Slow retracts

[Lancer31]

Does anyone market something like the "Landtastic" device, to provide more scale-like retract speed?
I'm pretty sure Joe Utasi used to.

[Dick]

If servo operated, Hobby Lobby sells a delay module that is adjustable. It is made by Simprop. You might try looking on their internet site or just giving them a call. Gud Flying.............Dick

[AndyOne]

Some computer transmitters even have a servo-slow function built-in

Andy.

[TMorita]

http://www.dionysusdesign.com/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=41

They also have an extra-slow version.

Toshi

[P-38J-Lightning]

does the 9CS have that function?

[Jim OHaver]

Does anyone market something like the "Landtastic" device, to provide more scale-like retract speed?
I'm pretty sure Joe Utasi used to.

There are currently 3 that I'm aware of: The Landtastic you mention, which is at http://www.rc-cam.com/ldtastic.htm. I know nothing about it, other than what you can see from the website. It appears to be a pretty easy to build kit project, and offers some other interesting features.

Dionysus Design [www.dionysusdesign.com] sells 2 and pretty inexpensive at about $10: one at dedicated 4.3 second rotation (lock to lock) and one at 6-second rotation.

I think the best of those currently available is the Simprop delay module [www.simprop.de] but I got mine in US from Hobbly Lobby for about $20 (probably more now) and it works great. It has a tiny rotary trim pot in it so that you can dial in the rotation speed you want--up to a max of about 10 seconds, which is a disconcertingly LONG time if you're dead-stick and waiting for your undercarriage to lock down as the ground approaches!. It doesn't appear to affect torque output, but I wouldn't load up this or any of these gizmos too much. See http://www.hobby-lobby.com/servos.htm#Mixer, part no. SI0809 Servo Delay Module. [No, I don't work for Hobby Lobby or for Simprop!--I just know what has been working for me!)

There is/was also a guy that marketed a thing called "Go-Slow" or "Go-Slo" some few years ago that did the same function. I dunno where it might be found.

Of course, the best of the best is still the old Ace Servo Pacer, big, bulky, and heavy, by today's standards, but that end-point adjustment and infinite speed range adjustability makes the retract set-up a snap. Heaven. But it's useable only for larger airplanes, as its 1.5 ounce weight is prohibitive on smaller things, and good luck finding one, anyway. [snicker, snicker, I've been using one for about 30 years!]

Understand, though, that NONE of these add-on circuits will do ANYthing about slowing the speed of a dedicated 180 degree RETRACT servo; they work to slow the rotational motion ONLY of standard so-called proportional servos, and provide absolutely NO protection against plane-killing battery drain due to stalled servos, tight linkage trains, or fouled retracts. So take care, and watch your installation carefully, and do a couple up&down cycles between each flight/after each landing, just to make sure everything is running the way it should.

And to add to the misery, the only proportional dedicated retract servo I know of is the Airtronics 94739 "Contest Proportional Retract Ball Bearing Servo", and which I think is no longer even in production--at least it doesn't show up at www.airtronics.net. They do show there, though, the 94734, and it may be the same thing, but with plastic gear train. The 94734 is listed as a retract servo, and it certainly looks like the 94739, but I don't know if it's a proportional servo or not. At $30, the price seems right, albeit it's a discontinued item itself.

I'm no electrical engineer, but it seems to me that it can't possibly be that difficult to design a circuit that will control dedicated 180-degree retract servos, to permit end-point adjustment (at least at one end of the throw) and to set rotational speed. I use a lot of retracts, and the dedicated 180-degree servos are really the ticket for the mechanical retracts, but the 2-second rotation speed is annoying. Were a convenient way to slow them down existed, I'd put one such after-market gizmo in every plane I have. Are you listening, industry?
Jim
aKA B.O.B., Butcher Of Balsa

[JimDrew]

We have a product coming out that will do what you are talking about, and a lot more. It has dual servo outputs, one for a retract servo(s), and one for a gear door servo(s). You can program the end points, rotation direction for both servos, as well as the forward and reverse speeds (independently). The time between when the gear door servo starts actuation can also be programmed. The unit is tiny (.65" x .35" x .125") and has a multi-colored LED and push button switch for programming. Weight is 3.1 grams. We expect this to be available about the end May.

[Zeta Phoenix]

Go-slow link:

http://www.cliftech.com/pdf/Goslow.pdf

this is an easy to build ADJUSTABLE circut baised around a 556.

-Jon

[Jim OHaver]

available about the end May.


Price? Specs sheet available? Beta tested? Wanna reviewer? Send me one? JGO

[Jim OHaver]

We have a product coming out


Oh, and who is "we?"

JGO

[JimDrew]

www.xtremepowersystems.net

We are launching all of our products at the end of the month.

[Jim OHaver]

I went to your site and found no one home (yet). I am mucho interested in this device, as well as what info you have to offer re LiPo cells.

Please announce here when your site is up and running.

ps: how are the bacterial levels on the lake this year?

JGO

[Acetronics]

Hi,

Could THAT Help ???? :D :D :D :D :D :D

Jumper1 ON = trim ; !!! PLACE BEFORE power ON for programming !!!
" OFF= trimming Locked ( for vibes ...)

Jumper2 ON = Invert Servo 2 !!! Place Before Power ON for programming !!!

J1 and J2 removed in normal use.

D1 and D2 Shorted for 4.8v operation.

Alain

[Jim OHaver]

05/27/06: Went there and site not up yet.
06/17/06: Products link at website says: "This category is not currently available."

I'm still MUCH interested....
JGO

[Hell-e-Guy]

I built one a couple of years ago...
I will see if I have some PCBs left so I can build one for you.
PM me if you are interested.

Hell-e