down too much during the initial launch and low-speed climb. Once the speed is up, it shouldn't be an issue. Down thrust will be compensated by the pitching up due to higher-than-cruise speed trim.

Post a picture Reilly, so all can see your trickery and deceptions.

The Cularis needs everything installed before gluing the two fuselage sides together. It's so pretty (if you could ever call a foamy that) that I would cry if I needed to cut a hole in the side to remove and replace anything. I could tape the whole fuselage together, but that might be too dodgy for the long run. I must admit that I have reservations about the servo plug/wing joiner setup. I have read people have had problems. Large scale gliders use the same system and don't have problems, but they are not dealing with the flexing of unpredictable foam. I'm considering using standard methods for peace of mind.