That other thing that occupies my life and brings me joy…a hobby  

Enjoy the saga of my efforts to do something I have never done with my beloved radio controlled aircraft career in 40 years. And that is to fly an 11 foot wingspan scale glider.

Originally I had planned to build and fly a large scale glider some years back. The idea was to have it towed into flight just like the full scale gliders. I set up a large scale Ka-8 glider and it was set up for aerotow.​ The closest place to do this was a 4 hour drive, the other a 5 hour drive which made it impractical and after a couple of years I reluctantly sold the Ka8.


Watching the internet and dreaming of flying a large scale glider I became aware that people were starting to motorise the gliders with electric power. Even full scale pilots were doing this. With slopes being closed and fields lacking pilots that would tow you up it was an obvious choice. The only problem with some gliders like my recently purchased and built. The Bergfalke ground clearance from the prop.

The solution I found was a bit scary but people seemed to have constant success with the method which is to make a dolly the glider sits on and rolls along under power down the runway until it reaches enough speed to achieve lift and it magically floats off the dolly into flight.


I spent a month researching, reading and watching many many videos of people using this method to get airborne. I looked at all the different variations of dollies and soon understood what works best and built one from scratch.

The end result was what I had hoped for but in my first efforts to get airborne I learned there is a bit more to it than just throttling up and rolling down the runway and these videos will take you through that until the final success.

The first flights were made without wing spoilers. I have since ordered them and will be installing them next week. These are brakes that pop up out of the top of the wing to slow you down on approach to landing.


I’m already planning to build another large scale glider this time with a 179 inch span. I’m getting another Ka8.

These videos show you the progression and the final video is all about the maiden flight.
Enjoy

Steve Neill’s garage Ep 8

This is raw video compared to the work I do on “Breaking the Silence”. Edited yes but very live and real person. I show the successes as well as the failures. Without failures you don’t learn. So enjoy this crazy unscripted folly through all my various hobbies and adventures. Without my hobbies I wouldn’t have lived as long as I have or stayed in touch with my inner child which for me is the fountain of youth if there is one.

Hobbies and passion bring you joy, keep moving you forward and keep the wonder and fun alive at any age.

Enjoy!

No Artificial Intelligence was used I used my own intelligence

There have been many I have blocked and removed from the BTS channel because they accused me of lying. Why? Because at the beginning of my films I state that no AI was used in the production of my films. A true statement for anyone that knows the difference between hard working creating computer animation and has been doing so since the late 80’s when AI didn’t even exist.

AI is just a lazy way of typing prompts and the AI gives you the images assembled from it’s scanning the net and even stealing artists work to give you what you lack the talent to do yourself. It’s that simple. But with the work I do you have to have years of training working with 3D software, skill and most important of all, you have to be an artist. You can’t create an alien or anything else in a mesh that you sculpted like clay if your not.

As you will see in the latest film this Friday with Suzy Hansen at the beginning it now says I didn’t use Artificial intelligence, I used my own intelligence.

This picture says it all. This is my work station and the software I use and have used years before the advent of AI.

Missing the point…it’s better to be “Woke”

It’s amazing to see the response and comments to Deb Kauble’s “Beyond the Intruders” film. Looking over the analytics it’s clear to me that a very large percentage never watched it to the end. Those that didn’t missed the whole point of the film.

And her conclusions and thoughts at the end are the very most important reason for making the film in the first place. Once the abduction scene was over and the pretty special effects ended they stopped watching. It is how the media has trained us. The public craves fantastic visuals, action and fast moving content but these films often like a story and valuable content.

I appreciate that many like the work I do with the visuals, but again I have to stress this is not why we make these films the effects they are only there to help visualize the story. Deb’s thoughts at the end would have answered many peoples most important question…why? Why is this happening?

Had they watched it to the end they would have never commented that the experience was terrorizing, fearful and you felt sorry for her. Yes it can be for many but after many years of the experience and evaluation something else happens. We wake up from the slumber we had been placed in by our own long ago. They tell us “Never question, stay in line and never, never look up.” Critical thinking, questioning authority? Dare I say “Woke” because that’s what that word means.

Some people actually do have the answers and they don’t even know it. They do for me personally mainly because they coincide with my own. Because we share the same experience. And that’s honest.

But to the people that stopped watching after 21 minutes I would suggest you go back and watch what Deb had to say at the end. It just might change your life.

That’s the whole point.