BLACKRIDGE & DISTRICT MODEL FLYING CLUB
CLUB NIGHT FEBRUARY 2003
The Blackridge Model Flying Club is fortunate to have as a Club Member Phil Clark who specialises in the construction and flying of large scale Military models. Phil is a member of the USAAF Model Display Team who arrange flying displays at the major model events throughout the U. K. The display team consist of 6 pilots and a ground crew (referred to by Phil as 'the girls'!). You can see the team perform their displays at the major model flying events such as Duxford, LongHorsley, Woodvale etc. If you want to find out more about the team check out their web site at www.usaaf.org
Phil has moved up from Cambridge (yes, we checked his passport and issued him with a haggis) to join his fiancee Kath who is presently studying to be a Doctor. Phil and Kath are now married and are staying in Armadale for now and we are pleased that they have both joined our Club. Unfortunately (for our Club) we may lose Phil and Kath as Members at some point as they pursue their careers south of the border but you never know, maybe the endless sunshine, long hot summers and balmy, calm evenings we have here in Scotland might tempt them to stay.
During the winter months our Club arranges Club nights and this year Phil agreed to do a presentation at our February Club night on the topic of large scale models.
Now large scale models must be a subject that holds a lot of interest amongst model flyers because we had an excellent turnout at this Club night of over 40 people. Not only local modellers turned up but we had visitors from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paisley, Dumbarton, West Calder etc and we were delighted that so many people travelled and turned up for the evening.
Phil kindly brought along some of his superb models and associated equipment such as engines, radio, batteries, servos etc to show us what is involved in the construction and flying of large scale models. The presentation covered all aspects of large scale modelling from the planning stages through LMA inspections, safety requirements, materials, construction, engine choice and finishing techniques. Phil used his models to good effect to illustrate what can be achieved and how it should be done.
Sometimes for model display events, large models are built and constructed to a standard consistent with safety requirements but are finished very simply just to look realistic during flight. Not so with Phil's models. These are finished to a very high standard, highly detailed and with fitted cockpits, scale undercarriages and weathered paint schemes. These are very impressive scale models.
During the presentation many people had questions for Phil and such was the interest that Phil was kept busy with queries during the coffee break (Phil never got his coffee).
So, a very successful Club evening for which we say thanks to Phil for speaking on the subject of large scale models and to Johnny Mackie, our Club Chairman who arranged for things to go smoothly on the night. Which they did as the pictures below will show.......
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| Custom made trailer provides transport as Phil arrives at our local Leisure Centre for the meeting. |
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| Phil offers a little prayer in the hope that all the bits fit together. |
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| The phrase 'blind leading the blind' springs to mind as our esteemed Chairman 'helps' Phil set things up. Think he's got one of his 'headaches' again. |
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| Things start to settle down as the meeting gets underway. Lots of interest from the audience in this topic. |
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| During the break visitors get a chance to see the models close up. |
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| Phil's superb Mustang attracted much interest and Phil was kept busy during the meeting with many questions. |
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| Two interested modellers pick Phil's brain on aspects of the Mustang. |
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| Phil explains some of his construction techniques and demonstrates how the B-26 Marauder fin and rudder are mounted in the fuselage. |
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| This picture shows the large size of the B-26 fuselage and the complex structure required to meet stringent safety inspections. |
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| Phil is an accomplished speaker and gave us a very professional and informative presentation on all aspects of Large scale modelling. |
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Phil
and Johnny look well pleased after the meeting, as they should.
Great stuff guys, thanks a lot. |
Specifications of models displayed at the Club night
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