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| This article provided by Jim Ewing, Great Hobbies. | ||
Welcome to the world of radio controlled model airplanes. This
certainly must be one of the most exciting and enjoyable hobbies in
existence, encompassing so many different interests. What other hobby
involves you with aerodynamics, woodworking, composite materials,
electronics, mechanics, small motors, drafting, artistry, fresh air and
the outdoors, and club activities, practically all at the same time! If you have not already seen an R/C aircraft in action, head to the local club field when there is some activity, meet some of the fliers and get to enjoy it first hand. Once you see it, you'll be hooked!
Most people find that after they have become acquainted with the hobby, they realize it is a bit more complex than they may have first believed. It is more than just boys playing with their toys! By the same token, the challenge of learning the new skills required makes the hobby that much more enjoyable and satisfying. It is not a hobby with which one easily gets bored! How Do I Get Started?There are two steps you should take to get you flying the fastest and most enjoyable way. The first is to get involved with the local club or group of people that fly in your area. Their experience and help will be invaluable to you in both building your aircraft and learning to fly. The second is to outfit yourself with a good trainer aircraft for your first plane. This is not the time in your modelling career to build and fly that P-51 Mustang you've been fantasizing about. What Will I Need?The following is a description of the items you will require to start flying radio controlled model aircraft. Keep in mind, there is a wide selection available for each one of these items and they can be found throughout the pages of the Great Hobbies catalog or here in our On-line Catalog.Perhaps the decision to make with regard to your first model is whether
you want to build a complete kit or just do some simple assembly with an
"Almost-Ready-to-Fly" or ARF model. An ARF model will usually have the
bulk of the construction completed and it will even be covered. Usually
the only assembly to be done is joining the wing halves, adding the tail
surfaces, mounting the radio system, engine and landing gear, and
connecting the control surfaces.
The building of a complete kit is more involved, and certainly takes
more time, but on the same token, it is usually more satisfying to those
so inclined. Also, when you build your own model from a box of wood and
plastic parts, you become more familiar with aircraft construction and if
the day comes when you have to do some repair work, you may find it much
easier having done the building in the first place.
Another consideration when choosing your first plane is how many
control functions or channels (one radio channel, not to be confused with
frequency, for each function) you wish to use. Trainer aircraft are
available in both three channel and four channel configurations. Most
aircraft fly with four functions, these being the Rudder, Elevator,
Throttle, and Ailerons. Trainers, however, can also fly without the use of
ailerons. A greater dihedral (angle of the wings from the horizontal) on
these trainers makes them more stable and can also produce gentle turns
using rudder only. Usually a three channel model flies more slowly and is
easier to fly than one with four functions and a flatter wing. Four
channel models can usually handle the wind a bit better, however. Check
with your local instructor to see which type of model he recommends and is
more comfortable teaching with. If you are learning on your own (which we
strongly do not recommend), you should have a much better chance with a
three channel model than a four.
There are generally a number of additional items that will be necessary
when building a kit. Most kits supply the airframe of the model and do not
contain such things as the radio system, the engine, wheels, covering
material, and items related to the engine such as fuel tank, fuel tubing,
propeller, spinner, etc. ARF models usually contain most items except
radio, engine and propeller. We have tried to compile a list of additional
items necessary for completing many of the kits we carry and these are
listed with the kit as described in the catalog. A discussion of many of
these accessories may be found at the end of this section.
One thing you may want to look for when buying your first radio is
"buddy box" capability. The "buddy box" is where two radio transmitters
may be connected together through a cable, the instructor holding one and
the student holding the other. The student can have control over the model
as long as the instructor holds a trainer switch on his transmitter. If
the student gets into trouble, the instructor releases the switch and
regains full control of the model. This can greatly decrease the learning
time and also be good insurance against accidents with the novice pilot.
Check with the local club or instructor to see if they have "buddy box"
capability and if so, you may wish to purchase a compatible radio system.
The Engine — To power your first model, with the exception of a
glider, you will require an engine. The most common type of engine for
model aircraft is the glow engine. Electric motors and gas motors are also
used but are not as common in trainer aircraft. For more information on
engines refer to our Introduction
to engines.
Tools and Adhesives — Whether you're building a complete kit or
just assembling an ARF model you will almost certainly need a few basic
tools and some adhesives. The most common tools used in building include a
modelling knife (such as the X-Acto #1 Knife), T-pins (for holding parts
over your full-size plans), a small razor plane, a fine razor saw, small
screw drivers, pliers, etc. A sealing iron will be needed to apply
covering to the completed airframe. A drill with standard size bits can
come in very handy as well. Other, more expensive tools such as a Dremel
Moto Tool are also of benefit to the modeller but are not absolutely
necessary to the beginner.
There are a variety of adhesives that are currently used in building
models and you will need some of these for completion of your project. The
most commonly used adhesive today is the cyanoacrylate (similar to the
famous "Crazy Glues"). These are now specially formulated for working with
wood in various thicknesses and setting speeds.
The thin cyano is the fastest curing (usually 3 to 5 seconds!) and is
best suited to balsa wood where the joint is good fitting and has a solid
contact surface. The parts should be joined first and then the thin cyano
applied to the joint. The glue will wick into the joint and form a solid
bond.
The thicker or "gap-filling" cyano is great for general purpose
building where balsa, spruce or lite plywood is involved. Apply the
adhesive to the parts and then join. Drying time is in the order of 5 to
10 seconds.
The thickest cyano, also referred to "slow-setting" can be used like
the "gap-filling" cyano where slightly longer cure times might be desired.
Drying is in the order of 30 seconds to a minute.
All of these cyanoacrylates may be cured more quickly with the aid of
an accelerator or "kicker" which is sprayed onto the joint after gluing.
Another family of adhesives which is very popular in constructing
models is Epoxy. This is a two part adhesive which is mixed and then
applied to the surface to be bonded. Epoxy is especially useful when
working with foam parts as it will not attack the styrofoam. Epoxies are
very strong and many kits recommend it specifically for certain parts of
the construction.
For the beginner, may we recommend: Adhesives The following are some terms used in regard to model aircraft that you
may not as yet be familiar with:
Fuselage — The fuselage is the body part of the aircraft which
holds the passengers, cargo, or in the case of an R/C aircraft, the radio
system.
Wing — The wing of the aircraft is the large horizontal surface
which produces the lift and allows the craft to fly. Wing placement may be
on the upper part of the fuselage known as a high wing plane. This is more
common on trainer type aircraft as a high wing model is more stable due to
the pendulum effect of the fuselage. A wing mounted on the bottom of the
fuselage is referred to as a low-wing aircraft and is more suitable for
aerobatic type aircraft as stability is more neutral and manoeuvres such
as rolls and loops are more easily done.
Wing Tip — The very outer end of a wing.
Wingspan — The Wingspan of an aircraft is the length of the wing
as measured from wing tip to wing tip.
Wing Chord — The Wing Chord of an aircraft is distance from the
front or "leading edge" of a wing to the back or "trailing edge".
Wing Area — The Wing Area is the total surface area of the wing
of the aircraft, usually calculated by the wingspan times 7the wing chord,
although more complex calculations are used on unconventional wing plans.
Flat Bottom — A Flat Bottom Wing is when the lower surface of
the wing is primarily flat between the leading and trailing edges. This
type of wing has high lift and is common on trainer type aircraft.
Symmetrical — A Symmetrical Wing airfoil is curved on the bottom
to the same degree as it is on the top. If a line was drawn from the
center of the leading edge to the center of the trailing edge the upper
and lower halves of the airfoil would be symmetrical. This is ideal for
aerobatic aircraft and most lift is created by the angle of incidence of
the wing to the flight path.
Semi-symmetrical — A Semi-symmetrical Wing airfoil has a curved
bottom section but to a lesser degree than a symmetrical section. It is a
compromise between the flat bottom and the symmetrical wing. This is a
very popular airfoil on sport type aircraft.
Under-camber — An Under-camber airfoil has the lower surface of
the wing curved inwardly almost parallel to the upper surface. This type
of airfoil produces a great deal of lift but is not common in R/C models.
Dihedral — The Dihedral of a wing is the V-shape the wing makes
or the angle between the wing and the horizontal. Usually the greater the
dihedral angle the more stable the aircraft will be (to a point!) and is
common in trainer type aircraft. A flat wing with little or no dihedral is
less stable and more suited to aerobatics.
Control Surface — A moveable surface, attached to the airframe
of an aircraft, which controls the direction of the aircraft.
Pitch — The pitch refers to the angle of the aircraft in the up
or down direction.
Roll — The roll refers to the rotation of the aircraft around
it's centerline (one wing up and one wing down).
Yaw — The yaw refers to the angle of the aircraft in the side to
side direction.
Stabilizer — The Stabilizer is the fixed horizontal surface at
the rear of an aircraft. It provides pitch stability for the aircraft.
Elevator — The Elevator is the horizontal moveable control
surface at the tail of the model connected to the stabilizer. It controls
direction in pitch.
Fin — The Fin, also known as the "vertical stabilizer", is the
fixed vertical surface at the rear of an aircraft. It provides yaw
stability for the aircraft.
Rudder — The Rudder is the moveable control surface at the tail
of the model connected to the fin. It controls direction in yaw.
V-Tail — A V-Tail is a special tail surface configuration where
the horizontal stabilizers and elevators are mounted at an angle between
30 and 45 degrees in a V-shape and the vertical fin is eliminated
entirely. The stabilizers provide stability in both pitch and yaw while
the moveable surfaces provide directional control in both pitch and yaw.
Aileron — An Aileron is a moveable surface on trailing edge of
the wing which provides directional control of the roll of the aircraft. A
Strip Aileron is an aileron that is narrow and usually takes up the
entire, or most of the trailing edge of a wing. A Barn-door Aileron is
wider and takes up a smaller portion of the trailing edge towards the wing
tip.
Flap — The Flap is a control surface found on some aircraft,
usually located on the inboard trailing edge of each wing. Flaps may be
lowered to increase the lift of the aircraft by simulating an under-camber
airfoil.
Spoiler — A Spoiler is a control surface more commonly found on
gliders and jet aircraft which is used to slow down the aircraft and
decrease lift. They are rarely found on conventional aircraft. They may be
mounted on either the top or bottom of the center portion of the wings.
Center of Gravity — The Center of Gravity is the position in the
aircraft where if a point was placed, the plane would balance. The "C of
G" should usually found along the centerline of the aircraft at a distance
approximately 1/3 of the way behind the leading edge of the wing.
Landing Gear — The landing gear of the aircraft refers to the
support between the wheels and the wing or fuselage. It is usually is
formed from metal, wire or a nylon/fiberglass combination.
Under-Carriage — Another name for landing gear.
Tricycle Landing Gear — Tricycle refers to the landing gear
configuration where there is a single steerable nosewheel mounted in front
of the center of gravity, and a set of main landing gear with two wheels
positioned just behind the center of gravity. This type of landing gear is
usually a little easier to use when learning.
Tail Dragger — This refers to the landing gear configuration
where the main landing gear with two wheels is placed forward of the
center of gravity and one small wheel, called a "tail wheel", is mounted
under the tail of the aircraft. Accessories . . .As mentioned earlier, there are usually a number of additional items or accessories that will be required to complete your aircraft that may not come with the kit. Also, some modelers prefer one brand or style of accessory over another and chose to replace some stock kit items with their own preference. Here are some of the common items which might fit into these categories: Covering — The covering of an aircraft is the skin which is applied to the airframe, closing it in. On R/C aircraft it is commonly a fabric or plastic film which is heat applied with an iron. Plastic covering, once applied, gives a durable, shiny finish and requires no further treatment. Fabric covering usually requires a layer of paint to finish it and make it resistant to the exhaust of the engine. Covering materials come on a roll and in many different colors and may be cut to ruff shape before being ironed onto the airframe. Pushrods — The pushrods are part of the control linkage which connects the servo part of the radio system to the control surfaces of the aircraft. Pushrods may consist of a firm piece of balsa or fiberglass rod with threaded wire and clevises fastened to both ends, or they may be the flexible type and take the form of a wire or one plastic tube running inside another with the ability to turn around corners. Flex Cable — A flex cable is a special type of pushrod which is very flexible and can bend around corners even more easily than a flexible pushrod. These are generally made with a metal cable running inside a plastic tube and are popular in controlling the engine throttle. Control Horn — The control horn is small bracket mounted on a control surface to transfer the movement of the pushrod to the control surface. Clevis — The clevis is a small fastener at the end of a pushrod, usually made from nylon or metal, which connects the pushrod to the control horn. Clevises may frequently be refered to as links. Hinges — The hinges are used to connect the moveable control surfaces of the aircraft to the fixed surfaces and allow smooth easy movement. They may take several forms including hinge points, pinned hinges, "living" hinges, etc Pushrod Connectors — The pushrod connector is another means by which a pushrod may be connected to a servo. The connector is mounted onto a servo arm and the pushrod wire is secured by means of a set screw. Foam Rubber — Foam rubber is used to wrap the radio receiver and receiver battery pack in the plane so that they will be isolated from the vibration of the running engine. Wing Seating Tape — Wing seating tape is mounted on the fuselage wing saddle where the removable wing fits and isolates the wing from vibration as well as to form a seal to keep exhaust gases from entering the structure. Wheel Collars — Wheel Collars are small metal collars fastened with a set screw to the axle of an aircraft on either side of the wheel. This prevents the wheel from coming off the axle or rubbing against the landing gear. Wheels — The wheels for an aircraft come in several styles including treaded, non-treaded, scale tread, air-filled, and super lightweight. Most brands of wheels are available in sizes from 1.75" to 6" in 1/4" increments. Spinner — The spinner is the cone shaped object mounted to the engine prop shaft on the nose of the aircraft. The spinner may be made from plastic or aluminum and functions primarily to improve looks and aerodynamics. Engine Mount — Some aircraft use wooden rails to which the engine is mounted while others require a shaped nylon or aluminum mount. The wooden rail type would usually be included in a kit while the molded type may or may not be, depending upon the kit. It is possible to get mounts specifically for a particular engine although or many generic type mounts are available to fit certain engine size ranges. See our Introduction to Engines for more information on engine mounts. Fuel Tank, Tubing & Filters — Most kits will not include a fuel tank and related tubing. These are available in various sizes and should be selected according to the size of the aircraft and engine. Engine Accessories — When purchasing an engine for your plane, there will be a few items required that usually don't come with the engine or the plane. These include the propeller and glow plug. See the Introduction to Engines section of this catalog for more information on these items. A muffler is usually included with the engine when you buy it, however, there might be the odd engine that does not include the muffler or some aircraft that are better suited to special shape mufflers, particularly in scale planes.
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The
first thing one must realize about a radio controlled model aircraft is
that it is not a toy. The model is a real aircraft which flies and
operates by the same principles as its full scale counterpart. The only
difference is size and weight. Models fly at anywhere between 20 and 150
MPH with the average trainer being between 40 and 60 MPH! These are not
slow vehicles, nor can they be flown in a normal backyard. They require
space! And just like their bigger brothers, they require a learned skill
to be controlled properly. It is not simply a matter of pushing a button
to take off, another to land, etc.
The Plane — As mentioned
above, you should select a model that is designed specifically for
training the new pilot. Typically these aircraft will have a high wing
design, simple sturdy construction, excellent plans and instructions, and
be easy to fly. In the Great Hobbies on-line catalog we have marked
all those models we would recommend as being suitable as a trainer. There
is a wide selection available from many different manufacturers, as can be
found in our on-line catalog, including some that must be assembled and
others that come pre-built, Almost-Ready-to-Fly (ARF).
The Radio — Along with your aircraft, you will need a radio to
control it. Most aircraft radio systems are of four or more channel
capability and come with just about everything you need including the
rechargeable battery packs. Refer to our 
Airfoil — The Airfoil is the shape of the cross section
of the wing. The front of the airfoil is the leading edge and is usually a
rounded section. The back of the airfoil is the trailing edge and usually
tapers to nearly a point. The distance between the two is the wing chord.
The top surface of the airfoil is usually always curved to allow smooth
airflow and produce lift.
