Technical Discussion Pad

[ghee-grose]

Here's a place to post your modifications, suggestions, and questions. Everybody feel free to join in and help out and maybe learn a bit. :D

[Jim_Marconnet]

Q: What currently-available planes do we Renegades have experience with that people should consider for flying in higher than calm winds? Pros and Cons?

A:

[Jim_Marconnet]

Q: What planes are working out well (or not so well!) for the Renegades who slope locally? Pros and Cons?

A: Great slopers we fly:

A: Less-great slopers we have tried to fly:

[Jim_Marconnet]

Q: What are the locally-proven mods to make to a new SS? Pros and cons?

See the Slowstick Build Advice Thread for extensive suggestions and discussions: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=454119

Rob's SS mods: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4604732&postcount=1120

A:

[Jim_Marconnet]

Q: What can I use to strain-relieve battery connections, motor connections, etc. without adding a lot of weight or shorting them out?

A: Consider the "liquid tape" that they sell at Harbor Freight tools. Create strong watertight seals on exposed wires in seconds. Just brush it on, and it flows around the joined wires, and quickly hardens. Seals will not peel or unravel even on irregular shapes. They are flame resistant, prevent corrosion, and absorb vibration to keep terminal screws from loosening. Made of a quick-drying vinyl polymer base. According to the can, you need to apply several thin coats, allowing drying time inbetween.

Black ITEM 36821-4VGA: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36821

Red ITEM 36822-6VGA: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36822

[Jim_Marconnet]

Q: Are there any good R/C plane hobby shops in Huntsville, AL?

R/C Hobbies - You want it, they got it! Ask for Rick!
3303 Meridian Street, Huntsville, AL 35811
Phone : (256) 539-1347
Fax : (256) 539-9924
Business Hours : 9-6 Mon-Fri / 10-6 Sat / Closed Sun
Mail orders R/C Hobby Barn: http://h1071426.hobbyshopnow.com/
Mapquest: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=3303%20Meridian%20St%20N&city=Huntsville&state=AL&zipcode=35811%2d1542&country=US&location=vZOhxIZYfpbMwnAQ8Iwv0P0w%2bHUoKIlyDf7qR3g FWfoFrgeT0osykJopouFaXweTkEnl8DVT5zPAJ9wORR2NXy4Ar JJHNF%2b9NBWrLwxZ1i6uJCVv%2bIWdXVtEwQEcX%2fMsR4VL3 8xyc6OXgDaoDgG%2fwA%3d%3d

GOING OUT OF BUSINESS!!!!
HobbyTown USA - Less-extensive R/C selection available locally
Westside Centre (Target Shopping Center)
6275 University Dr., Ste 21
Huntsville, AL 35806
Phone: (256) 971-5080
Mail orders: http://h1071503.hobbyshopnow.com/
Mapquest: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=6275%20University%20Dr%20Nw&city=Huntsville&state=AL&zipcode=35806%2d1776&country=US&location=dtLSS%2frozJf4AfhEQI%2bdJe046YtZUVkvnOwdf 0gTZRMzv5mKQxLP4rHeaDKNmS0DJ%2f5WpfdMBustO6%2fikkE 2gwTf5Gg%2fvk4WO22F0noudexpUwLW6ueuUYlPYt%2fZfsexx bZLZoR%2fNIYWg18wA3mArg%3d%3d

[Jim_Marconnet]

Q: What are the famous Tundra Tires seen on so many Renegade SSs and where to I get them?

A: These are the brain-child of Frank Grose. You cannot buy them anywhere that we know of, but you can make them yourself: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4804381&highlight=tundra#post4804381

[Jim_Marconnet]

Q: When can I safely switch from using NiMh flight packs to LiPo Packs?

A: This has been debated at length. LiPos are much lighter and more powerful than NiMh packs, not to mention Nicads. They are more expensive, but the price differential seems to be coming down. They require a LiPo-charger and cannot be charged as fast as NiMh or Nicads. Certain charging and discharging precautions must be followed for long-cycle-life. Due to their foil packaging, they are subject to sudden destruction in a crash or a puncture (why our jagged stone quarry slopers don't generally use them!), and may be a fire hazzard during charging, during flight, or post-flight. Some Renegades keep them in Army surplus ammo cans between flights for safety.

The Renegades Board of Batteries (aka Big Brothers are watching you!) will monitor your flight performance and let you know when you may switch to LiPos. Just Kidding! :)

[Mars Flyer]

Q: What currently-available planes do we Renegades have experience with that people should consider for flying in higher than calm winds? Pros and Cons?

A:
I'd like to propose a couple of candidates here. The Multiplex Easy Star is a very docile plane which I've flown in winds around 10 mph with higher gusts. I would suggest getting some stick time in calmer winds to get accustomed to her and get her trimmed, but she will handle some wind due, I guess, to the slippery airframe, flat bottomed wing and stock motor. There are now 22 threads on this little plane with the latest at
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=459096
If you have a few months to kill you can read those. If not, go back to the first couple and you'll learn what you need to know.

The other which I have no experience with in the wind yet is the Winner R/C Lazy Days. The Fly RC review and a single thread I found on RCUniverse
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3370560/anchors_3569355/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#3569355
said it flew well in the wind even up to 15 mph (which sounds kind of high). It has a flat bottom airfoil and seems to have plenty of extra thrust with the stock motor. I'll let you know how it goes when I get it in some wind. I posted some assembly and flight report info at
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=441205
I couldn't find any more info on it on the forums.

Even the old Slow Stick can handle a little breeze when you get some experience. "Slow Stick Kite Flying" in maybe 5 to 6 mph winds is great fun. Mine has the GWS 400 motor which gives a little extra thrust which helps. You just have to watch out for the turbulence near the ground. The same goes for the Gym Swallow but the IPS-A drive has less excess thrust and can't handle as much wind.

I like the idea of this thread. Nice going Jim and Gary.

Rob

[Jim_Marconnet]

I'd like to propose a couple of candidates here. The Multiplex Easy Star is a very docile plane which I've flown in winds around 10 mph with higher gusts. I would suggest getting some stick time in calmer winds to get accustomed to her and get her trimmed, but she will handle some wind due, I guess, to the slippery airframe, flat bottomed wing and stock motor. There are now 22 threads on this little plane with the latest at
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=459096
If you have a few months to kill you can read those. If not, go back to the first couple and you'll learn what you need to know.

The other which I have no experience with in the wind yet is the Winner R/C Lazy Days. The Fly RC review and a single thread I found on RCUniverse
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3370560/anchors_3569355/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#3569355
said it flew well in the wind even up to 15 mph (which sounds kind of high). It has a flat bottom airfoil and seems to have plenty of extra thrust with the stock motor. I'll let you know how it goes when I get it in some wind. I posted some assembly and flight report info at
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=441205
I couldn't find any more info on it on the forums.

Even the old Slow Stick can handle a little breeze when you get some experience. "Slow Stick Kite Flying" in maybe 5 to 6 mph winds is great fun. Mine has the GWS 400 motor which gives a little extra thrust which helps. You just have to watch out for the turbulence near the ground. The same goes for the Gym Swallow but the IPS-A drive has less excess thrust and can't handle as much wind.

I like the idea of this thread. Nice going Jim and Gary.

Rob

Rob: Thanks so much for being the first to contribute. This is exactly the sort of suggestions/content I hope we can collect here and condense down into Q/A and other useful formats.

Your point is well made on the EasyStar threads. There are so many of them and much of the material is repetitious that it's simply overwhelming to try to dig thru them for much useful content. I have tried on several planes and technologies, but I don't do that much any more.

My hope is that this thread can eventually be concise and to the point. For example, this reply of mine will eventually be deleted.

Including links to appropriate threads can be very helpful.

Your Lazy Days is a plane I certainly want to look over when I get a chance. Balsa, what an innovative concept! :)

[ghee-grose]

Q: What planes are working out well (or not so well!) for the Renegades who slope locally? Pros and Cons?

A: Great slopers we fly:

A: Less-great slopers we have tried to fly:

You know I'm gonna say a great sloper, at least for a beginner, is the Parkzone Styker w/o motor. You can buy the fuse for $20. It comes in one piece and has carbon fiber spars already installed. All you have to do is drop a couple servos and receiver and a rx battery in there and you're ready to hit the slope!

It's a great way to start the habit! :cool:

[Jim_Marconnet]

I realized Saturday when flying my SS with Rob at Horizon Elementary that due to the SS color scheme (dark red on top and light white on the bottom - backwards!!) and my eyes, it was tough for me to quickly determine the orientation and direction of the plane.

Did some web-searching and found this great article on color schemes for planes.

http://www.ultimatecharger.com/color.html

Bought some dark blue and gloss white floral paint at Michaels to test on my wing, a combination of red paint, white unpainted foam, packing tape, and possibly eventually Blenderm on the tail. I'll need a miracle to get all that painted and looking OK without being too heavy.

[Jim_Marconnet]

Ran into a great annotated and photographed SS build with suggested mods and lots of links to other mods and suggestions:

http://www.verrill.com/rc/ss/

It's much better than the SS manual, IMHO. I especially liked the updated recommended tools photo. No Hacksaw!