[silkstone]

... is model helicopters - especially the spares and replacements when you crash them.

This is a Walkera 4#3 which has a rotor span of just 200mm and is about the smallest 4-channel RC helicopter available right now. It's also an absolute b****** to fly.

[simpbow]

Can well believe that Silky, looks a nice job though, what speed does it go?

[silkstone]

It will crash at any speed.

The idea is first to master hovering before you try to fly anywhere. I'm just about getting the knack of that with this little beast, but it's inclined to dart off in a random direction if anyone breathes in its direction. So right at the moment the idea is *not* to go fast.

I have a larger heli - a Twister Bell 47 which is a contra-rotating rotor design, and that is larger (330mm rotor span) and a million percent more stable. I still managed to fly it into the apple tree the other day.

[Chris H]

what speed does it go?

It does One Apple tree to the rotor blades

[simpbow]

Your going well.you don't want to many crashes it'll be a bit sore on the back pocket.

[silkstone]

One apple tree to the rotor blades *and* the lower hub which sheared. Oh, and the tail frame which needed a bit of superglue. George Washington never had this problem.

The thing is... you then spend hours taking the thing apart and trying to reassemble it in the right order, and the parts are incredibly tiny. Flight time: 3 minutes. Repair time: 3 hours. I don't think I'll go commercial with this.