144 MODEL AVIATION
IN THE JUNE column I wrote about Clancy Arnold’s solution for
hiding the elevator pushrod within a profile fuselage to improve a
model’s overall appearance. Clancy believes there are two aspects
to building a model: technical and artistic. In the last column I
provided a
technical approach
to making an
artistic
improvement in a
Profile model.
This month I am
going to provide
information about Clancy’s U/Tronics control system, which he
terms an “artistic design” to enhance the technical aspects of
building and flying a CL aircraft.
He also believes that your selection of a model to build is based
on the two factors I mentioned. If scratch building, you are
providing or working with the technical and artistic aspect.
However, if you are building from a kit, the technical part was left
up to the manufacturer and you provide the artistic portion in the
finishing process.
Clancy is providing a series of electronic systems that would
Details of Clancy Arnold’s U/Tronics control system
[[email protected]]
Control Line Scale Bill Boss
Also included in this column:
• A plea for scale data
Clancy’s multiple-channel U/Tronics unit is shown as a fourchannel
system and can be expanded to seven. Arnold photo.
Clancy Arnold’s single-channel U/Tronics unit can be used for a
single operational feature on a CL model. Arnold photo.
Dave Evar has installed a four-channel U/Tronics system unit,
battery, and controls in a box that is made part of a two-line
control handle. Evar photo.
meet any CL Scale modeler’s needs in controlling an airplane’s
operational features. The systems can be supplied in single- or
multiple-channel versions. Clancy provides only the electronic
module—not the battery, servos, miscellaneous connectors, etc.
I’ll start with the single-channel unit Clancy supplies with a
10K-ohm variable resistor used for controlling the U/Tronics
module and a single servo. In this case the U/Tronics module, the
4.8-volt battery that can supply a minimum of 110 mA current, the
servo, and the battery-charging jack arrangement are mounted in
the model. The 10K variable resistor is mounted at your control
handle to your own liking and connected to the flying lines.
The U/Tronics module weighs less than .5 ounce. This unit can
be used with a two- or three-line system, and what you control in
the model would be your preference. The single-channel unit costs
$20, and shipping is included in the price.
The other unit is a dual-channel system designed to be used
with a standard three-line bellcrank system that controls the
model’s throttle. In this system all three lines between handle and
airplane are used for signal transmission.
The U/Tronics module battery, charging-jack setup, and servos
are mounted in the airplane. Two 10K variable resistors are
supplied with the unit for controlling the two electronic channels
that might be used for flaps and bomb drop or any other
combination of your liking. The method of mounting the control
resistors at the control handle is your choice. This unit weighs
roughly .5 ounce and costs $32.
The last unit Clancy provides is one of multiple channels. The
basic unit is provided with four operational channels. If desired, the
basic four-channel unit can be expanded to meet any special
requirements up to a limit of seven channels.
The basic four-channel unit is $80 and consists of an encoder
and decoder. The encoder is built on a 1.2 x 1.7-inch circuit board
and weighs roughly .625 ounce, and the decoder for the model is
built on a .9 x 1.1-inch circuit board and weighs roughly .5 ounce.
If you want channels added to a four-channel unit, the cost is $5
per channel. If you want extra encoders or decoders for additional
handles or airplanes, you can purchase them for $40 each.
Power for the four-channel unit requires a 9-volt battery (or
equivalent rechargeable battery pack) for the encoder and a 4.8-volt
pack of the appropriate size for the model’s decoder and servos.
For the multiple-channel unit you must supply the switches,
potentiometers, or other types of control units, battery packs,
servos, and appropriate battery-charging equipment. All the units
08sig5.QXD 6/23/06 12:49 PM Page 144Clancy provides are wired to operate with
JR-compatible servos.
All units are shipped with an
instruction sheet called “Hints and Kinks”
that details the need for providing the
ability to recharge any battery used in the
model. That could be the ability to charge
the battery while in the model or if you
provide a means of removing the battery
for charging purposes. The instructions
note that the 9-volt battery should be
replaced when the voltage measures less
than 7.5.
Shown is a control handle devised by
Dave Evar of Brooklyn, Ohio, for his
four-channel unit. The black box contains
the encoder, 9-volt battery, and four
control units. Two of the control units are
the variable 10K potentiometers that face
the one holding the handle, and the other
two controls are switch functions. Also
provided at the top of the box is an on-off
switch.
What type and size of flying lines are
to be used with the U/Tronics units?
According to Clancy, the size of the lines
is dictated by AMA’s Competition
Regulations, governing your choice of
event and pull-test requirements.
The recommended lines are the nylonjacketed
stainless-steel fishing type. The
“Hints and Kinks” sheet provides the part
number to sizes and pull-test rating, and it
suggests Pure Fishing, 1900 18th St.,
Spirit Lake IA 51360, as a source for the
lines. The company can also be reached at
(877) 777-3850 or on the Internet at
www.purefishing.com.
Clancy also says that the resistance of
the stainless-steel flying wire is 50-80
ohms for 60 feet and that the line
resistance does not affect the system’s
operation. The accompanying photos
show the single- and multiple-channel
units.
Please keep in mind that any
arrangement you make for mounting the
controls, encoder, etc. at the handle must
be made with safety in mind and that any
arrangement must be able to withstandand pass any pull-test requirements.
Safety is always first.
Data Wanted: While reading a recent
issue of Replica—the newsletter of the
National Association of Scale
Aeromodelers (NASA)—I noticed that
president Stan Alexander has been trying
to obtain a good set of photos of the
Stinson SR-5.
According to Stan, the SR-5 was
introduced in 1934. It is not the
traditional gull-wing version you
normally see with the Stinson logo. The
SR-5 is a straight-wing version, and it
looks much like a Monocoupe of that
era.
If you know where an SR-5 is
located, you can contact Stan at
[email protected]. He would
like very much to be able to photograph
an SR-5 for documentation purposes.
The other item on the want list is
information about the Hawker “Slip
Wing” fighter. Doug Dahlke of Oshkosh,
Wisconsin, sent me a brief sketch that
came from an Aeromodeler magazine
issued in April 1960 showing the aircraft
as a biplane.
Why was it called a “Slip Wing”
fighter? For what type of service was the
airplane built? Would it make an
interesting Scale project? Anyone with
information about a source of threeviews
and photos for documentation can
send the information to me at my E-mail
address. I’ll forward it to Doug.
Please send ideas, notice of upcoming
CL Scale events, contest reports, and
especially photos of CL Scale activity to
me at the E-mail address or by regular
mail to 77-06 269th St., New Hyde Park
NY 11040. Remember that 35mm film
pictures are okay, and digital photos
must be submitted on a CD.
I hope to hear from many of you and
that all of you have good landings. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/08
Page Numbers: 144,146
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/08
Page Numbers: 144,146
144 MODEL AVIATION
IN THE JUNE column I wrote about Clancy Arnold’s solution for
hiding the elevator pushrod within a profile fuselage to improve a
model’s overall appearance. Clancy believes there are two aspects
to building a model: technical and artistic. In the last column I
provided a
technical approach
to making an
artistic
improvement in a
Profile model.
This month I am
going to provide
information about Clancy’s U/Tronics control system, which he
terms an “artistic design” to enhance the technical aspects of
building and flying a CL aircraft.
He also believes that your selection of a model to build is based
on the two factors I mentioned. If scratch building, you are
providing or working with the technical and artistic aspect.
However, if you are building from a kit, the technical part was left
up to the manufacturer and you provide the artistic portion in the
finishing process.
Clancy is providing a series of electronic systems that would
Details of Clancy Arnold’s U/Tronics control system
[[email protected]]
Control Line Scale Bill Boss
Also included in this column:
• A plea for scale data
Clancy’s multiple-channel U/Tronics unit is shown as a fourchannel
system and can be expanded to seven. Arnold photo.
Clancy Arnold’s single-channel U/Tronics unit can be used for a
single operational feature on a CL model. Arnold photo.
Dave Evar has installed a four-channel U/Tronics system unit,
battery, and controls in a box that is made part of a two-line
control handle. Evar photo.
meet any CL Scale modeler’s needs in controlling an airplane’s
operational features. The systems can be supplied in single- or
multiple-channel versions. Clancy provides only the electronic
module—not the battery, servos, miscellaneous connectors, etc.
I’ll start with the single-channel unit Clancy supplies with a
10K-ohm variable resistor used for controlling the U/Tronics
module and a single servo. In this case the U/Tronics module, the
4.8-volt battery that can supply a minimum of 110 mA current, the
servo, and the battery-charging jack arrangement are mounted in
the model. The 10K variable resistor is mounted at your control
handle to your own liking and connected to the flying lines.
The U/Tronics module weighs less than .5 ounce. This unit can
be used with a two- or three-line system, and what you control in
the model would be your preference. The single-channel unit costs
$20, and shipping is included in the price.
The other unit is a dual-channel system designed to be used
with a standard three-line bellcrank system that controls the
model’s throttle. In this system all three lines between handle and
airplane are used for signal transmission.
The U/Tronics module battery, charging-jack setup, and servos
are mounted in the airplane. Two 10K variable resistors are
supplied with the unit for controlling the two electronic channels
that might be used for flaps and bomb drop or any other
combination of your liking. The method of mounting the control
resistors at the control handle is your choice. This unit weighs
roughly .5 ounce and costs $32.
The last unit Clancy provides is one of multiple channels. The
basic unit is provided with four operational channels. If desired, the
basic four-channel unit can be expanded to meet any special
requirements up to a limit of seven channels.
The basic four-channel unit is $80 and consists of an encoder
and decoder. The encoder is built on a 1.2 x 1.7-inch circuit board
and weighs roughly .625 ounce, and the decoder for the model is
built on a .9 x 1.1-inch circuit board and weighs roughly .5 ounce.
If you want channels added to a four-channel unit, the cost is $5
per channel. If you want extra encoders or decoders for additional
handles or airplanes, you can purchase them for $40 each.
Power for the four-channel unit requires a 9-volt battery (or
equivalent rechargeable battery pack) for the encoder and a 4.8-volt
pack of the appropriate size for the model’s decoder and servos.
For the multiple-channel unit you must supply the switches,
potentiometers, or other types of control units, battery packs,
servos, and appropriate battery-charging equipment. All the units
08sig5.QXD 6/23/06 12:49 PM Page 144Clancy provides are wired to operate with
JR-compatible servos.
All units are shipped with an
instruction sheet called “Hints and Kinks”
that details the need for providing the
ability to recharge any battery used in the
model. That could be the ability to charge
the battery while in the model or if you
provide a means of removing the battery
for charging purposes. The instructions
note that the 9-volt battery should be
replaced when the voltage measures less
than 7.5.
Shown is a control handle devised by
Dave Evar of Brooklyn, Ohio, for his
four-channel unit. The black box contains
the encoder, 9-volt battery, and four
control units. Two of the control units are
the variable 10K potentiometers that face
the one holding the handle, and the other
two controls are switch functions. Also
provided at the top of the box is an on-off
switch.
What type and size of flying lines are
to be used with the U/Tronics units?
According to Clancy, the size of the lines
is dictated by AMA’s Competition
Regulations, governing your choice of
event and pull-test requirements.
The recommended lines are the nylonjacketed
stainless-steel fishing type. The
“Hints and Kinks” sheet provides the part
number to sizes and pull-test rating, and it
suggests Pure Fishing, 1900 18th St.,
Spirit Lake IA 51360, as a source for the
lines. The company can also be reached at
(877) 777-3850 or on the Internet at
www.purefishing.com.
Clancy also says that the resistance of
the stainless-steel flying wire is 50-80
ohms for 60 feet and that the line
resistance does not affect the system’s
operation. The accompanying photos
show the single- and multiple-channel
units.
Please keep in mind that any
arrangement you make for mounting the
controls, encoder, etc. at the handle must
be made with safety in mind and that any
arrangement must be able to withstandand pass any pull-test requirements.
Safety is always first.
Data Wanted: While reading a recent
issue of Replica—the newsletter of the
National Association of Scale
Aeromodelers (NASA)—I noticed that
president Stan Alexander has been trying
to obtain a good set of photos of the
Stinson SR-5.
According to Stan, the SR-5 was
introduced in 1934. It is not the
traditional gull-wing version you
normally see with the Stinson logo. The
SR-5 is a straight-wing version, and it
looks much like a Monocoupe of that
era.
If you know where an SR-5 is
located, you can contact Stan at
[email protected]. He would
like very much to be able to photograph
an SR-5 for documentation purposes.
The other item on the want list is
information about the Hawker “Slip
Wing” fighter. Doug Dahlke of Oshkosh,
Wisconsin, sent me a brief sketch that
came from an Aeromodeler magazine
issued in April 1960 showing the aircraft
as a biplane.
Why was it called a “Slip Wing”
fighter? For what type of service was the
airplane built? Would it make an
interesting Scale project? Anyone with
information about a source of threeviews
and photos for documentation can
send the information to me at my E-mail
address. I’ll forward it to Doug.
Please send ideas, notice of upcoming
CL Scale events, contest reports, and
especially photos of CL Scale activity to
me at the E-mail address or by regular
mail to 77-06 269th St., New Hyde Park
NY 11040. Remember that 35mm film
pictures are okay, and digital photos
must be submitted on a CD.
I hope to hear from many of you and
that all of you have good landings. MA