Radio Technique George M Myers EACH TIME discuss column someone hear same request Say some thing beginner Usually guy talk ing isnt beginner Upon further investigation find new crop beginners sprouted spring theyre making old mis takes explains request Well what can say beginner shows up radio model hand request Help fly words effect have idea Read instruction manual experienced modeler has reading magazines talking people long time Thats got smart has also flying lot thats got pro ficient beginner can get information reading discussing points doesnt understand someone does Proficiency comes well-planned wellexecuted practice Theres no gain practic ing mistakes experienced pilot begins pre-flight inspection radio working groundrange adequate instructions came radio tell measure what expect control surfaces move proper directions Proper direction convention People have standardized con vention can fly anothers air planes find convention gives trouble beginners practice mov ing lever transmitter up toward top box order make model come down People entering hobby expect airplane move same way push control levers something left over games Penny Arcade OK ginners now know works other way because comes situation guy sitting real airplane decided wanted airplane descend pushed control stick away him Rudder almost never connected wrong nosewheel steering frequently Thats because has move opposite rudder work right because its opposite end airplane Ailerons never seem give prob lems comprehension get hooked up backwards servo bottom wing because beginner doesnt expect reversal happens wing turned over placed fuselage Now know what look Next list potential problems fastenings general should bolt engine down bolts mounting holes provided bolts chosen should fill holes completely means #4-40 engines 15 cu size #6-32 engines 15 40 #8-32 40 61 cases Some people go up screw size greater security Nylon wing bolts usually described plans use two 1/4-20 bolts 60-sized airplanes two 3/16 #10-28 bolts 40 airplanes #10-28 anything smaller course Im considering engines smaller 049 have own smaller sizes dont carry RC gear very often Two birch dowels same diameter bolt go front wing holes plywood fuse lage cases above wing held rubber bands use dowel sizes above retain wing twice #64 1/4 wide bands weight airplane pounds running fore-and-aft side form cross add band crossing way just make sure others stay job Servo mounting screws usually provided radio get lost Replacements should #2 X 3/8 long pan-head sheet metal coarse thread screws screws must clamp down plastic case servo should pass through soft rubber grommets provide vibration isolation flight will release servo crash screws should holding Onto servo rails cut some hard wood never balsa Spruce rails 1/4 x 1/2 x 36 available hobby shops work well cut fit fuselage retained epoxy glue bad crash rails will pop free before damage done servo Battery receiver should encased least 1/2 thick foam should compressed expect vibration isola tion switch mounted airplane structure must have plenty slack Otherwise will tearing up some wires crash #3-48 screws usual size switches charging jacks Control surfaces should securely mounted enough hinges prevent flutter proper gap experts have trouble Gap easiest specify Use minimum will provide free motion control surfaces over working range working range much smaller think usually plus minus 15 degrees can keep gaps very narrow order thickness playing card hinges need what size harder answer because variables starting point must have least two hinges per control surface should big can make Cut slots control surface mount ing surface glue hinge place push pin toothpick through tab hinge perpendicular its surface glue place Now hinges wont work out hinges will need given surface best answer can give need keep surface flapping between hinges works out 8 inches strip aileron wing 60 pattern airplane An overly wide gap combined too few hinges invites flut ter loss control flight way stop slow down can final consideration issue pushrods 1/16 music wire standard connections servos control horns should extend 3 inches hole plastic control horn servo wheel because long wires too flexible promote control surface flutter Fill space between wires 1/4 X 1/4 balsa pushrod 5/16 diameter arrowshaft similar material prefer NYROD similar plastic pushrod make sure securely fastened end several points along way possible thanks go Scott McAfee suggesting theme column first Scott editor LIDS Long Island Drone Society newsletter Flyer address 70 Froehlich Farm Road Hicksville NY 11801 10 Model Aviation last years Nationals Quarter-Midget impound area director Hank Schwartz takes call assistant Mike Disser sits PA