AIR WAVES

Model Airplane News, Jul 2004

WRITE To US! We welcome your comments and suggestions. Letters should be addressed to "Airwaves," Model Airplane News, 100 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877-4606 USA; email man@airage.com. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity. We regret that, owing to the tremendous numbers of letters we receive, we cannot respond to every one.

SUKHOI SENSATION

As soon as I saw that gorgeous big Sukhoi on your June '04 cover, I wanted one! The fact that your reviewer gave it high marks was only icing on the cake. I started flying aerobatics a few years ago, and now I can't quit! This airplane sounds like a real pussycat. One question, though: the only engine I have that isn't being used right now is an Enya 1.55 4-stroke. Is that a good powerplant for this bird? Let me know soon; my "plane" money is burning a hole in my pocket!

I appreciate the magazine and read it from cover to cover every month. Keep it up!

Gary Foster [email]

You're in luck, Gary; the Enya RISS 4-stroke would be a good match for the Cermark Sukhoi. This 2.5hp engine should handle 10- to 19-pound planes, so it will have more than enough power for the Sukhoi. Now get that plane, and have a blast! GY

MILITARY CUB

First, thank you for a great magazine that really gets the passion for RC modeling flowing full force! I'm writing because I'm in a predicament. I would like to buy the Sig 1/5-scale Cub and build it as an L-4 Grasshopper. I have seen several other models of the Cub available, including Great Planes'. Can I convert the Great Planes Cub to an L-4? Again, thanks for a great magazine.

John Jaruczyk [email]

To do the L-4 Grasshopper properly, i.e., with dear "greenhouse" observation windows on top of the cabin, you need a model that has plug-in wing panels. When I did my Cub to L-4 conversion, I used a Balsa USA 1A-SCaIe kit far this very reason. Remember also that you can finish any Cub in a military paint scheme because there were several in Army and Navy service (without the L-4 windows). Hope this helps! GY

EVO EVOLUTION

I'm a longtime reader of Model Airplane News and enjoy many of the columns and articles each month. I particularly liked the review of the Royal Evo 9 radio in the june issue. I am considering buying one and want to know whether there is any advantage to spending the extra money for the 12-channel over the 9-channel model. I know the obvious answer is the extra 3 channels, but right now, I use no more than 5 or 6 channels, and I see no need for 9 channels, let alone 12.

Dave Bond [email]

I know what you mean, Dave. I didn't think I would need anything more than the 9-channel model when I reviewed the Multiplex Royal Evo 9. At least, that was the case until I started my latest project: Hangar 9's 33-percent Extra 33OS ARF. This plane uses four servos for the aileron, two for the elevator, two for the rudder, one for the throttle and one for the smoke system. That's 10 servos all together (maybe I should have reviewed the Evo 121). By using the Royal Evo 12 on this plane, I can have a channel for each servo, so I can use the transmitter to make any necessary adjustments to prevent the servos from binding. I never before thought I would need so many channels, but now I see there could be a need for them. If you can afford the 12-channel over the 9-channel radio, buy it. Another advantage of the 12-channel is that it will store 36 models in its memory as opposed to "only" 20 in the 9-channel. JR

GLOBAL RC

I just want to thank you guys for a great magazine. I only recently discovered the pleasure of building aircraft. I landed a contract to build two Ultimate Kaos 60s and will send you pics when they are complete. I find I have a talent for building, and all the tips I get out of your magazine have helped me a lot; so thanks, and keep up the good work.

Warren Fry

Johannesburg, South Africa

We appreciate the feedback, Warren, and hope that you do send us photos of your finished planes for "Pilot Projects." It's great to hear that RC is alive and well and that Model Airplane News is helping modelers-across the globe! DC

ENGINE HELP!

One of our fliers put in a GMS .47 engine last fall (after only six flights), and now we cannot get it to reach high rpm. During level flight, all is OK (idle, high rpm and good transition); however, when we elevate the nose 30 to 45 percent, rpm drops off, the engine slobbers and then it dies. We've cleaned the carb and needles, set and reset both, changed fuel, props, plug, muffler, fuel-tank heights, put the engine on test stand and did it all again. We even tightened backplatc bolts and head bolts. We took the head off, and the gaskets were a bit rough. The flat surface felt as though it had small bumps when you rubbed a finger over it. We put in new gaskets and tightened everything down; we even switched carbs with another working GMS 47-and still no rpm.

We are still in the 2-year warranty program and are about to return it, but we would like to overcome the problem here. We've heard about putting high-temp gasket material on the backplate and carb mount, but then we'd void the warranty.