International Indoor Fly In, Nijmegen, Holland - 11th - 12th November 2017 - Part 2
Before moving on to the kit scale, Peanut and Pistachio classes, I've really got to mention the catering arrangements for the weekend,
which greatly contributed to the enjoyment of the event. Lunches, including hot food, were provided on both days, and we were treated to a great banquet on Saturday night.
The food, all delicious, was prepared by the organisers and their families - in fact the whole event has a unique informal, friendly family feel to it.
Oh, and the sports hall even has a bar so you can enjoy a beer with your lunch if you like.
Kit scale had a healthy entry of 25 models, many of which can be seen on the table here, waiting their turn to be judged. To the right of my
Shark you can see the pink Spitfire and Sopwith Camel by Jonathan Markovitz, both built from Vintage Model Company kits.
I learned a lesson about the importance of having a tightly fitting nose plug with the big Blackburn Shark, as the first two flights were very left wing down
which killed the climb and lead to one-wheel landings with plenty of turns left in the motor. For flight three I tried a bit of tip weight on the right wing, but this just made the model fly straight after take off
and I was grateful for a catcher who saved it from damage. The tip weight was then removed! It was then that Richard Crossley noticed how loose my nose plug was, so much so that under motor
tension, the side thrust disappeared. Before the final flight I glued notepaper round the plug to give a tight fit, and added a small amount of extra noseweight, and the model was transformed.
Having the right thrust obviously has a big influence in keeping the nose up in the turn, resisting the left bank. The video below
from Firenpoyx1 shows the last flight, which was easily the Shark's best of the weekend.
Brave choice of subject by Robert Pajas was this Stinson Trimotor, which is an old Scientific design. Neat finishing using coloured tissue, as encouraged by the kit scale rules.
Graham Banham had his Heinkel He 100, built from the old Flyline design, going well, achieving the third highest flying score, also finishing
third overall. Behind you can see Peter Fardell's new Fairchild 24
built from the Guillows design. Peter got the second highest kit scale flying score.
Top in kit scale static was Jiri Dolezel with this Earl Stahl designed Rearwin Speedster, again kitted by Flyline. Jiri was fourth placed in static and finished overall second in class.
KIT SCALE COMPLETE RESULTS
Name
Country
Model Type
Static Score
Best two flight scores
Total
Position
Vlastimil Simek
CZ
Aerosport
80
176
256
1
Jiri Dolezel
CZ
Rearwin Speedster
80
169
249
2
Graham Banham
UK
Heinkel He 100
57.5
170
227.5
3
Derek Knight
UK
Piper Family Cruiser
65
160
225
4
Peter Fardell
UK
Fairchild 24
52.5
170
222.5
5
Mike Stuart
UK
Blackburn Shark
72.5
147
219.5
6
Peter Fardell
UK
SE5A
62.5
153
215.5
7
Chris Strachan
UK
Piper J-3 Cub
75
137
212
8
Jan-Willem Roest
NL
Sperry Messenger
57.5
154
211.5
9
Georg Tornkvist
SWE
Ganagobie
50
160
210
10
Andy Blackburn
UK
Cessna 140
62.5
145
207.5
11
Andy Blackburn
UK
Supermarine Spitfire
65
140
205
12
Robert Pajas
CZ
Stinson Trimotor
77.5
126
203.5
13
Chris Blanch
UK
Waco Coastguard
55
146
201
14
Doug Hunt
UK
Fiesler Storch
52.5
135
187.5
15
Vincent Merlijn
NL
D.H.Puss Moth
32.5
152
184.5
16
Martin Lambert
DE
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
37.5
139
176.5
17
Jonathan Markovitz
UK
Supermarine Spitfire
42.5
131
173.5
18
Vincent Merlijn
NL
Mig 3
30
114
144
19
Jonathan Markovitz
UK
Sopwith Camel
77.5
58
135.5
20
Roman Groener
CH
Travel Air Mystery Ship
72.5
61
133.5
21
Winfried Huguenin
NL
Cessna Bird Dog
27.5
106
133.5
21
Bill Dennis
UK
Fairchild 24
57.5
65
122.5
23
Doug Hunt
UK
Fokker D.VII
60
61
121
24
Jan-Willem Roest
NL
Cosmic Wind
-
150
150
-
Peanut scale (F4F) was extremely competitive with 35 entries, including some absolutely stunning models. With such a large field I was very
happy to finish 6th in the overal rankings (and top non-Czech), which became 4th place once the second models had been removed from the rankings. I opened up the turn of the Ripon
a bit, which meant adding a touch more noseweight, but the larger circuits seemed to help the duration. Best time I managed was 44 seconds plus the 10 second
bonus for a take-off. I think that's about the limit for the model with the weight it is - I was winding right near the maximum to get 1600 turns and blew the motor on Sunday afternoon, fortunately without
serious damage.
Just have a look at this amazing Albatros W.4 by Tonda Alfery which topped the static scores
by a huge margin. It also flew for 59 seconds, and despite this only finished third overall. Tonda didn't even get to take
a trophy home for it either because he won the class with the model below,
and only the highest scoring model counts for the placings.
This beautiful Spitfire LF.Mk. XIe was the winning model, which came second in static and third in flying (best flight was 69 seconds). It's
a foamie of course.
Separating Tonda's two models was Ondrej Krucky with this Jodel D.9 Bebe. This model came third in static and second in flying - best time was an impressive 77 seconds.
Ondrej's second model was this immaculate Howard DGA-15.
Jiri Dolezel had two models in the top five, the highest placed of which was this gorgeous Latecoere 28.3 floatplane.
George Kandylakis entered this charming Vendome Monoplane - love those enormous spoked wheels!
Martin Huk was flying this nicely weathered Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar which finished 5th overall.
This attractive Fokker F.II by Wout Moerman was winner of the Dutch championship - a competition within the competition.
Michal Krepelka had two models entered, fiirstly this fine flying Dewoitine D.7 (best time 68 seconds).
His second entry was a Miles Sparrowhawk - I don't think I've ever seen one finished in RAF camouflage before.
I loved the finish and subtle weathering on Martin Huk's Republic P-47.
Fourth in static was this Gerner & Koch G.1 by Lars Tolkstam (no, I hadn't heard of it either!)
PEANUT SCALE (F4F) COMPLETE RESULTS
Name
Country
Model Type
Static score
Static place
Best two flights (sec)
Flying place
Total
Overall place
Tonda Alfery
CZ
Supermarine Spitfire LF.Mk.XIe
115
2
136
3
5
1
Ondrej Krucky
CZ
Jodel D.9 Bebe
106
3
153
2
5
2
Tonda Alfery
CZ
Albatros W.4
152
1
117
7
8
3
Jiri Dolezel
CZ
Latecoere 28.3
93
8
115
8
16
4
Jiri Dolezel
CZ
Bell P-39 Airacobra
94
7
110
11
19
5
Mike Stuart
UK
Blackburn Ripon
101
5
103
14
19
6
Martin Huk
CZ
Nakajima Ki 43
92
10
113
9
19
7
Jacques Cartigny
FRA
Morane-Saulnier 1500
88
13
122
6
19
8
Wout Moerman
NL
Fokker F.II
81
21
124
5
26
9
Jacques Cartigny
FRA
Loire Nieuport LN.411
90
11
94
16
27
10
Robert Pajas
CZ
Aero A-35
87
14
107
13
27
11
Lars Tolkstam
SWE
Gerner & Koch G1
105
4
71
24
28
12
Michal Krepelka
CZ
Dewoitine D.7
73
24
132
4
28
13
Michal Krepelka
CZ
Miles M7 Sparrowhawk
89
12
91
17
29
14
Ondrej Krucky
CZ
Howard DGA-15
83
18
108
12
30
15
Chris Strachan
UK
Beardmore Wee Bee
56
32
166
1
33
16
George Kandylakis
GR
Vendome Monoplane
85
17
82
19
36
17
Chris Blanch
UK
Bowers Fly Baby 1A
100
6
30
32
38
18
Tapio Linkosalo
FIN
Pik-18
60
30
111
10
40
19
Jonathan Markovitz
UK
Andreasson BA-4B
71
26
97
15
41
20
Vincent Merlijn
NL
Macchi M.67
87
14
48
29
43
21
Roman Groener
CH
Bowers Fly Baby 1A
74
23
79
21
44
22
J.C.Bourdeaudhui
FRA
Jodel D.9 Bebe
80
22
77
23
45
23
Martin Huk
CZ
Republic P-47N
87
14
4
33
47
24
Tim Horne
UK
Wingwax
66
28
82
19
47
25
Luis Bautista
NL
Tipsy S.2
83
18
35
31
49
26
Andy Blackburn
UK
Andreasson BA-4B
66
28
79
21
49
27
J.C.Bourdeaudhui
FRA
Farman 451
55
34
88
18
52
28
Andrea Hartstein
SWE
Sommer Type F Monoplane
73
24
39
30
54
29
Bryan Stichbury
UK
Andreasson BA-4B
66.5
27
60
27
54
30
Martin Lambert
DE
Druine Turbulent
56
32
71
24
56
31
Doug Hunt
UK
Thomas Morse Scout
59
31
63
26
57
32
Vincent Merlijn
NL
Chambermaid
38
35
54
28
63
33
Tom Callant
BE
Sopwith Triplane
93
8
-
-
-
-
Andrea Hartstein
SWE
Lacey M-10
82
20
-
-
-
-
With 17 entries, Pistachio Scale clearly remains popular in Europe, despite the challenge of getting such tiny models to fly properly.
My newly completed Mr Mulligan was the expected disaster, and I couldn't get it to fly at all. In the end I didn't even submit it for scale judging.
That really is it now - never again will I attempt a Pistacahio - if anybody spots me trying again, please stop me!
The class was won by Tonda Alfery with a Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe, and he also came third with a Chance-Vought Corsair. Sadly I managed to
not take a photo of either of those, but here is Lars Tolkstam's second placed Udet Flamingo. It's best fight was an impressive 57 seconds.
Lovely airbrush work evident in this Aviatik D.II by Martin Huk. Model finished top in static and fourth overall.
Behind you can see Martin's second entry, an extremely modified racing Bell P-63 Kingcobra.
Wout Moerman placed fifth with this Koolhoven FK.46.
Highest place Brit was Chris Blanch with this colourful Bowers Fly Baby 1A.
Best flight score was achieved by Georg Tornkvist with this lightweight Ganagobie.
PISTACHIO SCALE COMPLETE RESULTS
Name
Country
Model Type
Static score
Static place
Best two flights (sec)
Flying place
Total
Overall place
Tonda Alfery
CZ
Supermarine Spitfire LF.Mk.XIVe
62
2
91
5
7
1
Lars Tolkstam
SWE
Udet Flamingo
59
3
112
4
7
2
Tonda Alfery
CZ
Chance Vought Kingfisher
57
4
121
3
7
3
Martin Huk
CZ
Aviatik D.II
67
1
45
11
12
4
Wout Moerman
NL
Koolhoven F.K.46
52
5
80
7
12
5
Chris Blanch
UK
Bowers Fly Baby 1A
49
8
87
6
14
6
Georg Tornkvist
SWE
Ganagobie
33
13
137
1
14
7
Ondrej Krucky
CZ
Fike Model E
32
14
127
2
16
8
Tim Horne
UK
Waco SRE
46
9
57
8
17
9
Martin Huk
CZ
Bell P-63 Racer
50
6
28
13
19
10
David Prior
UK
Bede BD 4
38
11
55
9
20
11
Bryan Stichbury
UK
Andreasson BA-4B
46
9
44
12
21
12
Chris Strachan
UK
Wittman Buster
38
11
28
13
24
13
Jacques Cartigny
FRA
Chance Vought Corsair
32
14
54
10
24
14
Jacques Cartigny
FRA
Supermarine Spitfire XIV
50
6
-
-
-
-
J.C.Bourdeaudhui
FRA
Pottier 100
31
16
-
-
-
-
J.C.Bourdeaudhui
FRA
Caudron Type N
21
17
-
-
-
-
A low key scale glider event was held on Sunday with no static judging, just the flights being scored. Winner was
Vincent Merlijn with a Nimbus 3 - the white glider at the front of this group. It must have been extremely light as it
floated around very realistically and stayed up significantly longer than its rivals. Peter Fardell was second with
his Lilienthal (at back of group) and Peter Smart came third with his Slingsby Falke (the white and brown glider)
A few final comments to round things off. All credit to Bernard Bruins and his team for organising such an excellent event which
ran extremely smoothly. If there were any glitches or behind the scenes issues, I didn't notice any - in fact it was amazing how
relaxed Bernard looked over the weekend! I enjoyed having the chance to fly in such an excellent hall for three days and it was a great chance to meet and chat with
fellow modellers from all over Europe. The excellent food and refreshments provided were the icing on the cake.
I did feel rather sorry for the judges though, especially those judging the open classes - with the amount of entries this year they were
working flat out for the whole of both days. One possible solution for next year to ease the burden would be to maybe stop allowing second entries in the
most popular classes?
I strongly suspect this will not be my last visit to this event, but next time I'm going to make sure I have somebody to take with me to share the
not inconsiderable cost of the Harwich to Hook of Holland car ferry!
