RE: servo suggestion for a warbird
Aris, here is a link to a calculator for required servo torques. http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/eflight/calcs_servo.htm#formula Required torque is surprisingly low. I tend to fly my warbirds smoothly and feel no need for high speed servos. However, I do frequently use Hitec 645MG servos and have had excellent service from them. Chuck
Posted on: 11/20/2009 7:54 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9267102

RE: plans to kit
Chuck, you might be better off to trace all the parts, then enlarge them by your desired percentage at Kinko's or Office Max. Adjust the spar cutouts to standard size wood. Then build off centerlines or wing cordlines. I'm at the primer stage on a model done just this way. Other Chuck
Posted on: 11/16/2009 7:31 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9258701

RE: Retracts that swing straight back, what to use?
I have installed regular wing retracts to rotate to the rear in twins at least twice. Works fine. You may want to check the amount of retraction angle you need to get the wheel in the proper spot both up and down. Most available gear swing through 90 degrees. Robart makes gear with different retraction angles. I have a set of 105 degree in a Henschel 129. Chuck
Posted on: 11/4/2009 8:07 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Twin & Multi Engine RC Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9227193

RE: ultra sport 60 twin???
I have converted a Strikemaster, Super Kaos, and Direct Connection Sea Fury to twins. Using .40's is good advice. I also added to the span to get some area to support the extra weight. I added in the center section, about 12 or 16". all were great flying airplanes.
Posted on: 10/26/2009 7:59 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Twin & Multi Engine RC Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9202651

RE: O1-A/L-19 birddog???
Cessna 170. L-19 has an O-470 engine instead of the O-300 in the 170
Posted on: 10/26/2009 7:51 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "RC Scale Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9202637

RE: Looking for steel braided leader cable for rudder and tailwheel retracts??
You can get it mail order at Jann's Netcraft in Toledo,Ohio. do a google search for the web site. Once there do a search for Surflon.
Posted on: 10/24/2009 7:24 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9197937

RE: Airspace warning alarm for model aircraft.
Dave, we have a similar strict no-fly zone at our field. We have put human spotters at the edge and flown models out to that area. It is amazing how easy it is to violate an area even though you think it is far away. Your approach could solve the problem for your model (one model at a time), but what about all the other guys in your club? I would think a system that could react to any airplane intruding the zone would be a better solution. And then an entire club could invest in the cost of the system. Maybe some sort of laser range-finding system? Chuck
Posted on: 10/22/2009 8:06 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9192986

RE: glassing ABS
I use PVC pipe joint cement to stick glass cloth to the inside of ABS cowls. Holds better than epoxy. Use sparingly.
Posted on: 10/19/2009 7:28 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Composites Fabrication And Repair"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9186295

RE: O.S. 1.60FX Hard to turnover when cold
I have an OS 61 (and some others) that act the same way. My engine probably has over 100 hours on it. I prime it through the carb and flip the prop several times without the glow ignitor connected. It loosens up nicely once lubricated. Chuck
Posted on: 10/18/2009 7:43 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9183605

RE: naca foil datas
I have a book called "Handbook of Airfoil Sections for Light Aircraft" that has a lot of them. You might find a copy at a used book dealer. Note that the data is for a Reynold's Number at full-size aircraft dimensions. In my opinion, but I'm not an aeronautical engineer, there is not a significant difference between them. I use the NACA 2315 because the high and low points are both at 30% which makes for clean design of the spars and a D-tube wing. Chuck EDIT I just looked at the link Wellss gave and it is the same graphical data as in the book I have.
Posted on: 10/18/2009 5:04 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Aerodynamics"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9183257

RE: Gold Edition P-40
I had the P-40 with Super Tiger .75 and in-cowl muffler. It did not have enough climb performance for the trees around our field. So I installed a .90. Bad Deal. The .90 will overheat with the in-cowl muffler.
Posted on: 10/15/2009 8:17 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "RC Scale Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9174833

RE: How do you set this tank up??
Make sure the tank is air-tight when you put it back together or it will not work worth a hoot.
Posted on: 10/15/2009 8:09 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Control Lines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9174819

RE: Eliptical wing
Wizardprang, I am building a model of the Japanese Val dive bomber which has an eliptical wing. The documentation drawings I have show a straight taper of the wing thickness and I designed my wing to reproduce that. I have built other models with eliptical planforms (Skyshark Val and Direct Connection Sea Fury) and they did have the curved spars. I have completely sheeted the left outer panel and the right one has the top sheeting on. The panels are 28" long and sheeted with 3/32 balsa. I did not have any problem with the compound curve. I did all my rib calculations as follows: I used actual numbers rather than percentages. There are 11 ribs. First I came up with the equation for the depth of each rib. Then from the plan view of the wing I measured the length of each rib in front of the spar and behind the spar. ( the proportions vary) I used a NACA 2315 airfoil becasue the high and low points are both at 30%-this makes it easy to build the spar system. I had the root airfoil in the CAD system I use at work-Vectorworks. For each front and back half of the rib I did a "scale object" with the height (y value) and length (x value) based on the proportions of calculated from the lengths(they were not the same). Seems to have worked out very well. Full-scale Val has either a 15.5% or 16% root airfoil (references vary) I used !5% becasue I had the coordinates. Turns out the tip is also very close to 15% thick. The ribs in between will be somewhat thinner as a percentage. Chuck
Posted on: 10/12/2009 6:16 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Aerodynamics"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9167554

RE: JR X-347 Battery Problem
My 347 has a plug. When I installed new batteries I cut the wires and soldered the new battery leads to the old plug.
Posted on: 10/6/2009 12:50 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9151250

RE: Masking Roundels
Summerwind: The HP O-400 is covered with colored Solartex. The top is olive drab and the bottom is (senior moment: whatever they call the cream colored stuff). It is overcoated with oil based clear polyurethane. The roundels themselves are painted with Rustoleum. However I am seeing a problem with it. The fuselage roundel on the left side gets some exhaust residue, and the white is crinkling up and will peel off. I used to thnk Rustoleum was fuel proof, but I now have two models showing deterioration of gloss paint. The flat colors I have used are holding up well. Chuck
Posted on: 9/27/2009 9:19 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "RC Scale Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9127022

RE: Masking Roundels
roundels on my HandleyPage O-400
Posted on: 9/26/2009 4:04 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "RC Scale Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9125719

RE: Masking Roundels
Dave, I use contact paper to make the masksthe sticky stuff you normally use to line drawers. I like the plain white stuff if I can find it. I made a circle cutter by screwing a #11 blade t the end of a piece of 1x2 lumber. Then I drill a hole in the wood at the radius of the circle and insert a needle from a drafting compass. I cut the masks on a piece of glass. Tape the contact paper to the glass and tape a piece of scrap lite ply at the center for the compass needle to stick in. Now just rotate the compass and cut your circle. Getting the circles in registration can be a problem. I draw a couple perpendicular lines intersecting at the center of the circles and use these plus some marks on the model to get the circles registered. Chuck
Posted on: 9/26/2009 4:00 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "RC Scale Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9125711

RE: Skyshark Val
Bill, the plans (which I have) do not show the wing ribs or fuselage formers, so you could not build a model from the plans. Chuck
Posted on: 9/20/2009 11:32 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9109688

RE: Don Smith KI 61
Yep there is lead in the nose; I don't remember how much. I normally don't keep track of the time to build a model, but more than a year slipped by on the calendar. I did a build thread on www.rcscalebuilder.com under the Don Smith section. I am "partners" with two other guys in a Balsa USA Morane Saulnier A-1. We used a G-45 in that model and it works very well. I'm planning to fly the Tony in it's first contest this weekend in New Albany, IN.
Posted on: 9/16/2009 7:23 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9101504

RE: Don Smith KI 61
Cyclops, I have the 86" Don Smith Tony. Mine is powered with a Super Tigre 2500 and this seems a very good power match. I have seen the model flown with an OS 1.08, it seemed a little under powered. I have also seen one with an OS 1.60, more like a sky rocket than a WWII fighter! The plans actually show the ST 2500. I recall that mine weighs about 17#. Don't know anything about the 100" version. The model is an excellent flier. In flight photo was maiden and cowl was removed to adjust needle.
Posted on: 9/16/2009 8:09 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - General"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9099899

RE: 14 Pound P51 mustang
I had a 61" Corsair many years ago with two stroke .91 and over 13#. It flew but was not any fun. Flaps were absolutely required for a landing. It had a pretty short life span. Chuck
Posted on: 9/10/2009 4:14 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9084723

RE: any advice before maiden flight?
Don covered it very wellthe key point is to have someone else check everything. The key to the takeoff with a tail dragger is to open the throttle slowly and be able to use the rudder. I have never had a Smoothie, but suspect it will be faster and much more nimble on the controls than your trainer. Good idea to have an instructor do the maiden and get it trimmed out. Chuck
Posted on: 9/10/2009 4:08 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9084710

RE: OS 120 III 4 stroke W/pump
As I suspect you know, the instructions say the starter is required. I have never tried to start it by hand. Mine requires a lot of cranking with the starter to get it going when cold. Starts quickly hot, or after having been run. You might be able to start it by hand if you could access the carb and prime it.
Posted on: 9/9/2009 8:42 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9081146

RE: SCALE NATIONALS MUNCIE
to judge. Fear not, I'll be at the C/L circles.
Posted on: 7/27/2009 12:16 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "RC Scale Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8967706

RE: Repairing A Wing Hold Down Hole
I have done the drill out, insert dowel thing many, many times.
Posted on: 7/25/2009 3:41 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8963046

RE: Incidence question: Cessna 120
Go with the way the parts and plans show. Worst case senario is you will have some amount of up or down elevator trim. This will not be a pattern plane, or spend much time inverted so it doesn't matter if the incidence is other than ideal. Besides, the guy who drew the plans may know something.
Posted on: 7/24/2009 8:02 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8961324

RE: Cutting down props
I have done it many times without any problems. Inorder to get the blades identical lengths I put a dowel in a wood block and clamp this to my table saw or band saw. I put the prop on the dowel and rotate the prop through the saw blade.
Posted on: 7/16/2009 7:52 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Questions and Answers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8937714

RE: Working Arrestor Hook
control line guys have been making arrested landings in the Navy Carrier event for over 50 years. I flew the event way back when. The fuselage probably only needs a couple square inches of plywood to mount the hook and spread the load around. You will probably have a bigger problem with the main gear. When the hook catches the model tends to rotate around the hook and convert the horizontal motion (speed) into vertical motion. This slams the model down on the mains. The C/L arresting cables were typically 1/8" nylon rope with a 5# sandbag on each end. But that was to stop a 2 or 3# model.
Posted on: 7/14/2009 2:01 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8932704

RE: Glueing laser-cut plywoood
I'm pretty much like Mike in that I don't normally do anything to the edges. I have cleaned off heavy char with a light brush of sandpaper. I would suggest that if you have the extraneous wood that the parts came out of, you could glue some balsa to that to see for yourself if the joint holds to your satisfaction. Chuck
Posted on: 7/14/2009 1:44 PM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8932641

RE: Bridi Killer Chaos 60 Build Thread
The glass reinforcement of the wing center joint will be plenty strong; no need for the extra expense of carbon. Once upon a time I wondered how strong the joint was. I had just wrecked a Sig Chipmunk (they had a rather thin airfoil). I put one end of the wing on the bottom step of a ladder and the other end on the floor. Then I stood on the wing and it did not break. Of course back then I only weighed 160#, so i might not try it again. For a joint that is easier to sand out and feather in, I use three layers of 2 ounce cloth rather than one layer of 6 ounce. The bottom layer can be 6 or 8 inches wide and each layer is about 2" narrower. Chuck
Posted on: 7/11/2009 8:45 AM by Author "R8893" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8923714