Glow-to-ignition conversions
CH Ignitions
Q588: I have a Saito 170 glow engine that I would like to convert to ignition operation using a gasoline-and-oil mix. A company named CH Ignitions provided this service for many years, but I hear it is no longer in business. Can you recommend another company?
A588: I recommend that my readers use Internet search engines to locate companies and services for our hobby. I Googled "CH Ignitions" and learned that the company is still in business and operates out of West Palm Beach, Florida. The proprietor’s name is Adrian Ciulei.
The company provides CDI ignition systems that allow glow engines to be converted to ignition operation using gasoline. Conversions are available for single, twin, inline, V, uneven-fire, and radial three-, five-, or seven-cylinder engines (nine cylinders planned for the future) for many different brands.
CH Ignitions also provides an engine repair service. See the Sources section for contact information.
Simulated Rivets on Foam Structures
Q589: I have an ARF model that was constructed from foam material. I want to add simulated rivets for a more scale-like realism. What is an easy way to do that?
A589: My fellow Silent Electric Flyers of Long Island (SEFLI) club member, Casey Brandsema, used an old clock gear attached to a piece of wood. The gear must rotate freely.
Roll the gear along the model’s surface and it will leave a series of indentations that resemble the rivets used on full-scale aircraft. Casey found this gear at a local clock repair shop. If you search for "clock gears" online you will find many sources.
This technique is intended only for foam surfaces. It will not work on a covered, built-up structure.
Installing Battery Packs
Q590: As do many modelers, I use Velcro mounting tape to hold my battery packs in place inside my models. When the space is tight, the Velcro tape will lock in place long before my battery pack is in the proper position. Do you have any suggestions?
A590: Reader and AMA member Dawson Gillaspy of Newark, Delaware, sent this suggestion:
Many fliers use hook-and-loop (Velcro) tape to secure battery packs to a solid wood surface (like a fuselage floor). The immediate grab of this tape can make it difficult to slide the battery to the exact desired position.
To overcome this problem, place a narrow strip of flexible plastic between the battery pack and the model’s surface. Once the pack is positioned, slide out the plastic strip. The plastic sleeve that comes with APC props is a perfect source for this material.
This process works when installing a battery pack, but will not help when removing the battery. For removal I use something shaped like a tongue depressor made from 1/32" or 1/64" plywood. Slipping this between the two layers of the Velcro forces the tape to separate.
RC Micro World Article Archives
Q591: Bob, I’ve been following your series of micro/indoor RC designs since you started with the old RC Micro Flight back in 2001. I saved some of your articles, but I’m missing many. Is there any source that provides copies of all of these articles?
A591: Yes. A single DVD has been produced that covers all of my designs and more. The DVD contains every issue of RC Micro Flight published from 1999 until publication stopped after February 2005. It also includes all RC Micro World issues from May 2005 through the end of 2012, and it will be possible to acquire the full year of 2013.
As a point of interest, I published seven designs for RC Micro Flight and 53 designs for RC Micro World, totaling 60 micro/indoor RC designs. These articles are all on the DVD. Plans are available from Full Size Plans, operated by Roland Friestad. See Sources for contact information.
SOURCES:
- CH Ignitions
Phone: (478) 247-7275 Website: www.ch-ignitions.com
- RC Micro World and Full Size Plans
Email: [email protected] Website: www.fullsizeplans.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
