RE: Focus II Instruction manual
Harry I should have one. We recently moved, and not everything is unpacked, so it might take me a day or two before I can find it. I could scan it into a pdf file and email to you. Steve
Posted on: 2/6/2012 12:53 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10946753

RE: How long do i drain my 150mah before i charge them again
Just to reinforce Aframomum LiPo bats are not not like NiCads that need to be cycled. They are hurt, or destroyed if you drain them hard. I was running mine down too much. Flying until it wouldn't fly anymore. I ruined several batteries pretty quick. So I did what Aframomum says ran just until the low voltage cutoff happened and kept track of the time. Subtracted 30 seconds so I stop 30 seconds BEFORE it hits low voltage cutoff, still flying OK. Battery life went way way up, like two years of flying instead of 2 flights [:D]
Posted on: 10/30/2011 6:51 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10790007

RE: MSR batteries
My experience is shows that waiting for the light blink it is generally too late. Very quickly after the blink starts, the motors slow down and voltage is now below 3 v and the battery is trashed. I have switched to timing so as to stop 30 seconds or so before blinking starts. Like 5 or 5 1/2 minutes. If I miss and I see blink, I set it down RIGHT NOW. Haven't lost a battery since I started doing this. It took about 6 dead batteries to learn this lesson
Posted on: 4/19/2011 7:24 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10473422

RE: my new digital level for incidence
Looks good. What brand and source?
Posted on: 4/16/2011 7:09 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10466961

RE: why using high pitch prop on pattern ?
Also RPM of motors. Many times, and especially with electrics, the RPMs are quite low (5-6000 RPM) so you need more pitch for the same airspeed.
Posted on: 3/24/2011 8:41 AM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10419766

RE: Solar Flare's & RC System's
Must be caused by global warming.... [:D] Jokes aside no worries. Flares cause troubles (and sometimes improvements) on shortwave bands not a problem on 72 mhz VHF frequencies we use, or 2.4Ghz. Also, it can cause some satellite problems, 'cause it creates some weird ionization layers. But we aren't trying to shoot thru those layers either. Possibly it could get skip, but 72Mhz is really high for that.
Posted on: 2/20/2011 7:12 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10351510

RE: Andrew Jesky Osiris
Red seems to be all sold out. I got a good price on a blue one from www.aero-model.com
Posted on: 2/4/2011 10:24 AM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10312003

RE: SR 120
yes light wind especially if you move the links to the aggressive response pins. Its in the manual that comes with it.
Posted on: 1/31/2011 9:50 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10304087

RE: Battery Issues with mCX2
Clueless here, but look forward to someone with an idea. Really is strange behavior. Electrons are electrons. Go figure??
Posted on: 1/18/2011 2:59 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10272506

RE: battery problems
You killed them. If you run them down until the bird won't fly, they won't recover. You can't take LiPo below 3 volts per cell (6 volts for a 2 cell pack). Been there, done that, had to buy new ones.[&o]
Posted on: 12/29/2010 9:35 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10226631

RE: battery problems
If you run them down too much they become trash. Don't know any revival tricks once they are below 3v per cell.
Posted on: 12/24/2010 9:37 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10216771

RE: MSR & Blade 400
Bill don't know about the vibration problem, but do know about how hard these are to fly. An mSR is very sporty make sure you are using very small stick movements. Really made as a 2nd tier bird, after you have mastered the coaxial types like the mcx2. Also expect to fly it in a gym or outside with no wind and much space. It is not a living room bird except when flown by very experienced pilots. The mcx2 IS a living room bird. As for the 400 you are now jumping 2 tiers in needed skills. 4 times harder to fly than the mSR, especially with CF 3-D flight blades. The 400's do all the flipping around upside down/sideways stuff, that 16 year olds seem to pick up in a few months. Good luck the simulator will help a lot. Make sure you have lots of space. Also, the mSR are quite stable until you move a stick then look out. If it won't just go up and hover within a few feet for a 20 seconds or so, then it needs some adjustment. I had to seek out a local expert to help me adjust the first time. It really helped.
Posted on: 12/4/2010 6:16 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10176438

RE: Pattern Kit for a 60 size
I've heard good things about the Osiris, but haven't seen one or flown one either. Also is the SebArt Angel 50 looks good and also in the $350 price range http://www.f3aunlimited.com/angel_50.html These are serious pattern planes, not multi-purpose 3-D planes that someone hung the term "pattern" on them.
Posted on: 11/19/2010 6:50 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10146222

RE: Nats and 50 size pattern plane
[quote]ORIGINAL: NJRCFLYER2 [quote]The reason for the question is that typically in IMAC, the bigger the plane, the larger the maneuver, the better the presentation, the higher the score. Does this hold for true for Pattern? [/quote] Yes, there are bad judges in both IMAC and Pattern. [/quote] Perfect answer. And show dogs, yada yada....
Posted on: 11/14/2010 7:51 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10135345

RE: Oxai Special sales
What special sales or prices? I don't see anything about that. Would like to know.
Posted on: 11/12/2010 4:42 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10131542

RE: Story | Learning to Fly a Helicopter
thanks for sharing..... been there, done that but pretty much stuck at the coaxial point. Haven;t mastered the transition.
Posted on: 11/8/2010 10:18 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10123639

RE: Entry level pattern ARFs: an endangered species?
New year hopefully making room for new models. There are many out there, even Great Planes has one.
Posted on: 9/28/2010 9:50 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10034289

RE: Comp ARF Valiant
Hi Ahmet I had aileron deflection set at 22 degrees with 100% servo ATV 60 degree rotation. I never checked deflections beyond 100% ATV/60 degree rotation. With only 22 degree deflection, that is pretty good mechanical advantage/ force multiplication. I think Bryan and you correct. The drive train on these 9650 is weak and has slop enough to let some vibration turn into flutter. Very easy to happen around center (I was straight and level, no aileron input when it happened). The forces of a resonant flutter can build very quickly and strip out those small nylon gear. Live and learn I had heavier duty servos sitting on the bench but was trying to make 5kg. I was planning to order the bls551s after seeing Byron's recommendations on his website the week before. But the 9650s were installed and I was hot to try out the new bird. Steve
Posted on: 6/3/2010 2:08 AM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9777583

RE: Comp ARF Valiant
Anyone experienced or heard of catastrophic aileron flutter in the Valiant? Mine happened very quickly and violently to the point of breaking all of the hinges on one aileron, separating from the wing, dangling by the servo pushrod as it followed the airframe to the impact site. The other aileron did not separate, but completely stripped the teeth off of the servo gear. Airplane was in straight, level flight at moderate speed. Two seconds and it was over. Linkage was tight. Central Hobbies horns and BB clevises, carbon/titanium pushrods. Dowel hardpoints mounted in the factory blocks for the horns they were completely intact after the event. Ailerons are not broken, just the hinges broke. The servos used were the only weakness I can identify. I used Futaba 9650s trying to keep it light (build was an electric). I've used 9650s in a Focus and Shinden without issue. Any ideas? I can't afford a repeat so I need to figure out what happened. Steve
Posted on: 6/2/2010 2:40 AM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9775169

RE: Comp ARF Valiant
[quote]ORIGINAL: ODD Has anyone used NMP Axles on a 2M pattern plane? How did they withstand wear and tear after hundreds of flights on grass/asphalt? Would you use them again? [/quote] No problems. They do require a narrow wheel though.
Posted on: 5/20/2010 9:13 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9748080

RE: Top Hat and Immelman.
Those manuevers do have some opportunities for downgrades. Here are the typical gotcha's [b]Tophat[/b] radius of each 1/4 loop need to be equal. I tend to make the radii at the top much smaller than the bottom because I am out of airspeed. 1/2 rolls need to be centered in the vertical lines (up and down). as mentioned, manuever centered and symetry [b]Double I[/b] radius of each 1/2 loop need to be equal the roll needs to be immediately at the point where the 1/2 loop is complete. Any straight line after the half loop is completed but before the roll is obvious and a deduction the top and bottom horizontal lines need to be the same length as the diameter of the half loops
Posted on: 5/20/2010 11:50 AM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9746970

RE: LiPo Chargers - Whats best???
Asking what is the best charger is like asking what is the best car. Depends on what you are looking for, and how much budget you have. Love to have a Mercedes, but only have a chevy budget. Others swear by Dodge or Ford.... The charge (main) AND Balancer cord thing is the biggest pain in the a$$ that there is with electrics. Every time I buy a battery, it seems to come with a different balancer connector. The main power connector, you need to solder on whatever you standardize on. I don't own one, but a lot of my buddies like the FMA Direct Cellpro 10. It's a chevy, but a good chevy. It will charge up to 10 cell LiPos, with enough current. It has a built-in balancer, so you don't need that separate gizmo. And you must use a balancer with the multiple cells with that Align 600. So when you look at the price, understand that it includes the balancer that costs $60 if not included in other chargers you will see. Most important for your situation, the FMA Celpro 10 has a bunch of connector blocks for virtually every battery ever made. I want a couple. Saving my pennies. Google FMA direct celpro to see them. Note, you will likely need at least two of these so you can charge two batteries at once if you don't want to wait and hour between flights. Some of my buddies have 4 of these to keep up at the field. On the higher end lets say BMW/Lexus range is the Bantam BC8DX. Really nice computer-linkable, all the bells and whistles. It charges to separate batteries at once!! So it is like two chargers in one box. With balancers. And they have an extensive selection of connection blocks for every battery ever made. http://www.rcaccessory.com/bantame-stationbc8dxlipocharger.aspx If price is no object, then there are the Shulze and other very high end european chargers. Plan on spending a grand or more. Not many in my crowd that use these, I think a saw one once, but I couldn't touch it. They were afraid I'd scratch the paint.
Posted on: 3/21/2010 12:45 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9599663

RE: Practice question, how to improve by yourself
Your message is a list of why you want to practice solo. The hard reality is you are not likely to get very good. Show me a good figure skater that does it all on their own without coaching. Doesn't happen. Show me a good boxer that learned how to box on their own. Doesn't happen. Piano player, OK there are a few remarkable people out there that it just comes natural but for the vast majority they had lessons and critique. When you are flying pattern, you are so focused on flying the airplane and working the sticks, there is just too much of the big picture, and little issues, that you miss. And then there are the really bad habits that always seem to creep in that you miss flying by yourself, that someone who isn't having to fly the plane and working the sticks will see. Even someone that is in a lower class will see stuff. I've seen people improve more in a weekend than they improve in two years with some good coaching. I fly mostly by myself, and rarely get coached, and it shows.
Posted on: 3/16/2010 9:07 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9588171

RE: New SMC lipo for Cx3
Look at its weight. Large C batteries are always heavier because the construction is needed to withstand the draw. If not, it really isn't a high C battery.
Posted on: 1/31/2010 4:06 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9464513

RE: CX2 Brushless Kit
Looks slick hopefully someone will let us know.
Posted on: 1/13/2010 1:53 AM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9411537

RE: Will a 150mah work in a E-flight MCX S300?
It works great in my mcx original model. I don't know if the S300 is any different.
Posted on: 1/13/2010 1:51 AM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9411536

RE: Newbie and need help
I had to take mine to the hobby store for about what you discribe. Nothing broke. They twisted on the servo linkages to level the swashplate and to get the blades tracking. Now, two years later, they seem like minor adjustments, but back then I couldn't figure it out on my own. The adjustments are discussed in the link above by RotoryDoc. Don't give up, but see if you can find some place to fly that is bigger than in the house. In the house is pretty tight for a newbie with a CX2. A gym, or even a barn is better space for just starting out. In a house, unless you have very big (20x20ft or bigger) rooms you will break a lot of blades and much more.
Posted on: 12/26/2009 2:30 AM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "E-Flite Helicopters"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9360422

RE: How to keep the pattern wife happy
[quote]ORIGINAL: Jim Grunt Hezik, I have 2 2 m planes hanging on the wall in the dining room and my wife thinks that is a great place to store them.Less hanger rash than coming out of the basement. I have to admit did look good there but with the snow blowing outside it is kind of depressing to see them. Jim [/quote] OK pattern planes hanging on the wall in the dining room that trumps all.....
Posted on: 12/22/2009 11:13 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9353019

RE: How to keep the pattern wife happy
No no, this is the best pattern wife and a certified judge too. [image]http://archives.tcrcm.org/2009/pattern/linda2.jpg[/image]
Posted on: 12/22/2009 8:31 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9352539

RE: Epoxy Guns
Poor man's method. Mix in cup as normal. suck it up into a 5ml disposable syringe (without needle). Syringes are really cheap. Dispenses a great bead right where you want it. Then a popcycle stick makes the nice fillet. Other advantages, besides price, is a far superior mix, which is really important putting in firewalls and such. Plus doing the mix, you can lay in the shreded fiberglas and/or micro-balloons that are really important in getting very strong and light adhension. If money is no object, Bob Violett Jets site has the good stuff that mixes, with the strength and light additives that are needed. AeroPoxy. http://www.bvmjets.com/Pages/Catalog/aeropoxy.htm If I remember, your are over $100 for the rig and a little glue. I'm on limited budget, so I mix my own and use a $0.50 syringe.
Posted on: 12/12/2009 4:20 PM by Author "sgsterling" in the forum "RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9325084