Tim McDonough
Jun 01, 1996, 01:00 AM
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<title>A Review of Model-Air Tech's Lowatt Plans</title>
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<pre>Subject: ModelairTech "Lowwatt"
Speed 400 Powered 3-channel Sport Plane
Price: $8.00 (folded plans)
$8.00 + $3.00 Shipping (rolled plans)
ModelairTech
P.O. Box 12033
Hauppauge, NY 11788-0818
(516) 979-1475
email: THunt95147(at)aol.com
A while back Bob Aberle and Tom Hunt formed Modelair-Tech and
have had great success with their belt drive reduction systems
for large electric applications. Another outstanding product line
from these guys are their "Stick Series" of plans which include 4
models that are constructed almost entirely of 1/8 inch by 1/4
inch balsa sticks. I first saw the Lowwatt which they describe as
a "sorta" Cessna, "sorta" Pilatus Porter at the 1995 KRC meet.
The Lowwatt is a high wing sport model designed for
rudder/elevator/throttle control and one of the inexpensive
Graupner Speed 400 series motors. The plans show the construction
details full-size and are easy to build from if you have had any
building experience at all. General specifications are 203 sq.
in. of wing area with a 37.5 inch span.
Being only a plan set you must supply absolutely everything
needed to build the Lowwatt. This amounts to purchasing a bundle
of 1/4 inch by 1/8 inch sticks from your favorite supplier and a
few small pieces of ply which you may have in your scrap box. In
my case a bundle of sticks from Balsa USA appears to be enough to
build a couple of planes--that's inexpensive flying!
An unusual feature of the Lowwatt and the other stick series
planes is the lack of a true rib to form the airfoil. Instead of
cutting ribs the airfoil is formed by sticks laid across the spar
forming a triangle shaped structure that looks a lot like roof
rafters on a house. It looks a bit odd when you're building it
but this system works well and builds very fast--the entire wing
is easily cut, built and sanded in an evening.
I made one addition to the plane as shown on the plans. The wing
spar was reinforced at the center with a small strip of carbon
fiber. This may not have been needed but it weighs next to
nothing and certainly didn't hurt.
Several power systems are suggested for the plane. I chose the
Graupner Speed 400 6V motor and a Graupner 6x3 folding prop. I
fly this setup on a 6-cell pack of Sanyo type 600AE batteries
with a Lofty Pursuits LPSC-Mini proportional speed control with
BEC. With a little use of the throttle this system gives 5 minute
flights with moderate 2 channel aerobatics. The Lowwatt as
powered has plenty of power to do loops from level flight and
doesn't exhibit any bad habits when you slow for landing.
Tom Hunt says the finished Lowwatt should weigh in at 14-20
ounces ready to fly. I must have done something right as my scale
puts it at 15.5 ounces with the power system described above, an
RCD-535 receiver and two Futaba S-133 micro servos.
The Lowwatt is a quick building small plane for those looking for
something other than a pylon racer or a glider. Now that nicer
weather is here again I plan to do a little experimenting with a
7-cell pack of 500AR batteries and some other prop combinations.
I've also recently aquired plans to other models in the series
and expect to have just as much fun building and flying Dimwatt
T-tailed model, the Twin-Dimwatt, and the Soarwatt glider. If you
have questions I'd be glad to try and answer them.
Tim McDonough -- tpm(at)inw.net
This article may be reproduced in other publications provided you
ask permission first and give me the proper credit. It first
appeared in Jim Bourke's E-Zone electronic newsletter.</pre>
<pre>Tim McDonough
<a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=tpm&d=inw.net">tpm(at)inw.net</a></pre>
</body>
</html>
<head>
<title>A Review of Model-Air Tech's Lowatt Plans</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<pre>Subject: ModelairTech "Lowwatt"
Speed 400 Powered 3-channel Sport Plane
Price: $8.00 (folded plans)
$8.00 + $3.00 Shipping (rolled plans)
ModelairTech
P.O. Box 12033
Hauppauge, NY 11788-0818
(516) 979-1475
email: THunt95147(at)aol.com
A while back Bob Aberle and Tom Hunt formed Modelair-Tech and
have had great success with their belt drive reduction systems
for large electric applications. Another outstanding product line
from these guys are their "Stick Series" of plans which include 4
models that are constructed almost entirely of 1/8 inch by 1/4
inch balsa sticks. I first saw the Lowwatt which they describe as
a "sorta" Cessna, "sorta" Pilatus Porter at the 1995 KRC meet.
The Lowwatt is a high wing sport model designed for
rudder/elevator/throttle control and one of the inexpensive
Graupner Speed 400 series motors. The plans show the construction
details full-size and are easy to build from if you have had any
building experience at all. General specifications are 203 sq.
in. of wing area with a 37.5 inch span.
Being only a plan set you must supply absolutely everything
needed to build the Lowwatt. This amounts to purchasing a bundle
of 1/4 inch by 1/8 inch sticks from your favorite supplier and a
few small pieces of ply which you may have in your scrap box. In
my case a bundle of sticks from Balsa USA appears to be enough to
build a couple of planes--that's inexpensive flying!
An unusual feature of the Lowwatt and the other stick series
planes is the lack of a true rib to form the airfoil. Instead of
cutting ribs the airfoil is formed by sticks laid across the spar
forming a triangle shaped structure that looks a lot like roof
rafters on a house. It looks a bit odd when you're building it
but this system works well and builds very fast--the entire wing
is easily cut, built and sanded in an evening.
I made one addition to the plane as shown on the plans. The wing
spar was reinforced at the center with a small strip of carbon
fiber. This may not have been needed but it weighs next to
nothing and certainly didn't hurt.
Several power systems are suggested for the plane. I chose the
Graupner Speed 400 6V motor and a Graupner 6x3 folding prop. I
fly this setup on a 6-cell pack of Sanyo type 600AE batteries
with a Lofty Pursuits LPSC-Mini proportional speed control with
BEC. With a little use of the throttle this system gives 5 minute
flights with moderate 2 channel aerobatics. The Lowwatt as
powered has plenty of power to do loops from level flight and
doesn't exhibit any bad habits when you slow for landing.
Tom Hunt says the finished Lowwatt should weigh in at 14-20
ounces ready to fly. I must have done something right as my scale
puts it at 15.5 ounces with the power system described above, an
RCD-535 receiver and two Futaba S-133 micro servos.
The Lowwatt is a quick building small plane for those looking for
something other than a pylon racer or a glider. Now that nicer
weather is here again I plan to do a little experimenting with a
7-cell pack of 500AR batteries and some other prop combinations.
I've also recently aquired plans to other models in the series
and expect to have just as much fun building and flying Dimwatt
T-tailed model, the Twin-Dimwatt, and the Soarwatt glider. If you
have questions I'd be glad to try and answer them.
Tim McDonough -- tpm(at)inw.net
This article may be reproduced in other publications provided you
ask permission first and give me the proper credit. It first
appeared in Jim Bourke's E-Zone electronic newsletter.</pre>
<pre>Tim McDonough
<a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=tpm&d=inw.net">tpm(at)inw.net</a></pre>
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