RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
I also live in the UK and agree the weather has been poor.
I maidened mine on Sunday, had to put an 11x10 on due to noise restrictions at our site - I have a Jen 57 with CVEC tuned pipe.
Our strip is grass, about 50 metres long. It took a full run to get off the ground with elevator at the last minute.
I agree, the throws particularly on the ailerons were way too much. I've reduced these from 75% movement (that's the maximum throw according to the manual), 50% expo to 45% movement and 60% expo. Elevator and rudder I have left as per the manual.
I mounted my tank forwards and ran the tubes back over the tank. It appears to work but after 6 minutes of flying you can guarantee a dead stick. I might reverse the tank to point to the back and see. I did manage to pull the tube a bit too much when fueling and pulled it off the carb and flooded the inside of the fuselage.
I've also made the wings detachable, I put some captives in the wing and nylon bolts from the inside of the fuzz just before the 5/6mm rod that stops the wing moving. To help take the bolts out I glued some large washers in the bolts to turn easier.
My first landing was dead stick. I had to hop over a fellow flyer's plane who had just landed, everyone laughed.
Attempting a controlled landing I noticed the glide in was good but it comes in at speed, cutting the throttle on the approach might help a little. I did slip into the rough grass but all it did was bend the undercarriage. I suppose something has to give.
I might put an eight channel receiver in and program some flaps, it could help slow it down or at least bring it in slower without falling out of the sky. I have all 7 channels used:
ch1 - ailerons - on y lead
ch2 - elevator - left side
ch3 - throttle
ch4 - rudder - left side
ch5 - elevator - right side
ch6 - rudder - right side
ch7 - nose leg & receiver battery
It's useful to share experiences, a lot of information here is of use to people looking to do the same. It does help to get a successful first time flight and not black bin bag at the end of the day.
Jason