Friday, May 31, 2019
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
JR tail Servos for Sailplanes
In the past I have used 3421's then 3717HV's for higher voltage installs, especially on all my V-tail models. I just got two new servos. The JR MP31Swv and the JR NX3125. The MP31Swv is the fastest of the bunch. It is down to .08 seconds on 7.4 volts. It is a wide voltage servo so you don't have to worry about what battery pack you are using. It also has just a little more power than the 3717HV. The case size is the same as the 3421's.
The other interesting item is the NX3125. This is not quite as fast as the MP31Swv but it is an XBus servo. It's also more flexible in voltage range and it us XBus programmable to tweak the servo if you need to. What I'm really hoping for is to get the JR398 servo in a NX version and a receiver that just has maybe 4 XBus outputs to use in a sailplane.
The other interesting item is the NX3125. This is not quite as fast as the MP31Swv but it is an XBus servo. It's also more flexible in voltage range and it us XBus programmable to tweak the servo if you need to. What I'm really hoping for is to get the JR398 servo in a NX version and a receiver that just has maybe 4 XBus outputs to use in a sailplane.
Receivers for Sailplanes
I now have some JR 712BX receivers. These are a really nice package that most sailplane pilots should be happy with. They have a hard case, and you don't need a separate satellite for telemetry. The stock two antennas are all that you need. It's like installing a 731 or 831 without having to put in a remote.
The one I'm really waiting for is the JR 612BX. This is a 6 channel version which is enough channels for most of my sailplanes. It also have a lightweight case. You might notice that there are only 5 servo connections on one end. The 6th is on the other end along with the XBus connector and telemetry input. This RX should really work well for DLG's or tight F3b installs.
The one I'm really waiting for is the JR 612BX. This is a 6 channel version which is enough channels for most of my sailplanes. It also have a lightweight case. You might notice that there are only 5 servo connections on one end. The 6th is on the other end along with the XBus connector and telemetry input. This RX should really work well for DLG's or tight F3b installs.
New Winch
I added a new winch to the connection. It's an Ober winch with a Bosch motor. My other winches are all Lucas motors but when they get packed in a Pelican case, it's real easy to exceed the 50 lb limit on luggage. So I have this winch so I have one that is easier to carry on an airline.
The winch does not have the standard drum sizes. I never thought those were the best for the motors and the normal lines I use. Normally you get 45mm, 55mm, and 65mm. The 65mm is useless. I had this winch done with a smaller 40mm base drum size. Then I have 46mm, 50mm, 54mm, and 58mm sleeves for pretty much an wind condition and line in F3b.
The winch does not have the standard drum sizes. I never thought those were the best for the motors and the normal lines I use. Normally you get 45mm, 55mm, and 65mm. The 65mm is useless. I had this winch done with a smaller 40mm base drum size. Then I have 46mm, 50mm, 54mm, and 58mm sleeves for pretty much an wind condition and line in F3b.
Friday, November 7, 2014
XG14 Spring Change
I usually adjust the spring tension on my transmitters to increase the tension and also install longer sticks. This way I use more motion in control inputs instead of using really minute movements. With the XG14 I had the tension close to the maximum with the stock springs but on occasion I would still end up with some aileron input at times like when pushing over and pulling back for a zoom launch which requires a lot of stick movement.
My solution is to get some stiffer springs in there. I picked up a few sets from Radio South. Installation requires some good lighting and some tools. The transmitter back requires removing 3 screws to remove the plastic piece on the carrying handle and then removing the 8 screws holding the back case on the transmitter. Next I adjusted the tension on the springs as low as possible to make spring removal and installation easier. I used a really small flat blade screwdriver to grab the accessible end of the spring and pull that end off. The spring is then pretty easy to pick up out of the back of the stick assembly with a small pair of pliers. For installation, I took a piece of .020 stainless wire and bent a U shape in the one end. Hook the spring on the inside end of the spring holder/adjuster and then slide the U shaped wire through the other end of the spring. The wire can then be used to stretch the spring and pull it to attach the other side. A really thin wire is required for this so that the spring end can slide into place on the stick assembly and so that you can still slide out the wire once it's hooked.
Fall weather is here and it's going to be cold the next few days. Next week looks like a chance to get out and try out the stiffer sticks.
My solution is to get some stiffer springs in there. I picked up a few sets from Radio South. Installation requires some good lighting and some tools. The transmitter back requires removing 3 screws to remove the plastic piece on the carrying handle and then removing the 8 screws holding the back case on the transmitter. Next I adjusted the tension on the springs as low as possible to make spring removal and installation easier. I used a really small flat blade screwdriver to grab the accessible end of the spring and pull that end off. The spring is then pretty easy to pick up out of the back of the stick assembly with a small pair of pliers. For installation, I took a piece of .020 stainless wire and bent a U shape in the one end. Hook the spring on the inside end of the spring holder/adjuster and then slide the U shaped wire through the other end of the spring. The wire can then be used to stretch the spring and pull it to attach the other side. A really thin wire is required for this so that the spring end can slide into place on the stick assembly and so that you can still slide out the wire once it's hooked.
Fall weather is here and it's going to be cold the next few days. Next week looks like a chance to get out and try out the stiffer sticks.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Ready for F3b Team Selections
September and October have been busy. The new Freestylers with LDS finally made it to the USA. Both models have been built up. First testing went well but then I have a few setup days with the worst possible launch conditions. A high building, light and variable winds, little lift. One day I set up for the SW wind direction of 2-3 that was predicted and the best I got was an occasional 3-4 from the NW. Painful launching conditions. On the 12th, 13th, 14th I had a great practice up at the RISC fields with help from a bunch of RISC members that Alex was able to organize. Enough time on measured courses to get the base B distance judgement back, although it was still pretty safe flying without many cuts. 13th was overcast and any thermal activity was weak. Plenty of nice launches around the 300M mark. 14th had a little more thermal activity when I flew some distance laps. It was either great with multiple thermals in the 4 minutes or really nasty air. Cruising for 30 lap flights was nice. Field equipment was shipped today. I didn't get the airplane packing completed. Those will go tomorrow. Then I just have to wait....
Thursday, August 28, 2014
XG14 for F3b
Last weekend was the first contest flying with the Xplorer at RISC contest in Rhode Island. Awesome sod farm to fly on. Much bigger than my local sod farm fields. It would make a great F3b field. I can't complain about a 1st place with the new radio.
This week I put the new receivers into my two Shooters. I used the same base program as on my TD models and it was a lot simpler to setup on the F3b model after having been through two program conversions. I place one aileron or one flap at a time on the new RX and go through the flight modes setting the wing surfaces. This is the easiest way to set up the new positions. One benefit of the XG14 is that I now have different launch modes available. Previously I used a few custom mixes that were enabled in launch mode that would offset the flaps, ailerons, elevator from the base launch mode. Now they are all individually settable which will make tuning the launch a lot easier.
This evening it was a nice NW wind and after some range checks and double checking all the mixes in all the flight modes, it was time to launch. Launch presets were pretty close to what I had before. But it will take some more flying in light wind conditions to be sure. It's kind of hard to not launch well in the wind. A few flights to check float, normal, speed presets went well as well as checking the elevator compensation at 25%, 50%, full flap. Finally load up full ballast and try a few speed runs.
This week I put the new receivers into my two Shooters. I used the same base program as on my TD models and it was a lot simpler to setup on the F3b model after having been through two program conversions. I place one aileron or one flap at a time on the new RX and go through the flight modes setting the wing surfaces. This is the easiest way to set up the new positions. One benefit of the XG14 is that I now have different launch modes available. Previously I used a few custom mixes that were enabled in launch mode that would offset the flaps, ailerons, elevator from the base launch mode. Now they are all individually settable which will make tuning the launch a lot easier.
This evening it was a nice NW wind and after some range checks and double checking all the mixes in all the flight modes, it was time to launch. Launch presets were pretty close to what I had before. But it will take some more flying in light wind conditions to be sure. It's kind of hard to not launch well in the wind. A few flights to check float, normal, speed presets went well as well as checking the elevator compensation at 25%, 50%, full flap. Finally load up full ballast and try a few speed runs.
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