Telemaster 70 Build Thread

Hi all
I will be embarking on the build of a Telemaster 70 quite soon. As some will already know, the Telemaster is a fairly standard looking high wing trainer(ish) type design, originally penned by a German guy. I built one of these models from a kit ( Olympic Models) back in the early to mid 80's, and it flew extremely well indeed. Since then I have mislaid the plan, and wondered where I might obtain another copy. Outerzone to the rescue! On there I found no less than 4 or 5 different sizes of the model, including 2 variations of the 70 inch version. One with built up wings, the other with foam wings. My 80's original had foam wings. So, having downloaded the plan, I loaded it onto an SD card and a local print shop made me a full size copy (with a spare copy to boot!). I've had a rather nice set of foam wings produced at Billkits, who very kindly incorporated a slot for a dihedral brace, plus he supplied the ply brace. Bill also produced the lifting tailplane from foam/veneer too, as per the original. I have also now cut a good few lengths of 3/16 x 3/8 and 3/16 x 1/2 from which to build most of the rear fuselage. The front end of the fuselage is from 3/16 and 1/4 sheet, although some modifications will be needed here as I no longer use i.c. engines, being fully electric these days. I'm going to use an E Flite .46 motor and a 4 cell lipo pack, possibly of 4000mah, or perhaps a little more. Once the build commences, I will make a point of taking photos of some of the stages of construction, as I'm sure many modellers like to see an ongoing build. It won't be radical or original, but I'll do my best!

Hi Klipkopwildlife

What kit have you got exactly? I ask because I think several kit manufacturers have had a stab at the Telemaster in various sizes over the years. Mine was produced in the UK by someone calling themselves Olympic Models, but this is going back to the early to mid 80's. There were smaller 4 foot span variants, along with 8 foot and 12 foot versions in kit form. The Outerzone plans were for the smaller 4 foot one, the two 6 foot jobs ( one with bilt up wings, the other with foam wings). Outerzone also had the plan for the all built-up 8 foot version. Despite it's rather mundane, unassuming looks, the Telemaster was one of the nicest handling models I've ever flown. My 80's one had an Irvine 40, which flew it nicely.

Happy wife = happy life.......

Hi Klip
It's basically the 8 foot one you have by the look of it. The US Hobby Lobby kit. Although you could build it to be readily transportable - some of the larger Telemaster sizes have options to split the wing into two, or even three parts in the case of the 12 footer. But sadly Klip, there is no hope of a 3s 2200mah even dragging it along in the grass. That size would need a .60 size electric motor (which would turn a 17 inch prop easily) and it would need (I reckon) a minimum of 6 cells. Still a great model if you were able to go with it though. If you did perhaps think of parting with it, don't let it go too cheaply. These are a little sought after in certain circles..... I have the plan for the 8 footer, which I'll probably have a go at once I retire fully........assuming it fits in my Golf. You could still go with if you bought a suitable motor Klip. You could just use two 3s packs buttoned together to fly it.......but of course you'd also need an 80amp ESC.

Hi again Klip
Have no fear, a good .60 ie: not a worn out Merco or similar, will fly it ok. The 8 footer I test flew for another modeller 30 odd years ago had (as I recall) a Veco .61, which was more than enough. A 1.20 four stroke will fly it around on around a third throttle I'd say.... It is nice to have a surplus of power for drama free take - offs though.

Hi Klip
Engine noise is something I've learned to live without for a few years now. Living in a fairly rural location, I fly 100% electric just a few hundred yards from the nearest village, and any unnatural noise would very quickly be picked up and probably acted on. It's different if it's a farmer mowing his field, or someone trimming a hedge with a petrol trimmer, but any noise out of context soon get you noticed! I fly alone much of the time, although i am occasionally joined by a couple of friends whom I've known for a long time, one of whom is an LMA member. And it is the LMA I obtain my insurance and CAA registration from. I'm not a BMFA member. Nor am I much into clubs.

Noise has become the new pollution Klip........ There is way more noise sensitivity today than 30 or 40 years ago.