108 MODEL AVIATION
Safety Comes First Dave Gee | [email protected]
Manual arming switches for electric-powered models
Also included in this column:
• Gas and glow engines require
ventilation too!
• Internet wisdom
• Mobile starting bench
• Stooge talk
• A case of “pit hit”
Left: Dave Seale used some lumber and
his imagination to create a classy mobile
workstand for home use.
Above: Internal-combustion engines make
harmful exhaust gases—even the little one
in this helicopter. Don’t run them in
confined spaces!
Left: Carl Rankin’s soda-straw and clingwrap
electric RC model spans 7 feet and
weighs less than 2 pounds. It’s beautiful in
flight!
A READER suggested using an arming switch on an electricpowered
model to prevent accidental motor runs, and since then I
have heard from several savvy electricians about how our modern
power systems do not like such switches. Steven Nicholson wrote:
“An inline switch may work on a small current ESC (5 or
maybe 8 amps), however, as you progress up (in power) this will
be a problem. I lost one airplane on take off due to a switch
malfunction.
“The switch acts like a fuse link. With electrics using 20 to
110 amps, you would have to have a switch that handles very high
current.”
My models tend to be small enough not to cause switch
problems, but there have been some serious unexpected incidents
with powerful motors and I still think a manual arming switch is a
good idea.
10sig4.QXD 8/22/07 12:44 PM Page 108
During my research some hobbyindustry
people showed me new heavy-duty
switches and arming plugs that are being
marketed for such use. Since I wrote this
roughly three months before the
magazine’s cover date, these products may
be available by the time you read it.
On the topic of three months, winter
weather will be here soon. That means
many modelers will be working in their
cozy, warm workshops.
Do you ever bench-run your gas engines
in a place with limited ventilation? We
know better than to do that with an
automobile, but a harmless, little model
engine seems different, right?
Look at the picture of the hovering
helicopter. The weather conditions were
just right for the exhaust to be visible, and
you can see how many cubic feet of fumes
are made in only a few moments of
running.
An internal-combustion engine produces
carbon monoxide and other dangerous
gases. You can’t tell what the danger level
is solely by sniffing!
When you are considering whether you
should test-run that new engine out in the
icy gales or in the comfort of your
basement, please remember the picture of
exhaust smoke pouring out of that
helicopter engine. Leave yourself plenty of
breathing room!
The Internet is a great place to share
aeromodeling information and make
friends. Many chat rooms and bulletinboard
Web sites are devoted to various
aspects of our hobby.
I can’t possibly monitor them all, so a
helpful reader sent me a discussion thread
about one of my favorite subjects: eye
protection. Forgive me for quoting these
messages anonymously since the writers
didn’t know their wit and wisdom would
end up here.
“Hey guys, just had a scare this
afternoon with my Dremel. I was cutting a
steel RC link and my cutting wheel
shattered and a piece hit me in the lip and
drew blood! Felt like I got punched.
“I was wearing my safety glasses but the
thought of what would have happened if
that shard had hit my eye really freaked me
out. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Dremel
but it’s easy to forget how fast those little
attachments are spinning. Stay safe.”
“I like the non-reinforced cutting wheels
because they seem to work better. But for
safety reasons, I’ve been using the fiber
reinforced wheels as they are less likely to
let go. All it takes is 1 millisecond to
change your life forever. Better to be safe
than sorry.”
“I had an issue the other day using a
cutting wheel. I was cutting the bolt for my
landing gear, first wheel blew apart. The
second held together but when I went to
bend the bolt over to break it off ... ouch
that’s hot! Yeah, it burned my thumb so
bad the thread pattern was seared into my
finger.”
“Safety glasses are not enough when
working with cutoff wheels. You want a
full face shield! You should know that
now. Injuries to the face and head are not a
good thing!”
“I’ve seen pictures of some of the guys
that post on here ... trust me, unless the
accident is fatal it couldn’t make things
much worse.”
There can be great camaraderie on an
Internet forum, and I like how you can learn
from and kid around with friends from around
the world whom you’ve never actually met.
These posts show that the modelers really
care about one another’s well-being, and their
combined experience urges us all to use topquality
eye protection.
Since getting prescription polycarbonate
lenses in my regular close-up glasses, I never
have to reach for special eye protection. My
safety glasses are already on my face
whether I’m running a drill or cutting
balsa. This has saved me more than once
when fast-moving specks have flown into
my face.
I confess that at times in the past I have
done “just a little bit” of grinding or
drilling without eye protection. What a
dumb move!
For outdoor occasions, following is yet
another plug for Zurich impact-resistant
sunglasses. I am unaware of anything else
like these on the market. They come in
various shades and styles and are
advertised in this magazine.
Once you try these glasses you will
understand my enthusiasm. My pair has
protected me from glare and flying
particles for several years.
I saw a really big flying particle recently,
created by eccentric genius Carl Rankin.
He uses soda straws, tape, and plastic wrap
to build RC electric-powered airplanes.
Carl’s latest model spans 7 feet! It weighs
less than 2 pounds and has intricate
internal spars supporting a cantilever wing.
Spectators commented that the slow,
floating flight pattern resembled a blimp
more than an airplane. This may be the
safest RC airplane ever, with an ultralow
wing loading, ultralow cruising speed, and
a structure that bends without splintering.
Carl assured me that the food-grade plastic
wrap kept the airplane fresh and crispy.
A crisp E-mail accompanied by some
nice photos arrived from Dave Seale. He
wanted to discuss ways to secure an RC
airplane while prepping or adjusting it.
“It’s getting harder to get down on the
ground to make adjustments when at
home. We have a standard version of the
AMA starting bench at the field. I looked
around the house for suitable scrap lumber
and built a version sized to me and to my
planes.
“For moving it around the patio, I
mounted a pair of plastic wheels from The
Home Depot and used nuts and bolts for
axles. The sides extend outside of the
vertical posts to accommodate the
transmitter on one side and the field box
on the other for starting.
“Also, a drilled hole in the center board
accepts the restraint fork when running the
engine without the wings attached. Now it
is a pleasure to pre-flight at home safely.”
I sympathize with Dave about the
ground getting farther away as the years go
by! His solution keeps things at a
comfortable height and is mobile.
There have been several recent notes and
E-mails about stooges. These gadgets come
in many forms and are used with almost all
types of model aircraft.
I was given a beautifully handmade
Frank Faraco aluminum winding stooge for
my Outdoor Rubber models. It is the envy
of all who see it, and my models look even
worse by comparison.
What type of stooge do you prefer and
what clever modifications have you seen?
Please E-mail me at the address at the top
of the column or write “Dave The Safety
Boy,” Box 7081, Van Nuys CA 91409.
Don’t forget to mention MA in your E-mail
subject line to get past my spam protection.
I attended a local electric RC fun-fly in
honor of Addie Naccarato. There was a
wave of amazing new products and models
for sale at the exhibitor booths. Attendees
brought a fascinating variety of models to
show off in the pits and in the sky.
Frequency control was tight. Nobody
wanted to lose an airplane or be the cause
of an accident, and even the new Spektrum
system users understood that their radios
belonged on the impound table.
Underneath this event’s lighthearted,
friendly mood was a serious watchfulness
that kept everyone safe, including the little
kids who had more fun than anyone else.
Unfortunately at any busy model field I
only have to stroll around and wait for this
column to write itself.
An RTF airplane distributor was
displaying new products and had sold
several park flyers to the crowd. I watched
as a friend of mine tinkered with one of
these foamies. Suddenly the motors came
to life in a series of spurts, making the
propellers spin against the workbench and
his hands.
He immediately called to his son to shut
off the transmitter, but the boy did not have
it. The signal was coming from another
radio, which was just then flying a
different type of model from the same
manufacturer. This classic case of a “pit
hit” resulted in no harm, thanks to the lowpowered
motors.
Remember the lead item about arming
switches? This situation should not have
happened at all because a receiver should
not have been turned on when the
frequency was not clear. With a gas model
this would have only waggled the elevator,
but an electric power system is always
ready to go!
I can’t say that I always follow every
rule properly, but I’m gonna try a little bit
harder this month
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/10
Page Numbers: 108,109,110
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/10
Page Numbers: 108,109,110
108 MODEL AVIATION
Safety Comes First Dave Gee | [email protected]
Manual arming switches for electric-powered models
Also included in this column:
• Gas and glow engines require
ventilation too!
• Internet wisdom
• Mobile starting bench
• Stooge talk
• A case of “pit hit”
Left: Dave Seale used some lumber and
his imagination to create a classy mobile
workstand for home use.
Above: Internal-combustion engines make
harmful exhaust gases—even the little one
in this helicopter. Don’t run them in
confined spaces!
Left: Carl Rankin’s soda-straw and clingwrap
electric RC model spans 7 feet and
weighs less than 2 pounds. It’s beautiful in
flight!
A READER suggested using an arming switch on an electricpowered
model to prevent accidental motor runs, and since then I
have heard from several savvy electricians about how our modern
power systems do not like such switches. Steven Nicholson wrote:
“An inline switch may work on a small current ESC (5 or
maybe 8 amps), however, as you progress up (in power) this will
be a problem. I lost one airplane on take off due to a switch
malfunction.
“The switch acts like a fuse link. With electrics using 20 to
110 amps, you would have to have a switch that handles very high
current.”
My models tend to be small enough not to cause switch
problems, but there have been some serious unexpected incidents
with powerful motors and I still think a manual arming switch is a
good idea.
10sig4.QXD 8/22/07 12:44 PM Page 108
During my research some hobbyindustry
people showed me new heavy-duty
switches and arming plugs that are being
marketed for such use. Since I wrote this
roughly three months before the
magazine’s cover date, these products may
be available by the time you read it.
On the topic of three months, winter
weather will be here soon. That means
many modelers will be working in their
cozy, warm workshops.
Do you ever bench-run your gas engines
in a place with limited ventilation? We
know better than to do that with an
automobile, but a harmless, little model
engine seems different, right?
Look at the picture of the hovering
helicopter. The weather conditions were
just right for the exhaust to be visible, and
you can see how many cubic feet of fumes
are made in only a few moments of
running.
An internal-combustion engine produces
carbon monoxide and other dangerous
gases. You can’t tell what the danger level
is solely by sniffing!
When you are considering whether you
should test-run that new engine out in the
icy gales or in the comfort of your
basement, please remember the picture of
exhaust smoke pouring out of that
helicopter engine. Leave yourself plenty of
breathing room!
The Internet is a great place to share
aeromodeling information and make
friends. Many chat rooms and bulletinboard
Web sites are devoted to various
aspects of our hobby.
I can’t possibly monitor them all, so a
helpful reader sent me a discussion thread
about one of my favorite subjects: eye
protection. Forgive me for quoting these
messages anonymously since the writers
didn’t know their wit and wisdom would
end up here.
“Hey guys, just had a scare this
afternoon with my Dremel. I was cutting a
steel RC link and my cutting wheel
shattered and a piece hit me in the lip and
drew blood! Felt like I got punched.
“I was wearing my safety glasses but the
thought of what would have happened if
that shard had hit my eye really freaked me
out. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Dremel
but it’s easy to forget how fast those little
attachments are spinning. Stay safe.”
“I like the non-reinforced cutting wheels
because they seem to work better. But for
safety reasons, I’ve been using the fiber
reinforced wheels as they are less likely to
let go. All it takes is 1 millisecond to
change your life forever. Better to be safe
than sorry.”
“I had an issue the other day using a
cutting wheel. I was cutting the bolt for my
landing gear, first wheel blew apart. The
second held together but when I went to
bend the bolt over to break it off ... ouch
that’s hot! Yeah, it burned my thumb so
bad the thread pattern was seared into my
finger.”
“Safety glasses are not enough when
working with cutoff wheels. You want a
full face shield! You should know that
now. Injuries to the face and head are not a
good thing!”
“I’ve seen pictures of some of the guys
that post on here ... trust me, unless the
accident is fatal it couldn’t make things
much worse.”
There can be great camaraderie on an
Internet forum, and I like how you can learn
from and kid around with friends from around
the world whom you’ve never actually met.
These posts show that the modelers really
care about one another’s well-being, and their
combined experience urges us all to use topquality
eye protection.
Since getting prescription polycarbonate
lenses in my regular close-up glasses, I never
have to reach for special eye protection. My
safety glasses are already on my face
whether I’m running a drill or cutting
balsa. This has saved me more than once
when fast-moving specks have flown into
my face.
I confess that at times in the past I have
done “just a little bit” of grinding or
drilling without eye protection. What a
dumb move!
For outdoor occasions, following is yet
another plug for Zurich impact-resistant
sunglasses. I am unaware of anything else
like these on the market. They come in
various shades and styles and are
advertised in this magazine.
Once you try these glasses you will
understand my enthusiasm. My pair has
protected me from glare and flying
particles for several years.
I saw a really big flying particle recently,
created by eccentric genius Carl Rankin.
He uses soda straws, tape, and plastic wrap
to build RC electric-powered airplanes.
Carl’s latest model spans 7 feet! It weighs
less than 2 pounds and has intricate
internal spars supporting a cantilever wing.
Spectators commented that the slow,
floating flight pattern resembled a blimp
more than an airplane. This may be the
safest RC airplane ever, with an ultralow
wing loading, ultralow cruising speed, and
a structure that bends without splintering.
Carl assured me that the food-grade plastic
wrap kept the airplane fresh and crispy.
A crisp E-mail accompanied by some
nice photos arrived from Dave Seale. He
wanted to discuss ways to secure an RC
airplane while prepping or adjusting it.
“It’s getting harder to get down on the
ground to make adjustments when at
home. We have a standard version of the
AMA starting bench at the field. I looked
around the house for suitable scrap lumber
and built a version sized to me and to my
planes.
“For moving it around the patio, I
mounted a pair of plastic wheels from The
Home Depot and used nuts and bolts for
axles. The sides extend outside of the
vertical posts to accommodate the
transmitter on one side and the field box
on the other for starting.
“Also, a drilled hole in the center board
accepts the restraint fork when running the
engine without the wings attached. Now it
is a pleasure to pre-flight at home safely.”
I sympathize with Dave about the
ground getting farther away as the years go
by! His solution keeps things at a
comfortable height and is mobile.
There have been several recent notes and
E-mails about stooges. These gadgets come
in many forms and are used with almost all
types of model aircraft.
I was given a beautifully handmade
Frank Faraco aluminum winding stooge for
my Outdoor Rubber models. It is the envy
of all who see it, and my models look even
worse by comparison.
What type of stooge do you prefer and
what clever modifications have you seen?
Please E-mail me at the address at the top
of the column or write “Dave The Safety
Boy,” Box 7081, Van Nuys CA 91409.
Don’t forget to mention MA in your E-mail
subject line to get past my spam protection.
I attended a local electric RC fun-fly in
honor of Addie Naccarato. There was a
wave of amazing new products and models
for sale at the exhibitor booths. Attendees
brought a fascinating variety of models to
show off in the pits and in the sky.
Frequency control was tight. Nobody
wanted to lose an airplane or be the cause
of an accident, and even the new Spektrum
system users understood that their radios
belonged on the impound table.
Underneath this event’s lighthearted,
friendly mood was a serious watchfulness
that kept everyone safe, including the little
kids who had more fun than anyone else.
Unfortunately at any busy model field I
only have to stroll around and wait for this
column to write itself.
An RTF airplane distributor was
displaying new products and had sold
several park flyers to the crowd. I watched
as a friend of mine tinkered with one of
these foamies. Suddenly the motors came
to life in a series of spurts, making the
propellers spin against the workbench and
his hands.
He immediately called to his son to shut
off the transmitter, but the boy did not have
it. The signal was coming from another
radio, which was just then flying a
different type of model from the same
manufacturer. This classic case of a “pit
hit” resulted in no harm, thanks to the lowpowered
motors.
Remember the lead item about arming
switches? This situation should not have
happened at all because a receiver should
not have been turned on when the
frequency was not clear. With a gas model
this would have only waggled the elevator,
but an electric power system is always
ready to go!
I can’t say that I always follow every
rule properly, but I’m gonna try a little bit
harder this month
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/10
Page Numbers: 108,109,110
108 MODEL AVIATION
Safety Comes First Dave Gee | [email protected]
Manual arming switches for electric-powered models
Also included in this column:
• Gas and glow engines require
ventilation too!
• Internet wisdom
• Mobile starting bench
• Stooge talk
• A case of “pit hit”
Left: Dave Seale used some lumber and
his imagination to create a classy mobile
workstand for home use.
Above: Internal-combustion engines make
harmful exhaust gases—even the little one
in this helicopter. Don’t run them in
confined spaces!
Left: Carl Rankin’s soda-straw and clingwrap
electric RC model spans 7 feet and
weighs less than 2 pounds. It’s beautiful in
flight!
A READER suggested using an arming switch on an electricpowered
model to prevent accidental motor runs, and since then I
have heard from several savvy electricians about how our modern
power systems do not like such switches. Steven Nicholson wrote:
“An inline switch may work on a small current ESC (5 or
maybe 8 amps), however, as you progress up (in power) this will
be a problem. I lost one airplane on take off due to a switch
malfunction.
“The switch acts like a fuse link. With electrics using 20 to
110 amps, you would have to have a switch that handles very high
current.”
My models tend to be small enough not to cause switch
problems, but there have been some serious unexpected incidents
with powerful motors and I still think a manual arming switch is a
good idea.
10sig4.QXD 8/22/07 12:44 PM Page 108
During my research some hobbyindustry
people showed me new heavy-duty
switches and arming plugs that are being
marketed for such use. Since I wrote this
roughly three months before the
magazine’s cover date, these products may
be available by the time you read it.
On the topic of three months, winter
weather will be here soon. That means
many modelers will be working in their
cozy, warm workshops.
Do you ever bench-run your gas engines
in a place with limited ventilation? We
know better than to do that with an
automobile, but a harmless, little model
engine seems different, right?
Look at the picture of the hovering
helicopter. The weather conditions were
just right for the exhaust to be visible, and
you can see how many cubic feet of fumes
are made in only a few moments of
running.
An internal-combustion engine produces
carbon monoxide and other dangerous
gases. You can’t tell what the danger level
is solely by sniffing!
When you are considering whether you
should test-run that new engine out in the
icy gales or in the comfort of your
basement, please remember the picture of
exhaust smoke pouring out of that
helicopter engine. Leave yourself plenty of
breathing room!
The Internet is a great place to share
aeromodeling information and make
friends. Many chat rooms and bulletinboard
Web sites are devoted to various
aspects of our hobby.
I can’t possibly monitor them all, so a
helpful reader sent me a discussion thread
about one of my favorite subjects: eye
protection. Forgive me for quoting these
messages anonymously since the writers
didn’t know their wit and wisdom would
end up here.
“Hey guys, just had a scare this
afternoon with my Dremel. I was cutting a
steel RC link and my cutting wheel
shattered and a piece hit me in the lip and
drew blood! Felt like I got punched.
“I was wearing my safety glasses but the
thought of what would have happened if
that shard had hit my eye really freaked me
out. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Dremel
but it’s easy to forget how fast those little
attachments are spinning. Stay safe.”
“I like the non-reinforced cutting wheels
because they seem to work better. But for
safety reasons, I’ve been using the fiber
reinforced wheels as they are less likely to
let go. All it takes is 1 millisecond to
change your life forever. Better to be safe
than sorry.”
“I had an issue the other day using a
cutting wheel. I was cutting the bolt for my
landing gear, first wheel blew apart. The
second held together but when I went to
bend the bolt over to break it off ... ouch
that’s hot! Yeah, it burned my thumb so
bad the thread pattern was seared into my
finger.”
“Safety glasses are not enough when
working with cutoff wheels. You want a
full face shield! You should know that
now. Injuries to the face and head are not a
good thing!”
“I’ve seen pictures of some of the guys
that post on here ... trust me, unless the
accident is fatal it couldn’t make things
much worse.”
There can be great camaraderie on an
Internet forum, and I like how you can learn
from and kid around with friends from around
the world whom you’ve never actually met.
These posts show that the modelers really
care about one another’s well-being, and their
combined experience urges us all to use topquality
eye protection.
Since getting prescription polycarbonate
lenses in my regular close-up glasses, I never
have to reach for special eye protection. My
safety glasses are already on my face
whether I’m running a drill or cutting
balsa. This has saved me more than once
when fast-moving specks have flown into
my face.
I confess that at times in the past I have
done “just a little bit” of grinding or
drilling without eye protection. What a
dumb move!
For outdoor occasions, following is yet
another plug for Zurich impact-resistant
sunglasses. I am unaware of anything else
like these on the market. They come in
various shades and styles and are
advertised in this magazine.
Once you try these glasses you will
understand my enthusiasm. My pair has
protected me from glare and flying
particles for several years.
I saw a really big flying particle recently,
created by eccentric genius Carl Rankin.
He uses soda straws, tape, and plastic wrap
to build RC electric-powered airplanes.
Carl’s latest model spans 7 feet! It weighs
less than 2 pounds and has intricate
internal spars supporting a cantilever wing.
Spectators commented that the slow,
floating flight pattern resembled a blimp
more than an airplane. This may be the
safest RC airplane ever, with an ultralow
wing loading, ultralow cruising speed, and
a structure that bends without splintering.
Carl assured me that the food-grade plastic
wrap kept the airplane fresh and crispy.
A crisp E-mail accompanied by some
nice photos arrived from Dave Seale. He
wanted to discuss ways to secure an RC
airplane while prepping or adjusting it.
“It’s getting harder to get down on the
ground to make adjustments when at
home. We have a standard version of the
AMA starting bench at the field. I looked
around the house for suitable scrap lumber
and built a version sized to me and to my
planes.
“For moving it around the patio, I
mounted a pair of plastic wheels from The
Home Depot and used nuts and bolts for
axles. The sides extend outside of the
vertical posts to accommodate the
transmitter on one side and the field box
on the other for starting.
“Also, a drilled hole in the center board
accepts the restraint fork when running the
engine without the wings attached. Now it
is a pleasure to pre-flight at home safely.”
I sympathize with Dave about the
ground getting farther away as the years go
by! His solution keeps things at a
comfortable height and is mobile.
There have been several recent notes and
E-mails about stooges. These gadgets come
in many forms and are used with almost all
types of model aircraft.
I was given a beautifully handmade
Frank Faraco aluminum winding stooge for
my Outdoor Rubber models. It is the envy
of all who see it, and my models look even
worse by comparison.
What type of stooge do you prefer and
what clever modifications have you seen?
Please E-mail me at the address at the top
of the column or write “Dave The Safety
Boy,” Box 7081, Van Nuys CA 91409.
Don’t forget to mention MA in your E-mail
subject line to get past my spam protection.
I attended a local electric RC fun-fly in
honor of Addie Naccarato. There was a
wave of amazing new products and models
for sale at the exhibitor booths. Attendees
brought a fascinating variety of models to
show off in the pits and in the sky.
Frequency control was tight. Nobody
wanted to lose an airplane or be the cause
of an accident, and even the new Spektrum
system users understood that their radios
belonged on the impound table.
Underneath this event’s lighthearted,
friendly mood was a serious watchfulness
that kept everyone safe, including the little
kids who had more fun than anyone else.
Unfortunately at any busy model field I
only have to stroll around and wait for this
column to write itself.
An RTF airplane distributor was
displaying new products and had sold
several park flyers to the crowd. I watched
as a friend of mine tinkered with one of
these foamies. Suddenly the motors came
to life in a series of spurts, making the
propellers spin against the workbench and
his hands.
He immediately called to his son to shut
off the transmitter, but the boy did not have
it. The signal was coming from another
radio, which was just then flying a
different type of model from the same
manufacturer. This classic case of a “pit
hit” resulted in no harm, thanks to the lowpowered
motors.
Remember the lead item about arming
switches? This situation should not have
happened at all because a receiver should
not have been turned on when the
frequency was not clear. With a gas model
this would have only waggled the elevator,
but an electric power system is always
ready to go!
I can’t say that I always follow every
rule properly, but I’m gonna try a little bit
harder this month