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Post by RedMoon11 on Dec 5, 2014 16:19:46 GMT
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Post by RedMoon11 on Dec 10, 2014 15:46:50 GMT
James May @mrjamesmay · 5 Dec 2014 Not only is the new Toy Stories being shown on Christmas day, there's also a repeat of the glider one coming up: 14 December, 7pm. #Plug
Inside TV’s ‘Flight Club’1 March 2013 By Royal Aeronautical Society  Dr MARK JABBAL, Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University, describes how he and his students helped out with the aerodynamics behind the scenes at James May’s Toy Stories channel glider attempt for a BBC TV special. This is a full article published in Aerospace International: March 2013 In March 2012, I received a request from Plum Pictures for a group of student engineers to take part in the latest instalment of BBC’s James May’s Toy Stories – ‘Flight Club’ TV documentary. The challenge? To design and build an unmanned, scale model glider in an attempt to fly it across all 22 miles of the English Channel, representing a first in model aviation. An insight is given into the technical challenges of building the glider, with which the Brunel team were heavily involved, and the practical issues of working on a TV documentary. The glider that was built for the programme was a 1:5 scale model of the Slingsby T45 Swallow; originally designed as a club sailplane and also used as a RAF trainer. James May chose the Slingsby Swallow, as it was reminiscent of the Keil-Kraft type of gliders he built as a kid. It also has a fairly fat fuselage which, although quite ‘draggy’, would be useful for accommodating the cameras and batteries (three Flycam HD; two wing mounted and one rear fuselage mounted) and tracking kit (GPS and Ardu autopilot).
Improving The Glide Ratio To verify the glide ratio, wind-tunnel tests of a scale model of the glider were carried out in the RJ Mitchell Wind Tunnel at the University of Southampton. Tests were conducted at a range of free-stream velocities (around the best glide speed) and angles-of-attack (–5 to 5 degrees). The tests revealed that the glider had a maximum glide ratio of 14:1, which would ultimately be insufficient for it to complete its mission. A minimum glide ratio of approximately 20:1 was deemed necessary based on the 22-mile Channel distance and a ceiling for launch of approximately 6,500ft, as permitted by the CAA. The onus on the Brunel team therefore was to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the glider. No changes were permitted to the fuselage due to the space requirements for equipment (although the original glider undercarriage, a skid, was omitted from the underside of the model fuselage). Furthermore, for filming purposes it was the intention to maintain many of the most prominent wing features true to the original which meant geometric properties such as aspect ratio, taper and twist couldn’t be altered. The original airbrakes were to be omitted with the main focus subsequently drawn to changing the less visible aerofoil section. The original wing has a NACA 633618 aerofoil at the root which extends to 80% of the wing span before transitioning to a NACA 4412 aerofoil at the tip. The laminar flow encouraged by the NACA 6 series aerofoil, however, could be severely affected by rain droplets, dirt or crushed insects on the leading edge. Incorporating ‘bug-wipers’ would be too complex given the time constraints of the project, not to mentioned that there was no dedicated onboard power for such devices. It was thus decided to change the root aerofoil to the NACA 4412 which, although a more ‘turbulent’ wing, has predictable performance that is less receptive to surface roughness as well as having a more slender profile compared to the laminar aerofoil (a maximum thickness-to-chord ratio of 12%, as opposed to 18%). The tip aerofoil was changed to a NACA 6412, which would offer increased camber and CL compared to the 4412; particularly useful for preventing the onset of early wing tip stall. Transition between the two wing sections was kept in the same place as the original. The modified wing design was verified using ‘XFLR5’, an analysis program for aircraft operating at low Reynolds numbers. An improved glide ratio of almost 30:1 was obtained which would be closer to 20:1 after factoring in the fuselage, yet still sufficient to meet the requirements for the mission. The time constraints of working on a TV documentary meant that the new wing couldn’t be verified experimentally in a wind tunnel. In fact, there were only a few days to come up with a new wing design, such that all the modified wing parts could be laser cut by Traplet Publications (suppliers of model aircraft kits) and delivered in time for the filmed glider build. The entire glider was made up of more than 1,000 pieces of balsa wood. Assembling The Glider The student engineers set about assembling the wings, as well as the tail and fin, over a five-day period in an aircraft hangar at Wycombe Air Centre. James and his assistant engineer constructed the fuselage, also in the hangar during the same period. Meeting James May on the first day, one might have been forgiven for thinking that the students might be overawed by the opportunity to work alongside a well-known presenter. But this was quickly dispelled, due in no small part to James’ enthusiasm for aviation, approachability and very hands-on involvement with the glider build. Different aspects of the glider build were intermittently filmed over the five-day period meaning that, for the most part, the students were working without the constant glare of the cameras. The challenge was ensuring that this air of ‘normality’ was maintained when the glider build, and therefore the students were being filmed. But, again, the students quickly adjusted to this environment due in part to the relatively short time available for building. The fact that many of them had already worked together in group projects at Brunel also helped. A mix of aerospace and aviation students of both undergraduate and postgraduate level were drawn together, among which smaller groups had previously built a model aircraft for the annual BMFA Heavy Lift Challenge (in which, coincidentally, Brunel gained first place among UK universities and second place overall in 2012); an electrical glider, a solar glider and a model aircraft with morphing wings. The most challenging aspect of the glider build was in ensuring that the new wing designed and built by the students would fit well with the fuselage built by James, especially given the modifications to the root aerofoil section and preservation of the original fuselage design. This required some improvising at the wing-fuselage junction through a combination of bespoke cut parts and duct tape, the latter of which was used to act as an aerodynamic seal along any gaps. Applying the skin to the glider in the form of heat shrink wrap is also a skilled art, as many aero modellers will attest to!
What The Students Learnt It’s fair to say that the students thoroughly enjoyed their time working on this unique project. For those students who had previously secured graduate employment this project provided the opportunity to apply technical and interpersonal skills that will be utilised in the aerospace industry, whileothers have been inspired to continue their aerospace career goals. George Schofield (MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering), who led the wing redesign using XFLR5 and is now a Graduate Engineer at BAE Systems, said: “As part of my third year project looking at the effects of ice accretion on aircraft, I learnt to use the XFLR5 computer program. This tool can be used for quick aerodynamic analysis of aircraft. These skills were utilised when the ‘James May Glider project’ team asked for help with the redesign of the glider wing and aerodynamic analysis. It was really good to see my degree used successfully in a real life application.” Adam Todd (BEng (Hons) Aviation Engineering), who was heavily involved with the wind-tunnel test and glider build and is now a graduate engineer at MBDA, said: “After learning how to apply the theory of flight to wind-tunnel testing during my final year project, the opportunity to help out on James May’s Toy Stories was perfectly timed. Bringing that experience into the real world to help analyse an aircraft was invaluable in transitioning from academia into applied engineering, whilst building the model aircraft to engineering drawings is a transferable skill in every area of the industry.” Finally, Tom Small (BEng (Hons) Aviation Engineering with Pilot Studies), a former Air Cadet, who as ‘glider spotter’ was at the helm of the glider RC should manual override of the control surfaces be required during the flight attempt, said: “Piloting the glider for James May’s Toy Stories was not only a fantastic experience but also a privilege. Everything I had learnt while studying Aviation Engineering at Brunel, such as weight and balance and dynamic effects was critical and this knowledge was put to the test during flight testing. The theory I had learnt allowed me to better my piloting skills and predict what the glider may do the first time it was flown. I’m proud to say I was a part of a successful project along with Brunel.” Summary If the students and indeed myself can take anything away from this experience, it’s the importance of working together as a team to achieve a common goal under tight deadlines and to expect the unexpected! [The final successful flight was the 22 nautical miles from Ilfracombe to Lundy Island, after the English Channel was prohibited by bureaucracy and the Bristol Channel attempt to South Wales was hampered by the weather]. All these will be important lessons as they embark on what will hopefully be long and fruitful careers in the aerospace and aviation industry. Of course, being associated with a new British record for longest flight by an unmanned model glider and a part of model aviation history in the making is a nice bonus too! Via aerial filming company Flying TV, check out a clip from the TV show here This is a full article published in Aerospace International: March 2013. As a member, you receive two new Royal Aeronautical Society publications each month - find out more about membership. - See more at: www.aerosociety.com/News/Insight-Blog/1729/Inside-TVs-Flight-Club#sthash.nRhz4w0l.dpuf - See more at: www.aerosociety.com/News/Insight-Blog/1729/Inside-TVs-Flight-Club#sthash.nRhz4w0l.dpuf |
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Post by RedMoon11 on Dec 10, 2014 15:53:53 GMT
Brunel Aerospace Engineering students film James May's Toy StoriesBrunel University London Brunel's student aerospace engineers helped design, build and fly an unmanned glider across the Bristol Channel for a BBC TV special hosted by 'Top Gear' star James May. The 14-strong Brunel team led by lecturer Dr Mark Jabbal played an instrumental role in redesigning May's original glider to ensure a successful flight, 28 photos taken on April 20, 2012 www.flickr.com/photos/bruneluniversity/sets/72157633095877332/#
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Post by RedMoon11 on Dec 11, 2014 0:37:39 GMT
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Post by Vienna on Dec 12, 2014 13:35:31 GMT
Possibly, when pictures get posted it would be good to say where they were lifted from. The pic of James as Action Man was posted by a friend on Twitter.
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Post by RedMoon11 on Dec 12, 2014 19:42:12 GMT
Possibly, when pictures get posted it would be good to say where they were lifted from. The pic of James as Action Man was posted by a friend on Twitter. The link and other text was there when I made the post, I have no idea why it didn't show up with the pix. If you were that concerned with it you could have posted the link yourself. |
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Post by RedMoon11 on Dec 13, 2014 3:09:28 GMT
*Someone doesn't have a sense of humor and is a bit sore that James and the BBC wrote "mean" things about their dolls... I mean "action figures". Plus they don't seem to realise James May's Toy Stories have been aired in the US and other countries and continents besides the UK and Europe*
WHOOSH! UK TV SHOW, “JAMES MAY’S TOY STORIES” (ON BBC2), WILL ATTEMPT TO FLY A 1:6 SCALE ACTION MAN ASTRONAUT FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SOUND IN NEW EPISODE TO AIR THIS CHRISTMAS DAY, 2014! British TV celebrity, James May, looks on admiringly at a clear model rocket (missile?) containing one very brave, 1970s-vintage, Action Man astronaut in an intriguing publicity still promoting an upcoming episode of “James May’s Toy Stories,” scheduled to air on Christmas Day, 2014. (Photo: BBC2)If you mention the name James May, or his television show, “James May’s Toy Stories” (JMTS), to viewers here in the U.S., you’ll most likely just get a blank stare in return. But that should be expected. Since its debut in 2009, the British show has only produced 9 episodes. And when it does finally air, the shows are shown only in Britain and Europe on BBC Two. Nonetheless, GIjOE, Falcon, Geyperman and Action Man fans around the world should all now start paying attention to May’s hour-long odes to toys, because his upcoming 10th episode is intriguingly titled “Action Man at the Speed of Sound.” As its title implies, this particular episode features numerous examples of UK’s favorite 12-inch action hero participating in efforts to launch a 1:6 scale astronaut into the upper atmosphere—BREAK the sound barrier—and then return safely to Earth. Can it be done? SHOULD it be done? You’ll need to tune in this Christmas day (2014) to find out. Whoosh!!!  The original promotion graphic used by BBC2 to “enlist” 1:6 scale volunteers for May’s risky JMTS spaceflights. (Graphic: BBC2)Anti-Action Man Bias Evident in Unusual BBC Two Press ReleaseMay’s “Action Man at the Speed of Sound” JMTS episode is part of a big holiday programming blitz by BBC2. You’d think they’d want to stir up good feelings of anticipation for the show, but in a strangely worded press release, (for whatever reason), someone over in the promotions department at BBC2 clumsily did the exact opposite. In a surprising display of “anti-Action Man” bias, their harshly worded pre-show announcement openly derides and mocks UK’s most famous 12-inch action hero. It’s not funny. Or clever. It just comes across as “mean.” Here it is in its complete, original format (key derogatory phrases bolded for emphasis):  BBC2 TV personality, James May, buying Alan Hall’s Action Man Guides at Birmingham NEC 2014. (Photo: Daniel Smart) “In perhaps the most challenging ‘Toy Stories’ so far, James May attempts to rehabilitate one of Britain’s most derided toys by seeing if it’s possible for Action Man to do what no toy has ever managed—travel faster than the speed of sound. For decades, Action Man, despite his name, has been a disappointment. He promised so much with his eagle eyes, his gripping hands and his natty outfits. But what has he ever achieved? Nothing….yet.After half a century lazing around the back of the toy cupboard, he must prove that he has The Right Stuff, redeem his shattered reputation and boldly go where no Toy has gone before. The challenge is daunting. Breaking the sound barrier and returning Action Man safely to the earth will test James and the team to the limit. In an action-packed series of attempts, James battles high-speed physics, unforeseen explosions and catastrophic design setbacks that account for a large number of Action Man volunteers before settling on an experimental supersonic vehicle made entirely from scratch—a vehicle that threatens to send Action Man and the team into oblivion. In a gripping final act, Action Man must not only succeed and survive intact—but go faster and higher than a rival supersonic attempt led by his arch nemesis: Sindy. Will Action Man redeem himself? Will he survive Mach 1? Or will he lose out to a doll?”Wow. Odd language, indeed. We’re not sure if BBC2’s oddly worded press release will succeed in increasing the show’s viewership or ratings, but it will undoubtedly succeed in raising the hackles and stirring the ire of millions of Action Man fans around the world. “One of Britain’s most derided toys?” Since when is that the case? And that “ what has he ever achieved? Nothing” line? Please! Action Man’s popularity and achievements as a toy line stand him head and shoulders above his competition. Whoever wrote that pile of PR tripe should get his (or her) head out from under their Cabbage Patch doll sunbonnet and smell the REALITY of 1:6 heroism—Action Man! Intriguingly, it appears that one of our very own intrepid UK Field Reporters, Daniel Smart, may have also played a vital role in this exciting, new television production. According to a recent “behind-the-scenes” intel report filed by Smart exclusively with (and for) The Joe Report: “Back in March 2014, I was contacted by an editor friend of mine and was told that James May’s Researcher Tom Harris and James would be at the Birmingham NEC Toy Show on 20th April 2014 and would like to meet me and ask if I had an Action Man that would like to take part in a special adventure. I already knew that Mike Rees (aka Action Burt) was to be there and Craig Crane (Doublecee) was involved in some way. So, off I went with my childhood figure ‘Steve.’ I met May and his production team, handed Steve over and did a few short interviews with him which were filmed for (possible use in) the program.”  Daniel Smart hands over “Steve” to James May at the Birmingham NEC Toy Fair on April 20, 2014. Smart wouldn’t see Steve again until November and won’t learn until December 25th exactly how his childhood Action Man was used on May’s TV show. Did “Steve” break the sound barrier? (Photo: Daniel Smart) “James explained to me that Action Man was going to attempt to break the sound barrier and travel at supersonic speed! Everyone was being quite tight-lipped about how this was all going to take place and I was only told that my ‘Steve’ was just one of many who had volunteered for the exciting mission. Some of the figures would be ‘test pilots,’ but only ONE would make that special journey and cement his reputation as the ‘Greatest Hero’ of them all. I was told that all that took part would receive a free 1:6 overall and snazzy new flock job, but also that it couldn’t be guaranteed that my Steve would even make it back.” “It would be great if my childhood Action Man was chosen, but deep down I secretly want Action Burt’s ‘Stuntman Extraordinaire’ to be chosen as the natural (and right) choice. Fortunately, after filming, I received Steve back in the post last week, sporting a new head of flocked hair. But the note from James only said, ‘Thank you for the loan of Steve. He has now been discharged from duty.’ The show will air on UK’s BBC2 on Christmas Day at 5.10pm. How exciting! It’s the best Christmas present I could hope for!” —Daniel Smart, UK  Daniel Smart’s “Steve” was returned to him safe and sound, sporting a brand-new flocking ‘do featuring some WILD mutton-chop sideburns. (Photo: Daniel Smart) patchesofpride.wordpress.com/2014/12/06/whoosh-uk-tv-show-james-mays-toy-stories-on-bbc2-will-attempt-to-fly-a-16-scale-action-man-astronaut-faster-than-the-speed-of-sound-in-new-episode-to-air-this-christmas-day-2014/#comment-10501
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Post by Vienna on Dec 16, 2014 10:49:55 GMT
Possibly, when pictures get posted it would be good to say where they were lifted from. The pic of James as Action Man was posted by a friend on Twitter. The link and other text was there when I made the post, I have no idea why it didn't show up with the pix. If you were that concerned with it you could have posted the link yourself.[/quote here is the link. I just think all content should be correctly attributed. I'm not passing judgement. I did say 'possibly' 'it would be good' . |
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Post by RedMoon11 on Dec 25, 2014 17:01:54 GMT
James May on breaking the sound barrier with Action Man"For small boys and girls whose minds are perhaps a bit twisted, as mine was back then, I can confirm that, yes, at one point his head comes off" By James MayThursday 25 December 2014 at 07:17AM Action Man was always a bit useless, in my opinion. I seem to be the only bloke I know who never owned one. My brother had one, although he lost one of his legs in a parachuting accident. Not my brother - he still has both his legs. I had my fair share of fictional heroes as a boy, ranging from Dick Dastardly to Roy of the Rovers, even though I was terrible at football. I read Commando war stories as well, because military men were admirable. But Action Man? He was marketed as "the greatest hero of them all", but was in reality an irritating dressing-up experience, and I find putting my own clothes on fairly tedious. It's now almost 50 years since he first fell flat on his face in small boys' bedrooms all over the country. Maybe it was time to rescue his reputation? The idea behind my series Toy Stories was that it would be about pop science and basic physics, but explained using toys as they make these subjects more accessible. I’ve argued for years that a good chunk of the school physics curriculum could be taught with a Scalextric set. It’s got to be better than all that smelly old lab equipment I had to put up with. A lot of techy stuff that seems boring can be made much more interesting with Lego and Meccano. Real architects and engineers use them, after all. We dismiss toys as playthings, but the best ones are lifelong tools for exercising the mind. However, Toy Stories didn't really work out quite like that. The unanticipated enthusiasm of the public for playing en mass, even in adulthood, meant that each project turned into some sort of community-bonding initiative. Toys, it seems, are a force for good in the world. But for this year's Christmas special, we wanted to wrestle the original philosophy back, and we did this using two subjects that have long intrigued me: the so-called "sound barrier", and so called "Action" Man. The sound barrier is actually a bit of a myth; it's a phrase coined in the 1940s when aeroplanes began to approach supersonic speed. Many people thought there was an invisible wall in the sky that caused aeroplanes to break up and go wildly out of control when they reached the speed of sound, which as any schoolchild knows is 1,235 kph or 761 mph at sea level. It of course varies with altitude and air temperature. We now know that supersonic flight is possible. I experience it myself during the film. What's less well understood is the unique and slightly counterintuitive aerodynamic problems that result from "breaking the barrier". I thought these were worth a closer look. We needed a square-jawed test pilot in miniature. Action Man, the soldier-doll that was for many years the bestselling toy in Britain, presented himself for duty, slightly reluctantly. Time for him to prove himself, finally, by being the first toy to go beyond the speed of sound. In an attempt, our scar-faced and fuzzy headed toy-box warrior faces many perils, as pioneers must. For small boys and girls whose minds are perhaps a bit twisted, as mine was back then, I can confirm that, yes, at one point his head comes off. A surprising rival emerges, turning the whole business into a race, and politics plays a part, just as it did during the Space Race of the 1960s and 70s. More than that I don’t want to say, because, just as with the work of the United States Air Force immediately after the Second World War, our activities were classified as Top Secret. You can find out on Christmas Day if he makes it, or if Action Man is to be remembered for ever more as being a bit missing in action. James May's Toy Stories is on Christmas Day at 5.10pm on BBC2
www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-12-25/james-may-on-breaking-the-sound-barrier-with-action-man
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Post by flatin5th - Knight of the NC on Dec 28, 2014 18:44:52 GMT
this was far better than pt 1 of the TG Christmas special
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Post by RedMoon11 on Jan 11, 2015 10:30:57 GMT
Action Man at the Speed of Sound HD BBC iPlayer www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04wtd18Action Man at the Speed of Sound will be on again Tuesday 13 January at 09:05 am on BBC Two |
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Post by RedMoon11 on Jan 11, 2015 10:43:47 GMT
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Post by RedMoon11 on Jan 31, 2015 19:42:23 GMT
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Post by RedMoon11 on Apr 3, 2015 8:24:56 GMT
James May's Toy Stories - Action Man At The Speed Of Sound [DVD] Price: £11.00 This title will be released on April 6, 2015. James attempts to rehabilitate one of Britain s most derided toys by seeing if Action Man can do what no toy has ever managed travel faster than the speed of sound. For decades, Action Man has been a disappointment. He promised so much with his eagle eyes, gripping hands and natty outfits. But what has he achieved? Nothing...yet. He must redeem his shattered reputation. Breaking the sound barrier and returning him safely to Earth will test James and the team to the limit. James battles high speed physics, unforeseen explosions and catastrophic design setbacks before settling on an experimental supersonic vehicle, which threatens to send Action Man into oblivion. He must succeed and survive intact, and go faster and higher than a rival supersonic attempt led by his arch nemesis, Sindy. Will Action Man redeem himself? Or will he lose out to a doll? Format: PAL Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.) Number of discs: 1 Classification: 15 Studio: Spirit Entertainment Limited DVD Release Date: 6 April 2015 Amazon.co.uk
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Post by RedMoon11 on Sept 9, 2015 19:22:29 GMT
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Post by RedMoon11 on Dec 10, 2015 0:18:45 GMT
BBC America is finally airing The Motorcycle Diary at 9:00PM/8:00C and Action Man At The Speed Of Sound at 10:00PM/9:00C on Monday, December 21st James May's Toy Stories | The Motorcycle Diary - Monday, Dec 21st at 9/8c
Published on Dec 14, 2015
James May is back on his mission to bring our favorite childhood toys to life...size. James attempts to make a life-sized version of the toy model Meccano motorcycle. Premieres on BBC America on Monday, December 21st at 9/8c.
You can also watch The Motorcycle Diary now on Hulu - www.hulu.com/james-mays-toy-stories |
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Post by RedMoon11 on Dec 16, 2015 1:31:26 GMT
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Post by RedMoon11 on Dec 21, 2015 21:49:38 GMT
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Post by RedMoon11 on Dec 22, 2015 6:26:46 GMT
Catch them again starting at 4:00AM/3:00AM Central early Tuesday December 22 |
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