I am new to the hobby. A number of colleagues fly RC control planes and infected me with the urge to fly as well. I used to build all sorts of stuff as a kid, balsa, plastic kits and also white-metal soldiers etc. It's all come rushing back...

There is a local club that I will join as soon as an official turns up at their field when I am there. My colleagues are pretty helpful as well but mostly relatively inexperienced. I'm building kits, I have little interest in ARF's. I am well set up with tools and the missus is a bit handycrafty herself so buying tools is not an issue when she thinks she can nick them for jewelry making or whatever.

I recently built and am learning to fly a Robbe Breeze unpowered glider (1,50m wingspan balsa, foil covered). This looks great, is very light and flies nicely enough. I have a Robbe Futaba FC 16 radio. The kit was a breeze to build too, except for the dihedrals on the four wing sections and the foil, but it all came out well in the end.

My second project is an Engel Telemaster 1,80 m wingspan trainer which is currently under construction. I have ordered the Engel accessory kit. I also bought an OS 46LA engine on advice from the hobby shop when it became obvious that I would need to know the mounting requirements.

I have thus far completed the stabilizer and tailplane and the wings are coming on nicely. The kit appears to be a bit wrong in that there is one too few small spar web pieces (part 58) and one too many large spar webs (part 59) but fortunately cutting down the one to the other is not a problem. I would appreciate it if somebody could clarify the dihedral as I am not sure I understand the (German) instructions correctly. Is it 10cm under one wing with the other flat on the bench?

I am going to shape the wings with a small hand plane, followed up with fine sandpaper on a Black and Decker Mouse sander (this worked great on the elevators and also for sanding the Breeze.

Talking to some chaps at the local club, both of whom had built the plane, they seemed to be of the opinion that the box claim that it had comfortable flying characteristics was true enough. And at least in comparison to the glider (but I suspect in comparison to most RC aircraft) it is VERY stoutly built.

I would appreciate any experiences with either aircraft including comments on the stuff in the Engel Telemaster accessory kit, and the OS 46 LA, with regards to a beginner. What do I need to start flying with a gas engine (electric starter etc).

Also, any plans or recommendations for a glider catapult.

Finally any thoughts on the Pre- Flite simulator which is downloading as I write.