W hen I was a child, I spent many hours reading model airplane magazines and dreaming about flying full-scale and RC model airplanes. Model aviation is a great way for people of any age to get introduced to airplanes and flying. You can learn about aerodynamics, weight and balance, building and construction techniques, and even aviation history.
Model aviation will lead many to an interest in learning to fly a full-scale airplane and a career in the field of aviation. It is a great time to start a career in aviation because pilots will be in great demand at some point in the future. New work rules, the cost of learning to fly, pilot retirements, and fewer pilots coming out of the military are affecting commercial airline pilot staffing levels.
The best way to get started is to go to your local flight school and take an introductory flight to see if aeronautics is for you. If it is, you can work to obtain your ratings, and start your career in aviation!
de Havilland Dash 8-100
My full-time job is flying the de Havilland Dash 8-100 and the Dash 8-300 for US Airways Express/Piedmont Airlines, Inc. Flying this turboprop throughout the Northeast is a good job.
I have been planning to design a model of the DH-8 for several years. I began working on a design a few years ago that flew okay, but I stopped to complete some other projects.
With a new line of twin-steer DT 2.4 GHz receivers, I had no excuse; I had to complete my DH-8 design!
I decided to make the model profile, as are many of my previous designs, because it would save weight and would be easy to construct. I wanted to pack in as much detail as possible, so I carried my camera with me to work to take plenty of photos. I can’t tell you how many photos I took of the airplane, but I had to go back and take more because I was missing some of the detail that I was trying to draw!
I included accurate panel lines, rivets, access hatches, and many other markings. If it’s on the full-scale airplane, it is probably on my model. Most people would not notice the minute details, but I wanted the model to be accurate.
I drew the design in Adobe Illustrator from a good set of three-view drawings I found. I also referenced a plastic model kit of the Dash that I had purchased.
My first prototype had a scale wing outline, but it was too fast and did not fly well. To achieve the flight characteristics that I wanted, I increased the wing area to allow the model to fly slower without compromising its looks.
The 91/2-inch wingspan model is constructed from Durobatics foam with some carbon-fiber rod inside the fuselage and under the wings for strength. I coated the Durobatics foam with inkAID. I mixed the inkAID with water (roughly 70% inkAID and 30% water) and sprayed it onto the foam with my airbrush. The inkAID allowed me to print my DH-8 graphics directly onto my foam using an inkjet printer. I
This is a shot of my new 9.5-inch wingspan de Havilland Dash 8-100 model, with the full-scale Dash-8 that I currently fly in the background.
The Dash-8 is constructed from Durobatics foam and uses two 4mm x 11mm 13-Ohm motors with two 32mm Plantraco propellers. The model weighs 5 grams and will fly for 5 to 7 minutes.
The new DT 2.4 GHz Rx41d DSM2 receiver weighs approximately 0.28 grams and features twin-steer mixing that is perfect for models such as my new Dash-8 design.
and assembled the model using UHU por Glue for Styrofoam. I used two 4mm x 11mm 13-Ohm motors, and two Plantraco 32mm direct-drive propellers. The 4mm x 11mm motors produce good power. They are the same motors that I used on my Plantraco Micro Butterfly, 1/72-scale Spitfire, and Messerschmitt Bf 109 designs.
I soldered the motors to the DT Rx41d receiver and mounted it to the underside of the wing. One nice feature of mounting the receiver beneath the wing is that I could test the motors and receiver operation before mounting the wing onto the fuselage.
The all-up weight of the model is 5 grams ready to fly with a 30 mAh LiPo cell. The increased wing area that I added worked like a charm, and the model flew great on my first test hops. The airplane will fly for 5 to 7 minutes on the 30 mAh cell.
The aircraft is easy to fly with the twin-steering mix. It is a great model for some fun, relaxing flying on a nice, calm day! Using a twin-steering setup on micro twin-engine models, such as my DH-8, is the way to go.
DT 2.4 GHz Rx41d DSM2 Receiver
DT Receivers has added several new receivers to its great line, including some with twin-steering capability.
The Rx41d weighs 0.28 grams and has the option of using an actuator for elevator control along with the twin-steering mix. I left the elevator actuator off my model to save as much weight as possible, but it would be a cool feature to have on some other designs with wheels (possibly a micro DC-3) for nice touch-and-gos.
The receiver has two built-in ESCs for brushed motors. It can be programmed using your transmitter to activate the twin steering and set the percentage of steering mix. You can set 0%, 12.5%, 25%, 50%, or 100% steering mix. This is a great feature to have.
I found that it took 50% steering mix for nice turns on my DH-8 model. You can also select several other programming options, such as changing the channel of the steering mix from the aileron to the rudder channel, low-voltage cutoff, and the actuator output channel. The receiver also has three servo outputs, and can drive two external brushless ESCs with twin-steering mix.
Bob Selman of BSD Micro RC with his 12-inch wingspan, three-channel Micro Moony. Bob used the DT Rx31 receiver and two Nick Leichty 0.75 gram servos for aileron and elevator control.
The Micro Moony is all-balsa construction and uses printed tissue trim applied with a glue stick. Bob gave the model two coats of Nitrate dope thinned 50/50.
The DT 2.4 GHz receivers can be
purchased in the US from Bob Selman
Designs (BSD). Please see the DT 2.4
GHz website for more information.
Bob Selman’s Micro Moony
Bob Selman sent in some pictures
and information about his new Micro
Moony. The model was designed by
Rolf Schmidt. Rolf kindly sent Bob a
set of plans that he
created for a 12-
inch wingspan Scale
model. The airplane
has an all-balsa, profile
fuselage and uses
aileron and elevator
for controls. He used
the DT Rx31 receiver
and two of Nick
Leichty 0.75-gram
servos.
Bob added printed
tissue trim with a glue
stick and then gave
the entire model two
coats of nitrate dope
thinned 50/50. The
finishing technique
was described to him
by Paul and Ralph
Bradley.
It had been more
than 30 years since he
had built any balsaand-
tissue models.
For power, he used
an SS long can directdrive
motor with a
Tri-Turbo propeller
and a Nanotech 130
mAh LiPo cell. The airplane weighs 18.2
grams ready to fly.
Bob said the model is agile and quick
in the air.
Microaces 1/24-Scale Kits
A new company called Microaces
makes its debut with four beautiful new
kits that are designed for the Spektrum
AR6400 and AR6400L receivers. The
Microaces’ new 1/24-scale P-51D has a 17.25-inch wingspan. The
kit is easy is to build, and uses innovative construction techniques.
Photo courtesy of Microaces.
Microaces’ new 1/24-scale, 16-inch wingspan, Fw 190A uses a
5000 Kv brushless motor for power, and a GWS 5030 propeller for
scale flight performance. Photo courtesy of Microaces.
1/24-scale P-51D Mustang and Focke-Wulf Fw 190A are available in two different liveries. The P-51D has a wingspan of 171/4 inches and the Fw 190A spans 16 inches.
The models are easy to build. They use innovative construction techniques that feature a lightweight self-adhesive covering material with detailed graphics that are applied over a Depron foam airframe. The models also feature a receiver clip that allows for easy removal of the AR6400 or AR6400L receivers so they can be shared with other models, and a motor-mounting system for removal of the brushless motor without opening the fuselage.
The models use a 5000 Kv brushless motor for power and a GWS5030 propeller for scale flight performance. The airplanes are available as deluxe kits that include the brushless motor and ESC, and as a standard kit without the motor and ESC. I look forward to doing a build review of the models in an upcoming column! See the Microaces website for current pricing and more information.
SOURCES:
DelTang (DT)
[email protected]
www.deltang.co.uk
Plantraco Microflight
(306) 955-1836
www.microflight.com
BSD Micro RC
(417) 358-9521
www.bsdmicrorc.com
Microaces
[email protected]
www.microaces.com
Spektrum
(800) 338-4639
www.spektrumrc.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/11
Page Numbers: 81,82,83,84
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/11
Page Numbers: 81,82,83,84
W hen I was a child, I spent many hours reading model airplane magazines and dreaming about flying full-scale and RC model airplanes. Model aviation is a great way for people of any age to get introduced to airplanes and flying. You can learn about aerodynamics, weight and balance, building and construction techniques, and even aviation history.
Model aviation will lead many to an interest in learning to fly a full-scale airplane and a career in the field of aviation. It is a great time to start a career in aviation because pilots will be in great demand at some point in the future. New work rules, the cost of learning to fly, pilot retirements, and fewer pilots coming out of the military are affecting commercial airline pilot staffing levels.
The best way to get started is to go to your local flight school and take an introductory flight to see if aeronautics is for you. If it is, you can work to obtain your ratings, and start your career in aviation!
de Havilland Dash 8-100
My full-time job is flying the de Havilland Dash 8-100 and the Dash 8-300 for US Airways Express/Piedmont Airlines, Inc. Flying this turboprop throughout the Northeast is a good job.
I have been planning to design a model of the DH-8 for several years. I began working on a design a few years ago that flew okay, but I stopped to complete some other projects.
With a new line of twin-steer DT 2.4 GHz receivers, I had no excuse; I had to complete my DH-8 design!
I decided to make the model profile, as are many of my previous designs, because it would save weight and would be easy to construct. I wanted to pack in as much detail as possible, so I carried my camera with me to work to take plenty of photos. I can’t tell you how many photos I took of the airplane, but I had to go back and take more because I was missing some of the detail that I was trying to draw!
I included accurate panel lines, rivets, access hatches, and many other markings. If it’s on the full-scale airplane, it is probably on my model. Most people would not notice the minute details, but I wanted the model to be accurate.
I drew the design in Adobe Illustrator from a good set of three-view drawings I found. I also referenced a plastic model kit of the Dash that I had purchased.
My first prototype had a scale wing outline, but it was too fast and did not fly well. To achieve the flight characteristics that I wanted, I increased the wing area to allow the model to fly slower without compromising its looks.
The 91/2-inch wingspan model is constructed from Durobatics foam with some carbon-fiber rod inside the fuselage and under the wings for strength. I coated the Durobatics foam with inkAID. I mixed the inkAID with water (roughly 70% inkAID and 30% water) and sprayed it onto the foam with my airbrush. The inkAID allowed me to print my DH-8 graphics directly onto my foam using an inkjet printer. I
This is a shot of my new 9.5-inch wingspan de Havilland Dash 8-100 model, with the full-scale Dash-8 that I currently fly in the background.
The Dash-8 is constructed from Durobatics foam and uses two 4mm x 11mm 13-Ohm motors with two 32mm Plantraco propellers. The model weighs 5 grams and will fly for 5 to 7 minutes.
The new DT 2.4 GHz Rx41d DSM2 receiver weighs approximately 0.28 grams and features twin-steer mixing that is perfect for models such as my new Dash-8 design.
and assembled the model using UHU por Glue for Styrofoam. I used two 4mm x 11mm 13-Ohm motors, and two Plantraco 32mm direct-drive propellers. The 4mm x 11mm motors produce good power. They are the same motors that I used on my Plantraco Micro Butterfly, 1/72-scale Spitfire, and Messerschmitt Bf 109 designs.
I soldered the motors to the DT Rx41d receiver and mounted it to the underside of the wing. One nice feature of mounting the receiver beneath the wing is that I could test the motors and receiver operation before mounting the wing onto the fuselage.
The all-up weight of the model is 5 grams ready to fly with a 30 mAh LiPo cell. The increased wing area that I added worked like a charm, and the model flew great on my first test hops. The airplane will fly for 5 to 7 minutes on the 30 mAh cell.
The aircraft is easy to fly with the twin-steering mix. It is a great model for some fun, relaxing flying on a nice, calm day! Using a twin-steering setup on micro twin-engine models, such as my DH-8, is the way to go.
DT 2.4 GHz Rx41d DSM2 Receiver
DT Receivers has added several new receivers to its great line, including some with twin-steering capability.
The Rx41d weighs 0.28 grams and has the option of using an actuator for elevator control along with the twin-steering mix. I left the elevator actuator off my model to save as much weight as possible, but it would be a cool feature to have on some other designs with wheels (possibly a micro DC-3) for nice touch-and-gos.
The receiver has two built-in ESCs for brushed motors. It can be programmed using your transmitter to activate the twin steering and set the percentage of steering mix. You can set 0%, 12.5%, 25%, 50%, or 100% steering mix. This is a great feature to have.
I found that it took 50% steering mix for nice turns on my DH-8 model. You can also select several other programming options, such as changing the channel of the steering mix from the aileron to the rudder channel, low-voltage cutoff, and the actuator output channel. The receiver also has three servo outputs, and can drive two external brushless ESCs with twin-steering mix.
Bob Selman of BSD Micro RC with his 12-inch wingspan, three-channel Micro Moony. Bob used the DT Rx31 receiver and two Nick Leichty 0.75 gram servos for aileron and elevator control.
The Micro Moony is all-balsa construction and uses printed tissue trim applied with a glue stick. Bob gave the model two coats of Nitrate dope thinned 50/50.
The DT 2.4 GHz receivers can be
purchased in the US from Bob Selman
Designs (BSD). Please see the DT 2.4
GHz website for more information.
Bob Selman’s Micro Moony
Bob Selman sent in some pictures
and information about his new Micro
Moony. The model was designed by
Rolf Schmidt. Rolf kindly sent Bob a
set of plans that he
created for a 12-
inch wingspan Scale
model. The airplane
has an all-balsa, profile
fuselage and uses
aileron and elevator
for controls. He used
the DT Rx31 receiver
and two of Nick
Leichty 0.75-gram
servos.
Bob added printed
tissue trim with a glue
stick and then gave
the entire model two
coats of nitrate dope
thinned 50/50. The
finishing technique
was described to him
by Paul and Ralph
Bradley.
It had been more
than 30 years since he
had built any balsaand-
tissue models.
For power, he used
an SS long can directdrive
motor with a
Tri-Turbo propeller
and a Nanotech 130
mAh LiPo cell. The airplane weighs 18.2
grams ready to fly.
Bob said the model is agile and quick
in the air.
Microaces 1/24-Scale Kits
A new company called Microaces
makes its debut with four beautiful new
kits that are designed for the Spektrum
AR6400 and AR6400L receivers. The
Microaces’ new 1/24-scale P-51D has a 17.25-inch wingspan. The
kit is easy is to build, and uses innovative construction techniques.
Photo courtesy of Microaces.
Microaces’ new 1/24-scale, 16-inch wingspan, Fw 190A uses a
5000 Kv brushless motor for power, and a GWS 5030 propeller for
scale flight performance. Photo courtesy of Microaces.
1/24-scale P-51D Mustang and Focke-Wulf Fw 190A are available in two different liveries. The P-51D has a wingspan of 171/4 inches and the Fw 190A spans 16 inches.
The models are easy to build. They use innovative construction techniques that feature a lightweight self-adhesive covering material with detailed graphics that are applied over a Depron foam airframe. The models also feature a receiver clip that allows for easy removal of the AR6400 or AR6400L receivers so they can be shared with other models, and a motor-mounting system for removal of the brushless motor without opening the fuselage.
The models use a 5000 Kv brushless motor for power and a GWS5030 propeller for scale flight performance. The airplanes are available as deluxe kits that include the brushless motor and ESC, and as a standard kit without the motor and ESC. I look forward to doing a build review of the models in an upcoming column! See the Microaces website for current pricing and more information.
SOURCES:
DelTang (DT)
[email protected]
www.deltang.co.uk
Plantraco Microflight
(306) 955-1836
www.microflight.com
BSD Micro RC
(417) 358-9521
www.bsdmicrorc.com
Microaces
[email protected]
www.microaces.com
Spektrum
(800) 338-4639
www.spektrumrc.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/11
Page Numbers: 81,82,83,84
W hen I was a child, I spent many hours reading model airplane magazines and dreaming about flying full-scale and RC model airplanes. Model aviation is a great way for people of any age to get introduced to airplanes and flying. You can learn about aerodynamics, weight and balance, building and construction techniques, and even aviation history.
Model aviation will lead many to an interest in learning to fly a full-scale airplane and a career in the field of aviation. It is a great time to start a career in aviation because pilots will be in great demand at some point in the future. New work rules, the cost of learning to fly, pilot retirements, and fewer pilots coming out of the military are affecting commercial airline pilot staffing levels.
The best way to get started is to go to your local flight school and take an introductory flight to see if aeronautics is for you. If it is, you can work to obtain your ratings, and start your career in aviation!
de Havilland Dash 8-100
My full-time job is flying the de Havilland Dash 8-100 and the Dash 8-300 for US Airways Express/Piedmont Airlines, Inc. Flying this turboprop throughout the Northeast is a good job.
I have been planning to design a model of the DH-8 for several years. I began working on a design a few years ago that flew okay, but I stopped to complete some other projects.
With a new line of twin-steer DT 2.4 GHz receivers, I had no excuse; I had to complete my DH-8 design!
I decided to make the model profile, as are many of my previous designs, because it would save weight and would be easy to construct. I wanted to pack in as much detail as possible, so I carried my camera with me to work to take plenty of photos. I can’t tell you how many photos I took of the airplane, but I had to go back and take more because I was missing some of the detail that I was trying to draw!
I included accurate panel lines, rivets, access hatches, and many other markings. If it’s on the full-scale airplane, it is probably on my model. Most people would not notice the minute details, but I wanted the model to be accurate.
I drew the design in Adobe Illustrator from a good set of three-view drawings I found. I also referenced a plastic model kit of the Dash that I had purchased.
My first prototype had a scale wing outline, but it was too fast and did not fly well. To achieve the flight characteristics that I wanted, I increased the wing area to allow the model to fly slower without compromising its looks.
The 91/2-inch wingspan model is constructed from Durobatics foam with some carbon-fiber rod inside the fuselage and under the wings for strength. I coated the Durobatics foam with inkAID. I mixed the inkAID with water (roughly 70% inkAID and 30% water) and sprayed it onto the foam with my airbrush. The inkAID allowed me to print my DH-8 graphics directly onto my foam using an inkjet printer. I
This is a shot of my new 9.5-inch wingspan de Havilland Dash 8-100 model, with the full-scale Dash-8 that I currently fly in the background.
The Dash-8 is constructed from Durobatics foam and uses two 4mm x 11mm 13-Ohm motors with two 32mm Plantraco propellers. The model weighs 5 grams and will fly for 5 to 7 minutes.
The new DT 2.4 GHz Rx41d DSM2 receiver weighs approximately 0.28 grams and features twin-steer mixing that is perfect for models such as my new Dash-8 design.
and assembled the model using UHU por Glue for Styrofoam. I used two 4mm x 11mm 13-Ohm motors, and two Plantraco 32mm direct-drive propellers. The 4mm x 11mm motors produce good power. They are the same motors that I used on my Plantraco Micro Butterfly, 1/72-scale Spitfire, and Messerschmitt Bf 109 designs.
I soldered the motors to the DT Rx41d receiver and mounted it to the underside of the wing. One nice feature of mounting the receiver beneath the wing is that I could test the motors and receiver operation before mounting the wing onto the fuselage.
The all-up weight of the model is 5 grams ready to fly with a 30 mAh LiPo cell. The increased wing area that I added worked like a charm, and the model flew great on my first test hops. The airplane will fly for 5 to 7 minutes on the 30 mAh cell.
The aircraft is easy to fly with the twin-steering mix. It is a great model for some fun, relaxing flying on a nice, calm day! Using a twin-steering setup on micro twin-engine models, such as my DH-8, is the way to go.
DT 2.4 GHz Rx41d DSM2 Receiver
DT Receivers has added several new receivers to its great line, including some with twin-steering capability.
The Rx41d weighs 0.28 grams and has the option of using an actuator for elevator control along with the twin-steering mix. I left the elevator actuator off my model to save as much weight as possible, but it would be a cool feature to have on some other designs with wheels (possibly a micro DC-3) for nice touch-and-gos.
The receiver has two built-in ESCs for brushed motors. It can be programmed using your transmitter to activate the twin steering and set the percentage of steering mix. You can set 0%, 12.5%, 25%, 50%, or 100% steering mix. This is a great feature to have.
I found that it took 50% steering mix for nice turns on my DH-8 model. You can also select several other programming options, such as changing the channel of the steering mix from the aileron to the rudder channel, low-voltage cutoff, and the actuator output channel. The receiver also has three servo outputs, and can drive two external brushless ESCs with twin-steering mix.
Bob Selman of BSD Micro RC with his 12-inch wingspan, three-channel Micro Moony. Bob used the DT Rx31 receiver and two Nick Leichty 0.75 gram servos for aileron and elevator control.
The Micro Moony is all-balsa construction and uses printed tissue trim applied with a glue stick. Bob gave the model two coats of Nitrate dope thinned 50/50.
The DT 2.4 GHz receivers can be
purchased in the US from Bob Selman
Designs (BSD). Please see the DT 2.4
GHz website for more information.
Bob Selman’s Micro Moony
Bob Selman sent in some pictures
and information about his new Micro
Moony. The model was designed by
Rolf Schmidt. Rolf kindly sent Bob a
set of plans that he
created for a 12-
inch wingspan Scale
model. The airplane
has an all-balsa, profile
fuselage and uses
aileron and elevator
for controls. He used
the DT Rx31 receiver
and two of Nick
Leichty 0.75-gram
servos.
Bob added printed
tissue trim with a glue
stick and then gave
the entire model two
coats of nitrate dope
thinned 50/50. The
finishing technique
was described to him
by Paul and Ralph
Bradley.
It had been more
than 30 years since he
had built any balsaand-
tissue models.
For power, he used
an SS long can directdrive
motor with a
Tri-Turbo propeller
and a Nanotech 130
mAh LiPo cell. The airplane weighs 18.2
grams ready to fly.
Bob said the model is agile and quick
in the air.
Microaces 1/24-Scale Kits
A new company called Microaces
makes its debut with four beautiful new
kits that are designed for the Spektrum
AR6400 and AR6400L receivers. The
Microaces’ new 1/24-scale P-51D has a 17.25-inch wingspan. The
kit is easy is to build, and uses innovative construction techniques.
Photo courtesy of Microaces.
Microaces’ new 1/24-scale, 16-inch wingspan, Fw 190A uses a
5000 Kv brushless motor for power, and a GWS 5030 propeller for
scale flight performance. Photo courtesy of Microaces.
1/24-scale P-51D Mustang and Focke-Wulf Fw 190A are available in two different liveries. The P-51D has a wingspan of 171/4 inches and the Fw 190A spans 16 inches.
The models are easy to build. They use innovative construction techniques that feature a lightweight self-adhesive covering material with detailed graphics that are applied over a Depron foam airframe. The models also feature a receiver clip that allows for easy removal of the AR6400 or AR6400L receivers so they can be shared with other models, and a motor-mounting system for removal of the brushless motor without opening the fuselage.
The models use a 5000 Kv brushless motor for power and a GWS5030 propeller for scale flight performance. The airplanes are available as deluxe kits that include the brushless motor and ESC, and as a standard kit without the motor and ESC. I look forward to doing a build review of the models in an upcoming column! See the Microaces website for current pricing and more information.
SOURCES:
DelTang (DT)
[email protected]
www.deltang.co.uk
Plantraco Microflight
(306) 955-1836
www.microflight.com
BSD Micro RC
(417) 358-9521
www.bsdmicrorc.com
Microaces
[email protected]
www.microaces.com
Spektrum
(800) 338-4639
www.spektrumrc.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/11
Page Numbers: 81,82,83,84
W hen I was a child, I spent many hours reading model airplane magazines and dreaming about flying full-scale and RC model airplanes. Model aviation is a great way for people of any age to get introduced to airplanes and flying. You can learn about aerodynamics, weight and balance, building and construction techniques, and even aviation history.
Model aviation will lead many to an interest in learning to fly a full-scale airplane and a career in the field of aviation. It is a great time to start a career in aviation because pilots will be in great demand at some point in the future. New work rules, the cost of learning to fly, pilot retirements, and fewer pilots coming out of the military are affecting commercial airline pilot staffing levels.
The best way to get started is to go to your local flight school and take an introductory flight to see if aeronautics is for you. If it is, you can work to obtain your ratings, and start your career in aviation!
de Havilland Dash 8-100
My full-time job is flying the de Havilland Dash 8-100 and the Dash 8-300 for US Airways Express/Piedmont Airlines, Inc. Flying this turboprop throughout the Northeast is a good job.
I have been planning to design a model of the DH-8 for several years. I began working on a design a few years ago that flew okay, but I stopped to complete some other projects.
With a new line of twin-steer DT 2.4 GHz receivers, I had no excuse; I had to complete my DH-8 design!
I decided to make the model profile, as are many of my previous designs, because it would save weight and would be easy to construct. I wanted to pack in as much detail as possible, so I carried my camera with me to work to take plenty of photos. I can’t tell you how many photos I took of the airplane, but I had to go back and take more because I was missing some of the detail that I was trying to draw!
I included accurate panel lines, rivets, access hatches, and many other markings. If it’s on the full-scale airplane, it is probably on my model. Most people would not notice the minute details, but I wanted the model to be accurate.
I drew the design in Adobe Illustrator from a good set of three-view drawings I found. I also referenced a plastic model kit of the Dash that I had purchased.
My first prototype had a scale wing outline, but it was too fast and did not fly well. To achieve the flight characteristics that I wanted, I increased the wing area to allow the model to fly slower without compromising its looks.
The 91/2-inch wingspan model is constructed from Durobatics foam with some carbon-fiber rod inside the fuselage and under the wings for strength. I coated the Durobatics foam with inkAID. I mixed the inkAID with water (roughly 70% inkAID and 30% water) and sprayed it onto the foam with my airbrush. The inkAID allowed me to print my DH-8 graphics directly onto my foam using an inkjet printer. I
This is a shot of my new 9.5-inch wingspan de Havilland Dash 8-100 model, with the full-scale Dash-8 that I currently fly in the background.
The Dash-8 is constructed from Durobatics foam and uses two 4mm x 11mm 13-Ohm motors with two 32mm Plantraco propellers. The model weighs 5 grams and will fly for 5 to 7 minutes.
The new DT 2.4 GHz Rx41d DSM2 receiver weighs approximately 0.28 grams and features twin-steer mixing that is perfect for models such as my new Dash-8 design.
and assembled the model using UHU por Glue for Styrofoam. I used two 4mm x 11mm 13-Ohm motors, and two Plantraco 32mm direct-drive propellers. The 4mm x 11mm motors produce good power. They are the same motors that I used on my Plantraco Micro Butterfly, 1/72-scale Spitfire, and Messerschmitt Bf 109 designs.
I soldered the motors to the DT Rx41d receiver and mounted it to the underside of the wing. One nice feature of mounting the receiver beneath the wing is that I could test the motors and receiver operation before mounting the wing onto the fuselage.
The all-up weight of the model is 5 grams ready to fly with a 30 mAh LiPo cell. The increased wing area that I added worked like a charm, and the model flew great on my first test hops. The airplane will fly for 5 to 7 minutes on the 30 mAh cell.
The aircraft is easy to fly with the twin-steering mix. It is a great model for some fun, relaxing flying on a nice, calm day! Using a twin-steering setup on micro twin-engine models, such as my DH-8, is the way to go.
DT 2.4 GHz Rx41d DSM2 Receiver
DT Receivers has added several new receivers to its great line, including some with twin-steering capability.
The Rx41d weighs 0.28 grams and has the option of using an actuator for elevator control along with the twin-steering mix. I left the elevator actuator off my model to save as much weight as possible, but it would be a cool feature to have on some other designs with wheels (possibly a micro DC-3) for nice touch-and-gos.
The receiver has two built-in ESCs for brushed motors. It can be programmed using your transmitter to activate the twin steering and set the percentage of steering mix. You can set 0%, 12.5%, 25%, 50%, or 100% steering mix. This is a great feature to have.
I found that it took 50% steering mix for nice turns on my DH-8 model. You can also select several other programming options, such as changing the channel of the steering mix from the aileron to the rudder channel, low-voltage cutoff, and the actuator output channel. The receiver also has three servo outputs, and can drive two external brushless ESCs with twin-steering mix.
Bob Selman of BSD Micro RC with his 12-inch wingspan, three-channel Micro Moony. Bob used the DT Rx31 receiver and two Nick Leichty 0.75 gram servos for aileron and elevator control.
The Micro Moony is all-balsa construction and uses printed tissue trim applied with a glue stick. Bob gave the model two coats of Nitrate dope thinned 50/50.
The DT 2.4 GHz receivers can be
purchased in the US from Bob Selman
Designs (BSD). Please see the DT 2.4
GHz website for more information.
Bob Selman’s Micro Moony
Bob Selman sent in some pictures
and information about his new Micro
Moony. The model was designed by
Rolf Schmidt. Rolf kindly sent Bob a
set of plans that he
created for a 12-
inch wingspan Scale
model. The airplane
has an all-balsa, profile
fuselage and uses
aileron and elevator
for controls. He used
the DT Rx31 receiver
and two of Nick
Leichty 0.75-gram
servos.
Bob added printed
tissue trim with a glue
stick and then gave
the entire model two
coats of nitrate dope
thinned 50/50. The
finishing technique
was described to him
by Paul and Ralph
Bradley.
It had been more
than 30 years since he
had built any balsaand-
tissue models.
For power, he used
an SS long can directdrive
motor with a
Tri-Turbo propeller
and a Nanotech 130
mAh LiPo cell. The airplane weighs 18.2
grams ready to fly.
Bob said the model is agile and quick
in the air.
Microaces 1/24-Scale Kits
A new company called Microaces
makes its debut with four beautiful new
kits that are designed for the Spektrum
AR6400 and AR6400L receivers. The
Microaces’ new 1/24-scale P-51D has a 17.25-inch wingspan. The
kit is easy is to build, and uses innovative construction techniques.
Photo courtesy of Microaces.
Microaces’ new 1/24-scale, 16-inch wingspan, Fw 190A uses a
5000 Kv brushless motor for power, and a GWS 5030 propeller for
scale flight performance. Photo courtesy of Microaces.
1/24-scale P-51D Mustang and Focke-Wulf Fw 190A are available in two different liveries. The P-51D has a wingspan of 171/4 inches and the Fw 190A spans 16 inches.
The models are easy to build. They use innovative construction techniques that feature a lightweight self-adhesive covering material with detailed graphics that are applied over a Depron foam airframe. The models also feature a receiver clip that allows for easy removal of the AR6400 or AR6400L receivers so they can be shared with other models, and a motor-mounting system for removal of the brushless motor without opening the fuselage.
The models use a 5000 Kv brushless motor for power and a GWS5030 propeller for scale flight performance. The airplanes are available as deluxe kits that include the brushless motor and ESC, and as a standard kit without the motor and ESC. I look forward to doing a build review of the models in an upcoming column! See the Microaces website for current pricing and more information.
SOURCES:
DelTang (DT)
[email protected]
www.deltang.co.uk
Plantraco Microflight
(306) 955-1836
www.microflight.com
BSD Micro RC
(417) 358-9521
www.bsdmicrorc.com
Microaces
[email protected]
www.microaces.com
Spektrum
(800) 338-4639
www.spektrumrc.com
