RE: Kraft Midwest Website
Pete Waters still does some repair work on occasion. His current email is petewaters@charter.net I live next door and shovel his snow at this lovely time of the year in Michigan while he basks in the sun in Florida.
Posted on: 2/14/2008 10:26 PM by Author "gharm" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7077343

RE: black and decker charger?
Absolutely. It is easy to modify the battery case after carefully removing the cells to provide a plug in pack that wiil allow you to charge a 2 cell pack with the B&d charger. It has been a while since I made one, but I remember that I left the little wire loop that has the temperature sensor taped to the cell pack intact in the case after removing the batteries. I have a JR charge lead coming out through the side of the modified case to plug into the batteries. If you are a little savvy about working with electric stuff, it is pretty straight forward to disassemble the battery pack without damage to the case. A voltmeter will tell you what to connect where.
Posted on: 2/9/2008 6:57 PM by Author "gharm" in the forum "Batteries & Chargers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7049973

A123 Failure Modes
I am using A123 receiver packs in several airplanes. I was going to set up dual receiver packs for two larger airplanes but am concerned about the potential for single cell failure due to internal short in one cell. Is there any potential for this type of failure? With dual 5 cell Nimh and NiCad my tests show no problems with one shorted cell, but I can see the potential for trouble with such a great voltage differential between 2 packs.
Posted on: 2/5/2008 10:02 AM by Author "gharm" in the forum "Batteries & Chargers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7027343

RE: Spektrum DX-7
I asked the question because of my past cold weather rc experiences and some experience with automotive cold weather testing. For instance, I tried to fly an electric rc sailplane at 10 degrees F and the speed controller would not work until warmed up in my car. By the way, my neighbor Pete Waters of KMI claims that the cheap servos work better more expensive ones when very cold due to a lack of grease on the gears. George
Posted on: 1/13/2007 8:54 PM by Author "gharm" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=5260645

RE: Spektrum DX-7
I see that many are flying their nifty DX7 setups. I asked Horizon about cold weather use and this is the reply that I got: Thank you for your recent email. The lowest temperature we recommend you use transmitter and receiver at is freezing. If you go much below this you may experience problems. I hope you find this information helpful. If you have any other questions, please reply to this email or call us at 877-504-0233. Thanks, Josh Swinford Product Support Team Member Horizon Hobby Distributors 4105 Fieldstone Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 877-504-0233 productsupport@horizonhobby.com What is your experience in cold weather flying? Temperatures and weather conditions, please. I intend to fly off and on all winter here in Michigan but have not flown under 40 degrees F yet. George
Posted on: 1/13/2007 8:24 PM by Author "gharm" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=5260475

RE: Spektrum DX-7
Per posts by Mr. Beard and others, with the system already on turning off the transmitter for a while and then turning it back on results in the transmitter seeking out two good operating frequencies. While this is going on the receiver which is already on is looking for a good signal with the proper id code. The receiver then finds the good signals on the, perhaps, new frequencies and all is well without the receiver actually talking to the transmitter. I have found on my system that this can take as long as 2 seconds in the shop. This is not the same situation as the transmitter signal just not being received by the receiver for some reason.
Posted on: 12/24/2006 10:33 PM by Author "gharm" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=5158144

RE: Spektrum DX-7
As of today, I now have about one hour of in-the-air time on my lovely new DX7. The airplane is a Twist 3D with a Saito .82. Coming from a JR 9303, I can honestly say that I am very pleased with the DX7 and have a second receiver ordered from Horizon. Zero problems of any kind except for smile muscle strain.
Posted on: 12/24/2006 4:51 PM by Author "gharm" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=5156998

RE: Spektrum DX-7
[:D]I received my DX7 yesterday and flew it today in lots of cold Michigan wind. Thanks to the many comments on this forum setup was easy. The airplane is a Hanger 9 Twist 3D with a Saito .82 having a mixture of analog and digital servos from Hitec and Futaba. No trim changes were needed. Radio performance was outstanding. I did add tiny drops of Canopy glue to the exit points of the antennae from the case where some separation of the wire jacket has been noted on other posts and , at the suggestion of Pete Waters of KMI, I taped the second receiver wire lead to the case where it exits the primary receiver to prevent movement. My JR 8103 and JR 9103 will now rest on a shelf pending further flying time with the DX7. If all goes well, the JR guys will be looking for a new home.
Posted on: 12/20/2006 6:44 PM by Author "gharm" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=5140819

Zenoa G26 Noise
I just fixed up a G26 that had crash damage and was given to me. The problem is, it is too noisey for the club field. With the stock muffler and an APC prop I get 9100 rpm on a 16x10 and 101-102 db at 9 ft. With an APC 18x8 I get 7700 rpm and 98-99 db at 9 ft. I tried a Bisson Inverted muffler from a Moki 2.10 (pretty good volume) with the same unsatisfactory results. Is there a muffler and prop for this engine that will get me to the 96 db or less at 9 ft level? Some sacrifice in performance is o.k.
Posted on: 5/14/2006 3:50 PM by Author "gharm" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4277345

RE: Lanier 1/3 scale Laser 200 cg and thrust angle
Thrust angle requirements can be a very long discussion. In the end, however, it is the particular airplane that will tell you what is needed -- if you are listening to the airplane. In general, a little right thrust tends to be needed to keep the plane flying in a straight line with the application of power. Some airplanes also like a little upthrust or downthrust, too. In this case I was trying to find the recommended starting point that was determined by the kit manufacturer who, I presume, found out what the aircraft needed during development. This is just a starting point and trimming is required to set the airplane up to my flying preferences. In other words, try trim changes and see if you like what happens. I do not have a quick reference guide handy, but a web search should find plenty of information on trimming procedures George
Posted on: 2/2/2005 10:04 PM by Author "gharm" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - 3D & Aerobatic"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=2615183

RE: Lanier 1/3 scale Laser 200 cg and thrust angle
Thrust angle requirements can be a very long discussion. In the end, however, it is the particular airplane that will tell you what is needed -- if you are listening to the airplane. In general, a little right thrust tends to be needed to keep the plane flying in a straight line with the application of power. Some airplanes also like a little upthrust or downthrust, too. In this case I was trying to find the recommended starting point that was determined by the kit manufacturer who, I presume, found out what the aircraft needed during development. This is just a starting point and trimming is required to set the airplane up to my flying preferences. In other words, try trim changes and see if you like what happens. I do not have a quick reference guide handy, but a web search should find plenty of information on trimming procedures George
Posted on: 2/2/2005 10:03 PM by Author "gharm" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - 3D & Aerobatic"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=2615179

RE: Lanier 1/3 scale Laser 200 cg and thrust angle
Thank you. I was guessing that the usual 2 degrees right thrust would be a good starting place
Posted on: 1/30/2005 7:16 AM by Author "gharm" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - 3D & Aerobatic"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=2600527

Lanier 1/3 scale Laser 200 cg and thrust angle
I just got a slightly used Lanier 1/3 scale Laser 200 (from a kit). It will be getting a ZDZ 80 with a canister muffler. Can anyone tell me the cg location and the engine thrust offset angle? I downloaded the manual from Lanier, but it says refer to the plans for the cg and I do not have plans. Thanks George Harm
Posted on: 1/29/2005 9:43 PM by Author "gharm" in the forum "Giant Scale Aircraft - 3D & Aerobatic"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=2599566