Radio Control: Electrics
THIS COLUMN, last month's, and the next few are especially for RC modelers with some wet-power flight experience who are considering, or just beginning, E-power aeromodeling. Last month's column presented some history of Electric flight and told of the early challenges and difficulties. It also drew some comparisons between wet power and Electric, and argued that while the former is more widespread and familiar, contemporary Electric is very capable and easy to apply to any RC aeromodel. This is because of technology advances, a multitude of good products on the market, and rapidly increasing Electric participation and knowledge. It also promised that upcoming columns would show how to get into Electric successfully and assure continuing enjoyment.
Radio Control: Electrics
THIS MONTH'S column shares new findings on the Sport Speed Control (SSC), follows up on recent product info, offers a circuit assembly aid, and continues the ongoing discussion for already-aeromodelers who would like to try E-power. This issue includes the final installment of the two-part Sport Speed Control article-a built-it-yourself project for E-modelers who have some electronic assembly experience. Developed during several years, the SSC is offered as a many-featured, but "robust" design; evidence supporting the latter is in data I've taken on SSC temperature behavior. Perhaps the most harsh application among my numerous SSCs is in an aerobatic Senior Skyvolt (see 2/99 column), wherein I have a 12-cell "15" geared installation, plus three midsize servos using the SSC BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit) option.
Sport Speed Control
POWER PLATE ASSEMBLY: Assembly of the Power Plate begins by accurately fabricating the aluminum heat sink. Use the full-size patterns in the Power Plate Assembly drawing to aid in the steps that follow. It's easier to saw the 1/32 aluminum if you first double-stick tape it to a scrap of 1/8 Lite Ply as a backing. Mark and drill the five 1/8 holes, deburr all holes and edges, and radius the four corners slightly. (Caution: It is very important that the component side of the aluminum plate is fully deburred and smooth before mounting any parts.) Be sure the aluminum stays flat, and confirm that the finished piece matches the full-size drawing. Cut the pc board to size. This simple pc board can be etched or lines can be scored with a #11 knife and the copper tracks peeled back. Be sure that the result closely matches the full-size drawing.
Radio Control: Electrics
There is a growing interest in small, low-power, and/or slow Electric RC. The April 1999 issue of the Cloud Nine Micro RC Newsletter arrived as I was preparing to write this column. This publication is produced by John Worth, who runs the small business called Cloud Nine that caters to really tiny RC aeromodeling. John describes three categories of micro RC as Indoor Only, Indoor/Outdoor, and Outdoor Only. These are largely related to weight: a one-ounce model is typically suited to Indoor Only; a two- to three-ounce model may be suited to either In or Out; and a four-ounce model (and up) is most suited to Outdoor flying.
Radio Control: Electrics
Skyvolt was presented as a construction article in the January 1990 Model Aviation and was subsequently kitted by Today's Hobbies. I still fly the original model occasionally. Skyvolt was intended as a mild-through-moderately-aerobatic "next step" Electric. I described it as a next choice for those folks who entered Electric with a simpler design such as the Mirage, PT Electric, Electra, etc. As presented, the 395 sq. in. Skyvolt used a NACA 2412 airfoil section, offered power system flexibility, steering for ground handling, a versatile motor mount system, and a somewhat-complex but very light and strong structure. The idea was to "fill in a gap" that existed in E-designs of the day.
