Any other R/C modelers here?

[Rex_Feral]

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?

[MSzwarc]

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

[Rex_Feral]

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 (http://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.

[Rex_Feral]

Another thing Mike, are you a member of the AMA? www.modelaircraft.org (http://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.

[MSzwarc]

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

[Rex_Feral]

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.

[Rex_Feral]

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

[Rex_Feral]

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!

[leif106]

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

[Rex_Feral]

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.

[leif106]

The engine mount is already inverted. There are numous holes already in the cowling. Half of the cowl bottom was removed just to fit the engine in with the muffler, .... I'm going to drill out several more holes in the front of the cowling to improve the air flow.

[John_L]

lI'm the guy yelling "Curse you, Red Baron!" but it really translates to "Curse you, Balsa USA!" Working at a Fokker eindecker that has ailerons instead of warping to simplify things, but the scale is way off what they claim.
Furthermore, I am determined to build my own engine, and I don't know if I can generate enough torque to fly the bird with what I can fit under the cowl.
I have devised an aspirator that will allow 2 cycle operation from a rotary crankcase engine with 3 cylinders, if the aspirator does not absorb all of the torque generated.
Any of you other guys get screwy ideas? I shoulda stuck to control line. I built my first one before the control lines operated the elevators and rudder (1940). (The later (1046)rudder control was a washer silver soldered to the elevator rod, and when the plane did a wingover, the rudder acted like an elevator.)
Howsomeever, I have always wanted to build a model rotary engine.
I have prints for a 9 cylinder Gnome that is larger than stated scale and a plane cowling that is smaller than stated scale. What a ghastly mess!

[Rex_Feral]

John L-

I know there are some functional 1/4 scale Gnome rotaries and OX-5's being made, but they cost something like $7,500.

Good luck with your project, you are an ambitious man!

I'd love to see photos of your engine one day. 8)

[Rex_Feral]

The engine mount is already inverted. *There are numous holes already in the cowling. *Half of the cowl bottom was removed just to fit the engine in with the muffler, .... *I'm going to drill out several more holes in the front of the cowling to improve the air flow.



What kind of engine are you using (brand and displacement)?Is your fuel tank mounted level with the carburetor? Is it as close to the firewall as you can get it? Is your needle valve adjusted properly? It sounds like you may have a problem with the engine going lean.

[leif106]

It's an OS 90 engine, 4-stroke. The fuel tank itself is mounted smack up against the firewall, with this model Me109, can't move it anywhere else. Had some trouble getting the crossbeam in to hold the tank in place.

There's plenty of exhaust coming out of the engine, so it can't be running too lean.

It doesn't help that I'm in Colorado and I've only been able to run the engine in 87+ temps. The altitude does not help the heating problem. With hockey season just starting up, I won't be able to do too much flying until May/June timeframe.

[DJ]

Their are a number of R/C folks at the Airodrome. WW1 is pretty much all I fly anymore. Mostly 1/4 scale. There are a number of events every year which are pretty much WW1 orientated. All the R/C folks seem to be shy compared to the plastic modelers (at least at this site). I'd put some pictures of my planes up, but I don'seem to posses the required skills.

[Rex_Feral]

It's an OS 90 engine, 4-stroke. *The fuel tank itself is mounted smack up against the firewall, with this model Me109, can't move it anywhere else. *Had some trouble getting the crossbeam in to hold the tank in place.

There's plenty of exhaust coming out of the engine, so it can't be running too lean.



Have you got it overpropped? What size prop are you swinging, and what kind of R.P.M. are you getting?

[Rex_Feral]

Their are a number of R/C folks at the Airodrome. WW1 is pretty much all I fly anymore. Mostly 1/4 scale. There are a number of events every year which are pretty much WW1 orientated. All the R/C folks seem to be shy compared to the plastic modelers (at least at this site). I'd put some pictures of my planes up, but I don'seem to posses the required skills.



Hello DJ!

If you can use a programmable transmitter, you can handle getting your pictures up online!

Are your photographs digital, or prints? If they are prints, you will have to get them digitized. They can do this at most photo processing places now. Once they are on a disk or CD-ROM, you can upload them to a photo hosting site like www.photopoint.com (http://www.photopoint.com) or www.imagestation.com (http://www.imagestation.com)

After you have done this, you can put pictures in your post by cutting and pasting the link to the picture and inserting it between image tags: {img}your picture link here{/img} Just substitute "[ and ]" for the "{ and }". Give it a try, if you get stuck feel free to email or private message me here at the aerodrome and I'll be glad to walk you through it.

[Mark_Miller]

you can put me in the RC wannabe catagory.
I made a trainer about 6 years ago - nice little plane 50 inch wingspan, high wing monoplane, lots of dihedral, no airlerons.
almost flys itself ::)
Unfortunately I have only flown it about 3 times - and then the guy who was teaching me moved.
I would like to get involved again - but I have to find a field and someone to show me how to fly the thing.
anybody know of a good RC organisation in western CT?

Mark Miller

[Rex_Feral]

Mark Miller-

Check here: www.modelaircraft.org You can find an AMA chartered R/C club near you with the club locater.

Better yet, I'll save you some of the trouble. Here is the page with all of the Connecticut clubs: http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubs/clb-ct.htm

[leif106]

Not sure of the RPM. If I take the plane above 1/2 throttle, it dies. As for the prop, don't recall (been a while since I got it). I know it's not much larger than the one on my Avistar (which has a MUCH smaller engine).

[DJ]

First, Thanks Rex, I'll give it a try. The pix were taken with my digital camera. Second, Mark, I had spoken to you a while back. By Western CT, what do you mean? I live in Vernon. In Ellington, NCRCC is located (www.ncrcc.org) we are currently purchasing the field we fly from. It is a gorgeous field and a hot bed of WW1 activity. Every Sat. and Sun. you will see three or four or more 1/4 scale WW1 planes. Another club I belong to has fields in Coventry and Mans field. E-mail me if you would like more info.

Best Regards,
Dave Johnson

[DJ]

[Image(s) – please use the full version to view this post]

[Rex_Feral]

Nice! Is that scratch built or a kit? What are you using for an engine, and how much does the plane weigh?

[DJ]

Scratch built from my plans in 1/4 scale. It weighs 17 lbs. and is powered by a U.S. 41.

[Rex_Feral]

Very nice DJ.

Is the fuse skinned with ply directly over the formers, or did you plank it, then skin it with ply over the planking? Did you apply scale sized ply panels, or apply large ply pieces and simulate panel lines? Is the spinner fiberglass? How about the engine cowl panels?

Great work, thanks for sharing that picture! 8)

[DJ]

The only plywood in the fuselage is 5 hoop formers and the wing/engine mount box. The fuse is a stressed semi-monoqouce(????) of 3/32" balsa. The balsa was applied as the scale panel sizes. The Hoops were supported during construction on a piece of 3/4 ID copper tubing which was pulled out the front (along with the temporary supports) prior to installing the firewall. Builds real fast that way.

[Cigogne]

I'm not a modeller, but I must say great job Werner... oops, I mean D.J.

How does it fly? Does it handle well in the air?

[Ron_F]

:)

just wanted to say im a R/C er too. been flying since i was 15 or so in about 1985 or so....

1 electric combat plane, an Ultimate 10-300, 2 competition sailplanes, a corsair, a FW190D-9, 2 helicopters. the helis im getting pretty good at. some mild 3d is what im working on now....

ive wanted to do ww1 as well as more ww2, but the money, maintenence, and time just aint happening anymore.... sims and books fill that void now....

[RoyH]

Wanted to put my "Hat-in-the-Ring" as well. *There are a number of WWI R/C flyers (and plastic builders) in the Colorado Springs-Denver area. *Electric is gaining strength--in CSprings we fly about every month in the City Auditorium (in-door free flight and slow-fly electric) and try to fly outdoors as often as time (work schedule[s]) permits.

I've got a Steven Stratt-designed 1/8th scale E.V that I'm testing electric engine/battery/propeller combinations on in preparation for it's maiden flight.

On another Front--there may be an opportunity to have a Rhinebeck-like fun-fly event in the area if there is enough interest (might be able to host it at the Wings Over the Rockies museum in Denver).

Cheers,
Roy F. Houchin

[Lyle]

Hi,
I've been doing R/C on and off since 1980, and my first kit after a trainer was a VK Fokker Dr.I. *It wasn't until 1996 that it first flew, but it was a great kit to keep my interest up in learning to fly. *Perhaps it was a good thing that I didn't fly it until much later--it had no right thrust and the throws on the control surfaces were far too much, so it was the most unpleasant first flight I ever made with a model! Skidding, diving, twisting...some guys there at the field said it looked like I was in a dogfight! *Nah, just trying to keep it from crashing, I felt like saying. *All problems fixed, and it was a much better flyer. *I also have a 1/6 scale Fok. E.V which is a bit skittish but is not a bad flyer. A quarter scale version would be nice, just like DJ's version.

Next project to be finished--1/4 scale D.VII. *These big airplanes take up quite a bit of room. *I gotta get some more space!
Lyle

[ProfFate]

Hi

I used to fly R/C, but it was too much hassle and money for someone who likes kicking back and watching the plane fly more than Remotely Flying it.
These days, I do Free Flight Rubber Scale. My only current WW1 flying is a Siemens Schuckert E.I which is a nice floater and fun to watch.

Rocky