wastegate

I have quite a few more. Need to take some more pics.

Mark, 42, married with 2 kids, mechanical engineer and have worked on everything from Challenger tanks to Apache helicopters but currently designing and building test gear for the aircraft industry. Been into RC for over 30 years and have around 15 planes, 2 boats and 3 trucks. Fly planes in the summer and trucks in the winter with the boats anytime and anywhere I can run them. Would like my kids to get into RC but they spend most of their time in a 'virtual' world! BTW, oodboo you're a top man!

Bored yet?

You have one serious toy collection

Yes, I have the Mini Swift running F5D style. Good for 160 mph plus and turns like a crazy thing!

2! Always good to have a back up :-) I''ve been waiting for the Launchmodel F5B to come back in stock at T9 but I don't think they'll get any more now that HobbyKing have started selling them.

They're the same plane, made by Nan Models. Did you get it from Ace?

I appreciate the jets but i'll take the Enigma.

The worst? Well, I could get very little work and therefore not have a sustainable income which means I would eat into my savings and then have no money and would have to look for another job Or, my wife could get off her lazy arse and actually get a job which would offset the initial drop in income but that's another story!

Brushless Traxxas Summit. Just mental!

Sounds like you've got it made At the place I work, 50% of the workforce are looking for another job so you can tell what the atmosphere is like. They're key members of staff so if they go, there is no company! I'm just fed up of being left out of the information loop and then getting moaned at when I haven't done something that I didn't know about anyway! What is good is that everyone I've spoken to about starting my own business has been very encouraging but then they aren't taking the risk.

Got any examples of your work?

My mates a joiner and he always has work. I'll be subbing out electrical and gas work so most of my work will be grounds maintenance, fencing, painting, rubbish disposal and even just window cleaning if they want it. Nothing technical but being stuck in an office in a pointless job is killing me slowly!

What do you do?

I think most of our work will come from word of mouth and flyers as the majority of our target group are unlikely to use the net but we'll have a site anyway. As both sides of the business feed from the same pool of customers they should be very complimentary as one can promote business for the other. Just need to crack on with it really!

We're looking at property maintenance and care for the elderly (my wifes part) as they're the biggest growing demographic in the UK. Fortunately I'd paid my mortgage off by the time I was 41 so we have no huge overheads to worry about but the risk of making the jump is a little worrying. Looking at liability insurance and commercial vehicle insurance at the moment and then website creation. My understanding is that Yellow pages ads are a waste of time.

After 25 years in the engineering business, I'm looking at going self employed as I feel I will put a damn sight more effort into working for myself as well as reaping the rewards of success should things work out. I'm currently working on my business plan and fortunately require no external capital which simplifies things but I'm a little scared of making the jump. If you're self-employed then please encourage me with your stories of success or alternatively with your words of caution!

1982 Escort MK3 1.3L back in '87. Paid

People getting picked on, stuff nicked etc

There is the BMX track behind Asda but it's not in the best part of town!

Yeah, my brushless summit is plain crazy. The revo is being used by a 5 year old so it's more than fast enough at the moment

It's the 5308 model so the FOC was already done. For a 4.5kg truck it's pretty nimble on a brushed system!

My son really enjoyed driving my stock Summit but since it's gone brushless there's no way he's going near it so I took my unused Revo 3.3 and did a quick and dirty electric conversion using the brushed Titan 775 motor and speed controller removed from the Summit. I made up a motor mount from 3mm angle plate and used a flat piece for the battery holder. First gear was removed and then the gearbox was locked in second to give me motor reverse. I guessed at the gearing and went for a 16/38 ratio and it seems to be about right. Acceleration is quick enough to wheelie and top speed is just about perfect for backyard bashing. Total cost was

It is, blinking loud as well. Lot's of money for very little though.

My 98 Impreza Turbo. Was my daily driver for years until I mothballed it last year then had it shipped across country to my new home. I will fix it up and get it back on the road at some point! my other cars are a 2001 Chyrsler Grand Voyager LTD which we've had for years and also a 2006 Focus 1.6. One of my bosses many cars. A supercharged Atom at something like 450 BHP. 0 to 60 is supposed to be around 2.5 seconds!