Micro-Flying - 2003/04

HELLO, FRIENDS. I have more details and
information for you regarding the Indoor Radio
Control Championships at Lakehurst, New Jersey.
The dates will be June 21-22, 2003 (Saturday,
Sunday). Because this is a military facility,
preregistration is required. No one will be admitted
on a “walk-in” basis. Please do not be put off by this
sort of security. Since September 11, 2001, we all
need to be more alert about security issues.
So that you can be better prepared for the
competition, I’ll go over some of the more
significant event rules that might affect your
building plans. Let’s start with indoor Radio Control
(RC) Scale. There will be two categories: Fun Scale
and Sport Scale.
In all cases these rules are based on the current
AMA rule-book events, with modifications to adapt
them to the indoor environment. Because we are
flying indoors, there are some restrictions on the
models. One is the source of power. The systems
allowed will be electric, CO2, compressed air, or
rubber band. No model may weigh more than 12
ounces ready for flight with batteries or other power
sources. The maximum wing loading in the Scale
events will be 6 ounces per square foot.
Maneuver descriptions will be according to the AMA rule book,
with the exception of the mention of distances. Because of the
indoor environment, some of the distances called out will be
shortened. Any changes of this nature will be spelled out in a pilots’
briefing before flying begins.
The Fun Scale event will be operated in accordance with RC Fun
Scale: AMA rule-book event 520. This will be open to models from
any source—factory Almost Ready to Flys (ARFs), team built, or
profile (Road-Kill style). Static scores will be zero to five points,
with the maximum awarded to modelers who can show proof (one
8.5 x 11 sheet or a plastic-model box) that there was a full-scale
airplane of that type in those color-and-markings. If a black-andwhite
photograph is used, written material must be included as
proof. If no proof of existence is shown, no scale points will be
awarded.
The flight rules for Fun Scale follow the rule-book descriptions
with the distance modifiers mentioned.
Dave Robelen
M i c r o - F l y i n g
Route 4, Box 369, Farmville VA 23901; E-mail: [email protected]
The author’s P-Nut is shown with the RFFS-100 system.
This three-view is for the author’s P-Nut, which weighs 22 grams.
Jack Dobbins is selling his Ready-to-Fly Microbee design. These are the Microbee parts as shipped. It costs roughly $40.
84 MODEL AVIATION
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86 MODEL AVIATION
The Sport Scale event will be operated in accordance with AMA
rule-book event 513, which is RC Sport Scale. A Builder-of-the-
Model rule applies to this event. No factory-built or team-built
models are allowed. Kit-built models (non-ARF) are allowed.
Static scale judging will be done at a distance of 10 feet instead
of 15 feet as called out in the book. The models will be judged in
the following categories: accuracy of outline, 40 points maximum;
craftsmanship, 30 points maximum; finish and color-and-markings,
30 points maximum; total scale score, 100 points maximum.
The indoor RC Aerobatics event will be operated in a manner
similar to the outdoor Pattern event, with the exception of model
requirements and site restrictions on maneuver size. Except for the
wording relating to distances, the AMA rule-book section for the
Pattern classes and judges’ guide will be the criteria for this event.
The event director will announce the distances in a meeting before
flying begins.
The Aerobatics models have to be propelled by battery-powered
electric motors. The maximum battery voltage will be 9.6 volts
nominal. No limit is placed on battery type or capacity, but there
will be a limit of 30 watts static power. A model’s ready-to-fly
weight cannot exceed 6 ounces.
The Aerobatics event will be flown in rounds, with only
complete rounds counting toward scores. The Intermediate pattern
will be used for the maneuver schedule. The definitions and judges’
guide will be taken from the 2002-2004 AMA rule book.
Indoor Pylon Racing rules state that models must use a Ni-Cd
battery of no more than six cells with a capacity not exceeding 120
mAh. Models must weigh no more than 8 ounces ready to fly.
Motors are limited to no larger than a GWS type 180.
The models must resemble full-scale racing aircraft (profile
fuselages acceptable), and they must take off from the floor. The
wing airfoil must be a single-surface undercamber type with a
maximum thickness of 8%. Each model must have a prominent
racing number on the upper left wing panel.
The Pylon races will be run around two pylons set 75 feet apart,
and the pilots will judge their own turns. The start/finish line will be
midway between the pylons and set 10 feet to one side of the
centerline between the pylons. The races will be run in multiplemodel
heats from a standing start. The winners will be based on the
number of heats won. All personnel will stand well to the side of the
racecourse while the airplanes are flying.
The objective of the indoor Cargo event is to lift the most weight
with the lightest airplane. The score will be determined by dividing
the payload weight into the total weight.
The Cargo models must lift off and fly in a circular path that
would fit in a standard gymnasium. The minimum flight time will
be 100 seconds to receive a score. The models must land
successfully without damage to receive a score.
Cargo models must be monoplanes, made from any material,
and have maximum wingspans of 42 inches. They must have fixed
landing gear with any number of wheels. The models must be
powered with electric motors no larger than a GWS type 180.
The maximum battery allowed will be six Ni-Cd cells with a
maximum capacity of 120 mAh. The winning score will be the
highest weight ratio (gross weight/payload). The payload may be
any material acceptable to the event director, to be provided by the
contestant.
The Duration event will be 2002-2004 AMA rule-book event
702: RC Duration.
A special award will be given to the highest-scoring Scale model
entered in Sport Scale weighing less than 1.5 ounces. Dynamic Web
Enterprises (www.smallrc.com/dwehtml/iemicro.cfm) will provide
this award. Thank you, Dan and Joanne Hurd!
Drop me a line for a complete information package and entry
form for the Indoor Radio Control Championships.
Jack Dobbins (402 Lotus Ln., Washington IL 61571; Tel.: [309]
745-8543) has come up with another neat handmade Ready-to-Fly
model. This time it is the Microbee, which is designed for those
superlight magnetic control systems. Jack sent me one to check out,
and the assembly really did go quickly. The parts are shown.
I installed the RFFS-100 control system in my model, with the
actuators modified for remote mounting, along with a KP-00 motor
that has been regeared for a larger propeller and a single 170 mAh
Lithium-Polymer (Li-Poly) cell.
I was delighted with this sturdy little model’s flight
characteristics; it can circle in a 10-foot radius and has a decent
glide. If you are looking for something to get into the air quickly,
give Jack a call. I believe the price was approximately $40.
Since you readers have been quiet since the last column, I will
share one of my projects of the micro sort. I had been looking for a
This is the motor from a KP-00 drive with the gear assortment.
The author assembled this dual RFFS-100 actuator package.
These are parts of one of the disassembled actuators.
04sig3.QXD 1.23.03 2:48 pm Page 86
design to use for experiments with the
controls, power, and maneuverability. A
photo shows my P-Nut, which is the result.
There is also a three-view for those who
like to see more detail. The airfoil of the
wire-cut foam wing is the MA409.
Another phase of this little project was
finding the motor/gears/propeller that
would give the best performance, including
speed and maneuverability. A picture
shows the motor from a KP-00 drive with a
ball-bearing propeller shaft and some of the
gears I have used. I ultimately settled on a
set of gears found in a battery-powered
clock that gave a ratio of 8:1. This turns a
5.0 x 4.8 propeller with gusto running on a
single 170 mAh Li-Poly cell. The static
thrust of 26 grams does a nice job of
hauling the 22-gram P-Nut through the sky!
The next phase of this fun little program
with the magnetic controls dealt with the
actuators. I use the RFFS-100 system and
really like it, but the tail-mounted actuators
are unreasonable on such small models.
There were center-of-gravity problems,
control-interaction issues, and, of course,
the cosmetic problem.
Using readily available materials, I
assembled a remote actuator package that
has worked out well. Placing the actuators
in front of one another provides excellent
magnetic centering, no interaction, and
compact mounting.
The bits and pieces of one of the
disassembled actuators is shown. The
magnet in these actuators is actually two
smaller magnets butted together. Using a
cutoff wheel in my Dremel tool, I carefully
ground a shallow groove in the inner face
of each magnet. I reassembled them with a
short length of .016-inch-diameter steel
wire in the groove.
The rest are parts cut from .020-inchthick
aluminum that is sold for roofing
flashing. Contact cement and epoxy
handled the assembly. The total weight
gain for the two actuators was .4 grams.
Try it; you’ll like it.
How about sending me some of what you
have been up to? Those project pictures,
club activities, building tips, etc. are
enjoyable. I will be waiting by the
mailbox. MA