Model Aircraft Posts

  This is my Great Planes "Revolver", it is an electric ARF, which means after every flight, you have to remove the canopy. Whether you are going to insert a freshly charged battery or just recharge the one that's in it, it still requires canopy removal. It is very nicely laid out inside for access to the battery, but removal of the canopy requires taking out two small screws. I think you ...

This is the first in a series of articles titled " My Method" in which I will supply an alternative method to a particular modeling dilemma. In this case , the "gapless" hinge.   First and foremost this is for use in a scratch built model, as this method is not applicable to an ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) or pre-cut kit without major modification.  The hinging of the control surfaces on ...

All R/C aircraft have an onboard battery. In the case of Sail Planes, or those with Internal Combustion Engines, the battery is used as power for the receiver and servos. In electric powered aircraft the battery must also run the motor. That is why until recently, small to mid sized electric aircraft were non-existent. Li-Po (Lithium Polymer) battery technology has changed all that. Before Li-Po's...

Flying an airplane, whether it be full scale or a model, is not a natural act. It's not something you are born with, nobody can just walk up to a plane and fly it without some sort of instruction. Granted some people have certain characteristics that make learning to fly easier, but everyone was taught at some point, except Orville and Wilbur, which is what makes their early flights so amazing.&nb...

Probably the most important aspect of Radio Controlled Modeling is the link between the radio and the receiver in the plane. The very first R/C transmitters were available in the late '30s, they utilized vacuum tubes for operation. As the hobby grew, so too did the need for reliable equipment. The ever-advancing technology of the micro chip has continued to produce more and more reliable equipment...

Caudron C460 This is my 1:4 scale R/C replica of the French racer that dominated the 1936 National Air Races in Los Angeles. As one of the first racers to use a variable pitch prop, split flaps, and retractable landing gear, it easily outflew the competition in both the Thompson Trophy and Greve races. The pilot, Michel Detroyat (a.k.a. "The Falcon of France") , a French aerobatic pilot, beca...