Radio Control: Helicopters

RADIO CONTROL HELICOPTERS FTTI t UJ1 [J III 1ZWffi irAtE t i 11 14 1 ma rz 4I 011011 mtii r t a ENGINES IN MODEL HELICOPTERS have always difficult adjust engines model airplanes airplanes mounted nose readily accessible can adjusted power settings start engine bold onto airplane advance throttle necessary Idle main needle valves easy reach airplane can tilted nose-high nose-low position under power conditions However trying adjust helicopter engine engine must started idle helicopter must carried away starting area brought hover check mixture Some fliers have trouble idle mixture transition idle full power main needle valve adjustments no matter what adjustments must made starts main needle valve tats set correctly no other adjustments will produce desired effect Adjusting carburetors mixture technique procedure can best described accompanying graph engines power displayed vertical axis mixture displayed horizontal axis As mixture main needle valve goes richer leaner setting power increases fourcycle two-cycle range eventually drops off after reaching maximum power adjusting new engines mixture sure what adjustments needed start rich setting Starting running engine four-cycle portion graph will ensure rich condition engine receives plenty fuel lubrication cooling setting evident engines performance add power will sound rough produce smoke may lack sufficient power take off Ringed engines can operate rich condition extended periods damage ABC engines should run way continued periods time designed run higher operating temperature can produced two-cycle range Once engine confirmed running rich bring idle close needle valve about advance throttle check mixture As continue process engine will transition four-cycle two-cycle setting power will increase noticeably However noticing transition four-cycle two-cycle cut-and-dried indicated vertical line graph its area engine will transition back forth fourcycle two-cycle Although engine producing enough power hover transition forward flight mixture setting recommended since engines power will change dramatically affect helicopters performance As mixture leaned further engine will twocycle area produce increased power have strong steady exhaust sound As mixture leaned further engine goes beyond knee curve area decreased power increased operating temperature low lubrication bad engine should avoided cost Although specific mixture settings easy see graph see flying field dont put engines area beyond knee curve make sure know engine mixture can make adjustments may seem obvious Ive seen fliers field just fuel up start engines go fly Although engine may have set properiy last flew can sure mixture still correct Changes temperature humidity air pressure can have dramatic effect carburetor mixture wouldnt take much push over knee ensure doesnt happen purposely richen mixture slightly before start engine has change am well left knee After starting engine bring helicopter hover listen indlcation four-cycle dont hear continue richen mixture until hear slight burble exhaust indicating am right edge four-cycle Now know mixture graph can make changes Unless go through procedure its possible start run engine day two-cycle area curve never know whether its beyond knee Once know am mixture curve next question want mixture next flight will probably say want lean mixture get max power out engine Are going max-perform helicopter flight Its just well flying enjoyment run engine slightly richer ensuring mixture left knee curve protect engine lean run other mistake fliers make mixture adjustments full tank fuel What happens fuel bums down halfOctober1998 125 Two Cycle POWER Four Cycle LeanMIXTURERich OGS Digital Volt Meter has large digital readout One-pushbutton concept 46 VR fuel tank straightforward easy build Text operation shows accurate battery pack voltage under load discusses assembling testing fuel tanks before mounting tank less muffler pressure header tank engine will have harder time pulling fuel carburetor will cause mixture go lean take consideration adjusting mixture near-empty tank almost worst condition produce lean run say almost because no way take gravity G loading consideration adjusting mixture ground As helicopter starts going up loop C loading model fuel will increase almost five Gs will make fuel harder get carburetor thereby leaning mixture saw effect mixtures several years ago flying Quickie SOOs other guys would set mixture max power ground full tank fuel halfway through race engines would go lean would set engine slightly rich would really come going lean worked transferred technique helicopters Try might like Im progressing assembly Kyosho Concept 46 VR expect have air next column However few items consider decide try helicopter next project Although instruction manual supplied kit great Horizon Hobby Distributors did excellent job providing additional manual offers insights ideas make assembly easier ideas presented step-by-step guide should read before starting particular step get big picture see common mistakes construction make process liffle easier Although Kyosho does good job packaging individual parts clear plastic bags still room improvement step calls specific bag bags parts opened some steps require four bags opened parts used Open bags kept workbench later assembly may several days away bag marked VR-B used assembly step 8 pieces bag used up until completion step 19 would prefer see individual bags step check off completion assembly can look see have parts left means made mistake somewhere Having individual parts bags would also ensure correct part used assembly sequence instance screws look alike packaged bag would easy use wrong specific assembly sequence best way package parts have long plastic bag major component Using head example parts needed first step would packaged top bag would heatsealed keep separate parts next step would put bag would heat-sealed through heads completion Only portion bag needed particular step would opened other parts would remain sealed until needed Its something Kyosho other manufacturers think about helicopters including 46 VR use lightweigbt materials improve flying performance Another advantage materials self-tapping screws can used assembly since make own threads nut required However use extreme care during assembly use too much force have seen people flying field making repairs adjustments helicopters apply max amount pressure screw could handle Once have joined parts together bolt screw snug up make sure parts secure leave Overtightening will bend break screw strip out used composite part Although dont want give specific instructions assembly part 46 VR adequately handled manuals want make some points about fuel tank applicable tank Most fuel tanks made some form plastic rubber fittings inserted attached An easy way get right place wet slightly saliva just before assembly moisture makes easier slip position dries quickly keep everything place Make sure clunk free move inside tank watch clunk fuel line move tilt tank possible position looking area line could pinch clunk cannot get fuel learned experience during earlier days couldnt autos lost couple helicopters because fuel starvation Pressure-test fuel tanks after assembly usually two lines fuel vent pinch off vent line blow fuel line make sure tank lines can hold pressure time find leaks important plan use tank scale fuselage would really make mess leaked Clyde Stacy CGS Electronics 7171 Steubenville Pike Oakdale PA 15171 has designed new Digital Volt Meter DVM Clyde has made very user-friendly suited RC needs Most other DVMs have seen rather large long bulky leads knobs select specific function voltage range mention on/off button apply load checking voltage CGS DVM has large digital readout comes built-in load designed check transmitter receiver batteries almost other battery matter operates push single button Almost DVM readout its small can fit easily almost field box quick easy use previous articles batteries pointed out care feeding important success RC flying best ways keep track battery performance accurately measure voltage under load CGS DVM does cale/Troy Continued page 119 grain aeroplanes brass fittings have designs engraved tried make close original designs could Argus engine also handmade four cylinders turned Shopsmith pushrods aluminum tubing rocker arms aluminum tubing valves small nails polished over valve springs handmade 010 music wire wrapped around 10-penny nail chucked hand drill spark plugs five-piece construction red wire leads length multi-strand telephone cable Alexs Taube preceding models product dedicated passion aeroplanes age long gone care attention executed same pride must have gone original subjects factory workers truly artisans greatest payoff builders service aesthetic grace flying machine crafted wasand isEmotional Debt Factor EDF its highest Manufacturers News Since late 1993 Jim Boxmeyer Boxmeyer Composites has producing Tufflite user-friendly lightweight composite fiberglasslepoxy/foam building material Tufflite contributes durability weight reduction ease construction composites thought materials used sparsely reinforcement throughout construction Tufflite available 4- x 8-foot formable composite sheets may used create almost model aircraft part including major aircraft components such entire wings fuselages tail surfaces No vacuum-bagging required Tufflite filling surface sanding can thing past surface very smooth Jim has thorough information package available includes large sample Tufflite builders manual information came quite ago somewhat dated instructions receive information package write Jim Boxmeyer Composites Box 6165 Philadelphia PA 19115 Ive recently learned passing Harris Lee founder US Scale Masters follow competition may aware Harriss contributions art promotion Scale modeling model aviations true gentlemen Ever smiling always thoroughly enjoying competitive camaraderie event gave Scale community model aviation Harris Lee friend Until next issue build straight fly safely Well again Model Aviation