Any other R/C modelers here?

I have flown R/C off and on since 1992. As far as R/C WW I A/C go, I have only built sport models of the D.VII and SE5a, nothing museum scale yet.

Any other R/C pilots out there?

Rex,

I am just getting started in R/C, with a goal of eventually building some reasonably detailed WWI, electric powered R/C models in the 1/6 scale range. I have yet to successfully fly an R/C aircraft, although I have successfully destroyed one aircraft twice. I live pretty much in the middle of nowhere, so I have a lot of space, but no mentors.

Currently, I am about to complete a glider for training purposes. Then I plan to rebuild my motorized trainer. I also have 3 WWI aircraft (fokker D.VIII, Bristol M1C, and Nieuport 17) in the research phase, and am honing my modeling skills with smaller stick and tissue, rubber powered models. I did a little control line modeling 25 years ago, but drifted away from it when I graduated from college (Texas A&M, class of '76).

It seems to me difficult to find much interest in WWI aircraft in the U.S., but I subscribe to an English magazine called Flying Scale Models(available in the U.S. through http://www.wiseowlmagazines.com/) which has a reasonable coverage of both WWI aircraft and electric powered R/C.

I suspect that the seeming lack of interest in WWI R/C in the States is due to the fact that the planes are slower than their WWII cousins, and that there were no American designed and built aircraft that played a major role in WWI. The low speed and the fact that the pilots of the prototypes devloped air combat is what makes them appealing to me. These guys were amazing!

Anyway, there are some R/C afficianados out here, but I suspect that most of those interested in WWI aircraft are not in the States. Anyone else?

Mike

Mike,

Have you looked into computer R/C flight simulators?

I couldn't imagine trying to learn R/C on my own, I would have destroyed at least a dozen aircraft. With the R/C flight sim, all you have to do is press start after a crash, not spend a week at the building bench. The computer sim is not the best way to learn, but it will help you get used to keeping the nose level in a turn, and the control reversal you get when flying toward yourself. These seem to be the hardest things for beginners to learn.

www.towerhobbies.com offers the Realflight R/C simulator. I set up a plane to duplicate my Goldberg Ultimate biplane exactly, and I use it to practice new manuevers.

Another thing Mike, are you a member of the AMA? www.modelaircraft.org Even if you are not, use the AMA affiliated club locator at their website and find a nearby R/C club. You will be sure to find someone willing to teach you there.

Rex,

I've looked at R/C simulators, but haven't found any written for a Macintosh (I love my Mac!). I'll look into the AMA. I've been to a few airshows within 100 miles that have had
R/C as part of the program. The sponsoring clubs have been from some distance away, but possibly there's something closer.

Mike

Oops, in this PC dominated world I sometimes assume too much! :-[

You might try doing a web search for the Dave Brown R/C simulator, I think they may have made a Mac version.

Never mind... I just did a search, Dave Brown no longer supports the Mac. :-/

Just the two of us? I find that hard to believe! Perhaps a little inspiration is in order, check the link below for some great WW I R/C models, this company offers kits up to 1/3 scale! For the static model builders among us, just imagine a 10' wingspan Albatros D.Va hanging from your ceiling

http://www.arizonamodels.com/index.htm

Check out the movies link for some video clips of beautiful WW I models being flown particularly poorly!

I'm just starting out learning to fly RC's. I've got an Avistar trainer that a friend is training me on (hooked up through a trainer cord with the radios). I'm still working on building my Me109, missing a couple of pieces to get it flight worthing. I also need to figure out how to keep the engine from over heating. After about 5 minutes the engine just dies and won't run. Just too hot here in the summer time I guess. =P

It sounds like you are either running it too lean, or you haven't provided enough cooling airflow around the engine. The latter is quite common in scale R/C aircraft. Your best bet would probably be to mount the engine inverted, with the head hanging out in the breeze, and use a Pitts style muffler which is designed for in-cowl applications. It is much flatter, and vents the exhaust down instead of back. You will also have to cut away the cowl around the engine and muffler to provide enough cooling air flow, if you mount the engine inverted, you can make this cut on the bottom where it won't be too noticeable. There is also an old modelers rule of thumb: The cooling air outlet must be twice the size of the cooling air inlet. Otherwise the heated air will remain trapped in the cowl, causing the engine to overheat again.

BTW, I would suggest an intermediate model before you go jumping into flying a 109. Narrow main gear, high wing loading, and taildragger configuration is a huge leap forward for someone who has only flown a trainer type model.