Frequently Asked Questions
Bob Aberle | [email protected]
New online newsletter for micro-fliers
THIS IS THE 18th monthly column in which I try to give you the best possible answers to questions you have written or E-mailed 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 are posted there.
You can access particular questions by subject matter or categories. This was done to help you retrieve data for certain 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!
Q143: "I have been greatly interested in ‘micro RC’ in general and specifically indoor RC flying. I enjoy and look forward to both Dave Robelen and Paul Bradley's columns in MA.
“I was very sad to see the cancellation of the RC MicroFlight newsletter back in February. Many of us were anxiously waiting to see reports/reviews and information articles on the new 900 MHz micro RC system. Now our avenue of communication has been greatly reduced. Is there any chance that someone will pick up on this and create a new ‘micro’ publication?”
A143: You are definitely in luck! RC MicroFlight newsletter founding editor John Worth has been able to create a new publication called RC Micro World. It will be available only on a password-access Web site; there will be no option for printed/mailed copies.
The first two issues (May and June 2005) were made available to all, to provide a sample of what is to come. You can access these samples and find out more about RC Micro World at www.cloud9rc.com.
Many of us who normally write articles about micro and indoor RC have agreed to help John get this new specialty publication under way. I prepared a “product overview” of the new Plantraco 900 MHz micro-RC system for the June issue. This new “plug-and-play” system (uses connectors throughout) will be capable of flying RC models that have a total flying weight of as few as several grams.
I wish John Worth the best of luck in this continuing venture into the world of micro-/indoor-RC flying.
Q144: “I recently started in the RC hobby by purchasing a ready-to-fly (RTF) model, which I found very successful. I then progressed to an almost-ready-to-fly (ARF) RC model and found I was able to successfully complete the assembly and fly the aircraft.
“I finally tried to assemble an RC aircraft kit, but have found that my control linkages to my rudder and elevator tend to be ‘soft’ or spongy. I also noticed that very little force is exerted on the control surfaces. What am I doing wrong? Am I missing something?"
A144: I have a good idea of what your problem is. Many newcomers concentrate on installing the control rod from the servo output arm, back out to the control surfaces located in the tail of the aircraft. Most modellers remember to use "Z" bends, EZ Connectors, clevises, and the like to attach the wire rods at both ends.
These same wire rods usually pass through plastic tubes, which guide (and support) the wire from the RC compartment back to the control surfaces. The wire rod then moves back and forth inside that tube, causing the rudder to move left and right and the elevator up and down.
You probably forgot to anchor that plastic sleeve or tube in several places inside the fuselage along its path. When you move your servo, the entire rod and the plastic sleeve will then flex. In this case, you will get more motion inside the fuselage and little, if any, imparted on the actual control surface.
The key to doing this properly is to provide several anchor points along the path of the plastic sleeve or tube. Several crosspieces of balsa stick can do the job easily. It's a good idea to sand or rough up the plastic sleeve (or tube) so that the cement adheres properly. I use slow-setting cyanoacrylate or five-minute epoxy. Also put cement on the sleeve as it passes out of the fuselage, heading for the control horn on the control surface.
Anchoring a control-rod sleeve or tube is easy to do while you are constructing a model. In RTFs the job is done for you, but some ARFs can be difficult. You might have a molded-fiberglass fuselage that is already assembled; you can't get your hands inside to anchor that control-rod sleeve.
In that case I force pieces of foam rubber or expanded polystyrene foam up inside the fuselage. I push these foam pieces into place (with a long stick) so that they press the sleeve (tube) against the fuselage side. By pinning the sleeve in this manner, it can't move and accomplishes the same thing as cementing the sleeve in a built-up fuselage.
I hope I got the message across. Sometimes it is hard to put into words what you could easily demonstrate in minutes.
Q145: "I consider myself a reasonably good RC sport flier and have progressed to the point where I can fly an average size .40 powered aircraft without any difficulty. With all the talk now about new brushless electric motors and Li-Poly batteries, I decided that I would like to try my hand at electric power.
"What I thought would make the most sense is an aircraft comparable to what I'm presently flying with a glow fueled engine. Something like about 5 pounds, 600 square inches wing area, and with a trike gear and steerable nose gear. But most of the advertisements I see for electric powered models concentrate on the smaller parking lot flyers and E-3-D type aircraft. Got any ideas?"
A145: Yes, there are many parking lot, electric-powered aircraft on the hobby market, and there are just as many 3-D aerobatic-type, electric-powered models. But we are beginning to see a new emphasis placed on the larger electric airplanes. I'm constructing a 1/4-scale model that I anticipate will weigh roughly 15 pounds.
I recently reviewed a model that Hitec/Multiplex USA sells called the Magister. The detailed review can be found on AMA's Sport Aviator. The address for this specific review is www.sportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=1&ID=75.
The Magister is perfect for your needs, with approximately 600 square inches of wing area, weighing 5 pounds, and including a steerable nose gear. This big foam-constructed model is available as an RTF or an ARF (requiring some assembly).
As originally conceived, the Magister is powered by a geared Speed 700 ferrite motor and an eight-cell, 1900 mAh NiMH battery pack. It flies great on that combination, providing six- to seven-minute flights, and even more with motor throttling.
My flying partner Tom Hunt recently borrowed my Magister and installed a Multiplex brushless motor and Li-Poly battery pack. By doing this, he was able to reduce the total weight and obtain more battery capacity which, in turn, means longer flight times.
Whether you use ferrite or brushless, I can't say enough good things about this "big" electric-powered advanced trainer/sport aircraft.
Q146: "I've seen several RC transmitters that have built-in or add-on modules that permit channel synthesizing. With this you can select any one of the 50 RC channels available for aircraft flying.
"Unfortunately on the receiver end one must physically plug in a new crystal to change the channel number (frequency). Why don't they have synthesizers for receivers as well?"
A146: There was a synthesized receiver in the mid-1980s. It was made by Kraft Systems and had two dials that you rotated to dial up the operating frequency of your choice.
There are several "frequency-agile" RC receivers on the market today. The new Sombra Labs Shadow has a frequency-determining module, with two dials, that plugs into the company's receiver module.
Bob Kopski wrote about this new receiver in his RC Electrics column in the May 2005 MA on page 105. You can find further details at the Sombra Web site: www.sombralabs.com. You can also call the company in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada at (613) 863-4901. Keep in mind that you must still access this receiver to rotate the two dials, allowing you to change the operating frequency.
Another two synthesized receivers are the Polk's Hobby Seeker II and Seeker 6. When placed in extremely close proximity to an operating RC transmitter, both will set themselves to that frequency.
This is most interesting since the receiver can stay buried inside your fuselage and you need not gain access to change a channel. The way it is set up, it is virtually impossible for these receivers to lock onto a different transmitter during a flight.
I reviewed the Polk's Seeker 6 in the January 2005 MA on page 14. The company's Web site is www.polks hobbyimpinc.us. The telephone number in Irvington, New Jersey, is (973) 351-9800. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
