TOPIC: Profile Kits from TSP

Luke and I went flying recently on a cold, drizzly, but blessedly calm day. We flew the Iskra which Luke had modified with washout. It flew beautifully with a 320 mN TSP L-2:







Above: despite a slightly skewed launch, the Iskra recovers and makes a wonderful series of circles in the sky.

I shall ask Piotr to add the effect of washout to his instructions !

The model is now a pretty solid performer and the smoke trails the motor makes looks great! I managed to include some of the footage of this flight (with other TSP powered models) in a short video, which you can watch here (Thanks to Ruth for footage)

Luke has just finished one of the latest TSP profile kits, the Alpha Jet for L-1:







Luke says the kit went together very nicely , though the cutting out the decals was a 'bit tricky' and (in the heat we've had recently) they needed fixing in place.
I wasn't sure there was enough dihedral (see middle photo, note the ailerons have been raised 1.5 mm or so to give washout.) and it needed all the modelling clay included in the box to get it to balance in the right place (fortunately, Luke says, this is the same colour as the fuselage!). But it looks (to my eyes, but then as the original designer I'm biased) a very nice model indeed.

As to flying, once Luke had added the (recommended) thrust tab it flew without problems with a pre CE TSP L-1.

The Vintage Model Company has these in stock, but hurry, hurry whilst stocks last!

Thanks Roger,

I felt it needed more dihedral, but I built it with the recommended 5mm on each tip amd it seems to fly okay. I will get some video footage when time permits.

Just back from seeing the new Top Gun film....I want to build an F-18 now! Oh dear....

I look forward to future flying reports, both for the Alpha Jet and (one we haven't had yet) the Gripen.

As to 'Top Gun II' and the F-18, I already have an F-18 'in stock' , an impulse buy that is not at all my usual sort of model at all:



Above: I bought this moulded 'chuckie' some time ago after seeing Andre Bird's Rapier powered F-22 Raptor, a similar model from the same manufacturer) at old Warden in 2016:





Above: Andre Bird's F-22. It was powered by an L-3 mounted in its belly. The foam plastic was protected with foil, but you will notice it has melted somewhat!
I seem to remember Andre also had an F-18, with two Rapier L-2 motors mounted on top, but alas I cannot find a photo thereof.

As is the case with modern jets, the F-18 has quite a complex shape, difficult to render as a profile-type model. It is a great candidate for '3D' printing'. A skill, alas, I have not got. Fortunately, as shown above, a compromise is available: the all moulded toy F-18:





Above: this RTF F-18 has span of 32cm (a little over 12" ) and length 40 cm. In its bare state it weighs a tad under a not unreasonable 35g Even with the added weight of a bit of rubbing down, filling, paint and decals this F-18 will (a) look most attractive and (b) be of a size and weight suitable for a TSP L-2 HP (which have a bit more oomph than the old L-2 motors) mounted in a psuedo 'weapons pod.
I'm pleased to see this model is still available on eBay, see:

F-18 foamy

The adaptation of these sorts models to rocket power (I wonder if there is an F-35?) could be, if there is enough interest, the subject of a separate forum thread.

Nice looking bird the F/A-18 is