RADIO CONTROL JETS - 2003/06

June 2003 125
I CANNOT believe the flurry of activity
this winter with the new turbines
submitted to the AMA Safety Committee
for approval. By the time this goes to
print, I expect most of them to have
completed the approval process and be in
the hands of the modelers. I had thought
last year was a bit slower than before in
the growth of the turbine market, but what
a finish to the year.
AMT Netherlands has new models
complete with autostart features. JetCat
USA is starting to deliver the P-160, and
Frank Tiano has picked up the old RAM
line, with improvements to the
manufacturing process.
SimJet is really hitting the market with
its line of turbines, and some new
manufacturers are entering the United
States market. We have a wide selection
of turbines from which to choose.
I ran into an interesting problem on my
new model, a Blade from Golden West
Models. The aircraft required two 52-inch
and two 32-inch servo extensions. Some
of these are longer leads than I have
experience with, so I called Andy Low of
ElectroDynamics for a solution.
Andy set me up with custom-length
extensions matched to my requirements.
He made them with 22 AWG (American
Wire Gauge) 60-strand wire, top-quality
connectors, and installed chokes on the
extensions that were more than 48 inches
in length. The chokes are recommended
because of the length of these extensions.
Each extension was made with
separate color connectors to allow easy
tracing of the appropriate extension from
the receiver to the servo. This feature
alone has converted me to his extensions
as my favorites. The color-coded
connectors are so convenient. Delivery of
my custom extensions took approximately
a week.
Quality one-piece servo extensions are
necessary to reduce the voltage losses as
these wire lengths get longer. Some recent
testing has shown just how much is lost,
particularly at the connectors. Add to that
the digital servo draws, and you will be
surprised to find out that you can have
servos failing under flight loads as their
current draw causes excessive voltage
drops because of poor-quality servo
extensions. A quality digital servo is
useless if you can’t get the necessary
voltage to it. It will just cut out and leave
you with nothing when you need it.
ElectroDynamics provides many
Jim Hiller, 6090 Downs Rd., Champion OH 44481
RADIO CONTROL JETS
Tracey and Justin Sands at the 2002 Superman Jet Rally with their beautiful Bob Violett
BobCat. The aircraft is powered by a JetCat P-120 turbine.
This photo is from last year’s Heart of Ohio Jet Meet that featured a full-scale F-100
Sabre flyby with an afterburner display. Can they top it this year?
solutions to our electrical needs. Andy
Low made the original RAM ECUs
(electric control units). Andy is an active
jet modeler in the Michigan area and part
of the team that brought us the Almost
Ready-to-Fly Aermacchi MB 339 from
Cermark. His company provides many
items related to the electrical solutions for
models from jets to Giant Scale. Check
out ElectroDynamics’ Web site at
www.electrodynam.com for additional
product information.
Another source that has worked out
well for me is Art’s Hobby. My Crow
Aviation Razor has molded flex plates for
the main gear, but my set has been well
used and these flex plates are no longer
available. I planned to make a new set
from carbon-fiber plate, but I wasn’t
really looking forward to cutting carbon
fiber since it is hard on saw blades.
A few minutes of discussion with Art
Gajewski of Art’s Hobby led me to take
advantage of his cutting service to
provide me with a set of precut flex
plates, ready for immediate installation in
my Razor. If you have ever cut .125
carbon-fiber plate, you will appreciate
this service.
Art’s Hobby is another source for
specialty products—in this case
composite materials—for our modeling
needs. The company’s Web site even
includes pointers for making lightweight
carbon-fiber landing gear. Check out his
product offerings at www.artshobby.
com.
While I am mentioning Web pages, I
want to include some neat sites put
together by various jet modelers. I want to
start with Roger Shipley’s at
www.jetadic.com. Roger is one of the
strong Midwestern contingent of modelers
that have so many years of jet-modeling
experience. Roger’s is a neat site with
pictures taken at jet meets throughout the
Midwest. He also includes some
information about the sport-model
Firebird and the giant A-10 Warthog.
Our buddies in Georgia now have their
own Web site to share their experiences
with us. It is www.gajets.com. This group
of stars includes a Top Gun champion,
and they have been featured on the DIY
(Do It Yourself) Network Radio Control
series hosted by Chris Chianelli.
Not to be left out is the ever-active
Mississippi Gang. This group has its own
Web site at http://home.jam.rr.com/
missgang/. These serious jet modelers put
on quite a show when they arrive with
their Phantoms at a jet meet.
Another group I can’t leave out is the
California RC Jet Association at
www.crcja.org, covering activities in the
West.
If you have an interest in learning
about jet modeling, meeting other jet
modelers in your area, or just seeing what
some of the active sport turbine modelers
are doing, check out these sites.
I am a strong believer in the value of
attending jet meets. This helps new jet
modelers get a successful start in jet
modeling. Ducted-fan engines, turbine
engines, and the complexity of some of
these airframes can be overwhelming at
first, but they perform well and can
provide years of enjoyment. If you have
an interest in jet modeling, I suggest
attending some local jet meets, talking
with the modelers, and asking many
questions.
We are entering a busy season of jet
meets throughout the country. Events in
the Midwest include Mississippi
Afterburner, Michigan Jets, Heart of
Ohio, and Jets Over the Heartland. To get
more information about jet meets in your
area, look in the “Competition Calendar”
section of this magazine or go to the jetevent
section of the Jet Pilot’s
Organization Web site at
www.jetpilots.org.
One jet-modeling team that showed up
to impress the crowds at the Superman Jet
Rally last year comprised Tracey and
Justin Sands. Justin is a model maker for
Boeing and showed his building skills on
his Bob Violett BobCat.
Justin’s flying was even more
impressive—very smooth and
professional. I thought he had been flying
jet models for decades, but not so. The
BobCat was his introduction to turbines,
following a year or so of ducted-fan
modeling. Tracey served as the airplane
chief and kept that BobCat ready to go at
a moment’s notice. They make quite a
team and are professional in all aspects of
jet modeling. I hope they can make it out
again next year to the Superman Jet Rally.
The path to jet modeling that starts with
a ducted-fan model then progresses to a
turbine model is a popular and proven
method to move into turbine-powered
models. The ducted-fan model requires
mostly the same building, maintenance,
and flying skills as a turbine, but with
much less investment. Once mastered, the
turbine follows with the confidence
gained from the ducted-fan experience.
Many turbine modelers today came up
this way and can help newcomers get
started.
We are starting to see modelers step
straight from propeller models to turbines.
It can be done, but the right experiences
in modeling and the proper attention to
detail need to be in place to be successful.
Retractable landing gear, brakes, paved
runways, speed brakes and/or flaps, and
the complexity of the turbine engine
systems are involved when viewed as a
whole package.
Should you follow this path, take your
time, gain the right experiences, and seek
experienced help. Do not try to tackle the
most complicated Scale jet from the
beginning; start with a good sport turbine
model that is within your flight-skill
levels. Don’t try to tackle turbines,
complicated airframes, and high-speed
models at the same time.
We now have manufacturers providing
airframes that even include high-wing,
fixed-gear designs with pod-mounted
turbines. These may not fit your typical
image of a jet aircraft, but they simplify
the learning curve.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone
at the jet meets now that the season is in
full swing. MA
126 MODEL AVIATION