Micro-Flying - 2008/01

IN THE PAST six months some amazing
micro-flight activity has developed. It
happened almost immediately after
Horizon Hobby’s ParkZone Cessna 210
Centurian was delivered to hobby shops
across the country. First shown at April’s
Toledo Show, this 15-inch-wingspan,
three-channel, all-foam, scale RTF, which
weighs 18 grams (roughly 2/3 ounce),
became available to buyers a few months
later.
The Cessna has proven to be an instant
success as word spread of its great flying
qualities and that it incorporated the latest
in 2.4 GHz digital spread spectrum (DSS)
technology. The model could be flown
anywhere and anytime without regard to
frequency conflicts to or from other modelers, no matter what
RC equipment they might be using. Furthermore, although the
Cessna was designed primarily for indoor flying, it also did well
outdoors in gentle breezes.
All that was reason enough for this model to be popular, but
it inspired a whole new burst of activity. The Cessna’s RC
system did so well in the RTF that many fliers—after they had
fun with the Cessna—removed the equipment from it and
installed it in models of a similar size and weight. Some older
airplanes were converted to the new RC system, and many new
models were built specifically for it.
This was further encouraged when hobby shops that sold the
complete RTF package offered the various components
separately. These included receivers with built-in servos,
motors, propellers, batteries, and airplane parts (wings, tails,
landing gear, and fuselages). The lower half of the fuselage
could be bought with the receiver, motor, and propeller already
installed.
This inspired many modelers to put their own wings and tails
on the lower fuselage unit to create many variations of designs
that were smaller and larger than the original Cessna. The
simplest of these is by Jack Dobbins of Washington, Illinois,
who used a carbon-rod wing and fuselage “stick” with a balsasheet
tail. Jack’s airframe sits on top of the Cessna’s lower
fuselage shell.
Others have converted balsa stick-and-tissue models, some
of which were originally rubber powered, to produce
lightweight, electric-powered RC models. Still others installed
the Cessna RC system in their own sheet-foam designs.
The intriguing aspect of all this is that although many have
decried the trend to “buy and fly” toy-type RTF micromodels,
the Cessna has resulted in many homebuilt variations. This
creativity and craftsmanship is proof that model building rather
than buying is still a major consideration.
The technology revolution in micro-flight activity continues
unabated in building ever smaller and lighter models. This was
strongly evident at the Northeast Electric Aircraft Technology
(NEAT) Fair in New York, where many RC airplanes spanning
less than 6 inches were flown. A few models weighed less than
1 gram!
Martin Newell and Robert Guillot are two of the subgram
modelers who have shown that such super-small aircraft,
although not for everybody, can fly well. Martin amazed
everybody even further by showing off his incredibly small
Rabbit receiver.
Horizon Hobby’s ParkZone Cessna 210 Centurian
Micro-Flying John Worth | [email protected]
Also included in this column:
• Proof that model building is
still popular
• Micro RC at the NEAT Fair
• Micro DSS availability
• Prefabricated micros are
sprouting up everywhere
The stock ParkZone 15-inch wingspan,
18-gram, all-foam Cessna RTF makes a
low pass at an indoor venue.
This Cessna triplane was built using spare wings purchased
separately from the stock ParkZone package.
Stock Cessna RC components comprise this ARF Micro Bug III
design by Jack Dobbins of Washington, Illinois.
Picture a fully proportional four-channel receiver, with builtin
motor speed controller, that is only 3/16 inch square and 1/16
inch thick! Even more amazing is that this receiver uses DSS
900 MHz technology. All that in a unit the size of a 1/16-inch
slice of 3/16 balsa is almost beyond belief.
Martin handmade receivers for some friends, and I saw them
perform in several models at the NEAT Fair; however, I was
told not to expect them to be available commercially. Those
Martin made were done as a labor of love and to demonstrate
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Tom Cole installed ParkZone Cessna components in his smaller
and lighter-weight White Monoplane.
Plantraco of Canada’s 900 MHz RC system is installed in the
company’s 10-inch-wingspan P-40 RTF.
Martin Newell’s micro biplanes use his incredibly small Rabbit
receiver that is only 1/16 x 3/16 inch.
Joe Malinchak’s 5-inch-wingspan scale F6F Hellcat has a tiny
Rabbit receiver mounted above the wing.
what was possible. The craftsmanship required to make them
appears to be too intense for mass production.
The use of DSS technology for micromodels is soon to
increase. Plantraco of Canada and Bob Selman Designs of
Missouri have developed modifications for Plantraco’s 900
MHz RC systems to incorporate DSS technology. It may soon
be—if it isn’t already—available to anyone.
This is further evidence that we may be seeing crystalcontrolled,
single-frequency systems fade out in favor of those
without crystals that don’t need frequency control via
transmitter impound, frequency flags, etc. at group gatherings.
Major events may soon be held that will allow only DSS
systems, to simplify field operations.
It won’t happen overnight because too many of us have
substantial investments in crystal-controlled equipment, but
practically all new RC equipment manufactured will feature
DSS technology. That it is already available to micro fliers at
reasonable prices indicates that the changeover is only a matter
of time.
To neighborhood fliers, especially those who often fly alone
or with only a few others, the old equipment will be satisfactory
for a considerable time, but it seems inevitable that the days of
long antennas on transmitters will diminish steadily until they
may be classified as “Vintage” RC.
This shouldn’t be looked at negatively. As new and better
technology comes along, it will be adopted and supplant what
we used before. This is especially true where the pricing is
reasonable, as seems to be the case with current DSS equipment.
We can now buy an RTF with such equipment for $150, and
that is a compelling argument.
What else is new for micro-flying? Prefabricated all-foam
ARFs and RTFs appear to be sprouting up everywhere. Most are
well-made scale or semiscale models. Models that look and fly
realistically and resemble favorite airplanes have always been
popular. Many such aircraft now come already painted and
decorated, which enhances their attractiveness.
Cox Hobbies and Plantraco produce World War II fighter
types. With subjects such as the P-40 Warhawk, the P-47
Thunderbolt, the P-51 Mustang, the Japanese Zero, the F6F
Hellcat, the German Messerschmitt Bf 109, and many others,
great memories are stirred up among older modelers.
The fact that many models are so well finished, eliminating
the need for tedious and skilled artistic ability, is a big plus as
well as a considerable time-saver. For many of us, saving time
and labor are major considerations. With a large aging-modeler
population, these factors have enabled modeling to continue to
be an activity that otherwise might be abandoned to the younger
generation.
Micro modeling makes it feasible to fly locally in school
gyms, back yards, ball fields, parking lots, etc. The activity
keeps growing as new products and developments are reported.
MA is a significant provider of such information, as is RC
Micro World. MA
Sources:
RC Micro World
www.cloud9rc.com
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