26 January 2013

the birth of a beast


Simon's unstoppable in the workshop at the moment, here's his 40% ASG scalie scratch build



impressive is an understatement!




cominatyah!




 white foam / pink foam compression test under vacuum; Simon's first
fuselage plug collapsed under 7psi.....oh how he laughed!





we're not sure if the button nose hooter is 100% scale




the invaluable hot box for ensuring that the resin sets
in the subzero conditions, here's a quick demo.....





16 January 2013

t-shirt weather

back when it was warm.....

06 January 2013

new year's day

Sun, sangers and soaring up on Wye Downs provide an ideal start to the year....


 rigging the boys' toys in the lane




the south western face....lots of flooding down on the flat lands



a delightful passer by snaps a few shots of these two saddos out playing with their toy planes-
wingnut to the left, Mr toasty head on the right





Elvis has left the building and hiked up the hill!




from the ridiculous to the sublime and then back to the ridiculous-
Radian with under wing camera mount and Race-M,
then a sloppy dog turd with stick marker alert in immediate foreground




we were rather surprised to find the wind was WNW for most
of the afternoon, but it was still flyable!


29 December 2012

Christmas Eve, eve

 Last Sunday in the bleak mid-winter....



 low on light, high over trees





working a rocky outcrop




Gary on finals




clearing the strip




post flight a-ok; time to de-rig and crack open the mulled wine!





 Let the festivities begin!

27 December 2012

christmas eve, eve, eve, eve, eve, eve, eve!

Normally we wouldn't have bothered, but seeing as how Mark promised us
he'd maiden the DG, we turn out in force!


it's the time of year for a low sun and interesting orientation issues!





Mark discus launches his mini scalie, but drops the transmitter half way through the spin!





anyone got some debonder?




finally he runs out of excuses and apart from a rather sensitive elevator, all goes swimmingly!




meanwhile in Alpina land....





 Jason returns hot and sweaty from an epic walk of shame





show some respect godamit!!





half a church roof later....




...and we're in business. Though the local pikies were seen loitering in the
lower field hoping for another out landing.



22 December 2012

Last Saturday.....



notice on the gate




Les's floater at the ready





The Essex boys are planning to stay for the duration...




meanwhile inside; something lies in wait




meanwhile outside; Mark's brand spanking new DG is poised for a maiden




suitably stealthy looking



fast arrival for someone




Sir Bob and the Mini Vec





Les waits for a gap in the paragliders





away she goes, the Fantasia owns the light conditions





Simon takes a break from his recent intense building sessions




DG awaits a more suitable day

13 December 2012

cut to the core!

A day's worth of wing cutting at Simon's gaff. It's a bit parky so
fast work makes for warm hands....


bed head Paul pretends he knows what he's doing; someone
should inform him it ain't so cool to be no jive turkey this close to Christmas!




we're set up and cleared for cutting




templates for a 4 metre plus scalie




the ingenuity of an Englishman in his shed




let the cutting begin; in the subzero conditions it takes the hotwire
about 2 weeks to get up to temperature




 it's a serious business!





voila!




a wing is born!




let's celebrate with a little heat to the hands...




and a load more to the toilet area!


10 December 2012

hiatus

whatever happened to those long ago times of regular south westerlies?