Archive for April, 2014
Dusting off my good old ASW22 with the intention of installing a new frSky receiver and bind it to my new Taranis radio, I noticed a problem with the spoilers.
I was setting the control throws for all channels when I noticed that both spoilers didn't extend equally anymore. And that could cause a really bad day when that happens in flight (don't ask how I know).
At the time, some 20-odd years ago, we didn't have the same choice in digital or metal gear servos as we have today, so this model wasn't designed to house the spoiler servos in the wing, but instead they opted to install only one inside the fuselage, and you just had to hook up the spoilers each time you assembled the wings.
I took an alternative path at the time, since I didn't see myself doing that operation before every flight. So I opted to screw a small servo tray to the wing root, and make openings in the fuselage where those servos would pass through. Not quite elegant either, but it worked for me.
Now we have much smaller servos, and more powerful than the bulky stuff from those day, so I wanted to mount new servos inside the wing.
The hardest part is making a cut in the wing, not knowing what you will find below the surface. In this case, it was some sort of plywood spar, only glued to the top part covering of the wing, and only loosely glued to the wing root.
I decided to cut it and glue the servo solid to the remaining parts of the spar, thereby restoring its structural function, using some expanding PU glue.
The glue dried meanwhile, and I finished adjusting the throws for a nice synchronized movement of both spoilers.
Mission accomplished so far.
I will cover the holes temporarily, so I can finally remaiden this beautiful bird as soon as the weather permits.
Tomorrow I will install the telemetry sensors, and do the final fine-tuning.
Stay tuned.
I was setting the control throws for all channels when I noticed that both spoilers didn't extend equally anymore. And that could cause a really bad day when that happens in flight (don't ask how I know).
At the time, some 20-odd years ago, we didn't have the same choice in digital or metal gear servos as we have today, so this model wasn't designed to house the spoiler servos in the wing, but instead they opted to install only one inside the fuselage, and you just had to hook up the spoilers each time you assembled the wings.
I took an alternative path at the time, since I didn't see myself doing that operation before every flight. So I opted to screw a small servo tray to the wing root, and make openings in the fuselage where those servos would pass through. Not quite elegant either, but it worked for me.
Now we have much smaller servos, and more powerful than the bulky stuff from those day, so I wanted to mount new servos inside the wing.
The hardest part is making a cut in the wing, not knowing what you will find below the surface. In this case, it was some sort of plywood spar, only glued to the top part covering of the wing, and only loosely glued to the wing root.
I decided to cut it and glue the servo solid to the remaining parts of the spar, thereby restoring its structural function, using some expanding PU glue.
The glue dried meanwhile, and I finished adjusting the throws for a nice synchronized movement of both spoilers.
Mission accomplished so far.
I will cover the holes temporarily, so I can finally remaiden this beautiful bird as soon as the weather permits.
Tomorrow I will install the telemetry sensors, and do the final fine-tuning.
Stay tuned.
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After fooling around with the 50mm EDF version of the T-33, I finally built up some confidence to fly EDF jets. I preparation of my Windrider B-737 I bought an Epic Victory from Graupner a while ago, intended as a trainer, but the many hours I invested in that model in modifying it has made me anxious to fly that one too 
So the T-33 came in handy to get over my cold feet about all this, and whaddayaknow, my self confidence inspired me to take things up another level, with this SU-35.
I have studied a couple of Youtube clips about this model, and it seems to be quite a stable flyer indeed. Having an 80m concrete runway available in my club, I feel confident about pulling this off. But then came the surprise: these models seem to be harder to find than I imagined. Hobbyking has them, but in backorder, and they are about the only shop that still carry them on the European continent.
So I was more than pleased to find one second-hand, complete with motors and servos, extra main gear struts and a 15A BEC, for the same price as the empty model at HK.
So yesterday I assembled the model outside, and did some inspecting, so I can make a list of things I still might need and what is still required to do to make it airworthy (it hasn't even flown yet!).
1) Control horns on the tailerons have too much play. At first sight, the screws only need some tightening, but I'm not sure they are up to the task, considering the leverage required for moving these large surfaces.
...Continue Reading
So the T-33 came in handy to get over my cold feet about all this, and whaddayaknow, my self confidence inspired me to take things up another level, with this SU-35.
I have studied a couple of Youtube clips about this model, and it seems to be quite a stable flyer indeed. Having an 80m concrete runway available in my club, I feel confident about pulling this off. But then came the surprise: these models seem to be harder to find than I imagined. Hobbyking has them, but in backorder, and they are about the only shop that still carry them on the European continent.
So I was more than pleased to find one second-hand, complete with motors and servos, extra main gear struts and a 15A BEC, for the same price as the empty model at HK.
So yesterday I assembled the model outside, and did some inspecting, so I can make a list of things I still might need and what is still required to do to make it airworthy (it hasn't even flown yet!).
1) Control horns on the tailerons have too much play. At first sight, the screws only need some tightening, but I'm not sure they are up to the task, considering the leverage required for moving these large surfaces.
...Continue Reading
