104 MODEL AVIATION
GREETINGS micro-model enthusiasts! I have a mixed bag this
month. I will review a neat model that I found at the 2004 Toledo
Show, present a custom glider by a Williamsburg, Virginia,
modeler, and have a look at one of my latest micro projects.
The commercial model in question is an RTF of the 1903 Wright
Flyer by Megatech. The construction is molded plastic and foam,
and the little machine is completely assembled in the box.
Some of the specifications include a 15.5-inch wingspan, a 12.5-
inch length, a weight of 82.5 grams, an 83.2-square-inch wing area,
and 5 ounces per square foot of wing loading (wings only; the
canards contribute a small amount of lift). The motor is a Mabuchi
N20, the battery is five 200 mAh NiMH, and the propeller is a 2.6-
inch-diameter Direct Drive brand.
The control system varies the individual motor rpm to climb,
descend, and steer. Megatech refers to this as “vectored thrust.”
There are no servos or movable control surfaces. The range of the
27 or 49 MHz control system is specified as 1,000 feet, and it
certainly is adequate to fly the model within the boundaries of
vision. The transmitter has two proportional control sticks: the left
one for climb and descend, and the right for turning.
The transmitter operates on eight AA alkaline pen cell batteries.
This same battery is used to recharge the model battery between
flights with a jumper plug. The model battery has a neat little
thermal-sensitive button that changes color with the state of charge,
so there is no question when the flight battery is “up.” A group of
LEDs on the face of the transmitter describes the condition of the
transmitter battery. The model battery generally takes 2.5-4 minutes
for a charge, which yields a flight duration of 4-6 minutes.
The model package includes a clear and comprehensive
instruction manual relating to flight operations; however, that is not
all you get by a long shot! The shipping carton is an unusually
sturdy case with lovely graphics and a plastic carrying handle to
transport your Wright Flyer. There is a large, sturdy poster with
original pictures of the Wright brothers and more colorful pictures.
The package includes a nice booklet titled The Wright Story, a decal
sheet, and a certificate of authenticity signed by a member of the
Wright family.
How does it fly? I found the Wright Flyer to be a smooth, stable
Dave Robelen
M i c r o - F l y i n g
Route 4, Box 369, Farmville VA 23901; E-mail: [email protected]
The Megatech 1903 Wright Flyer is made from molded plastic and
foam, and it comes completely assembled.
The Wright Flyer kit comes with accessories, and additional parts
can be ordered through Megatech.
The nose view of the 30-30 glider shows the RFFS-100 control
system and a single Li-Poly cell for power.
A side view of the 30-30 shows the V-tail of the aircraft.
10sig4.QXD 7/23/04 10:42 am Page 104
106 MODEL AVIATION
model that was in good trim on the first
launch. The flying speed is not especially
slow, and the minimum turning radius can
be fairly large with the thrust-control
system. This can be a mixed blessing.
For a complete newcomer, in the
middle of a large, clear field, with
relatively calm winds, the Wright Flyer is
quite easy to fly and amply rugged. The
worst case would be to attempt to fly the
model in a crowded area with obstacles
and a breeze.
The foam wings and canards do not
take kindly to impacts, and it is easy to get
trapped downwind. A baseball outfield or
football field would be a great place to get
acquainted with the Wright Flyer. When
disasters strike, the parts may be repaired
with fast epoxy or Megatech can supply a
list of spare parts.
Although the Megatech Wright Flyer
may have limited appeal to the experienced
modeler who is looking for more
maneuverability, it is a nice package for
low-time fliers who are sampling our
hobby. The presentation of the product is
simply outstanding.
I have been browsing a package of
information sent by Bill Conkling (707
Monumental Ave., Williamsburg VA
23185; E-mail: [email protected]).
He has been bitten by the ultralight glider
bug and came up with a neat new design:
the 30-30. Bill’s glider was originally
developed for the Indoor RC Glider
competition at Waterford, Michigan, but he
is learning the fun of soaring outside in
light air with one of these gliders, as am I.
Bill made use of the RFFS-100 control
system, with a single Li-Poly cell for
power. The curvy stabilizers on the 30-30
are made from 1⁄32 balsa formed around an
old wing top. The large tail allows a
rearward CG of 50%. The wing airfoil is a
circular arc with a 1⁄2-inch rise in 51⁄4
inches. The center-section is made from 3⁄32
balsa spliced onto 1⁄16 balsa for the
remainder of the wing outline. The wing
outline is wet-formed over a fixture. The
wing ribs are laminations of 1⁄32 balsa with
the grain running along the curve of the
rib. The wing dihedral is 10° per panel, and
the V-tail has an included angle of 110°.
Bill reports a sink rate of roughly one
foot per second and a lift-to-drag ratio of
10:1. I have been present during much of
the flight testing, and the handling appears
to be excellent. Bill used Gary Hutchison
parts in the actuators, and the pushrods are
a combination of 1mm graphite rod and
24-gauge tinned copper buss wire for the
ends. Bill made his control horns from
scraps of graphite laminate cut with
scissors and bonded in place with
cyanoacrylate.
Bill, thanks for sharing with us! Why
don’t some of you other modelers send
information on your projects (hint, hint)?
My latest micro folly is a model that is
intended as more of an entry-level project
into a full-bodied micro. Named the Mini
Sport, this little all-balsa model will be
The author’s Mini Sport, which is an allbalsa
micro RC model, is intended to be
an entry-level project.
A cabin view of the Mini Sport shows the placement of the equipment. The author used
double-stick tape to hold the receiver and battery in place.
View of the Mini Sport shows how drive system and propeller fit in nose.
10sig4.QXD 7/23/04 4:23 pm Page 106
available as a laser-cut kit from Dynamic
Web Enterprises and will likely be
featured as a construction article in RC
MicroFlight. My purpose for showing
this one here is to share details about a
couple methods of construction and a
design method that might work well for
you.
Basically, the design method in
question involves scaling down a smoothflying
larger model and converting the
structure to mostly 1⁄32 sheet balsa. The
Mini Sport is a reduced-size version of
my GW Sport, published in Backyard
Flyer, with a wingspan of 39 inches. The
small aircraft has a span of 16 inches.
Modern copy machines can easily enlarge
or reduce a drawing at a copy center, so it
is a simple matter to produce a plan of the
desired size.
I mentioned using mostly 1⁄32 sheet
balsa. The fuselage and tail are
completely 1⁄32 sheet balsa. The section
over the nose was moistened to form the
curve. After trying several methods to get
a warp-free balsa wing, I found that the
following works well for me.
I cut the wing blanks from 1⁄32 sheet
and spray only the top with Windex
window cleaner. While it is damp, I use
masking-tape strips to clamp the sheets
on the top LE of a larger wing. I look for
a wing with a smooth LE and a chord no
less than 9 inches so there will be a
section that will produce a suitable airfoil
in the small wing. I am using an airfoil
depth of 6% with good results. A couple
of ribs on the bottom of the wing will
keep the airfoil in place.
The drive system is a stock KP-00
with a U-80 propeller. The front view
shows how it fits in the nose. I have had
good results attaching this sort of drive
with a patch of 1⁄16-inch double-stick
foam tape. The installation is quick and
resistant to damage.
The cabin view shows the placement
of the equipment. Again, the double-stick
tape serves well to hold the receiver and
battery in place. In this installation, the
actuators are glued to a contoured balsa
block, which is fastened to the floor.
Magnetic centering of the controls can
be accomplished by a closer spacing of
the actuator magnets or small
supplemental magnets on the outside of
the coil. One of these tiny 1⁄16-inchdiameter
magnets can be seen on the front
of the forward coil. When the centering is
correct, the magnets will track with the
control stick proportionally. Also visible
is the magnet used to hold the wing TE
clamped down. The wing serves as the
access hatch to the controls. This allows
the battery to be plugged directly into the
receiver, eliminating a switch and extra
wiring.
As for the flight performance of the
Mini Sport, it is faster and smoother than
stick-bodied models, and it is probably
slightly more maneuverable. At full
power, consecutive loops are routine, as
are hammerhead turns and rudder rolls.
The takeoffs and landings on a smooth
surface are trouble free.
Although it is speedy enough to
handle a moderate breeze, the tight
turning radius and minimum speed make
it possible to fly in close quarters. Of
course, the all-balsa structure is plenty
forgiving when you make a mistake.
Supplies for this type of model may be
found at www.smallrc.com, www.wonder
magnet.com, and www.superiorbalsa.com,
as well as other Internet specialty-supply
outfits.
Until next time, happy flying. MA
108 MODEL AVIATION
At St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, we can't.
That's why we are working every day to find cures for lifethreatening
diseases that strike children everywhere.
Diseases like cancer, pediatric AIDS, and sickle cell.
And we won't stop until every child is cured, and
every disease is defeated.
Because we can't imagine a world
without children...can you?
Call 1-800-996-4100 or log onto
www.stjude.org to learn
how you can help.
Can you imagine...
a world without children?
Our Full-Size Plans List has
hundreds of models to
choose from.
See page 191 for details.
10sig4.QXD 7/23/04 4:24 pm Page 108
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/10
Page Numbers: 104,106,108
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/10
Page Numbers: 104,106,108
104 MODEL AVIATION
GREETINGS micro-model enthusiasts! I have a mixed bag this
month. I will review a neat model that I found at the 2004 Toledo
Show, present a custom glider by a Williamsburg, Virginia,
modeler, and have a look at one of my latest micro projects.
The commercial model in question is an RTF of the 1903 Wright
Flyer by Megatech. The construction is molded plastic and foam,
and the little machine is completely assembled in the box.
Some of the specifications include a 15.5-inch wingspan, a 12.5-
inch length, a weight of 82.5 grams, an 83.2-square-inch wing area,
and 5 ounces per square foot of wing loading (wings only; the
canards contribute a small amount of lift). The motor is a Mabuchi
N20, the battery is five 200 mAh NiMH, and the propeller is a 2.6-
inch-diameter Direct Drive brand.
The control system varies the individual motor rpm to climb,
descend, and steer. Megatech refers to this as “vectored thrust.”
There are no servos or movable control surfaces. The range of the
27 or 49 MHz control system is specified as 1,000 feet, and it
certainly is adequate to fly the model within the boundaries of
vision. The transmitter has two proportional control sticks: the left
one for climb and descend, and the right for turning.
The transmitter operates on eight AA alkaline pen cell batteries.
This same battery is used to recharge the model battery between
flights with a jumper plug. The model battery has a neat little
thermal-sensitive button that changes color with the state of charge,
so there is no question when the flight battery is “up.” A group of
LEDs on the face of the transmitter describes the condition of the
transmitter battery. The model battery generally takes 2.5-4 minutes
for a charge, which yields a flight duration of 4-6 minutes.
The model package includes a clear and comprehensive
instruction manual relating to flight operations; however, that is not
all you get by a long shot! The shipping carton is an unusually
sturdy case with lovely graphics and a plastic carrying handle to
transport your Wright Flyer. There is a large, sturdy poster with
original pictures of the Wright brothers and more colorful pictures.
The package includes a nice booklet titled The Wright Story, a decal
sheet, and a certificate of authenticity signed by a member of the
Wright family.
How does it fly? I found the Wright Flyer to be a smooth, stable
Dave Robelen
M i c r o - F l y i n g
Route 4, Box 369, Farmville VA 23901; E-mail: [email protected]
The Megatech 1903 Wright Flyer is made from molded plastic and
foam, and it comes completely assembled.
The Wright Flyer kit comes with accessories, and additional parts
can be ordered through Megatech.
The nose view of the 30-30 glider shows the RFFS-100 control
system and a single Li-Poly cell for power.
A side view of the 30-30 shows the V-tail of the aircraft.
10sig4.QXD 7/23/04 10:42 am Page 104
106 MODEL AVIATION
model that was in good trim on the first
launch. The flying speed is not especially
slow, and the minimum turning radius can
be fairly large with the thrust-control
system. This can be a mixed blessing.
For a complete newcomer, in the
middle of a large, clear field, with
relatively calm winds, the Wright Flyer is
quite easy to fly and amply rugged. The
worst case would be to attempt to fly the
model in a crowded area with obstacles
and a breeze.
The foam wings and canards do not
take kindly to impacts, and it is easy to get
trapped downwind. A baseball outfield or
football field would be a great place to get
acquainted with the Wright Flyer. When
disasters strike, the parts may be repaired
with fast epoxy or Megatech can supply a
list of spare parts.
Although the Megatech Wright Flyer
may have limited appeal to the experienced
modeler who is looking for more
maneuverability, it is a nice package for
low-time fliers who are sampling our
hobby. The presentation of the product is
simply outstanding.
I have been browsing a package of
information sent by Bill Conkling (707
Monumental Ave., Williamsburg VA
23185; E-mail: [email protected]).
He has been bitten by the ultralight glider
bug and came up with a neat new design:
the 30-30. Bill’s glider was originally
developed for the Indoor RC Glider
competition at Waterford, Michigan, but he
is learning the fun of soaring outside in
light air with one of these gliders, as am I.
Bill made use of the RFFS-100 control
system, with a single Li-Poly cell for
power. The curvy stabilizers on the 30-30
are made from 1⁄32 balsa formed around an
old wing top. The large tail allows a
rearward CG of 50%. The wing airfoil is a
circular arc with a 1⁄2-inch rise in 51⁄4
inches. The center-section is made from 3⁄32
balsa spliced onto 1⁄16 balsa for the
remainder of the wing outline. The wing
outline is wet-formed over a fixture. The
wing ribs are laminations of 1⁄32 balsa with
the grain running along the curve of the
rib. The wing dihedral is 10° per panel, and
the V-tail has an included angle of 110°.
Bill reports a sink rate of roughly one
foot per second and a lift-to-drag ratio of
10:1. I have been present during much of
the flight testing, and the handling appears
to be excellent. Bill used Gary Hutchison
parts in the actuators, and the pushrods are
a combination of 1mm graphite rod and
24-gauge tinned copper buss wire for the
ends. Bill made his control horns from
scraps of graphite laminate cut with
scissors and bonded in place with
cyanoacrylate.
Bill, thanks for sharing with us! Why
don’t some of you other modelers send
information on your projects (hint, hint)?
My latest micro folly is a model that is
intended as more of an entry-level project
into a full-bodied micro. Named the Mini
Sport, this little all-balsa model will be
The author’s Mini Sport, which is an allbalsa
micro RC model, is intended to be
an entry-level project.
A cabin view of the Mini Sport shows the placement of the equipment. The author used
double-stick tape to hold the receiver and battery in place.
View of the Mini Sport shows how drive system and propeller fit in nose.
10sig4.QXD 7/23/04 4:23 pm Page 106
available as a laser-cut kit from Dynamic
Web Enterprises and will likely be
featured as a construction article in RC
MicroFlight. My purpose for showing
this one here is to share details about a
couple methods of construction and a
design method that might work well for
you.
Basically, the design method in
question involves scaling down a smoothflying
larger model and converting the
structure to mostly 1⁄32 sheet balsa. The
Mini Sport is a reduced-size version of
my GW Sport, published in Backyard
Flyer, with a wingspan of 39 inches. The
small aircraft has a span of 16 inches.
Modern copy machines can easily enlarge
or reduce a drawing at a copy center, so it
is a simple matter to produce a plan of the
desired size.
I mentioned using mostly 1⁄32 sheet
balsa. The fuselage and tail are
completely 1⁄32 sheet balsa. The section
over the nose was moistened to form the
curve. After trying several methods to get
a warp-free balsa wing, I found that the
following works well for me.
I cut the wing blanks from 1⁄32 sheet
and spray only the top with Windex
window cleaner. While it is damp, I use
masking-tape strips to clamp the sheets
on the top LE of a larger wing. I look for
a wing with a smooth LE and a chord no
less than 9 inches so there will be a
section that will produce a suitable airfoil
in the small wing. I am using an airfoil
depth of 6% with good results. A couple
of ribs on the bottom of the wing will
keep the airfoil in place.
The drive system is a stock KP-00
with a U-80 propeller. The front view
shows how it fits in the nose. I have had
good results attaching this sort of drive
with a patch of 1⁄16-inch double-stick
foam tape. The installation is quick and
resistant to damage.
The cabin view shows the placement
of the equipment. Again, the double-stick
tape serves well to hold the receiver and
battery in place. In this installation, the
actuators are glued to a contoured balsa
block, which is fastened to the floor.
Magnetic centering of the controls can
be accomplished by a closer spacing of
the actuator magnets or small
supplemental magnets on the outside of
the coil. One of these tiny 1⁄16-inchdiameter
magnets can be seen on the front
of the forward coil. When the centering is
correct, the magnets will track with the
control stick proportionally. Also visible
is the magnet used to hold the wing TE
clamped down. The wing serves as the
access hatch to the controls. This allows
the battery to be plugged directly into the
receiver, eliminating a switch and extra
wiring.
As for the flight performance of the
Mini Sport, it is faster and smoother than
stick-bodied models, and it is probably
slightly more maneuverable. At full
power, consecutive loops are routine, as
are hammerhead turns and rudder rolls.
The takeoffs and landings on a smooth
surface are trouble free.
Although it is speedy enough to
handle a moderate breeze, the tight
turning radius and minimum speed make
it possible to fly in close quarters. Of
course, the all-balsa structure is plenty
forgiving when you make a mistake.
Supplies for this type of model may be
found at www.smallrc.com, www.wonder
magnet.com, and www.superiorbalsa.com,
as well as other Internet specialty-supply
outfits.
Until next time, happy flying. MA
108 MODEL AVIATION
At St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, we can't.
That's why we are working every day to find cures for lifethreatening
diseases that strike children everywhere.
Diseases like cancer, pediatric AIDS, and sickle cell.
And we won't stop until every child is cured, and
every disease is defeated.
Because we can't imagine a world
without children...can you?
Call 1-800-996-4100 or log onto
www.stjude.org to learn
how you can help.
Can you imagine...
a world without children?
Our Full-Size Plans List has
hundreds of models to
choose from.
See page 191 for details.
10sig4.QXD 7/23/04 4:24 pm Page 108
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/10
Page Numbers: 104,106,108
104 MODEL AVIATION
GREETINGS micro-model enthusiasts! I have a mixed bag this
month. I will review a neat model that I found at the 2004 Toledo
Show, present a custom glider by a Williamsburg, Virginia,
modeler, and have a look at one of my latest micro projects.
The commercial model in question is an RTF of the 1903 Wright
Flyer by Megatech. The construction is molded plastic and foam,
and the little machine is completely assembled in the box.
Some of the specifications include a 15.5-inch wingspan, a 12.5-
inch length, a weight of 82.5 grams, an 83.2-square-inch wing area,
and 5 ounces per square foot of wing loading (wings only; the
canards contribute a small amount of lift). The motor is a Mabuchi
N20, the battery is five 200 mAh NiMH, and the propeller is a 2.6-
inch-diameter Direct Drive brand.
The control system varies the individual motor rpm to climb,
descend, and steer. Megatech refers to this as “vectored thrust.”
There are no servos or movable control surfaces. The range of the
27 or 49 MHz control system is specified as 1,000 feet, and it
certainly is adequate to fly the model within the boundaries of
vision. The transmitter has two proportional control sticks: the left
one for climb and descend, and the right for turning.
The transmitter operates on eight AA alkaline pen cell batteries.
This same battery is used to recharge the model battery between
flights with a jumper plug. The model battery has a neat little
thermal-sensitive button that changes color with the state of charge,
so there is no question when the flight battery is “up.” A group of
LEDs on the face of the transmitter describes the condition of the
transmitter battery. The model battery generally takes 2.5-4 minutes
for a charge, which yields a flight duration of 4-6 minutes.
The model package includes a clear and comprehensive
instruction manual relating to flight operations; however, that is not
all you get by a long shot! The shipping carton is an unusually
sturdy case with lovely graphics and a plastic carrying handle to
transport your Wright Flyer. There is a large, sturdy poster with
original pictures of the Wright brothers and more colorful pictures.
The package includes a nice booklet titled The Wright Story, a decal
sheet, and a certificate of authenticity signed by a member of the
Wright family.
How does it fly? I found the Wright Flyer to be a smooth, stable
Dave Robelen
M i c r o - F l y i n g
Route 4, Box 369, Farmville VA 23901; E-mail: [email protected]
The Megatech 1903 Wright Flyer is made from molded plastic and
foam, and it comes completely assembled.
The Wright Flyer kit comes with accessories, and additional parts
can be ordered through Megatech.
The nose view of the 30-30 glider shows the RFFS-100 control
system and a single Li-Poly cell for power.
A side view of the 30-30 shows the V-tail of the aircraft.
10sig4.QXD 7/23/04 10:42 am Page 104
106 MODEL AVIATION
model that was in good trim on the first
launch. The flying speed is not especially
slow, and the minimum turning radius can
be fairly large with the thrust-control
system. This can be a mixed blessing.
For a complete newcomer, in the
middle of a large, clear field, with
relatively calm winds, the Wright Flyer is
quite easy to fly and amply rugged. The
worst case would be to attempt to fly the
model in a crowded area with obstacles
and a breeze.
The foam wings and canards do not
take kindly to impacts, and it is easy to get
trapped downwind. A baseball outfield or
football field would be a great place to get
acquainted with the Wright Flyer. When
disasters strike, the parts may be repaired
with fast epoxy or Megatech can supply a
list of spare parts.
Although the Megatech Wright Flyer
may have limited appeal to the experienced
modeler who is looking for more
maneuverability, it is a nice package for
low-time fliers who are sampling our
hobby. The presentation of the product is
simply outstanding.
I have been browsing a package of
information sent by Bill Conkling (707
Monumental Ave., Williamsburg VA
23185; E-mail: [email protected]).
He has been bitten by the ultralight glider
bug and came up with a neat new design:
the 30-30. Bill’s glider was originally
developed for the Indoor RC Glider
competition at Waterford, Michigan, but he
is learning the fun of soaring outside in
light air with one of these gliders, as am I.
Bill made use of the RFFS-100 control
system, with a single Li-Poly cell for
power. The curvy stabilizers on the 30-30
are made from 1⁄32 balsa formed around an
old wing top. The large tail allows a
rearward CG of 50%. The wing airfoil is a
circular arc with a 1⁄2-inch rise in 51⁄4
inches. The center-section is made from 3⁄32
balsa spliced onto 1⁄16 balsa for the
remainder of the wing outline. The wing
outline is wet-formed over a fixture. The
wing ribs are laminations of 1⁄32 balsa with
the grain running along the curve of the
rib. The wing dihedral is 10° per panel, and
the V-tail has an included angle of 110°.
Bill reports a sink rate of roughly one
foot per second and a lift-to-drag ratio of
10:1. I have been present during much of
the flight testing, and the handling appears
to be excellent. Bill used Gary Hutchison
parts in the actuators, and the pushrods are
a combination of 1mm graphite rod and
24-gauge tinned copper buss wire for the
ends. Bill made his control horns from
scraps of graphite laminate cut with
scissors and bonded in place with
cyanoacrylate.
Bill, thanks for sharing with us! Why
don’t some of you other modelers send
information on your projects (hint, hint)?
My latest micro folly is a model that is
intended as more of an entry-level project
into a full-bodied micro. Named the Mini
Sport, this little all-balsa model will be
The author’s Mini Sport, which is an allbalsa
micro RC model, is intended to be
an entry-level project.
A cabin view of the Mini Sport shows the placement of the equipment. The author used
double-stick tape to hold the receiver and battery in place.
View of the Mini Sport shows how drive system and propeller fit in nose.
10sig4.QXD 7/23/04 4:23 pm Page 106
available as a laser-cut kit from Dynamic
Web Enterprises and will likely be
featured as a construction article in RC
MicroFlight. My purpose for showing
this one here is to share details about a
couple methods of construction and a
design method that might work well for
you.
Basically, the design method in
question involves scaling down a smoothflying
larger model and converting the
structure to mostly 1⁄32 sheet balsa. The
Mini Sport is a reduced-size version of
my GW Sport, published in Backyard
Flyer, with a wingspan of 39 inches. The
small aircraft has a span of 16 inches.
Modern copy machines can easily enlarge
or reduce a drawing at a copy center, so it
is a simple matter to produce a plan of the
desired size.
I mentioned using mostly 1⁄32 sheet
balsa. The fuselage and tail are
completely 1⁄32 sheet balsa. The section
over the nose was moistened to form the
curve. After trying several methods to get
a warp-free balsa wing, I found that the
following works well for me.
I cut the wing blanks from 1⁄32 sheet
and spray only the top with Windex
window cleaner. While it is damp, I use
masking-tape strips to clamp the sheets
on the top LE of a larger wing. I look for
a wing with a smooth LE and a chord no
less than 9 inches so there will be a
section that will produce a suitable airfoil
in the small wing. I am using an airfoil
depth of 6% with good results. A couple
of ribs on the bottom of the wing will
keep the airfoil in place.
The drive system is a stock KP-00
with a U-80 propeller. The front view
shows how it fits in the nose. I have had
good results attaching this sort of drive
with a patch of 1⁄16-inch double-stick
foam tape. The installation is quick and
resistant to damage.
The cabin view shows the placement
of the equipment. Again, the double-stick
tape serves well to hold the receiver and
battery in place. In this installation, the
actuators are glued to a contoured balsa
block, which is fastened to the floor.
Magnetic centering of the controls can
be accomplished by a closer spacing of
the actuator magnets or small
supplemental magnets on the outside of
the coil. One of these tiny 1⁄16-inchdiameter
magnets can be seen on the front
of the forward coil. When the centering is
correct, the magnets will track with the
control stick proportionally. Also visible
is the magnet used to hold the wing TE
clamped down. The wing serves as the
access hatch to the controls. This allows
the battery to be plugged directly into the
receiver, eliminating a switch and extra
wiring.
As for the flight performance of the
Mini Sport, it is faster and smoother than
stick-bodied models, and it is probably
slightly more maneuverable. At full
power, consecutive loops are routine, as
are hammerhead turns and rudder rolls.
The takeoffs and landings on a smooth
surface are trouble free.
Although it is speedy enough to
handle a moderate breeze, the tight
turning radius and minimum speed make
it possible to fly in close quarters. Of
course, the all-balsa structure is plenty
forgiving when you make a mistake.
Supplies for this type of model may be
found at www.smallrc.com, www.wonder
magnet.com, and www.superiorbalsa.com,
as well as other Internet specialty-supply
outfits.
Until next time, happy flying. MA
108 MODEL AVIATION
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Call 1-800-996-4100 or log onto
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Can you imagine...
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Our Full-Size Plans List has
hundreds of models to
choose from.
See page 191 for details.
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