November 2011 93
Joe Malinchak Micro-Flying | [email protected]
Eye-catching Christen Eagle takes flight
Above: The new Blast RC Ultra Micro RC
Pitts/Christen Eagle is designed around
the ParkZone AR6400 brick, and has a
14.5-inch wingspan. The model can be
built using three or four channels.
Right: The kit features laser-cut plywood
and foam parts with the beauti ful
Christen Eagle graphics, instructions, and
all the hardware needed to build the
model. The author finished it in a few
evenings.
Below: The author used the Spektrum
long-throw AR6400L DSM2 receiver brick.
This shows the receiver placement with
the elevator and rudder pushrods installed.
Also included in this column:
• Ultra Micro Pitts/Christen Eagle
• Spektrum DSM2-compatible
receivers
I HAD THE PLEASURE of meeting Tom
Cleland of Blast RC at the 2010 Keystone
Indoor Electric Fly (KIEF) event.
Tom was a vendor in the micro area
with some great-looking new RC kits. His
Ultra Micro Pitts/Christen Eagle caught
my eye. The model is the same as his Ultra
Micro Pitts, but features the beautiful
Christen Eagle graphics. It has a 14.5-inch
wingspan, and is designed around the
ParkZone AR6400 brick and the 4-Site/P-
51/Sukhoi drive unit.
The kit features laser-cut foam and light plywood parts,
and includes all of the hardware necessary to build the model.
You have the option of making it three channels with rudder
and elevator control, or full house with ailerons.
The build starts with constructing the fuselage. The
fuselage has creases that are laser-cut on the inside. You
have to bend the creases, roll the fuselage into shape, and
glue it together.
I used my favorite foam glue, UHU Por, for most of the
assembly. It allows you to glue and reposition the foam. Apply a
small amount to both surfaces, let it dry for roughly 30-45
seconds, and press the parts together. The glue is perfect for
printed surfaces because it dries clear and leaves little residue.
94 MODEL AVIATION
Once the bulkhead is installed in the fuselage, the pre-bent metal
wheel axles can be glued into the holes of the carbon-gear struts with
CA, after they are properly aligned. The foam wheel pants are a nice
touch. I assembled mine with UHU Por glue and sanded them to
shape. I colored the wood wheels with a black permanent marker
and added the wheel pants and strut covers during final assembly.
I followed the instruction manual for the construction of the
elevator and rudder. I used small pieces of Blenderm tape for my
hinges. I test-fit the elevator and rudder assembly in the fuselage,
and then glued it in place. It’s good to use the UHU Por glue
because you can reposition the tail parts as needed.
After I completed the fuselage, I installed a ParkZone long throw
AR6400L DSM2 six-channel receiver brick, and the elevator and
rudder pushrods. Because this airplane is the Pitts Special, ailerons
were needed for full four-channel control. This model was designed
to use two ailerons
on the lower wing. I
have a full-scale
S1C Pitts that has
only two ailerons,
and the roll rate is
not that great.
I knew that the
model would need
maximum control
throw for Scale
Aerobatics, so I
decided to use two
Spektrum 1.5-gram
servos installed on
the bottom of the
lower wing for
positive aileron
control.
Two sizes of
You can also use foam-safe CA. I used
Bob Smith Industries’ Super Gold CA and
INSTA-SET accelerator on some of the
foam and all of the wood components.
Next is the motor mount assembly. The
kit includes mounts for the ParkZone P-51
or 4-Site motor drive unit, and a mount for a
brushless motor. I used the ParkZone 4-Site
drive unit on my model. The mount has the
proper downthrust and right-thrust built in.
Once assembled, it is a good idea to test-run
the motor before gluing the mount to the
fuselage.
One of my least favorite tasks of
building any model is making the landing
gear assembly. The Pitts gear is welldesigned
and easy to assemble. The plywood A-frame is glued to the
foam bulkhead, and the carbon-gear struts are then glued to the sides
of the A-frame. I used a dab of 5-minute epoxy on the carbon struts
for more strength.
The author used two Spektrum 1.5-gram
servos mounted under the lower wing for
effective aileron control and ease of
installation.
DT 2. 4GHz Receivers has design ed a line
o f mi cr o S p e k t r um D SM 2 -c o mp ati bl e
receivers. The Rx31 servo receiver and the
Rx4 1 a ct ua to r re cei ver (ri g h t) a r e t h e
perfect size for ultramicro models.
Ri g h t : T h e new DT f our-c ha nnel Rx 3 1
servo recei ver wei ghs 0.23 gram and h as
four serv o ou tputs . D av id d e s ig ne d hi s
re ceiver s to wor k on the lowest voltage
and draw the least amount of current for
1S LiPo operation.
The Ultra Micro Pitts/Christen Eagle is a great-flying model with good slow
speed characteristics. It can perform scalelike aerobatic maneuvers such as
rolls, loops, and snap rolls.
wing struts are included in the kit. The
shorter ones are used for the three-channel
version, and the longer ones for the aileron
version. I colored the two longer wing struts
with a red permanent marker and glued them
to the top wing with UHU Por. I then
colored the N struts with the red marker and
glued them to the fuselage. Finally, I glued
the top wing onto the lower wing, and made
sure it was properly aligned.
Flight Test: The completed model weighed
32 grams without the battery. I was excited
to see how it flew. I balanced the model with
a Thunder Power 160 mAh 25C cell
installed. (The Thunder Power 160 mAh cell
gives the 4-Site motor a little more kick than
the standard 150 mAh cell.) The CG should
be just behind the lower wing’s LE.
I took a few photos, and I was off to test
it. The model flew great right from the start.
I only had to add a little aileron trim, and it
was time to explore the airplane’s flight
envelope. The model flies in a scalelike
manner. Rolls, loops, and snap rolls were no
problem.
I slowed it down to test its slow-speed
characteristics. I found I could slow the
model down without any bad stalling habits.
Overall, I found the Ultra Micro
Pitts/Christen Eagle easy to build, and yes, a
blast to fly! Please see the Blast RC website
listed under “Sources” for more information.
DT 2.4 GHz Receivers: David Theunissen
has designed a line of truly micro Spektrum
DSM2-compatible receivers. He made the
receivers as lightweight as possible, and
they perform best on a single LiPo cell. He
has a great assortment of receivers available
either with or without connectors.
His Rx31 0.23-gram, four-channel servo
receiver and his seven-channel, 0.28-gram
servo receiver are intriguing. They should be
perfect for building small, lightweight Scale
and Aerobatic models.
David’s line of actuator receivers
interests me because I can now fly models
such as my classroom fighters with my
Spektrum DX7! David sent me two of his
receivers to test: his four-channel Rx31
servo receiver and his two-channel Rx41
actuator receiver.
His Rx31 is only 9.3 x 9.9mm, and
includes a 2A FET to be used with a brushed
motor. The FET needs to be soldered to the
bottom of the receiver. This should only be
done by someone with some experience
soldering small components.
Binding the receiver is accomplished by
powering it up. After 30 seconds of no
transmitter signal, the receiver will go into
the bind mode. The LED will flash rapidly
and then the transmitter can be turned on.
After releasing the bind button, the LED on
the receiver will stop flashing and stay on,
indicating it is ready to use.
The Rx41 is only 9.3 x 10.3mm and will
drive actuators that are greater than 11
ohms. The binding procedure is the same as
the RX31. I tested the two receivers on the
bench and both worked beautifully! I should
have them installed by my next column, and
I will provide a flight report.
The DT 2.4GHz line of receivers is
available from BSD Micro RC in the US, or
you can order them directly from the DT
website. Both URL addresses are listed
under “Sources.” MA
Sources:
Blast RC
(321) 252-7872
www.blastrc.com
DT 2.4GHz Receivers
[email protected]
www.deltang.co.uk
Horizon Hobby
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com
BSD Micro RC, LLC
(417) 358-9521
www.bsdmicrorc.com
Bob Smith Industries, Inc.
(805) 466-1717
www.bsi-inc.com
Thunder Power RC
(702) 228-8883
www.thunderpowerrc.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/11
Page Numbers: 93,94,95
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/11
Page Numbers: 93,94,95
November 2011 93
Joe Malinchak Micro-Flying | [email protected]
Eye-catching Christen Eagle takes flight
Above: The new Blast RC Ultra Micro RC
Pitts/Christen Eagle is designed around
the ParkZone AR6400 brick, and has a
14.5-inch wingspan. The model can be
built using three or four channels.
Right: The kit features laser-cut plywood
and foam parts with the beauti ful
Christen Eagle graphics, instructions, and
all the hardware needed to build the
model. The author finished it in a few
evenings.
Below: The author used the Spektrum
long-throw AR6400L DSM2 receiver brick.
This shows the receiver placement with
the elevator and rudder pushrods installed.
Also included in this column:
• Ultra Micro Pitts/Christen Eagle
• Spektrum DSM2-compatible
receivers
I HAD THE PLEASURE of meeting Tom
Cleland of Blast RC at the 2010 Keystone
Indoor Electric Fly (KIEF) event.
Tom was a vendor in the micro area
with some great-looking new RC kits. His
Ultra Micro Pitts/Christen Eagle caught
my eye. The model is the same as his Ultra
Micro Pitts, but features the beautiful
Christen Eagle graphics. It has a 14.5-inch
wingspan, and is designed around the
ParkZone AR6400 brick and the 4-Site/P-
51/Sukhoi drive unit.
The kit features laser-cut foam and light plywood parts,
and includes all of the hardware necessary to build the model.
You have the option of making it three channels with rudder
and elevator control, or full house with ailerons.
The build starts with constructing the fuselage. The
fuselage has creases that are laser-cut on the inside. You
have to bend the creases, roll the fuselage into shape, and
glue it together.
I used my favorite foam glue, UHU Por, for most of the
assembly. It allows you to glue and reposition the foam. Apply a
small amount to both surfaces, let it dry for roughly 30-45
seconds, and press the parts together. The glue is perfect for
printed surfaces because it dries clear and leaves little residue.
94 MODEL AVIATION
Once the bulkhead is installed in the fuselage, the pre-bent metal
wheel axles can be glued into the holes of the carbon-gear struts with
CA, after they are properly aligned. The foam wheel pants are a nice
touch. I assembled mine with UHU Por glue and sanded them to
shape. I colored the wood wheels with a black permanent marker
and added the wheel pants and strut covers during final assembly.
I followed the instruction manual for the construction of the
elevator and rudder. I used small pieces of Blenderm tape for my
hinges. I test-fit the elevator and rudder assembly in the fuselage,
and then glued it in place. It’s good to use the UHU Por glue
because you can reposition the tail parts as needed.
After I completed the fuselage, I installed a ParkZone long throw
AR6400L DSM2 six-channel receiver brick, and the elevator and
rudder pushrods. Because this airplane is the Pitts Special, ailerons
were needed for full four-channel control. This model was designed
to use two ailerons
on the lower wing. I
have a full-scale
S1C Pitts that has
only two ailerons,
and the roll rate is
not that great.
I knew that the
model would need
maximum control
throw for Scale
Aerobatics, so I
decided to use two
Spektrum 1.5-gram
servos installed on
the bottom of the
lower wing for
positive aileron
control.
Two sizes of
You can also use foam-safe CA. I used
Bob Smith Industries’ Super Gold CA and
INSTA-SET accelerator on some of the
foam and all of the wood components.
Next is the motor mount assembly. The
kit includes mounts for the ParkZone P-51
or 4-Site motor drive unit, and a mount for a
brushless motor. I used the ParkZone 4-Site
drive unit on my model. The mount has the
proper downthrust and right-thrust built in.
Once assembled, it is a good idea to test-run
the motor before gluing the mount to the
fuselage.
One of my least favorite tasks of
building any model is making the landing
gear assembly. The Pitts gear is welldesigned
and easy to assemble. The plywood A-frame is glued to the
foam bulkhead, and the carbon-gear struts are then glued to the sides
of the A-frame. I used a dab of 5-minute epoxy on the carbon struts
for more strength.
The author used two Spektrum 1.5-gram
servos mounted under the lower wing for
effective aileron control and ease of
installation.
DT 2. 4GHz Receivers has design ed a line
o f mi cr o S p e k t r um D SM 2 -c o mp ati bl e
receivers. The Rx31 servo receiver and the
Rx4 1 a ct ua to r re cei ver (ri g h t) a r e t h e
perfect size for ultramicro models.
Ri g h t : T h e new DT f our-c ha nnel Rx 3 1
servo recei ver wei ghs 0.23 gram and h as
four serv o ou tputs . D av id d e s ig ne d hi s
re ceiver s to wor k on the lowest voltage
and draw the least amount of current for
1S LiPo operation.
The Ultra Micro Pitts/Christen Eagle is a great-flying model with good slow
speed characteristics. It can perform scalelike aerobatic maneuvers such as
rolls, loops, and snap rolls.
wing struts are included in the kit. The
shorter ones are used for the three-channel
version, and the longer ones for the aileron
version. I colored the two longer wing struts
with a red permanent marker and glued them
to the top wing with UHU Por. I then
colored the N struts with the red marker and
glued them to the fuselage. Finally, I glued
the top wing onto the lower wing, and made
sure it was properly aligned.
Flight Test: The completed model weighed
32 grams without the battery. I was excited
to see how it flew. I balanced the model with
a Thunder Power 160 mAh 25C cell
installed. (The Thunder Power 160 mAh cell
gives the 4-Site motor a little more kick than
the standard 150 mAh cell.) The CG should
be just behind the lower wing’s LE.
I took a few photos, and I was off to test
it. The model flew great right from the start.
I only had to add a little aileron trim, and it
was time to explore the airplane’s flight
envelope. The model flies in a scalelike
manner. Rolls, loops, and snap rolls were no
problem.
I slowed it down to test its slow-speed
characteristics. I found I could slow the
model down without any bad stalling habits.
Overall, I found the Ultra Micro
Pitts/Christen Eagle easy to build, and yes, a
blast to fly! Please see the Blast RC website
listed under “Sources” for more information.
DT 2.4 GHz Receivers: David Theunissen
has designed a line of truly micro Spektrum
DSM2-compatible receivers. He made the
receivers as lightweight as possible, and
they perform best on a single LiPo cell. He
has a great assortment of receivers available
either with or without connectors.
His Rx31 0.23-gram, four-channel servo
receiver and his seven-channel, 0.28-gram
servo receiver are intriguing. They should be
perfect for building small, lightweight Scale
and Aerobatic models.
David’s line of actuator receivers
interests me because I can now fly models
such as my classroom fighters with my
Spektrum DX7! David sent me two of his
receivers to test: his four-channel Rx31
servo receiver and his two-channel Rx41
actuator receiver.
His Rx31 is only 9.3 x 9.9mm, and
includes a 2A FET to be used with a brushed
motor. The FET needs to be soldered to the
bottom of the receiver. This should only be
done by someone with some experience
soldering small components.
Binding the receiver is accomplished by
powering it up. After 30 seconds of no
transmitter signal, the receiver will go into
the bind mode. The LED will flash rapidly
and then the transmitter can be turned on.
After releasing the bind button, the LED on
the receiver will stop flashing and stay on,
indicating it is ready to use.
The Rx41 is only 9.3 x 10.3mm and will
drive actuators that are greater than 11
ohms. The binding procedure is the same as
the RX31. I tested the two receivers on the
bench and both worked beautifully! I should
have them installed by my next column, and
I will provide a flight report.
The DT 2.4GHz line of receivers is
available from BSD Micro RC in the US, or
you can order them directly from the DT
website. Both URL addresses are listed
under “Sources.” MA
Sources:
Blast RC
(321) 252-7872
www.blastrc.com
DT 2.4GHz Receivers
[email protected]
www.deltang.co.uk
Horizon Hobby
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com
BSD Micro RC, LLC
(417) 358-9521
www.bsdmicrorc.com
Bob Smith Industries, Inc.
(805) 466-1717
www.bsi-inc.com
Thunder Power RC
(702) 228-8883
www.thunderpowerrc.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/11
Page Numbers: 93,94,95
November 2011 93
Joe Malinchak Micro-Flying | [email protected]
Eye-catching Christen Eagle takes flight
Above: The new Blast RC Ultra Micro RC
Pitts/Christen Eagle is designed around
the ParkZone AR6400 brick, and has a
14.5-inch wingspan. The model can be
built using three or four channels.
Right: The kit features laser-cut plywood
and foam parts with the beauti ful
Christen Eagle graphics, instructions, and
all the hardware needed to build the
model. The author finished it in a few
evenings.
Below: The author used the Spektrum
long-throw AR6400L DSM2 receiver brick.
This shows the receiver placement with
the elevator and rudder pushrods installed.
Also included in this column:
• Ultra Micro Pitts/Christen Eagle
• Spektrum DSM2-compatible
receivers
I HAD THE PLEASURE of meeting Tom
Cleland of Blast RC at the 2010 Keystone
Indoor Electric Fly (KIEF) event.
Tom was a vendor in the micro area
with some great-looking new RC kits. His
Ultra Micro Pitts/Christen Eagle caught
my eye. The model is the same as his Ultra
Micro Pitts, but features the beautiful
Christen Eagle graphics. It has a 14.5-inch
wingspan, and is designed around the
ParkZone AR6400 brick and the 4-Site/P-
51/Sukhoi drive unit.
The kit features laser-cut foam and light plywood parts,
and includes all of the hardware necessary to build the model.
You have the option of making it three channels with rudder
and elevator control, or full house with ailerons.
The build starts with constructing the fuselage. The
fuselage has creases that are laser-cut on the inside. You
have to bend the creases, roll the fuselage into shape, and
glue it together.
I used my favorite foam glue, UHU Por, for most of the
assembly. It allows you to glue and reposition the foam. Apply a
small amount to both surfaces, let it dry for roughly 30-45
seconds, and press the parts together. The glue is perfect for
printed surfaces because it dries clear and leaves little residue.
94 MODEL AVIATION
Once the bulkhead is installed in the fuselage, the pre-bent metal
wheel axles can be glued into the holes of the carbon-gear struts with
CA, after they are properly aligned. The foam wheel pants are a nice
touch. I assembled mine with UHU Por glue and sanded them to
shape. I colored the wood wheels with a black permanent marker
and added the wheel pants and strut covers during final assembly.
I followed the instruction manual for the construction of the
elevator and rudder. I used small pieces of Blenderm tape for my
hinges. I test-fit the elevator and rudder assembly in the fuselage,
and then glued it in place. It’s good to use the UHU Por glue
because you can reposition the tail parts as needed.
After I completed the fuselage, I installed a ParkZone long throw
AR6400L DSM2 six-channel receiver brick, and the elevator and
rudder pushrods. Because this airplane is the Pitts Special, ailerons
were needed for full four-channel control. This model was designed
to use two ailerons
on the lower wing. I
have a full-scale
S1C Pitts that has
only two ailerons,
and the roll rate is
not that great.
I knew that the
model would need
maximum control
throw for Scale
Aerobatics, so I
decided to use two
Spektrum 1.5-gram
servos installed on
the bottom of the
lower wing for
positive aileron
control.
Two sizes of
You can also use foam-safe CA. I used
Bob Smith Industries’ Super Gold CA and
INSTA-SET accelerator on some of the
foam and all of the wood components.
Next is the motor mount assembly. The
kit includes mounts for the ParkZone P-51
or 4-Site motor drive unit, and a mount for a
brushless motor. I used the ParkZone 4-Site
drive unit on my model. The mount has the
proper downthrust and right-thrust built in.
Once assembled, it is a good idea to test-run
the motor before gluing the mount to the
fuselage.
One of my least favorite tasks of
building any model is making the landing
gear assembly. The Pitts gear is welldesigned
and easy to assemble. The plywood A-frame is glued to the
foam bulkhead, and the carbon-gear struts are then glued to the sides
of the A-frame. I used a dab of 5-minute epoxy on the carbon struts
for more strength.
The author used two Spektrum 1.5-gram
servos mounted under the lower wing for
effective aileron control and ease of
installation.
DT 2. 4GHz Receivers has design ed a line
o f mi cr o S p e k t r um D SM 2 -c o mp ati bl e
receivers. The Rx31 servo receiver and the
Rx4 1 a ct ua to r re cei ver (ri g h t) a r e t h e
perfect size for ultramicro models.
Ri g h t : T h e new DT f our-c ha nnel Rx 3 1
servo recei ver wei ghs 0.23 gram and h as
four serv o ou tputs . D av id d e s ig ne d hi s
re ceiver s to wor k on the lowest voltage
and draw the least amount of current for
1S LiPo operation.
The Ultra Micro Pitts/Christen Eagle is a great-flying model with good slow
speed characteristics. It can perform scalelike aerobatic maneuvers such as
rolls, loops, and snap rolls.
wing struts are included in the kit. The
shorter ones are used for the three-channel
version, and the longer ones for the aileron
version. I colored the two longer wing struts
with a red permanent marker and glued them
to the top wing with UHU Por. I then
colored the N struts with the red marker and
glued them to the fuselage. Finally, I glued
the top wing onto the lower wing, and made
sure it was properly aligned.
Flight Test: The completed model weighed
32 grams without the battery. I was excited
to see how it flew. I balanced the model with
a Thunder Power 160 mAh 25C cell
installed. (The Thunder Power 160 mAh cell
gives the 4-Site motor a little more kick than
the standard 150 mAh cell.) The CG should
be just behind the lower wing’s LE.
I took a few photos, and I was off to test
it. The model flew great right from the start.
I only had to add a little aileron trim, and it
was time to explore the airplane’s flight
envelope. The model flies in a scalelike
manner. Rolls, loops, and snap rolls were no
problem.
I slowed it down to test its slow-speed
characteristics. I found I could slow the
model down without any bad stalling habits.
Overall, I found the Ultra Micro
Pitts/Christen Eagle easy to build, and yes, a
blast to fly! Please see the Blast RC website
listed under “Sources” for more information.
DT 2.4 GHz Receivers: David Theunissen
has designed a line of truly micro Spektrum
DSM2-compatible receivers. He made the
receivers as lightweight as possible, and
they perform best on a single LiPo cell. He
has a great assortment of receivers available
either with or without connectors.
His Rx31 0.23-gram, four-channel servo
receiver and his seven-channel, 0.28-gram
servo receiver are intriguing. They should be
perfect for building small, lightweight Scale
and Aerobatic models.
David’s line of actuator receivers
interests me because I can now fly models
such as my classroom fighters with my
Spektrum DX7! David sent me two of his
receivers to test: his four-channel Rx31
servo receiver and his two-channel Rx41
actuator receiver.
His Rx31 is only 9.3 x 9.9mm, and
includes a 2A FET to be used with a brushed
motor. The FET needs to be soldered to the
bottom of the receiver. This should only be
done by someone with some experience
soldering small components.
Binding the receiver is accomplished by
powering it up. After 30 seconds of no
transmitter signal, the receiver will go into
the bind mode. The LED will flash rapidly
and then the transmitter can be turned on.
After releasing the bind button, the LED on
the receiver will stop flashing and stay on,
indicating it is ready to use.
The Rx41 is only 9.3 x 10.3mm and will
drive actuators that are greater than 11
ohms. The binding procedure is the same as
the RX31. I tested the two receivers on the
bench and both worked beautifully! I should
have them installed by my next column, and
I will provide a flight report.
The DT 2.4GHz line of receivers is
available from BSD Micro RC in the US, or
you can order them directly from the DT
website. Both URL addresses are listed
under “Sources.” MA
Sources:
Blast RC
(321) 252-7872
www.blastrc.com
DT 2.4GHz Receivers
[email protected]
www.deltang.co.uk
Horizon Hobby
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com
BSD Micro RC, LLC
(417) 358-9521
www.bsdmicrorc.com
Bob Smith Industries, Inc.
(805) 466-1717
www.bsi-inc.com
Thunder Power RC
(702) 228-8883
www.thunderpowerrc.com
