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CAP 222 'Spindoctor'

This must surely be the most talked about model over the second half of 2002. And it finally makes an appearance here. In its new colour scheme. I suppose it is what you could now call a doctored spindoctor. First, Thomas had to decide what motor to get. He went for a Moki 135, which duly arrived in the post one morning. He was so excited he told just about everyone. Then everyone reminded him that the plane is only really capable of a 90, like it said in all the adverts, on the box lid, and the instructions. And the way the demo planes flew that he saw flying at Sandown. So, on public opinion, he sent it back and asked for an OS 91 instead. Just imagine if politians did what the public said...?

So, it finally arrived the flying site one day, with a huge smile on the proud owners face. And a look of shock on everyone elses face when they saw that he was planning on flying a Banana with a loose rudder. But after a while looking at it and changing things, we had a plane that, while still looked a little like a banana, might actually have a chance of flying. And it did fly...surprisingly well too. But of course, we only had Thomas' word for that, because he wouldn't let anyone else fly it. Until an hour after I'd written off my Xcell Pro, when he asked me if it would cheer me up if I were to have a go with his plane. I tried to wriggle my way out of it (smashing up a Really expensive helicopter in one wrong move of the the rudder would put some people off flying for life) but he threw the transmitter at me, and said "be careful, and don't break it." I thought to myself, "I really hope this doesn't go wrong for ***** sake."

Took off fine, few loops/rolls etc, then I thought it would be nice to hear the motor sing. So I wound the throttle open and after what seemed like half a second, the ailerons, elevators, rudder, and even the wings were fluttering like leaves in a gale. All this at 25 mph? Suffice to say, control was not regained, even after throttling right back and more, it just kept coming down, until a fence stopped it. Damage was not too bad, but it appeared that a crack had formed in the wing. Nothing that a bit of glassfibre wouldn't sort. And more damaged pride on my part.

So, he reapired it, and in the process managed to straighten some of the twists, and make the whole plane a bit more rugged. and he gave it this funky new scheme. Can't wait to see it with a cowl on too. That would really be the icing on the cake. Then, we'll have one of the best aerobatic scale aircraft this side of the Cap 231 that Rob Bougourd built, now owned by Charlie Vining. It was a bit a kefuffle at first, but I think the only thing we can say to Thomas now is....well done.

(30/01/03) Here are some new photo's of it taken recently showing the cowling fitted etc. Plus, we also have some decent flying shots, something this website has been lacking for a while, bar the close up prop hanging stuff. As you can see, Thomas is comptetent flyer, as the shot of it inverted near the ground shows.

See what I mean!