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Hi everyone, Here is a video of our latest SeaDart test which details some of the challenges we are facing. Cheers, Alex

Hi Granier, 50kts is the number required, I'm just in the process of making a video explaining all we have learnt so far. Look out for it next week on here and our You Tube channel. Cheers, Alex

Thanks for all the kind words and suggestions [:)] I've not yet decided between tape or some high temp engine block paint... I might try the paint to begin with and if that fails go to the tape? With the knowledge that it’s now no longer taking on water at the rear, sitting at the correct...

A few pictures from the first test… The model coasting out for the first time on one engine as the other starts to spool up. _DSC7862 by Alex Jones, on Flickr _DSC7866 by Alex Jones, on Flickr And another with the model disappearing a haze of spray. _DSC7890 by Alex Jones, on...

The moment I’ve been most looking forward to for years is getting the model in the water for the first time. There are so many possible problems that we’ve had to overcome purely in a theoretically sense. Time to see if it works in practice. No pressure then…. There are so many unknowns that...

With the model ready for the initial engine runs we took it BMFA Buckminster. Phil and Graham from FighterAces came down to help as it needs three people to safely handle the model. Phil has been with us from the start of this project so I was pleased he got to see it run for the first time, I...

I managed to finish the last of the installation on the electrics and engines before doing the first few engine runs. I always get excited seeing a model come alive for the first time. I was working insane hours to get it ready for testing so I didn’t take many pictures, those I have of the...

Apologies for not updating this sooner but over the next few weeks we should get to it all finished up to the current state of the model. With the beaching gear nearly completed we wanted to test fit it to the model to check it was fit for purpose before using it. A few small changes required...

Just some images of the beaching gear coming together. B3B60BC2-04AF-4C1F-8FD7-09C6863CAAAD by Alex Jones, on Flickr 9B52B9D0-5E9D-4785-BC30-C36FF2697E30 by Alex Jones, on Flickr 215429CF-2518-4E2C-A85C-1ED7D27BAB03 by Alex Jones, on Flickr 7B5E8C0F-C8A1-412B-86DB-A4F06AEA7F5E by...

Moving onto the beaching gear… This will be really important for us and was designed in partnership with PES Performance Ltd. This can work as a stand allowing us to test the oleo extensions/retraction retract the skis and run the engines while safely sat on the beaching gear. Then can be...

I’ve been putting off doing the Pitot for ages as it was one of those jobs that had the potential to cause some damage if I got it wrong. I started by making a hole in the top of the vertical stabiliser which had to be exactly in line and 35mm deep to allow the pitot to have a snug push fit...

The electrics in the forward section are run through 3D printed conduits that feed into the main box where the CB400 is mounted. There is another box on the bottom about 25mm deep that allows any excess wire to sit in, the bottom is capped with 2mm acrylic...

Like the 3D printed splash proof boxes for the electronics I decided to go a similar route with the fuselage electrical split. I designed two 3D printed housings either side where I am able to push the female PowerBox servo connector into the housing for an engineered fit. These housings are...

While things are easy to access I tested the fuel systems on both tanks. It’s a good opportunity to check for any small leaks, it beds the pumps down especially as they can run at full thrust voltage and lastly I can fine tune the pump factors so the fuel state telemetry is accurate. It is not...

The tail wheel on the SeaDart was a castor so it could be easily manoeuvred by ground crew while on its beaching gear. I decided to make a fixed version as this could be easily integrated into the structure. The beaching gear wheels are located forward of the CG so it does have to takes its...

Hi Lenny, I hope you are well and thank you for the message. We’ve managed ok through all that has happened since March but it has inevitably delayed things. I’m pleased to hear you are still enthusiastic about the project. We are committed to producing this kit and once we have finished a...

The intakes have been causing me a headache as they are very difficult to remove. They also require the turbines to be removed which very quickly got on my nerves. During the build these need to be installed and removed frequently which wasn’t time efficient and more importantly I need to push...

Hi Dave, These are the fuel air traps, one for each fuel system. With the fuselage split I can get on with what seems to be a never ending list of jobs for the back end. Starting with the auxiliary air intakes. These are prototypical in that they do feed into the main intake. They remain...

With all the electrics in the aft section tested and working as planned I can make things a little neater. In the electronics box just forward of the hoist point we have a Jeti REX7A receiver, after burner light ring control, hull lights control and battery to power these lights. Ignore how...

I started the main installation by removing everything from the engine test stand and installing this into place inside the fuselage. I used new Festo 6mm tubing but other than that everything is exactly as it was on the stand. All the associated turbine wiring was run through the fuselage...