Flight trimming my Gipsy old time Wakefield rubber powered airplane!

Buy the Gipsy here: www.ripmax.com/...
Superior Props: volareproducts...
Gipsy Build, Part 1: • Ripmax Gipsy Wakefield...
Gipsy Build, Part 2: • Ripmax Gipsy Wakefield...
Carving a propeller: • How to carve an amazin...
Braiding rubber motors: • Braiding rubber motors...
Installing a dethermalizer: • Installing a dethermal...
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[@randall4411]

What a beauty ! I'd have to add RC that thing has a mind to travel .

[@johnroberts3723]

Lovely model and it flies great!.

[@hrt3418]

When I was in high school a friend built a replica of the 1939 Wakefield winner. We flew it in a large field. I notice that you braid the rubber to prevent sagging and changing the CG when it runs down. We would put 1000 winds in and used 90' of rubber. It brings back great memories. Not many people know what the Wakefield contest was anymore.

[@joshuawfinn]

Very cool. Elsewhere on this channel I've got a video of my own 1939 Korda Wakefield. Nice flying airplane with an interesting history. Wakefield still exists, albeit under different rules and almost absurd design complexity. Alex Andriukov has won it more times than any of us care to mention. My collection now includes Wakefields from at least half of the rules formulas.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

I've included an incidence angle adjustment on wings but it never occurred to me to do it on the tail. I must keep that in mind. Nice build!

[@joshuawfinn]

There are a lot of cool tricks out there. :)

[@demetriodelgadillo1629]

I have followed the gypsy build and wow that got out of sight quick .I coach high school football here in Vermont so this will be my winter project I get a small check and will use some of it on the plane

[@joshuawfinn]

Awesome! It's a great airplane.

[@riazhassan6570]

Lucky you that you can buy it. We used to call such machines slabsiders. The flat, vertical walls of the fuselage had some ruddering effect, or so went the theory. Most designs of this period followed this high-wing, cabin set-up. As a youngster (hundreds of years ago) a British friend brought me one Gypsy kit from England. My country is hot, balsa was virtually unknown, rubber rotted away in no time, dope was unavailable, glues had to be adapted from local offerings. I greatly enjoy your series as they help to revive old memories

[@joshuawfinn]

@@riazhassan6570 where are you located? It's possible that we could get some wood sent to you.

[@riazhassan6570]

Thanks, Joshua. I’m a Pakistani, past my model-building days. My pleasure lies in watching young enthusiasts like you maintaining, reviving and improving activities that gave people of my generation much fulfilment (and plenty of trouble also)

[@hanziwatdan5373]

Nice, wanna do like this ,simple,Just a flght

[@mikestinyshedofdreams]

Brilliant, had one when I was a kid, my dad reenforced the fuselage and fitted a really big rubber band made of inner tubes, it would fly around for about 5 mins on a good day, one time it flew away and we never saw it again.

[@kenkingsflyingmachines2382]

Well, I can build a heavy airplane, I just can't make it fly like that! I only discovered Keil Kraft designs a couple years ago and am completely in love with them. Congratulations on a fabulous plane. And that prop...OMG

[@None-zc5vg]

There used to be a Wakefield* Trophy for rubber-powered models, back in the '50s. Some of the designs had ended up in plan catalogues that I owned. * sponsored by a motor-oil comoany?

[@joshuawfinn]

Wakefield is still a thing, and you're correct about the oil company association in that Lord Wakefield was the founder of Castrol. The rules changed dramatically in the 1950s so that in 1950 the Gipsy would have been relatively competitive, and by 1958 no longer even legal for Wakefield competition. The top models were unrecognizable as being related to their predecessors following each rules change. Kinda sad really because at the end of the day it was nothing but the usual FAI meddling to make the planes into something some European country wanted, and we've been dealing with those policies ever since. Very seldom do countries outside eastern Europe exert a substantial influence over the rules.

[@pedicaboyou6778]

What a beautiful airplane! I had 2 of these many years ago, you bought back my aeromodeling memories...

[@johnnydavidauthor]

Very relaxing video - blessings; johnny :-)

[@smabass2913]

The TOO CLOSE trees make me nervous! Nice Plane, love the prop!

[@MouseSquadron]

That was very impressive. You really can see climb performance on the lastflight. I have an old kit for a gipsy (not the new laser cut version), but I have absolutely nowhere to fly such an animal! I would prefer not to fit r/c in such a model but in an ideal world it would have some sort of "return to home" function like on some drones. Maybe that may be available at some stage in the future. Hope you retrieved it, OK. Isn't that what the 2 fetchermites should be doing for you!

[@joshuawfinn]

Had to climb a fence so they weren't part of the chase. I know that field like the back of my hand so finding the plane wasn't difficult, plus my spotter saw exactly where it landed. Single channel RC is a great option for small fields, and a lot of guys use radio dethermalizer to spot land their planes both in testing and contest flying.

[@stevetillson3268]

Let me refer you to the “maxfliart” channel so you can learn. Now that’s a free flight rubber channel!: beautifully constructed airplanes, gorgeous videography, excellent editing and the best part, he’s all about the aircraft- not himself. Watch, learn, change.

[@joshuawfinn]

Let me refer you to his wallet, which is fatter than mine. If you like his fancy equipment, watch his channel. This channel is focused on sharing knowledge because that's what I can afford. Tom is rich so he has fancy tools an he produces art. Ask yourself which channel people are learning from.

[@stevetillson3268]

joshuawfinn His.

[@joshuawfinn]

@@stevetillson3268 his what?

[@PDZ1122]

AHHHH - Keil Kraft Gypsy!! I'm back when I was 8!

[@EnglishTurbines]

Nice work, I remember that model as a boy..Keil Kraft factory was not too far from me, about 50 odd miles...I'd have electric and some micro radio in it if it was mine though...Well done...from the UK.

[@ezonigs3107]

I love the way your face lit up after the elevator adjustment. Priceless.

[@seanbailes4136]

My first ever model. First trim flight, smashed the prop. Converted it to a glider , then installed a small diesels the engine! HAD to chase it for many miles. Ended up in the church yard I got married in.

[@joshuawfinn]

Ok now that's a cool story.

[@tonywright8294]

If you want to fit rc , you’re watching the wrong video ! It’s called FREE FLIGHT for a reason .Built one about 30 years ago ,time to build another 😀

[@davidfranklin5270]

A lot of OT rubber powered FF have been equipped with rudder only RC.

[@joshuawfinn]

There's room for both. Unfortunately it's hard to find a suitable field for these birds around here.

[@angelreading5098]

@@davidfranklin5270 Yes and if it means saving your precious bird then well worth it to have peace of mind to get it back again safely,in these days of very few suitable flying fields and most of us are leg weary and older model flyers anyway you still see the joy of a vintage model climbing for the stars so lets not get free flight snobbery get in the way of practical responsible operating in these difficult times,nothing wrong with FREE FLIGHT radio assist with a micro set up you can hardly see anyway,lovely build and tutorial Josh many happy hours with your Gipsy.

[@Channel-os4uk]

A woman that likes (tolerates) men who fly rubber-powered model aeroplanes? I think I'm in love..

[@petergorm]

That was some amazing flights. Great video and great plane.

[@dalecomer5951]

Built a hand-launched glider in h.s. which worked incredibly well. Unfortunately, a neighborhood dog thought it was Frisbie time and that was the end of that.

[@joshuawfinn]

Build another one. :) balsa gliders are pure magic.

[@awood12345]

Wow, that flew brilliantly. Good luck finding it!

[@joshuawfinn]

Fortunately it was an easy retrieve. My spotter saw exactly where it landed.

[@MasboyRC]

It's classic and really awesome. Lovd it 👍

[@BillyG869]

Josh, do you ever work from old original plans?

[@joshuawfinn]

Well, copies of originals at least. Nowadays I usually redraw the plans in CAD so that I have parts files to endlessly reproduce should anyone else want them. Oldest two designs in my stable are the 1928 or 29 Mott twin pusher and the PEG 54 of similar vintage. Also have a 1933 Clearfield ROG, used to have a 1932 Gordon Light winner, and of course always have to have at least one Gordon Light Zephyr in the stable. If that's not enough, I just recently created plans for an unpublished late 70's Mulvihill that had been in the estate of one of our club members, and I've got several unpublished George Perryman planes waiting their turn to be drafted and published, plus Jim Walston's AMA power models, also all unpublished.

[@davidfranklin5270]

Kewl!

[@jamesbonde4470]

I just love the whole aspect of trimming and going the wrong way and then overcompensating and THEN, nailing it. for a smooth flight. Your cameraperson sounds like you got lucky. She did too. My sweet lady tolerated my passion and that being, I loved her even more for it.

[@sniffer36]

Love the video very envious.i am looking for some assistance.Am flying a Vernon Sentinel,the problem I have is the rubber breaking after about 6 flights it has broken either at the propellor end or the peg end. I don't believe I am overwinding.It is braided and oiled.any suggestions would be appreciated.

[@joshuawfinn]

What kind of oil? If you're winding fairly hard, most rubber batches do tend to let go after 5-6 flights.

[@youknoweverything7643]

Ingot three of those 1 that is a electric capacitor powered with a small battery to run servos for elevator and rudder has so much dihedral it rolls and yaws like a alieron plane. I got one that is rubber powered with servos that flies for a good 6 minutes and flies bye it's self with out servos and a electric conversion one with a brushless motor alierons rudder elevator and hardly any dihedral and moved the wings to the middle of fuse near bottom for doing some acrobatics it's beafed up. And that's why I got servos on all mine so I can bring the rubber power one back if it goes straight and out of sight far away into a tree

[@joshuawfinn]

It's a very versatile airplane!

[@stanburdick9708]

surprised the nice prop didnt break on that test glide...........yikes!!!!!

[@gerry5134]

a few times there I thought it was going to fly away ! 😳 When I was a young teen I wanted one of these but ended up with a Glider. In the UK it' was called the keil kraft Gypsy and I see they are still available . Might buy one 😁

[@joshuawfinn]

You definitely need to get one. I wanted one as a kid too and was so happy to finally have one!

[@bjornjohansson4911]

The lift is magic. Straight up! That prop and motor speaks. I have a Korda Victory with a "rudder-only"- RC instead of DT, what offers small field possibilities. Those birds are real fliers. Love from Sweden.

[@richiebricker]

Wow, Ive built a couple of balsa rubber powered biplanes but ive never seen anything like that, It took off vertically. How high does she fly?

[@joshuawfinn]

What you saw in the video was maybe a 200' climb. I've got it on good authority that standard power for competition was 50% more, and on a longer motor, so you could expect 400-500' in proper trim at full winds.

[@riazhassan6570]

joshuawfinn k

[@spektrum33]

Memories of my childhood 😍

[@spektrum33]

For me it was the Ajax ,Achilles, competitor . From the Kiel kraft range ..that’s early 70s 😳

[@davecooper5951]

Lightweight radio control - rudder maybe ?

[@olphartcoastie8719]

Hi, Hope and Josh! Very nice aircraft. I can't figure out how to order from the link. There doesn't seem to be dealers here in the US.

[@joshuawfinn]

Retro RC carries part of the Keil Kraft line, but not the Gipsy. Most of us are ordering from Vintage Model Company. They have pretty reasonable prices even with the gbp-usd conversion rate.

[@olphartcoastie8719]

@@joshuawfinn Thank you, Josh!

[@samuelcruz9258]

Great fly . Is like a glass of water. More you swed , beter it taste .

[@Glicksman1]

Josh, I respect your building, trimming, etc. to the max. However, these vids prove why R/C assist is not an option. I'll be building a 55" Wakefield this winter (and pestering you all the way through) and you can be certain that it'll have R/C gear in it. Cheers, mate.

[@joshuawfinn]

The problem with rc is you never get that aspect of trimming the plane to fly itself. I have lots of RC stuff, never as rewarding as making the plane fly on its own. Radio dethermalizer is pretty sweet for keeping them out of trouble. Of course if you aren't within driving distance of a decent field, do what you have to do.

[@Glicksman1]

@@joshuawfinn I fully understand and agree with what you are saying. Of course, you could trim the airplane without any R/C input until it flies well, only using rudder control to keep it over the field. As I have mentioned before, there is no sufficiently large field nearby for true FF, so R/C assist is necessary.

[@hobbyrob313]

Why not place a small RC controller instead of weight/lead? You can then decide where you will land (so no longer in the tree!) Regards! Rob

[@stanburdick9708]

will never understand why you fly around all those airplane magnets 'prolly the same reason i fly around corn fields😎

[@joshuawfinn]

Oof...cornfields...I went in the corn twice this year at Muncie. I hate that stuff. Fortunately got the planes back but that was a nasty experience, though not as bad as my wet cornfield adventure last year!

[@charleswhite7134]

What is a "de-thermalizer" Thanks in advance :-)

[@phil5460]

Charles White, hi, it will at a set time lift the tailplaine, so as to bring you plane back to earth. Some planes use, say small cocktail sticks on the rear end of the fuselage and the tail with a small rubber band and a fuse between them, when it's burnt out and snaps the rubber band the tail pops up bringing your plane back to earth. I've used both types, great fun.

[@logotrikes]

Keil Kraft. Brings back memories of when I was a lad, my old dad building these on the kitchen table, talking early 50's. No RC in those days, at least not available to us. Rubber band and gliders all the way...

[@alfredlebeau3137]

I see in thi time have a good gus curren an termic current mavy javen a rc canp haven a good flight

[@c4studio748]

I really like this channel. I'm Thai, but I like rubber powered planes.

[@MORCOPOLO0817]

You should make it radio assist.

[@markpedwell1250]

Wonderful, I couldn't get mine to do over a minute. Trimming is a dark art perhaps I should forget about thr rc stuff and build another.

[@joshuawfinn]

Set your CG per plans, remove any warps from the wing, shim stab to adjust glide, then use nose block shims to adjust power pattern.

[@markpedwell1250]

@@joshuawfinn thanks for replying your the man . Nothing worth while is easy. England is such a small overcrowded place difficult for free flight but not impossible! .An old friend who owned a model shop refused to sell an ic powered model to anyone who hadn't flown rubber and whent out of business But I think he was right.

[@joshuawfinn]

@@markpedwell1250 I need a sign that says "we choose to do things not because they are easy but because we didn't think they would be hard". But yeah, tough learning curve and well worth it. It's sad how few in the RC community have ever learned proper flight trim. Hopefully we're changing that for at least a few of them.

[@brianamato1078]

my gosh that's beautiful !!

[@gator1984atcomcast]

Really need wheels?

[@joshuawfinn]

It looks pretty crappy without them. Besides, if you fly it in competition, you have to have them and use them.

[@worldclassish]

Cool flyers man. I can see how you could loose sight of it. But so fun to watch them fly in their own. Sweet flying.

[@zdeněkmichalec]

how long and thick rubber are you using and how many revolutions

[@joshuawfinn]

12 loops of 1/8" rubber. I don't recall turns count but probably 700-800.

[@grahamherbert3612]

I built a Keilkraft Gypsy in 1976. After some good flights. I lost her on thermals over the Berkshire Downs in the UK. The gained altitude was incredible, it was such a great flight, I didn't even feel so sad watching her go out of sight and towards the next County. I also built the 'Halo' with dt, and the 'Invader', which we used to 'tow up' from a bicycle. . .

[@joshuawfinn]

Those are all great models!

[@ba55man1000]

Just found your channel ,my Dad built a Gypsy for my 7th Birthday in 1963 ,it was dark blue tissue fuselage with white wings and tail plane , I remember him having to carve the propeller from a single lump of balsa supplied in the kit no plastic prop in those days, we used to fly it in Sutton Park , Birmingham UK , it's first flight outing was a mixture of success and tearful disaster ,a couple of short successful flights followed by a longer flight culminating in the plane hitting the only boulder in the park and the nose section crumpling quite badly , seven year old me was devastated , but dad rebuilt the front end using sheet balsa over the renewed framework ,this worked great ,next couple of flights were ok ,last flight we were winding up the prop and the back peg snapped the rubber unwound as it shot toward the front destroying the tissue and a fair few fuselage parts ,it was pretty spectacular ,I see you have an alloy tube to secure your motor ,back then it was only a Ramin or bamboo peg from memory , clearly not up to being overwound . The plane got rebuilt again but never really flew that much ,it was stored at dads for years ,I think it was only chucked out during that time ,it is his 90th birthday next week I will show him your video series on the gypsy , he'll be really interested.

[@joshuawfinn]

That's an awesome story! The Senator and Gipsy are among the most widely produced kits ever and had a marvelous success rate.

[@GurpreetSingh-eu7mr]

Thanks for teaching how to trim but i like more ur newcommers poilets holding plane

[@toonverbruggen7351]

Amazing stuff Josh! Mines never get more than 2 m up on hand winds... You should take a look at my channel. Btw, I'm still waiting for the spruce goose!

[@joshuawfinn]

Subbed. Goose is coming. Mildly delayed by another project, but it's coming.

[@stanburdick9708]

how did you get such a high altitude after launch? is that a stab thing??

[@joshuawfinn]

Raw power ;)

[@carlhanson7761]

Wow that is one beautiful flying puppy 😊 thanks for sharing

[@jackjuhasz533]

what a beauty ! great flight 😀

[@mattnsim]

Can’t beat the old timer nostalgia josh. Great video

[@joshuawfinn]

It's a classic!

[@riazhassan6570]

Anyone have a flyaway on two hundred turns, still testing? I did, not exactly a ‘fly’ away, more like a whirlaway on sudden gusts, tumbling around helplessly as it disappeared

[@joshuawfinn]

@@riazhassan6570 my wife had a flight in Denver two weeks ago that spent almost as much time upside down as right site up. They have unbelievable thermals out there! Her plane landed 3/4 of a mile downwind, and that was with the DT popping promptly at 2 minutes.

[@androidtv989]

You should try Google adsense so you can get money every time you upload

[@qiangqiangpan2362]

god cool!!

[@1953PE]

I have just built one of these and was wondering how many turns I should give it (this has the original elastic motor in it)

[@joshuawfinn]

The motor I used (24 strands of 1/8" Supersport, 40" long) will take about 900 turns if stretched out well while winding. A better motor for the plastic prop would be 16 strands, 40" long, good for probably 1200 turns. If you're using the kit rubber, don't go much past 400 turns, and make sure to lubricate the rubber with a silicone oil such as Molykote 33 (don't use WD-40, Vaseline, or anything petroleum based as it literally dissolves the rubber).

[@1953PE]

@@joshuawfinn Many thanks for you quick reply. would vegetable Glycerine be OK as a lube?

[@joshuawfinn]

Yes glycerine can be made to work well.

[@1953PE]

@@joshuawfinn Ta

[@thomasryan5394]

You don't see many vintage Wakes with a V dihedral. Stout Trophy Winner comes to mind

[@joshuawfinn]

Sure does fly good. I actually sell a short kit for one with V dihedral. Pretty obscure design called Le Da-U. Flies phenomenally well.

[@BlabberizeYT]

Thumbs up to whomever did your camera work!

[@jo2394]

"I'm impatient." lol

[@MsScoooper]

Way-Outstanding!! as usual you done WoWeD me again,,, :-)

[@stevetillson3268]

Again, editing? Sky dot...got zoom?

[@joshuawfinn]

Have you ever tried filming one of these? Forget the viewfinder, it's useless. Point and pray.

[@sandfac3427]

Sorry if I missed this from another video, but do you have thoughts on tubing over the prop shaft to stop rubber/crocket hook vibrations? I’ve seen it done before and might give it a shot on my Gollywock

[@joshuawfinn]

Good question. Unfortunately I don't know the answer. Hopefully I'll get some help on it in September when we go to the Denver meet. My Moffett has been completely dogged with vibration issues associated with that high rpm prop.

[@sandfac3427]

@@joshuawfinn Hope you figure it out! I have some family in Denver -- would love to make it out there sometime with a big OT ship.

[@joshuawfinn]

@@sandfac3427 you've got to make it out there sometime. That field is something like 36k acres. Largest FF field in the world as I understand it. Get a short kit from Jim O'Reilly for the Tubesteak. 300 sq in of awesomeness. I believe he has Bob White's Super Twin Fin as well. I'm currently selling short kits for a Moffett and Mulvihill, too, and planning to add some more soon like Perryman's Great Speckled Bird and Kluge (almost 8 ft long!).

[@jimbo2629]

Sandfac. The solution is to use a Tim White hook on the rubber coupled to a reverse S on the prop shaft with a tubing sleeve.

[@gowdsake7103]

Aerospace ? UMMM

[@jimbo2629]

Great video. Life would be easier with a blast tube,radio dt and a tracker, preferably gps! ☺️. Just like they had in the 1940s.There is so much rubber in an 8 oz Wakefield!

[@joshuawfinn]

Yeah I seldom get situations where I can even make use of any of those other than rdt these days. Gotta fix that though...going to Denver in September and will need all 3.

[@jimbo2629]

I have a Pyxis gps system. Forget ordinary trackers. You just go straight to the model. Accurate to within about two feet. Pays for itself in wasted time and lost models and you can retrieve without having to walk in a straight line. Same for rdt. If it’s going to crash, rdt it. Keep up the videos👍

[@timhooper8617]

Hi! My own Gipsy is just about ready to fly - also on a 17x20 balsa prop. Can you tell me how much rubber you've got in there, please?

[@joshuawfinn]

Currently 24 strands of 1/8, 1.2x the hook to peg distance. It could definitely stand longer, and probably 28 strands.

[@timhooper8617]

Thank you!

[@crashrr2993]

This just might be your best video yet. Luvvedit!

[@MH-fb5kr]

BRAVO ❗️❗️❗️

[@binaputrahobby5793]

Nice.,. model plane

[@mauroignacio3907]

acho que desa vez vc perdeu o aero ele sumiu kkkkk

[@elieaton6032]

Amazing job that things flys great!

[@GrandadIsAnOldMan]

That is a good walk to go and collect that 😍😁👍

[@eastcoastandy2905]

that is part of the fun, look around on the way.

[@joserodrigues6881]

Gostei

[@robbowen1242]

Wow ... what a beautiful flyer.

[@brap242818]

wow.. what a work of art...

[@Joyplanes]

I love it!

[@joshuawfinn]

Hey great to see you here! I really enjoyed that 4m glider video you posted!

[@Joyplanes]

@@joshuawfinn It's a great glider, I just need a bit more of good conditions to really glide on the slope. I enjoy a lot of watching your model airplanes like this one, not many people do them nowadays.

[@joshuawfinn]

@@Joyplanes we're trying to grow more interest in rubber power. Quite a few people have started flying rubber because of the videos we're putting up, and our national free flight organization is up about 30% in membership in the past two years.

[@monkfry]

“Loook at it” lol

[@davidfranklin5270]

Love it. Needs RC rudder to keep the retrieve treks to a minimum

[@danielcockerspaniel]

“Nose heavy “ proceeds to change tail incidence

[@joshuawfinn]

Never said I was an expert.

[@ВладимирСамойленко-е2б]

SUPER !!!

[@Timessquareful]

Super 🤗

[@srinu749]

Cool.... Superb

[@nikulshah5093]

Excellent

[@adolforuiz3723]

Excelente 👍

[@carlcrutchfield5094]

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕👍

[@igorkhokhlov6914]

Вэри гуд!

[@offtopicjes]

great build josh! how do i get more winds on my rubber moter?

[@joshuawfinn]

Are you lubricating the motor and stretching out 4-5x relaxed length when winding?

[@offtopicjes]

@@joshuawfinn i am lubing but have not stretched my rubber yet.

[@davidfranklin5270]

I have never seen a rubber powered model "stand on it's tail" like that!