Frequently Asked Questions - 2006/05

76 MODEL AVIATION
A clarification on the availability of Demon Clean
? Frequently Asked Questions Bob Aberle | [email protected]
Also included in this column:
• The world’s smallest helicopter?
• RTF indoor RC scale models
• Indoor sport RC aircraft
• A source for technical modeling
information
• RC servo speed reducers
• Multimotor electric thoughts
A closer view of
the Micron FP
from Precision
Heli. Power is
provided by a twocell,
250 mAh Li-
Poly battery pack.
The tiny electric-powered Micron FP is described as the world’s smallest conventional
RC helicopter. The main rotor is only 8.25 inches in diameter.
The micro indoor scale Nieuport 11 and Bucker Jungmeister (L)
will be sold with the micro RC system installed.
RC indoor scale micro Bucker Jungmeister and Nieuport 11 (R)
RTFs are expected to be offered by Northeast Sailplane Products.
THIS IS THE 26th monthly column in
which I will try to give you the best possible
answers to questions you have written or Emailed
to me. Each new inquiry has a
sequential number for identification
purposes.
Because publication space is limited, part
of this month’s material will be published
here, and you can find the column in its
entirety on the AMA Web site at
www.modelaircraft.org/mag/faq/index.asp.
All questions and answers will be posted
there.
Once the material is posted to the Web
site, you must access particular questions
and answers by subject matter or
categories. This is done to help you
retrieve data for particular subjects. When
you call up a question, it reads “Answer … ”
Double-click on that word, and that
information, along with any related photos,
will appear.
Let’s get started!
Before I start I need to follow up on FAQ
153, which was published in the October
2005 MA. I had suggested the use of a
product called Demon-Clean to remove the
varnish buildup from many fueled engines—
especially on the cylinder head and mufflers.
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Joe Malinchak’s half-size version of the Plantraco Butterfly spans 3.5 inches and weighs
2 grams, which is .07 ounce!
This four-motor B-17 is one of the many profile Sport Scale
models designed and sold by Joe and Don of DJ Aerotech.
Cedar Hobbies sells this B-29 that is powered by four GWS E-50
motors running direct drive. It sells for only $49.95.
I didn’t know that the original
supplier—Cooper Products—had sold
Demon-Clean to a new company, and I
have received many letters and E-mails
asking for the new supplier. The Cooper
Products Web site—www.cooper
fuels.com—now has a link to the new
Demon-Clean supplier: Bill Jensen of
B.J.’s Model Engine Service, 51 Hillside
Dr., Beacon Falls CT 06403; Tel./fax:
(203) 888-4819; E-mail: wbilljensen@
cs.com.
Q209: “I’ve seen several very small
electric-powered RC helicopters in the
various magazines of late. One was labeled
as the ‘World’s Smallest RC Helicopter.’
Can you give me a reference source that I
can pursue?”
A209: I hate to come out and write that
this or that is the “smallest in the world”
because a month from now that title might
go to another manufacturer. However, I
recently saw a flight demonstration of a
Micron FP electric-powered RC helicopter
that has a rotor diameter of only 8.25
inches.
The model’s length is 9 inches and the
ready-to-fly weight is 50 grams (1.76
ounces). That weight includes a two-cell,
250 mAh Li-Poly battery. This is a
“conventional” helicopter in that it has a
separate tail rotor and includes gyro
stabilization.
Precision Heli sells the Micron FP, and
you can contact the company at Box 1635,
Saint Augustine FL 32085; Tel.: (904)-
825-1171; Web site: www.precision
heli.com/. The Web site contains all the
information and prices.
From what I can gather the Micron is
available separately or as a complete
system with radio unit, gyros, battery, etc.
Q210: “I heard recently that Northeast
Sailplane Products was going to come out
with tiny RTF RC scale models for indoor
flying. I didn’t find any reference on their
Web site. Can you offer any insight on
this?”
A210: I did see several prototypes of these
RTF scale indoor electric-powered models
at the JR Indoor Electric Festival—
specifically a Nieuport 11 and a Bucker
Jungmeister. Each spanned approximately
12 inches and was claimed to weigh 24
grams (0.85 ounce) ready to fly.
These little airplanes come with the
radio systems, magnetic actuators, and
motors already installed. They flew
smoothly at slow speeds and even did
touch-and-gos at the event, which is
difficult for models of this size. I
understand that they are being made in the
Czech Republic.
I did not find any references to these
models on the Northeast Sailplane
Products Web site (www.nesail.com)
either, but I’m sure it will have been
added by the time this column is
published. Northeast Sailplane Products is
located at 948 Hercules Dr. Suite 12,
Colchester VT 05446. The telephone
number is (802)-655-7700.
Q211: “I have one of the new Plantraco
Butterfly RTF indoor RC electric models
using the company’s new 900 MHz RC
system. As small as that airplane is, I
heard that someone had reduced the
Butterfly to an even smaller size. Have
you seen this aircraft?”
A211: You are correct. Noted indoor
micro RC designer and flier Joe
Malinchak has a Butterfly scaled to half
size, with a 3.5-inch wingspan and a total
weight of just 2 grams. It is covered with
Risteen Associates Microlite.
The motor is a Didel 4mm pager type
with a homemade 5:1 gear drive. The
actuator is a 30-milligram Mueller type.
Control is rudder plus throttle. And yes, it
does fly indoors well! If you need more
details you can reach Joe at joemal@
echoes.net.
Q212: “Can you recommend a good
source for helpful technical tips for the
general model aircraft enthusiast?”
A212: I have an excellent source for you.
If you visit any of the many model
forums on the Internet, you will usually
see detailed responses to modelers’
questions from Don Stackhouse of DJ
Aerotech. Don and his partner Joe Hahn
produce that “fleet” of tiny profile RC
indoor scale models called the Roadkill
Series.
Throughout the years Joe and Don
have collected these various forum
responses and placed them on their Web
site. Go to www.djaerotech.com/dj_askjd/
and you will find roughly 400 posts. That
number is continually increasing.
A search feature will help you select
your subject matter. There are categories
for Hand Launched Gliders, Electrics,
design, and finishing, building, and flying
techniques.
If you are unable to find what you
want, there is a space for you to E-mail
your aviation-related query directly to
Joe and Don. They promise to answer all
reasonable questions. Give it a try! These
fellows work hard to help their fellow
modelers!
Q213: “I’m trying to locate a device that
would enable me to slow down the speed
of my retractable landing gear servo so
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that it would raise and lower in a more
realistic manner. I’m sure I saw a
reference for such a device but can’t seem
to locate it. Can you help?”
A213: Since you sent your question via
E-mail, I’ll assume that you have Internet
access. Rather than go through a bunch of
magazines or make phone calls, I took the
easy approach.
I accessed one of the major Internet
search engines (such as Google or Yahoo)
and typed in “slowing the speed of model
servos.” That request led me to www.rccam.
com/ldtastic.htm, which shows a
device called the Landastic: the “ultimate
RC model retract controller.” This small
accessory goes between your RC receiver
and your retract servo. From what I can
tell, it is actually a construction project.
The second site recommended was for
Dionysus Design (www.dionysus
design.com/), which sells the Servo Rate
Reducer. It costs $9.95 and weighs just a
gram. The basic idea is to encourage you
to use the major Internet search engines
to locate hard-to-find hobby items—
especially accessory items such as this.
Q214: “I know that one of the advantages
of electric power is that multimotor
operation (more than one motor) is a lot
more practical because the motors always
start together and stop together. Is there
any inexpensive way for me to try an
electric-powered twin or even a fourmotor
aircraft?”
A214: I watched Don Post of Toms
River, New Jersey, fly his four-motor
Sport Scale B-29 in Columbus, Ohio, at
the JR Indoor Electric Festival. The
model is an RTF is sold by Cedar
Hobbies of Houston, Texas (http://cedar
hobbies.net/index.php?id=products&pid=
0). It is made from molded foam and has
a 41-inch wingspan.
Power is supplied by four GWS E-50
motors running direct drive on a 7.2-volt,
650 mAh battery pack. This model is
selling for $49.95. I’m not sure what you
get for that price; I’ll leave you to deal
with Cedar Hobbies directly.
You must keep in mind that electric
multimotor operation provides a great
advantage when using brushed motors. In
many instances the motors can be
arranged in a series loop with the battery
voltage applied evenly to all the motors.
In that type of arrangement one ESC of
sufficient current capacity can control all
the motors.
However, the advantages tend to get
lost when you go to brushless motors.
Each brushless motor needs its own
(separate) brushless ESC. Besides the
extra weight and wiring complexity, you
end up with an expensive power system. I
can see electric brushless twins, but
beyond that I’d think twice before going
to brushless motors. MA
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