Radio installation for DS in Opus V

[Ade]

Hi All,

My Opus turned up from Espen a few weeks ago. Due to running the league and getting my league related models sorted I haven't had time to do anything with it. Its still sitting in the corner looking all nice and shiney under the bubble wrap.

The main use of this model is going to be DS. It is what I bought it for and NEED it to survive the most brutal conditions. Not much point in a DS model if it can't!

So what I would like to know from you is what you are using for control surface and servo horns, lengths and angles. My thoughts are I need to go long at both ends? This should cut down the slop in the system?

Any other thoughts?

thanx,

Ade

[bjaffee]

I'd go long control surface horn end, and either the same size or shorter on the servo end. My preference is to go shorter, as it will minimize any effects of servo slop that can be transferred to the surface.

I'm told that the most optimal set up is one where the horns and arms are the same size and everything is at 90 degrees. I think you want to maximize your servo throw, though. For example, I would think that if you are using equal size horns and arms, but you have to dial back your settings so that you are only using 75% of the available servo movement, it might be better to go with a shorter arm and use 100% of the available throw to maximize the torque (hope that makes sense).

In practice, I'm using the stock horns for the ailerons on my Opus, and they have held up fine (to 141mph, at least). OTHO, my flap horns were modified to give me nearly 90 degrees for landing (I have the earlier top hinged flaps). These are definitely not optomized for DS, and they do flutter on occasion. Unfortunately, I didn't have a radar gun on it on the occasions when they fluttered. :)

[bjaffee]

I should add that some people do replace the stock plastic horns with more heavy duty fiberglass or carbon type horns.

I think all the new Opus (Opii?) have F3F style top mounted flap horns, and it may be hard to keep the linkage really tight. I would consider converting it to a more conventional bottom mounted setup with a long horn.