PLEASE WRITE IN with your questions,
since that is the only way we can keep this
column format going. When referring to
published Q/As (for follow-ups), provide the
number as a reference.
References to addresses and Web sites
are now placed in a group, separate from
the text, at the end of this column under
“Sources.”
Q390: “I’ve been fascinated watching
videos of RC model aircraft powered by real
jet turbine engines. I did some checking a
while back and heard that getting started
with jet turbine power could be very
expensive; I was hearing figures of over
$10,000. But I’m seeing more and more jets
in recent times and I’m wondering if the
prices have come down.
“Also could you tell me what might be
the easiest way to get started with jet turbine
power?”
A390: The August 2008 MA contained six
features that were entirely dedicated to jet
modeling, including an article about the
basics of the modern turbine. Not having
owned or flown a jet turbine model (yet), I
reached out to several of my old-time
modeling friends who I know are now flying
with this mode of power.
Larry Davidson, a fellow Model Aviation
Hall of Famer now of Moneta, Virginia, and I
go back more than 50 years, to when we flew
FF in our early high school days. He is a
many-time SAM (Society of Antique
Modelers) Champion, an AMA Nats
Champion competition flier, and an all-around
modeler who can fly anything.
Last year, Larry decided to seriously
pursue turbine power. His regular building
schedule for competition airplanes would
never allow him the time to build a big 10- to
12-pound turbine-powered aircraft, so he went
searching and found a turbine distributor/
supplier known as Troy Built Models. The
company is located in Sarasota, Florida,
and the Web site gives you a good start-up
overview.
After you have read that, find the MF
Models Shockjet. This is a turbine-powered
ARF trainer that was designed expressly for
the modeler who wants to fly jets but doesn’t
have time to build a large aircraft.
The combination of this ARF and a turbine
engine will set you back roughly $3,500—no
$10,000. The engine itself costs $2,500, and it
is a nonrecurring expense, since it can be
transferred to many other aircraft. The
Shockjet lists for $500 but is usually available
for a special price when purchased with the
turbine.
The model has an 80-inch wingspan, is 73
inches in length, and weighs approximately 13
pounds dry. The recommended turbine is the
JF-50 Super Bee 50, which has a rated thrust
of 14 pounds.
Once you get into Troy Built Models’
Web site, you will find many helpful
subcategories besides the jet overview.
There is a photo and video section, a feature
section, full specifications, and, best of all, a
PDF file of the 10-page supporting manual.
Even though the Shockjet is an ARF, it
will take considerable effort to install all the
equipment, including the large 64-ounce
fuel tank, the turbine itself, and the RC gear.
Larry successfully used a JR X9303 2.4
GHz spread spectrum radio, which in this
application requires a total of eight servos
and many servo extension cables.
The basic fuel requirement is K1
Kerosene, which is available at many gas
stations. You could also use Jet A fuel,
which may be available to the public at
some local airports. Make sure you use the
rubber stoppers on your fuel tank that are
compatible with gas, diesel, and kerosene
fuels. Do not use the stoppers intended for
glow-fuel operation.
Another item needed is turbine oil that
you can also get at local airports. One last
item you will need is propane for starting the
turbine.
A fire extinguisher is mandatory, as stated
in the AMA safety regulations, which brings
up another point. The AMA safety rules
require that each new turbine pilot obtain a
Turbine Waiver, which must be signed off on
by an AMA CD or a Hall of Fame member
and another turbine holder after showing that
you can fly a turbine-powered model.
To save you a lot of searching, try the
Web site in the “Sources” list. That will get
you to a section titled, “Acrobat Documents.”
Scroll down until you find the turbine
section, which is 510. PDF 510-A is safety
regulations for model turbines, and 510-D is
the fixed-wing turbine waiver application.
I’ve included photos of Larry’s Shockjet
and several interior shots. You might be
surprised by how much equipment goes into
a turbine-powered model jet, but Larry
assures me that all the techniques can be
learned quickly.
He also stated that Bill Hatcher of Troy
Built Models was a great help when problems
came up, as was Eric Clapp of Jet Central
Turbines, which imports that particular
engine. Eric can be reached via e-mail.
If you would like to build your own
turbine-powered jet trainer, Nick Ziroli Sr., a
famous giant-scale model designer, has a set
of plans for an airplane he calls the
“Turbinator.” I’ve included a photo of Nick
with the aircraft. Notice that the color scheme
makes it look like a military jet trainer.
I hope to be checked out on the
Turbinator when I visit Nick in Sarasota,
Florida, this winter. You can purchase plans
and a short kit from Nick via his Web site.
(See the “Sources” listing.)
Please keep in mind that I have given you
only a couple supply sources for turbinepowered
jets. I couldn’t mention everyone,
but I wanted to at least provide a starting
point. These models aren’t for everyone, and
it still isn’t inexpensive, but it isn’t the
$10,000 it was a few years back.
Q391: “I remember reading in your FAQ
column back in 2006 about Don Bousquet’s
successes with digital aerial photography.
As I recall Don used a very simple set up
with an auxiliary RC servo pressing on the
camera shutter switch. I would think by now
the control mechanism for a camera might
have been improved or handled
electronically. Have you heard of
anything?”
A391: I talked with Don Bousquet recently
and learned that he and his son, Nate, have
made a tremendous and profitable business
doing aerial photography. They received
considerable exposure from local and
regional newspaper articles about the
services they provide.
The current real estate market has also
helped boost this business. Local realtors
have found that Don’s service is far less
expensive than hiring a photographer and a
helicopter to take aerial-view photos.
I asked Don if he has gotten more
sophisticated with his camera trip
mechanism and was surprised to learn that
he is still doing it the “old-fashioned way.”
If it works okay, why go any further? From
what he tells me, he and Nate have well
exceeded the 100,000-picture count, and all
is still working well. But that answer didn’t
stop me from looking.
After a rather lengthy search, I located a
company in Singapore called Singapore
Hobby Supplies, which offers the URBI R/C
Camera Interface. Following is a quote from
the Web site.
“URBI R/C lets you use an ‘off the shelf’
digital camera for Remote Controlled Aerial
Photography. It is compatible with most
common R/C systems such as Futaba, JR,
Hitec and similar. There is no wiring or
soldering required, it connects to the R/C
Receiver and controls the digital camera via
the USB connector. The interface uses a
standard servo style connector and uses a
very small amount of power (much less than
a normal servo).”
The only thing that may concern you is
the price of $179.90. The Singapore Hobby
Supply Web site has many more items of
interest, so it might be worth your while to
visit it.
Q392: “I happen to like the Deans Ultra
type connectors but have found them so
hard to separate. In fact I actually pulled a
wire off one of these connector terminals
while trying to separate it. Any
suggestions?”
A392: I like the Deans Ultra connectors
for the main battery connector, but I have
to admit that they can be difficult to
separate when they are relatively new.
Some modelers insert a length of nylon
fishing line to help get a better grip. What
you don’t want to do is pull on the wires.
Duralite Flight Systems recently
introduced what it calls “PIK Extensions.”
Multiplex and Deans Ultra connectors
have been modified with the addition of
an extra grip. These grips are available on
both the male and female connectors of
each brand.
The 16-gauge wire comes already
soldered to the connector with wire
offered in 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, and 36-inch
lengths. You still have to splice the cable
ends onto the battery leads coming out of
your ESC. If this concept is successful,
I’m hopeful that an even heavier-gauge
wire will be offered, such as No. 12 and
14. MA
Sources:
Troy Built Models
(941) 342-8685
www.troybuiltmodels.com
AMA turbine waiver information:
www.modelaircraft.org/documents.aspx
Eric Clapp:
[email protected]
Nick Ziroli Plans
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Singapore Hobby Supplies
+65-65322990
http://shop.singahobby.com/?q=node/12522
Duralite Flight Systems
(877) 744-3685
http://duralitebatteries.com/flight/news.php
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/03
Page Numbers: 83,84,86
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/03
Page Numbers: 83,84,86
PLEASE WRITE IN with your questions,
since that is the only way we can keep this
column format going. When referring to
published Q/As (for follow-ups), provide the
number as a reference.
References to addresses and Web sites
are now placed in a group, separate from
the text, at the end of this column under
“Sources.”
Q390: “I’ve been fascinated watching
videos of RC model aircraft powered by real
jet turbine engines. I did some checking a
while back and heard that getting started
with jet turbine power could be very
expensive; I was hearing figures of over
$10,000. But I’m seeing more and more jets
in recent times and I’m wondering if the
prices have come down.
“Also could you tell me what might be
the easiest way to get started with jet turbine
power?”
A390: The August 2008 MA contained six
features that were entirely dedicated to jet
modeling, including an article about the
basics of the modern turbine. Not having
owned or flown a jet turbine model (yet), I
reached out to several of my old-time
modeling friends who I know are now flying
with this mode of power.
Larry Davidson, a fellow Model Aviation
Hall of Famer now of Moneta, Virginia, and I
go back more than 50 years, to when we flew
FF in our early high school days. He is a
many-time SAM (Society of Antique
Modelers) Champion, an AMA Nats
Champion competition flier, and an all-around
modeler who can fly anything.
Last year, Larry decided to seriously
pursue turbine power. His regular building
schedule for competition airplanes would
never allow him the time to build a big 10- to
12-pound turbine-powered aircraft, so he went
searching and found a turbine distributor/
supplier known as Troy Built Models. The
company is located in Sarasota, Florida,
and the Web site gives you a good start-up
overview.
After you have read that, find the MF
Models Shockjet. This is a turbine-powered
ARF trainer that was designed expressly for
the modeler who wants to fly jets but doesn’t
have time to build a large aircraft.
The combination of this ARF and a turbine
engine will set you back roughly $3,500—no
$10,000. The engine itself costs $2,500, and it
is a nonrecurring expense, since it can be
transferred to many other aircraft. The
Shockjet lists for $500 but is usually available
for a special price when purchased with the
turbine.
The model has an 80-inch wingspan, is 73
inches in length, and weighs approximately 13
pounds dry. The recommended turbine is the
JF-50 Super Bee 50, which has a rated thrust
of 14 pounds.
Once you get into Troy Built Models’
Web site, you will find many helpful
subcategories besides the jet overview.
There is a photo and video section, a feature
section, full specifications, and, best of all, a
PDF file of the 10-page supporting manual.
Even though the Shockjet is an ARF, it
will take considerable effort to install all the
equipment, including the large 64-ounce
fuel tank, the turbine itself, and the RC gear.
Larry successfully used a JR X9303 2.4
GHz spread spectrum radio, which in this
application requires a total of eight servos
and many servo extension cables.
The basic fuel requirement is K1
Kerosene, which is available at many gas
stations. You could also use Jet A fuel,
which may be available to the public at
some local airports. Make sure you use the
rubber stoppers on your fuel tank that are
compatible with gas, diesel, and kerosene
fuels. Do not use the stoppers intended for
glow-fuel operation.
Another item needed is turbine oil that
you can also get at local airports. One last
item you will need is propane for starting the
turbine.
A fire extinguisher is mandatory, as stated
in the AMA safety regulations, which brings
up another point. The AMA safety rules
require that each new turbine pilot obtain a
Turbine Waiver, which must be signed off on
by an AMA CD or a Hall of Fame member
and another turbine holder after showing that
you can fly a turbine-powered model.
To save you a lot of searching, try the
Web site in the “Sources” list. That will get
you to a section titled, “Acrobat Documents.”
Scroll down until you find the turbine
section, which is 510. PDF 510-A is safety
regulations for model turbines, and 510-D is
the fixed-wing turbine waiver application.
I’ve included photos of Larry’s Shockjet
and several interior shots. You might be
surprised by how much equipment goes into
a turbine-powered model jet, but Larry
assures me that all the techniques can be
learned quickly.
He also stated that Bill Hatcher of Troy
Built Models was a great help when problems
came up, as was Eric Clapp of Jet Central
Turbines, which imports that particular
engine. Eric can be reached via e-mail.
If you would like to build your own
turbine-powered jet trainer, Nick Ziroli Sr., a
famous giant-scale model designer, has a set
of plans for an airplane he calls the
“Turbinator.” I’ve included a photo of Nick
with the aircraft. Notice that the color scheme
makes it look like a military jet trainer.
I hope to be checked out on the
Turbinator when I visit Nick in Sarasota,
Florida, this winter. You can purchase plans
and a short kit from Nick via his Web site.
(See the “Sources” listing.)
Please keep in mind that I have given you
only a couple supply sources for turbinepowered
jets. I couldn’t mention everyone,
but I wanted to at least provide a starting
point. These models aren’t for everyone, and
it still isn’t inexpensive, but it isn’t the
$10,000 it was a few years back.
Q391: “I remember reading in your FAQ
column back in 2006 about Don Bousquet’s
successes with digital aerial photography.
As I recall Don used a very simple set up
with an auxiliary RC servo pressing on the
camera shutter switch. I would think by now
the control mechanism for a camera might
have been improved or handled
electronically. Have you heard of
anything?”
A391: I talked with Don Bousquet recently
and learned that he and his son, Nate, have
made a tremendous and profitable business
doing aerial photography. They received
considerable exposure from local and
regional newspaper articles about the
services they provide.
The current real estate market has also
helped boost this business. Local realtors
have found that Don’s service is far less
expensive than hiring a photographer and a
helicopter to take aerial-view photos.
I asked Don if he has gotten more
sophisticated with his camera trip
mechanism and was surprised to learn that
he is still doing it the “old-fashioned way.”
If it works okay, why go any further? From
what he tells me, he and Nate have well
exceeded the 100,000-picture count, and all
is still working well. But that answer didn’t
stop me from looking.
After a rather lengthy search, I located a
company in Singapore called Singapore
Hobby Supplies, which offers the URBI R/C
Camera Interface. Following is a quote from
the Web site.
“URBI R/C lets you use an ‘off the shelf’
digital camera for Remote Controlled Aerial
Photography. It is compatible with most
common R/C systems such as Futaba, JR,
Hitec and similar. There is no wiring or
soldering required, it connects to the R/C
Receiver and controls the digital camera via
the USB connector. The interface uses a
standard servo style connector and uses a
very small amount of power (much less than
a normal servo).”
The only thing that may concern you is
the price of $179.90. The Singapore Hobby
Supply Web site has many more items of
interest, so it might be worth your while to
visit it.
Q392: “I happen to like the Deans Ultra
type connectors but have found them so
hard to separate. In fact I actually pulled a
wire off one of these connector terminals
while trying to separate it. Any
suggestions?”
A392: I like the Deans Ultra connectors
for the main battery connector, but I have
to admit that they can be difficult to
separate when they are relatively new.
Some modelers insert a length of nylon
fishing line to help get a better grip. What
you don’t want to do is pull on the wires.
Duralite Flight Systems recently
introduced what it calls “PIK Extensions.”
Multiplex and Deans Ultra connectors
have been modified with the addition of
an extra grip. These grips are available on
both the male and female connectors of
each brand.
The 16-gauge wire comes already
soldered to the connector with wire
offered in 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, and 36-inch
lengths. You still have to splice the cable
ends onto the battery leads coming out of
your ESC. If this concept is successful,
I’m hopeful that an even heavier-gauge
wire will be offered, such as No. 12 and
14. MA
Sources:
Troy Built Models
(941) 342-8685
www.troybuiltmodels.com
AMA turbine waiver information:
www.modelaircraft.org/documents.aspx
Eric Clapp:
[email protected]
Nick Ziroli Plans
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Singapore Hobby Supplies
+65-65322990
http://shop.singahobby.com/?q=node/12522
Duralite Flight Systems
(877) 744-3685
http://duralitebatteries.com/flight/news.php
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/03
Page Numbers: 83,84,86
PLEASE WRITE IN with your questions,
since that is the only way we can keep this
column format going. When referring to
published Q/As (for follow-ups), provide the
number as a reference.
References to addresses and Web sites
are now placed in a group, separate from
the text, at the end of this column under
“Sources.”
Q390: “I’ve been fascinated watching
videos of RC model aircraft powered by real
jet turbine engines. I did some checking a
while back and heard that getting started
with jet turbine power could be very
expensive; I was hearing figures of over
$10,000. But I’m seeing more and more jets
in recent times and I’m wondering if the
prices have come down.
“Also could you tell me what might be
the easiest way to get started with jet turbine
power?”
A390: The August 2008 MA contained six
features that were entirely dedicated to jet
modeling, including an article about the
basics of the modern turbine. Not having
owned or flown a jet turbine model (yet), I
reached out to several of my old-time
modeling friends who I know are now flying
with this mode of power.
Larry Davidson, a fellow Model Aviation
Hall of Famer now of Moneta, Virginia, and I
go back more than 50 years, to when we flew
FF in our early high school days. He is a
many-time SAM (Society of Antique
Modelers) Champion, an AMA Nats
Champion competition flier, and an all-around
modeler who can fly anything.
Last year, Larry decided to seriously
pursue turbine power. His regular building
schedule for competition airplanes would
never allow him the time to build a big 10- to
12-pound turbine-powered aircraft, so he went
searching and found a turbine distributor/
supplier known as Troy Built Models. The
company is located in Sarasota, Florida,
and the Web site gives you a good start-up
overview.
After you have read that, find the MF
Models Shockjet. This is a turbine-powered
ARF trainer that was designed expressly for
the modeler who wants to fly jets but doesn’t
have time to build a large aircraft.
The combination of this ARF and a turbine
engine will set you back roughly $3,500—no
$10,000. The engine itself costs $2,500, and it
is a nonrecurring expense, since it can be
transferred to many other aircraft. The
Shockjet lists for $500 but is usually available
for a special price when purchased with the
turbine.
The model has an 80-inch wingspan, is 73
inches in length, and weighs approximately 13
pounds dry. The recommended turbine is the
JF-50 Super Bee 50, which has a rated thrust
of 14 pounds.
Once you get into Troy Built Models’
Web site, you will find many helpful
subcategories besides the jet overview.
There is a photo and video section, a feature
section, full specifications, and, best of all, a
PDF file of the 10-page supporting manual.
Even though the Shockjet is an ARF, it
will take considerable effort to install all the
equipment, including the large 64-ounce
fuel tank, the turbine itself, and the RC gear.
Larry successfully used a JR X9303 2.4
GHz spread spectrum radio, which in this
application requires a total of eight servos
and many servo extension cables.
The basic fuel requirement is K1
Kerosene, which is available at many gas
stations. You could also use Jet A fuel,
which may be available to the public at
some local airports. Make sure you use the
rubber stoppers on your fuel tank that are
compatible with gas, diesel, and kerosene
fuels. Do not use the stoppers intended for
glow-fuel operation.
Another item needed is turbine oil that
you can also get at local airports. One last
item you will need is propane for starting the
turbine.
A fire extinguisher is mandatory, as stated
in the AMA safety regulations, which brings
up another point. The AMA safety rules
require that each new turbine pilot obtain a
Turbine Waiver, which must be signed off on
by an AMA CD or a Hall of Fame member
and another turbine holder after showing that
you can fly a turbine-powered model.
To save you a lot of searching, try the
Web site in the “Sources” list. That will get
you to a section titled, “Acrobat Documents.”
Scroll down until you find the turbine
section, which is 510. PDF 510-A is safety
regulations for model turbines, and 510-D is
the fixed-wing turbine waiver application.
I’ve included photos of Larry’s Shockjet
and several interior shots. You might be
surprised by how much equipment goes into
a turbine-powered model jet, but Larry
assures me that all the techniques can be
learned quickly.
He also stated that Bill Hatcher of Troy
Built Models was a great help when problems
came up, as was Eric Clapp of Jet Central
Turbines, which imports that particular
engine. Eric can be reached via e-mail.
If you would like to build your own
turbine-powered jet trainer, Nick Ziroli Sr., a
famous giant-scale model designer, has a set
of plans for an airplane he calls the
“Turbinator.” I’ve included a photo of Nick
with the aircraft. Notice that the color scheme
makes it look like a military jet trainer.
I hope to be checked out on the
Turbinator when I visit Nick in Sarasota,
Florida, this winter. You can purchase plans
and a short kit from Nick via his Web site.
(See the “Sources” listing.)
Please keep in mind that I have given you
only a couple supply sources for turbinepowered
jets. I couldn’t mention everyone,
but I wanted to at least provide a starting
point. These models aren’t for everyone, and
it still isn’t inexpensive, but it isn’t the
$10,000 it was a few years back.
Q391: “I remember reading in your FAQ
column back in 2006 about Don Bousquet’s
successes with digital aerial photography.
As I recall Don used a very simple set up
with an auxiliary RC servo pressing on the
camera shutter switch. I would think by now
the control mechanism for a camera might
have been improved or handled
electronically. Have you heard of
anything?”
A391: I talked with Don Bousquet recently
and learned that he and his son, Nate, have
made a tremendous and profitable business
doing aerial photography. They received
considerable exposure from local and
regional newspaper articles about the
services they provide.
The current real estate market has also
helped boost this business. Local realtors
have found that Don’s service is far less
expensive than hiring a photographer and a
helicopter to take aerial-view photos.
I asked Don if he has gotten more
sophisticated with his camera trip
mechanism and was surprised to learn that
he is still doing it the “old-fashioned way.”
If it works okay, why go any further? From
what he tells me, he and Nate have well
exceeded the 100,000-picture count, and all
is still working well. But that answer didn’t
stop me from looking.
After a rather lengthy search, I located a
company in Singapore called Singapore
Hobby Supplies, which offers the URBI R/C
Camera Interface. Following is a quote from
the Web site.
“URBI R/C lets you use an ‘off the shelf’
digital camera for Remote Controlled Aerial
Photography. It is compatible with most
common R/C systems such as Futaba, JR,
Hitec and similar. There is no wiring or
soldering required, it connects to the R/C
Receiver and controls the digital camera via
the USB connector. The interface uses a
standard servo style connector and uses a
very small amount of power (much less than
a normal servo).”
The only thing that may concern you is
the price of $179.90. The Singapore Hobby
Supply Web site has many more items of
interest, so it might be worth your while to
visit it.
Q392: “I happen to like the Deans Ultra
type connectors but have found them so
hard to separate. In fact I actually pulled a
wire off one of these connector terminals
while trying to separate it. Any
suggestions?”
A392: I like the Deans Ultra connectors
for the main battery connector, but I have
to admit that they can be difficult to
separate when they are relatively new.
Some modelers insert a length of nylon
fishing line to help get a better grip. What
you don’t want to do is pull on the wires.
Duralite Flight Systems recently
introduced what it calls “PIK Extensions.”
Multiplex and Deans Ultra connectors
have been modified with the addition of
an extra grip. These grips are available on
both the male and female connectors of
each brand.
The 16-gauge wire comes already
soldered to the connector with wire
offered in 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, and 36-inch
lengths. You still have to splice the cable
ends onto the battery leads coming out of
your ESC. If this concept is successful,
I’m hopeful that an even heavier-gauge
wire will be offered, such as No. 12 and
14. MA
Sources:
Troy Built Models
(941) 342-8685
www.troybuiltmodels.com
AMA turbine waiver information:
www.modelaircraft.org/documents.aspx
Eric Clapp:
[email protected]
Nick Ziroli Plans
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Singapore Hobby Supplies
+65-65322990
http://shop.singahobby.com/?q=node/12522
Duralite Flight Systems
(877) 744-3685
http://duralitebatteries.com/flight/news.php
