Getting back into RC aircraft
Discussion
Kim, you could try sideslipping the AcroWot in. Effectively you give opposite aileron and rudder, causing the model to crab and come in wingtip first. The wing is less efficient and the fuselage creates a bit of lift and a lot of drag. As soon as you let go of the controls the model will straighten up.
Practice at altitude first, then when you know the right amount of aileron and rudder to achieve a stable sideslip, have a few practice approaches.
Here's a video of a Schleicher Ka8 sideslipping in without using the airbrakes
Practice at altitude first, then when you know the right amount of aileron and rudder to achieve a stable sideslip, have a few practice approaches.
Here's a video of a Schleicher Ka8 sideslipping in without using the airbrakes
GliderRider said:
Kim, you could try sideslipping the AcroWot in. Effectively you give opposite aileron and rudder, causing the model to crab and come in wingtip first. The wing is less efficient and the fuselage creates a bit of lift and a lot of drag. As soon as you let go of the controls the model will straighten up.
Practice at altitude first, then when you know the right amount of aileron and rudder to achieve a stable sideslip, have a few practice approaches.
Here's a video of a Schleicher Ka8 sideslipping in without using the airbrakes
I have enough trouble hitting the strip in a straight line!!! Practice at altitude first, then when you know the right amount of aileron and rudder to achieve a stable sideslip, have a few practice approaches.
Here's a video of a Schleicher Ka8 sideslipping in without using the airbrakes
Seriously though, that may be a technique to try to scrub off a bit of speed / height. I'll give it a go (when nobody's looking
)Kim
kimducati said:
I have enough trouble hitting the strip in a straight line!!!
Seriously though, that may be a technique to try to scrub off a bit of speed / height. I'll give it a go (when nobody's looking )
Kim
It's best to lose the height on your approach circuit, it's where the speed comes from on landing.Seriously though, that may be a technique to try to scrub off a bit of speed / height. I'll give it a go (when nobody's looking
)Kim
Also make sure that your engine idle is not too high, as that makes it a lot harder to scrub off speed.
I use a mix on a switch to reduce the idle for landing without risking a dead stick during a flight.
kimducati said:
I'll give it a go (when nobody's looking )
Kim
Kim, I know exactly where you're coming from. I hate doing early flights in front of an audience. )Kim
Another thing you could try to help your landing approaches, is to either reduce the engine idle speed or fit a finer pitch prop. If at idle your prop is still generating thrust, its going to make steep approaches and short landings really difficult. If on the other hand, the engine rpm and prop pitch are such that the aeroplane in the glide is trying to overtake its prop, then the prop is effectively a big circular airbrake and will allow a steeper descent without building up speed.
If you are worried about the engine stopping at idle, there are devices which will energise the glowplug at low rpms to reduce the likelihood of this.
Many thanks for all the wonderful advice.
Archie, I tend to do two altitudes on finals, one at height to get my position relative to landing point and wind direction, then another identical circuit on low tick-over, (set accurately) to avoid dead stick.
Last night there was hardly any wind and, changing direction often, may even have caught a very slight tail wind.
I’m pretty certain I’m going to ditch the flaperon configuration in future. It was such a rapid and violent event - I couldn’t react at all.
It won’t dent my enthusiasm, I ordered up a new motor for my electric Ruckus this morning, and some bits and pieces to fix the Acro. I think the Acro will be grounded for a week.
But I could have done without this as I’m wanting to progress my Spitfire project.
Kim? Would love to see some photos of your Spitfire when done..
Archie, I tend to do two altitudes on finals, one at height to get my position relative to landing point and wind direction, then another identical circuit on low tick-over, (set accurately) to avoid dead stick.
Last night there was hardly any wind and, changing direction often, may even have caught a very slight tail wind.
I’m pretty certain I’m going to ditch the flaperon configuration in future. It was such a rapid and violent event - I couldn’t react at all.
It won’t dent my enthusiasm, I ordered up a new motor for my electric Ruckus this morning, and some bits and pieces to fix the Acro. I think the Acro will be grounded for a week.
But I could have done without this as I’m wanting to progress my Spitfire project.
Kim? Would love to see some photos of your Spitfire when done..
archie456 said:
It's best to lose the height on your approach circuit, it's where the speed comes from on landing.
Also make sure that your engine idle is not too high, as that makes it a lot harder to scrub off speed.
I use a mix on a switch to reduce the idle for landing without risking a dead stick during a flight.
This is part of the problem - the motor is a 17cc petrol and is still quite new - I struggle to get a reliable low idle and swinging a 15x8 prop, it's still pulling the 'plane along at idle. I get nicely set up, cross the threshold at about 2 ft high and proceed to fly across the strip without losing any more height / speed.Also make sure that your engine idle is not too high, as that makes it a lot harder to scrub off speed.
I use a mix on a switch to reduce the idle for landing without risking a dead stick during a flight.
I have got a couple of alternative props to try now, so maybe that'll help.
GliderRider said:
Kim, I know exactly where you're coming from. I hate doing early flights in front of an audience.
Another thing you could try to help your landing approaches, is to either reduce the engine idle speed or fit a finer pitch prop. If at idle your prop is still generating thrust, its going to make steep approaches and short landings really difficult. If on the other hand, the engine rpm and prop pitch are such that the aeroplane in the glide is trying to overtake its prop, then the prop is effectively a big circular airbrake and will allow a steeper descent without building up speed.
If you are worried about the engine stopping at idle, there are devices which will energise the glowplug at low rpms to reduce the likelihood of this.
See above - I do think that a high (ish) idle is at least part of the problem.Another thing you could try to help your landing approaches, is to either reduce the engine idle speed or fit a finer pitch prop. If at idle your prop is still generating thrust, its going to make steep approaches and short landings really difficult. If on the other hand, the engine rpm and prop pitch are such that the aeroplane in the glide is trying to overtake its prop, then the prop is effectively a big circular airbrake and will allow a steeper descent without building up speed.
If you are worried about the engine stopping at idle, there are devices which will energise the glowplug at low rpms to reduce the likelihood of this.
eta. In my defence, our field suffers badly from rotors off of nearby hedges and trees, so it pays not to be fannying about just above the stall, as I found to my cost the last time I flew the Wotty.
Kim
Edited by kimducati on Wednesday 26th June 17:38
Jim H said:
Kim? Would love to see some photos of your Spitfire when done..
I'd just like to see it done!!
I keep flip flopping on what subject to finish it as - I was keen on doing it as the modified MkIX flown by Prince Emanuel Gallitzine, but then think that I really want to 'do' MH434 as flown by Ray Hannah back in the day. I'll decide eventually.
Kim
kimducati said:
Jim H said:
Kim? Would love to see some photos of your Spitfire when done..
I'd just like to see it done!!I keep flip flopping on what subject to finish it as - I was keen on doing it as the modified MkIX flown by Prince Emanuel Gallitzine, but then think that I really want to 'do' MH434 as flown by Ray Hannah back in the day. I'll decide eventually.
Kim
What I like about this forum is you tend to learn something new everyday. I’d shamefully never heard of the two pilots above you reference.
It gave me a good evening last night ensconced in a Google wormhole looking up - probably when I should have been fixing my aircraft.
Interesting to read it was Ray Hanna that flew the Spitfire under the bridge at Winston, Barnard Castle for the tv series Piece of Cake. I remember the series and the scene very well. IIRC the pilot / character in that scene was called Moggy Cattermole.
Yeah, I know where you are coming from on final finish, personally I like my aircraft to have bright distinctive colours and be totally different on the top from the underside. It helps so much with orientation at distance and at height - even more so as an old duffer (myself) with eyesight not as it once was!
Obviously such a scheme would never ever work on a Spitfire, in fact probably considered by most anathema.
So it leaves you little option on what to do.
I think either of the schemes you mention associated with those pilots will look terrific, I feel your quandary.
My little fun fighter Spitfire is only a 42” span, with its camouflage livery on top, and duck egg blue underside, yup I reckon I’ll barely be able to see which way up it is, or which way it’s banking…
It truly is “fun” to fly…
Jim H said:
Morning Kim,
What I like about this forum is you tend to learn something new everyday. I’d shamefully never heard of the two pilots above you reference.
It gave me a good evening last night ensconced in a Google wormhole looking up - probably when I should have been fixing my aircraft.
Interesting to read it was Ray Hanna that flew the Spitfire under the bridge at Winston, Barnard Castle for the tv series Piece of Cake. I remember the series and the scene very well. IIRC the pilot / character in that scene was called Moggy Cattermole.
Yeah, I know where you are coming from on final finish, personally I like my aircraft to have bright distinctive colours and be totally different on the top from the underside. It helps so much with orientation at distance and at height - even more so as an old duffer (myself) with eyesight not as it once was!
Obviously such a scheme would never ever work on a Spitfire, in fact probably considered by most anathema.
So it leaves you little option on what to do.
I think either of the schemes you mention associated with those pilots will look terrific, I feel your quandary.
My little fun fighter Spitfire is only a 42” span, with its camouflage livery on top, and duck egg blue underside, yup I reckon I’ll barely be able to see which way up it is, or which way it’s banking…
It truly is “fun” to fly…
Hi JimWhat I like about this forum is you tend to learn something new everyday. I’d shamefully never heard of the two pilots above you reference.
It gave me a good evening last night ensconced in a Google wormhole looking up - probably when I should have been fixing my aircraft.
Interesting to read it was Ray Hanna that flew the Spitfire under the bridge at Winston, Barnard Castle for the tv series Piece of Cake. I remember the series and the scene very well. IIRC the pilot / character in that scene was called Moggy Cattermole.
Yeah, I know where you are coming from on final finish, personally I like my aircraft to have bright distinctive colours and be totally different on the top from the underside. It helps so much with orientation at distance and at height - even more so as an old duffer (myself) with eyesight not as it once was!
Obviously such a scheme would never ever work on a Spitfire, in fact probably considered by most anathema.
So it leaves you little option on what to do.
I think either of the schemes you mention associated with those pilots will look terrific, I feel your quandary.
My little fun fighter Spitfire is only a 42” span, with its camouflage livery on top, and duck egg blue underside, yup I reckon I’ll barely be able to see which way up it is, or which way it’s banking…
It truly is “fun” to fly…
I first came across Ray Hanna (with apologies for yesterday's autocorrected spelling of his name) when he was the leader of the Red Arrows. Promotional books and photos, etc were being handed out and I managed to get all of the 'Reds' to sign my copy, including Sqd Ldr Hanna.
I cherished that book throughout my adolescence ( I must have been 13 or 14 when I got it) but it was sadly lost when my mum had a clear out soon after I got married and left home.
His performances in MH434 were legendary, and included 'valleyitis' at Biggin Hill (that'll give you another wormhole to look down) flying down the runway at about 10 feet altitude and ditto down the start / finish straight at Goodwood Revival one year.
Of course would be frowned upon today- different times!!
I also remember Piece of Cake- used to watch it religiously, although didn't realise the Hanna connection till now.
Wrt the visibility of the Spitfire, a clubmate recently got one and really struggled to orientate with the plain 'camo' scheme. He added invasion stripes and it improved it a lot, so for mine, I'm leaning towards camo with invasion stripes or PRU blue with stripes to aid orientation.
We'll see
Kim
ps Good luck with the repairs to the Acro Wot, I'm sure it'll fly another day!!
kimducati said:
Hi Jim
I first came across Ray Hanna (with apologies for yesterday's autocorrected spelling of his name) when he was the leader of the Red Arrows. Promotional books and photos, etc were being handed out and I managed to get all of the 'Reds' to sign my copy, including Sqd Ldr Hanna.
I cherished that book throughout my adolescence ( I must have been 13 or 14 when I got it) but it was sadly lost when my mum had a clear out soon after I got married and left home.
His performances in MH434 were legendary, and included 'valleyitis' at Biggin Hill (that'll give you another wormhole to look down) flying down the runway at about 10 feet altitude and ditto down the start / finish straight at Goodwood Revival one year.
Of course would be frowned upon today- different times!!
I also remember Piece of Cake- used to watch it religiously, although didn't realise the Hanna connection till now.
Wrt the visibility of the Spitfire, a clubmate recently got one and really struggled to orientate with the plain 'camo' scheme. He added invasion stripes and it improved it a lot, so for mine, I'm leaning towards camo with invasion stripes or PRU blue with stripes to aid orientation.
We'll see
Kim
ps Good luck with the repairs to the Acro Wot, I'm sure it'll fly another day!!
Morning again Kim,I first came across Ray Hanna (with apologies for yesterday's autocorrected spelling of his name) when he was the leader of the Red Arrows. Promotional books and photos, etc were being handed out and I managed to get all of the 'Reds' to sign my copy, including Sqd Ldr Hanna.
I cherished that book throughout my adolescence ( I must have been 13 or 14 when I got it) but it was sadly lost when my mum had a clear out soon after I got married and left home.
His performances in MH434 were legendary, and included 'valleyitis' at Biggin Hill (that'll give you another wormhole to look down) flying down the runway at about 10 feet altitude and ditto down the start / finish straight at Goodwood Revival one year.
Of course would be frowned upon today- different times!!
I also remember Piece of Cake- used to watch it religiously, although didn't realise the Hanna connection till now.
Wrt the visibility of the Spitfire, a clubmate recently got one and really struggled to orientate with the plain 'camo' scheme. He added invasion stripes and it improved it a lot, so for mine, I'm leaning towards camo with invasion stripes or PRU blue with stripes to aid orientation.
We'll see
Kim
ps Good luck with the repairs to the Acro Wot, I'm sure it'll fly another day!!
Mums and their clear outs - pffft
Agree, looking back on Ray’s exploits in the Spitfire it’s hard to imagine anything like that happening now, (especially following the Shoreham tragedy) the Goodwood example in particular. I’ve been and avid follower of the Goodwood events since it’s inception and I’m amazed I’ve never stumbled on that video before.
With regard to invasion stripes I have them painted on my Spitfire, as at the time of original build I had my concerns over visibility, I do seem to recall they helped a bit, however the last time I flew it was around 1998.
Acro Wot repair.
Well this is the worst of the damage, you may have to zoom in to see more clearly. Like I’ve mentioned, I glued ply doublers on the inside of the fuselage, and reinforced around fire wall and undercarriage mount plate with fibre glass - wetted with epoxy resin. It’s only the outer balsa skin that cracked. I guess all that energy had to dissipate somewhere.
I could have just prized the crack apart and filled it with cyano or epoxy, but I’ve moved on somewhat from bodging jobs.
I decided to make a better job of it by inlaying a veneer piece of 1mm ply for extra strength and a neater finish hopefully.
Hopefully the glue will have arrived when I get home from work, and I’ll set in place properly (clamped).
A light skim of filler, sand, then re-cover.
Well this is the worst of the damage, you may have to zoom in to see more clearly. Like I’ve mentioned, I glued ply doublers on the inside of the fuselage, and reinforced around fire wall and undercarriage mount plate with fibre glass - wetted with epoxy resin. It’s only the outer balsa skin that cracked. I guess all that energy had to dissipate somewhere.
I could have just prized the crack apart and filled it with cyano or epoxy, but I’ve moved on somewhat from bodging jobs.
I decided to make a better job of it by inlaying a veneer piece of 1mm ply for extra strength and a neater finish hopefully.
Hopefully the glue will have arrived when I get home from work, and I’ll set in place properly (clamped).
A light skim of filler, sand, then re-cover.
Gassing Station | Scale Models | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff