Airwaves

Model Airplane News, Feb 2003

1-800-PILOTS

Great review of the Hangar 9 clipped-wing Taylorcraft, but I have one problem with the write-up: I wanted to order a scale pilot figure like the one Stan Kulesa used in his model, but you printed the wrong phone number for "Pilots by Diane," Do you have the correct number? [email]

JOHN

Sorry for the inconvenience, John; the correct number for Pilots by Diane is (450) 246-- 4543. Tell Sean and Diane we said `hi"! GY

LIGHTENING HOLE TOOL

Which tools do you use to make lightening holes in wing ribs, fuselage sheeting, etc.? I've tried hole saws, Forstner bits and punches, only to wind up with very uncraftsmanlike results. What's the proper technique? Thanks! [email]

DICK KILLMER

Dick, I use a length of srk-inch-diameter K&S Brass tube to make a hole-cutter. I glue a long dowel into one end for a handle, and then I sharpen the other end to form a cutting edge. I use a Dremel Moto-Tool to make the edge jagged and then bevel and sharpen it by scraping it with a hobby knife. Press the hole-cutter firmly onto the rib, give a few quick twists, and it cuts cleanly through the balsa. You can make the dowel handle as long as you want, and you can then cut all the way through a wing panel (through all the ribs one at a time) from the tip to the root so the holes all align with one another. You can also cut the holes in the ribs before you assemble the wing. If the cutter gets dull, simply sharpen it again with a hobby knife. The jagged edge acts like a saw and cuts much better than if you simply sharpened the edge without making it jagged. Hope this helps! GY

DIRECT THROTTLE CONNECTION

In a recent "Thinking Big" column, you showed a photo of the throttle-servo installation on your Great Planes Pitts Special. The servo was mounted on the engine box with a very neat-looking bracket. This little device will solve the same problem on my Hangar 9 Sukhoi. Who makes it? Many thanks, and keep thinking big! [email]

SHELDON CAMPBELL

Sheldon, this is an easy one! I simply used a Futaba aileron servo-mounting bracket. It was part of the accessory set that came with my Futaba Super 8 radio. It's nothing more than a box with grommet-isolated mounting tabs molded to it. The servo slips into the box and is secured with grommets and servo screws. The box is then attached to the side of the plywood engine-- extension box with a few more grommets and screws. I installed hardwood blocks inside the plywood box to support the attachment screws and then screwed the whole assembly into place. I used a Rocket City heavy-duty ball-link clevis (available from Nelson Hobby Specialties) and a length of threaded 4-40 music-wire pushrod. I soldered a metal clevis to one end and threaded the ball link to the other. So far, after more than two dozen flights, the throttle servo has performed properly; I have not experienced any radio interference with the servos' close proximity to the gasoline engine. GY

NIGHT BIRDS

I had a great time watching all the electric-powered models perform at the NEAT Fair in New York. I was amazed that electrics have developed to such an impressive level! I was also intrigued by the modelers' use of electric lights in their models for night flying. Holy cow-now we can fly 24-7! Could you please publish an article on this subject? I'm sure many readers would like to learn more; I certainly would. Thanks for a great magazine!

FREDERICK McLAUGHLIN, Pottstown, PA

Night flying has certainly become popular-- especially with the electric backyard-flyer crowd. Miniature electric light bulbs, LEDs and even chemical light sticks are all used to illuminate models. Some modelers even use transparent covering material and install the lights and wiring inside the model's structure. These models light up like neon billboards and are very easy to see-even on the darkest nights! We'll talk to some of our fly-by-night friends and see what we can do about publishing an article; thanks for the suggestion. Meanwhile, check out the Click Trip. GY