Electronics
Welcome to Model Aviation's bimonthly electronics column. Wait, don't go away! While electronics is more than slightly complicated by nature, the basics are simple and can be explained in common terms. Such will be my main goal: to remove some of the mystery associated with the electronics in modeling, and in so doing, ensure that you are getting the utmost in efficiency and reliability from your sometimes-expensive equipment. However, this will be my column only because I am punching the keys on my word processor. Otherwise, think of it as a meeting place, similar to the flying field, to discuss what works, what doesn't, and to ask questions.
L.A. Model Hobby Show
With at least 220 exhibitors at this year's show, an exciting array of new model hobby products was unveiled. Included were some very impressive new kits, radios, and engines for the RC aeromodeler. RADIO CONTROL weekend action is not uncommon in southern California, and the Iong weekend of March 8 through 11 was no exception.
Updating the Old Airtronics: Frequency Scanner
THIS UNIT has become a common sight at most contest frequency control tables, and rightfully so. It provides a much-needed service at a price well within the budget of all small clubs, and even some individuals. However, the recent assignment of the first batch of our newly-released frequencies has partly, but not entirely, obsoleted this older fine piece of equipment. There are a number of simple changes that can be made to permit the scanner to continue to work on these and any new future frequencies. The fact that it only covers seven frequencies at one time, when we now have 18 available, is not that much of a limiting factor, as it is hard to conceive of many situations when it is necessary to fly more planes than that at any one given time.
Nurnberg 1987
LIKE MOST TRUE modelers, I long ago gave up trying to explain my avocation to those friends whose interests seldom stray from this week's edition of TV Guide. They hadn't understood how, on my last trip to Rio de Janeiro, I had seen fit to devote an entire day to an RC Fly-In and a visit to the Brazilian Air Force Museum. Now, my impending trip to Nurnberg was eliciting exclamations of, "You're going to Germany for what?"
Digital Programme
AS OUR RC EQUIPMENT has become increasingly more sophisticated, so have the power requirements. We are seeing an increasing variety in the types of nickle-cadmium batteries available and furnished for our use. Along with the different batteries in use, we are experiencing increasingly varying charge requirements in rates and times. The basics don't change. You can't afford to undercharge and risk running out of battery power while in flight. Neither can you afford to overcharge; a small amount of such will assure that you've reached 100% charge, but consistent overcharging will eventually result in cell gassing, loss of capacity, shortening of battery life, and (in worst cases) the loss of an airplane. Therefore, it is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations on charging times-which runs us into one more schedule that has to be kept up in an already busy life.
