Radio Control: Electrics
I HAD the opportunity to speak with Jeff Surgnier and Frank Heinrich of Robbe Modellsport at the recent KRC Electric Fly. They flew both days and did a nice job of it. In talking with them, I learned that Robbe is planning to promote more Electric products in this country in the near future. Both Jeff and his boss, Frank, have a very positive outlook on the future of Electric. Robbe already has a number of products available, and your local hobby dealer should be able to get them through normal distributor channels, so ask him! In the past, some Robbe products have reached dealer shelves with instructions in a foreign language. This was a slipup and will be corrected in the future. Anyone having such instructions may get some help by dropping a line to Jeff Surgnier, Suite 2D, The Office Center, Princeton Meadows, Plainsboro, NJ 08536. Tell Jeff ya read it in MA!
Radio Control: Electrics
THE PLAYBOY, again. Two months ago (January 1985 RC Electrics column), I described the 45%-of-chord CG (center of gravity) location on my Playboy. In some recent conversation with Roland Boucher of Leisure Electronics, I learned that the CG can actually be allowed to go back as far as 60%. While mine is gonna stay where it is, you now have some liberty with Playboys still under construction. You'll recall that this unusually aft CG location is permitted by the large, lifting stab of this popular OT (Old-Timer) design. Don't try this with contemporary designs, though: the results could be catastrophic!
Radio Control: Electrics
TWOFERS time. This month, we're gonna explore two topic areas. The first is a discussion and comparison of several "large" motors. There's comparatively little information readily available on this subject, and I hope that this coverage will prove useful to those considering moving up in power system size. Then, "Basic Electricity, Part 2" will pick up where last month's installment ended. (This is a continuing short course aimed at simplifying all that confusing science stuff!) Large motors. It's no secret that most folks who first try their hand at Electric do so with comparatively small-size power systems. This makes lots of sense, because it's the lowest-cost way of finding out just how much fun Electric can be. These smaller systems are by far the easiest to charge, and there's nothing "small" about the performance they can provide, either.
Radio Control: Electrics
CHARGE! This month's column is going to address one of the most-often-asked-about topics: charging. In particular, we're gonna see how to make a charging system that will handle most popular motor battery packs. The system presented here is very simple, reliable, and inexpensive. It can be built by nearly anybody and requires no soldering, special tools, or instruments. All material can be purchased at Radio Shack, your hobby shop, and hardware or auto parts stores. It's based on something you probably already have: an Astro, Leisure, or similar charger. In addition, we'll use this "how to" to see how some of the past lessons in "Basic Electricity" can be applied to real, working Electric hardware. Let's get on with it!
Radio Control: Electrics
ELECTRIC EVENTS now planned include the following: International Electric Fun Fly: June 22-23, 1985; Ontario, Canada. Site is about 55 miles from Niagara Falls. Contact Vic Walpole, 102 Admiral Road, Ajax, Ontario L1S 2P1, Canada. Also, contact Vic if you want to join an Electric association. An opening symposium on Electric propulsion is in the planning stages. Third Annual Boeing Hawks Electric Fly-In: Saturday, June 29, 1985 at Kent, WA. Contact Bernard Cawley, 210 37th St. S.E., No. 43, Auburn, WA 98002. Prizes for longest flight, most aerobatic, smallest airplane, others. An Electric Clinic, conducted by Mitch Poling, is tentatively scheduled.
