how to make a 1oz. rc system

[mike nill]

I found a good combination of equipment to make a 1.1oz. RC system.As long as you can make a light plane witch isn't all that hard you can make an aircraft with a weight of less than 2oz.i've made a plane that weighs 1.65oz. and flight very well especially in tight areas like a 30/30 foot back yard.Heres what I used to make the system that doesn't even cost all that much.I used two HS50 servos that I made into 4g by removing the bottom of the case and changed the wires to some really light wire I got at radioshack.I used a balsaproducts RX that I removed the case and pin block also the plug for the crystal and solderd the crystal in directly to the circutboard.I soldered the servos to the board as well.I kept the wiring as short as possible to keep the weight down.Then I use a 4 cell 50ma. nicad pack or a 120ma. NMH pack.I found that the NMH is 1/10 of an oz. lighter than the 50ma. and is also a bit smaller.I bought a e-machines plane and salvaged the motor gears and prop then I made my own gearbox with some bearings I salvaged from two small computer fans I got a an electronics store for $2.00,not bad huh.Then I used an amp board from a bad cs21 servo as a speed control.but it soon went bad due to the overload from a much greater than normal current draw.so then I use an FMA mini 5 that I made lighter by taking of the shrink wrap and putting on some lighter wire.there now you just need to make a plane to fly your new 1.1 oz. RC system. you could even use one CR2 to make it even ligher.sorry about the 1oz. in the topics its really 1.1oz. Big differece huh.lol

[This message has been edited by mike nill (edited 03-31-2001).]

[mike nill]

if anyone gives it a try tell me how it works out.

[frankenfoamy]

Appreciate the info on what does not work as much as what does thanks

[james_a_moles]

It's a very good idea, but it is way too much work for for very little gain. If you need to modify everything, then your probably not using the right equipment...especially if you need to take off the connector block and pins to shave off one gram!!! It's cool though. The entire system without mods would still be less than 1.5oz. Plus, I wouldn't use the amp board from a CS-20 servo-it's too small and can't handle the current. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't use any amp board in any plane because they're not efficiant and often cut off, especially if you keep the motor at its peek all of the time. If you ever get your system in the air, let me know!!! Good Luck!!!


James

[mike nill]

acually ive already tried this system in an 18 inch scratch built and it worked great.the plane weighed in at 1.5oz. ready to fly.its lowest speed was around 5 mph.and top speed was about 15mph.ive already takin out the radio gear to put in a new desing im working on.just like the other 20 or so i have in my head right now.to many ideas!now im waiting for 2 LS 2.4 servos and a SHR pro RX that im gettin for my B-day.so now i can make a plane of at the least around 1oz.

[james_a_moles]

Good pick on the WES servos...they're the best!!! But why get the SHR pro, you're going to have to solder the servo leads directly to the PCBoard?!!? You won't be able to interchange your servos. But that's probably what lots of people are doing. Personally, I think you're addicted to solder!!! :)


James

[corey c]

I have a mico system that I was planning to ruduce the weight on just like you did and use that for a while untill I can get smaller stuff.I'm glad to here it works.I'm building a "dumas" tiger moth. I was wondering how you made this esc from a servo amp board, I have lots of "bum" servos that have been sitting around for awhile and would like to do something with them even if the boards don't last long [something to do while I wait for glue to dry]? Thanks.

[anticoli]

Hey guys be careful with your wes tech s2.4 -3.0 servoes! I have a few of them and have discovered a weakness. If you get a bit out of range with your "micro" reciever (Sure wish the ramnge would increase on these things)... You may run your servo arm all the way up to the end of its throw jamming it stuck. This presents a problem when you cannot get to your model in enough time to "rescue" the servo. Once it gets stuck 2 things can happen. One it can try by itself to recenter once it gains the radio signal again wich can burn out the circutry. (Fried one just today like that! Or it can just stay stuck and then you need to open up your model and in some cases remove the servo to free it up once again. So -Stay in range! Those babies cost money!I know I'm probably the only modler who does stupid things like flying too far but mabey I'm not alone?...
Mike

[jberg]

Mike,

to prevent the WES servos from getting stuck there has been the tip somewhere to put a small piece of a rubber ring (like you can buy at supermarkets) into the ends of the servo arm slot. They prevent the servo arm from leaving the spindle, so the servo will center again when signal comes back.

I did not test that, I am still searching money to buy two of them for myself ;).

[james_a_moles]

One more thing to add about the WES mod:

If you go with the rubber mod be sure you don't glue the rubber band to the little jack screw assembly...If you do, when you activate the servo, it won't work-it will be stuck-and then you'll have to very carfully cut it loose. Trust me, I know :) Good luck!!!


James

[anticoli]

Oh How I wish you gentelmen informed me befor I toasted my $60 servo... I will try the rubber spacer on my other 2 servos. I may have a burial cerimony for my fried one. Only seems right, we had lots of fun together befor that trajick day...

Mike

[mike nill]

thankx for the info guys i saw that trick somwhere i think i will do that.anticoli just wanted to know if mabe u would sell your bum wes servo i like to mess around with stuff and im trying to come up with my own micro servos.