Oooh Lovely - I do like Black Magic

[Wavemeter]

A box of Black Magic
Lovely to see a box of little sticks again. Not gazed upon a bix of my own for so long. Found this smashing untouched Flair Kit on FB marketplace
Destined for Tiny Six Reed Tx and Os Proportional
And yes I will finish it in Black

[Wavemeter]

Weather been terrible lately and what with that thoughts turn to hearth and home. I’m so lucky to have a lovely girlfriend who like me is always making stuff of some sort or another. So up in the attic we have created a little craft den. Jo is whizzing up a dress with her sewing machine and me getting the Fred Hempsall Black Magic kit underway.

So far I have one wing taking shape. I have read a few build threads but really liking what Eric Leadley did with his. He made the U/C detachable likewise the tailplane (by making it all moving) and joined the wings in a similar manner to the original so they can be taken apart. It then will collapse down for very easy transport ( I’m thinking a box akin to Sigma glider)

I have several radios that could be used with it. Most likely candidate is a mk1 OS Cougar. But I’m also restoring a Macgregor valve tx and rx
- spoilt for choice!

I do love ‘stooges’ easy to fly and putt around the sky with . I’m sure this model will be all of that and more .

So I’m going to bore you all with intermittent updates as the build progresses

[Twitcher]

Hey there - what's with the bowl of porridge/porage (select preferred spelling)? Is it a secret, alternative adhesive or what?

David

[Wavemeter]

Yes that’s special Soup lightening agent. Liberally applied the model gets lighter and the pilot heavier

[Wavemeter]

This evening I mostly bin using Chunky Salsa Aliphatic glue. And in the available 10mins salsa’d the balsa TE to the ribs.Building in 1/4’’ washout at rib 10

[stuart mackay]

Grapping Doritos and Salsa dip for this solarbo and sauce fest

[Wavemeter]

Coming on slowly ....and following the footsteps of Eric Leadley by making the wing halves come in two for transport. Likewise going for an all moving derigible tailplane more akin to the original design by Fred Hempsall.
I will also be building in the side hatch for access to the radio bay and of course the flight battery too. The original was free flight. Then modified for Radio with a valve receiver and rubber driven escapement. The escapement having its own serving hatch in the top of the fuselage toward the tail

[Wavemeter]

It’s been a while but the Colditz Cock aka my Black magic has got itself out of my girlfriend’s attic and is now in pole position on my kitchen table . Covering done but several jobs left to do - daughters wedding on the 10th July so with luck the end of July will see the Black Magic airborne

[Shaun]

A box of Black Magic
Lovely to see a box of little sticks again. Not gazed upon a bix of my own for so long. Found this smashing untouched Flair Kit on FB marketplace
Destined for Tiny Six Reed Tx and Os Proportional
And yes I will finish it in Black

Looking great but don't forget all black planes are a pig to orientate at any distance or in less than perfect weather. I would add some strategically placed white or yellow to help.

Shaun

[Wavemeter]

Hi Shaun

Totally agree - I have a Balsacraft Bearcat that’s navy all over and I get in a real muddle with that and had to rebuild it twice - mind you it’s very fast !

The Black Magic is getting there now and I have varied the scheme a little by making it all blue on the underside and blue and black on the top side