Indoor model airplanes: a credit to FF modelers
September 2008 71
? Frequently Asked Questions Bob Aberle | [email protected]
Above: When the warning sounds that
the throttle stick is not at idle, the LCD
screen will read “TH-Hi,” which means
throttle at high position.
Left: Airtronics’ RDS8000 spread
spectrum RC transmitter. The throttle
control stick is not at idle, so the
transmitter will sound a warning and will not
turn on until you move the stick to idle or
dead low.
Also included in this column:
• FMA Direct Cellpro 10s charger
• Airtronics RDS8000 thinks
safety
• Custom Electronics voltmeter
• New Kyosho micro four-channel
RTFs
• Follow-up on paper airplanes
and a book reference
Left: Ron Williams’ excellent reference for
all types of rubber-powered indoor
aircraft, including those covered with
microfilm.
FMA Direct’s Cellpro 10S has many new
features, including the ability to charge
two Li-Poly battery packs at the same time
and charge safely at a 3C rate in 20
minutes.
PLEASE WRITE IN with your questions,
since that is the only way we can keep this
column format going. When referring to
already published Q/As (for follow-ups),
provide the number as a reference. Also
note that addresses and Web sites are now
placed in a group, separate from the text, at
the end of this column under “Sources.”
Q364: “I see a lot of references in model
publications to micro indoor RC flying
using electric motors for power. Years ago I
flew indoor rubber powered aircraft. In
other words I did not use RC or electric
power. Are some modelers still flying this
type aircraft and if so can you recommend
any general form of reference material?”
A364: Many dedicated and experienced
modelers are still flying indoor rubberpowered
aircraft. Indoor rubber power is
one of the many events included in the
annual AMA Nats.
An old friend and fellow Long Island
Gas Monkeys club member, Ron Williams,
has specialized in indoor rubber-powered
models for years. He wrote an excellent
book about the subject and published it
himself in 1981 with a second printing in
1984.
Ron recently made a third printing, titled
Building & Flying Indoor Model Airplanes
(ISBN 978-0-615-20203-7). It contains
more than 200 drawings, sketches, and
photographs. Aero Craft is selling the book,
and the company’s Web site contains a
good write-up along with several sample
drawings. The book is $24.95 plus shipping
and handling.
Q365: “Many of my local modeling friends
seem to be using the FMA Direct Cellpro 4s
balanced Li-Poly and A-123 battery
charger. I understand that FMA has recently
introduced a new Cellpro 10s charger and
was wondering what’s the difference in
these chargers?”
A365: The FMA Direct Cellpro 4s balance
charger can charge as many as four cells at
up to a 4-amp current. It has a single output
intended to charge one battery at a time. The
new Cellpro 10s is a more powerful version
than the 4s, and it will cost you a lot more.
But the new features are certainly worth
exploring.
With the 10s, you can charge two
separate battery packs, up to five cells each
and at up to a 5-amp current each (a total of
10 amps). The special balancing software
that FMA Direct developed will allow you
to charge batteries at up to a 3C rate. This
means that instead of taking an hour to fully
charge a battery, you can do it safely in 20
minutes.
Another of the Cellpro 10s’s big pluses
is that internal software can be downloaded
through a PC at regular intervals, and
charging data can be stored and graphed
using a PC. If you haven’t already bought a
Cellpro 4s, think hard about moving up to
the new 10s. I just wrote a detailed 17-page
review of the Cellpro10s charger for AMA’s
Sport Aviator webzine.
Q366: “I just purchased a new Airtronics
RDS8000 2.4 GHz spread spectrum RC
system. After checking it out and getting
ready for my first flight, I turned on the
transmitter and heard a continuous beeping
sound and noted a message on the LCD
screen indicating ‘TH-Hi.’ I didn’t see any
screen like this in my owner’s manual. What
am I doing wrong?”
72 MODEL AVIATION
Above: Bob purchased this excellent 250-
page book used but in good condition from
Amazon.com. He paid less than $10 for it.
A366: Nothing is wrong, but when you look
through a new owner’s manual, you should
read the text as well as look at the
illustrations.
On page 11 of the manual is a chapter
titled “Throttle High Warning.” The
RDS8000 has a built-in warning system that
will not let you operate the transmitter
unless the throttle control stick is in the
dead low or idle position. At any other stick
position, the alarm will sound and the
message “TH-Hi” (throttle high) will appear
on the screen.
As soon as you move the stick to the idle
position, the alarm stops, the message leaves
the screen, and the transmitter operates
normally.
If you have an electric-powered aircraft,
most of the new ESCs will not let you start
the motor until the throttle is at the idle
position. Therefore, this warning feature
may be redundant. But glow-fuel pilots can
benefit from this feature, because you sure
don’t want your engine starting at anything
but idle speeds. So this is a worthwhile
safety feature for any modeler, regardless of
the power system.
Q367: “When you employ electric power
your ESC will, most of the time, have a
BEC that allows you to power your RC
system from the main battery pack. Since
this pack is charged often (sometimes before
each flight) there isn’t much concern as to
the power left in the battery. There will
always be some power remaining to operate
the radio until a safe landing is made.
“But I have several larger electric
powered models that don’t have a BEC and
require a separate battery. I also fly glowfueled
models that require an airborne
battery pack. How can I quickly determine
at the flying field that my battery still has
enough power to operate the airborne RC
system?”
A367: To quickly determine battery
capacity at the field, you need a voltmeter
that applies a load to your battery pack.
Simply attaching a digital or analog
voltmeter will not make a valid test; a
simulated load must be applied. Through the
years I’ve seen several meters that do this
job, but the problem has always been too
little of a load or not enough choice of
loads.
Peak Electronics now sells the Custom
Electronics Loaded Digital Voltmeter (item
CEL-1530) for $59.95. This handy little
tester can plug into the charging jack on the
side of your aircraft fuselage. You can
measure pure voltage with no load or select
“Load” and have a choice of 250 mA, 500
mA, and even 1000 mA for those largercapacity
battery packs.
The instructions that come with the
meter cover, extremely carefully, how to
analyze the readings you obtain and give
you an idea of when it is time to stop flying
and recharge the battery. So please don’t
guess; measure the voltage—under load!
Q368: “I’ve noted the big explosion in
micro indoor RC electric powered aircraft. I
suspect with the high cost of automobile
gasoline, traveling to distant flying sites may
require some ‘cutting back.’ The thought of
flying in a local gymnasium or sports dome,
now seems like an excellent idea.
“However, I still like doing aerobatics
and would very much like to see indoor
micro RTF models available with full
four-channel control, including ailerons
for roll maneuvers. Do you see this
happening in the near future?”
A368: I’ve seen Web site information
indicating that at least one company—
Kyosho of Japan— is thinking along these
lines. I found its new Piper Cherokee that
comes as an RTF with a 2.4 GHz spread
spectrum RC system, a brushed/geared
motor, an ESC, a Li-Poly battery, and a
charger. The model is set up for full fourchannel
operation, including ailerons.
Total flying weight is 24 grams (0.85
ounce).
Kyosho will soon introduce a full fourchannel-
control electric-powered
helicopter called the Caliber 120, also with
2.4 GHz RC and including a gyro. Its
flying weight is expected to be only 30
grams, and it should come with training
gear. If I understood correctly, these
products will be available roughly
midsummer.
Q340 Follow-Up: After this Q/A
concerning Fiddlers Green paper aircraft
was published in the April 2008 column,
on page 88, I received many E-mails from
readers. One from Joe Mielnicki
mentioned another source for paper
aircraft. Keep in mind that even if you
don’t build these models, they still offer
excellent three-views from which you can
construct micro and park flyer-size
aircraft.
Joe referred me to Paper Models
International (PMI) of Beaverton, Oregon,
which has a 60-page online catalog
available. The company even carries the
line of Fiddlers Green paper aircraft that I
Above: Kyosho will soon sell micro indoor
RC electric RTFs, such as this Piper
Cherokee, with full four-channel control. It
will have aileron and rudder and will be
able to do rolls indoors.
Right: The Custom Electronics digital
voltmeter has a choice of load currents. It
is the easiest way to check on your
airborne RC system battery pack’s state of
charge.
mentioned in the column. It is well worth
your time to scan through this catalog.
Since Joe knew I am interested in
unusual airplanes for my various modeldesign
projects, he also referred me to the
excellent Encyclopedia of the World’s
Commercial and Private Aircraft (ISBN 0-
517-362856). This large-format book
contains more than 250 pages that include
143 diagrams, 113 color profiles, 230 color
photographs, six color three-views, and 25
cutaway drawings. It is a treasure for any
aviation enthusiast, and especially for scalemodel
designers and builders.
Such a reference, when new, might have
sold for close to $100. Joe suggested trying
Amazon.com for used copies. I did and
found quite a few, with the conditions
varying with the prices. I ended up with a
clean copy that arrived in approximately a
week, for less than $10. Try this for
yourself. MA
Sources:
Aero Craft
(631) 369-9319
www.aerocraftrc.com
Sport Aviator FMA Cellpro 10S review:
www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=7
&ID=202
Airtronics
(800) 262-1178
www.airtronics.net
Peak Electronics
(800) 532-0092
www.siriuselectronics.com
Kyosho Piper Cherokee:
www.kyosho.com/eng/products/rc/detail.ht
ml?product_id=103626
Kyosho Caliber 120:
www.kyosho.com/eng/products/rc/detail.ht
ml?product_id=103627
PMI
(503) 646-4289
www.papermodels.net
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/09
Page Numbers: 71,72,74
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/09
Page Numbers: 71,72,74
Indoor model airplanes: a credit to FF modelers
September 2008 71
? Frequently Asked Questions Bob Aberle | [email protected]
Above: When the warning sounds that
the throttle stick is not at idle, the LCD
screen will read “TH-Hi,” which means
throttle at high position.
Left: Airtronics’ RDS8000 spread
spectrum RC transmitter. The throttle
control stick is not at idle, so the
transmitter will sound a warning and will not
turn on until you move the stick to idle or
dead low.
Also included in this column:
• FMA Direct Cellpro 10s charger
• Airtronics RDS8000 thinks
safety
• Custom Electronics voltmeter
• New Kyosho micro four-channel
RTFs
• Follow-up on paper airplanes
and a book reference
Left: Ron Williams’ excellent reference for
all types of rubber-powered indoor
aircraft, including those covered with
microfilm.
FMA Direct’s Cellpro 10S has many new
features, including the ability to charge
two Li-Poly battery packs at the same time
and charge safely at a 3C rate in 20
minutes.
PLEASE WRITE IN with your questions,
since that is the only way we can keep this
column format going. When referring to
already published Q/As (for follow-ups),
provide the number as a reference. Also
note that addresses and Web sites are now
placed in a group, separate from the text, at
the end of this column under “Sources.”
Q364: “I see a lot of references in model
publications to micro indoor RC flying
using electric motors for power. Years ago I
flew indoor rubber powered aircraft. In
other words I did not use RC or electric
power. Are some modelers still flying this
type aircraft and if so can you recommend
any general form of reference material?”
A364: Many dedicated and experienced
modelers are still flying indoor rubberpowered
aircraft. Indoor rubber power is
one of the many events included in the
annual AMA Nats.
An old friend and fellow Long Island
Gas Monkeys club member, Ron Williams,
has specialized in indoor rubber-powered
models for years. He wrote an excellent
book about the subject and published it
himself in 1981 with a second printing in
1984.
Ron recently made a third printing, titled
Building & Flying Indoor Model Airplanes
(ISBN 978-0-615-20203-7). It contains
more than 200 drawings, sketches, and
photographs. Aero Craft is selling the book,
and the company’s Web site contains a
good write-up along with several sample
drawings. The book is $24.95 plus shipping
and handling.
Q365: “Many of my local modeling friends
seem to be using the FMA Direct Cellpro 4s
balanced Li-Poly and A-123 battery
charger. I understand that FMA has recently
introduced a new Cellpro 10s charger and
was wondering what’s the difference in
these chargers?”
A365: The FMA Direct Cellpro 4s balance
charger can charge as many as four cells at
up to a 4-amp current. It has a single output
intended to charge one battery at a time. The
new Cellpro 10s is a more powerful version
than the 4s, and it will cost you a lot more.
But the new features are certainly worth
exploring.
With the 10s, you can charge two
separate battery packs, up to five cells each
and at up to a 5-amp current each (a total of
10 amps). The special balancing software
that FMA Direct developed will allow you
to charge batteries at up to a 3C rate. This
means that instead of taking an hour to fully
charge a battery, you can do it safely in 20
minutes.
Another of the Cellpro 10s’s big pluses
is that internal software can be downloaded
through a PC at regular intervals, and
charging data can be stored and graphed
using a PC. If you haven’t already bought a
Cellpro 4s, think hard about moving up to
the new 10s. I just wrote a detailed 17-page
review of the Cellpro10s charger for AMA’s
Sport Aviator webzine.
Q366: “I just purchased a new Airtronics
RDS8000 2.4 GHz spread spectrum RC
system. After checking it out and getting
ready for my first flight, I turned on the
transmitter and heard a continuous beeping
sound and noted a message on the LCD
screen indicating ‘TH-Hi.’ I didn’t see any
screen like this in my owner’s manual. What
am I doing wrong?”
72 MODEL AVIATION
Above: Bob purchased this excellent 250-
page book used but in good condition from
Amazon.com. He paid less than $10 for it.
A366: Nothing is wrong, but when you look
through a new owner’s manual, you should
read the text as well as look at the
illustrations.
On page 11 of the manual is a chapter
titled “Throttle High Warning.” The
RDS8000 has a built-in warning system that
will not let you operate the transmitter
unless the throttle control stick is in the
dead low or idle position. At any other stick
position, the alarm will sound and the
message “TH-Hi” (throttle high) will appear
on the screen.
As soon as you move the stick to the idle
position, the alarm stops, the message leaves
the screen, and the transmitter operates
normally.
If you have an electric-powered aircraft,
most of the new ESCs will not let you start
the motor until the throttle is at the idle
position. Therefore, this warning feature
may be redundant. But glow-fuel pilots can
benefit from this feature, because you sure
don’t want your engine starting at anything
but idle speeds. So this is a worthwhile
safety feature for any modeler, regardless of
the power system.
Q367: “When you employ electric power
your ESC will, most of the time, have a
BEC that allows you to power your RC
system from the main battery pack. Since
this pack is charged often (sometimes before
each flight) there isn’t much concern as to
the power left in the battery. There will
always be some power remaining to operate
the radio until a safe landing is made.
“But I have several larger electric
powered models that don’t have a BEC and
require a separate battery. I also fly glowfueled
models that require an airborne
battery pack. How can I quickly determine
at the flying field that my battery still has
enough power to operate the airborne RC
system?”
A367: To quickly determine battery
capacity at the field, you need a voltmeter
that applies a load to your battery pack.
Simply attaching a digital or analog
voltmeter will not make a valid test; a
simulated load must be applied. Through the
years I’ve seen several meters that do this
job, but the problem has always been too
little of a load or not enough choice of
loads.
Peak Electronics now sells the Custom
Electronics Loaded Digital Voltmeter (item
CEL-1530) for $59.95. This handy little
tester can plug into the charging jack on the
side of your aircraft fuselage. You can
measure pure voltage with no load or select
“Load” and have a choice of 250 mA, 500
mA, and even 1000 mA for those largercapacity
battery packs.
The instructions that come with the
meter cover, extremely carefully, how to
analyze the readings you obtain and give
you an idea of when it is time to stop flying
and recharge the battery. So please don’t
guess; measure the voltage—under load!
Q368: “I’ve noted the big explosion in
micro indoor RC electric powered aircraft. I
suspect with the high cost of automobile
gasoline, traveling to distant flying sites may
require some ‘cutting back.’ The thought of
flying in a local gymnasium or sports dome,
now seems like an excellent idea.
“However, I still like doing aerobatics
and would very much like to see indoor
micro RTF models available with full
four-channel control, including ailerons
for roll maneuvers. Do you see this
happening in the near future?”
A368: I’ve seen Web site information
indicating that at least one company—
Kyosho of Japan— is thinking along these
lines. I found its new Piper Cherokee that
comes as an RTF with a 2.4 GHz spread
spectrum RC system, a brushed/geared
motor, an ESC, a Li-Poly battery, and a
charger. The model is set up for full fourchannel
operation, including ailerons.
Total flying weight is 24 grams (0.85
ounce).
Kyosho will soon introduce a full fourchannel-
control electric-powered
helicopter called the Caliber 120, also with
2.4 GHz RC and including a gyro. Its
flying weight is expected to be only 30
grams, and it should come with training
gear. If I understood correctly, these
products will be available roughly
midsummer.
Q340 Follow-Up: After this Q/A
concerning Fiddlers Green paper aircraft
was published in the April 2008 column,
on page 88, I received many E-mails from
readers. One from Joe Mielnicki
mentioned another source for paper
aircraft. Keep in mind that even if you
don’t build these models, they still offer
excellent three-views from which you can
construct micro and park flyer-size
aircraft.
Joe referred me to Paper Models
International (PMI) of Beaverton, Oregon,
which has a 60-page online catalog
available. The company even carries the
line of Fiddlers Green paper aircraft that I
Above: Kyosho will soon sell micro indoor
RC electric RTFs, such as this Piper
Cherokee, with full four-channel control. It
will have aileron and rudder and will be
able to do rolls indoors.
Right: The Custom Electronics digital
voltmeter has a choice of load currents. It
is the easiest way to check on your
airborne RC system battery pack’s state of
charge.
mentioned in the column. It is well worth
your time to scan through this catalog.
Since Joe knew I am interested in
unusual airplanes for my various modeldesign
projects, he also referred me to the
excellent Encyclopedia of the World’s
Commercial and Private Aircraft (ISBN 0-
517-362856). This large-format book
contains more than 250 pages that include
143 diagrams, 113 color profiles, 230 color
photographs, six color three-views, and 25
cutaway drawings. It is a treasure for any
aviation enthusiast, and especially for scalemodel
designers and builders.
Such a reference, when new, might have
sold for close to $100. Joe suggested trying
Amazon.com for used copies. I did and
found quite a few, with the conditions
varying with the prices. I ended up with a
clean copy that arrived in approximately a
week, for less than $10. Try this for
yourself. MA
Sources:
Aero Craft
(631) 369-9319
www.aerocraftrc.com
Sport Aviator FMA Cellpro 10S review:
www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=7
&ID=202
Airtronics
(800) 262-1178
www.airtronics.net
Peak Electronics
(800) 532-0092
www.siriuselectronics.com
Kyosho Piper Cherokee:
www.kyosho.com/eng/products/rc/detail.ht
ml?product_id=103626
Kyosho Caliber 120:
www.kyosho.com/eng/products/rc/detail.ht
ml?product_id=103627
PMI
(503) 646-4289
www.papermodels.net
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/09
Page Numbers: 71,72,74
Indoor model airplanes: a credit to FF modelers
September 2008 71
? Frequently Asked Questions Bob Aberle | [email protected]
Above: When the warning sounds that
the throttle stick is not at idle, the LCD
screen will read “TH-Hi,” which means
throttle at high position.
Left: Airtronics’ RDS8000 spread
spectrum RC transmitter. The throttle
control stick is not at idle, so the
transmitter will sound a warning and will not
turn on until you move the stick to idle or
dead low.
Also included in this column:
• FMA Direct Cellpro 10s charger
• Airtronics RDS8000 thinks
safety
• Custom Electronics voltmeter
• New Kyosho micro four-channel
RTFs
• Follow-up on paper airplanes
and a book reference
Left: Ron Williams’ excellent reference for
all types of rubber-powered indoor
aircraft, including those covered with
microfilm.
FMA Direct’s Cellpro 10S has many new
features, including the ability to charge
two Li-Poly battery packs at the same time
and charge safely at a 3C rate in 20
minutes.
PLEASE WRITE IN with your questions,
since that is the only way we can keep this
column format going. When referring to
already published Q/As (for follow-ups),
provide the number as a reference. Also
note that addresses and Web sites are now
placed in a group, separate from the text, at
the end of this column under “Sources.”
Q364: “I see a lot of references in model
publications to micro indoor RC flying
using electric motors for power. Years ago I
flew indoor rubber powered aircraft. In
other words I did not use RC or electric
power. Are some modelers still flying this
type aircraft and if so can you recommend
any general form of reference material?”
A364: Many dedicated and experienced
modelers are still flying indoor rubberpowered
aircraft. Indoor rubber power is
one of the many events included in the
annual AMA Nats.
An old friend and fellow Long Island
Gas Monkeys club member, Ron Williams,
has specialized in indoor rubber-powered
models for years. He wrote an excellent
book about the subject and published it
himself in 1981 with a second printing in
1984.
Ron recently made a third printing, titled
Building & Flying Indoor Model Airplanes
(ISBN 978-0-615-20203-7). It contains
more than 200 drawings, sketches, and
photographs. Aero Craft is selling the book,
and the company’s Web site contains a
good write-up along with several sample
drawings. The book is $24.95 plus shipping
and handling.
Q365: “Many of my local modeling friends
seem to be using the FMA Direct Cellpro 4s
balanced Li-Poly and A-123 battery
charger. I understand that FMA has recently
introduced a new Cellpro 10s charger and
was wondering what’s the difference in
these chargers?”
A365: The FMA Direct Cellpro 4s balance
charger can charge as many as four cells at
up to a 4-amp current. It has a single output
intended to charge one battery at a time. The
new Cellpro 10s is a more powerful version
than the 4s, and it will cost you a lot more.
But the new features are certainly worth
exploring.
With the 10s, you can charge two
separate battery packs, up to five cells each
and at up to a 5-amp current each (a total of
10 amps). The special balancing software
that FMA Direct developed will allow you
to charge batteries at up to a 3C rate. This
means that instead of taking an hour to fully
charge a battery, you can do it safely in 20
minutes.
Another of the Cellpro 10s’s big pluses
is that internal software can be downloaded
through a PC at regular intervals, and
charging data can be stored and graphed
using a PC. If you haven’t already bought a
Cellpro 4s, think hard about moving up to
the new 10s. I just wrote a detailed 17-page
review of the Cellpro10s charger for AMA’s
Sport Aviator webzine.
Q366: “I just purchased a new Airtronics
RDS8000 2.4 GHz spread spectrum RC
system. After checking it out and getting
ready for my first flight, I turned on the
transmitter and heard a continuous beeping
sound and noted a message on the LCD
screen indicating ‘TH-Hi.’ I didn’t see any
screen like this in my owner’s manual. What
am I doing wrong?”
72 MODEL AVIATION
Above: Bob purchased this excellent 250-
page book used but in good condition from
Amazon.com. He paid less than $10 for it.
A366: Nothing is wrong, but when you look
through a new owner’s manual, you should
read the text as well as look at the
illustrations.
On page 11 of the manual is a chapter
titled “Throttle High Warning.” The
RDS8000 has a built-in warning system that
will not let you operate the transmitter
unless the throttle control stick is in the
dead low or idle position. At any other stick
position, the alarm will sound and the
message “TH-Hi” (throttle high) will appear
on the screen.
As soon as you move the stick to the idle
position, the alarm stops, the message leaves
the screen, and the transmitter operates
normally.
If you have an electric-powered aircraft,
most of the new ESCs will not let you start
the motor until the throttle is at the idle
position. Therefore, this warning feature
may be redundant. But glow-fuel pilots can
benefit from this feature, because you sure
don’t want your engine starting at anything
but idle speeds. So this is a worthwhile
safety feature for any modeler, regardless of
the power system.
Q367: “When you employ electric power
your ESC will, most of the time, have a
BEC that allows you to power your RC
system from the main battery pack. Since
this pack is charged often (sometimes before
each flight) there isn’t much concern as to
the power left in the battery. There will
always be some power remaining to operate
the radio until a safe landing is made.
“But I have several larger electric
powered models that don’t have a BEC and
require a separate battery. I also fly glowfueled
models that require an airborne
battery pack. How can I quickly determine
at the flying field that my battery still has
enough power to operate the airborne RC
system?”
A367: To quickly determine battery
capacity at the field, you need a voltmeter
that applies a load to your battery pack.
Simply attaching a digital or analog
voltmeter will not make a valid test; a
simulated load must be applied. Through the
years I’ve seen several meters that do this
job, but the problem has always been too
little of a load or not enough choice of
loads.
Peak Electronics now sells the Custom
Electronics Loaded Digital Voltmeter (item
CEL-1530) for $59.95. This handy little
tester can plug into the charging jack on the
side of your aircraft fuselage. You can
measure pure voltage with no load or select
“Load” and have a choice of 250 mA, 500
mA, and even 1000 mA for those largercapacity
battery packs.
The instructions that come with the
meter cover, extremely carefully, how to
analyze the readings you obtain and give
you an idea of when it is time to stop flying
and recharge the battery. So please don’t
guess; measure the voltage—under load!
Q368: “I’ve noted the big explosion in
micro indoor RC electric powered aircraft. I
suspect with the high cost of automobile
gasoline, traveling to distant flying sites may
require some ‘cutting back.’ The thought of
flying in a local gymnasium or sports dome,
now seems like an excellent idea.
“However, I still like doing aerobatics
and would very much like to see indoor
micro RTF models available with full
four-channel control, including ailerons
for roll maneuvers. Do you see this
happening in the near future?”
A368: I’ve seen Web site information
indicating that at least one company—
Kyosho of Japan— is thinking along these
lines. I found its new Piper Cherokee that
comes as an RTF with a 2.4 GHz spread
spectrum RC system, a brushed/geared
motor, an ESC, a Li-Poly battery, and a
charger. The model is set up for full fourchannel
operation, including ailerons.
Total flying weight is 24 grams (0.85
ounce).
Kyosho will soon introduce a full fourchannel-
control electric-powered
helicopter called the Caliber 120, also with
2.4 GHz RC and including a gyro. Its
flying weight is expected to be only 30
grams, and it should come with training
gear. If I understood correctly, these
products will be available roughly
midsummer.
Q340 Follow-Up: After this Q/A
concerning Fiddlers Green paper aircraft
was published in the April 2008 column,
on page 88, I received many E-mails from
readers. One from Joe Mielnicki
mentioned another source for paper
aircraft. Keep in mind that even if you
don’t build these models, they still offer
excellent three-views from which you can
construct micro and park flyer-size
aircraft.
Joe referred me to Paper Models
International (PMI) of Beaverton, Oregon,
which has a 60-page online catalog
available. The company even carries the
line of Fiddlers Green paper aircraft that I
Above: Kyosho will soon sell micro indoor
RC electric RTFs, such as this Piper
Cherokee, with full four-channel control. It
will have aileron and rudder and will be
able to do rolls indoors.
Right: The Custom Electronics digital
voltmeter has a choice of load currents. It
is the easiest way to check on your
airborne RC system battery pack’s state of
charge.
mentioned in the column. It is well worth
your time to scan through this catalog.
Since Joe knew I am interested in
unusual airplanes for my various modeldesign
projects, he also referred me to the
excellent Encyclopedia of the World’s
Commercial and Private Aircraft (ISBN 0-
517-362856). This large-format book
contains more than 250 pages that include
143 diagrams, 113 color profiles, 230 color
photographs, six color three-views, and 25
cutaway drawings. It is a treasure for any
aviation enthusiast, and especially for scalemodel
designers and builders.
Such a reference, when new, might have
sold for close to $100. Joe suggested trying
Amazon.com for used copies. I did and
found quite a few, with the conditions
varying with the prices. I ended up with a
clean copy that arrived in approximately a
week, for less than $10. Try this for
yourself. MA
Sources:
Aero Craft
(631) 369-9319
www.aerocraftrc.com
Sport Aviator FMA Cellpro 10S review:
www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=7
&ID=202
Airtronics
(800) 262-1178
www.airtronics.net
Peak Electronics
(800) 532-0092
www.siriuselectronics.com
Kyosho Piper Cherokee:
www.kyosho.com/eng/products/rc/detail.ht
ml?product_id=103626
Kyosho Caliber 120:
www.kyosho.com/eng/products/rc/detail.ht
ml?product_id=103627
PMI
(503) 646-4289
www.papermodels.net
